Patents by Inventor Christian BIRKMANN

Christian BIRKMANN has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11937525
    Abstract: A combination of a tractive machine and plow, has a driver assistance system having an input/output unit. The plow is adjustable with machine parameters, wherein a portion is manually adjustable and/or automatically adjustable by means of the tractive machine. A plow adjust assistant determines in a dialog with an operator in a plurality of dialog steps, optimized machine parameters of the plow and/or of the tractive machine that are to be adjusted. The plow adjust assistant automatically adjusts a portion of the machine parameters determined in the first dialog step and/or gives the operator a portion for adjusting and determines further optimized machine parameters of the plow based on these machine parameters and gives these further optimized machine parameters of the plow to the operator for adjustment of the plow in a second dialog step and/or automatically adjusts them at the plow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Christian Ehlert, Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Jona Pieper, Christian Birkmann, Jens Heydekorn
  • Publication number: 20240065129
    Abstract: An agricultural work system and a method for operating an agricultural work system is disclosed. The agricultural work system comprises an agricultural production machine having two axles, a power lifter, and a driver assistance system, and an attachment connected to the agricultural production machine using the power lifter. The driver assistance system optimizes operation of the agricultural production machine by determining an axle load on at least one of the axles. Further, actual data records coupled in time to the execution of an agricultural work process are cyclically determined by the driver assistance system to automatically adjust the power lifter. In particular, an axle load ratio currently at the axles is determined as an actual data record and, using at least one additional actual data record to be determined, the driver assistance system automatically generates instructions to actuate the power lifter while simultaneously accounting for mutually influencing optimization target variables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Christian Birkmann, Christian Schaub
  • Publication number: 20240065132
    Abstract: An agricultural work system and a method for operating an agricultural work system are disclosed. The agricultural work system performs an agricultural work process and includes an agricultural production machine having at least two axles with at least one device interface and an attachment, which is connected via the device interface to the agricultural production machine. An axle load on at least one axle is determined using a sensor assembly, with the axle loads occurring or happening on axles of the agricultural production machine. An axle load ratio based thereon is cyclically determined using the computer unit of the driver assistance system of the agricultural production machine, coupled in time to the execution of the work process, with the driver assistance system taking into account the agricultural production machine and attachment configuration and operating parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Christian Birkmann, Christian Schaub
  • Patent number: 11850894
    Abstract: A prime mover, such as a tractor, is disclosed. The prime mover includes a drivetrain, a driver assistance system, and a tire pressure control system. The tire pressure control system is equipped with pneumatic components for setting and adapting a tire pressure of at least one of the tires of the prime mover and an attachment to the prime mover. The drivetrain includes at least one drive motor, one gearbox, at least one power take-off, and at least one ancillary unit. The driver assistance system controls the tire pressure control system and includes a computing unit, a memory unit, and an input/output unit. In particular, the driver assistance system includes an automatic tire pressure controller that operates based on a characteristic curve and is configured for optimized control of the tire pressure control system depending on selectable control strategies and/or optimization target variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Christian Ehlert, Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Christian Birkmann, Robin Schütte, Ralf Müller
  • Patent number: 11632897
    Abstract: An agricultural assistance system including a driver assistance system for controlling one or both of a prime mover and an attachment of an agricultural combination is disclosed. The agricultural assistance system generates control parameters for one or both of the prime mover and the attachment, has a rule interpreter that generates the control parameters by processing rules from sets of rules, and has a rule generator that provides a plurality of sets of rules. The agricultural assistance system executes the rule interpreter as needed on control hardware that is part of one or both of the prime mover or the attachment, and on control hardware that is disposed remote from the combination. The agricultural assistance system has a coordination module for this which, independent of the site at which the rule interpreter is run, coordinates the rule interpreter with the control generator and the driver assistance system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Christian Ehlert, Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Christian Birkmann, Lennart Meyer
  • Publication number: 20230047045
    Abstract: A method and system for determining working heights independent of the type of coupling of a plurality of agricultural attachments using a sensor assembly is disclosed. The sensor assembly includes at least one sensor for recording measured data and a control assembly. The attachments may be coupled to an agricultural production machine by an equipment interface using different types of coupling. The attachments are temporarily coupled to the agricultural production machine using the different types of coupling. The control assembly determines the working heights independent of the type of coupling of the differently coupled attachments when in a coupled state by using the same sensor. The control assembly displays the working heights determined independent of the type of coupling by means of the agricultural production machine, and/or uses them to control and/or regulate the agricultural production machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Christian Ehlert, Christian Birkmann, Jona Pieper, Christian Schaub
  • Publication number: 20230047061
    Abstract: A method and system for regulating a rear power lift of an agricultural production machine in an agricultural combination is disclosed. The agricultural combination includes an agricultural production machine and an agricultural attachment. The agricultural attachment is connected to the agricultural production machine via a rear power lift of the agricultural production machine. The agricultural production machine includes a driver assistance system that regulates machine parameters of the rear power lift using position regulation and/or traction regulation on which a slip control is superimposed. The driver assistance system determines a target slip for slip regulation optimized for position regulation and/or traction regulation depending on at least one existing soil property and at least one existing tire property, and regulates the rear power lift to the optimized target slip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Christian Birkmann, Christian Schaub, Jona Pieper
  • Publication number: 20230051714
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling, such as pre-optimizing, agricultural work processes for agricultural combinations is disclosed. Agricultural combinations include an agricultural production machine and different agricultural attachments. A sensor assembly determines an absolute working height of the agricultural attachments using a sensor measuring data regarding the absolute working height. The agricultural combination includes a combination control assembly that controls and/or regulates machine parameters of the particular agricultural combination based on an optimization data set and the measured data obtained during the working process. An optimization control assembly determines the optimization data set from competing optimization goals, optimization data both apart from and relating to the combination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Christian Birkmann, Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Jona Pieper, Christian Schaub, Christian Ehlert, Lennart Meyer
  • Publication number: 20230048528
    Abstract: A method and system for collecting agricultural measured data in an agricultural production machine that is combined with at least one agricultural attachment for fieldwork is disclosed. A sensor assembly is provided that has a sensor and a control assembly. The sensor may be integrated in combinations comprising (or consisting of) an agricultural production machine and a plurality of agricultural attachments. The sensor records measured data relating to at least one work quality parameter of the particular attachment and transmits it to the control assembly. In turn, the control assembly generates a common data set in a standardization routine from the measured data relating to the different attachments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Christian Ehlert, Christian Birkmann
  • Publication number: 20230045992
    Abstract: A method and system for measuring a working height, such as an absolute working height, of a plurality of agricultural attachments using a sensor assembly is disclosed. The sensor assembly includes a sensor and at least one sensor holder. The sensor holder is mounted at mounting positions onto different attachments, with the sensor being reversibly mounted in the sensor holder at the mounting position. The sensor, in a mounted state, records measured data relating to a working height of the agricultural attachment and transmits the measured data to the control assembly. In turn, the control assembly determines the working height of the particular attachment from a calibration data set specific to the mounting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Christian Birkmann, Christian Schaub, Jona Pieper, Lennart Meyer
  • Publication number: 20230053142
    Abstract: A method and system for planning an optimized soil cultivation process of a field for anf agricultural combination is disclosed. The agricultural combination includes an agricultural production machine and a soil cultivating agricultural attachment. A planning control assembly is used to determine recommended actions for the soil cultivation process with an expert model using soil data of the field, wherein the soil data of the field is location-dependent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Christian Birkmann, Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Jona Pieper, Christian Schaub, Christian Ehlert, Lennart Meyer
  • Publication number: 20220279710
    Abstract: An agriculture machine assembly working in combination with an agricultural work machine and a disk mower adapted to the agricultural work machine is disclosed. The agriculture machine assembly comprises a driver assistance system that optimizes operation and includes a computing unit and an operating and display unit. One or both of the agricultural work machine or the disk mower include at least one control device for controlling and regulating one or both of the agricultural work machine or the disk mower. The driver assistance system is structured such that it forms a work machine setting device and a disk mower setting device, which optimize the operation of the agricultural work machine and the disk mower depending on each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Christian Ehlert, Christian Birkmann, Jona Carsten Pieper, Martin Ober, Sascha Pflanze, Pierre Noyer, Martin Göldner, Michael Fugunt
  • Publication number: 20220000006
    Abstract: A tractor with at least one lifting mechanism that has an upper link and lower links and actuators associated therewith, at least one attachment adapted to the lifting mechanism, and a driver assistance system is disclosed. The driver assistance system optimizes the operation of the tractor and has a computing unit, a memory unit and at least one input interface. The computing unit processes information generated by machine-internal sensor systems, external information, and information that may be saved in the memory unit. The tractor and/or the at least one attachment include a control device for controlling and regulating the tractor and the attachment. The driver assistance system comprises an automatic lifting mechanism that is configured to function based on characteristics, and to optimize adjustment of at least one work parameter of the tractor depending on selectable regulation strategies and/or optimization target variables saved in the memory unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Christian Ehlert, Christian Birkmann
  • Publication number: 20210350249
    Abstract: An agricultural assistance system having a driver assistance system for controlling a prime mover, such as a tractor, and/or an attachment is disclosed. The agricultural assistance system generates control parameters for the prime mover and/or for the attachment. The driver assistance system includes an input/output unit for communication with a user. The driver assistance system includes a rule interpreter that generates the control parameters by processing rules from the sets of rules. The agricultural assistance system also includes a rule generator for creating and/or editing the sets of rules, with the rule generator generating a user interface through which to create and/or edit the sets of rules. Specifically, users can create or edit the sets of rules via a browser of the rule generator. The rule generator further can include user administration functionality in which access rights of individual users to the sets of rules are defined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Christian Ehlert, Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Christian Birkmann, Lennart Meyer
  • Publication number: 20210345537
    Abstract: An agricultural assistance system including a driver assistance system for controlling one or both of a prime mover and an attachment of an agricultural combination is disclosed. The agricultural assistance system generates control parameters for one or both of the prime mover and the attachment, has a rule interpreter that generates the control parameters by processing rules from sets of rules, and has a rule generator that provides a plurality of sets of rules. The agricultural assistance system executes the rule interpreter as needed on control hardware that is part of one or both of the prime mover or the attachment, and on control hardware that is disposed remote from the combination. The agricultural assistance system has a coordination module for this which, independent of the site at which the rule interpreter is run, coordinates the rule interpreter with the control generator and the driver assistance system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Christian Ehlert, Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Christian Birkmann, Lennart Meyer
  • Publication number: 20210237520
    Abstract: A prime mover, such as a tractor, is disclosed. The prime mover includes a drivetrain, a driver assistance system, and a tire pressure control system. The tire pressure control system is equipped with pneumatic components for setting and adapting a tire pressure of at least one of the tires of the prime mover and an attachment to the prime mover. The drivetrain includes at least one drive motor, one gearbox, at least one power take-off, and at least one ancillary unit. The driver assistance system controls the tire pressure control system and includes a computing unit, a memory unit, and an input/output unit. In particular, the driver assistance system includes an automatic tire pressure controller that operates based on a characteristic curve and is configured for optimized control of the tire pressure control system depending on selectable control strategies and/or optimization target variables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Christian Ehlert, Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Christian Birkmann, Robin Schütte, Ralf Müller
  • Publication number: 20210163005
    Abstract: A prime mover and a method for operating a prime mover are disclosed. The prime mover, which may be a tractor, includes a drivetrain and is configured to attach to an attachment. The drivetrain includes at least one drive motor, a gearbox, at least one power take-off, and at least one ancillary unit. The prime mover has a driver assistance system that controls the drivetrain and that includes a computing unit, a memory unit, and an input/output unit. The driver assistance system comprises an engine droop governor that works based on a characteristic curve, wherein the engine droop governor is configured for optimized control of the drivetrain depending on selectable control strategies saved in the memory unit and/or optimization target variables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Christian Ehlert, Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Christian Birkmann, Robin Schütte, Ralf Müller, Dennis Neitemeier
  • Publication number: 20210045280
    Abstract: A combination of a tractive machine and plow, has a driver assistance system having an input/output unit. The plow is adjustable with machine parameters, wherein a portion is manually adjustable and/or automatically adjustable by means of the tractive machine. A plow adjust assistant determines in a dialog with an operator in a plurality of dialog steps, optimized machine parameters of the plow and/or of the tractive machine that are to be adjusted. The plow adjust assistant automatically adjusts a portion of the machine parameters determined in the first dialog step and/or gives the operator a portion for adjusting and determines further optimized machine parameters of the plow based on these machine parameters and gives these further optimized machine parameters of the plow to the operator for adjustment of the plow in a second dialog step and/or automatically adjusts them at the plow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Christian EHLERT, Jan Carsten WIECKHORST, Jona PIEPER, Christian BIRKMANN, Jens HEYDEKORN
  • Publication number: 20210046917
    Abstract: An agricultural prime mover, such as a tractor, may be used to execute an agricultural work process. The agricultural prime mover includes work assemblies that can be adjusted with machine parameters, and can be coupled to an attachment for processing a field. The agricultural prime mover includes a control and regulation module that optimizes the work assemblies by ascertaining machine parameters for the work assemblies using optimization data with respect to at least one objective. The control and regulation module executes a multi-step optimization strategy, including a first step “at the farm” directed to optimizing a basic configuration of the agricultural prime mover, a second step “at the field” directed to optimizing an attachment-specific configuration of the agricultural prime mover, and a third step “in the field” directed to optimizing the adaptation of the basic configuration and the attachment-specific configuration while processing the field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: CLAAS Tractor SAS
    Inventors: Christian Ehlert, Jan Carsten Wieckhorst, Christian Birkmann, Jona Pieper