Patents by Inventor Russell James Thacher

Russell James Thacher 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: 8031086
    Abstract: Radio frequency identification tags are spaced apart from one another in or around a work area for the vehicle. Each of the tags has a corresponding unique identifier. A path planning module establishes a path comprising a path segment between at least two of the radio frequency identification tags. The path segment comprises at least one of a distance between the tags, an angular heading between the tags, and unique identifiers corresponding to the tags. A data processor determines an estimated position of the vehicle based on at least one of odometer data and accelerometer data. A vehicle controller navigates between at least two of the radio frequency identification tags based on the estimated position, the distance and the angular heading. A reader reads the tag identifiers of each tag to track the progress of the vehicle to facilitate execution of or retrieval of any next path segment of the vehicle along the established path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Russell James Thacher, Stewart J. Moorehead, Monte Andre Dickson, John Michael Flenniken
  • Publication number: 20100141483
    Abstract: Radio frequency identification tags are spaced apart from one another in or around a work area for the vehicle. Each of the tags has a corresponding unique identifier. A path planning module establishes a path comprising a path segment between at least two of the radio frequency identification tags. The path segment comprises at least one of a distance between the tags, an angular heading between the tags, and unique identifiers corresponding to the tags. A data processor determines an estimated position of the vehicle based on at least one of odometer data and accelerometer data. A vehicle controller navigates between at least two of the radio frequency identification tags based on the estimated position, the distance and the angular heading. A reader reads the tag identifiers of each tag to track the progress of the vehicle to facilitate execution of or retrieval of any next path segment of the vehicle along the established path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Russell James Thacher, Stewart J. Moorehead, Monte Andre Dickson, John Michael Flenniken
  • Patent number: 7578361
    Abstract: A differential steering assist system is provided for an off road utility vehicle with a pair of steerable front wheels and at least one pair of driven left and right rear wheels. The system uses a steering position sensor and wheel speed sensors that sense the wheel speed of the driven left and right rear wheels. An electronic control unit provides speed reducing commands to the left or right rear wheels based on the sensed steering position and sensed wheel speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Russell James Thacher
  • Patent number: 6745117
    Abstract: A capacity estimator determines a total maximum allowable power storage capacity for a work vehicle. A timer times the operating time of the work vehicle in an electrically propelled mode. A load manager, a driver or both decrease the available power to at least one of a drive motor of the work vehicle and an ancillary load over the operating time to conserve the available power stored for operating at least one critical work vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Russell James Thacher, Chris Alan DeRoo