Abstract: An electronic assembly includes a casing to conduct electricity flowing between at least some electronic components disposed within the casing. The electronic components include an ultrasonic transducer coupled to emit ultrasonic signals, and a battery to provide the electricity. A controller is coupled to the ultrasonic transducer and the battery, and the controller includes logic that when executed by the controller causes the electronic assembly to perform operations, including: instructing the ultrasonic transducer to emit the ultrasonic signals.

Abstract: A sectional control device controls the flow of particulate material from a meter assembly to a primary manifold of an air seeding system. The sectional control device includes a plate assembly having particulate openings extending between the meter assembly and the primary manifold and a shut-off mechanism configured to control the flow of the particulate material through the particulate openings. The shut-off mechanism includes a gate configured to slide between an open position, where particulate material can flow through the particulate opening, and a closed position, where particulate material is prevented from flowing through the particulate opening. The shut-off mechanism also includes an actuator configured to drive the gate between the open position and the closed position.

Abstract: The present application discloses implementations that relate to devices and techniques for sensing position, force, and torque. Devices described herein may include a light emitter, photodetectors, and a curved reflector. The light emitter may project light onto the curved reflector, which may reflect portions of that projected light onto one or more of the photodetectors. Based on the illuminances measured at the photodetectors, the position of the curved reflector may be determined. In some implementations, the curved reflector and the light emitter may be elastically coupled via one or more spring elements; in these implementations, a force vector representing a magnitude and direction of a force applied against the curved reflector may be determined based on the position of the curved reflector.

Abstract: A plunger head to measure fluid in a drug cartridge includes a transducer coupled to emit ultrasonic signals, and a power source. A controller is coupled to the transducer and the power source, and the controller includes logic that when executed by the controller causes the plunger head to perform operations. For example the plunger head may emit the ultrasonic signals along a length of the drug cartridge, when the plunger head is disposed in the drug cartridge, and receive the ultrasonic signals after the ultrasonic signals are reflected from a dispensing end of the drug cartridge. The plunger head may then determine when the ultrasonic signals received by the transducer have an absolute value of amplitude greater than a first threshold value, and associate a timestamp with the ultrasonic signals received that have the absolute value of amplitude greater than the first threshold value.

Abstract: The present application discloses implementations that relate to devices and techniques for sensing position, force, and torque. Devices described herein may include a light emitter, photodetectors, and a curved reflector. The light emitter may project light onto the curved reflector, which may reflect portions of that projected light onto one or more of the photodetectors. Based on the illuminances measured at the photodetectors, the position of the curved reflector may be determined. In some implementations, the curved reflector and the light emitter may be elastically coupled via one or more spring elements; in these implementations, a force vector representing a magnitude and direction of a force applied against the curved reflector may be determined based on the position of the curved reflector.

Abstract: An example device includes an inner element, an outer surrounding element, and a plurality of connecting flexural elements coupled between the inner element and the outer surrounding element. The inner element has a plurality of reflective surface areas that are configured to reflect light to a sensor. The outer surrounding element surrounds the inner element. The plurality of connecting flexural elements allow the inner element to move relative to the outer surrounding element.

Abstract: An example device includes an inner element, an outer surrounding element, and a plurality of connecting flexural elements coupled between the inner element and the outer surrounding element. The inner element has a plurality of reflective surface areas that are configured to reflect light to a sensor. The outer surrounding element surrounds the inner element. The plurality of connecting flexural elements allow the inner element to move relative to the outer surrounding element.

Abstract: A sectional control device (12) controls the flow of particulate material from a meter (28) assembly to a primary manifold (24) of an air seeding system. The sectional control device (12) includes a plate assembly (56) having particulate openings (36A, 36C, 36) extending between the meter (28) assembly and the primary manifold (24) and a shut-off mechanism configured to control the flow of the particulate material through the particulate openings (36A, 36C, 36). The shut-off mechanism includes a gate (44A, 44) configured to slide between an open position, where particulate material can flow through the particulate opening (36, 38), and a closed position, where particulate material is prevented from flowing through the particulate opening (36, 38). The shut-off mechanism also includes an actuator (40A, 40) configured to drive the gate (44A, 44) between the open position and the closed position.

Abstract: An example device includes an inner element, an outer surrounding element, and a plurality of connecting flexural elements coupled between the inner element and the outer surrounding element. The inner element has a plurality of reflective surface areas that are configured to reflect light to a sensor. The outer surrounding element surrounds the inner element. The plurality of connecting flexural elements allow the inner element to move relative to the outer surrounding element.

Abstract: A sectional control device controls the flow of particulate material from a meter assembly to a primary manifold of an air seeding system. The sectional control device includes a plate assembly having particulate openings extending between the meter assembly and the primary manifold and a shut-off mechanism configured to control the flow of the particulate material through the particulate openings. The shut-off mechanism includes a gate configured to slide between an open position, where particulate material can flow through the particulate opening, and a closed position, where particulate material is prevented from flowing through the particulate opening. The shut-off mechanism also includes an actuator configured to drive the gate between the open position and the closed position.

Abstract: A rotary encoder includes a substrate, two or more switches disposed on the substrate, a mechanical wave generator, and a controller. The mechanical wave generator is disposed proximate to the substrate. The substrate and the mechanical wave generator are adapted to rotate relative to each other about a central axis. The mechanical wave generator has a profile shape that repeats circumferentially about the central axis. The profile shape has ridges and valleys that engage the two or more switches to activate and deactivate the two or more switches as the substrate and the mechanical wave generator rotate relative to each other. The controller is electrically coupled to the two or more switches to track activations of the two or more switches and digitally encode a rotational position of the substrate relative to the wave generator based upon the activations.

Abstract: A plunger head to measure fluid in a drug cartridge includes a transducer coupled to emit ultrasonic signals, and a power source. A controller is coupled to the transducer and the power source, and the controller includes logic that when executed by the controller causes the plunger head to perform operations. For example the plunger head may emit the ultrasonic signals along a length of the drug cartridge, when the plunger head is disposed in the drug cartridge, and receive the ultrasonic signals after the ultrasonic signals are reflected from a dispensing end of the drug cartridge. The plunger head may then determine when the ultrasonic signals received by the transducer have an absolute value of amplitude greater than a first threshold value, and associate a timestamp with the ultrasonic signals received that have the absolute value of amplitude greater than the first threshold value.

Abstract: The present application discloses implementations that relate to devices and techniques for sensing position, force, and torque. Devices described herein may include a light emitter, photodetectors, and a curved reflector. The light emitter may project light onto the curved reflector, which may reflect portions of that projected light onto one or more of the photodetectors. Based on the illuminances measured at the photodetectors, the position of the curved reflector may be determined. In some implementations, the curved reflector and the light emitter may be elastically coupled via one or more spring elements; in these implementations, a force vector representing a magnitude and direction of a force applied against the curved reflector may be determined based on the position of the curved reflector.

Abstract: A manifold system for balancing particle delivery from multiple discharge outlets includes a diverter subassembly movably mounted in a manifold for balancing discharge from the outlets. The manifold system is disclosed in an agricultural air seeder application, with the particles comprising tubes and the discharge outlets being connected to ground-engaging tools for depositing seeds in space, subsurface locations in a crop field. Automated and manually-adjustable embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A harvesting machine capable of automatic adjustment, comprising a plurality of acoustic material flow sensors, a control system, a processor, and application software, wherein the plurality of acoustic material flow sensors are mounted internal to the harvesting machine at points of crop material flow and are capable of sensing an amount of crop material passing by them. The control system operates in a cause-and-affect mode for interactively enabling manual or automatic responses to Mass Material Distribution (MMD) information and equipment-related performance parameters. An interactive combine control method is also provided.

Abstract: The present application discloses implementations that relate to devices and techniques for sensing position, force, and torque. Devices described herein may include a light emitter, photodetectors, and a curved reflector. The light emitter may project light onto the curved reflector, which may reflect portions of that projected light onto one or more of the photodetectors. Based on the illuminances measured at the photodetectors, the position of the curved reflector may be determined. In some implementations, the curved reflector and the light emitter may be elastically coupled via one or more spring elements; in these implementations, a force vector representing a magnitude and direction of a force applied against the curved reflector may be determined based on the position of the curved reflector.