Seed spacing monitoring system for use in an agricultural seeder

Abstract

A seed spacing monitoring system is used In an agricultural seeder for planting seeds. The agricultural seeder has a furrow opener, a seed meter for metering seed to be dispensed in the furrow, and a furrow closer to cover the seed in the furrow. The seed spacing monitoring system includes a detector supported to detect seeds in the furrow prior to the seeds being covered. The detector provides a plurality of seed presence signals, with each seed presence signal being indicative of a respective seed present in the furrow. A speed sensor is associated with the seeder and provides a speed signal indicating a ground speed of the seeder. An electrical processor receives the plurality of seed presence signals and the speed signal. The electrical processor determines a seed spacing, dependent upon the seed presence signals and the speed signal.

1 . A seed spacing monitoring system for use In an agricultural seeder for planting seeds, the agricultural seeder having a furrow opener, a seed meter for metering seeds to be dispensed in the furrow, and a furrow closer to cover the seeds in the furrow, said seed spacing monitoring system comprising:
 a detector supported to detect seeds in the furrow prior to the seeds being covered, said detector providing a plurality of seed presence signals, each said seed presence signal being indicative of a respective seed actually present in the furrow, said detector providing a signal reflecting a property of the seed different than the property of the surrounding furrow;   a speed sensor associated with said seeder and providing a speed signal indicating a ground speed of the seeder; and   an electrical processor receiving said plurality of seed presence signals and said speed signal, said electrical processor determining a seed spacing dependent upon said seed presence signals and said speed signal.   
     
     
         2 . The seed spacing monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein said detector comprises one of:
 a video camera;   an infra-red (IR) device;   a capacitive sensor; and   a microwave sensor.   
     
     
         3 . The seed spacing monitoring system of  claim 2 , wherein said IR device comprises one of an IR sensor, IR camera and IR scanner, and further including a seed temperature conditioner for varying a temperature of the seed prior to being deposited in the furrow. 
     
     
         4 . The seed spacing monitoring system of  claim 3 , wherein said seed temperature conditioner is a heater which elevates the temperature of the seed between 1 to 10° F. 
     
     
         5 . The seed spacing monitoring system of  claim 1 , wherein said processor receives said plurality of seed presence signals and establishes a plurality of times, each said time representing a time between detections of adjacent seeds in the furrow. 
     
     
         6 . The seed spacing monitoring system of  claim 5 , wherein said electrical processor determines said seed spacing based upon said plurality of times. 
     
     
         7 . The seed spacing monitoring system of  claim 5 , wherein said electrical processor determines a statistical measure of variability of said seed spacing, based upon distances between the seeds. 
     
     
         8 . The seed spacing monitoring system of  claim 7 , wherein said statistical measure of variability is a standard deviation. 
     
     
         9 . The seed spacing monitoring system of  claim 1 , further including a geo-referencing system, and wherein said electrical processor geo-references each said seed presence signal using said geo-reference system. 
     
     
         10 . The seed spacing monitoring system of  claim 9 , wherein said electrical processor determines said seed spacing based upon said geo-referenced seed presence signals. 
     
     
         11 . The seed spacing monitoring system of  claim 9 , wherein said geo-referencing system is a global positioning system. 
     
     
         12 . The seed spacing monitoring system of  claim 1 , further including a mirror interposed between said detector and the furrow. 
     
     
         13 . The seed spacing monitoring system of  claim 1 , further including a fan positioned and configured for blowing air to inhibit dust from interfering with operation of said detector. 
     
     
         14 . An agricultural seeder for planting seeds in soil, said seeder comprising:
 a row unit having a furrow opener for opening a furrow in the soil, a seed meter for metering seeds to be dispensed in the furrow, a furrow closer to cover the seeds in the furrow with soil, and a detector configured and arranged to sense seed actually deposited in the furrow between the furrow opener and the furrow closer, said detector providing a signal reflecting a property of the seed different than the property of the surrounding furrow.   
     
     
         15 . The agricultural seeder of  claim 14 , wherein said detector comprises one of:
 a video camera;   an infra-red (IR) device;   a capacitive sensor; and   a microwave sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The agricultural seeder of  claim 14 , wherein said detector provides a plurality of seed presence signals, each said seed presence signal being indicative of a respective seed present in the furrow, and further including an electrical processor which receives said plurality of seed presence signals and establishes a plurality of times, each said time representing a time between detections of adjacent seeds in the furrow. 
     
     
         17 . The agricultural seeder of  claim 14 , further including a geo-referencing system and an electrical processor, said electrical processor geo-referencing each said seed presence signal using said geo-reference system, said electrical processor determining said seed spacing based upon said geo-referenced seed presence signals. 
     
     
         18 . The agricultural seeder of  claim 14 , further including a tool bar and a second row unit, each of said row unit and second row unit being coupled with said tool bar and being substantially identically configured. 
     
     
         19 . A seed spacing detection method for detecting seed spacing of seeds placed in a furrow by a seeder, said method comprising the steps of:
 opening a furrow in the soil;   metering seeds to be deposited into the furrow;   depositing the metered seeds into the furrow;   detecting actual seeds in the furrow before the seeds are covered with soil by detecting a property of the seed different from the furrow;   measuring a ground speed of the seeder; and   determining a seed spacing, dependent upon a spatial attribute of the detected seeds and the measured ground speed.   
     
     
         20 . The seed spacing detection method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of varying a temperature of the seed prior to being deposited in the furrow. 
     
     
         21 . The seed spacing detection method of  claim 19 , wherein said step of detecting seed in the furrow includes detecting at least three seeds in the furrow, and including the further step of determining a statistical measure of variability of said seed spacing, based upon distances between adjacent seeds in the furrow. 
     
     
         22 . The seed spacing detection method of  claim 21 , wherein said statistical measure of variability is a standard deviation.