Forage Harvester Crop Quality Control Using Conventional Camera Imaging

The patent replaces expensive high-speed cameras with conventional digital cameras that can be easily replaced or are already available (e.g., smartphone cameras). The focus shifts from capturing individual high-speed moments to capturing representative samples that suffice for quality assessment, eliminating the need for costly high-speed imaging equipment while maintaining adequate measurement precision for controlling harvested crop properties.

Instead of directly observing the high-speed crop flow through complex imaging systems, the patent uses conventional cameras to capture images of the harvested crop in a more controlled environment (e.g., on the loading container). These images serve as copies that adequately represent the crop quality without requiring the complexity of high-speed capture systems, allowing for sufficient analysis of cut length and kernel processing quality.

The patent introduces an intermediary approach where the conventional camera captures images of the harvested crop in a controlled environment (on the loading container) rather than directly in the high-speed crop flow. This intermediary positioning allows the use of simple camera technology while still achieving adequate measurement precision, as the images are captured when the crop is already in a state suitable for quality assessment, bridging the gap between simplicity and accuracy.

The system uses the images captured by the conventional camera to determine quality parameters (cut length, non-separated kernels) and feeds this information back to control the operating parameters of the forage harvester. This feedback loop enables real-time adjustments based on the image analysis, maintaining measurement precision through continuous monitoring and adjustment even though the camera itself is conventional rather than high-speed.

The patent employs conventional digital cameras that are simpler, cheaper, and more readily available than high-speed imaging equipment. These cameras can be easily replaced or are already part of existing vehicles (e.g., smartphones), eliminating the need for complex high-speed capture systems while maintaining the ability to perform real-time quality control through image analysis of the harvested crop on the loading container.

The system captures images of the harvested crop at a point where the crop is already in a suitable state for quality assessment (on the loading container), rather than attempting to capture it during high-speed transport. This preliminary positioning of the crop in a measurable state allows for real-time control using simple camera technology, as the crop is already in the optimal position for imaging when the measurement is needed.