公开(公告)号：AU3371597A

公开(公告)日：1998-01-07

申请号：AU3371597

申请日：1997-06-17

Applicant: PATCHEN INC

Inventor： KINTER MALCOLM L

IPC: A01M7/00 ,  B05B15/00 ,  B05B17/00

Abstract: An agricultural spray implement includes a plurality of removable valve/filter/nozzle cartridges. Each removable cartridge has a housing that retains a high speed solenoid valve and a spray nozzle. When the solenoid valve is open, an agricultural liquid (for example, herbicide) flows through the solenoid valve, through a chamber in the housing, and through the nozzle. To monitor cartridge operation and/or to detect cartridge failures (for example, a solenoid valve that is stuck open or closed or a nozzle that is clogged), a pressure sensor is provided that detects a pressure in the chamber. A chamber pressure that does not change when the solenoid valve is controlled to open and/or close is indicative of cartridge failure. Operation of each of the many spray cartridges of the agricultural spray implement is monitored from a single display.

公开(公告)号：BR9508386A

公开(公告)日：1997-11-18

申请号：BR9508386

申请日：1995-07-14

Applicant: PATCHEN INC

Inventor： BECK JAMES L ,  KINTER MALCOLM L

IPC: A01M7/00 ,  A01M21/00 ,  G01C3/08 ,  G01J1/04 ,  G01J1/42 ,  G01J1/44 ,  G01J3/42 ,  G01J3/50 ,  G01N21/25 ,  G01M9/04 ,  G06M7/00 ,  H01J40/14 ,  A01C23/00 ,  A01G25/00

Abstract: An optical proximity sensor generates information indicative of a distance to an object in a field and in some embodiments also generates information indicative of a spectral reflectance characteristic of the object. The information indicative of the spectral reflectance characteristic can be used to determine whether the object in the field is a living plant or another object such as soil. Light emitted from the optical sensor for reflection off the object is modulated so that reflected light from the optical sensor can be discriminated from reflected ambient sunlight. The optical sensor is scanned over the field to map objects in the field and/or to determine the location of rows of crop plants. A sensor in accordance with the present invention has many uses in agriculture including spraying, cultivation and vehicle guidance.

公开(公告)号：CA2193837A1

公开(公告)日：1996-02-01

申请号：CA2193837

申请日：1995-07-14

Applicant: PATCHEN INC

Inventor： BECK JAMES L ,  KINTER MALCOLM L

IPC: A01M7/00 ,  A01M21/00 ,  G01C3/08 ,  G01J1/04 ,  G01J1/42 ,  G01J1/44 ,  G01N21/00 ,  G01B11/00 ,  G01N21/25 ,  G01N21/84 ,  G02B6/00 ,  G05D1/02

Abstract: An optical proximity sensor (1) generates information indicative of a distance (D1) to an object (14A) in a field and in some embodiments also generates information indicative of a spectral reflectance characteristics of the object (14A). The information indicative of the spectral reflectance characteristic can be used to determine whether the object (14A) in the field is a living plant (14A) or another object such as soil (10). Light emitted from the optical sensor (1) for reflection off the object (14A) is modulated so that reflected light from the optical sensor can be discriminated from reflected ambient sunlight. The optical sensor (1) is scanned over the field to map objects in the field and/or to determine the location of rows of crop plants. A sensor in accordance with the present invention has many uses in agriculture including spraying, cultivation and vehicle guidance.