US 11,737,386 B2
Agricultural operation monitoring apparatus, systems and methods
Matt Morgan, Peoria, IL (US); Mike Strnad, Delavan, IL (US); Dale Koch, Tremont, IL (US); Jason Stoller, Eureka, IL (US); Brian McMahon, Deer Creek, IL (US); and Troy Plattner, Goodfield, IL (US)
Assigned to CLIMATE LLC, Saint Louis, MO (US)
Filed by CLIMATE LLC, Saint Louis, MO (US)
Filed on Jun. 16, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/902,265.
Application 16/902,265 is a continuation of application No. 15/736,745, granted, now 10,681,861, previously published as PCT/US2016/037702, filed on Jun. 15, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/279,995, filed on Jan. 18, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2020/0375090 A1, Dec. 3, 2020
Int. Cl. A01C 5/06 (2006.01); A01C 7/20 (2006.01); A01B 47/00 (2006.01); A01C 21/00 (2006.01); G01N 21/359 (2014.01); G06V 10/60 (2022.01); G01N 33/24 (2006.01); G01N 21/3554 (2014.01); G06V 10/56 (2022.01); A01B 79/00 (2006.01)
CPC A01C 21/007 (2013.01) [A01C 5/068 (2013.01); A01C 7/201 (2013.01); G01N 21/359 (2013.01); G06V 10/60 (2022.01); A01B 79/005 (2013.01); A01C 7/203 (2013.01); G01N 21/3554 (2013.01); G01N 33/24 (2013.01); G01N 2033/245 (2013.01); G06V 10/56 (2022.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A control and monitoring system for an agricultural implement having a plurality of row units, the control and monitoring system comprising:
a reflectivity sensor configured to generate a reflectivity signal related to reflectivity of soil worked by at least one of said row units;
a camera configured to capture images of a seed trench opened by an opening assembly of at least one of said row units, the camera being disposed on a shank extension forward of seeds being deposited in the seed trench by at least one of said row units;
a processor in data communication with said reflectivity sensor and said camera, said processor configured to calculate a statistical variation in said reflectivity signal; and
a monitoring device configured to display a representation of the statistical variation and one or more of the images captured by the camera.