FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The various embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system for substantially automating the quality control of a measuring device carried by a harvesting device for measuring quality parameters in a harvested crop.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Farmers and agricultural researchers often measure quality parameters such as, for example, moisture, digestibility, starch content, oil content, sugar content, protein content, and/or neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content. Such quality parameters may be measured using sensor devices mounted on a harvesting device (such as a chopper or combine, for example).
[0003] Sensor devices (such as near-infrared reflection (NIR) devices, for example) used to measure harvest quality parameters are often exposed to the elements (such as rain, dust, and light). Because the output of such sensor devices may be affected by slight changes in environmental parameters (such as light, temperature, and humidity, for example), sensor devices carried in conventional sensor device mounts on harvesting devices often record inaccurate measurements of quality parameters. Moreover, conventional sensor device housings configured to carry such sensor devices do not include mechanisms and/or facilities for allowing checks and/or verification procedures that may allow a user to ensure that the sensor devices are operating to specifications during operation of the harvesting device.
[0004] Furthermore, conventional methods for referencing and/or validating the sensor devices may be disruptive to the measurement of the quality parameter and/or may result in substantially inaccurate data. For example, referencing (such as "manual zeroing," for example) and/or validating of sensor devices (such as NIR devices, for example) carried by harvesting devices is typically time consuming and interrupts operations because the harvesting device must be stopped each time the sensor device is referenced and/or validated. Thus, due to time constraints, referencing and/or validation procedures are often not performed often enough to produce optimal harvest quality parameter data.
[0005] Some conventional devices for mounting sensor devices on a harvesting device may include chain-driven rotational devices for moving a sensor device about a central axis such that the sensor device may be selectively aligned with one or more verification references (such as, for example, a white, black, and/or colored tile having known reflectance characteristics). However, because the rotation of such conventional devices is sometimes imprecise, the device sometimes fails to optimally position the sensor device (such as an NIR device) relative to the verification reference. For example, in some cases, it is crucial that the sensor device is positioned at the same position relative to a maximum reflectance reference (such as a white reference tile, for example) as each position on a given reference tile may have slight variations in shade (and therefore, in reflectance). In addition, imprecise movement of the sensor device may also result in an erroneous attempt to reference the sensor device outside the boundaries of the reference tile. Thus, such conventional devices may result in the improper and/or incomplete referencing of the sensor device.
[0006] Therefore, in order to facilitate the economical, reliable, and accurate measurement of quality parameters, there is a need in the art for a system, device, and method that allows for accurate referencing of a quality parameter sensor device mounted on a harvesting device (such as a chopper or combine, for example). Furthermore, there exists a need for a system, device, and method that allows for control of environmental parameters in the measurement environment. There also exists a need for a system, device, and method that allows for real-time validation of the functionality of the sensor device (using, for example, reference crop samples having known characteristics). There further exists a need for a system, device, and method that allows for precise control of the movement of the sensor device relative to one or more referencing and/or validation standards.
[0007] US 6,483,583 discloses a system in accordance with the pre-characterizing section of claim 1.
[0008] EP 1,577,663 discloses a food analyzer which can be installed on a self-propelled food loading unit, and which includes a spectrometer for determining the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation reflected and/or absorbed by a foodstuff loaded by the self-propelled unit; and a processing unit for determining, as a function of the acquired spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, chemical and physical information relative to the elements in the foodstuff.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The various embodiments of the present invention satisfy the needs listed above and provide other technical advantages as described below. Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for measuring a quality parameter of a harvested crop. According to some embodiments, the system may be adapted to be carried by a harvesting device (such as a chopper, for example). According to some embodiments, the system comprises a sensor device configured to be capable of measuring a quality parameter of a harvested crop.
[0010] An aspect the present invention provides a system for measuring a quality parameter of a harvested crop, the system adapted to be carried by a harvesting device such that a sensor device is capable of measuring the quality parameter of a harvested crop, the system comprising: a sensor device enclosure configured to contain the sensor device in a controlled environment defined by at least one environmental parameter; a verification device the verification device being characterized by a known parameter; an actuator device configured to selectively convey the sensor device to a measuring position relative to the harvesting device such that the sensor device is capable of measuring the quality parameter of the harvested crop), the actuator device being further configured to selectively convey the sensor device to a verification position substantially adjacent to the verification device such that the sensor device is capable of measuring a verification parameter of the verification device so as to verify an operating capacity of the sensor device by comparing the known parameter of the verification device to the verification parameter measured by the sensor device when the sensor device is conveyed to the verification position, characterized in that the verification device is disposed within the sensor device enclosure.
[0011] In a n aspect of the present invention provides a system for measuring a quality parameter of a harvested crop, the system adapted to be carried by a harvesting device, the system comprising: a sensor device, the sensor device being capable of measuring a quality parameter of a harvested crop; a sensor device enclosure configured to contain the sensor device in a controlled environment defined by at least one environmental parameter; a verification device, the verification device being characterized by a known parameter; an actuator device configured to selectively convey the sensor device to a measuring position relative to the harvesting device such that the sensor device is capable of measuring the quality parameter of the harvested crop, the actuator device being further configured to selectively convey the sensor device to a verification position substantially adjacent to the verification device such that the sensor device is capable of measuring a verification parameter of the verification device so as to calibrate the sensor device by comparing the known parameter of the verification device to the verification parameter measured by the sensor device when the sensor device is conveyed to the verification position, characterized in that the verification device 60 is disposed within the sensor device enclosure.
[0012] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the system comprises a sensor device enclosure configured to contain the sensor device in a controlled environment defined by at least one environmental parameter. Such system embodiments further comprise a verification device disposed within the sensor device enclosure, wherein the verification device is characterized by a known parameter. The system further comprises an actuator device configured to selectively convey the sensor device to a measuring position relative to the harvesting device such that the sensor device is capable of measuring the quality parameter of the harvested crop. The actuator device is further configured to selectively convey the sensor device to a verification position substantially adjacent to the verification device such that the sensor device is capable of measuring a verification parameter of the verification device. Thus, according to such embodiments, the system may be configured to be capable of verifying the proper operation of the sensor device by comparing the known parameter of the verification device to the verification parameter measured by the sensor device when the sensor device is conveyed to the verification position.
[0013] In some system embodiments, the verification device may include, but is not limited to: a reference tile (such as, for example, black or white reference tiles); a validation crop sample (characterized by a known quality parameter, for example, such as a known moisture content corresponding to a known reflectance); and combinations of such verification standards. In some embodiments (wherein the verification device comprises a reference standard, such as a white or black tile, for example), the known parameter may comprise a known reflectance of the reference standard. Furthermore, the known parameter of the verification device (wherein the verification device comprises a validating crop sample, for example) may include, but is not limited to: a moisture of the validation crop sample; a starch content of the validation crop sample; an oil content of the validation crop sample; a sugar content of the validation crop sample; a protein content of the validation crop sample; a digestibility measure of the validation crop sample; a neutral detergent fiber content of the validation crop sample; and combinations of such known validation parameters.
[0014] Furthermore, according to various system embodiments, the sensor device enclosure may be configured to contain the sensor device in a controlled environment defined by at least one environmental parameter. For example, the sensor device enclosure may comprise a substantially light-reflective material disposed on an outer surface of the sensor device enclosure to reduce the accumulation of heat within the enclosure. In other embodiments, the sensor device enclosure may further comprise an insulating material such that heat transfer between an interior of the sensor device enclosure and an exterior of the sensor device enclosure is minimized. In yet another system embodiment, the system may comprise an air-conditioning device operably engaged with the sensor device enclosure and in fluid communication with the sensor device enclosure via at vent aperture defined in the sensor device enclosure. The air-conditioning device may be configured to control the at least one environmental parameter. Furthermore, the sensor device enclosure may define a vent aperture configured to be operably engaged with a conduit for conveying an air flow to alter the at least one environmental parameter. According to various system embodiments, the controlled environmental parameter within the sensor device enclosure may include, but is not limited to: temperature; humidity; light levels; dust concentration; and combinations of such environmental parameters.
[0015] In some system embodiments, the actuator device may comprise a linear actuator device for conveying the sensor device to at least one of the measuring position and one or more verification positions. According to some such embodiments, the linear actuator device may further comprise a screw drive for conveying the sensor device to at least one of the measuring position and one or more verification positions. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the actuator device may further comprise a plurality of adjustable stops corresponding to a plurality of discrete positions including at least one of the measuring position and one or more verification positions. According to such embodiments, the linear actuator device may be configured to be responsive to the adjustable stops so as to be capable of conveying the sensor device to each of the plurality of discrete positions. In other embodiments, the actuator device may comprise a rotational actuator device for conveying the sensor device to at least one of the measuring position and the verification position. The system may further comprise, a second actuator device configured to selectively convey the verification device relative to the sensor device such that the sensor device is capable of measuring one or more verification parameters of the verification device.
[0016] In an aspect there is provided a method for measuring a quality parameter of a harvested crop, the method comprising: enclosing a sensor device in a sensor device enclosure configured to contain the sensor device in a controlled environment defined by at least one environmental parameter; conveying the sensor device to a verification position substantially adjacent to a verification device, the verification device being characterized by a known parameter; comparing the known parameter of the verification device to a verification parameter measured by the sensor device so as to determine a difference therebetween, when the sensor device is conveyed to the verification position; verifying the operation of the sensor device by comparing the difference determined in the comparing step to a selected upper limit and a selected lower limit; and conveying the sensor device to a measuring position relative to the harvesting device such that the sensor device is capable of measuring the quality parameter of the harvested crop, characterized in that the verification device is disposed within the sensor device enclosure.
[0017] The embodiments of the present invention also provide a method for measuring a quality parameter of a harvested crop. The method comprises steps for enclosing a sensor device in an enclosure configured to contain the sensor device in a controlled environment defined by at least one environmental parameter. The method further comprises conveying the sensor device to a verification position substantially adjacent to a verification device. As described herein, the verification device is disposed within the sensor device enclosure and is characterized by a known parameter. The method also comprises steps for comparing the known parameter of the verification device to a verification parameter measured by the sensor device when the sensor device is conveyed to the verification position and controlling the lower and upper acceptable limits of a detected difference between the known and measured parameter (such as moisture and other constituent contents, for example). Finally, the method further comprises conveying the sensor device to a measuring position relative to the harvesting device such that the sensor device is capable of measuring the quality parameter of the harvested crop.
[0018] Thus the various embodiments of the device and method of the present invention provide many advantages that may include, but are not limited to: providing a substantially dust-free, light-protected, air-conditioned, and/or light-conditioned environment for a sensor device carried by a harvesting device such that the sensor device may be capable of reliably measuring a quality parameter of a harvested crop; providing a system for precisely conveying a sensor device to a plurality of verification and measurement positions within a controlled enclosure such that the sensor device may be reliably referenced, validated and/or used to measure a quality parameter of a harvested crop while being carried on board a harvesting device; and providing a system that allows a sensor device to be reliably referenced and/or validated while in use in an agricultural environment.
[0019] These advantages, and others that will be evident to those skilled in the art, are provided in the system and method of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an enclosed system for measuring a parameter of a harvested crop carried by a harvesting device, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic detailing a sensor device and an actuator device configured to convey the sensor device to various verification and measuring locations, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a display generated by a controller device in communication with the enclosed system, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a sensor device enclosure highlighting features allowing for a controlled environment therein, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a method for measuring a parameter of a harvested crop, according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 shows a schematic detailing a sensor device and a verification device, wherein the sensor device is in a measuring location according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6A shows a schematic detailing a sensor device and a verification device, wherein an actuator has rotated the sensor device to a verification location according to one embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The present inventions now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.
[0022] It should be understood that the term "verification device"
60 as used herein, may refer generally to devices capable of performing both referencing (which may include "zeroing," for example) functions and validation functions. For example, as described further herein the "verification device"
60 may comprise reference tiles
70,
80 for establishing zero, 100%, and/or other reference reflectance values. Furthermore, the term "verification device,"
60 as used herein, may also refer generally to one or more validation check cells
110 (containing validation crop samples
90, for example, as shown in FIG.
2) for validating the operation of the sensor device
20.
[0023] FIG.
1 illustrates an exemplary system
1 for enclosing a sensor device
20 in a sensor device enclosure
10 such that the sensor device
20 may be better equipped to reliably measure a quality parameter of a harvested crop. The system
1 is adapted to be carried by a harvesting device
H, such as a chopper or a combine, for example, such that the system
1 may enable the sensor device
20 to be used and/or quality-controlled while the sensor device
20 is being carried through a relatively harsh agricultural environment (such as, for example, a growing field and/or research plot) characterized by the presence of dust, extreme temperatures, high relative humidity, and changing light levels. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, such environmental parameters may be detrimental to the measurement capabilities of some sensor devices (such as near-infrared reflection (NIR) devices, for example). Thus, system
1 embodiments of the present invention provide a sensor device enclosure
10 configured to contain the sensor device
20 in a controlled environment
30 defined by at least one environmental parameter that may include, but is not limited to: temperature; humidity; light; and combinations of such parameters. As described herein, the sensor device
20 may be configured to be capable of measuring at least one quality parameter of a harvested crop
50 including, but not limited to, moisture, starch content, oil content, sugar content, protein content, digestibility, neutral detergent fiber content, and combinations thereof. According to some embodiments (such as embodiments wherein the sensor device
20 comprises an NIR device), the quality parameter may comprise a reflectance value of the harvested crop
50 (which may correspond to one or more of moisture, starch content, oil content, sugar content, protein content, digestibility, and/or neutral detergent fiber content of the harvested crop). According to such embodiments, the system
1 may comprise a computer
6 wherein the computer
6 is capable of determining one or more quality parameters of the harvested crop
50 based on a detected reflectance. In some embodiments, the computer
6 may be integrated with and/or in communication with the controller
5 described herein (wherein the controller
5 may disposed in a cab
C of the harvesting device
H, for example). As described further herein with respect to FIG.
3, the controller
5 may be configured to be capable of controlling the process of determining one or more quality parameters of the harvested crop
50 as well as controlling the process of referencing and validating the sensor device in either automated or manual mode.
[0024] As described herein, in some system
1 embodiments, the sensor device
20 may comprise a NIR (or VIS-NIR or UV-VIS-NIR or any other region of the electromagnetic spectrum suited to determine constituent content of harvested crops or other matrices). Measurements (such as reflectance) obtained from an NIR device may provide an accurate and relatively inexpensive method for analyzing agricultural materials such as grain or forage in terms of quantifiable quality parameters. According to such embodiments, the NIR device
20 is configured to project light on an object, such as the harvested crop
50, for example, and/or one or more components of the verification device
60. Some of the light incident on the harvested crop
50 (and/or the verification device
60), in turn, reflects off the object to the sensor device
20 which then generates a reflectance value that may be indicative of one or more quality parameters as described herein. While, some system
1 embodiments of the present invention are described herein in the context of a sensor device
20 comprising an NIR device, it should be understood that other sensor devices
20 may also be used to measure one or more quality parameters of the harvested crop
50. For example, according to various system
1 embodiments of the present invention, the sensor device
20 may comprise one or more sensors including, but not limited to: a moisture sensor, a sonar device, a light sensor, a photo detector, or a sensor device utilizing Fourier Transform infrared radiation to measure a quality parameter.
[0025] As shown generally in FIG.
1, the sensor device
20 may be mounted on and/or carried by a harvesting device
H relative to a conveyance channel
40 that may be capable of delivering the harvested crop
50 (and/or a sampling thereof) to the sensor device enclosure
10 (and/or to a position adjacent to the enclosure
10 (as shown generally in FIG.
2)). For example, the arrows shown in FIG.
1 indicate the flow direction of the harvested crop
50 through the conveyance channel
40 (and consequently to a position adjacent to the sensor device enclosure
10 and/or a transparent portion
11 thereof) and to a measuring position
100 (see FIG.
2, for example) relative to the sensor device
20. As shown in FIG.
1, the sensor device enclosure
10 may be carried by the harvesting device
H and positioned relative to the conveyance channel
40 (such as a spout or chute, for example) such that a number of individual grains and/or other particles of the harvested crop
50 pass substantially in front of a transparent portion
11 of the sensor device enclosure
10. The transparent portion
11 may, in some embodiments, comprise a substantially scratch-resistant material such as glass or sapphire, for example. Thus, the sensor device
10 may be capable of determining a quality parameter of a harvested crop
50 by computing an average quality parameter (and/or an average reflectance, as described further herein) for a number of individual grains and/or other particles of the harvested crop
50 as they pass substantially through a measuring position
100 disposed substantially adjacent to the transparent portion
11 of the sensor device enclosure
10 (as shown, for example, in FIG.
2). For example, the system
1 may comprise a computer
6 configured to be capable of computing an average quality parameter (and/or an average reflectance corresponding to such a quality parameter) of the harvested crop
50 as individual grains and/or other particles of the harvested crop
50 pass substantially through a measuring position
100. In some embodiments, the computer
6 may be integrated with and/or in configured to be in communication with the controller
5 described herein with reference to FIG.
3.
[0026] Various system
1 embodiments of the present invention may comprise other conveyance mechanisms for delivering the harvested crop
50 (and/or a sample, thereof) to a measuring position
100 (see FIG.
2, for example) relative to the sensor device
20. For example, in some embodiments, the sensor device enclosure
10 may be carried by a harvesting device
H such that the measuring position
100 of the sensor device
20 (see FIG.
2, for example) is substantially adjacent to an output of the harvesting device (such as an output chute, channel (see element
40, for example), or other conveyance mechanism for carrying the harvested crop
50 from an output of the harvesting device
H to a container (which may also be carried by the harvesting device
H and/or by a support vehicle configured to accompany the harvesting device
H in the agricultural environment. Thus, the harvested crop
50 may be conveyed (via the output, for example) to and/or through the measuring position
100 as described further herein. In other embodiments, the sensor device enclosure
10 may be carried by a harvesting device
H such that the measuring position
100 of the sensor device
20 is substantially adjacent to (directly above, for example) a conveyor
200 (see FIG. 1) carried by the harvesting device
H or adjacent to (directly beside, for example) a conveyance path disposed between a hopper
201 (or weighing bin) and the conveyor
200 such that the sensor device
20 may be capable of measuring the quality parameter of a harvested crop
50 as it falls from the hopper
201 and onto the conveyor
200.
[0027] According to some such embodiments, the actuator device
25 described herein may be used to convey the verification device
60 (such as the reference tiles
70,
80 and/or validating check cells
110, as described further herein) relative to the measurement position
100 of the sensor device
20 such that the sensor device
20 may be positioned substantially stationary relative to the conveyor
200 (and/or relative to a measurement position
100 disposed between a hopper
201 and a the conveyor
200) carried by the harvesting device
H and such that the sensor device
20 may still be referenced and/or validated as described further herein without the need to move and/or actuate the sensor device
20 relative to the measuring position
100.
[0028] As shown in FIGS.
1 and
2, the system
1 comprises a verification device
60 disposed within the sensor device enclosure
10. The verification device
60 may be characterized by a known parameter that is comparable and/or readily convertible to an output of the sensor device
20 such that the sensor device
20 may be referenced and/or validated by measuring some parameter of the verification device
60. The term "verification device"
60 as used herein, may refer generally to devices capable of performing both referencing (including, but not limited to "zeroing") functions and validation functions. For example the "verification device"
60 may comprise reference tiles
70,
80 for establishing zero, 100%, and/or other reference reflectance values in embodiments wherein the sensor device
20 comprises an NIR device. Furthermore, the term "verification device,"
60 as used herein, may also refer generally to one or more validation check cells
110 (containing validation crop samples
90, for example, as shown in FIG.
2) for validating the operation of the sensor device
20. For example, each of the check cells
110 may contain validation crop samples
90 having a known reflectance value or other known parameter. Thus, when the sensor device
20 is conveyed to a position substantially adjacent to one of the check cells
110, the known parameter of the check cell (which may be stored in a memory device integrated with the computer
6 and/or the controller
5 in communication with the system
1) may be directly compared (using the output of chemometric software carried by a computer
6, for example) with the measured parameter output of the sensor device such that the sensor device
20 may, in turn, be validated in the field.
[0029] For example, in system
1 embodiments wherein the sensor device
20 comprises a NIR device, the verification device
60 may comprise one or more reference tiles (such as, for example, a black reference tile
70 for establishing a "substantially no reflectance" and a white reference tile
80 for establishing a "100% reflectance" value for the NIR device so as to "zero" the NIR device. In embodiments wherein the sensor device
20 comprises a NIR device, the term "zeroing" may be defined generally as both: establishing a zero reflectance value standard for the sensor device
20 (by scanning a black reference tile
70, for example); and also establishing a 100% reflectance value for the sensor device
20 (by scanning a white reference tile
80). Furthermore, and as described herein, according to some embodiments, the verification device
60 may further comprise a validation crop sample
90 (see FIG.
2, for example) characterized by a known parameter that may include, but is not limited to: a moisture content of the validation crop sample
90; a starch content of the validation crop sample
90; an oil content of the validation crop sample
90; a sugar content of the validation crop sample
90; a protein content of the validation crop sample
90; a digestibility measure of the validation crop sample
90; a neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of the validation crop sample
90; and combinations of such parameters. Thus, a reflectance value of the validation crop sample
90 (as produced by a sensor device
20 such as a NIR device, for example) may be used to validate the sensor device
20 such that the output of the sensor device
20 may be readily and reliably converted (by a controller
5, for example or a separate computer
6 in communication with the system
1) to one or more quality parameters corresponding to a harvested crop
50. In some system
1 embodiments, the sensor device
20 may comprise a computer
6 either in communication with the sensor device
20 and/or integrated with the sensor device
20 for storing verification measurements and/or conversion factors in a memory device (that may be in communication with and/or integrated with the computer
6). According to such embodiments, the computer
6 may be further configured to be capable of calculating one or more conversion factors (i.e. reflectance to quality parameter conversions using commercially-available chemometric software) based on the interaction of the sensor device
20 with one or more verification devices
60. In some such embodiments, the computer
6 may be integrated with and/or in communication with the controller
5 described herein with reference to FIG.
3.
[0030] In some system
1 embodiments, as shown generally in FIG.
2, the validation crop samples
90 may be contained within corresponding check cells
110. To maintain the chemical, physical, and/or reflectance properties of the validation crop sample
90 at a substantially constant state, the check cell
110 may comprise a substantially transparent and/or substantially fluid-tight material such as, for example, polycarbonate and/or glass. Thus, according to such embodiments, the check cell
110 may prevent the validation crop sample
90 from being exposed to the elements (moisture, dust, and/or ambient air, for example) that may cause the physical properties of the validation crop sample
90 to change over time (which may, in turn, result in a change in a reflectance value of the validation crop sample
90).
[0031] Various system
1 embodiments of the present invention, as shown generally in FIG.
2, may further comprise an actuator device
25 configured to selectively convey the sensor device
20 to a measuring position
100 such that the sensor device
20 is capable of measuring desired parameters of the harvested crop
50. The actuator device
25 is also configured to selectively convey the sensor device
20 to a verification position substantially adjacent to the verification device
60 (such as, for example, the reference tiles
70,
80 and/or one or more check cells
110). In this regard, the sensor device
20 may be validated and/or "zeroed" by comparing the known parameter of the verification device
60 to a verification parameter measured by the sensor device
20 when the sensor device
20 is selectively conveyed to one or more verification position(s) (see elements
70,
80,
110 of FIG.
2, for example). In the embodiment shown in FIG.
2, the arrows indicate selective conveyance of the sensor device
20 above the various components of the verification device
60 and above the measuring position
100. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
2, the actuator device
25 is configured to be capable of conveying the sensor device
20 to one of five discrete positions (including, for example, the measuring position
100 and four verification positions relative to the various components
70,
80,
110 of the verification device
60. In various other system
1 embodiments, the actuator device
25 may be configured to convey the sensor device
20 to a number of different distinct positions (such as, for example, two to eight discrete locations relative to the actuator track
28 of the linear actuator device
25 such that the actuator device
25 is capable of precisely conveying the sensor device
20 to each of number of components of the verification device
60 and a number of measuring positions
100.
[0032] As shown in FIG.
2, the actuator device
25 may comprise a linear actuator device for conveying the sensor device to the measuring position
100 and/or at least one of the verification positions
70,
80,
90 wherein the various verification positions
70,
80,
90 are disposed substantially in series with the measuring position
100. For example, the linear actuator device
25 may comprise an actuator bearing track
28 such that the sensor device
20 may be slidable relative to the bearing track
28. The actuator device
25 may further comprise a screw drive
27 (such as a jack screw, for example) operably engaged with a motor
26 (such as a stepper motor, for example) for rotating the screw drive
27 (in response to control inputs (see FIG.
3, for example) from the controller
5, for example). Thus, the linear actuator device
25 may be capable of precisely conveying the sensor device
20 to one or more of the verification positions
70,
80,
90 and/or to the measurement position
100.
[0033] As shown in FIG.
2, the actuator device
25 may further comprise a plurality of adjustable stops
29 corresponding to a plurality of discrete positions including at least one of the measuring position
100 and one or more of the verification positions
70,
80,
90. The linear actuator device
25 may be configured to be responsive to the adjustable stops
29 so as to be capable of conveying the sensor device
20 precisely and repeatably to each of the plurality of discrete positions within the sensor device enclosure
10. The adjustable stops
29 may, in some system 1 embodiments, comprise set screws and/or other fastening mechanisms that may allow a user to precisely adjust the position of the adjustable stops
29 relative to the actuator device
25 (and/or a bearing track
28 thereof).
[0034] The various sensor device
20 types that may be used to measure a quality parameter of a harvested crop
50 may each benefit from the precision motion and placement afforded by an actuator device
25 that is capable of precisely and accurately conveying the sensor device
20 to a measuring position
100 relative to the harvested crop
50 and/or to a verification position relative to one or more components
70,
80,
90 of a verification device
60. Thus, some system
1 embodiments of the present invention may comprise an actuator device
25 comprising various types of precision linear actuator devices
25, including, but not limited to: voltage-controlled screw-drive actuators (such as the screw drive
27 shown generally in FIG.
2, for example); electromechanical pistons in communication with a controller
5; hydraulic pistons in communication with a hydraulic manifold and/or controller
5; piezoelectric linear actuators; and/or combinations of such actuator devices.
[0035] In the embodiment shown in FIG.
2, the sensor device
20 may be conveyed substantially linearly to a verification position substantially adjacent to at least one of: the black reference tile
70, the white reference tile
80, the check cells
110, and/or the measuring position
100. According to this and some other system
1 embodiments, the sensor device
20 may be conveyed substantially horizontally and/or substantially parallel to a horizontal plane (defined, for example, by the bearing track
28 of the actuator device
25). However, other system
1 embodiments of the present invention may further comprise an actuator device
25 configured to be capable of conveying the sensor device
20 in a variety of different directions and/or orientations such that the sensor device
20 may be precisely positioned adjacent to and/or relative to a selected discrete number of verification and/or measurement positions. Furthermore, and as described herein, one or more of the verification devices
60 may also be operably engaged with and/or carried by the actuator device
25 such that the sensor device
20 may be carried in a substantially static position relative to the measuring position
100. Thus, the actuator device
25 may be similarly capable of conveying one or more of the reference tiles
70,
80 and/or the validation crop samples
90 to the measurement position
100 such that the sensor device
20 need not be moved relative to the harvesting device
H.
[0036] Additional configurations may include, but need not be limited to, configurations where the sensor device and/or the verification device are rotated (such as, for example, using a stepper motor or other similar device capable of relatively accurate positioning) such that the sensor device may be positioned adjacent to and/or relative to a selected number of verification and/or measurement positions. An example of such a configuration is shown in FIGS.
6 and
6A. As shown in these figures, a sensor device
20 (which in the depicted embodiment is a NIR device) is disposed within a sensor device enclosure
10, which may be carried by the harvesting device
H such that a measuring position of the sensor device
20 is substantially adjacent to a conveyor
200. The conveyor
200 may be capable of delivering the harvested crop
50 (and/or a sampling thereof) to a position adjacent to the enclosure
10 such that the harvested crop
50 passes underneath a position adjacent a lens portion
13 of the sensor device
20. Thus, as above, the sensor device
20 may be capable of determining a quality parameter of a harvested crop
50 by computing an average quality parameter (and/or an average reflectance, as described further herein) for a number of individual grains and/or other particles of the harvested crop
50 as they pass substantially through a measuring position disposed substantially adjacent to the lens portion
13 of the sensor device enclosure
10.
[0037] As noted above, a verification device
60 may be characterized by a known parameter that is comparable and/or readily convertible to an output of the sensor device
20 such that the sensor device
20 may be referenced and/or validated by measuring some parameter of the verification device
60. For example, as shown in FIG.
6, the verification device
60 may comprise one or more reference tiles (such as, for example, a black reference tile
70 for establishing a "substantially no reflectance" and a white reference tile
80 for establishing a "100% reflectance" value for the NIR device so as to "zero" the NIR device). Furthermore, in the depicted embodiment, the verification device
60 may also comprise check cells
110 that may contain validation crop samples
90. As above, the validation crop samples
90 may be characterized by a known parameter that may include, but is not limited to: a moisture content of the validation crop sample
90; a starch content of the validation crop sample
90; an oil content of the validation crop sample
90; a sugar content of the validation crop sample
90; a protein content of the validation crop sample
90; a digestibility measure of the validation crop sample
90; a neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of the validation crop sample
90; and combinations of such parameters. Thus, a reflectance value of the validation crop sample
90 may be used to validate the sensor device
20 such that the output of the sensor device
20 may be readily and reliably to one or more quality parameters corresponding to a harvested crop
50.
[0038] As shown generally in FIG.
6, an actuator device
25 is configured to selectively rotate the sensor device
20 (such as, for example, using a stepper motor and one or more gears) about axis
A1 between a measuring position such that the sensor device
20 is capable of measuring desired parameters of the harvested crop
50 and a verification position (shown in FIG.
6A) in which the lens potion
13 of the sensor device
20 is substantially adjacent to the verification device
60. Once in the verification position, a second actuator device
35 may rotate the verification device
60 (such as, for example, using a stepper motor and one or more gears) so that reference tile
80 and check cells
110 containing reference samples
90 may be individually positioned adjacent the lens portion
13 of the sensor device
20. In this regard, the sensor device
20 may be validated and/or "zeroed" by comparing the known parameter of the verification device
60 to a verification parameter measured by the sensor device
20 when the sensor device
20 is selectively rotated to the individual verification positions.
[0039] As described herein with respect to FIG.
3, the actuator device
25 may be in communication with a controller
5 capable of receiving a user input (via a touch screen display
300, for example, as shown generally in FIG.
3). According to various embodiments, such user inputs may include a selection of a linear or rotation position including, but not limited to: a particular measurement position
324; a verification position
321 (corresponding to the position of the black reference tile
70, for example) ; a verification position
322 (corresponding to the position of a first check cell
110, for example); a verification position
323 (corresponding to the position of a second check cell
110, for example); and a verification position
325 (corresponding to the position of the white reference tile
80, for example).
[0040] In other embodiments, the controller may be configured to be capable of running a predetermined program for periodically instructing the actuator device
25 to convey the sensor device
20 to a referencing and/or verification position as the system
1 of the present invention is conveyed (by a harvesting device
H, for example) through an agricultural environment. For example, the controller
5 may comprise a display
300 (such as a touch-screen display, for example) including a number of input controls
310 that may include, but are not limited to a setup button
311 (wherein a user may specify a triggering event and/or an interval after which the actuator device
25 may convey the sensor device
20 from the measurement position
100 to one or more verification positions
60 for referencing and/or validating the operation of the sensor device
20). The input controls
310 may further comprise a run button
312 allowing a user to initiate an automated and/or substantially pre-determined program of conveyance steps for referencing and/or validating the sensor device
20. The display
300 of the controller
5 may further include an "NIR" or other sensor device
20 button
313 for initiating the display of a status of the sensor device
20 and/or for initiating the display of a sensor device
20 "control panel" (not shown), wherein a user may input a variety of manual adjustments to the measurement parameters of the sensor device
20. Furthermore, as shown in FIG.
3, the display
300 of the controller
5 may further include a "manual" button
314 wherein a user may initiate the substantially manual selection of a particular measurement position
100 and/or one or more verification positions
70,
80,
90. Thus, according to such embodiments, the user may select the "manual" button
314 and subsequently select one of the position buttons
320 and thereby instruct the actuator device
25 to immediately convey the sensor device
20 to a selected position corresponding to one or more of the position buttons
320 (including, but not limited to: the measurement position
324; the verification position
321 (corresponding to the position of the black reference tile
70, for example); the verification position
322 (corresponding to the position of a first check cell
110, for example); the verification position
323 (corresponding to the position of a second check cell
110, for example); and the verification position
325 (corresponding to the position of the white reference tile
80, for example). As described generally herein with respect to FIG.
2, a user may manually adjust the physical position of the sensor device
20 corresponding to the selection of a particular position button
320 by slidably adjusting and/or selectively securing one or more of the plurality of adjustable stops
29 corresponding to a plurality of discrete positions within the sensor device enclosure
10 (including at least one of the measuring position
100 and one or more of the verification positions
70,
80,
90).
[0041] In this regard, the actuator device
25 (using control inputs generated and/or received by the controller
5, for example) may be configured to be capable of selectively and precisely conveying the sensor device
20 to one or more verification and/or referencing positions substantially adjacent a black reference tile
70 and/or substantially adjacent a white reference tile
80. Thus, in embodiments wherein the sensor device
20 comprises a NIR device, the sensor device
20 may be configured to be capable of determining the reflectance values of the reference tiles
70,
80 to "zero" and/or "reference" the sensor device
20. In a similar manner, the actuator device
25 may be configured to be capable of conveying the sensor device
20 to a position adjacent to one or more check cells
110, such that the sensor device
20 (comprising a NIR device, for example) may again determine a reflectance at each check cell
110 (corresponding to a "verification measurement"). The reflectance recorded from the crop sample
90 associated with each check cell
110 may then be compared with a predicted validation parameter value and, if within statistical limits, the sensor device
20 may be "validated" (i.e. determined to be operating within its specifications). According to some embodiments, the sensor device
20 may also be adjusted (using, for example, a sensor device
20 "control panel" accessed via the "NIR" button
313 generated by the display
300 of the controller
5) such that the verification parameter measured by the sensor device
20, while the sensor device
20 is disposed in a verification position, substantially matches the known parameter of the verification device
60. Once the sensor device
20 is properly referenced (with respect to one or more reference tiles
70,
80) and validated to a reference standard (with respect to one or more validation crop samples
90), the actuator device
25 may then selectively move the sensor device
20 to a position adjacent to the harvested crop
50 and/or substantially above a measuring position
100, where the sensor device
20 may be capable of measuring a quality parameter (characterized, in some embodiments, as a characteristic reflectance) of the harvested crop
50.
[0042] As shown generally in FIG.
4, the system
1 embodiments of the present invention may comprise a sensor device enclosure
10 configured to be capable of containing the sensor device
20 in a controlled environment
30 defined by at least one environmental parameter. According to various embodiments, the sensor device enclosure
10 may include one or more features, individually or in combination, such that the sensor device
20 is enclosed in the controlled environment
30 defined by at least one environmental parameter, such as, for example, temperature, humidity, light, and combinations thereof. As shown generally in FIG.
4, the sensor device enclosure
10 may comprise substantially light-reflective material
160 disposed on an outer surface of the sensor device enclosure (such as, for example, a polyurethane paint with a light reflectance value greater than 0.8) for preventing the accumulation of heat within the sensor device enclosure
10. In addition, the sensor device enclosure
10 may comprise insulation material
170 (such as, for example, high-density molded expanded polystyrene, with an approximate R-value of 4) such that heat transfer between an interior of the sensor device enclosure and an exterior of the sensor device enclosure is substantially reduced and/or minimized. The insulation material may also comprise high R-value or "super insulating" materials (such as, for example, vacuum-insulated panels (VIPs). The sensor device enclosure
10 may further comprise one or more transparent portions
11 (such as, for example, a substantially transparent window) corresponding substantially to the measurement position
100 shown, for example, in FIG.
2. Specifically, the sensor device enclosure
10 may define one or more measurement position
100 apertures (see, for example the transparent portion
11 shown in FIG.
4) such that the sensor device
20 may be capable of illuminating the harvested crop
50 and/or detecting a resultant characteristic reflectance of the harvested crop
50 when the sensor device
20 is conveyed the measurement position
100. In order to maintain the insulating capacity of the sensor device enclosure
10 (and such that the at least one environmental parameter characterizing the controlled environment
30 therein may be effectively maintained), the transparent portion
11 of the sensor device enclosure
10 may comprise double-pane, high R-value glass and/or polycarbonate that may allow the sensor device
20 to measure the quality parameter of the harvested crop
50 as it passes a measurement position
100 without compromising the controlled environment
30 of the interior of the sensor device enclosure
10. In some embodiments, the transparent portion
11 of the sensor device enclosure
10 may comprise a substantially scratch-resistant material including, but not limited to glass and sapphire crystal such that the harvested crop
50 and accompanying debris is less likely to scratch and/or damage the transparent portion
11.
[0043] Furthermore according to some embodiments, an air-conditioning device
180 may be operably engaged with the sensor device enclosure
10. The air conditioning device
180 may be in fluid communication with the sensor device enclosure via at vent aperture (see, for example, element
190) defined in the sensor device enclosure
10. The air-conditioning device
180 is configured to control the at least one environmental parameter (such as temperature and/or humidity, for example). As described herein, the sensor device enclosure
10 may further define a vent aperture
190. The vent aperture
190 may be configured to be operably engaged with a conduit
175 for conveying an air flow to alter the at least one environmental parameter. For example, the vent aperture
190 may be operably engaged with HVAC ducts leading to a fan and/or a dedicated air conditioning device
180. In other embodiments, the vent aperture
190 may be in fluid communication with a duct in further fluid communication with an air-conditioned interior of an operator cab
C of the harvesting device
H, for example. It should be understood that other environmental conditioning mechanisms may be utilized to maintain the sensor device
20 in the controlled environment
30. For example, in some embodiments, the sensor device enclosure
10 may include plumbing through which a coolant liquid may be introduced and/or circulated to maintain the controlled environment
30. Furthermore, according to some embodiments, as shown generally in FIG.
4, the air-conditioning device
180 may comprise a cooling device (such as a cooling plate, radiator, and/or heat sink, for example) configured to be capable of reducing a temperature within the sensor device enclosure
10.
[0044] Additional embodiments may further provide a method for measuring a quality parameter of a harvested crop. According to one method embodiment, shown schematically in FIG.
5, the method first comprises step
510 for enclosing a sensor device
20 in a sensor device enclosure
10 configured to contain the sensor device
20 in a controlled environment defined by at least one environmental parameter. The method further comprises step
520 for conveying the sensor device
20 to a verification position substantially adjacent to a verification device
60. As described herein with respect to the various system
1 embodiments of the present invention, the verification device
60 is disposed substantially within the sensor device enclosure
10 such that the sensor device
20 may be calibrated without interference from potentially error-inducing environmental conditions, including, but not limited to: high concentrations of dust, extreme temperatures, high humidity levels, and excessive ambient light levels. As described herein, the verification device
60 disposed within the sensor device enclosure
10 is characterized by a known parameter (such as, for example, a known reflectance and/or other known quantifiable and/or identifiable physical parameter).
[0045] As shown in FIG.
5, the method further comprises step
530 for comparing the known parameter of the verification device
60 to a verification parameter measured by the sensor device
20 when the sensor device (and/or the verification device
60) is conveyed to one or more verification positions (adjacent and/or relative to one or more components of the verification device
60, as described herein). Step
540 comprises verifying the operation of the sensor device
20 by controlling the lower and upper acceptable limits of the differences between the known and measured parameters of moisture and other constituent contents (step
530, for example).
[0046] The method embodiments of the present invention further comprise step
550 for conveying the sensor device
20 to a measuring position (see element
100, FIG.
2, for example) relative to the harvesting device such that the sensor device
20 is capable of measuring a quality parameter of the harvested crop
50. As described herein with respect to the various system
1 embodiments of the present invention, the various conveying steps (
520 and
550, for example) may be accomplished using an actuator device
25 configured to be capable of precisely conveying the sensor device
20 to one or more measurement and/or verification positions disposed substantially within the sensor device enclosure
10 (see FIG.
2, for example). For example, step
550 for conveying the sensor device
20 to a measuring position
100, may comprise conveying the sensor device
20 to a position substantially adjacent to a window or other substantially transparent portion
11 of the sensor device enclosure
10 (see FIG.
4) such that the sensor device
20 may be capable of measuring a quality parameter of a harvested crop
50 that may be conveyed adjacent to a transparent portion
11 and/or through a port defined in the sensor device enclosure
10.
[0047] Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which this invention pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.