摘要:
An optical seed flow monitoring system for monitoring seed flow through the primary and secondary seed tubes in an air seeding system. The primary seed tubes include a primary seed sensor having a plurality of emitter lens bodies and receiver lens bodies. Optical fibers connect the emitter lens body to an optical beam generating device and the receiver lens body to an optical beam detecting device both positioned remotely from the seed tubes. Alternately, one or more of the secondary seed tubes can include a secondary seed sensor having an emitter lens body and a receiver lens body.
摘要:
An improvement in a light collecting system for an agricultural seed monitor is disclosed. The light collecting system includes three optical surfaces: a convex lens surface, a planar surface, and a total internal reflection, cone condenser surface. The convex lens surface is designed to collect light from a seed sensing area of a seed tube and form a converging light beam. The converging beam is then incident onto the planar reflecting surface, which folds the optical axis of the converging light. The converging light beam is then incident onto a non-imaging, total internal reflection cone condenser surface. In a preferred embodiment all three optical surfaces are formed on a single prism made of plastic, with the convex lens being a spherical surface having a radius of curvature of about 20 mm, and the cone condenser surface having an input aperture diameter of about 6 mm and an output aperture diameter of about 0.9 mm.
摘要:
An optical seed counting system for counting seeds that are dispensed through a plurality of seed tubes associated with a multiple row seed planter. Each seed tube includes an optical sensor having an emitter and a receiver. The emitter and the receiver each include lens components for shaping an optical beam. Optical fibers connect the emitter to an optical beam generating device and the receiver to an optical beam detecting device both positioned remotely from the seed tubes. The optical components of the emitter generate a substantially spatially uniform optical beam across a sensing area within the seed tubes. The detecting device generates a pulse signal where the period of the pulses represents the intensity of the optical beam in the sensing area. Seeds that are dispensed in the seed tubes interfere with the optical beam in a manner that affects the light intensity of the beam. Therefore, the change in intensity of the beam indicates the number of seeds.
摘要:
A seed blockage monitoring system employs a flexible, generally flat piezoelectric seed sensor element inserted at an acute angle of about 13 degrees into a seed flow path so that a portion of seeds traveling in the seed flow path strike the seed sensor element, preventing damage to the seeds and maintaining forward momentum of all seeds in the seed flow path. In order to provide flexibility in monitoring seeds of different types and to increase the data rate that information can be obtained from numerous multiple seed sensor elements, the use of a one-shot to temporarily store a seed detection signal and serial sampling of the temporarily stored signals from the sensors as in the prior art is avoided. Instead, a comparator that includes a diode in a feedback loop so as to function as a latch is used in conjunction with a serial shift register that has parallel data input lines. This enables the microprocessor to monitor outputs from one or more sensor elements, or a digital representation thereof, at a higher rate than attainable in the prior art seed blockage monitors. As a result of the increased rate at which information can be obtained from the seed sensor elements, the microprocessor can not only provide seed blockage data but can also provide relative flow data for the various monitored seed flow paths and compute an overall seeding rate.
摘要:
A particle blockage monitoring system employs a flexible piezoelectric particle sensor element in a portion of a particle flow path so that a number of particles traveling in the particle flow path strike the flexible particle sensor element while preventing damage to the particles and maintaining the forward momentum of all the particles in the particle flow path. In order to provide flexibility in monitoring particles of different types and to increase the information rate, the use of a one-shot multivibrator to temporarily store a particle detection signal as in the prior art is avoided. Also, serial sampling of the particle sensor data is avoided to increase the information rate. Instead, a comparator that includes a diode in a feedback loop so as to function as a latch is used in conjunction with a serial shift register that has parallel data input lines. This enables a microprocessor to monitor the output from a multiple-bit memory element which stores a digital representation of the outputs of plural sensor elements at a higher rate than attainable in the prior art. As a result of the increased rate at which information can be obtained from the particle sensor elements, the microprocessor can not only provide particle flow blockage status data but can also provide particle flow rates for the monitored particle flow paths.
摘要:
A power line phase coupler system for repeating data signals between power line phases that can be easily installed by a user. The power line phase coupler system includes a housing, a female connector positioned within the housing, a male connector electrically connected to the female connector by a length of cord, and a repeater coupler electrically connected to the male connector. The repeater coupler is electrically connected between Phase A and Phase B of the male connector for repeating and amplifying a data signal received from either phase to the opposite phase.
摘要:
A power line phase coupler system for repeating data signals between power line phases that can be easily installed by a user. The power line phase coupler system includes a housing, a female connector positioned within the housing, a male connector electrically connected to the female connector by a length of cord, and a repeater coupler electrically connected to the male connector. The repeater coupler is electrically connected between Phase A and Phase B of the male connector for repeating and amplifying a data signal received from either phase to the opposite phase.