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. 12, 2008
Filed:
Jul. 31, 2006
Mark W. Spicer, Ankeny, IA (US);
Arno Ruckelshausen, Osnabrück, DE;
Timur M. Dzinaj, Osnabrück, DE;
Andreas Linz, Osnabr{umlaut over ())}{umlaut over (})}ck, DE;
Mark W. Spicer, Ankeny, IA (US);
Arno Ruckelshausen, Osnabrück, DE;
Timur M. Dzinaj, Osnabrück, DE;
Andreas Linz, Osnabr{umlaut over ())}{umlaut over (})}ck, DE;
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., Johnston, IA (US);
Abstract
A sensor system, method, and computer program product for determining physical characteristics of individual plants within a row located in an agricultural environment is provided. Embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, a sensor assembly including a plurality of emitters and a corresponding plurality of receivers disposed substantially opposite one another such that the receivers may receive a plurality of signals emitted by said emitters to generate a binary profile image of each plant within a row of plants positioned along a row axis. Embodiments of the present invention also include supplementary sensors for determining other plant characteristics including leaf pattern and plant location along the row axis. The method and computer program product embodiments of the present invention may also differentiate selected plants of interest from invasive or weed species using the outputs of the sensor device of the present invention.