Mobile soil mapping system for collecting soil reflectance measurements
US8204689B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 17, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jun 19, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N21/15
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A mobile soil mapping system includes an implement for traversing a field to be mapped, and a reflectance module carried by the implement for collecting spectroscopic measurements of soil in the field. The reflectance module has a light source, an optical receiver for transmitting light to a spectrometer, and a shutter system that alters the optical path between the light source and the optical receiver. The shutter system allows the system to automatically collect a dark reference measurement and a known reference material measurement at timed intervals to compensate for drift of the spectrometer and the light source. A self-cleaning window on the reflectance module has a lower surface maintained in firm contact with the soil during operation. External reference blocks are used to calibrate the system to ensure standardized, repeatable data. Additional sensors are carried by the implement to collect other soil data, such as electrical conductivity and temperature.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.