Patent · US Expired

Repeatable pattern field spraying control

US5050771A · kind A · utility

67Cited by
8References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 31, 1989
Grant dateSep 24, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 31, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA01B79/005
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A prime mover has a programmable control system for applying a material, such as a liquid herbicide onto programmed locations in an agricultural field, by creating a program manually on an initial pass of the field in relation to the position of the prime mover, and storing the information in a program for subsequent control in subsequent passes of the prime mover for repeating operations. A microprocessor having a programmable memory is utilized with manual controls for operating a sprayer when weeds are visible, and then correlating the position of the prime mover and the operation to be performed in a subsequent operation and permitting the memory to control the on and off applications of the sprayer. The unit makes use of low cost microprocessors with programmable memories and permits a low cost repeatable operation merely by providing a reference starting position, and a known path in which to travel.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.