US 11,747,464 B2
Agricultural detection device and a detection method for sensing agricultural objects
Ernst Luber, Neukirchen (DE); and Philipp Seitz, Hirschbach (DE)
Assigned to Pepperl + Fuchs SE, Mannheim (DE)
Filed by Pepperl+Fuchs SE, Mannheim (DE)
Filed on Aug. 5, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/531,723.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2018 006 128.1 (DE), filed on Aug. 3, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0041639 A1, Feb. 6, 2020
Int. Cl. G01S 13/86 (2006.01); G01N 33/02 (2006.01); A01M 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 13/862 (2013.01) [G01N 33/025 (2013.01); A01M 7/0089 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An agricultural detection device comprising:
a sensor unit comprising a first sensor with a first directivity, the first sensor being configured to emit a first transmission signal and to receive a first reflection signal;
an evaluation unit; and
a control unit,
wherein the first sensor has a second directivity and emits a second sensor signal with the second directivity and receives a second reflection signal, or the sensor unit comprises a second sensor arranged adjacent to the first sensor with a second directivity for emitting the second transmission signal and for receiving the second reflection signal,
wherein the first directivity is smaller in width than the second directivity,
wherein the control unit switches between the first directivity and the second directivity,
wherein the evaluation unit ascertains at least a structure of plants, a height value and a density of the plants from the first reflection signal and the second reflection signal,
wherein the evaluation unit determines a horizontal distance between neighboring plants from the first reflection signal and the second reflection signal, and
wherein the sensor unit is provided on a spray boom of a field sprayer of a vehicle, the sensor unit being arranged adjacent to at least one spray nozzle of the spray boom.