초록 ▼

An infrared thermometer has a field of view selected so that the temperature of the crop growing in a field is accurately measured. The infrared thermometer may be mounted on a support pole in a field to substantially continuously monitor the foliage temperature of the growing crop. In one preferred

An infrared thermometer has a field of view selected so that the temperature of the crop growing in a field is accurately measured. The infrared thermometer may be mounted on a support pole in a field to substantially continuously monitor the foliage temperature of the growing crop. In one preferred embodiment, the infrared thermometer comprises and instrument housing structure provided with an infrared telescope mounted on a turntable that scans through an angle of the field, while an electronic circuit simultaneously integrates the output of the infrared telescope. The angle to be scanned is selected by the user in accordance with his needs. In another embodiment, the infrared thermometer comprises a novel sensor head block including an aperture which provides a wide, elongated oval field of view for an infrared sensor provided therein. In both embodiments, the elongated oval field of view has a width that is at least four times its height. The elongated oval field of view is selected to substantially block the infrared radiation emitted by background sources such as the sky and the ground.

대표청구항 ▼

An agriculture thermometer for measuring the temperature of a crop growing in a field, the crop emitting infrared radiation in an amount dependent upon the temperature of the crop, said thermometer comprising: an infrared detector for sensing the amount of infrared radiation emitted from the crop; m

An agriculture thermometer for measuring the temperature of a crop growing in a field, the crop emitting infrared radiation in an amount dependent upon the temperature of the crop, said thermometer comprising: an infrared detector for sensing the amount of infrared radiation emitted from the crop; means for defining a substantially elongated oval field of view for radiation incident upon the infrared detector, said elongated oval field of view having a width at least four times its height; and an aperture having a size and shape to substantially exclude infrared radiation not within said field of view, said aperture having a stationary position with respect to the crop. A method of measuring crop temperature, comprising the steps of: first providing an infrared detector mounted on a rotating turntable; said infrared detector and said rotating turntable being located within a stationary housing; second, sweeping the turntable through a selected angle of rotation; third, integrating the output of the infrared detector substantially simultaneously with the sweep of the second step; and fourth, providing an output responsive to the crop temperature.