Harvesters – Motorized harvester – With condition-responsive operation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-26
2001-04-10
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)
Harvesters
Motorized harvester
With condition-responsive operation
C056S01020A, C056SDIG001, C460S001000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212862
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for determining an area of harvested crop and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for determining an area of harvested crop as a function of an effective cutter bar width.
BACKGROUND ART
Precision farming has evolved to address the needs of farmers to achieve optimal results in obtaining a high yield crop efficiently and economically. One aspect of precision farming is known as precision yield mapping. Yield mapping is essential to monitor the amount of yield, i.e., the yield per acre, in an agricultural field. Precision yield mapping enables a farmer to determine areas of the field which require special attention, such as applications of fertilizers and chemicals, which may not be needed in other portions of the field.
Historically, yield per acre has been estimated by dividing the total yield by the number of acres traversed. This gives an average yield for the entire area, but does not determine yield in specific locations of interest. For example, a ten acre plot may yield a quantity of bushels of crop per acre, but the specific yield at any portion of the ten acre plot is not readily determined.
With the advancements made in position determining technology, such as GPS position determining, yield per acre may be determined with respect to the position of a harvesting machine as the crop is harvested. This yield per acre determination may be mapped to a terrain database map to help establish a fairly accurate representation of areas in the field which require special attention due to low yields. However, these determinations are typically performed by multiplying the full width of the cutter bar on the harvesting machine by the distance the machine has traversed, thus determining an area of a rectangle covered by the cutter bar. The accuracy of the yield determinations are compromised in areas where the crop being harvested does not extend for the entire width of the cutter bar, such as around the perimeter of the field or when harvesting a narrow row of crop.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention a method for determining an area of crop being harvested by a harvesting machine having a cutter bar of a known total width is disclosed. The method includes the steps of determining a first position of the harvesting machine, determining a first effective cutter bar width, determining a second position of the harvesting machine, determining a second effective cutter bar width, and determining an area of a polygon bounded by the first and second positions, and the first and second effective cutter bar widths.
In another aspect of the present invention an apparatus for determining an area of crop being harvested by a harvesting machine having a cutter bar of a known total width is disclosed. The apparatus includes a position determining system located on the harvesting machine, a terrain map database located on the harvesting machine, and a processor located on the harvesting machine. The processor is adapted to receive position signals from the position determining system and data from the terrain map database, and to determine a first position of the harvesting machine, determine a first effective cutter bar width, determine a second position of the harvesting machine, determine a second effective cutter bar width, and responsively determine an area of a polygon bounded by the first and second positions, and the first and second cutter bar widths.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5282389 (1994-02-01), Faivre et al.
patent: 5463854 (1995-11-01), Chmielewski, Jr. et al.
patent: 5542781 (1996-08-01), Yemington et al.
patent: 5546093 (1996-08-01), Gudat et al.
patent: 5666793 (1997-09-01), Bottinger
patent: 5960378 (1999-09-01), Watanabe et al.
Caterpillar Inc.
Kováacs ÁArpáad Fáabiáan
Lundquist Steve D.
Pezzuto Robert E.
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