Spray pattern monitoring

Abstract

A spray pattern monitoring system includes a spray sensor disposed proximate an outlet of a spray nozzle. The spray sensor has one or more optical sensors configured to emit directional light, such as laser pulses, towards the expected position of a liquid spray emitted from the nozzle. The spray sensor can detect the absence or presence of the liquid spray based on returns of the directional light to the optical sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of determining a status of a liquid spray from a nozzle with a plurality of optical sensors, the method comprising:
 generating, by a first optical sensor of the plurality of optical sensors, a first output of directional light directed substantially orthogonally towards an expected position of a liquid spray emitted from a nozzle;   detecting a reflection of the first output of directional light reflected by the liquid spray at the first optical sensor to generate a first return signal;   generating, by a second optical sensor of the plurality of optical sensors, a second output of directional light directed substantially orthogonally towards the expected position of the liquid spray emitted from the nozzle;   detecting a reflection of the second output of directional light reflected by the liquid spray at the second optical sensor to generate a second return signal;   comparing the first return signal to the second return signal; and   determining a concentration of droplets of the liquid spray based on a comparison of the first return signal and the second return signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating, by a spray sensor that includes the optical sensor, a spray signal based on the concentration of droplets of the liquid spray; and   communicating the spray signal to a control module.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein communicating the spray signal to the control module comprises wirelessly communicating the spray signal to the control module. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein communicating the spray signal to the control module comprises communicating via radio frequency. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein communicating the spray signal to the control module comprises transmitting radio waves in at least one of a 2.4 GHz band and a 5 GHz band. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 communicating, by the control module, the concentration of droplets of the liquid spray to a user interface of an agricultural implement.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 storing, in a memory of the control module, the concentration of droplets of the liquid spray.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein communicating the spray signal to the control module comprising communicating via an interface selected from the group consisting of a controller area network, a universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter, and a serial peripheral interface. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a presence or absence of the liquid spray. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sensing, by a spray sensor that includes the optical sensor, variations in the concentration of droplets of the liquid spray; and   generating a spray signal indicating an abnormal spray based on the variations in the concentration of the droplets of the liquid spray.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating, by a spray sensor that includes the optical sensor, a spray signal based on the concentration of droplets of the liquid spray; and   communicating the spray signal to a user via a user interface.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the spray sensor is configured to intermittently activate the plurality of optical sensors. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating a nozzle status based on the comparison of the first return signal and the second return signal;   wherein the nozzle status comprises a nozzle fault when one of the first return signal and the second return signal indicates absence of the liquid spray.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second outputs of directional light each comprise laser pulses and the optical sensor comprises a laser range finder.