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Method for recalibrating a material attribute monitor for a mobile vehicleRelated Patent Categories: Data Processing: Measuring, Calibrating, Or Testing, Calibration Or Correction SystemMethod for recalibrating a material attribute monitor for a mobile vehicle description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070185672, Method for recalibrating a material attribute monitor for a mobile vehicle. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to monitoring material attributes, and more particularly, to a method for recalibrating a material attribute monitor for a mobile vehicle. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] One type of material attribute monitor is a grain yield monitor. Grain yield monitors require calibration to provide an accurate record of grain yield and moisture by location across a field. Calibration may be performed, for example, when field conditions change, such as when moving between fields. This involves operating the combine in the field while manually collecting yield monitor data, weighing the harvested grain on a scale, testing a sample for moisture content, and then applying a correction based on actual grain attributes versus the sum of those measured by the yield monitor. This approach has two major drawbacks. [0003] First, this approach is a time consuming process that requires segregation of the grain by combine and manual recording of which data are associated with the grain used in the calibration process. In a word, the calibration procedure is inconvenient and consequently does not get done as often as it should. Furthermore, conditions may change within a field that should warrant a recalibration of the yield monitor. Given the difficulty of observing when recalibration should occur and the inconvenience of recalibrating, it just doesn't get done. [0004] Second, on large scale farms, it is not unusual to have multiple combines, grain carts, and grain trucks simultaneously operating in a field at a given time. The grain co-mingles from different parts of the field as it moves from the field to the trucks. For example, a typical Illinois corn field is 80 acres in size with an average yield of 175 bushels per acre. The total amount of grain in the field is then 80*175=14,000 bushels. The combines have grain tanks of 100-200 bushel capacity. Grain carts typically receive the grain from the combines, and have a capacity typically in a range from 200-800 bushels. The grain carts then are unloaded into grain trucks. Grain trucks are typically limited to 20,000 pounds/axel, so a four axel truck would have a maximum weight of 80,000 pounds of which 20,000 are the truck itself. Corn weighs about 60 lbs/bushel, so the truck can carry 60,000 pounds or about 1000 bushels of corn. Thus, 14 truckloads of corn need to be transported from the field. [0005] Accordingly, providing segmentation of the grain for calibration purposes by combine, grain cart, and truck has been found to be inconvenient, and inefficient. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The invention, in one form thereof, is directed to a method for recalibrating a material attribute monitor for a mobile vehicle. The method includes accumulating an aggregate amount of material from a plurality of material transfers; accumulating a plurality of material attribute data sets via a series of data transfers from at least one vehicle to another vehicle, wherein each material attribute data set of the plurality of material attribute data sets is associated with a corresponding material transfer of the plurality of material transfers; measuring aggregate material attributes of the aggregate amount of material; and generating material attribute calibration data from the accumulated plurality of material attribute data sets and the measured aggregate material attributes. [0007] The invention, in another form thereof, is directed to a method for recalibrating a grain attribute monitor for a combine. The method includes monitoring grain attributes of harvested grain; monitoring each transfer of the harvested grain that contributes to an aggregate amount of grain loaded into a grain transfer vehicle; generating a grain attribute data set associated with the each transfer of the harvested grain; accumulating a plurality of grain attribute data sets via a series of data transfers, said plurality of grain attribute data sets corresponding to the harvested grain and each transfer of the harvested grain; measuring aggregate grain attributes of the aggregate amount of grain; and generating grain attribute calibration data from the accumulated plurality of grain attribute data sets and the measured aggregate grain attributes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0008] FIG. 1 is an exemplary material transfer diagram. [0009] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a data transfer module for use in practicing a method of the present invention. [0010] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of material attribute data transfers in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0011] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic representation of material attribute data transfers in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. [0012] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary method for recalibrating a material attribute monitor for a mobile vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0013] FIG. 1 is an exemplary material, e.g., grain, transfer diagram for a given area, e.g., a field, represented by mobile harvesting vehicles 10 and 12, e.g., a first combine CX and a second combine C0; a first material transfer vehicle 14, e.g., a grain transfer vehicle GTV1; a second material transfer vehicle 16, e.g., a grain transfer vehicle GTV2; a third material transfer vehicle 18, e.g., a grain transfer vehicle GTV3, and a sampling station 20. [0014] In the example of FIG. 1, grain transfer vehicles GTV1, GTV2 and GTV3 may be grain carts, trucks, or a combination thereof. Sampling station 20 may be, for example, a farmer's work site, e.g., a grain bin, or a commercial material collection and distribution center, e.g., a commercial grain elevator. In the example of FIG. 1, potential physical material, e.g., grain, transfers are represented by solid arrows, dashed arrows and dash-dotted arrows, which are used for convenience to demonstrate numerous alternative material transfer paths. The direction of material transfer is in the direction that a respective arrow points. [0015] Each of combines CX and C0 include a corresponding material, e.g., grain, attribute monitor 22, 24, respectively, that generate a material, e.g., grain, attribute data set for each load, e.g., grain tank, of material, e.g., grain, harvested. Each grain attribute data set may include a plurality of data points, with each data point including data corresponding to, for example, one or more of grain volume mass, moisture content, impurities, cracked seeds, protein, oil, starch, etc., for the particular grain tank load of grain being transferred. Each data point may be associated with geo-reference information, e.g., including a global positioning system (GPS) location. Accordingly, the grain attribute data set includes the locations, e.g., longitude/latitude, where the grain was harvested. [0016] As a more specific example, assume that the initial data generated by material, e.g., grain, attribute monitors 22 and 24 of combines CX and C0, respectively, is geo-referenced, such as by a latitude and longitude, from a GPS receiver. Also, assume that combine CX is operating in a field producing 200 bushels of corn per acre, and that combine CX has a 200 bushel grain tank and a 40 foot wide combine header, and is traveling at 3 miles per hour (about 176 sq ft harvested/second) and wherein one data point, i.e., one geo-referenced grain attribute data record, is generated per second. In this example, the grain attribute data set associated with the full load of grain in the grain tank of combine CX will have about 248 data points. [0017] Co-mingling of material transfers, e.g., grain transfers, occurs, for example, any time that one of the grain transfer vehicles GTV1, GTV2 and GTV3 receives grain from multiple sources. For example, each of grain transfer vehicles GTV1 and GTV3 may receive grain from combines CX and C0. Further, an intermediate transfer of grain may occur between grain transfer vehicles GTV1 and GTV3. Likewise, grain transfer vehicle GTV2 may receive grain transferred from grain transfer vehicles GTV1 and GTV3. Accordingly, one or more grain attribute data sets may be transferred each time grain is transferred from one vehicle to another. [0018] Referring to FIG. 2, in order to keep track of grain attribute data sets, a data transfer module 32 may be incorporated into material attribute monitors 22, 24 of combines CX and C0, and provided at each grain transfer vehicle GTV1, GTV2 and GTV3, and at sampling station 20. Data transfer module 32 may be, for example, a computer, and includes a processing device 34, a program storage device 36, a data storage device 38, and a communication device 40. Processing device 34 is communicatively coupled to program storage device 36, data storage device 38, and communication device 40 via communication links 42, 44, and 46, respectively. Communication links 42, 44, and 46 may be established, for example, by a direct cable or bus connection, or wireless connection. [0019] Program storage device 36 stores the program instructions used for operating data transfer module 32. Processing device 34 includes a microprocessor and associated memory for executing the program instructions retrieved from program storage device 36. Typical instruction sequences establish communication links with one or more other data transfer modules via communication device 40, identify and authenticate the other module, and manage data transfer to/from data storage device 38, including error detection and correction (e.g., resending a set of data upon notification of a failure), as well as optional encryption. Continue reading about Method for recalibrating a material attribute monitor for a mobile vehicle... 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