Patents by Inventor Robert E. Lorentzen

Robert E. Lorentzen 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: 11980130
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a detasseler machine to optimize detasseling efficiency. Front-facing image data is captured by a camera positioned with a field of view in front of the detasseler machine as the detasseler machine operates in a crop field. A new set of machine operating parameters for the detasseler machine is periodically determined based on the a set of crop parameters indicated by the front-facing image data and control signals are transmitted to one or more actuators to operate the detasseler machine according to the determined set of machine operating parameters. In some implementations, rear-facing image data used to quantify missed tassels left by the detasseler machine and the machine operating parameters are further adjusted to reduce the missed tassel metric. The mechanism for determining the set of machine operating parameters is then retrained based on the adjusted machine operating parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert E. Lorentzen, Michael M. Miller, Kent A. Klemme
  • Patent number: 11930726
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking missed tassels left by a detasseling machine. Rear-facing image data is captured by a camera positioned with a field of view behind the detasseling machine and image processing is applied to the rear-facing image data to quantity a missed tassel metric for a geospatial area. An indication of the missed tassel metric is displayed to an operator of the detasseling machine. In some implementations, the displayed indication of the missed tassel metric is updated in near real-time as the detasseling machine continue to operate in the crop field as an accumulated total missed tassel percentage for the entire crop field and/or as a missed tassel map indicating a percentage of missed tassels for each of a plurality of different geospatial sub-areas in the crop field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Robert E. Lorentzen, Michael M. Miller, Kent A. Klemme
  • Publication number: 20220124980
    Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a detasseler machine to optimize detasseling efficiency. Front-facing image data is captured by a camera positioned with a field of view in front of the detasseler machine as the detasseler machine operates in a crop field. A new set of machine operating parameters for the detasseler machine is periodically determined based on the a set of crop parameters indicated by the front-facing image data and control signals are transmitted to one or more actuators to operate the detasseler machine according to the determined set of machine operating parameters. In some implementations, rear-facing image data used to quantify missed tassels left by the detasseler machine and the machine operating parameters are further adjusted to reduce the missed tassel metric. The mechanism for determining the set of machine operating parameters is then retrained based on the adjusted machine operating parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Robert E. Lorentzen, Michael M. Miller, Kent A. Klemme
  • Publication number: 20220124956
    Abstract: Systems and methods for tracking missed tassels left by a detasseling machine. Rear-facing image data is captured by a camera positioned with a field of view behind the detasseling machine and image processing is applied to the rear-facing image data to quantity a missed tassel metric for a geospatial area. An indication of the missed tassel metric is displayed to an operator of the detasseling machine. In some implementations, the displayed indication of the missed tassel metric is updated in near real-time as the detasseling machine continue to operate in the crop field as an accumulated total missed tassel percentage for the entire crop field and/or as a missed tassel map indicating a percentage of missed tassels for each of a plurality of different geospatial sub-areas in the crop field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Robert E. Lorentzen, Michael M. Miller, Kent A. Klemme
  • Publication number: 20140300451
    Abstract: A system for configuring a vehicle that comprises a feature. An electronic tag is coupleable to the feature. The system comprises a reader in communication with the electronic tag. The reader is configured to perform at least one of detecting a presence of the electronic tag, detecting an absence of the electronic tag, and receiving a feature data communicated by the electronic tag. A processor is in communication with the reader. The processor is operable to configure the vehicle based on at least one of the presence of the electronic tag, the absence of the electronic tag, and the feature data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Deere & Company
    Inventors: ROBERT J. REISING, MICHAEL L. GARDNER, ROBERT E. LORENTZEN, GARRY E. BAXTER, ADAM J. ROYAL, KENT A. KLEMME, BRADLEY J. HITCHLER
  • Patent number: 8191798
    Abstract: An agricultural field sprayer (10) includes an electrically driven pump (50) locatable directly under sprayer fluid tank for conveying the fluid from the tank to a supply line. A return line (54) connects the pump (50) to the tank (22), and a sprayer line (32) connecting the pump (50) to an application assembly (20). The return line (54) and the sprayer line (32) include electrically operated control valves (68, 64), and an electronic control system (56) operates the motor (46) and the control valves (64, 68) as a function of different variables including field sprayer speed and sprayer fluid characteristics. The valve and motor controls and an additional valve-controlled return line facilitate numerous operational modes including tank fill, rinse, recirculation, spray, partial width spray, and stop modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Klaus Hahn, Heiko Eberbach, Ralf Hirschpek, Willy Peeters, Robert E. Lorentzen, Kent Alvin Klemme
  • Publication number: 20100200668
    Abstract: An agricultural field sprayer (10) includes an electrically driven pump (50) locatable directly under sprayer fluid tank for conveying the fluid from the tank to a supply line. A return line (54) connects the pump (50) to the tank (22), and a sprayer line (32) connecting the pump (50) to an application assembly (20). The return line (54) and the sprayer line (32) include electrically operated control valves (68, 64), and an electronic control system (56) operates the motor (46) and the control valves (64, 68) as a function of different variables including field sprayer speed and sprayer fluid characteristics. The valve and motor controls and an additional valve-controlled return line facilitate numerous operational modes including tank fill, rinse, recirculation, spray, partial width spray, and stop modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventors: Klaus Hahn, Heiko Eberbach, Ralf Hirschpek, Willy Peeters, Robert E. Lorentzen, Kent Alvin Klemme