Patents by Inventor Robert T. Casper
Robert T. Casper 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).
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Patent number: 11974372Abstract: An in-tank illumination system and method for a translucent tank with sensors configured to monitor conditions of the tank and material inside. The illumination system includes an illumination source that illuminates the tank interior and is visible outside; and a controller that determines tank conditions based on the sensor readings, and sends control signals to the illumination source. When the controller detects a tank condition, it sends control signals to the source to illuminate the tank to indicate the tank condition. The system can include a bracket connecting the source to the tank interior near the top. The controller and source can be on different vehicles. Different control signals can change colors, blink patterns, and other properties of the source to indicate different tank conditions. The tank conditions can have different priorities to select which to indicate. The severity or duration of tank conditions can also be indicated.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2020Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Andrew W. Harmon, Robert T. Casper, Peter R. Nedved
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Patent number: 11950526Abstract: A product on demand nozzle assembly includes a chamber at least partially defined by an external wall and an array of vertically spaced nozzles. Each nozzle has an air inlet, an air and entrained product outlet extending from the external wall, and an entrainment zone between the air inlet and the air and entrained product outlet to receive a product therein to be distributed.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2019Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Stanley R. Borkgren, William D. Graham, Terry L. Snipes, Elijah B. Garner, Robert T. Casper, Scott C. McCartney, Michael E. Frasier
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Patent number: 11818976Abstract: A dispensing machine dispenses a material on a field. A blockage is detected, and an initial blockage location, where the blockage started, is identified. A blockage characterization system identifies characteristics of the blockage, and a control signal generator generates control signals based upon the detected blockage, and the characteristics of the blockage.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Sandeep Ekhe, Mandar Mhalsakant Kale, Sean A Mahrt, William Douglas Graham, Peter R. Nedved, Grant J. Wonderlich, Robert T. Casper, Omkar Joshi
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Publication number: 20230341837Abstract: A mobile work machine includes a wireless communication system configured to receive a wireless communication signal from a transmitter corresponding to a machine component on the mobile work machine, machine component identification logic configured to obtain a machine component identifier, that uniquely identifies the machine component, based on the wireless communication signal, operation detection logic configured to detect a machine operation associated with the machine component and to generate component performance data correlated to the machine component based on the machine operation, and control signal generator logic configured to generate a control signal that controls the mobile work machine based on the component performance data.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2023Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: ANDREW W. HARMON, Robert T. CASPER, Elijah B. GARNER
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Publication number: 20230143025Abstract: A yaw rate is sensed on a towing vehicle that is towing an air seeder. The sensed yaw rate is used to predict a future yaw rate on a planting implement of the air seeder. An application rate of material is varied across the application implement based upon the predicted yaw rate across the implement.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2021Publication date: May 11, 2023Inventors: William D. Graham, Robert T. Casper, Ray M. Scheufler
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Publication number: 20230062893Abstract: An example work machine generally includes a main section, a pair of inner wings, a pair of outer wings, a pair of flippers, a work assembly, a ground interface assembly, and a height control assembly. The flippers are pivotable relative to the outer wings about axes that extend in a direction transverse to the travel direction of the work machine. Each flipper includes at least one corresponding work component and at least one corresponding ground interface mechanism. The height control assembly is operable to adjust heights of the work components relative to a ground surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2021Publication date: March 2, 2023Inventors: David L. Steinlage, Shawn J. Becker, Robert T. Casper, Isaac A. Lopez, Jerry R. Merkle, Anthony Sikora, Byron J. Hobart
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Patent number: 11579590Abstract: A mobile work machine includes a wireless communication system configured to receive a wireless communication signal from a transmitter corresponding to a machine component on the mobile work machine, machine component identification logic configured to obtain a machine component identifier, that uniquely identifies the machine component, based on the wireless communication signal, operation detection logic configured to detect a machine operation associated with the machine component and to generate component performance data correlated to the machine component based on the machine operation, and control signal generator logic configured to generate a control signal that controls the mobile work machine based on the component performance data.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2020Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Andrew W. Harmon, Robert T. Casper, Elijah B. Garner
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Publication number: 20220264789Abstract: A seed placement device connected to a machine to transfer seed to a furrow includes a housing having a first opening through which seed is received and a second opening through which seed is discharged. An endless member positioned within the housing, and a drive member that controls movement of the endless member in cooperation with movement of the machine. The machine operates in a seeding direction at a travel speed, and the endless member discharges seed at a discharge speed and in a discharge direction. The discharge direction is approximately opposite to the seeding direction, and the discharge speed of the seed is at least 1.2 times the travel speed of the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2022Publication date: August 25, 2022Inventors: Robert T. Casper, Elijah B. Garner, Dnyanesh Dhobale, Stanley R. Borkgren
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Publication number: 20220183206Abstract: A residue detection and implement control system and method are disclosed for an agricultural implement. The system includes a source of environment data and image data of an imaged area of a crop field containing residue. The system includes a data store containing a plurality of image processing methods and at least one controller that processes the image data according to one or more image processing instruction sets. The controller selects one or more of the image processing methods based on the environment data, and processes the image data using the selected image processing instruction(s) to determine a value corresponding to residue coverage in the imaged area of the field. The controller adjusts the configuration of the agricultural implement to respond to the amount and type of residue detected.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2022Publication date: June 16, 2022Inventors: Ranjit Nair, Adam D. Sporrer, Kirti Balani, Ricky B. Theilen, Lucas B. Larsen, Vishal Rane, David L. Steinlage, Robert T. Casper, John M. Schweitzer, Jeremy D. Krantz
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Publication number: 20220174858Abstract: A metering system includes a plurality of metering elements that are independently controllable. A calibration method of the present disclosure includes generating calibration factors for the individual metering elements. Also, a method of the present disclosure includes operating the metering elements according to the respective calibration factor.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2021Publication date: June 9, 2022Inventors: Andrew W. Harmon, Robert T. Casper, William Douglas Graham
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Patent number: 11266056Abstract: A residue detection and implement control system and method are disclosed for an agricultural implement. The system includes a source of environment data and image data of an imaged area of a crop field containing residue. The system includes a data store containing a plurality of image processing methods and at least one controller that processes the image data according to one or more image processing instruction sets. The controller selects one or more of the image processing methods based on the environment data, and processes the image data using the selected image processing instruction(s) to determine a value corresponding to residue coverage in the imaged area of the field. The controller adjusts the configuration of the agricultural implement to respond to the amount and type of residue detected.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2015Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Ranjit Nair, Adam D. Sporrer, Kirti Balani, Ricky B. Theilen, Lucas B. Larsen, Vishal Rane, David L. Steinlage, Robert T. Casper, John M. Schweitzer, Jeremy D. Krantz
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Publication number: 20220015283Abstract: An example agricultural machine comprises a material distribution system that includes a material distribution line configured to convey particulate material to a component. The agricultural machine comprises a sensing system that includes a first sensor configured to generate a first sensor signal indicative of a measure of a flow of the particulate material in the material distribution line, a second sensor configured to generate a second sensor signal indicative of a measure of the flow of the particulate material in the material distribution line, and a correlation generation component configured to receive indications of the first and second sensor signals and to generate a correlation metric that represents a correlation between the first and second sensor signals. In one example, the correlation metric is applied to a sensor signal from a second material distribution line to determine a flow rate in the second material distribution line.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Terry L. Snipes, Robert T. Casper, William C. Hughes, Gerald E. Rains, Jason D. Walter, Elijah B. Garner, Matt D. Bartelson, Sahil C. Desai, Andrew J. Scholl
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Patent number: 11191207Abstract: A metering system includes a plurality of metering elements that are independently controllable. A calibration method of the present disclosure includes generating calibration factors for the individual metering elements. Also, a method of the present disclosure includes operating the metering elements according to the respective calibration factor.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Andrew W. Harmon, Robert T. Casper, William Douglas Graham
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Patent number: 11154004Abstract: An example agricultural machine comprises a material distribution system that includes a material distribution line configured to convey particulate material to a component. The agricultural machine comprises a sensing system that includes a first sensor configured to generate a first sensor signal indicative of a measure of a flow of the particulate material in the material distribution line, a second sensor configured to generate a second sensor signal indicative of a measure of the flow of the particulate material in the material distribution line, and a correlation generation component configured to receive indications of the first and second sensor signals and to generate a correlation metric that represents a correlation between the first and second sensor signals. In one example, the correlation metric is applied to a sensor signal from a second material distribution line to determine a flow rate in the second material distribution line.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Terry L. Snipes, Robert T. Casper, William C. Hughes, Gerald E. Rains, Jason D. Walter, Elijah B. Garner, Matt D. Bartelson, Sahil C. Desai, Andrew J. Scholl
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Patent number: 11140811Abstract: A work vehicle includes a commodity container and an actuator system with a plurality of actuators. The work vehicle includes a delivery system with a plurality of tubes. Furthermore, the work vehicle includes a metering system with a plurality of metering rollers that are configured to be individually actuated by respective ones of the plurality of actuators to meter out a commodity from the commodity container to respective ones of the plurality of tubes. The plurality of metering rollers are arranged substantially parallel to each other. The plurality of metering rollers are disposed in a staggered arrangement.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Andrew W. Harmon, Michael E. Frasier, Robert T. Casper, William Douglas Graham
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Publication number: 20210136896Abstract: An in-tank illumination system and method for a translucent tank with sensors configured to monitor conditions of the tank and material inside. The illumination system includes an illumination source that illuminates the tank interior and is visible outside; and a controller that determines tank conditions based on the sensor readings, and sends control signals to the illumination source. When the controller detects a tank condition, it sends control signals to the source to illuminate the tank to indicate the tank condition. The system can include a bracket connecting the source to the tank interior near the top. The controller and source can be on different vehicles. Different control signals can change colors, blink patterns, and other properties of the source to indicate different tank conditions. The tank conditions can have different priorities to select which to indicate. The severity or duration of tank conditions can also be indicated.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2020Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Andrew W. Harmon, Robert T. Casper, Peter R. Nedved
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Publication number: 20210132588Abstract: A mobile work machine includes a wireless communication system configured to receive a wireless communication signal from a transmitter corresponding to a machine component on the mobile work machine, machine component identification logic configured to obtain a machine component identifier, that uniquely identifies the machine component, based on the wireless communication signal, operation detection logic configured to detect a machine operation associated with the machine component and to generate component performance data correlated to the machine component based on the machine operation, and control signal generator logic configured to generate a control signal that controls the mobile work machine based on the component performance data.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2020Publication date: May 6, 2021Inventors: Andrew W. Harmon, Robert T. Casper, Elijah B. Garner
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Publication number: 20210112698Abstract: A dispensing machine dispenses a material on a field. A blockage is detected, and an initial blockage location, where the blockage started, is identified. A blockage characterization system identifies characteristics of the blockage, and a control signal generator generates control signals based upon the detected blockage, and the characteristics of the blockage.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: SANDEEP EKHE, MANDAR MHALSAKANT KALE, Sean A. MAHRT, William Douglas GRAHAM, Peter R. NEDVED, Grant J. WONDERLICH, Robert T. CASPER, Omkar JOSHI
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Publication number: 20200337223Abstract: An example agricultural machine comprises a material distribution system that includes a material distribution line configured to convey particulate material to a component. The agricultural machine comprises a sensing system that includes a first sensor configured to generate a first sensor signal indicative of a measure of a flow of the particulate material in the material distribution line, a second sensor configured to generate a second sensor signal indicative of a measure of the flow of the particulate material in the material distribution line, and a correlation generation component configured to receive indications of the first and second sensor signals and to generate a correlation metric that represents a correlation between the first and second sensor signals. In one example, the correlation metric is applied to a sensor signal from a second material distribution line to determine a flow rate in the second material distribution line.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2019Publication date: October 29, 2020Inventors: Terry L. SNIPES, Robert T. CASPER, William C. HUGHES, Gerald E. RAINS, Jason D. WALTER, Elijah B. GARNER, Matt D. BARTELSON, Sahil C. DESAI, Andrew J. SCHOLL
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Publication number: 20200053955Abstract: A product on demand nozzle assembly includes a chamber at least partially defined by an external wall and an array of vertically spaced nozzles. Each nozzle has an air inlet, an air and entrained product outlet extending from the external wall, and an entrainment zone between the air inlet and the air and entrained product outlet to receive a product therein to be distributed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2019Publication date: February 20, 2020Inventors: Stanley R. Borkgren, William D. Graham, Terry L. Snipes, Elijah B. Garner, Robert T. Casper, Scott C. McCartney, Michael E. Frasier