Non-contact sensing unit for row crop harvester guidance system
US4918441A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 1988 |
| Grant date | Apr 17, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S56/15
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A non-contact row crop sensor comprises one or more transmitter/receptor pairs mounted on two row separators of a harvesting machine. Each transmitter transmits an energy beam to one of the receptors and the energy beams cross at a point which defines a position of the harvesting machine relative to a row of crop stalks. A circuit produces steering control signals dependent upon the time of intercept of one beam of a pair relative to the time of intercept of the second beam of the pair. A discriminator circuit is provided for discriminating between crop stalks and weeds. Plural transmitter/receptor pairs permit discrimination between intercepts caused by leaves and those caused by stalks.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.