Methods and systems for using duty cycle of sensors to determine seed or particle flow rate

Abstract

In one embodiment, an electronic system comprises a display device to display data and processing logic coupled to the display device. The processing logic is configured to determine a duty cycle of at least one sensor for sensing flow of a product or particle through a product or particle line of an agricultural implement and to determine an amount of product or particles flowing through a line of the agricultural implement based on the duty cycle of the at least one sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A control system for controlling an agricultural machine, comprising:
 an initial blockage location identifier that receives a blockage signal indicative of a blockage in a conduit, through which material passes from a container to an application mechanism, that dispenses the material on the field, the initial blockage location identifier identifying a geographic starting location indicative of a geographic location of the application mechanism when the blockage occurred;   a blockage area processing system that identifies a geographic location of an affected area over which the application mechanism traveled during the blockage;   and a control signal generator that generates a control signal to control a controllable subsystem on the agricultural machine based on the affected area.   
     
     
         2 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein the control signal generator generates an operator interface control signal to generate an output indicative of the affected area for surfacing on an operator interface mechanism on the agricultural machine. 
     
     
         3 . The control system of  claim 1  and further comprising:
 a blockage extent identifier generating a blockage extent signal indicative of an extent of the blockage in the conduit, the control signal generator generating the control signal based on the extent of the blockage. 
 
     
     
         4 . The control system of  claim 1  wherein the control signal generator comprises: a machine control system configured to automatically control the application mechanism to dispense material when the application mechanism is over the affected area. 
     
     
         5 . An agricultural application machine control system, comprising:
 at least one processor; and   memory storing instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform steps, comprising: receiving a blockage signal indicative of a blockage in a conduit, through which material passes from a container to a dispensing mechanism, that dispenses the material on the field, during an application operation; identifying a geographic starting location indicative of a geographic location of the dispensing mechanism when the blockage occurred; identifying a geographic location of an affected area over which the dispensing mechanism traveled during the blockage; and generating a control signal to control a controllable subsystem on the agricultural machine based on the affected area.   
     
     
         6 . The agricultural machine control system of  claim 5  wherein generating the control signal comprises: generating an operator interface control signal, indicative of the affected area, for surfacing on an operator interface mechanism on the agricultural machine. 
     
     
         7 . The agricultural machine control system of  claim 5  wherein the steps further comprise: identifying a blockage extent indicative of an extent of the blockage in the conduit, wherein generating the control signal comprises generating the control signal based on the extent of the blockage. 
     
     
         8 . The agricultural machine control system of  claim 5  wherein the steps further comprise: generating a map indicating the location of the blockage based on the geographic starting location corresponding to the blockage and the affected area. 
     
     
         9 . A computer implemented method, comprising:
 receiving a blockage signal indicative of a blockage in a conduit, through which material passes from a container to a dispensing mechanism, that dispenses the material on the field during a dispensing operation;   identifying a geographic starting location indicative of a geographic location of the dispensing mechanism when the blockage occurred;   identifying a geographic location of an affected area over which the dispensing mechanism traveled during the blockage, based on the geographic starting location and an agricultural machine ground speed indicative of a ground speed of the dispensing mechanism;   and generating a control signal to control a controllable subsystem on the agricultural machine based on the affected area.   
     
     
         10 . The computer implemented method of  claim 9  wherein generating the control signal comprises: generating an operator interface control signal, indicative of the affected area, for surfacing on an operator interface mechanism on the agricultural machine.