Combine Harvester Camera Parameter Adjustment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural harvesting machines face inefficiencies in adjusting camera parameters for analyzing crop flow images, as settings and analysis results are displayed on different monitors, making real-time adjustments of camera sensitivity for determining broken grain and non-grain fractions difficult.

Innovation Solution

The camera parameters are adjusted by simultaneously displaying the real image of the crop flow, the determined crop parameters, and a camera parameter change module on a common monitor, allowing operators to compare and adjust camera sensitivity in real-time to match the actual crop conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If camera parameters are adjusted using separate monitors for setting and display, then the system provides dedicated control and information display, but the operator cannot efficiently adjust camera sensitivity in real-time to match actual crop conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera parameter adjustment efficiencyVSAvoidtime for camera sensitivity adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the camera parameter setting interface and the crop parameter display interface into a single integrated display unit. This allows the operator to simultaneously view the real image of crop flow, the determined crop parameters (broken grain fraction, non-grain fraction), and the camera parameter adjustment controls in one location, enabling immediate comparison and adjustment without switching between separate monitors or menus.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Measurement precision

If camera parameters are adjusted without real-time visual feedback, then the system maintains simple display architecture, but the operator cannot accurately correlate parameter changes with actual crop conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera sensitivity calibration accuracyVSAvoiddisplay system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the display unit shows both the real image of the crop flow and the determined crop parameters simultaneously with the camera parameter adjustment controls. This allows the operator to immediately see how changes in camera parameters affect the captured image and the calculated crop parameters, enabling precise calibration by comparing the visual representation with the analyzed data in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3466238B1Agricultural harvester
Publication Date: 2022.05.04 CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
  • EP3466238B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3466238B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to an agricultural harvesting machine (1), in particular a combine harvester (1), with a control arrangement (2) comprising a camera (3) for recording a series of images of a passing crop stream, an evaluation device (4) for determining the crop parameter "broken grain fraction" (BKA) of the crop stream and/or the crop parameter "non-grain fraction" (NKA) of the crop stream based on an image analysis of the recorded image series, a visualization device (5) for displaying the determined crop parameter(s) "broken grain fraction" (BKA) and/or "non-grain fraction" (NKA) and a camera adjustment device (6) for operator-side modification of at least one camera parameter of the camera (3).It is proposed that the camera parameter(s) be/are changeable in such a way that the visualization device (5) displays the real image (10) of the crop flow, the real determined crop parameter(s) "broken grain fraction" (BKA) and/or "non-grain fraction" (NKA) and a camera parameter change module (9) of the camera adjustment device (6) simultaneously in such a way that a change of the camera parameter(s) can be coupled to a real-time comparison of the crop parameter(s) "broken grain fraction" (BKA) and/or "non-grain fraction" (NKA) determined by the evaluation device (4) with the real conditions shown in the real image (10).