Patent ID: 8204689
Filing Date: 2012-06-19
Classification: A01B,A01C,G01N,G01V

Abstract:
1. A soil mapping system, comprising: an implement for traversing a field to be mapped; and a reflectance module carried by the implement for collecting spectroscopic measurements of soil in the field, the reflectance module having a light source, an optical receiver for transmitting light to a spectrometer, and a shutter system for altering an optical path between the light source and the optical receiver; said shutter system having a first position that blocks reflected light from the light source from reaching the optical receiver to provide a dark reference measurement, a second position that allows light from the light source to illuminate and reflect off a known reference material to provide a reference material measurement, and a third position that allows light to illuminate and reflect off the soil to provide soil data measurement; wherein said reflectance module has a window located between the light source and the soil being measured, and the shutter system comprises a shutter element between the window and the light source when the shutter system is in its second position.