Abstract: A sensing system for obtaining a gradient of soil properties in real-time as a function of soil depth is disclosed herein. The sensing system includes a support structure coupled to an agricultural implement and which is rotatable about a rotational axis relative to a frame of the agricultural implement. A sensor is arranged on a surface of the support structure and configured to generate an output signal indicative of the measured soil property based on a sensed a capacitance change corresponding to a change in a dielectric property of a measured soil sample with which the sensor interacts. A measuring unit is coupled to the at least one sensor and processes the output signal generated by the at least one sensor to generate a gradient profile of the soil properties in real-time as a function of one or more depths for display on a user interface.

Abstract: A sensor for determining soil properties is disclosed herein. The sensor includes a ground engaging structure adapted for coupling to an agricultural implement and to penetrate soil at a predetermined depth. An electrode assembly is disposed on a sensing surface of the ground engaging structure that includes a plurality of electrode sensing units. The plurality of electrode sensing units are configured to selectively generate a series of electric fields that project outwardly into the surrounding soil in response to receipt of an excitation signal and sense changes in the electric field corresponding to a change in a measured electrical output signal that is used to determine one or more soil properties during movement of the agricultural implement in a field.

Abstract: A sensing system for obtaining a gradient of soil properties in real-time as a function of soil depth is disclosed herein. The sensing system includes a support structure coupled to an agricultural implement and which is rotatable about a rotational axis relative to a frame of the agricultural implement. A sensor is arranged on a surface of the support structure and configured to generate an output signal indicative of the measured soil property based on a sensed a capacitance change corresponding to a change in a dielectric property of a measured soil sample with which the sensor interacts. A measuring unit is coupled to the at least one sensor and processes the output signal generated by the at least one sensor to generate a gradient profile of the soil properties in real-time as a function of one or more depths for display on a user interface.

Abstract: A sensor system for determining soil characteristics is disclosed herein. The sensor system includes a ground engaging device for coupling to an agricultural implement. The ground engaging device includes at least one disc member having an aperture and an elongate shaft extending through the aperture. A first sensor unit is arranged on a sensing surface of the disc member and is configured to measure forces acting on the disc member. A second sensor unit is arranged on the elongate shaft and is configured to measure forces acting on the shaft. A processor is communicatively coupled to each of the first and second sensor units. The processor is configured to generate an output signal indicative of a soil characteristic based on the forces measured.

Abstract: A sensing system for obtaining a gradient of soil properties in real-time as a function of soil depth is disclosed herein. The sensing system includes a support structure coupled to an agricultural implement and which is rotatable about a rotational axis relative to a frame of the agricultural implement. A sensor is arranged on a surface of the support structure and configured to generate an output signal indicative of the measured soil property based on a sensed a capacitance change corresponding to a change in a dielectric property of a measured soil sample with which the sensor interacts. A measuring unit is coupled to the at least one sensor and processes the output signal generated by the at least one sensor to generate a gradient profile of the soil properties in real-time as a function of one or more depths for display on a user interface.

Abstract: A soil characteristic sensor is mounted on a soil engaging element of a planting machine. It can be mounted, for instance, on an element that engages the soil before a trench is opened, or after a trench is opened, but before it is closed. It can be mounted on an element that engages the soil in a region of the soil trench, but after the trench is closed. It can be mounted on a scraping element that scrapes a disc, and it can be mounted on wedges or other items that run through the soil, and are carried by shanks.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a time domain depth sensor system and method for determining a depth of a ground engaging device in soil. The sensor system may include a signal transmission element arranged on an outer periphery of a ground engaging device that is adapted to penetrate soil. The signal transmission element can be arranged to receive and transmit an electrical signal that is responsive to impedance discontinuities detected by a pulse detector. The pulse detector is configured to detect a first and a second reflected signal corresponding to a sensed impedance discontinuities at a first and a second soil location. An electronic data processor is communicatively coupled the pulse detector and is configured to determine the depth of the ground engaging device in the soil based on a difference between a first time of propagation of the first reflected signal and a second time of propagation of the second reflected signal.

Abstract: A sensor system for determining soil characteristics is disclosed herein. The sensor system includes a ground engaging device for coupling to an agricultural implement. The ground engaging device includes at least one disc member having an aperture and an elongate shaft extending through the aperture. A first sensor unit is arranged on a sensing surface of the disc member and is configured to measure forces acting on the disc member. A second sensor unit is arranged on the elongate shaft and is configured to measure forces acting on the shaft. A processor is communicatively coupled to each of the first and second sensor units. The processor is configured to generate an output signal indicative of a soil characteristic based on the forces measured.

Abstract: A sensing system for obtaining a gradient of soil properties in real-time as a function of soil depth is disclosed herein. The sensing system includes a support structure coupled to an agricultural implement and which is rotatable about a rotational axis relative to a frame of the agricultural implement. A sensor is arranged on a surface of the support structure and configured to generate an output signal indicative of the measured soil property based on a sensed a capacitance change corresponding to a change in a dielectric property of a measured soil sample with which the sensor interacts. A measuring unit is coupled to the at least one sensor and processes the output signal generated by the at least one sensor to generate a gradient profile of the soil properties in real-time as a function of one or more depths for display on a user interface.

Abstract: A sensor for determining soil properties is disclosed herein. The sensor includes a ground engaging structure adapted for coupling to an agricultural implement and to penetrate soil at a predetermined depth. An electrode assembly is disposed on a sensing surface of the ground engaging structure that includes a plurality of electrode sensing units. The plurality of electrode sensing units are configured to selectively generate a series of electric fields that project outwardly into the surrounding soil in response to receipt of an excitation signal and sense changes in the electric field corresponding to a change in a measured electrical output signal that is used to determine one or more soil properties during movement of the agricultural implement in a field.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to a time domain depth sensor system and method for determining a depth of a ground engaging device in soil. The sensor system may include a signal transmission element arranged on an outer periphery of a ground engaging device that is adapted to penetrate soil. The signal transmission element can be arranged to receive and transmit an electrical signal that is responsive to impedance discontinuities detected by a pulse detector. The pulse detector is configured to detect a first and a second reflected signal corresponding to a sensed impedance discontinuities at a first and a second soil location. An electronic data processor is communicatively coupled the pulse detector and is configured to determine the depth of the ground engaging device in the soil based on a difference between a first time of propagation of the first reflected signal and a second time of propagation of the second reflected signal.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a seed monitoring system including a light source configured to emit light in an interior of a seed tube, a plurality of light receivers, each of the plurality of light receivers configured to receive light in at least two sectors of a plurality of sectors of a plane in the interior of the seed tube and generate a sensing signal corresponding to the received light, a processing system including a plurality of conditioning channels, the processing system configured to process the sensing signals to generate conditioned signals and a controller configured to generate a seed count value based on the generated conditioned signals.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a seed monitoring system including a light source configured to emit light in an interior of a seed tube, a plurality of light receivers, each of the plurality of light receivers configured to receive light in at least two sectors of a plurality of sectors of a plane in the interior of the seed tube and generate a sensing signal corresponding to the received light, a processing system including a plurality of conditioning channels, the processing system configured to process the sensing signals to generate conditioned signals and a controller configured to generate a seed count value based on the generated conditioned signals.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a seed monitoring system including a light source configured to emit light in an interior of a seed tube, a plurality of light receivers, each of the plurality of light receivers configured to receive light in at least two sectors of a plurality of sectors of a plane in the interior of the seed tube and generate a sensing signal corresponding to the received light, a processing system including a plurality of conditioning channels, the processing system configured to process the sensing signals to generate conditioned signals and a controller configured to generate a seed count value based on the generated conditioned signals.

Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a seed monitoring system including a light source configured to emit light in an interior of a seed tube, a plurality of light receivers, each of the plurality of light receivers configured to receive light in at least two sectors of a plurality of sectors of a plane in the interior of the seed tube and generate a sensing signal corresponding to the received light, a processing system including a plurality of conditioning channels, the processing system configured to process the sensing signals to generate conditioned signals and a controller configured to generate a seed count value based on the generated conditioned signals.

Abstract: A soil characteristic sensor is mounted on a soil engaging element of a planting machine. It can be mounted, for instance, on an element that engages the soil before a trench is opened, or after a trench is opened, but before it is closed. It can also be mounted on an element that engages the soil in a region of the soil trench, but after the trench is closed. It can be mounted on a scraping element that scrapes a disc, and it can be mounted on wedges or other items that run through the soil, and are carried by shanks.

Abstract: A radar transducer has a planar array antenna mounted on a plate portion of a housing with the microwave transceiver mounted on the opposite side of the plate and carrying a PCB defining the processing section for supplying an output to a cable. The plate portion slides into a plastic receptacle defining the radome for the antenna with a potting compound sealing the open face of the receptacle. The electrical processing section is shielded from extraneous electromagnetic waves without additional metallic shielding elements. The processor is programmable in response to signals received through the output cable so as to re-configure the program thereof so as to change the output to the output cable for different end use controllers and for compatibility with communications protocols. The processor is programmed to carry out a test of the operation of the transceiver and to provide a failure output signal to the cable in the event that the operation is found to be outside predetermined parameters.

Abstract: A radar transducer has a planar array antenna mounted on a plate portion of a housing with the microwave transceiver mounted on the opposite side of the plate and carrying a PCB defining the processing section for supplying an output to a cable. The plate portion slides into a plastic receptacle defining the radome for the antenna with a potting compound sealing the open face of the receptacle. The electrical processing section is shielded from extraneous electromagnetic waves without additional metallic shielding elements. The processor is programmable in response to signals received through the output cable so as to re-configure the program thereof so as to change the output to the output cable for different end use controllers and for compatibility with communications protocols. The processor is programmed to carry out a test of the operation of the transceiver and to provide a failure output signal to the cable in the event that the operation is found to be outside predetermined parameters.

Abstract: A signal indicative of a distance from a first element to a second element, such as the end face of a piston from the end wall of its cylinder, is generated by providing an optical imager carried on a housing that is fixed on the end wall with the optical imager pointed to the end face. An image processor is arranged to identify image components, such as the end nut on the piston, from the acquired images of the first element. From the location of the nut the processor can identify the location of the outer edge of the circular end face and can determine the area of the end face in the image by counting pixels within the area. From the measured area as it appears in the image the distance can be calculated. The end face is illuminated by a light source shining through a light pipe passing through a drilled hole in the end wall. Characteristic markings can be applied on the end face for measuring distance when the nut is too close to be visible.

Abstract: A radar transducer has a planar array antenna mounted on a plate portion of a housing with the microwave transceiver mounted on the opposite side of the plate and carrying a PCB defining the processing section for supplying an output to a cable. The plate portion slides into a plastic receptacle defining the radome for the antenna with a potting compound sealing the open face of the receptacle. The electrical processing section is shielded from extraneous electromagnetic waves without additional metallic shielding elements. The processor is programmable in response to signals received through the output cable so as to re-configure the program thereof so as to change the output to the output cable for different end use controllers and for compatibility with communications protocols. The processor is programmed to carry out a test of the operation of the transceiver and to provide a failure output signal to the cable in the event that the operation is found to be outside predetermined parameters.