公开(公告)号：WO1997037372A1

公开(公告)日：1997-10-09

申请号：PCT/US1997005508

申请日：1997-04-01

Applicant: PATCHEN, INC.

Inventor： PATCHEN, INC. ,  BECK, James, L. ,  KINTER, Malcolm, L.

IPC: H01J40/14

CPC classification number: A01M21/00 ,  A01M7/0089 ,  G01C3/085 ,  G01J1/04 ,  G01J1/0407 ,  G01J1/0422 ,  G01J1/0437 ,  G01J1/44 ,  G01J3/42 ,  G01J3/50 ,  G01J3/501 ,  G01J2001/4242 ,  G01N21/255 ,  G01N2021/8466

Abstract: Weeds (100) growing around the bases of the stalks of cotton plant (101) growing in a row (105 and 105A) in a cotton field are sprayed with herbicide without spraying the cotton stalks (101) or wasting herbicide on bare ground (107). The cotton plants are adequately mature that their stalks exhibit a significantly different spectral reflectance characteristic than the weeds typically growing amid the cotton. The cotton plants are adequately tall that the majority of the leaves of the cotton plants are disposed outside the area which can be sprayed using an electronically-controlled valve and nozzle (103). Light is transmitted toward an object (a cotton stalk, a weed, or soil) in the row and the reflected light is analyzed. If the object has a spectral characteristic of a growing weed, then the valve is activated and the object is sprayed with herbicide. If the object does not have the spectral characteristic of a growing weed, then the valve is not activated and the object is not sprayed with herbicide.

Abstract translation: 在棉田中连续生长（105和105A）的棉花植物（101）茎的基部生长的杂草（100）用除草剂喷洒，而不将棉花秆（101）或除草剂除草剂暴露在裸地（107 ）。 棉花植物已经充分成熟，它们的茎表现出与通常在棉花中生长的杂草显着不同的光谱反射率特征。 棉花植物足够高，使得棉花植物的大部分叶子布置在可以使用电子控制的阀和喷嘴（103）喷射的区域的外部。 光朝向该行中的物体（棉秆，杂草或土壤）传递，并且分析反射光。 如果物体具有不断增长的杂草的光谱特征，则阀被激活，物体用除草剂喷洒。 如果物体不具有不断增长的杂草的光谱特征，则阀不被激活，并且物体不被除草剂喷洒。

公开(公告)号：WO1996002817A1

公开(公告)日：1996-02-01

申请号：PCT/US1995008237

申请日：1995-07-14

Applicant: PATCHEN INC.

Inventor： PATCHEN INC. ,  BECK, James, L. ,  KINTER, Malcolm, L.

IPC: G01M09/04

CPC classification number: G01J3/42 ,  A01M7/0089 ,  A01M21/00 ,  G01C3/085 ,  G01J1/04 ,  G01J1/0407 ,  G01J1/0422 ,  G01J1/0437 ,  G01J1/4228 ,  G01J1/44 ,  G01J3/0205 ,  G01J3/0216 ,  G01J3/0229 ,  G01J3/50 ,  G01J3/501 ,  G01J2001/4242 ,  G01N21/255 ,  G01N2021/8466

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.

Abstract translation: 光学接近传感器（1）在场中产生指示对象（14A）的距离（D1）的信息，并且在一些实施例中还产生指示对象（14A）的光谱反射特性的信息。 指示光谱反射特性的信息可以用于确定场中的物体（14A）是活动植物（14A）还是诸如土壤（10）的另一物体。 从光学传感器（1）发出的用于反射离开物体（14A）的光被调制，使得来自光学传感器的反射光可以与反射的环境太阳光区分开。 光学传感器（1）在场上扫描以在场中映射对象和/或确定作物植物的行的位置。 根据本发明的传感器在农业中具有许多用途，包括喷雾，栽培和车辆引导。

公开(公告)号：WO1998019141A1

公开(公告)日：1998-05-07

申请号：PCT/US1997018501

申请日：1997-10-23

Applicant: PATCHEN, INC.

Inventor： PATCHEN, INC. ,  KINTER, Malcolm, L. ,  BECK, James, L.

IPC: G01J03/50

CPC classification number: G01J3/433 ,  G01J3/10 ,  G01J3/50

Abstract: An agricultural implement (a spray device) differentiates living plants (G(s), CP, PS) growing in a field from background materials (DL, AI, AT GV, DM, C) by detecting a change in slope of a reflectance characteristic (d[log{ref%}]/d[nm]) of objects in a field of view. By using a change in slope of the reflectance characteristic, a small percentage of living plant material in the field of view can be detected and the agricultural implement need not be calibrated to a particular background material. In some embodiments, if the change in slope is determined to exceed a predetermined threshold amount, then it is determined that a weed likely exists in the field of view and a solenoid-operated spray valve is opened at the appropriate time to spray the entire area (including the weed) that was in the field of view with herbicide.

Abstract translation: 农业工具（喷雾装置）通过检测反射特性的斜率变化来区分从背景材料（DL，AI，AT GV，DM，C）在现场生长的活植物（G（s），CP，PS） （d [log {ref％}] / d [nm]）。 通过使用反射率特性的斜率变化，可以检测到在视野中的生物植物材料的一小部分，并且不需要对特定背景材料校准农具。 在一些实施例中，如果确定斜率的变化超过预定的阈值量，则确定在视野中可能存在杂草，并且在适当时间打开电磁操作的喷雾阀以喷射整个区域 （包括杂草）在除草剂领域。

公开(公告)号：EP0900451A1

公开(公告)日：1999-03-10

申请号：EP97920078.0

申请日：1997-04-01

Applicant: Patchen, Inc.

Inventor： BECK, James, L. ,  KINTER, Malcolm, L.

IPC: A01M7 ,  A01M21 ,  G01C3 ,  G01J1 ,  G01J3 ,  G01N21

CPC classification number: A01M21/00 ,  A01M7/0089 ,  G01C3/085 ,  G01J1/04 ,  G01J1/0407 ,  G01J1/0422 ,  G01J1/0437 ,  G01J1/44 ,  G01J3/42 ,  G01J3/50 ,  G01J3/501 ,  G01J2001/4242 ,  G01N21/255 ,  G01N2021/8466

Abstract: Weeds (100) growing around the bases of the stalks of cotton plant (101) growing in a row (105 and 105A) in a cotton field are sprayed with herbicide without spraying the cotton stalks (101) or wasting herbicide on bare ground (107). The cotton plants are adequately mature that their stalks exhibit a significantly different spectral reflectance characteristic than the weeds typically growing amid the cotton. The cotton plants are adequately tall that the majority of the leaves of the cotton plants are disposed outside the area which can be sprayed using an electronically-controlled valve and nozzle (103). Light is transmitted toward an object (a cotton stalk, a weed, or soil) in the row and the reflected light is analyzed. If the object has a spectral characteristic of a growing weed, then the valve is activated and the object is sprayed with herbicide. If the object does not have the spectral characteristic of a growing weed, then the valve is not activated and the object is not sprayed with herbicide.

Abstract translation: 在棉花田中连续生长（105和105A）的棉花植株（101）的茎杆周围生长的杂草（100）喷洒除草剂而不喷洒棉花茎（101）或将除草剂浪费在裸地上（107 ）。 棉花植物已经足够成熟，它们的茎具有明显不同于通常在棉花中生长的杂草的光谱反射特征。 棉花植物足够高，使得棉花植物的大部分叶子布置在可以使用电子控制阀和喷嘴（103）喷洒的区域之外。 光被传输到一行中的物体（棉花秆，杂草或土壤），并分析反射光。 如果物体具有杂草生长的光谱特征，则启动阀门，并用除草剂喷洒物体。 如果物体不具有生长杂草的光谱特性，则阀门不启动，物体不喷洒除草剂。

公开(公告)号：EP0771416A1

公开(公告)日：1997-05-07

申请号：EP95927122.0

申请日：1995-07-14

Applicant: PATCHEN INC.

Inventor： BECK, James, L. ,  KINTER, Malcolm, L.

IPC: A01M7 ,  A01M21 ,  G01C3 ,  G01J1 ,  G01J3 ,  G01N21

CPC classification number: G01J3/42 ,  A01M7/0089 ,  A01M21/00 ,  G01C3/085 ,  G01J1/04 ,  G01J1/0407 ,  G01J1/0422 ,  G01J1/0437 ,  G01J1/4228 ,  G01J1/44 ,  G01J3/0205 ,  G01J3/0216 ,  G01J3/0229 ,  G01J3/50 ,  G01J3/501 ,  G01J2001/4242 ,  G01N21/255 ,  G01N2021/8466

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.