US 12,449,540 B2
Method for detecting plant growth amount, plant sensor, and fertilizing apparatus
Shugo Akiyama, Tokyo-to (JP)
Assigned to TOPCON CORPORATION, Tokyo-to (JP)
Filed by TOPCON Corporation, Tokyo-to (JP)
Filed on Sep. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/481,587.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-160877 (JP), filed on Sep. 25, 2020; and application No. 2021-094249 (JP), filed on Jun. 4, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0099835 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
Int. Cl. G01S 17/89 (2020.01); A01C 15/00 (2006.01); G01N 21/55 (2014.01); G01S 7/48 (2006.01); G01S 7/481 (2006.01); G01S 7/487 (2006.01)
CPC G01S 17/89 (2013.01) [A01C 15/005 (2013.01); G01N 21/55 (2013.01); G01S 7/4817 (2013.01); G01S 7/4876 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for detecting a plant growth amount comprising:
performing a scan using a pulsed distance measuring lights with two respective wavelengths, of which reflectances are different with respect to a content of a nitrogen, by a laser scanner, separating said two wavelengths, receiving separated lights,
detecting a distance measurement value and a light amount for each pulsed distance measuring light and for each of said two wavelengths, detecting a height of a crop based on said distance measurement value, detecting a received light amount ratio of said two wavelengths, and detecting a growth condition of said crop based on said detected height and said received light amount ratio.