US 12,457,934 B2
Residue sensing and cleaning system
Nathan R. Vandike, Geneseo, IL (US); and Martin Unterpaintner, Saarbruecken (DE)
Assigned to Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US)
Filed by DEERE & COMPANY, Moline, IL (US)
Filed on Jan. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/151,812.
Prior Publication US 2024/0224860 A1, Jul. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. A01D 41/127 (2006.01); B60S 1/16 (2006.01)
CPC A01D 41/1276 (2013.01) [A01D 41/1278 (2013.01); B60S 1/163 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for monitoring an accumulation of a residue on a transmission surface of a sensor of an agricultural machine, the method comprising:
analyzing a first information captured by the sensor to determine a first value corresponding to at least one of (1) the accumulation of the residue on the transmission surface, and (2) an interference of the residue with the sensor capturing the first information through at least the transmission surface;
determining whether the first value satisfies a first threshold;
generating, in response to determining the first value does not satisfy the first threshold, a first signal indicating the accumulation of the residue on at least a portion of the transmission surface;
analyzing a second information captured by the sensor, after the generating of the first signal, to determine a second value corresponding to at least one of (1) the accumulation of the residue on the transmission surface, and (2) an interference of the residue with the sensor capturing the first information through at least the transmission surface;
determining whether the second value for the transmission surface satisfies a second threshold, the second threshold being different than the first threshold; and
automatically activating, in response to the second value being determined to not satisfy the second threshold, an operation by a cleaning system of the agricultural machine.