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:
Sep. 30, 1980
Filed:
Sep. 05, 1978
David E Steffen, Chatham, IL (US);
Dickey-john Corporation, Auburn, IL (US);
Abstract
A monitoring apparatus for simultaneously monitoring a plurality of functions of a machine, such as a multi-row seed plating machine, includes a programmed microprocessor. A plurality of sensors detect the machine functions to be monitored, and the microprocessor receives and stores data corresponding to the monitored functions from all of the sensors simultaneously. A user accessible control and display panel cooperates with the microprocessor to produce observable indications of the machine functions being monitored in accordance with the stored data as such functions are selected for display by the user accessible control panel. The microprocessor is further programmed to receive and utilize data inputs from the control panel, corresponding to machine parameters of the particular machine with which the monitoring apparatus is being utilized, and data corresponding to the desired maximum and minimum values of the functions to be monitored. Accordingly, the monitoring apparatus may be customized for the particular machine with which it is being utilized, and for giving an observable indication or alarm in the event the functions being monitored fail to fall within the selected maximum and minimum limits.