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:
Apr. 16, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 23, 1998
Barry Penfold, Divernon, IL (US);
DICKEY-john Corporation, Auburn, IL (US);
Abstract
A proximity sensor with an emitter capable of emitting energy waves of a selected wavelength and a detector capable of detecting energy waves with the selected wavelength, for example, energy waves in the infrared spectrum. The emitter and the detector are located in close proximity to one another on a single printed circuit board. When an article to be detected (e.g., any seed used in agriculture) passes the proximity sensor, the energy waves emitted by the emitter are reflected off the article and detected by the detector. The proximity sensor can be attached to a single wall of a container or to the side of a chute in order to detect the presence of articles in the container or to detect the passage of articles through the chute.