US 12,256,656 B2
Agricultural trench depth sensing systems, methods, and apparatus
Michael Strnad, Delavan, IL (US); and Nicholas Minarich, Shorewood, IL (US)
Assigned to Precision Planting LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
Appl. No. 17/270,198
Filed by Precision Planting LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
PCT Filed Aug. 16, 2019, PCT No. PCT/IB2019/056949
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 22, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/039322, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 27, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/722,386, filed on Aug. 24, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0307236 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
Int. Cl. A01B 79/00 (2006.01); A01B 27/00 (2006.01); A01B 63/00 (2006.01); A01B 79/02 (2006.01); A01C 5/06 (2006.01); G01B 11/22 (2006.01); A01C 7/08 (2006.01)
CPC A01B 79/005 (2013.01) [A01B 27/005 (2013.01); A01B 63/008 (2013.01); A01B 79/02 (2013.01); A01C 5/064 (2013.01); G01B 11/22 (2013.01); A01C 7/08 (2013.01)] 41 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An agricultural trench depth sensing system, comprising:
an agricultural row unit including an opening disc configured to open a trench in a soil surface as the row unit advances in a forward direction of travel through a field; and
a light source disposed above said trench and configured to direct light downwardly toward said trench;
a receiver disposed at an angle relative to said light source to receive reflected light from said light source reflected from said trench and soil surface;
a sensor connected to said receiver, said sensor generating an output signal based on said reflected light;
wherein said light source, said receiver and said sensor are mounted on an appurtenance supported from a frame member of said row unit, said appurtenance extending rearwardly from said opening disc and longitudinally aligned with said trench, and wherein said appurtenance is a seed firmer, said seed firmer having a ground engaging portion disposed in said trench;
a monitoring system in communication with said sensor, said monitor system configured to generate a data frame based on said sensor output signal, said data frame containing a triangulated line pattern and intensity values of said reflected light along said triangulated line pattern indicative of a measured depth of said trench;
a GPS receiver in communication with said monitoring system;
whereby said monitor system is configured to associate GPS coordinates from said GPS receiver with each said data frame.