US 12,228,537 B2
Agricultural machines comprising capacitive sensors, and related methods and apparatus
Friedrich Robert Honeyman, Hesston, KS (US)
Assigned to AGCO Corporation, Duluth, GA (US)
Appl. No. 17/906,451
Filed by AGCO Corporation, Duluth, GA (US)
PCT Filed Apr. 7, 2021, PCT No. PCT/IB2021/052877
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 15, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/214579, PCT Pub. Date Oct. 28, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/015,204, filed on Apr. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0136092 A1, May 4, 2023
Int. Cl. G01N 27/22 (2006.01); A01D 41/127 (2006.01); G01N 33/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01N 27/223 (2013.01) [A01D 41/127 (2013.01); A01D 41/1277 (2013.01); G01N 27/226 (2013.01); G01N 33/0098 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An agricultural machine, comprising:
a vehicle frame; and
a capacitive sensor carried by the vehicle frame, the capacitive sensor comprising:
a transmitter assembly comprising a signal driver, at least one guard driver, and at least one sensing circuit configured to detect an output of the signal driver;
at least one sensing electrode powered by the signal driver; and
a plurality of guard electrodes powered by the at least one guard driver;
wherein the guard electrodes are oriented such that a first electric field emanating from the at least one sensing electrode is shaped at least in part by a second electric field emanating from at least one guard electrode of the plurality of guard electrodes.