Crop yield monitoring system
US6525276B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | Feb 25, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 4, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01G19/414
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A peanut combine towed and powered by a tractor during harvesting includes a collection basket having a basket support frame mounted on the top of the combine by four load cells. A respective load cell is located beneath each lower bottom corner of the base of the collection basket between the support frame and a support member, such as a steel support channel, fastened on the top of the combine. The load cells produce analog data signals representative of weight of the collection basket at any given instance as the crop is harvested. The load cells transmit data analog signals to a data acquisition system (DAS) via a summing device and anti-aliasing filter. The DAS includes a CPU and an analog to digital converter to convert the analog load cell data to digital signals and digitally filters the digital signal to reduce signal noise resulting from harmonic vibrations of the combine straw walker mechanism for further processing. The CPU is interfaced with a global positioning device that provides time, latitude and longitude information of the combine to the CPU and also with a sensor that inputs tractor/combine information to the CPU from which combine speed can be determined. An i…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.