IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,144,273
Granted Patent B2
US 12,144,273 · App. 17/167,793 · Granted Nov 19, 2024

Multi-sensor tool height control for ground engaging tools

Inventors: Adam D. Sporrer (Huxley, IA); Ricky B. Theilen (Bettendorf, IA); Lucas B Larsen (Ankeny, IA)
A01B63/16A01B63/24A01B76/00A01B63/32
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,144,273
App. No.
17/167,793
Granted
Nov 19, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A mobile machine includes a frame, and a set of wheels supporting the frame. The mobile machine also includes a set of ground-engaging tools mounted to the frame that are movable relative to the wheels to change a depth of engagement of the ground engaging-tools with ground over which the mobile machine travels. A first sensor senses a position of the frame relative to the ground surface over which the mobile machine is traveling. A second sensor senses a position of the frame relative to the wheels. The sensor signals from both sensors are used to control the frame height.

Claims (64)

1. A height determination system, comprising:

a first sensor configured to detect a characteristic indicative of a position of a wheel, coupled to a frame of a mobile machine, relative to the frame and generate a first frame height sensor signal indicative of the position of the wheel relative to the frame;

a second sensor configured to sense a height of the frame above a surface of a ground over which the mobile machine is configured to travel and generate a second frame height sensor signal indicative of the sensed height of the frame above the surface of the ground; and

a control system configured to:

generate a frame height value indicative of a height of the frame above the surface of the ground based on the first frame height sensor signal;

generate a frame height correction value indicative of a correction to the frame height value based on the second frame height sensor signal to obtain a corrected frame height value; and

generate a control signal to control the mobile machine based on the corrected frame height value.

2. The height determination of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to:

identify a depth of engagement of aground engaging tool, coupled to the mobile machine, with the ground, based on the corrected frame height value, and to generate a depth output indicative of the depth of engagement of the ground engaging tool.

3. The height determination system of claim 2 wherein the depth control system is further configured to:

compare the depth of engagement of the ground engaging tool a target depth of engagement of the ground engaging tool; and

generate an output indicative of a result of the comparison.

4. The height determination system of claim 3 , wherein the control system is configured to generate the control signal to actuate movement of the wheel, relative to the frame, based on the comparison.

5. The height determination system of claim 1 wherein the control system is further configured to:

detect a plurality of different samples of the second frame height sensor; signal and

aggregate the samples to obtain an aggregated sensor signal value indicative of a height of the frame above the surface of the ground.

6. The height determination system of claim 5 wherein the control system is further configured to:

compare the aggregated sensor signal value to the frame height value to generate the frame height correction value.

7. The height determination system of claim 6 wherein the frame height correction value comprises an aggregation of the aggregated sensor signal value and the frame height value.

8. The height determination system of claim 7 wherein the aggregated sensor signal value and the frame height value are weighted.

9. The height determination system of claim 6 wherein the frame height correction value comprises the difference between the aggregated sensor signal value and the frame height value.

10. The height determination system of claim 9 wherein the corrected frame height value comprises a sum of the frame height correction value and the frame height value.

11. The mobile machine of claim 5 wherein the control system is further configured to:

determine whether sufficient sampling of the second frame height sensor signal has occurred by at least one of: (i) determining whether sample values of the samples have stabilized; (ii) determining whether a predefined number of samples have been generated; (iii) determining whether a predetermined sampling time has passed; or (iv) determining whether the mobile machine has moved a predetermined sampling distance over the surface.

12. The mobile machine of claim 1 and further comprising:

a data store configured to store an indication of the corrected frame height value; and

recommendation logic configured to receive a set of recommendation criteria and generate a depth control recommendation based on the stored indication of the corrected frame height value and the recommendation criteria, wherein the control system is configured to generate the control signal to control an actuator to move the wheel, relative to the frame, based on the depth control recommendation.

13. A method of controlling a mobile machine, comprising:

obtaining a first frame height sensor signal indicative of a position of a wheel relative to a frame of the mobile machine;

obtaining a second frame height sensor signal indicative of a height of the frame above a surface of a ground;

generating a frame height value indicative of a height of the frame above the surface of the ground based on the first frame height sensor signal;

generating a frame height correction value indicative of a correction to the frame height value based on the second frame height sensor signal to obtain a corrected frame height value;

generating a corrected frame height value indicative of a corrected height of the frame above the surface of the ground based on the frame height correction value; and

generating a control signal to control the mobile machine based on the corrected frame height value.

14. The method of claim 13 and further comprising:

identifying a depth of engagement of a ground engaging tool with the ground based on the corrected frame height value; and

generating a depth output indicative of the depth of engagement.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein generating the control signal comprises:

comparing the depth of engagement with a target depth of engagement;

generating a comparison result indicative of a result of the comparison; and

generating the control signal based on the comparison result.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein generating the frame height correction value comprises:

detecting a plurality of different samples of the second frame height sensor signal;

aggregating the samples to obtain an aggregated sensor signal value indicative of the height of the frame above the surface of the ground; and

comparing the aggregated sensor signal value with the first frame height value to determine whether the frame height correction value is to be generated.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein generating the frame height correction value comprises:

generating the frame height correction value by substituting the frame height value with a frame height value based on the aggregated sensor signal value.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein generating the frame height correction value comprises:

aggregating the frame height value with a frame height value based on the aggregated sensor signal value.

19. A mobile machine, comprising:

a frame;

a wheel, coupled to the frame, that is movable relative to the frame;

an actuator configured to drive movement of the wheel relative to the frame;

a ground engaging tool mounted to the frame and configured to engage ground, at a depth;

a sensor configured to generate a first frame height sensor signal indicative of the position of the wheel relative to the frame;

a non-contact sensor configured to detect a surface of the ground and generate a second frame height sensor signal indicative of a height of the frame above the surface of the ground; and

a control system configured to:

generate a frame height value indicative of a height of the frame, above the surface of the ground based on the first frame height sensor signal;

generate a frame height correction value indicative of a correction to the frame height value based on the second frame height sensor signal to obtain a corrected frame height value; and

generate a control signal to control the actuator to move the wheel to adjust the depth of the ground engaging tool based on the corrected frame height value.

20. The mobile machine of claim 19 , wherein the control system is further configured to:

identify a depth of engagement of the ground engaging tool with the ground based on the corrected frame height value;

compare the depth of engagement to a target depth of engagement; and

wherein the Control signal controls the actuator to move the wheel, relative to the frame, based on the comparison of the depth of engagement to the target depth of engagement.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
From: SPORRER, ADAM D.; THEILEN, RICKY B.; LARSEN, LUCAS B.
To: DEERE & COMPANY
Reel/Frame 056285/0121 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 16148551 · Oct 1, 2018
Related Publication 20210227742A1 · Jul 29, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,588,577