Patent Document

RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/479,540, filed Apr. 27, 2011, 61/479,537, filed Apr. 27, 2011, and 61/479,543, filed Apr. 27, 2011, the contents of all are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to agricultural devices, systems, and methods and, more particularly, to agricultural devices, systems, and methods for determining soil and seed characteristics and analyzing the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Agricultural planters for planting seeds have been utilized for years to plant seeds in soil. Such planters include a plurality of row units, each of which is adapted to plant a row of seeds in the soil. Each row unit opens a furrow, singulates seeds into the furrow, and closes the furrow over the seeds. Some conventional row units include a sensor for sensing the seeds in a furrow. Such conventional row units sense the presence of the seeds in an effort to identify individual seeds and determine positioning of the seeds in the furrow. Tracking seeds in this fashion can be inaccurate. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one example, a system for determining at least one soil characteristic and analyzing the same is provided. 
     In another example, a system for determining at least one seed characteristic and analyzing the same is provided. 
     In yet another example, a system for determining at least one soil characteristic and at least one seed characteristic and analyzing the same is provided. 
     In still another example, a system for determining one or both of a soil characteristic and a seed characteristic is provided and includes a tractor, an agricultural device pulled by the tractor, and a sensor coupled to the agricultural device for sensing the one or both of the soil characteristic and the seed characteristic. 
     In a further example, a method for determining at least one soil characteristic and analyzing the same is provided. 
     In yet a further example, a method for determining at least one seed characteristic and analyzing the same is provided. 
     In still a further example, a method for determining at least one soil characteristic and at least one seed characteristic and analyzing the same is provided. 
     In another example, a method for determining one or both of a soil characteristic and a seed characteristic is provided and includes providing a tractor, providing an agricultural device pulled by the tractor, and providing a sensor coupled to the agricultural device for sensing the one or both of the soil characteristic and the seed characteristic. 
     In yet another example, an agricultural seed planting system is provided and includes a processing unit, a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame for opening a furrow in soil, and a sensor in communication with the processing unit and adapted to sense a characteristic associated with seed planting, wherein the sensor generates a signal associated with the sensed characteristic and the processing unit receives the signal. 
     In still another example, an agricultural seed planting system is provided and includes a processing unit, a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame for opening a furrow in soil, and a sensor in communication with the processing unit and adapted to sense a soil moisture, wherein the sensor generates a signal associated with the soil moisture and the processing unit receives the signal. 
     In a further example, an agricultural seed planting system is provided and includes a processing unit, a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame for opening a furrow in soil, a first sensor for sensing a first characteristic associated with seed planting, wherein the first sensor generates a first signal associated with the sensed first characteristic and the processing unit receives the first signal, and a second sensor adapted to sense a second characteristic associated with seed planting, wherein the second sensor generates a second signal associated with the sensed second characteristic and the processing unit receives the second signal. 
     In yet a further example, a method of planting seeds with an agricultural planter is provided. The method including opening a furrow with a furrow opener, placing a seed in the furrow with the agricultural planter, sensing a characteristic of seed planting with a sensor, generating a signal associated with the sensed characteristic with the sensor, communicating the signal to a processing unit, storing information associated with the signal in a memory, retrieving the information from the memory subsequent to storing the information, and utilizing the retrieved information prior to placing a second seed in a furrow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram of an exemplary system for determining soil and seed characteristics; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevation view of an exemplary agricultural row unit of the system shown in  FIG. 1 , the row unit includes an exemplary sensor for sensing one or more soil and/or seed characteristics; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of an exemplary sensor, an exemplary protective member, exemplary electrical wiring, and exemplary pneumatic tubing of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram of another exemplary system for determining soil and seed characteristics; and 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram of a portion of a further exemplary system for determining soil and seed characteristics. 
     
    
    
     Before any independent features and embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The contents of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/457,815, filed Apr. 27, 2012, entitled “DOWN AND/OR UP FORCE ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/457,577, filed Apr. 27, 2012, entitled “REMOTE ADJUSTMENT OF A ROW UNIT OF AN AGRICULTURAL DEVICE” are both incorporated herein by reference. 
     Soil and seed characteristics are important when planting a crop and may have a direct impact on the efficiency of the planting process and ultimately on the crop yield. Some of such soil characteristics include, but are not limited to, soil temperature, soil moisture, soil type, soil nutrients, etc. Soil temperature directly impacts germination of the seeds planted in the soil. If the soil temperature is not at a sufficient level, the seeds will not germinate. In addition, the soil must be at an appropriate temperature for a sufficient period of time in order for the seeds to germinate. Regarding soil moisture, seeds need to be enveloped within soil having an adequate moisture content in order for germination to occur. Soil moisture content may vary at different soil depths and placement of the seeds into optimum soil moisture conditions will promote optimum and uniform growth of the plants resulting from the seeds and ultimately maximize crop yield. As indicated above, seed characteristics may also be important in the planting process. Seed characteristics such as, for example, seed spacing, seed location within the furrow, seed temperature, and a variety of other seed characteristics may be important to the planting process. Information relating to soil and seed characteristics may be gathered, stored, and analyzed for future planting processes. Such historical information may be used by farmers in future to potentially realize higher crop yields. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary system  20  for determining soil and seed characteristics and analyzing the same is illustrated. The system  20  is capable of determining a wide variety of soil and seed characteristics and analyzing the soil and seed characteristics to optimize crop yield. In some exemplary embodiments, the system  20  is capable of determining and analyzing soil temperatures. In other exemplary embodiments, the system  20  is capable of determining and analyzing soil moistures. In further exemplary embodiments, the system  20  is capable of determining the presence and location of seeds in the soil and analyzing the same. In still further embodiments, the system  20  is capable of determining and analyzing more than one soil and/or seed characteristic. For example, the system  20  may determine and analyze soil temperature and soil moisture. It should be understood that the system  20  is capable of determining and analyzing any number and any combination of soil and seed characteristics and still be within the intended spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the exemplary system  20  includes a tractor  24  and an agricultural device  28  used for the planting process. The agricultural device  28  may be a wide variety of different agricultural devices used for the planting process and all of such planting devices are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the agricultural device is a planter  28  including a plurality of row units  32 , each of which is capable of opening the soil by creating a furrow  36  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ), planting seeds  40  (see  FIG. 2 ) in the furrow  36 , and covering the planted seeds  40  with soil by closing the furrow  36 . 
     The tractor  24  couples to the planter  28  and is adapted to pull the planter  28  through a field to plant a crop. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the tractor  24  includes a processing unit  44 , a user interface  48 , memory  52 , a pneumatic source  56 , an electrical power source  60 , and a global positioning system (GPS)  64 . The tractor  24  is capable of including other mechanical and electrical components and all of such components are intended to be within the intended spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     The processing unit  44  performs the necessary processing to achieve the desired functionality of the system  20  (described in more detail below) and communicates with the input devices, output devices, memory, the tractor and the agricultural device (e.g., the planter) as necessary to achieve such desired functionality. The user interface  48  is an exemplary output device that may include audio and video capabilities to enable a user to hear and see information. The tractor electrical power source  60  may provide the components of the tractor  24  requiring electrical power with sufficient electrical power to enable operation of the electrical components. Similarly, the tractor pneumatic source  56  may provide the components of the tractor  24  requiring pneumatics with sufficient pneumatics to enable operation of the pneumatic components. The GPS  64  may be a conventional GPS system and may communicate with the processing unit  44  to achieve desired functionality of the system  20  (described in more detail below). 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 1 , the planter  28  includes a plurality of row units  32 , an electrical power source  68 , and a pneumatic source  72 . The planter  28  may include any number of row units  32 , which is exemplified in  FIG. 1  by the annotations: Row Unit # 1 ; Row Unit # 2 ; . . . ; Row Unit #n. The row units  32  may be substantially the same in construction and functionality. In some exemplary embodiments, the planter electrical power source  68  may provide the components of the planter  28  requiring electrical power with sufficient electrical power to enable operation of the electrical components. Similarly, in some exemplary embodiments, the planter pneumatic source  72  may provide the components of the planter  28  requiring pneumatics with sufficient pneumatics to enable operation of the pneumatic components. 
     In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, each row unit  32  includes a row unit sensor  76 . In other exemplary embodiments, each row unit  32  may include any number of row unit sensors  76  (see  FIG. 5 ). Returning to the illustrated embodiment, the sensors  76  are capable of sensing a wide variety of soil and seed characteristics such as, for example, soil temperature, soil moisture, seed presence, seed temperature, etc. In some exemplary embodiments, the sensors  76  on the various row units  32  may sense the same characteristic. In other exemplary embodiments, the sensors  76  on the various row units  32  may sense different characteristics. The sensors  76  may require electrical power to operate and such electrical power may originate from a variety of different sources. In some exemplary embodiments, the sensors  76  may be electrically powered by the planter electrical power source  68 . In other exemplary embodiments, the sensors  76  may be electrically powered by the tractor electrical power source  60 . 
     The above described electrical power sources  60 ,  68  may be a wide variety of types of electrical power sources and all of such various electrical power sources are intended to be within the intended spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, an electrical power source may comprise any one of the following: an alternator coupled with a hydraulic motor; an alternator coupled mechanically to an engine of the tractor; an alternator coupled with a ground drive; an alternator coupled with an electric motor; a battery pack; or any other appropriate electrical source. 
     While the system  20  is utilized during the planting process, dust, dirt, and other debris may become airborne due to the turbulence created by the tractor  24  and planter  28 . If debris accumulates on the sensors  76 , the efficacy of the sensors  76  may deteriorate. The system  20  may include a protective member  80  (see  FIG. 3 ) coupled to each sensor  76  to inhibit accumulation of debris on the sensors  76 . The protective member  80  may include an air inlet  84  through which pressurized air enters the protective member  80 . The pressurized air blows past the sensor  76  to dislodge any accumulated debris and to inhibit debris from settling on the sensor  76 . The pressurized air exits the protective member  80  through an open bottom end  88  of the protective member  80 . Blowing of pressurized air out through the open bottom end  88  inhibits debris from rising up into the protective member  80  and accessing the sensor  76 . In some exemplary embodiments, the air may be pressurized at about 5 pounds per square inch (psi). In other exemplary embodiments, the air may be pressurized within a range of about 0.5 psi to about 250 psi. 
     The pressurized air may originate from a variety of different sources. In some exemplary embodiments, the pressurized air may originate from the planter pneumatic source  72 . In other exemplary embodiments, the pressurized air may originate from the tractor pneumatic source  56 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an exemplary row unit  32  and an exemplary sensor  76  of the system  20  are illustrated. The exemplary illustrated embodiments of the row unit  32  and the sensor  76  are not intended to be limiting. The system  20  may include other embodiments of row units  32  and sensors  76  and all of such embodiments are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the exemplary row unit is a planter row unit  32 , which is capable of planting seeds  40  in the soil. For simplicity, only one planter row unit  32  is illustrated and described herein. However, it should be understood that the exemplary planter  28  is capable of having any number of planter row units  32  and such numerous row units  32  may be similarly configured and have similar functionality to the illustrated and described exemplary planter row unit  32 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 2 , the illustrated exemplary planter row unit  32  may be coupled to a frame or toolbar (not shown) of a tractor  24  by a coupling  92 . The row unit  32  may include a frame  96  coupled to the coupling  92 , a furrow opener or pair of flat circular disc blades  100  (only one shown) coupled to the frame  96  to open a seed trench or furrow  36  in the soil, a pair of depth gauge wheels  104  (only one shown behind the disc blade  100 ) coupled to the frame  96  and located adjacent to and slightly to a rear of the blades  100 , a seed meter (not shown) which “singulates” seed  40  from a seed hopper (not shown) and deposits the seed  40 , via a seed tube  108 , into the furrow  36  formed by the twin disc opener blades  100 , and a pair of spaced apart closing wheels (not shown) coupled to the frame  96  and positioned to follow after the planted seed  40  for breaking down the furrow side walls on either side of the furrow  36  and covering the seed  40 , closing the furrow  40 , and firming the soil over the covered seed  40 . The gauge wheels  104  determine, at least in part, the depth of the furrow  36  formed by the opener blades  100 . 
     The sensor  76  may be coupled to the row unit  32  in any manner and at any location. For example, the sensor  76  may be fastened, welded, adhered, bonded, unitarily formed with, or any other manner of coupling, to the row unit  32 . Additionally, the sensor  76  may be coupled to a variety of different components of the row unit  32  such as, for example, the frame  96 , the seed tube  108 , or any other portion of the row unit  32 . Further, the sensor  76  may be coupled to the row unit  32  at a variety of different locations such as, for example, a location following the seed tube  108 , a location preceding the seed tube  108 , a location spaced relatively high above the soil, a location spaced relatively close to the soil, a location between the opening blades  100  and the closing wheels, or any other location relative to the row unit  32 . Further yet, the sensor  76  may be directed in a variety of different directions. For example, the sensor  76  may be directed straight downward, angled forward, angled rearward, or any other of a large variety of orientations. In some exemplary embodiments, the type of characteristic being sensed by the sensor  76  may determine the manner in which the sensor  76  is coupled, the component to which the sensor  76  is coupled, the location of the sensor  76  relative to the row unit  32 , and the sensor direction. 
     In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the sensor  76  is coupled to the frame  96  at a location between the opening blades  100  and the closing wheels, and is directed straight downward toward the soil. With this configuration, the sensor  76  is directed downward into a bottom of the open furrow  36  where the seeds  40  are at rest. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the exemplary sensor  76  shown in  FIG. 2  is shown with an exemplary protective member  80 , exemplary electrical wires  112 , and exemplary pneumatic piping  116 . The exemplary illustrated embodiments of the protective member  80 , electrical wiring  112 , and pneumatic piping  116  are not intended to be limiting. The system  20  may include other embodiments of protective members, electrical wiring, and pneumatic piping and all of such embodiments are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the protective member  80  has a hollow tube shape with an open top end  120  and an open bottom end  88 . A bottom of the sensor  76  is positioned within and secured to the open top end  120  of the protective member  80  and the open bottom end  88  is aligned with the sensor  76  and directed downward toward the soil such that the protective member  80  does not impede the sensing capabilities of the sensor  76 . The protective member  80  of the illustrated exemplary embodiment extends downward from the sensor  76  to a position disposed just above the soil. Positioning the open bottom end  88  relatively close to the soil promotes accurate readings by the sensor  76  by limiting the field of view or measured zone of the sensor  76 . In this manner, soil or other distractions outside of the sensor&#39;s field of view do not bias the sensor readings. Alternatively, the protective member  80  may extend downward from the sensor  76  to a position closer to or further from the soil. The protective member  80  may also have a variety of different cross-sectional shapes, which may be defined along a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal extent of the protective member  80 . For example, the protective member  80  may have a circular, triangular, square, rectangular, or any other polygonal, arcuately perimetered, or combination of straight and arcuately perimetered shape. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the pressurized air inlet  84  is located near a top of the protective member  80  and near the bottom end of the sensor  76 . With this configuration of the pressurized air inlet  84 , pressurized air, upon entering the protective member  80 , immediately blows across the bottom of the sensor  76  and then downward toward the open bottom end  88  of the protective member  80  where the pressurized air exits the protective member  80 . The pressurized air may dislodge debris that may have accumulated on the bottom end of the sensor  76  and exits the open bottom end  88  of the protective member  80  at a sufficient pressure to inhibit debris from entering the bottom end  88  of the protective member  80  and accessing the sensor  76 . In other exemplary embodiments, the pressurized air inlet  84  may be defined in the protective member  80  at any other location. 
     Depending on the electrical power source relied upon to provide electrical power to the sensors  76 , the electrical wiring  112  will have one end coupled to the sensor  76  and the other end coupled to the desired electrical power source (e.g., the planter electrical power source  68  or the tractor electrical power source  60 ). Similarly, depending on the pneumatic source relied upon to provide pressurized air to the inlet  84  of the protective member  80 , the pneumatic piping  116  will have one end coupled to the protective member  80  and the other end coupled to the desired pneumatic source (e.g., the planter pneumatic source  72  or the tractor pneumatic source  56 ). 
     The following description includes several exemplary operations of the system  20 . These exemplary operations are provided to assist with understanding of the system  20  of the present invention and are not intended to be limiting. The system  20  of the present invention is capable of operating in a wide variety of other manners and all of such operations are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     In some exemplary embodiments, the system  20  is capable of determining the temperature of the soil. In such exemplary embodiments, the sensor  76  may be any type of sensor capable of sensing the temperature of the soil. Exemplary temperature sensors may include, but are not limited to, infrared sensors, laser sensors, thermal imagers, etc. It may be desirable to know the temperature of the soil at the time of planting in order to ensure the soil temperature is at the appropriate level to facilitate germination of the seeds  40 . It may also be desirable to associate the soil temperature readings with a GPS position so temperature effects on crop yield may be analyzed following harvest to aid in planting decisions for the following seasons. 
     In such exemplary embodiments, the processing unit  44  communicates with the row unit sensors  76  and instructs each sensor  76  to take a soil temperature reading. The soil temperature readings taken by the sensors  76  are communicated to the processing unit  44 . The processing unit  44  may also assign a GPS position, using the GPS  64 , to each soil temperature reading and store the data pairs of soil temperature and GPS position in the memory  52  for later retrieval and analysis. Additionally, the processing unit  44  may communicate the soil temperature readings and the GPS positions to the user interface  48  where such information will be displayed for the user to view. In some exemplary embodiments, only the soil temperatures may be displayed on the user interface  48 . The user may or may not alter planting operations based on the information displayed on the user interface  48 . 
     In some exemplary embodiments, the system  20  is capable of determining the moisture content of the soil. It may be desirable to know the moisture content of the soil at the time of planting in order to ensure planting of the seeds  40  at a depth having optimum soil moisture content (or at least the best available soil moisture content), which will maximize crop yield. In such exemplary embodiments, the sensor  76  may be any type of sensor capable of sensing the required characteristics used to determine the moisture content of the soil. In one exemplary embodiment, a temperature sensor may be used to sense the temperature of the soil and the processing unit  44  may apply necessary algorithms to convert the soil temperature reading to moisture content of the soil. Exemplary temperature sensors may include, but are not limited to, infrared sensors, laser sensors, infrared imaging devices, etc. Alternative types of sensors may be used to determine the moisture content of the soil such as, for example, contact thermocouple thermometers, electrical conductivity sensors, etc. It may be desirable to associate the soil moisture content readings with a GPS position so moisture effects on crop yield may be analyzed following harvest to aid in planting decisions for the following seasons. 
     In exemplary embodiments where temperature sensors are utilized, the processing unit  44  communicates with the row unit sensors  76  and instructs each sensor  76  to take a soil temperature reading. The soil temperature readings taken by the sensors  76  are communicated to the processing unit  44  and the processing unit  44  may apply an algorithm to convert the soil temperature readings to soil moisture content readings. The processing unit  44  may also assign a GPS position, using the GPS  64 , to each soil moisture content reading and store the data pairs of soil moisture content and GPS position in the memory  52  for later retrieval and analysis. Additionally, the processing unit  44  may communicate the soil moisture content readings and the GPS positions to the user interface  48  where such information will be displayed for the user to view. In some exemplary embodiments, only the soil moisture content may be displayed on the user interface  48 . The user may or may not alter planting operations based on the information displayed on the user interface  48 . 
     In some exemplary embodiments, the system  20  is capable of determining the presence and location of seeds  40  in the furrow  36 . It may be desirable to determine the presence and location of the seeds  40  in the furrow  36  at the time of planting in order to ensure proper spacing between seeds  40 , proper positioning of seeds  40  within the furrow  36 , whether or not a seed  40  was deposited in the furrow  36  by the planter row unit  32  when it was intended to be deposited, and if adjacent or double seeds were deposited in a single location, etc. In such exemplary embodiments, the sensor  76  may be any type of sensor capable of sensing the required characteristics used to determine the presence and location of the seeds  40  in the furrow  36 . In one exemplary embodiment, a temperature sensor may be used to sense a temperature differential between the seeds  40  and the soil. Exemplary temperature sensors may include, but are not limited to, infrared sensors, laser sensors, thermal imaging devices, etc. Alternative types of sensors may be used to determine the presence and location of seeds  40  within a furrow  36  such as, for example, visible wavelength imaging sensors, ultrasonic sensors, capacitive sensors, photoelectric sensors, luminescence sensors, contrast sensors, video cameras, color sensors (identify a difference in color between the soil and the seed), laser distance sensors (measures distance to bottom of furrow and measured distance changes when a seed moves under the sensor), etc. It may be desirable to associate the location of each seed  40  with a GPS position so seed performance may be analyzed following harvest to aid in planting decisions for the following seasons. 
     In exemplary embodiments where temperature sensors are utilized to detect the presence and location of seeds  40  within a furrow  36 , the processing unit  44  communicates with the row unit sensors  76  and instructs each sensor  76  to take one or more temperature reading(s). If the temperature reading experiences a temperature differential, a seed  40  may be present in the measured zone and have a different temperature than the surrounding soil. If the temperature reading does not have a temperature differential and instead has a single or constant temperature reading, then a seed  40  may not be present in the measured zone and the sensor  76  may be merely measuring the temperature of the soil. Alternatively, the sensors  76  may be continuously measuring temperatures of the soil, which will have a first temperature or a temperature within a first range. As the sensor  76  passes over a seed  40 , the seed  40  may have a second temperature different than the temperature of the soil and the sensor  76  will measure this second temperature. When the sensor measures a second temperature different than the soil temperature, the system  20  detects the presence of a seed  40 . The seed and soil temperature readings taken by the sensors  76  are communicated to the processing unit  44 , the processing unit  44  may assign a GPS position, using the GPS  64 , to each seed  40  detected by the sensors  76 , and the data pairs of detected seeds and seed GPS locations are stored in the memory  52  for later retrieval and analysis. Additionally, the processing unit  44  may communicate the seed detection, seed spacing, seed location within the furrow, etc., to the user interface  48  where such information will be displayed for the user to view. Any quantity and any combination of information may be displayed on the user interface  48  for viewing by the user. The user may or may not alter planting operations based on the information displayed on the user interface  48 . 
     In some exemplary embodiments, a natural temperature differential may exist between the seed temperature and the soil temperature and such natural temperature differential may be sufficient for detection by the sensors  76 . 
     In other exemplary embodiments, a natural temperature differential may not exist between the seed temperature and the soil temperature, or a natural temperature differential between the seed temperature and the soil temperature may not be sufficient for detection by the sensors  76 . In such exemplary embodiments, it may be desirable to heat or cool one or both of the seeds  40  and/or the soil in order to create a sufficient temperature differential that may be detected by the sensors  76 . In exemplary embodiments where seeds  40  are heated, the seeds  40  may be heated by a heater at a bottom of a central seed tank or a meter housing or, if the planter includes individual seed hoppers, the seeds  40  may be heated by a heater at a bottom of seed hoppers. In such exemplary embodiments, one or more sensors  76  may be positioned to take a temperature reading of the seeds at or near a bottom of a central seed tank or meter housing, or at or near a bottom of the seed hoppers. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , another exemplary system  20 A for determining soil and seed characteristics and analyzing the same is illustrated. The components of the system  20 A illustrated in  FIG. 4  that are similar to components of the system  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  are identified with the same reference number and an “A”. 
     The system  20 A illustrated in  FIG. 4  has many similarities to the system  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . At least one difference between system  20 A illustrated in  FIG. 4  and system  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  is that the agricultural device or planter  28 A includes the processing unit  44 A, the memory  52 A, and the GPS  64 A rather than the tractor  24 A, which is the case in system  20 . With the processing unit  44 A included in the planter  28 A, the planter electrical power source  68 A may provide electrical power to the processing unit  44 A. Even with this difference, the system  20 A is capable of performing all the same functionality as the system  20  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . 
     It should be understood that the processing unit, the memory, the GPS, and any other components of the systems may be included on either the tractor or the planter and in any combination, and be within the intended spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the planter may include the processing unit and memory and the tractor may include the GPS. Also, for example, the tractor may include the processing unit and the memory and the planter may include the GPS. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , another exemplary operation of the system  20  will be described. In this exemplary operation, each row unit  32  includes multiple sensors  76 , with one sensor  76 ′ directed toward a top, uncut surface of the soil and a second sensor  76 ″ directed toward a bottom of the cut furrow. The first sensor  76 ′ senses a temperature of the surface of the soil and the second sensor  76 ″ senses a temperature at the bottom of the furrow. The processing unit  44  receives these temperatures and determines if a temperature differential exists between the surface of the soil and the bottom of the furrow. The processing unit  44  may use this temperature differential to determine the moisture of the soil and system operation may be adjusted (e.g., adjust cutting depth) based on this determination. 
     It should be understood that the system  20  may include sensors  76  in locations other than on the row units  32 . For example, one or more sensors may be coupled to the planter  28  and one or more sensors may be coupled to the tractor  24 . In addition, the system  20  may include sensors  76  on the row units and include one or more sensors on the planter  28  and/or the tractor  24 . In one exemplary embodiment, one sensor  76  may be coupled to each row unit  32  and one sensor may be coupled to the planter  28  or the tractor  24 . The sensors  76  coupled to the row units  32  may be directed downward toward the bottom of the furrow to sense a furrow temperature and the sensor coupled to the planter  28  or tractor  24  may be directed toward a surface of the uncut soil to sense a soil surface temperature. The processing unit  44  receives the temperature readings from the sensors, determines a temperature differential (if one exists), and determines soil moistures at each row unit  32 . Operation of the system  20  may be adjusted based on the soil moistures. 
     The foregoing description has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. The descriptions were selected to explain the principles of the invention and their practical application to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. Although particular constructions of the present invention have been shown and described, other alternative constructions will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the intended scope of the present invention.

Technology Category: 1