Seed Flow Sensing Using Sensor Duty Cycle in Air Seeders
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical sensors used in air seeders for detecting seed or fertilizer flow rates are unreliable and inaccurate for higher flow crops due to their limited cross-sectional area, which prevents them from sensing individual particles effectively.
Innovation Solution
The use of duty cycle measurements from sensors to determine seed or particle flow rates, where the duty cycle is correlated with particle frequency to estimate population metrics, allowing for more accurate flow rate determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If typical optical sensors with small cross-sectional area (25 mm or 32 mm) are used, then the sensor size and cost are kept manageable, but the particle count accuracy deteriorates for higher flow crops like wheat or fertilizer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from binary detection (particle detected/not detected) to duty cycle measurement (percentage of time sensor is blocked). This allows accurate flow rate determination without requiring a larger sensor cross-sectional area, resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and sensor size.
2Reliability
If the sensor cross-sectional area is increased to sense individual particles in high flow crops, then particle detection accuracy improves, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of physically enlarging the sensor, the patent changes the measurement approach to duty cycle, which maintains reliability for high flow crops without increasing device complexity. The same sensor hardware can be used across different crop types by adjusting the measurement methodology.
3Measurement precision
If duty cycle measurement is implemented to determine flow rates, then accuracy for high flow crops improves, but the measurement and calculation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses duty cycle feedback from the sensor to continuously monitor and determine particle flow rates. This feedback mechanism enables accurate measurement of high flow crops while using standard sensor hardware, balancing precision with manageable system complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method provides a more reliable and accurate means of determining seed or fertilizer flow rates, even for higher flow crops, by leveraging the duty cycle of sensors to estimate particle frequency and population metrics.
Implementation Method 1
Air seeders have a primary distribution system and a secondary distribution system. Seeds and optionally fertilizer are fed from hoppers into the primary distribution system and are conveyed by air to the secondary distribution system.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, an electronic system comprises a display device to display data and processing logic coupled to the display device. The processing logic is configured to determine a duty cycle of at least one sensor for sensing flow of a product or particle through a product or particle line of an agricultural implement and to determine an amount of product or particles flowing through a line of the agricultural implement based on the duty cycle of the at least one sensor.