Plant thinner having radiant energy plant detecting means

Claim 2

For use in plant thinning apparatus adapted to be advanced along a row of spaced plants growing in soil of varying color and type and having tool means operable in response to a signal to remove selected plants from said row, means for detecting plants against the soil background and generating a signal to operate the tool means in response to the detection of a plant, said means comprising: a housing for receiving energy radiating from the plants and soil; means in the housing for separating the radiant energy into first and second components, said first component having a wave length range lying primarily below 700 millimicrons and said second component having a wave length range lying primarily above 700 millimicrons; first radiant energy detecting means in the housing for generating a first output corresponding to said first component; second radiant energy detecting means in the housing for generating a second output corresponding to said second component; and comparison means connected to receive said first and second outputs and operable to generate a signal to operate said tool means when the difference in magnitude of said output exceeds a selected value.

Claim 3

A plant sensing device for operating a mechanical hoe propelled by a tractor to move over a row of plants comprising: a light source supported to move with the tractor over the ground and directed at a row of plants so that it is directed intermittently at the ground and plants as the latter successively pass adjacent thereto; a filter device positioned to receive energy reflected from the plants and ground and for separating the energy received therefrom into two components; first radiant energy detecting means detecting one of said components and having an output corresponding to a selected range of wave lengths primarily below 700 millimicrons; second radiant energy detecting means detecting the other of said components and having an output corresponding to a range of wave lengths primarily above 800 millimicrons, the respective outputs having a larger differential when said light source is directed on a plant than when said light source is directed against the ground, a comparison means receiving said outputs of said first and second radiant energy detecting means for producing a signal in response to the larger differential only; and a connection between the mechanical hoe and said comparison means for operating the hoe in response to said signal.

Claim 4

A plant sensing device for operating a mechanical hoe propelled by a tractor to move over a row of plants comprising: a light source supported to move with the tractor over the ground and directed at a row of plants so that it is directed intermittently at the ground and plants as the latter successively pass adjacent thereto; a filter device positioned to receive energy reflected from the plants and ground and for separating the energy received therefrom into two components; first radiant energy detecting means detecting one of said components and having an output corresponding to a selected range of wave lengths primarily below 700 millimicrons; second radiant energy detecting means detecting the other of said components and having an output corresponding to a range of wave lengths primarily above 800 millimicrons, the respective outputs having a larger differential when said light source is directed on a plant than when said light source is directed against the ground, a comparison means receiving said outputs of said first and second radiant energy detecting means for producing a signal in response to the larger differential only; and a connection between the mechanical hoe and said comparison means for operating the hoe in response to said signal.

Claim 5

An agricultural implement for thinning plants in a ground-borne row comprising: a vehicular unit adapted to move over the ground of said row; a hoe adapted to move with the unit for hoeing along the row; plant sensing means adApted to move with the unit including a light source directed at said row and a sensing apparatus that separates radiant energy received from the plants and the ground therebetween, respectively, into two components having wave lengths primarily within and below, respectively, the infrared range, detects the two components and generates outputs corresponding thereto, and compares said outputs and produces a signal when the light source reflects on a plant; and a connection between the sensing apparatus and the hoe for operating the latter in response to a signal being produced.

Claim 6

An agricultural implement for thinning plants in a ground-borne row comprising: a vehicular unit adapted to move over the ground of said row; a hoe adapted to move with the unit for hoeing along the row; plant sensing means adApted to move with the unit including a light source directed at said row and a sensing apparatus that separates radiant energy received from the plants and the ground therebetween, respectively, into two components having wave lengths primarily within and below, respectively, the infrared range, detects the two components and generates outputs corresponding thereto, and compares said outputs and produces a signal when the light source reflects on a plant; and a connection between the sensing apparatus and the hoe for operating the latter in response to a signal being produced.

Claim 9

Apparatus for thinning plants growing in a row in soil of varying color and type, said plants having an energy reflectance curve with an abrupt transition between energy wave lengths below 700 and above 800 millimicrons, and said soil, irrespective of its color or type, having a substantially smooth energy reflectance curve between energy wave lengths below 700 and above 800 millimicrons, said apparatus including tool means adapted to be advanced along the row and operable in response to a signal to remove selected plants from said row, and means for detecting plants against the soil background and generating a signal to operate the tool means in response to the detection of a plant, said detecting means comprising: a housing adapted to be advanced along the row with the tool means for receiving energy radiating alternately from the plants and soil as the same successively pass the housing; means in the housing for separating the radiant energy into first and second components, said first component having a wave length range lying primarily below 700 millimicrons and said second component having a wave length range lying primarily above 800 millimicrons; first radiant energy detecting means in the housing for generating a first output corresponding to said first component; second radiant energy detecting means in the housing for generating a second output corresponding to said second component; and comparison means connected to receive said first and second outputs and operable to generate said signal to operate said tool means when the difference in said outputs exceeds a selected value.

Claim 10

Apparatus for thinning plants growing in a row in soil of varying color and type, said plants having an energy reflectance curve with an abrupt transition between energy wave lengths below 700 and above 800 millimicrons, and said soil, irrespective of its color or type, having a substantially smooth energy reflectance curve between energy wave lengths below 700 and above 800 millimicrons, said apparatus including tool means adapted to be advanced along the row and operable in response to a signal to remove selected plants from said row, and means for detecting plants against the soil background and generating a signal to operate the tool means in response to the detection of a plant, said detecting means comprising: a housing adapted to be advanced along the row with the tool means for receiving energy radiating alternately from the plants and soil as the same successively pass the housing; means in the housing for separating the radiant energy into first and second components, said first component having a wave length range lying primarily below 700 millimicrons and said second component having a wave length range lying primarily above 800 millimicrons; first radiant energy detecting means in the housing for generating a first output corresponding to said first component; second radiant energy detecting means in the housing for generating a second output corresponding to said second component; and comparison means connected to receive said first and second outputs and operable to generate said signal to operate said tool means when the difference in said outputs exceeds a selected value.

Claim 11

Apparatus for thinning plants growing in a row in soil of varying color and type, said plants having an energy reflectance curve with an abrupt transition between energy wave lengths below 700 and above 800 millimicrons, and said soil, irrespective of its color or type, having a substantially smooth energy reflectance curve between energy wave lengths below 700 and above 800 millimicrons, said apparatus including tool means adapted to be advanced along the row and operable in response to a signal to remove selected plants from said row, and means for detecting plants against the soil background and generating a signal to operate the tool means in response to the detection of a plant, said detecting means comprising: a housing adapted to be advanced along the row with the tool means for receiving energy radiating alternately from the plants and soil as the same successively pass the housing; means in the housing for separating the radiant energy into two components; first radiant energy detecting means in the housing for Detecting one of said components and generating an output corresponding to a first selected wave length range lying primarily below 700 millimicrons; second radiant energy detecting means in the housing for detecting the other of said components and generating an output corresponding to a second selected wave length range lying primarily above 800 millimicrons; and comparison means connected to receive the outputs of said first and second radiant energy detecting means and operable to generate said signal to operate said tool means when the difference in said outputs exceeds a selected value.

Claim 12

Apparatus for thinning plants growing in a row in soil of varying color and type, said plants having an energy reflectance curve with an abrupt transition between energy wave lengths below 700 and above 800 millimicrons, and said soil, irrespective of its color or type, having a substantially smooth energy reflectance curve between energy wave lengths below 700 and above 800 millimicrons, said apparatus including tool means adapted to be advanced along the row and operable in response to a signal to remove selected plants from said row, and means for detecting plants against the soil background and generating a signal to operate the tool means in response to the detection of a plant, said detecting means comprising: a housing adapted to be advanced along the row with the tool means for receiving energy radiating alternately from the plants and soil as the same successively pass the housing; means in the housing for separating the radiant energy into two components; first radiant energy detecting means in the housing for Detecting one of said components and generating an output corresponding to a first selected wave length range lying primarily below 700 millimicrons; second radiant energy detecting means in the housing for detecting the other of said components and generating an output corresponding to a second selected wave length range lying primarily above 800 millimicrons; and comparison means connected to receive the outputs of said first and second radiant energy detecting means and operable to generate said signal to operate said tool means when the difference in said outputs exceeds a selected value.