The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 07, 1979
Filed:
Mar. 20, 1978
Dennis M Bell, Hudson, IL (US);
International Tapetronics Corporation, Bloomington, IL (US);
Abstract
An optical seed sensor for a seed planter monitor utilizes light emitting diodes and a rapidly-responding light-receiving solar cell mounted in a seed dispensing chute. A solar cell light shield with a slit narrower than the diameter of a typical seed is mounted adjacent to the solar cell. When a seed passes the light shield, the voltage output of the light-receiving solar cell is temporarily reduced in response to a change in intensity of light at the solar cell. Electronic circuitry converts such solar cell voltage fluctuations into electrical counting pulses for the seed planter monitor. The rapidly-responding solar cell, the partially shielded solar cell and the electronic circuitry cooperate to discriminate between closely spaced or partially overlapping seeds passing through the dispensing chute in order to achieve accurate seed counting.