Patents by Inventor Harry G. Folster

Harry G. Folster 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: 7685767
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically harvesting and screening plant embryos in multiple stages to identify those embryos that are suited for incorporation into manufactured seeds are provided. The method includes generally three steps. First, plant embryos are automatically sorted according to their rough size/shape and also singulated into discrete embryo units, for example by vibrational sieving. Second, the sorted and singulated plant embryos are classified using a first classification method. For example, each embryo may be imaged by a camera and the image is used to ascertain the embryo's more precise size/shape. Third, for those embryos that have passed the first classification method, a second classification method is applied. For example, a pre-developed classification algorithm to classify embryos according to their putative germination vigor may be applied to the same image used in the first classification method, to identify those embryos that are likely to germinate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser NR Company
    Inventors: Roger Timmis, Edwin Hirahara, Harry G Folster, Heather Surerus-Lopez
  • Patent number: 7530197
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically harvesting and screening plant embryos in multiple stages to identify those embryos that are suited for incorporation into manufactured seeds are provided. The method includes generally three steps. First, plant embryos are automatically sorted according to their rough size/shape and also singulated into discrete embryo units, for example by vibrational sieving. Second, the sorted and singulated plant embryos are classified using a first classification method. For example, each embryo may be imaged by a camera and the image is used to ascertain the embryo's more precise size/shape. Third, for those embryos that have passed the first classification method, a second classification method is applied. For example, a pre-developed classification algorithm to classify embryos according to their putative germination vigor may be applied to the same image used in the first classification method, to identify those embryos that are likely to germinate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Co.
    Inventors: Roger Timmis, Edwin Hirahara, Harry G. Folster, Heather Surerus-Lopez
  • Publication number: 20040267457
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically harvesting and screening plant embryos in multiple stages to identify those embryos that are suited for incorporation into manufactured seeds are provided. The method includes generally three steps. First, plant embryos are automatically sorted according to their rough size/shape and also singulated into discrete embryo units, for example by vibrational sieving. Second, the sorted and singulated plant embryos are classified using a first classification method. For example, each embryo may be imaged by a camera and the image is used to ascertain the embryo's more precise size/shape. Third, for those embryos that have passed the first classification method, a second classification method is applied. For example, a pre-developed classification algorithm to classify embryos according to their putative germination vigor may be applied to the same image used in the first classification method, to identify those embryos that are likely to germinate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Roger Timmis, Edwin Hirahara, Harry G. Folster, Heather Surerus-Lopez