System and method for sensing harvested crop levels within an agricultural harvester
US10368488B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 18, 2017 |
| Grant date | Aug 6, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 24, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01F23/296
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for sensing harvested crop levels within an agricultural harvester may include a crop tank configured to receive harvested crop. The system may further include a sensor configured to emit a sensor beam into the crop tank for reflection off of the top surface of the harvested crop. Additionally, the system may include a reflection panel positioned at a minimum detectable crop level within the crop tank. The reflection panel may be configured to reflect the sensor beam when the current crop level is vertically below the minimum detectable crop level. A center of the reflection panel may be positioned closer to the sensor than an outer edge of the reflection panel such that the reflection panel diffuses the sensor beam as it reflects off of the reflection panel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.