HIGH ACCURACY, AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED VARIABLE LINEAR SEED SPACING PLANTING APPARATUS

Abstract: A control system for a mobile planting apparatus (24) which permits discrete plant spacing to be determined and maintained independent of any wheel (6) rotation on the planting apparatus (24) or towing apparatus (8) is disclosed, having: (1) a ground speed sensor (26) wherein the rate of movement relative to the ground is determined independent of the wheel (6) rotation of the planting apparatus (24) or towing apparatus (8); (2) an input/display device (62) for inputting desired linear plant spacing; (3) a variable speed motor (42) for mechanically driving seed metering devices (12) on the planting apparatus (24) at varying rates independent of any wheel (6) rotation of the planting apparatus (24) or towing apparatus (8), wherein the motor (42) changes speeds in response to an electronic signal; (4) a programmable control circuit (60) communicating electronically with the input/display device (62) and ground speed sensor (26).

Description: DESCRIPTION HIGH ACCURACY, AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLED VARIABLE LINEAR SEED SPACING PLANTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a planting apparatus, and more particularly to a planting apparatus wherein the preselected linear seed or plant spacing in the growing medium (hereinafter the "field") is adjustable while the planting apparatus is in motion, and is accurately determined and delivered to the field irrespective of any wheel slippage or sliding by the planting apparatus that ordinarily occurs in planting operations. Farming is a highly labor intensive and cost driven activity, and the farming industry is constantly striving to decrease farm labor, decrease related farm costs, and increase farm yields (often measured on a yield per area, such as on a yield per acre basis) . As a consequence, present day farming techniques employ, among other things, the automated planting or transplanting (collectively "planting") of crops. Present day automated planting is ordinarily accomplished by having a moving vehicle (hereinafter "tractor") pull a planting apparatus having one or more seed or plant dispensing devices (collectively "seed dispensers") across a field. The seed dispensers are often arranged in one or more rows on the frame of the planting apparatus, and the rows on the frame are oriented transversely to the direction of travel by the tractor. The seed dispensers are ordinarily arranged at distances corresponding to the width of furrows in the portion field to be planted by the planting apparatus. The rate at which seeds or plants (collectively "seeds") are dispensed by the seed dispensers is generally determined by a drive mechanism which operates a seed metering apparatus, such as a rotating seed dispensing disc, which has a discrete number of holes or pockets ("holes") which in turn dispense a discrete number of seeds per revolution of the drive mechanism or seed metering device. The drive mechanism, in turn, typically is rotatably connected to a free-rolling wheel, for example, via a power transmission system such as gears, chains and sprockets, or pulleys. The free- rolling wheel is typically mounted on an axle connected to the frame of the planting apparatus on - 3 - which the seed dispensers are mounted. Other means cf directly or indirectly driving a seed metering device directly or indirectly off of a free-rolling wheel are known in the art as well, and will not be discussed herein in detail. The rate at which seeds are dispensed may be and often is determined by manually adjusting the drive mechanism connection (such as a gear or chain and sprocket ratio adjustment) , which in turn determines the rate of revolution of the drive mechanism, and, as a result, the seed dispensing disc, per revolution of the free-rolling wheel. By manually adjusting the drive mechanism connection, the operator can determine the number of seeds to be delivered per linear distance travelled by the planting apparatus, assuming a substantially pure rolling motion (i.e. , absolutely no slippage or sliding) by the free-rolling wheel of the planting apparatus. In order to economically obtain the maximum crop yield per acre while minimizing costs from, for example, seed waste from planting more seeds than a particular portion of the field will have nutrients to support, the operator of the planting apparatus (hereinafter "farmer") must be able to accurately control and accurately adjust (preferably while the planting apparatus is in motion) the number of seeds planted per linear distance of travel by the planting apparatus. It has been determined that different portions of a field being planted by a farmer may vary widely in ability to supply nutrients to support a crop; i.e., a farmer's field may have a wide spectrum of high yield, medium yield, and low yield areas scattered throughout the acreage to be farmed. Ideally, a farmer would like to accurately plant seeds closer together linearly in a high yield area, and farther apart linearly in a low yield area, and to be able to do so without stopping the planting apparatus and, e.g., dismantling and readjusting the drive mechanism each time the planting apparatus travels from high to medium to low yield areas of a particular field. Because of the farmer's inability with many prior art planting devices to accurately vary linear seed spacing without the time-consuming and labor intensive practice of stopping and adjusting, e.σ.. the drive mechanism for the seed dispensers, farmers often set the linear plant spacing at a predetermined constant rate (sometimes referred to as an "average rate") for the field. This practice resulted in (1) lower than optimum crop yield in high yield areas of the field due to underplanting, or (2) overplanting (resulting in seed waste) in low yield areas of the field, or (3) both. These outcomes had adverse economic impacts on the farmer. In order to optimize crop yield by accurately dispensing seeds at predetermined linear spacings, a farmer would prefer to be able to accurately control the distance between seeds. For example, when planting corn, farmers may prefer the nominal linear distance between seeds in a medium yield portion of the field to be 8.0 inches, in high yield portions to be 6.0 inches, and in low yield portions to be 12.0 inches. The farmer might prefer a wide spectrum of other spacings to be available as well, depending upon, among other things, soil conditions. Consequently, a farmer would prefer to be able to accurately control nominal linear seed spacing within increments of 0.125 inches or less in such applications. The nominal spacing and increments may, of course, vary, depending upon, among other things, the crop. Prior art automated planting apparatus in which the seed dispensing rate depended upon a drive mechanism coupled to a free-rolling wheel of the planting apparatus lacked the ' ability to control linear seed spacing with the accuracy desired. This is due, in part, to the fact that in ordinary farming conditions the free-rolling wheel connected to the drive mechanism of the planting apparatus does not operate with a pure rolling motion, and unless the free-rolling wheel connected to the drive mechanism purely rolls, seeds are dispensed at a rate that will not accurately and consistently achieve the desired spacing per linear distance travelled by the planting apparatus. For example, in the crumbling topsoil typically encountered in many farming applications, the free-rolling wheel of the planting apparatus pulled by the tractor may slide intermittently and at unpredictable intervals. When the wheel slides instead of rolls, the rotating drive mechanism connected to the aforesaid wheel which operates the seed dispenser will not drive the seed dispenser (or will drive it at a slower rate than if it were purely rolling) which results in less seeds being dispensed than desired per linear distance travelled by the planting apparatus. This is because the planting apparatus may travel forward despite the non-rotation of the free-rolling wheel. as a result of the sliding mode of travel. Similarly, as the free-rolling wheel encounters crumbling topsoil beneath it, the wheel may over-rotate, or slip (i.e.. although the wheel rotates, the planting apparatus does not move relative to the ground, similar to an automobile spinning its wheels in the snow) , resulting in the seed dispenser dispensing seeds at a rate greater than that desired per linear distance travelled by the planting apparatus. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved planting apparatus that enables a farmer to accurately preselect and adjust linear seed spacing to be delivered to the field without the need to stop or manually adjust the drive mechanism connection to the seed dispensers. Another object of this invention is to provide a planting apparatus that dispenses seeds at a rate determined independently of wheel rotation of the planting apparatus or the tractor, thus alleviating any inaccuracies in linear seed spacing inherent in prior art systems as a result of wheel sliding or slippage. Another object of the invention is to provide a planting apparatus with a speed or distance sensing device that is highly accurate as compared to those previously available in the art, as a result of the combination of a low-speed Doppler effect radar unit and a signal conditioning circuit which "locks" on desired signals and filters out unwanted signals that ordinarily limit the accuracy of low-speed Doppler effect radars in low speed applications. Still another object of this invention is to provide a readily operable planting apparatus wherein linear seed spacing can be controlled and monitored during operation from a remote location, such as from the seat or cab of a tractor, via a display unit without resort to manual manipulation of the seed dispensers, the drive mechanism, the gearing for the drive mechanism, or other related components for the planting apparatus. Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved planting apparatus that has the capability of accurately controlling or regulating linear seed spacing to within 0.125 inches or less in appropriate applications. A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved planting apparatus which achieves the foregoing and other objects readily discernable to one skilled in the art, and which is readily operable, efficient, and reliable in operation from the farmer's standpoint. The present invention alleviates problems associated with prior art planting apparatus by, among other things, determining linear seed spacing independently of the rotation of the free-rolling wheel of the planting apparatus. The invention does so by, other things, (1) accurately determining the speed or distance of travel of the planting apparatus relative to the field independently of the rotational speed of the aforesaid wheel; and (2) utilizing a drive mechanism for the seed metering devices within the seed dispenser which is operable independent of the rotational speed of the aforesaid wheel . In the embodiment of the invention described herein (1) the speed of the planting apparatus relative to the field is determined by a low speed capability Doppler effect radar unit (hereinafter "low speed radar") such as that manufactured by Entra Corporation, model number LR100 (or other devices that similarly are capable of sensing vehicle speed or distance travelled relative to the ground, independent of wheel rotation) coupled with a signal conditioning circuit that filters out unwanted signals so as to provide a highly accurate low speed sensitive radar signal; and (2) the driving mechanism for the seed metering device of the seed dispensers is a highly responsive proportionally controlled hydraulic motor circuit that is further controlled and monitored by a feedback mechanism via a programmable control circuit device. In general terms, the rate of speed or distance travelled is accurately determined by the low speed radar and signal conditioning circuit, and is fed into a programmable control circuit (hereinafter "microprocessor") together with the desired linear seed spacing as selected by the farmer and as ordinarily input by the farmer through an input mechanism such as a display unit located remotely from the planting apparatus, for example, in the vicinity of the cab of the tractor. Those inputs are used by the microprocessor to determine (despite the changing ground speed of the planting apparatus) the desired rate of flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic motor (which, in turn, determines the desired hydraulic motor speed) which, in turn, operates the seed metering devices in the seed dispensers at the appropriate rate so as to dispense seeds at highly precise and consistent intervals heretofore unattainable in prior art devices, all independent of any sliding and slippage that the wheels of the planting apparatus or tractor encounter in the field. An active speed sensor monitors the rate of operation of the hydraulic motor (or other elements of the device operatively engaged to rotate therewith) and provides that information to the microprocessor which determines whether there is any deviation from the desired rate of operation. If so, the microprocessor sends the appropriate signal to the hydraulic proportional valve to adjust the amount of hydraulic fluid therethrough, and thus refines the speed of the hydraulic motor accordingly. The linear seed spacing can be varied by the farmer without stopping the planting operation and adjusting, e.σ. , the drive mechanism, or other mechanical features of the planting apparatus. The farmer may simply input the new desired seed spacing via the display unit and, because of the combined quick response and calculation rate of the microprocessor, the proportional hydraulic valve, the hydraulic motor, and the radar, the resulting spacing of the seeds is changed quickly "on the fly, " a highly desirable result. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a side view of a tractor coupled to the planting apparatus, including a partial cutaway view of the planting apparatus of the described embodiment. Fig. 2 is a top view of a tractor coupled to the planting apparatus of the described embodiment. Fig. 3 is an exploded view of a portion of the planting apparatus, including the hydraulic motor, an active speed sensor, a single transmission, and a single seed dispenser, including a partial cutaway view of the seed dispenser of the described embodiment. Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the major electrical components of the planting apparatus, illustrating their electrical communication with each other and with the hydraulic safety valve and hydraulic proportional valve, including a partial schematic view of the hydraulic circuit for the described embodiment. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the hydraulic motor circuit, including the electrical communication between elements of the hydraulic motor circuit and the microprocessor for the described embodiment. Fig. 6 is a front view of the display unit of the described embodiment. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the electrical components of the display unit of the described embodiment. Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the electrical components of the microprocessor circuit of the described embodiment. Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the electrical components of the radar pre-amp for the described embodiment. Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of the electrical components of the signal conditioning circuit for the described embodimen . Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of the electrical components, isolating those components most directly associated with the microprocessor, and illustrating electrical communications between the microprocessor and other electrical components with which it communicates in the described embodiment. Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of the electrical components for the input and output circuits between the microprocessor and other electrical/mechanical components with which it communicates in the described embodiment. Fig. 13 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical systems in the described embodiment, and the electrical communications between those electrical systems. Fig. 14 is a flow chart schematic for the microprocessor, illustrating generally the logic of the computer code utilized in conjunction with the described embodiment. Fig. 15 is a functional block diagram schematic of the signal conditioning circuit. Fig. 16 is a flow chart schematic of the computer logic for background functions accessed by the main program of the microprocessor via interrupts. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS Referring generally throughout to the Figures, and specifically here to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the planting apparatus 24 includes one or more seed dispensers 2 that are located on a frame 4 which, in turn, is typically mounted on free-rolling wheels 6, but can be mounted on any other known means of transporting such frames, for example, on skids (not illustrated) . The frame is ordinarily pulled or pushed by a vehicle, typically pulled by a tractor 8. The seed dispensers may be of various known constructions and need not be described in detail. Those skilled in the art will recognize that various seed dispensers may be used in conjunction with the invention without departing from the teachings of the invention. One common seed dispenser design includes a seed hopper 10, and includes seed metering devices 12 capable of dispensing seeds intermittently. For example, a seed metering device 12 may be a typical device wherein a plurality of seeds 18 are gravity-fed or vacuum-fed into a rotating disc 14 with one or more evenly-spaced holes 16, which are larger than the seed 18 to be planted and which are capable of capturing gravity-fed or vacuum-fed seeds 18, which are then released to the field below when the rotating disc rotates to a position wherein the hole 16 in the disc 14 holding an individual seed 18 aligns itself with the release point 20 above the seed chute 21 of the seed dispenser 2. Thus, it will be recognized that the rate at which seeds are dispensed to the ground below in this exemplary seed dispenser can be adjusted by regulating among other things, the number of holes in the rotating disc 14, or the rotational speed of the disc in the seed metering device 12, or both. Seed monitoring devices or seed counting devices of known construction (not illustrated) may be included in the seed dispensers to detect, for example, jamming of or other malfunctions of the seed dispensers, or to further monitor seed dispensing. Referring to Figs. 2, 3, 4, in the described example of one embodiment of the invention, the operating rate of the seed metering devices of the seed dispensers, e.g., the speed of rotation of the discs, may be regulated by a proportionally controlled hydraulic motor 42. While other proportionally controlled motors operable at the direction a microprocessor 60 may be used, the inventors have determined at this time that the relative simplicity, reliability, and quick reaction or response time of a proportionally controlled hydraulic motor 42 having a fast-reacting and accurately controlled hydraulic proportional valve 44 make such a motor and hydraulic motor circuit 40 a desirable choice. In the described embodiment, the hydraulic motor may be a motor such as the R-series motor manufactured by the Char-Lyn division of Eaton Corporation. A proportionally controlled hydraulic motor circuit 40 useful in carrying out the invention is described below. A hydraulic motor 42 is connected directly or indirectly (e.g.. via gears, chain and sprockets, pulleys, or other known power transmission linkages) to the seed metering devices 12 via, for example, a rotatable shaft 22, with the linear rate of dispensing the seeds 18 per unit of distance travelled being a function, in part, of the speed of rotation of the shaft 22 and the number of holes 16 in the rotating discs 14. The rotational speed of the shaft 22 is, in turn, a function of the rotational speed of the hydraulic motor 42. In the illustrated embodiment, the rotational motion of the hydraulic motor 42 is transmitted to the rotatable shaft 22 through a transmission device 23 including a series of shafts 29, sprockets 25, and chains 27 in a manner known to those skilled in the art such that rotation of the hydraulic motor 42 will cause a corresponding rotation at a determinate rate in the rotatable shaft 22 and the rotating disc 14. The hydraulic motor 42 is connected hydraulically to a fast-reacting and accurately controlled hydraulic proportional valve 44, for example, a hydraulic proportional valve such as the valve sold by Fluid Power Industries as model number 8352105, or as described in United States Patent No. 4,121,610. Such a hydraulic proportional valve 44 is capable of adjusting the rate of flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough very quickly (on the order of 0.150 seconds, or less) in response to an electrical signal; i.e.. the proportional valve 44 will quickly adjust to allow more or less hydraulic fluid to pass through to the hydraulic motor in response to an electrical signal. The electrical signal input to the proportional hydraulic valve is received from the microprocessor 60, through electrical lines 61, as will be discussed further herein. A quantity of hydraulic fluid is supplied to the hydraulic proportional valve 44 via a supply circuit 56. The hydraulic proportional valve 44 determines, depending on the electrical signal arriving from the microprocessor 60 via electrical lines 61 (which proportionally opens or closes the hydraulic proportional valve 44) , the amount of hydraulic fluid that will pass therethrough via the operating circuit 58 to the hydraulic motor 42. The rotational speed at which the hydraulic motor 42 operates (which, in turn, helps to determine the rate of dispensing seed) is a function of the amount of flow of hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic motor 42, as determined by the proportional valve 44. After hydraulic fluid passes through the hydraulic motor 42, the hydraulic fluid in the described embodiment flows through a return circuit 52, and may pass to a reservoir 46. Similarly, hydraulic fluid that is not allowed to pass through the proportional valve 44 to the hydraulic motor 42 may be diverted through a diversion circuit 54 to the return circuit 52, and may pass to the reservoir 46. A hydraulic pump 48 is connected hydraulically to pump hydraulic fluid between the reservoir 46 and the proportional valve 44, and may be connected between the reservoir 46 and the supply circuit 56 via a replenishing circuit 59, pumping hydraulic fluid at a relatively constant rate in the described embodiment. In addition to the hydraulic proportional valve 44, a safety valve 45 may be interposed in the hydraulic circuit between the hydraulic proportional valve 44 and the hydraulic pump 48. The safety valve 45 can take the form of a two-position, three way valve such as that manufactured by Fluid Power Industries as model number MV4-24-12VDC. The placement of the safety valve 45 is such that if the planting apparatus 24 is not in motion as determined by the ground speed sensor 26 and the signal conditioning circuit 102 via the microprocessor 60, the microprocessor 60 sends a signal to cause the safety valve 45 to divert the hydraulic fluid through a diversion circuit 54 (i.e. , the hydraulic motor circuit 40 is closed) ; if, on the other hand, the planting apparatus 24 is in motion, the microprocessor 60 sends a signal to cause the safety valve 45 to direct the hydraulic fluid through (i.e.. open) the supply circuit 56. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the safety valve 45 may be omitted, or may be combined with the proportional valve 44 into a single valve without departing from the teachings of the invention. Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a highly- accurate ground speed sensor 26 coupled with a signal conditioning circuit 102 (Figs. 8, 9, and 10) capable of determining the speed of or distance travelled by the planting apparatus 24 relative to the field to be planted and independent of the rotation of the wheels 6 of the planting apparatus 24 (or the wheels 28 of the tractor 8) is connected to the planting apparatus 24 or the tractor 8. In the embodiment illustrated, the ground speed sensor 26 is connected to the planting apparatus 24. As previously noted, the described embodiment of the invention utilizes as a ground speed sensor 26 a low speed radar capable of operating over the preferred operating speed of a planting apparatus 24 (e.g. , between 0.10 and 12.0 miles per hour ("mph")), and when coupled with a signal conditioning circuit 102 through a radar pre- amp 101, is capable of determining relative ground speed with high accuracy (preferably within at least 0.01 mph) . The ground speed sensor 26 provides periodic input concerning the relative ground speed of or distance travelled by the planting apparatus 24 on an ongoing basis by communicating, preferably electronically, with the microprocessor 60, via the circuitry referenced above: Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 6, the described embodiment of the invention also utilizes an input device, such as the display unit 62 shown in the illustrated embodiment, which permits the farmer, for example, to use plant spacing inputs 66 to select (or to change) a desired linear seed spacing of the dispensed seeds 18. The plant spacing selected may be shown on plant spacing display 68. The display unit 62 may also allow the farmer to input other information, such as the number of seeds dispensed per rotation of each individual rotating disc 14 (ordinarily the number of holes 16 in the disc 14) by using disc capacity inputs 70. The disc capacity selected may be shown on disc capacity display 72. The inputs may take the form of electronic switches known in the art, and the displays may take the form of LED's, LCD's or other display means known in the art, and will not be discussed in detail here. The circuitry of the display unit for the described embodiment is shown schematically in Fig. 7; however, those skilled in the art will recognize that an input or display unit using circuitry different from that described and illustrated herein could be utilized without departing from the 'teachings of the invention. Referring again to Figs. 1, 2, and 6, the display unit 62, in turn, communicates this information, preferably electronically, to the microprocessor 60 via electrical lines 61. The display unit 62 may also include monitors to ensure correct operation of the planting apparatus, such as monitors to detect seed jams or other malfunctions in the seed dispensers (not illustrated) , or operational speed alarms 64 capable of monitoring the ground speed of, e.g., the tractor as operated by the farmer to ensure that it is within the appropriate operational range of the planting apparatus 24, etc. Referring to Figs. 2, 3, and 4, operationally engaged with (and, in the illustrated embodiment, adjacent to) the hydraulic motor 42 in the described embodiment is an active speed sensor 50, which in turn communicates, preferably electronically, with the microprocessor 60 as well. In the illustrated embodiment, the active speed sensor 50 senses the rotational speed of the shaft 29 connected to the hydraulic motor 42 (which in turn determines, in part, the seed dispensing rate of the seed metering devices) ; however, it will be recognized in the art that the active speed sensor may be used to sense the rotational speed of other components directly or indirectly engaged with the hydraulic motor 42, for example, the shaft 22 or the rotating disc 14. One embodiment of an active speed sensor 50 known in the art and useful in carrying out the invention is a so- called Hall effect sensor wherein one or more magnets in the shaft 29 create a magnetic flux that results in an electrical pulse as the magnet rotates past the active speed sensor 50 (e.g.. the Hall effect sensor) , although other appropriate active speed sensors such as transducers may be used as well. The active speed sensor 50 sends a signal to the microprocessor 60 which allows the microprocessor to determine whether the disc 14 is dispensing seeds 18 at the appropriate rate determined by the microprocessor to achieve proper linear seed spacing at the then-current operational speed of the planting apparatus 24 as determined via the ground speed sensor 26. If the microprocessor 60 determines that the rate of dispensing seeds 18 detected by the active speed sensor 50 is too fast (i.e.. that the seeds are being dispensed too closely) , then the microprocessor adjusts the flow of hydraulic fluid by sending an electronic signal proportionally closing the hydraulic proportional valve 44, thus slowing the hydraulic motor 42, the rotating shaft 22, rotating disc 14, and ultimately the seed dispensing rate. The converse would, of course, be true where the seed dispensing rate detected by the active speed sensor 50 is determined to be faster than appropriate. The microprocessor 60 may take the form of microprocessors currently available from a number of manufacturers, such as the Motorola model no. MC68HC11EFN and serves to calculate the appropriate electrical signal to be provided to the hydraulic proportional valve 44 (and safety valve 45) , which, in turn, determines the rate of hydraulic fluid passing through to the hydraulic motor 42, which in turn controls the rate of operation of the seed metering devices 12, which thereupon controls the linear spacing at which seeds 18 are dispensed to the field by the planting apparatus 24. Because the microprocessor quickly and accurately correlates the rate at which seeds 18 are dispensed by the seed metering devices 12 to the ground, as well as the ground speed or distance travelled of the planting apparatus 24 as determined by the ground speed sensor 26 through the radar pre- amp 101 and the signal conditioning circuit 102, (i.e., ground speed is determined independent of wheel rotation, with the inherent slippage and sliding) , the seeds are accurately and consistently dispensed at the predetermined plant spacing set by the farmer, and may be changed by the farmer "on the fly" via the display unit 62. The microprocessor takes the selected linear spacing of the seeds that the farmer preselects (or changes) and inputs this information through the display unit 62, and using the relative ground speed or distance travelled of the planting apparatus 24 as an input from the ground speed sensor 26 through the radar pre-amp 101 and the signal conditioning circuit 102, calculates the appropriate rate at which the hydraulic motor 42 should operate to cause the seed metering devices 12 to dispense seeds 18 at the desired intervals. A signal is then sent by the microprocessor 60 to the hydraulic proportional valve 44 to increase, decrease, or maintain the flow of hydraulic fluid therethrough in order to achieve the appropriate hydraulic motor speed. The active speed sensor 50 operationally engaged with the hydraulic motor 42 ensures further accuracy and more responsive control by providing input to the microprocessor 60 as to whether the hydraulic motor 42 is in fact operating at the rate determined by the microprocessor; if it is not, the microprocessor 60 calculates the differential and sends a signal to the hydraulic proportional valve 44 to further increase or decrease the flow of hydraulic fluid, which in turn further refines the operating speed of the hydraulic motor 42 and the resultant seed dispensing rate and linear seed spacing. As noted above, the ground speed sensor 26 provides a signal that is filtered via a signal conditioning circuit 102 (Fig. 10) after passing through the radar pre-amp 101 (Fig. 9) . The radar pre-amp 101 is a pre-amp circuit such as that shown in Fig. 9. As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, other pre-amp circuits could be substituted for the circuit shown in Fig. 9 without departing from the teachings of the invention. A signal conditioning circuit 102, such as that shown in Fig. 10, is desirable to determine the ground speed or distance travelled with sufficient accuracy to achieve the goal of achieving accurate plant spacing over the operable range of planting apparatus 24, for example, in the described embodiment, over a range of plant spacings between 1 inch to 24 inches in 1/8 inch increments. Given that a typical K band radar antenna useful in low speed Doppler radars returns a substantially accurate signal frequency in the range near 72 Hz (per mile per hour of the moving vehicle), that means that at 0.1 mph, the low end of the described embodiment of the operational speed of the planting apparatus 24, the period of the signal would be 7.2 Hz. For a radar unit to sample 10 waveforms under such circumstances would take 1.4 seconds. Because it would be preferable to sample more than 10 waveforms to obtain a statistically significant sample and achieve the accuracy and reliability desirable for the invention to carry out accurate seed planting, and because doing such sampling would result in separate samples being taken at intervals too infrequent to accurately control the rotational speed of the hydraulic motor, the signal conditioning circuit 102 such as that shown in Fig. 10 is desirable. Moreover, the signal conditioning circuit 102 also aids in processing the radar signal to eliminate extraneous signal noise. For example, when the ground speed sensor 26 in the form of a low speed Doppler effect radar is mounted on a slow moving vehicle and pointed toward the ground, the return signal may be a composite signal that appears to be of constantly changing magnitude and symmetry, and which may result in periods of nearly complete signal cancellation, resulting intermittently in a return signal that may be loaded with extraneous signals unrelated to the ground speed or distance travelled. The desired return signal consists of multiple images of the same frequency which do relate to the speed of the vehicle, and hence, the distance travelled, even though such signals too vary in phase and magnitude. Those return signals truly related to the ground speed or distance travelled are selected by the signal conditioning circuit 102, as opposed to those signals unrelated to ground speed, with the signal conditioning circuit 102 adjusting for those occasions where the return signal fades or drops out altogether at intermittent intervals. Prior to this invention, attempts to deal with the problems described' above with low speed Doppler effect radar signals have involved the use of tracking filters or phase-locked loop circuits. While tracking filters may eliminate signals that are significantly out-of-band, they are less effective in dealing with the very low frequencies that would be associated with radars mounted on agricultural equipment, and are largely ineffective in reducing measurement uncertainty. Phase-locked loops ("PLLs") are known in the art, and need not be described in detail here; PLLs typically utilize a Voltage Controlled Oscillator ("VCO"), a frequency/phase detector for generating an error or control signal, and a VCO control filter arranged in a closed-loop system. Such systems operate as frequency filters and may operate at very low frequencies; however, typical PLL implementations have a property that is very undesirable in connection with the invention. In the absence of a significant return signal, e.g.. when a return signal from the radar intermittently fades, decreases in strength, or disappears, the PLL will migrate to the VCO center frequency or to the VCO's lowest operating frequency, and will transmit a signal accordingly. Thereafter, each time the radar return signal reappears, the PLL attempts to acquire a "lock" on that return signal, and this sometimes requires several signal periods. Frequently, the signal will fade or disappear again before the PLL can adequately lock on the signal. This results in the signal in the PLL migrating to varying degrees intermittently between the VCO frequency, which is not related to ground speed or distance travelled, and the return signal frequency; in the context of the invention, this would result in inaccurate rotational speed modulation for the rotating discs 14 in the seed metering devices 12. In other words, the rotational speed of the rotating discs 14 would migrate intermittently as well due to the PLL's signal migration, resulting in inaccurate linear plant spacing. The signal conditioning circuit 102, shown in detail in Fig. 10 and in functional block diagram form in Fig. 15, provides a unique circuit arrangement within a PLL circuit such that the radar return signal only influences the VCO while the return signal is adequate in magnitude; when the return signal is inadequate (e.g.. when it intermittently fades or disappears) , the PLL remains at its last locked frequency (i.e.. it does not migrate) until adequate return signal strength is again detected. The output from the signal conditioning circuit 102 thus constitutes a much more stable image with only minor corrections occurring at any given instant. A secondary output signal from this signal conditioning circuit varies in duration relative to the period (duty cycle) with the magnitude of the radar signal and is used as a signal quality indication. The stable output signals from the signal conditioning circuit, the inventors have found, permits the measurement of ground speed between at least 0.10 and 12.0 mph, with an accuracy of plus or minus 0.01 mph, therefore permitting accurate calibration of seed placement to within 0.125 inches or less in connection with the invention described herein. Referring to Figs. 8, 9, 10, 13 and 15, the return signal from the ground speed sensor 26 (the Doppler effect radar in the described embodiment) via the radar pre-amp 101 passes through the signal conditioning circuit 102, which includes a signal squaring circuit that ignores or effectively filters low level noise signals and presents a clear square wave to the phase detector. ' The return signal is also directed through two signal magnitude threshold comparators, with the outputs combined to gate the phase detector output to the loop filter when the absolute value of the return signal is above a predetermined level. The loop filter then controls the VCO frequency so that it will consistently be the average value of the return signal, which has been validated through the foregoing signal conditioning procedure. The combined output of the signal magnitude threshold comparators varies in duration relative to the period (duty cycle) with the magnitude of the return signal, which is used by the microprocessor 60 as a signal quality indicator. The output signal of the signal conditioning circuit may be treated as a ground speed measurement, and integrated by one or more known means to determine distance travelled; however, the inventors have found it advantageous to treat the output signal as a progressive position measurement. For example, where the period of a radar signal is approximately 72 Hz (actually, a return signal of 71.9486 Hz) per mile per hour of the moving vehicle, that equates to a distance travelled of approximately 0.24462 inches per return signal cycle. ((1 mile/hour) x (1 hour/3600 seconds) x (5280 feet/1 mile) x (12 inches/1 foot) x (1 second/71.9486 cycles) = 0.24462 inches/cycle) . By accumulating radar return signal pulses, the distance travelled can be determined by direct proportionality. Similarly, the rotational speed of, e.g.. the rotating discs 14 as determined by the active speed sensor 50 can be determined in terms of rotational speed; however, the inventors have found it advantageous to treat that signal as a mechanism position signal. Because the pulses of the active speed sensor 50 may be recognized on both the rising and falling portions of the pulse, the frequency with which the active speed sensor 50 provides position information is effectively doubled. Referring to Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 14, and 16, microprocessor 60 uses the signals obtained from the signal conditioning circuit 102 and from the active speed sensor 50 in order to regulate the speed of the hydraulic motor 42 such that the seeds 18 are dispensed at the desired spacing as input through the plant spacing inputs 62. It will be recognized that for a desired seed spacing, and for a given number of holes 16 in the rotating discs 14, there exists a mathematical relationship between the pulses of the return signal from the ground speed sensor 26 and the pulses from the active speed sensor 50, and the number (or fraction of the number) of seeds 18 dispensed. The microprocessor 60 accumulates the pulses of the return signal of ground speed sensor 26 for the signal conditioning circuit 102 and compares the pulses of the active speed sensor 50 (based upon the plant spacing input) , and to the extent that the rotational speed of the rotating disc is not appropriate to achieve the desired plant spacing at the then-current operational ground speed of the planting apparatus 24, the microprocessor 60 corrects the speed of the hydraulic motor 42 by sending a signal to adjust the hydraulic proportional valve 44 accordingly, as previously described. For a given sampling period, the mathematical relationship between the signal received via the ground speed sensor 26 and the active speed sensor 50 utilized to correct the rotational speed of the hydraulic motor 42 by proportionally opening or closing the hydraulic proportional valve 44 may be expressed generally as follows: (Number Of Target Radar Return Pulses) / (Number Of Target Active Speed Sensor Pulses) =( (Desired Seed Spacing (in. ))/ (0.22462 in. per pulse) )x( (Number Of Holes In Rotating Disc) / (Number Of Pulses Generated Per Revolution Of The Rotating Disc)). (The 0.22462 inch figure used in connection with the described embodiment of the invention represents the period of a 71.9486 Hz signal, the return signal for the radar per mile per hour travelled. Those skilled in the art will recognize that, for different embodiments of the invention, for example, using a different effective return signal, this figure might have to be adjusted without departing from the teachings of the invention. ) Thus, for any given setting for the planting apparatus 24, and for a desired seed spacing selected by the farmer, the ratio between the Number Of Target Radar Return Pulses to the Number Of Target Active Speed Sensor Pulses Generated Per Revolution Of The Rotating Disc can be seen to be a constant (K-.) . For example, if the planting apparatus is set up to generate 190 pulses per revolution of the shaft 29 (and, consequently, the disc 14) , and assuming that there are 6 holes 16 in the disc 14, and assuming that the farmer desires to plant- t 6 inch spacing, the ratio between the Number Of Target Radar Return Pulses to the Number Of Target Active Speed Sensor Pulses Generated Per Revolution Of The Rotating Disc or K,. would be equal to ((6 in. per plant) / (0.22462 in. per pulse))x((6 holes (plants) per revolution) / (190 pulses per revolution) ) = 0.84353. This constant is recalculated by the microprocessor 60 whenever the planting apparatus starts, or the desired seed spacing or the number of holes 16 in disc 14 is changed. Each time that a pulse is generated as a result of a return signal from the ground speed sensor 26, the constant I- is added into an internal register in the microprocessor 60. Each time a pulse is generated by the active speed sensor 50, a unity value (1) is added into an internal register in the microprocessor 60. These tasks are performed in the background of the main program of the microprocessor 60 through the use of interrupts. In the described embodiment, each pass through the program loop (every 4.096 mS) the microprocessor 60 determines the difference between the two registers (effectively, the target number of pulses minus the actual number of pulses) , and multiplies that difference by a gain factor; it then outputs that product as the pulse width modulation ("PWM") duty cycle for the hydraulic proportional valve 44. The task of controlling the output is also performed in the background of the main program, using interrupts. The rotating speed of the hydraulic motor 42 and, hence, the shaft 29 and the disc 14, is adjusted by the microprocessor 60 in the above-described manner to generate a signal to the hydraulic proportional valve 44 so that the accumulated values in the two registers match. The combined output of the signal magnitude threshold comparators into the microprocessor 60 is caused to increment a register while the signal level is high. This task is performed in the background using interrupts. At intervals, the main program acquires this value, clears the register for evaluation over the next interval, and divides it by the maximum possible register value. This result is used as a signal quality factor for validating the presence of the return signal from the ground speed sensor 26. In order that the planting apparatus 24 starts and stops planting seed coincident with the starting and stopping of movement of the planting apparatus 24, the microprocessor 60 senses: (1) when the planting apparatus 24 has begun moving positively relative to the ground, and then sends signals opening the safety valve 45 and/or the hydraulic proportional valve 44; (2) when the planting apparatus 24 has ceased moving positively relatively to the ground, and then sends signals closing the safety valve 45 and/or the hydraulic proportional valve 44; and (3) when no useable return signals are available from the radar for a prolonged period of time, in which case the microprocessor 60 sends signals closing the safety valve 45 and/or the hydraulic proportional valve 44. When the microprocessor 60 sends a signal closing the safety valve 45 and/or the hydraulic proportional valve 44, it may also optionally send another signal, e.g.. to the display unit 62 indicating that planting has stopped. Referring to Figs. 11, 12, and 13 in the described embodiment, the microprocessor 60 signals the hydraulic proportional valve 44 by causing the output via the hydraulic proportional valve output circuit 104 to be a PWM signal with a frequency of around 1 KHz and the duty cycle varied as required. The output circuitry for the hydraulic proportional valve 44 and the safety valve 45 (circuits 104 and 103, respectively), are similar, except that the hydraulic proportional valve output circuit 104 includes a current sensing shunt resistor in order to permit the microprocessor 60 to monitor the valve current. Both output circuits utilize N-channel Field Effect Transistors ("FETs") for low-side switching of the valves. The active speed sensor input circuit 105 utilizes a hysteresis comparator to square up the signal and reduce the effect of electrical noise. Those skilled in the art will recognize that input/output circuits other than those specifically illustrated and discussed herein can be utilized without departing from the teachings of the invention. For purposes of describing a specific embodiment of the invention, the following includes an exemplary program for the microprocessor 60 of this invention, reproduced as a source statement, including comments as appropriate. ?Γ«*W4LΓ* *-*«κBC«r λSxx.SXZ 3142 OPT 3143 OPT 3144 3C00 CRC S3CCC 3145 3146 0000 ii ii ii ii ii ii s??,s?ooo-« •. i ti ti ti ORG srooo RMλXN S25 Sc= 3155 fOOf 14 00 *8 0156 f012 86 Jf 0157 f014 97 09 0158 f016 86 f 0159 fO β 97 08 0160 fOl* 86 30 0161 fOic 97 2b 3163 f020 97 2d boot LP1 :?3 i -?2 I?6 -?7 ■ 42- 3229 '390 86 00 ( 2 0230 f392 97 22 [ J ! 3231 3232 f394 36 CO 2 ] f 3 J [ 1 1 f 6 J [ 6 1 ( 3 ) ro i [ J 1 I0L£2 [ 2 ( 3 ( 2 I0L23 ( 3 3261 fOcβ 96 3 3262 fOcd 26 33 3263 fOcf 56 ϋ6 23 3264 f0d2 9" 35 :LZJA 3265 f0d4 96 02 3266 fOdβ 97 82 3267 fOdβ 96 85 3268 fOda 97 84 3269 fOde 7a fO 90 0270 0271 fOdf 81 01 f 2 ] IDLX4 0272 fOβl 26 14 ( 3 ] ■ 0273 f0β3 96 83 [ 3 J 0274 fOβ5 26 03 0275 fOβ7 b6 b6 21 0276 fOaa 97 86 :0LX4λ 0277 fOβc 96 01 [ 3 } 0278 fOβa 97 82 0279 fOfO 96 86 0280 fOf2 97 84 0281 f0f4 7a fO 90 [ ] 0282 0283 f0f7 81 OS ; :OLXS 0284 fOf9 26 07 0285 fOfb 86 OS 0286 fOfd 97 82 [ 3 ] 0287 tOtt 7β tO 90 0288 f!02 81 4f j 20LX6 0289 f!04 23 2a ] 0290 f!06 81 58 0291 flOβ 24 3d 0292 flOa 97 82 ( ] 0293 flOc d6 83 { 3 j 0294 flOa 26 11 t 1 0295 fllO 16 :LZ6A 02 IDLX7A :CLX7A :OLXX ΓL'JSH -44- . Z S S 54 234 15d i •:s 15f s ' .35 161 s 3337 '163 97 22 3338 flδS 36 SC 3339 «167 9" 3c 3340 flS9 36 ff 0341 f!6b 97 Sa 0342 flSd 96 3c 3343 flSf CS 14 0344 f!71 3d 0345 '172 dd 5f 0346 f!74 CC 7f CO 0347 *177 dd *5 0348 f!79 lc 30 3c 0349 0350 f!7c 7d 30 63 0351 f!7f 27 2c 0352 0353 0354 flSl dc 65 0355 f!83 93 70 0356 fl8 36 30 SO 30 64 90 :.s: 3333 .'; = a 36 3f 3334 ! .z* 97 C8 40 3398 fld2 97 21 2399 fld4 86 CO 34CC fidβ 97 24 3401 0402 fldβ 36 bd 0403 f da 97 22 0404 f de 86 aO 0406 flaO 86 60 0414 flaf 96 Oa 0415 flfl Sf 0416 flf2 84 aO 3417 flf4 8b 44 3418 flfβ'dd 16 2419 Ϊlf3 c2 13 30 CLI -- - 2593 £346 24 3594 £ 347 43 15 [ 2 j WR_ΓL LDAA IS02 as 0801 .469 92 46 0802 f4βb 97 42 2803 Dd Od 0804 f4ba 20 01 2805 f4c0 Oc 2806 Ϊ4C1 79 00 4b 2807 f4c4 79 00 4* 0808 f4c7 74 00 46 0825 f4«7 dd 42 0826 f4β9 cc c9 fa 0827 f4«c dd 44 0828 aa cc CO CO 0829 f4fl dd 4a 0830 f4f3 dd 4b 0831 f4f5 86 17 0832 f4f7 97 4d 0833 0834 f4f9 dc 42 0835 4fb la 93 46 0836 4fβ 22 09 0837 f500 26 lc 0838 f502 dc 44 0839 f504 la 93 48 0840 f507 25 15 0841 fS09 dc 44 0842 f50b 93 48 0843 fSOd dd 44 0844 f50f 96 43 0845 f511 92 0846 fS13 97 43 0847 fSIS 96 42 0848 f517 92 46 C849 f519 97 42 C850 f51b Cd C851 f51C 20 01 C852 ?51β 0c 2853 ' 1 79 00 4c 2854 '522 79 CO 4b 3855 f525 79 CO 4* 2856 i529 74 CO 46 285" f52b 76 CO 47 2353 76 20 43 2859 i - 2 . 76 CO 49 2360 .534 7* 00 4d 236 .537 26 CO 2362 .'539 dc 4a 2863 f53b dd 60 2S64 .'53d 96 4c 2865 fS3f 97 62 ; : . ?/R£v ; .-23-55 .VΪV P/REV RTIINT: 0937 TOC3SVC 0938 0939 LOO sue: A-CCC 0940 TOC3 S7C 0941 f5c2 86 20 [ 2 l 0942 f5c4 97 23 I 3 } C943 f5c6 3b ( 12 J 0944 R VλL 1221 f564 Cδ 14 LDAB 1222 fδ66 3d 13 KUL 1223 f567 dd 5f 4 STD 1224 f569 cc * f 2C ι c rsAOs LCD ♦ STCC 1225 f66e dd *5 STD SMOO 1226 f66β ee 00 60 LCD # S3060 1227 fS71 dd 76 STD ■ /MOD 1228 f573 86 bd LDAλ #sao ΞNλBLE TOCl 6 TOC4 . :o . 1C29 f675 97 22 I 3 STλλ TMSK1 1030 .677 86 60 t 2 LDλλ # $60 • OC1 cantr: OC2/PA6 CC3/PAS STλλ OCLM ( 1 1 BSST PORTλ, S60 JSR M CλLC LCD #5 STD RAD λR ι-2 [ ] STD RADAR-0 STD MOTOR* 2 [ 4 ] STD KOTOR«O RUNLPB BRCLR QrLACS S80 RUNLPB ( 6 ] BCLR QΓLACS sao JSR M2 SPED :sa M I 6 BSET QΓLAGS RUNNING 6 JSR M2 CMD 6 TST COM CNT 3 BEQ RUNEXIT 3 LDλλ VALCNT 3 CXPλ VALSλM 3 BLO RUNLPC 6 JSR R VA 3 CMPA VA1PEP. 3 BHS RUNLPC 2 LDAλ ♦ soo BIS-ABLE TOCl & TOC4 i T C ; :55 « 5bO 97 22 STλλ TMSKl :56 fδb2 36 00 LDλλ #S00 • OCl NO LCNGE? COntrola OC2/PA6 £ 2C2, ?A: 257 fδb4 97 Cc STAA OCIM 258 fδb6 Id CO 3c BCLR PORTA.S60 259 «Sβ9 7β f6 37 JMP RUNLPA 260 :6: RUNLPC «5βc 13 *1 C8 cc BRCLR QfLACS TXOK RUNLPB .acO 15 *1 C8 BCLR QfLACS TXOK :O5 SPACE 2AJ ADRES :67 TX4 2 1 BRA RUNLPB 0 1 0 50 1098 fδfd la 93 46 1099 f700 22 09 1100 f702 26 lc 1101 f704 dc 44 1102 f706 la 93 48 1103 f709 25 15 1104 f70b dc 44 1105 f70d 93 48 1106 f70f dd 44 1107 f711 96 43 1108 f713 92 47 1109 f715 97 43 1110 f717 96 42 1111 f719 92 46 1112 f71b 97 42 1113 f71d Od 1114 f71β 20 01 1115 f720 Oc 1116 f721 79 00 4c 1117 f724 79 00 4b 1118 f727 79 00 4a 1119 f72a 74 00 46 1120 f72d 76 00 47 1121 f730 76 00 48 1122 f733 76 00 49 1123 f736 7* 00 4d 1154 f76d 96 83 1292 f849 93 70 1293 f84b 2b 16 1294 f84d la 93 b2 1295 fθ50 23 08 1296 fSS2 dc 6b 1297 '354 93 b2 1298 f856 dd 70 1299 fβ5β 20 14 3a 33 CO 64 1303 fββl 24 OS 1304 fβ63 cc 00 64 1305 fββ* 20 09 1306 fβββ la 83 07 00 1307 fββc 23 03 1308 fB6a cc 07 00 1309 '871 dd 76 1310 f873 39 1311 1312 1313 f874 96 81 1314 fβ76 81 02 1315 fβ7β 26 14 1316 f87a 96 83 1317 f87c 26 03 1318 f87β b6 b6 20 1319 fββl 97 85 1320 f883 86 02 1321 fSβS 97 82 1322 fβ87 96 85 1323 fββ9 97 84 1324 fββb 7a f5 42 1325 fββa 81 01 1326 fβ90 26 14 1327 f892 96 83 1328 fS94 26 03 1329 fβ96 b6 β6 21 1330 fS99 97 86 1331 f89b 86 01 1332 fβ9d 97 82 1333 f89f 96 86 1334 fβal 97 84 1335 fβa3 7β f5 42 1336 f8a6 81 09 1337 fβaβ 26 4f 1338 fβaa 86 04 1339 fβac 97 82 1340 fβaa 7f 00 bl 1341 fβbl 13 al 10 3f 1342 fβbS 7c 00 bl 1343 fβbβ dc a-b 1344 fSba dd 46 1345 f8bc 96 ad 1346 f3b« 97 48 1347 fβeO 7f 00 49 1348 fSc3 cc 00 00 1349 fβc6 dd 42 1350 fβcβ dc 60 1351 fθea dd 44 1352 ORC SfPBO (12 Γ ET RTI ORG SfTD6 ?Zm T,3 ?Z3 rzs $4015 TCC4:JΓ- TOC4SVC rocir.vT TOCl: « r S4006 T CISVC TOCIINT FOB TOCISVC TΣC3ZNT PDB MOTORINT TIC3 TΣC2ΣNT FOB ΣRET τ:ci2>rτ S400C *z* TΣC11HT PDB RΛDλRI T; T1C1 RTI1STA S400P RTΣINTλ PDB REALTΣM IRQ NT PDB IRET XΣRς∑NT PDB IRIT S Σ∑NT FOB IRET ΣLLOPNT PDB IRET COPΣNT PDB IRET CMPINT PS8 ΣRET RSTΣNT PDB RMλlN and EQO rβ 1377 1330 1333 1095 1123 1145 0821 0823 CS3S 0839 0842 0845 0848 0856 0857 0858 0879 0882 C946 0947 09S7 0961 0964 0966 0967 C969 1102 11C5 1128 1111 1119 1120 1121 1122 1136 1137 O IVR 0042 •0072 0782 0784 0790 0794 0797 0799 0800 0802 082S 0827 0834 083? 0841 0843 0844 0846 0847 0849 0885 :esa 0950 0951 0959 0962 0965 0968 0975 0976 0977 1097 : 1104 1106 1137 1109 1110 1112 1139 1141 1187 1189 : 1351 DLΠOMS f39c 'OSOS 0660 0670 0679 0686 OMλX 00b2 *0138 0995 1294 1297 DOTY EEUPDT 0252 EEOPDT1 EE0TDT2 FLAGS1 FLAGS2 394 1234 0339 0407 1031 1097 OLDR OOaβ •0133 1296 1259 1262 1264 OLORTΣ 00a2 •0128 OLOSPIXD 0067 •0092 OLDT 007d •0101 0583 0586 OPTION 0039 •0040 0412 PλαiT 0027 •0025 0899 0896 PλCTL 0026 •0024 0154 0379 Pλ l ffda •1276 PλO ffdc •1277 PORTA 0000 ■ 0003 0155 0234 0317 0348 1032 1058 PORTD 0008 •0004 0159 0168 0169 0384 0433 0454 0523 0564 0569 0571 PORT! 000* •0006 PPRC 003b • 0041 0699 0699 0661 0669 0669 0671 0679 0678 0681 0689 0687 0797 0760 0764 0767 0770 0774 PROCI2 f481 •0630 0773 PRooirri f49b •0612 0711 0730 0747 QFLACS OOal •0127 0239 0237 0924 0943 0934 1002 1013 1014 1040 1041 1044 1063 1064 1179 1341 QUO 004a •0074 0787 0806 0807 0813 0829 0830 0893 0894 0895 0862 0864 0992 0994 0973 0974 0980 1092 1093 1116 ι: 1118 1127 1142 1143 1147 1192 1394 RADAR OOβb •0094 0490 0492 1039 1036 1223 1228 1246 1248 1249 1291 1292 1294 1291 1296 1387 1392 RADARXNT fβld •1103 1436 RλD ADD 0060 •0087 0863 0869 1188 1247 1290 1390 ROR? 0020 •0048 0170 0179 0179 0467 0483 RI48S 0010 •0061 RXλLTIM fββb •0750 1438 RIALTIMλ f5βb •0765 0904 REALTΣMB f593 •0768 0908 RIE 0020 •0092 0399 0513 OSSβ RMAIN fOOO •0007 1449 RMUPDT f3a>d •0948 0202 RMUPDT1 f3f7 •0952 0699 ROMCBX f439 •0992 0200 ROMCHJU 440 •0999 0740 ROMCKX2 f44b •0602 0742 RC4CSX3 f4S2 •0609 0750 BOMCSM f424 •0978 0716 0751 ROMC3M1. f42b •0981 0726 ROMCSM2 f436 •0988 0728 RSCLRONI f51a •0710 0837 0840 RSDIVΣDI f4dβ •0674 RSOIVLP f4f9 •0691 0861 RSDIVNT fS f •0711 0851 RSSITONI f509 •0699 0836 RSTDIV f4v»C •0689 0889 RSTΣNT fffa •1303 RTDΣVTDI fS46 •0727 RT∑αιτ 007e •0100 0911 0912 RTΣINTl f5a2 •0777 0912 RTΣ NTλ fffO •1296 RON f620 •0848 0293 RUNCAL ooββ •0110 0871 0875 RDNEXIT f6Sb •0874 1012 1047 ROVLPλ f637 •0860 1013 1015 1059 R TNLPA1 fS4d RONLPJU fS5« RUNLPB fS8c RONLPC f6bc ROWNINQ 0010 RX f2S4 •0325 0467 RxαcsoT 0081 • 0103 0238 0246 0373 0497 0504 1151 1313 RXSλTEkTF 0083 • 0105 0261 0273 0293 0309 0498 0507 1154 H65 1316 RXIN 1 f27f •0330 0488 RXI T2 f29a *0362 0494 RXINT3 f2a0 •0365 0499 RXINTDLr f2b9 •0378 0921 RXINTOK f2*6 •0368 0901 RXINTX f27β •0349 0483 RXINT2 f296 •0360 0493 RXOK 0004 •0069 0924 RXPTR 0040 • 0070 0388 0490 0493 0494 0495 0502 0505 0508 05'0 R VXL f5c7 •0803 1008 1051 R~VAZCLR f5fβ •0830 0960 0963 R~VXLLP f5βO •0815 0979 1146 R~VALNT f5« •0831 0971 R ' VXLONE f5βf •0822 0999 SCCR 002c •0030 scαυ 002d « 0031 0163 0388 0399 0482 0913 0922 0998 0959 SCOR 002f *0033 0171 0176 0180 0192 0199 0394 0460 0462 0465 0468 048S 0S12 0517 0926 0942 0546 0550 0554 0557 SCΣΣRT ffdβ •1274 SCΣ INT f269 •0340 1416 3CX~ 0020 •0057 sαιτ 009a •0083 0341 0903 1019 SCSR 002* ■ 0032 0170 0175 0179 0191 0194 0393 0459 0461 0464 0467 0483 0484 0511 0532 SDλ 0080 •0038 SITORI f4bl •0639 0792 SMOO OOaS •0131 0204 0347 0601 0906 1029 SOLOO T 008c •0114 0342 1020 SPλCE 0083 •0107 0264 0267 0307 0472 0692 0709 0867 1071 1157 1160 1319 1322 SPCR 0028 •0026 0386 SPDR 002a «0028 SPIED 0064 -0091 0332 0333 0394 0366 0634 0636 0637 0639 0640 0642 SPΣF 0080 >0047 SPI INT ffdβ -1275 SPSR 0029 *0027 SWIINT fffβ *1299 TCIE 0040 •0051 0482 0922 0999 TCNT 000* «0009 0414 1255 1261 TCTL1 0020 '0018 0405 TCTL2 0021 *0019 0398 TORE 0080 *0049 0191 0194 0459 0461 0464 TEKP1 0094 *00β0 0476 0478 0870 0873 0874 0877 OββO 1198 1201 1202 1209 1206 1361 1364 1369 1368 1369 TEMP2 0096 *0081 TEMP3 0099 *0082 TFLC1 0023 *0021 0426 0587 0608 0627 0644 0942 1265 TFLC2 0025 «0023 0424 0893 1130 TΣC1 0010 «0010 T1C11NT ttxxtm «1294 TΣC2 0012 « 0011 TΣC2ΣNT ffaw -1292 TIC3 0014 *0012 0582 0585 TMSR1 0022 «0020 0230 0337 0403 1029 1055 TMSJU 0024 «0022 0152 0400 TOCl 0016 *0013 0418 0594 0599 0602 0604 0606 TOCIB f34b *0454 TOCllNT ffaβ '1289 TOCISVC f342 «044β 1431 S aβar of arrora 0 For purposes of describing a specific embodiment of the invention, the following includes exemplary program for the display unit 62 of this invention, reproduced as a source statement, including comments as appropriate. r !-..-.• Addr Cbjacr S τrTL_ι l 3Eπ'rE--2.2 Planter Csns r:..βr Bca-rd ) S XRE? CλTS(16-May-S4) S INCLTJE I DEFS . AS ) 3 IT ASSIGNMENTS 004E C04? 0050 4 4 0060 4 0061 4 0062 4 0063 4 0064 4 C065 4 0066 4 4 4 4 l-.-.tt λddr 0fc;βct pβ 4 4 4 4 5 6 S LIST 9 0000 02 00 30 ..C. 10 11 ORG 0003h 12 • IE0 EXTERNAL 0 13 L KP 04002h 14 0003 02 00 A2 ..C. LJKP RTΣX 15 16 ORG OOOBh 17 • TFO TIMZR 0 OVERFLOW 18 LJKP 0400511 19 OOOB 02 05 78 ..C. T.MROV LJKP TKRO INT 20 21 ORG 0013H 22 • IE1 - EXTERNAL 1 23 LJKP 04008H 24 0013 02 00 A2 ..C. I.VT1V LJMP RTIX 25 26 ORG 001811 27 • TF1 - TIMZR 1 OVERFLOW 29 001B 32 RETI 29 30 ORG 002311 31 • RI & T - SERIAL I/O (UAAT) 32 LJMP 0400811 33 0023 C2 03 D4 SERINTS LJMP SERΣNT 34 35 36 OS lOOOh 37 38 39 ORG 0030H 40 2030 75 87 80 RSTAR 1 MOV 087h,#θaθh ; ?CC DOUBLE BAUD RATE 41 CC33 75 91 07 .0. MOV SP,#07h ; STAC* 07h 42 CC36 75 89 21 .0. MOV TMOO . »021h ; T I KS ? - ( Mθdβ-2 ) 8-BIT AUTO-RELOAD 43 44 0039 75 98 52 .3. 5211 ; 3-317 ENABLEDi TI SET 45 003C 75 8B F3 .0. MOV TLl,#0F3h ; STA T TIMER WITH NORMAL COUNT 46 003F 75 80 F3 .3. MOV THl,#0F3h ; AL'TC =; LOAD VALUE 2400 BAUD 47 2042 22 8E .B. SETB TRI ; LET ?:' 1 RUN 48 0C44 02 8C .3. SETB TRO ; LET ?:.' IN Er -....-.• λddx Cb «cr ■ rs*» RESUME LOOP • R.. ,3R. X S.. .3.. .3.. RX .3.. . BR. .3.. -7 :• λcϊetr cc z r L-.-.β Atiilr "VT- I ?_v 73 Ξr 2,-r.m λdklr Ofc;*c: .rs i-.-.β klktr t;*c= 307 2C8 :c 313 11 315 313 314 315 316 317 313 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 228 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 241 342 3CC1 343 SCC2 344 CCC3 345 CCC4 346 3005 347 3C06 43 3CC7 249 ZZZ3 :cc9 CCCλ 30CB OOOC 54 0021 256 0022 357 li.-.* Adttr C6:4> zrrzm Lis* λώcir Cb~*cz Tvr* 4C9 C2B9 50 1C 413 02BB 75 36 C6 411 02BE 80 23 412 02C0 CS 36 413 02C2 ES 36 414 02C4 C3 415 02CS 94 06 416 32C7 SO 05 417 02C9 75 36 06 418 02CC 80 IS 419 02CE 94 06 420 0200 50 05 421 0202 75 36 OC 422 0205 80 OC 422 02D7 E5 36 424 0209 B4 90 02 425 02DC 80 05 426 02DE 40 03 427 02E0 75 36 90 428 02E3 E4 429 02E4 02 02 £7 430 431 02S7 E5 35 432 32E9 85 35 20 433 02EC 75 3B 08 434 02EF 30 30 08 435 02F2 E5 20 436 02F4 54 07 437 02F6 F5 3A 438 02F8 80 20 439 02FA 75 3B 04 440 02FD 30 01 09 441 0300 ES 20 442 3302 54 07 443 3304 03 444 03CS FS 3A 445 0307 80 11 458 0326 85 FO 39 459 0329 70 03 Er Li.-.β λd x Cb- cz :yp« L-..1* Addr Cb-«c: 612 ;....-.• ACCΓ σo; «ct » 513 0461 75 31 67 614 0464 75 90 7? 615 0467 75 37 30 ve 516 346A 75 39 21 617 613 046D 75 8λ 00 619 0470 75 8C 30 620 0473 C2 98 621 047S C2 99 622 0477 C2 8D 623 0479 02 8C 624 047B 02 λF 625 047D 02 A9 626 047F D2 λC 627 0481 75 60 00 628 0484 75 61 CO 629 0487 75 32 00 630 048A 75 31 00 631 048D 75 33 00 632 0490 75 4E 00 633 0493 75 35 00 634 0496 75 36 00 635 0499 7S 46 OF 636 049C 75 47 CC 637 049F C2 7C 638 04A1 C2 7B 639 04λ3 90 CO 01 640 34λ6 74 FO 641 04λβ FO 642 C4Λ9 75 90 7F 643 04λC 75 BO FF 935 660 C435 43 38 80 661 0408 43 39 80 662 04DB 43 3A 80 663 040E 43 38 80 -.• Add Cb- c: v_-« ANL DIG 3, I37F.1 MOV A,#5 RET ..R. 3AR5 CJNE λ,#5,3AR6 .3.. CLR 3AR HORN ANL DIG~1, #C7Fh MOV A,#0 " RET ..R. BAR6 CJNE λ,#6,BAR7 ,B.. CLR BAR HORN ANL DΣG~l,#07F ANL OΣG~2,#07Fh MOV A,#0" RET ..R. BAR 7 CJNE A, #7, BARS 3.. CLR BAR HORN ANL DΣG~2,#07F!ι MOV A, #5 RET ..R. BARS CJNE λ,#8,3ΛR9 .3.. SETB BAR HORN ANL DΣG~2,#07Fh MOV λ,#δ RET BAR9 ANL DΣG 2,#07F SETB BAR ' BORN MOV λ,#δ " RET TMRO INT POSH λCC PUSH PSW POSH DPH PUSH DPL OEC SECCNTR MOV A,DISCNT ,R. JNZ TMROλ .3. SETB PI. 3. CLR PI.6 MOV R4,#4 MOV SBUF, ICFF SETB RXOKT MOV OISCNT, #24 240 MOV DISCNT,#120 ;24C .R. TMROλ CJNE λ, #4, MROB R. TMROB CJNE λ,#4,TMR0C TMRCC MOV λ,FLCNTl ORL λ,FLCNT2 JZ TMROO CLR C MOV λ.FLCNTl L-..-.* Addr Cb'βct • /-?• ■ 35- ,R.. .0 «YX .0 .0 .3 .0 .0 KEYFTfD .R.. .R.. .R.. ,R.. K2YX2 STIM: : Li.iβ λώeir Ob; act -r i_-.β Adttr Cb;βcϊ τ--sβ .R.. .0.. .0. .R. .R. R.. R.. LiΛβ λeldr Cb;β -: P* !r Li-aβ λddr Object .-p* r isa λd r ^yp» 3B OOCh, 3CCh.OCOh,CCCh 38 CCCh,CCCh,CCCh,CCCh 38 CCCh,CCCh,OOOh,OCCh 38 COOh,CCCh,OOOh,OCOh 38 OOOh,OOCh,COOh,OCOh DB OOOh,OOOh,OOOh,OOOh DB OOOh,OCOh,OOOh,OOOh :73-7F Cdn 01 START 02 STOP 04 FLUSH 08 Sup 10 Sdn 20 Cup 40 STOP 04 1 START 02 2 START/FLUSH OC 3 Sup 10 4 Sdn 20 5 Cup 40 6 Cdn 01 7 STOP/Cdn 09 8 FLUSH 08 9 STOP/Cup 44 10 STOP/FLUSH/Cup 4C 11 AAAAC EQU S 'lag ;=: RDEFS proσr--ffl FINISH END Aaβtsiac .er Errora ■ - 9 2 - Crcaa Reference 1-Lbe i AΛAAQ ALMFLAG 3AR1 3AR2 SAR3 8AR4 BARS 3AR6 8AR7 BARS SAR9 3ARB 3ARC BARD BARD1 BARS 3ARSBUF 327 643 3AASET BAJ -659 BAR HORN 256 ■355 714 BECΣN 3LΣKK CAVBUF 311 636 55; CAVITY 224 249 406 413 461 506 CMD BARS CMD " CAL CMD ~CAV CMD " ERAS CMD ' " LCSH CMD _FL_SPD CMD CMD " MODE CMD " SETUP CMD " S PC CMD " START CMD " STOP COM '" CNT DEC ' " CAV 776 3SC " SPC 4A 1G 48 3ΣC14C 3ΣG14X D1G57 0ΣG57A 3ICS7C10 31G57X 31GSET 0ΣCSG2 DΣG 1 DΣG 2 DΣG_2A OΣG 3 OΣG 4 DΣC 5 DΣG 5A DΣG 6 DΣG 7 0IG_8 01G_PTR 01SCNT 3SP57 3SP57A DSP57G1C 0SP57X DSPSET D_C1 0 s ERROR ΞRRS ERR OPEN ΞRR-~RUT*AWAY ERR~SHORT ERR~STUCX FINISH FLASH FLASH1 FLA.5H2 FLCNT1 FLCNT2 FLOSH KEY ΣNC CAV :NC~S?C :NΣT :NTIV : ci : " ca 2~C9 ∑ " cx -428 Σ~S2 Σ~S3 ∑ " S4 ∑~sx KEYACT KS7FND KEYSET KErrzMP K-SY JPCNT KXYX KSYX2 KYACTE JOfACTF KYACTG KYACTX KYsrrz JCYSβTF RYsrrs RYSSTB RYTABL LΣGHTS 365 LOOP LT FLUSH LT~ΣDLZ LT~RUN LT~STOP LT " TSST MAIN MAΣN1 MAΣN1A MAΣN2 MΛIN2A MλXN3 MAΣN3A MAΣN3λl MAΣ.N3B MλIN4 MAINS MAΣN5A MAIN6 MAIN6A MAΣR7 MAΣN8 MAINA MAINE MAINE 1 MAINC MAINX KD_FLUSH MD ΣDLS KD~RUN MD~STOP KD " TBST MODI MOOEBOT MOOES NEWKEY OKZY PRIME PRΣMEA PRIKKB RECV RECV5 RECV6 RECV7 RECVA RECVX RESUME RSTART1 RTΣX RX RXCMDBUF RXDATBUF RXΣNT RXΣNT1 RX1NT2 RXΣNT3 RXΣNT4 RXINTX RXOK RXOKT SCANCNT SECCNT SECCNTR sεcs sεcsi SERΣNT SERΣNTS SETUP srrupi srruPA SETU Al SETUPA2 SETUPλJ SETUPB SBTUPC SETUPEX SSTUPEX1 SHVT3L SPλCZ spcaoT SRSCV SRECVA SRECVX START START1 START1Λ START2 START3 STARTEX STARTUP START KST STEP STΣHΣ STLPD STOP STOP 8TN STOP~KEY STPLP1 SUTX SUTXO SUTX1 SUTX2 TEMPI TSMP2 TEMP3 TEST TIMOX TIMIA riMia TIM3 TMKOA TMROB TMROC TMROD TMROV TKRO INT Hβri fi HHH OH H " 8 H M ΩΩ KJ in ■ -I -I 10 -I Ol tø o

Claims: - 93 - Many other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more fully realized and understood from the foregoing detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals throughout the various drawings are intended to designate similar elements and components. The invention is claimed as follows: 1. A control system for a mobile planting apparatus permitting discrete plant spacing to be determined and maintained independent of any wheel rotation on said planting apparatus or of any towing apparatus, comprising: (A) a ground speed sensor wherein the rate of movement relative to the ground is determined independent of wheel rotation of said planting apparatus or of wheel rotation of any towing apparatus (B) an input/display device for inputting desired linear plant spacing; (C) a variable speed motor for mechanically driving seed metering devices on said planting apparatus at varying rates independent of any wheel rotation of said planting apparatus or of said towing apparatus, wherein said variable speed motor is capable of changing speeds directly or indirectly in response to an electronic signal; and (D) a programmable control circuit which communicates electronically with said input/display device, and with said ground speed sensor, wherein said programmable control circuit: (i) determines the discrete number of seeds to be dispensed by said seed metering devices per linear unit of distance travelled by said planting apparatus based upon the desired linear plant spacing received from the input/display device; (ii) determines directly or indirectly the number of units of distance travelled by the planting apparatus based upon electronic communications received from said ground speed sensor; and (iii) determines the rate at which said variable speed motor should operate in order to cause said seed metering devices to dispense seeds to achieve said desired linear plant spacing per linear unit of distance travelled by said planting apparatus, and further determines and sends an electronic signal in order to directly or indirectly cause the rate of said variable speed motor to vary in order to correspond to said determined rate at which said variable speed motor is to operate in order to cause said seed metering devices to dispense seeds in order to achieve said desired linear plant spacing. 2. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 1 wherein said ground speed sensor is a Doppler effect radar. 3. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 2 wherein, interposed between said ground speed sensor and said programmable control circuit, and in electronic communication with both, is a signal conditioning circuit. 4. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 3 wherein said signal conditioning circuit is capable of refining said electronic communications from said ground speed sensor such that ground speed may be accurately determined to within 0.01 miles per hour or less based upon the aforesaid refined electronic communications from said ground speed sensor and said signal conditioning circuit. 5. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 3 wherein said input/display device is capable of being operated while said planting apparatus is in motion, permitting linear plant spacing to be varied while said planting apparatus is in motion. 6. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 5 further comprising an active speed sensor for sensing directly or indirectly the rate at which said variable speed motor is operating to cause said seed metering devices to dispense seeds, and which communicates electronically with said programmable control circuit, wherein said programmable control circuit further determines whether the electronic signal from the active speed sensor indicates whether the rate at which said variable speed motor is operating to cause said seed metering devices to dispense seeds corresponds to said determined rate at which said variable speed motor is to operate in order to achieve said desired linear plant spacing, and, if not, sends an electronic signal in order to directly or indirectly cause the rate of operation of said variable speed motor to vary in order to correspond to said determined rate at which said variable speed motor is to operate in order to achieve said desired linear plant spacing. 7. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 6 wherein said variable speed motor is a hydraulic motor. 8. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a hydraulic motor circuit, said hydraulic motor circuit comprising: (A) a hydraulic pump; (B) the aforesaid hydraulic motor; (C) a hydraulic proportional valve interposed between said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor, and in hydraulic communication with both, said hydraulic proportional valve being in electronic communication with said programmable control circuit and responsive thereto, wherein said hydraulic proportional valve is designed to proportionally open, close, or maintain its then- current hydraulic valve opening in response to said electronic communications from said programmable control circuit to said hydraulic proportional valve. 9. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 8 wherein said hydraulic motor circuit further comprises a safety valve interposed between said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor, said hydraulic safety valve being in electronic communication with said programmable control circuit and responsive thereto, wherein said hydraulic safety valve opens to allow hydraulic fluid to pass therethrough in response to an electronic signal from said programmable control circuit when said programmable control circuit determines that said planting apparatus is moving in a positive direction relative to the ground as a result of electronic communications from said ground speed sensor, and said hydraulic safety valve closes in response to an electronic signal from said programmable control circuit when said programmable control circuit determines that said planting apparatus is not moving in a positive direction relative to the ground as a result of electronic communications from said ground speed sensor. 10. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 9 wherein said hydraulic motor circuit further comprises hydraulic communications capable of returning hydraulic fluid directly or indirectly to the hydraulic pump, wherein said hydraulic fluid to be returned to said hydraulic pump is hydraulic fluid: (A) which has passed through said hydraulic motor; or (B) which has not passed through said hydraulic safety valve as a 1 result of said hydraulic safety valve being closed; or (C) which has not passed through said hydraulic proportional valve as a result of said hydraulic proportional valve being partially or fully closed. 11. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 10 wherein said signal conditioning circuit further comprises a phase-locked loop including a voltage controlled oscillator. 12. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 11 wherein said signal conditioning circuit further comprises electronic communications for preventing the operating frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator from migrating in the event that the electronic communications from the ground speed sensor intermittently fade or disappear. 13. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 12 wherein said signal conditioning circuit further comprises: (A) an electronic signal squaring circuit and a phase detector circuit in electronic communication with said ground speed sensor; and (B) a positive and a negative signal magnitude threshold comparator circuit, with the electronic outputs of both threshold comparator circuits combined to gate the outputs to a loop filter circuit when the absolute value of the electronic signal so conditioned is above a predetermined level, and in electronic communication with said voltage controlled oscillator via said loop filter circuit, and wherein said loop filter circuit controls the frequency of the electronic signal of the aforesaid voltage controlled oscillator. 14. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 13 wherein said ground speed sensor is mounted on said planting apparatus. 15. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 13 wherein said ground speed sensor is mounted on said towing apparatus. 16. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 13 wherein said input/display device further comprises inputs for inputting the number of seeds planted per rotation of said seed metering devices, and wherein that input is electronically communicated to said programmable control circuit. 17. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 16 wherein said input/display device further comprises a display that shows the desired linear plant spacing. 18. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 17 wherein said input/display device further comprises a display that shows the number of seeds to be planted per rotation of said seed metering devices. 19. A mobile planting apparatus for planting a discrete number of seeds per unit of distance travelled independent of any wheel rotation of said planting apparatus, or of any towing apparatus, comprising: (A) a frame; (B) one or more seed dispensers mounted on said frame, wherein said seed dispensers further comprise seed metering devices; (C) a ground speed sensor wherein ground speed is determined independent of any wheel rotation of said planting apparatus or of any wheel rotation of any towing apparatus; (D) a variable speed motor mechanically connected to said seed dispensers, and capable of driving said seed metering devices at varying rates, wherein, as the motor drives the seed metering devices at a faster rate, the discrete number of seeds dispensed by the seed metering devices per unit of time is increased, and wherein said variable speed motor changes speeds directly or indirectly in response to an electronic signal; (E) an input/display device for inputting desired linear plant spacing; (F) a programmable control circuit which communicates electronically with said input/display device, and said ground speed sensor, wherein said programmable control circuit : (i) determines the discrete number of seeds to be dispensed by said seed metering devices per linear unit of distance travelled by said planting apparatus based upon the desired linear plant spacing electronic communication received from the input/display device; (ii) determines directly or indirectly the number of units of distance travelled by the planting apparatus based upon electronic communications received from said ground speed sensor; and (iii) determines the rate at which said variable speed motor should operate in order to cause said seed metering devices to dispense seeds in order to achieve said desired linear plant spacing per linear unit of distance travelled by said planting apparatus, and further determines and sends an electronic signal in order to directly or indirectly cause the rate of said variable speed motor to vary in order to correspond to said determined rate at which said variable speed motor is to operate in order to cause said seed metering devices to dispense seeds in order to achieve said desired linear plant spacing. 20. The mobile planting apparatus of claim 19 wherein said ground speed sensor is a Doppler effect radar. 21. The mobile planting apparatus of claim 20 wherein, interposed between said ground speed sensor and said programmable control circuit, and in - 109 - electronic communication with both, is a signal conditioning circuit. 22. The mobile planting apparatus of claim 21 further comprising an active speed sensor for 5 sensing directly or indirectly the rate at which said variable speed motor is operating to cause said seed metering devices to dispense seeds, and which communicates electronically with said programmable control circuit, wherein said programmable control 10 circuit further determines whether the electronic signal from the active speed sensor indicates whether the rate at which said variable speed motor is operating to cause said seed metering devices to dispense seeds corresponds to said determined rate at 15 which said variable speed motor is to operate in order to achieve said desired linear plant spacing, and, if not, sends an electronic signal in order to directly or indirectly cause the rate of operation of said variable speed motor to vary in order to correspond to 20 said determined rate at which said variable speed motor is to operate in order to achieve said desired linear plant spacing. 23. The mobile planting apparatus of claim 22 wherein said variable speed motor is a hydraulic - 110 - motor, and wherein said mobile planting apparatus further comprises a hydraulic motor circuit, said hydraulic motor circuit comprising: (A) a hydraulic pump; 5 (B) the aforesaid hydraulic motor; (C) a hydraulic proportional valve interposed between said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor, and in hydraulic communication with both, said hydraulic proportional valve being in 10 electronic communication with said programmable control circuit and responsive thereto, wherein said hydraulic proportional valve is designed to proportionally open, close, or maintain its then- current hydraulic valve opening in response to said 15 electronic communications from said programmable control circuit to said hydraulic proportional valve. 24. The control system for a mobile planting apparatus of claim 23 wherein said hydraulic motor circuit further comprises a safety valve 20 interposed between said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor, said hydraulic safety valve being in electronic communication with said programmable control circuit and responsive thereto, wherein said hydraulic safety valve opens to allow hydraulic fluid - Ill - to pass therethrough in response to an electronic signal from said programmable control circuit when said programmable control circuit determines that said planting apparatus is moving' in a positive direction relative to the ground as a result of electronic communication from said ground speed sensor, and said hydraulic safety valve closes in response to an electronic signal from said programmable control circuit when said programmable control circuit determines that said planting apparatus is not moving in a positive direction relative to the ground as a result of electronic communications from said ground speed sensor. 25. The mobile planting apparatus of claim 24 wherein said signal conditioning circuit further comprises a phase-locked loop including a voltage controlled oscillator. 26. The mobile planting apparatus of claim 25 wherein said signal conditioning circuit further comprises electronic communications for preventing the operating frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator from migrating in the event that the electronic communications from the ground speed sensor intermittently fade or disappear. 27. The mobile planting apparatus of claim 26 wherein said signal conditioning circuit further comprises : (A) an electronic signal squaring circuit and a phase detector circuit in electronic communication with said ground speed sensor; and (B) a positive and a negative signal magnitude threshold comparator circuit, with the electronic outputs of both threshold comparator circuits combined to gate the outputs to a loop filter circuit when the absolute value of the electronic signal so conditioned is above a predetermined level, and in electronic communication with said voltage controlled oscillator via said loop filter circuit, and wherein said loop filter controls the frequency of the electronic signal of the aforesaid voltage controlled oscillator. 28. The mobile planting apparatus of claim 27 wherein said input/display device further comprises: (A) inputs for inputting the number of seeds planted per rotation of said seed metering devices; (B) a display which shows the desired linear plant spacing; and (C) a display which shows the number of seeds to be planted per rotation of said seed metering devices. 29. The mobile planting apparatus of claim 28 wherein said input/display device permits the desired plant spacing to be changed while the planting apparatus is in motion. 30. The combination of a low speed Doppler effect radar and a signal conditioning circuit, wherein the combined return signal as refined through said signal conditioning circuit is capable of accurately indicating the relative speed of the target at which the radar is directed to within 0.01 miles per hour or less . 31. The combination of a low speed Doppler effect radar and a signal conditioning circuit, wherein said signal conditioning circuit further comprises: (A) a phase-locked loop including a voltage controlled oscillator; (B) an electronic circuit for preventing the operating frequency of the voltage controlled oscillator from migrating in the event that the return signal from the Doppler effect radar intermittently fades or disappears. 32. The combination of a low speed Doppler effect radar and a signal conditioning circuit of claim 31 wherein said signal conditioning circuit further comprises : (A) an electronic signal squaring circuit and a phase detector circuit in electronic communication with said ground speed sensor; and (B) a positive and a negative signal magnitude threshold comparator circuit, with the electronic outputs of both threshold comparator circuits combined to gate the outputs to a loop filter circuit when the absolute value of the electronic signal so conditioned is above a predetermined level, and in electronic communication with said voltage controlled oscillator via said loop filter circuit, and wherein said loop filter controls the frequency of the electronic signal of the aforesaid voltage controlled oscillator.

Inventors: HARMS LOUIS C, ROSENBROCK RICHARD, HARMS, LOUIS, C., ROSENBROCK, RICHARD
Applicants: FLUID POWER IND INC, FLUID POWER INDUSTRIES, INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G06F7
IPC codes: A01C7