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:
Oct. 28, 1980
Filed:
Nov. 24, 1978
William C Steere, Grass Lake, MI (US);
Stephen S Wilson, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Agro Sciences, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for automatically analyzing seed characteristics. The seeds are placed one each in associated cells in a tray and the cells are filled with a deionized liquid such as distilled water. After a predetermined period of time, the conductivity of the resultant exudates are measured to provide a visual indication of the seed characteristics such as viability, vigor, and physical damage. In the apparatus, a probe head having a plurality of electrode pairs is placed on the tray so that each electrode pair is immersed in the exudate in each of the cells. An electrical potential is established between each electrode pair and the current flowing therebetween is sequentially scanned to automatically provide a visual indication of the exudate conductivity for each of the seeds in the tray cells. Preferably, the electrodes are first brought to the same potential to stabilize the exudate before establishing the potential difference across the electrodes which creates the current flow.