Abstract: An articulated harvesting combine includes of a forward power processing unit (PPU, 12) and a rear grain cart (14), wherein the PPU carries dual axially mounted engines (36 and 38) with oppositely opposed crankshafts (100 and 102) with one toward the rear grain cart and the other engine away from the rear grain cart, wherein the dual engines share a common radiator, single air conditioning condenser, single alternator, common batteries, common fuel tank and exhaust fluid tank; but have separate hot exhaust treatment system, separate hot exhaust manifolds, and separate side-mounted charge air coolers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a complete engine cooling system for an engine carried by a grain harvesting combine having an internal combustion engine and hot exhaust components, and having a front operator cab. The system includes a generally horizontal fan assembly located atop the harvesting combine for drawing in air, a radiator associated with the engine and over which air flows for engine cooling, and charge air coolers for combustion air cooling, and air conditioning and hydraulic coolers, a centrifugal scroll that takes the drawn in air and removes entrained particles to produce a clean exhaust air and dirty exhaust air; and a filter assembly through which the pre-cleaned exhaust air flows for producing filtered air for admittance into the engine for combustion.

Abstract: Straw chopper assemblies are provided for a harvesting combine of the type having a rotor and cage threshing assembly. The straw chopper assemblies are located on each side of the rotor discharge for accepting material exiting the rotor. Each straw chopper assembly is formed from a curvilinear cage having and interior opening to accept the rotor discharged material, and an opening to distribute chopper straw outside of the harvesting combine. A rotating knife assembly is housed within each curvilinear cage. A stationary knife assembly is movable for the rotating knives to pass between adjacent pairs of stationary knives. Outlets are provided in material communication with the curvilinear cage openings for discharging chopped straw onto the ground adjacent to the harvesting combine. Hoods are located over each of the outlets to directing the discharged chopped straw onto the ground.

Abstract: Disclosed is a harvesting combine rotor cage top cover assembly that includes an overhead roof formed from a substantially horizontal flat section and downwardly angled side sections. A series of substantially parallel vanes are located beneath the overhead roof. Each vane is formed from a substantially flat top section located against the roof horizontal flat section and downwardly laterally extending legs being angled on their sides and having an arcuate bottom. The sides of the vanes are rotatable about a central pivot for promoting or retarding the flow of material in the rotor cage.

Abstract: An improved grain unloader for unloading grain from a grain storage bin of a grain harvesting combine is terminated by a hood having a lower grain exiting opening terminating the unloader wherein the hood reversibly moves laterally outwardly for directing the trajectory of the grain flowing therefrom. The hood has a lower grain exiting opening terminating the unloader wherein the hood includes an upper stationary slanted wall and a lower extendable hood portion, wherein the upper stationary slanted wall directs the grain downwardly when the hood is retracted and downwardly, and outwardly when the hood is extended. A linear actuator is attached between the hood and the unloader. Drawer slides connect the unloader and the hood for movement of the hood.

Abstract: A grain harvesting articulated combine includes a forward crop processing power unit (PPU), a rear grain cart, and an articulation joint that connects the PPU with the rear grain cart. The articulation joint includes a grain auger assembly running from the PPU to the rear grain cart for transferring clean grain from the PPU to the rear grain cart and has a forward end at the PPU and a rear end adjacent to the rear grain cart. The grain auger assembly is housed within a tube with a rotating auger housed therein. A grain yield sensor is carried by the rear grain cart and is located adjacent and to and beside the grain auger assembly wherein the auger housed therewithin throws grain against the grain yield sensor. The auger is terminated by a rotating paddle assembly that throws the grain against the grain yield sensor.

Abstract: A compact printed circuit board assembly includes a printed circuit board (PCB) and a preamplifier subassembly. The preamplifier subassembly includes a preamplifier and an insulating endcap abutting one another and arranged in a plane parallel to the PCB. An electrical via formed within the first insulating endcap provides an electrical connection between a decoupling capacitor and the PCB to reduce noise detectable in current flowing between the preamplifier and a current source.

Abstract: A preamplifier may have a freeze bit that when set, puts the preamplifier in a static state, which prevents the preamplifier from implementing subsequent programming commands. The freeze state may continue until an unfreeze bit is programmed. In a multiple preamplifier system, preamplifiers can be differently and individually configured over a single interface. Preamplifiers may be released from the static state (frozen) by either programming the unfreeze bit (which can release all of the preamps) or by programming the freeze bit to a “0” state (releases the individual preamp). An inversion control circuit can allow inversion of a control signal to a preamplifier. The inversion control circuit may be enabled and disabled based on a physical conductive connection to a logic high voltage or a logic low voltage. One or more programmable control lines can determine whether the inversion function is activated when the inversion control circuit is enabled.

Abstract: A harvesting combine has a forward operator's cab and having a rear, and carrying laterally extending side trim panels from just behind the operator's cab to the rear of the harvesting combine. Deployment arms are pivotally affixed at their proximal ends to the harvesting combine and pivotally affixed to the side trim panels at their distal ends. The deployment arms are generally horizontal when the deployment arms are retracted. The deployment arm distal ends are movable outwardly and upwardly to deploy the side trim panels away from the harvesting combine. A pivoting plank carried by the inside of the side trim panels and deployable from a generally vertical stowed position to a generally horizontal position when the side trim panels have been deployed.

Abstract: Systems and methods of laser bias calibration are presented. A preamplifier circuit may configure a laser current supplied to a laser emitter to be a first laser current of the plurality of laser currents during the writing of one or more first sectors. The preamplifier may further detect one or more gaps in a write power signal while the laser current of the laser emitter is configured to be the first laser current. In response to the detection of the one or more gaps in the write power signal, the preamplifier may configure the laser current supplied to the laser emitter to be a second laser current of the plurality of laser currents during the writing of one or more second sectors. The preamplifier circuit may be utilized in a heat assisted magnetic recording device.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes: a chassis; at least one cleaning sieve carried by the chassis; a grain tank carried by the chassis; an unloader carried by the chassis and configured to unload crop material; and a crop material conveyor carried by the chassis and including a housing having a sieve inlet under the at least one cleaning sieve, a tank outlet coupled to the grain tank, an unloader outlet coupled to the unloader, and an endless conveyor within the housing, the crop material conveyor being configured to switch between a tank feed mode where crop material is conveyed by the endless conveyor out the tank outlet and an unload mode where crop material is conveyed by the endless conveyor out the unloader outlet.

Abstract: An agricultural vehicle includes: a chassis; at least one cleaning sieve carried by the chassis; a grain tank carried by the chassis; an unloader carried by the chassis and configured to unload crop material; and a crop material conveyor carried by the chassis and including a housing having a sieve inlet under the at least one cleaning sieve, a tank outlet coupled to the grain tank, an unloader outlet coupled to the unloader, and an endless conveyor within the housing, the crop material conveyor being configured to switch between a tank feed mode where crop material is conveyed by the endless conveyor out the tank outlet and an unload mode where crop material is conveyed by the endless conveyor out the unloader outlet.

Abstract: Amplifiers, preamplifiers, and other circuits may have registers that are assigned to store data corresponding to certain functions. When the data stored in the registers are no longer needed, the registers may be assigned to store data corresponding to other functions, such as signal acquisition. The registers can be logically grouped into a virtual memory bank. The memory bank may store new data to a first register, and move data from the first register to a second register when new data arrives. In some embodiments, these registers and memory control circuit can be implemented within a preamplifier circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is an articulated harvesting combine of a forward power processing unit (PPU) having a forward set of wheel assemblies and a rear grain cart connected by an articulating joint assembly. Bonus sieves assemblies are located in the outer rear of the PPU for accepting grain from concaves and grates assemblies located forward of the bonus sieves assemblies. The bonus sieves assemblies accept tailings from the concaves and grates assemblies for additional separation of grain from material other than grain (MOG). New and separate airflow is provided for the bonus sieves. The bonus sieves tailings are returned to the bonus sieves for rethreshing, optionally after being particulated and air separation performed.

Abstract: A harvesting combine has a forward operator's cab and having a rear, and carrying laterally extending side trim panels from just behind the operator's cab to the rear of the harvesting combine. Deployment arms are pivotally affixed at their proximal ends to the harvesting combine and pivotally affixed to the side trim panels at their distal ends. The deployment arms are generally horizontal when the deployment arms are retracted. The deployment arm distal ends are movable outwardly and upwardly to deploy the side trim panels away from the harvesting combine. A pivoting plank carried by the inside of the side trim panels and deployable from a generally vertical stowed position to a generally horizontal position when the side trim panels have been deployed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a harvesting combine rotor cage top cover assembly that includes an overhead roof formed from a substantially horizontal flat section and downwardly angled side sections. A series of substantially parallel vanes are located beneath the overhead roof. Each vane is formed from a substantially flat top section located against the roof horizontal flat section and downwardly laterally extending legs being angled on their sides and having an arcuate bottom. The sides of the vanes are rotatable about a central pivot for promoting or retarding the flow of material in the rotor cage.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for detecting mode hopping in a laser diode or other optical energy source in heat-assisted magnetic recording. An output power of the laser diode or other optical energy source is measured and the output power is differentiated over time to determine a rate of change. If it is determined that the rate of change exceeds a threshold value, a fault signal is asserted indicating a potential mode hopping event.

Abstract: A preamplifier circuit can include a control line dedicated to receive a control signal that corresponds to indicating a specific register of the preamplifier circuit, which can allow the preamplifier to switch between utilizing two or more registers to control a current output of the preamplifier circuit. The preamplifier circuit may also have a serial input to program multiple registers of the preamplifier circuit in a serial fashion. In some embodiments, the current output may be a laser bias current. The preamplifier may adjust an output current that drives a laser emitter based on a control signal indicating which specific registers controls the output current. Further, a controller, such as a system-on-chip controller, may selectively vary the control signal to affect the current output of the preamplifier circuit. These systems and methods may be particularly useful for lasers and heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR).

Abstract: Disclosed is a grain harvesting articulated combine of a forward PPU, a rear grain cart, and an articulation joint that connects the forward PPU with the rear grain cart. The rear grain cart includes an ascending lift auger assembly that receives clean grain from the forward PPU and transports it upwardly for dumping into the rear grain cart. A generally horizontal drag auger assembly moves clean grain to a lower a lift auger assembly. A clean grain off-loading auger assembly is connected to the lower lift auger assembly by a slew bearing. The clean grain off-loading auger is retractable about its upper end and its upper end assembly is terminated with a spout adapted to direct clean grain generally downwardly. The clean grain off-loading auger assembly is rotatable from a grain off-loading position to a home position.

Abstract: Disclosed are straw chopper assemblies for a harvesting combine of the type having a rotor and cage threshing assembly. The straw chopper assemblies are located on each side of the rotor discharge for accepting material exiting the rotor. Each straw chopper assembly is formed from a curvilinear cage having and interior opening to accept the rotor discharged material, and an opening to distribute chopper straw outside of the harvesting combine. A rotating knife assembly is housed within each curvilinear cage. A stationary knife assembly is movable for the rotating knives to pass between adjacent pairs of stationary knives. Outlets are provided in material communication with the curvilinear cage openings for discharging chopped straw onto the ground adjacent to the harvesting combine. Hoods are located over each of the outlets to directing the discharged chopped straw onto the ground.