초록 ▼

A proximity sensor with an emitter capable of emitting energy waves of a selected wavelength and a detector capable of detecting energy waves with the selected wavelength, for example, energy waves in the infrared spectrum. The emitter and the detector are located in close proximity to one another o

A proximity sensor with an emitter capable of emitting energy waves of a selected wavelength and a detector capable of detecting energy waves with the selected wavelength, for example, energy waves in the infrared spectrum. The emitter and the detector are located in close proximity to one another on a single printed circuit board. When an article to be detected (e.g., any seed used in agriculture) passes the proximity sensor, the energy waves emitted by the emitter are reflected off the article and detected by the detector. The proximity sensor can be attached to a single wall of a container or to the side of a chute in order to detect the presence of articles in the container or to detect the passage of articles through the chute.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A proximity sensor for detecting the presence of seeds in a container and detecting the passage of seeds in a chute, the proximity sensor comprising:an emitter capable of emitting energy waves of a preselected wavelength; a detector disposed adjacent to said emitter, capable of detecting reflecte

1. A proximity sensor for detecting the presence of seeds in a container and detecting the passage of seeds in a chute, the proximity sensor comprising:an emitter capable of emitting energy waves of a preselected wavelength; a detector disposed adjacent to said emitter, capable of detecting reflected energy waves from said emitter of said preselected wavelength and generating an output signal in response to detecting energy waves having said preselected wavelength; and a phase lock loop circuit operatively connected to the emitter and the detector for driving the emitter at said preselected frequency and generating a count signal representative of the number of seeds when the frequency of the output signal received from said detector matches the frequency at which the emitter is driven.