US 12,082,521 B2
System and method for detecting viability of seeds
Scott C. Johnson, Fargo, ND (US); Michael L. Rhodes, Richfield, MN (US); and Matt D. Bartelson, Bettendorf, IA (US)
Assigned to Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US)
Filed by Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US)
Filed on Mar. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/301,133.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/706,264, filed on Aug. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0039310 A1, Feb. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. A01C 7/10 (2006.01); A01C 1/06 (2006.01); A01C 1/08 (2006.01); A01C 7/08 (2006.01); A01C 23/04 (2006.01)
CPC A01C 7/105 (2013.01) [A01C 1/06 (2013.01); A01C 7/082 (2013.01); A01C 1/08 (2013.01); A01C 23/047 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for detecting viability of seed, the system comprising:
a seed meter comprising a rotor with slots that are spaced apart from each other, each slot having a suitable shape and size to receive a corresponding seed, the seed meter having an entrance port for receiving seed into the seed meter and an exit port for seed exiting from the seed meter, where each exiting seed is spaced spatially from any prior seed or later seed exiting the exit port;
a conveyer, comprising a retaining member, for receiving the seed from the exit port, the conveyer conveying seed exiting the seed meter to a seed discharge port for depositing or planting the seed in a furrow in the ground;
an evaluation channel section through which a series of particular seeds pass;
a first source of an electromagnetic signal for illuminating or radiating the evaluation channel section, where the electromagnetic signal comprises a pulse with at a reference phase and reference magnitude;
a first receiver of the electromagnetic signal, the receiver comprising a detector to measure a seed characteristic based on an observed phase and an observed magnitude;
an evaluator to evaluate a first difference between the reference phase and the observed phase and a second difference between the reference magnitude and observed magnitude to estimate a characteristic of one or more seeds in the series of particular seeds in the evaluation channel section; and
a seed treatment device for spraying or treating discharged seed with a seed treatment based on the estimated characteristic of the particular seeds.