Patents by Inventor Aaron J. Bruns

Aaron J. Bruns 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: 11076531
    Abstract: An overall machine operational state (such as a problem state, field state, machine state, other non-problem state, etc.) is identified, and exit and entry conditions are monitored to determine whether the machine transitions into another operational state. When the machine transitions into a problem state, a multiple input, multiple output control system uses a state machine to identify the problem state and a solution is identified. The solution is indicative of machine settings that will return the machine to an acceptable, operational state. Control signals are generated to modify the machine settings based on the identified solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Brian J. Gilmore, Paul Readel, Bhanu Kiran Reddy Palla, Timothy S. Hunt, Douglas J. Bollin, John M. Hageman, Aaron J. Bruns
  • Patent number: 10664726
    Abstract: A method and non-transitory computer-readable medium capture an image of bulk grain and apply a feature extractor to the image to determine a feature of the bulk grain in the image. For each of a plurality of different sampling locations in the image, based upon the feature of the bulk grain at the sampling location, a determination is made regarding a classification score for the presence of a classification of material at the sampling location. A quality of the bulk grain of the image is determined based upon an aggregation of the classification scores for the presence of the classification of material at the sampling locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Carl Knox Wellington, Aaron J. Bruns, Victor S. Sierra, James J. Phelan, John M. Hageman, Cristian Dima, Hanke Boesch, Herman Herman, Zachary Abraham Pezzementi, Cason Robert Male, Joan Campoy, Carlos Vallespi-gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20200000040
    Abstract: A baling system may convey forage with at least one conveyance system through an uninterrupted gap extending from the at least one conveyance system to a vertical screed belt such that the forage is conveyed from an accumulation chamber into a baling chamber. The baling system may further or alternatively convey a mat of the forage having a first width to a rotary feeder having a second width less than the first width. Sides of the mat may be inwardly conveyed to the rotary feeder, wherein the rotary feeder lifts the forage into the baling chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Aaron J. Bruns, Scott J. Wemhoff, Scott L. Kaschmitter, Leonard J. Hill, Jeffrey B. Uhlenkott, Stanton B. Boyer
  • Patent number: 10426087
    Abstract: A machine control system receives sensor signals indicative of sensed variables on a mobile machine and calculates performance metric values for the mobile machine based upon the sensed variables. The machine control system displays information indicative of the performance metric value for the mobile machine on a time continuous user interface display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Aaron J. Bruns, Timothy S. Hunt, Brian J. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 10362733
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester (100) has a control system (166) that is configured to control a biomass harvesting rate based upon electronically calculated soil effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignees: Deere & Company, IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Stuart Birrell, Aaron J Bruns, Stephen Michael Patton
  • Publication number: 20190223379
    Abstract: An overall machine operational state (such as a problem state, field state, machine state, other non-problem state, etc.) is identified, and exit and entry conditions are monitored to determine whether the machine transitions into another operational state. When the machine transitions into a problem state, a multiple input, multiple output control system uses a state machine to identify the problem state and a solution is identified. The solution is indicative of machine settings that will return the machine to an acceptable, operational state. Control signals are generated to modify the machine settings based on the identified solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Brian J. Gilmore, Paul Readel, Bhanu Kiran Reddy Palla, Timothy S. Hunt, Douglas J. Bollin, John M. Hageman, Aaron J. Bruns
  • Patent number: 10295703
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a harvester head having a crop harvesting width, different components across the harvesting width to interact with plants being harvested, at least one sensor to sense a power characteristic associated with each of the different components and a processing unit to output a crop quantity distribution signal based upon differences in the power characteristic associated with the different components across the harvesting width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Niels Dybro, Noel W. Anderson, Aaron J. Bruns, James J. Phelan
  • Patent number: 10188037
    Abstract: A method and apparatus estimate yield. A first signal is received that an aggregate yield measured by an aggregate yield sensor during a measurement interval. A second signal is received that indicates a plurality of geo-referenced regions across which a harvester has traveled prior to the measurement interval. The method and apparatus allocate, to each of at least two geo-referenced regions, an aggregate yield portion allocation based upon different travel times for crops to the aggregate yield sensor Visual-Infrared Vegetative Index data derived from sensing of plants in selected portions of the electromagnetic spectrum at a time other than harvest. The aggregate yield portion allocations are output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Aaron J. Bruns, Matthew J. Darr
  • Patent number: 10172285
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for evaluating agricultural material which comprises, in one embodiment, a housing having a passage in or through an interior of the housing with an inlet for receiving agricultural material and an outlet for outputting the agricultural material. The system further comprises a wall opening in a wall of the passage. An imaging device having a lens is located inward from a border of the imaging device. The imaging device is pivotally mounted for rotation with respect to a housing such that in a closed state the border of the imaging device rests on, engages or interlocks the wall opening of the housing, and in an open state the border exposes the wall opening and an interior of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignees: Carnegie Mellon University, Deere & Company
    Inventors: Victor S. Sierra, Tarik Loukili, Aaron J. Bruns, John M. Hageman, Herman Herman, Vladimir A. Altman, Jaime W. Bourne
  • Patent number: 10034423
    Abstract: A harvester interacts with plants so as to separate a harvested portion from a biomass portion of each of the plants. At least one sensor carried by the harvester outputs a signal based upon an attribute of the biomass portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Niels Dybro, Aaron J. Bruns
  • Publication number: 20180164471
    Abstract: An apparatus may include a harvester head having a crop harvesting width, different components across the harvesting width to interact with plants being harvested, at least one sensor to sense a power characteristic associated with each of the different components and a processing unit to output a crop quantity distribution signal based upon differences in the power characteristic associated with the different components across the harvesting width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2018
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Niels Dybro, Noel W. Anderson, Aaron J. Bruns, James J. Phelan
  • Publication number: 20180092302
    Abstract: A residue spreader control system for an agricultural combine is provided that includes an operator input device for entering a wind direction and wind speed, a satellite navigation receiver for providing signals indicating the bearing of the agricultural combine, a residue spreader including crop residue deflectors at the rear of the combine that are movable by an actuator to steer the crop residue to the left or the right of the rear of the combine, and an ECU connected to all of these devices to receive the wind direction and/or speed from the operator, to determine the bearing of the combine traveling through the field harvesting crops, and to calculate a control signal to applied to the actuator, wherein the control signal repositions the actuator and crop deflectors to counteract the effects of wind improperly blowing the residue off to one side of the combine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2016
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Nathan R. Vandike, Drew N. Thomsen, Paul Readel, Aaron J. Bruns, Glenn E. Pope, Bradley K. Yanke
  • Patent number: 9903979
    Abstract: A method and apparatus estimate yield. A first method comprises receiving a first signal indicating an aggregate yield measured by an aggregate yield sensor during a measurement interval, receiving a second signal indicating a plurality of geo-referenced regions across which a harvester head has traveled prior to the measurement interval, allocating a portion of the aggregate yield to each of at least two geo-referenced regions based upon different travel times for crops from different portions of the head and outputting aggregate yield portion allocations. A second method estimates yield based upon sensed power characteristics across the harvesting width of a harvesting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Niels Dybro, Noel W. Anderson, Aaron J. Bruns, James J. Phelan
  • Patent number: 9901031
    Abstract: A method for automatically tuning an agricultural combine (100), comprises the steps of: receiving (304) a signal from an operator of the agricultural combine (100) indicating that current operation of the agricultural combine (100) operation is acceptable; determining (306) current performance parameters of the agricultural combine after the step of receiving; calculating (310) a performance parameter error limit for each of the current performance parameters in the step of determining; again determining (312) current performance parameters; comparing (314) the again determined current performance parameters with the performance parameter error limits to thereby determine whether one or more of the again determined current performance parameters falls outside its associated performance parameter error limit; and if at least one of the again determined current performance parameters falls outside its associated performance parameter error limit, then calculating (316) changes to machine settings of the agricu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Cameron R. Mott, Timothy S. Hunt, Aaron J. Bruns, Anja Eggerl, Bhanu Kiran Palla
  • Publication number: 20180025254
    Abstract: A method and non-transitory computer-readable medium capture an image of bulk grain and apply a feature extractor to the image to determine a feature of the bulk grain in the image. For each of a plurality of different sampling locations in the image, based upon the feature of the bulk grain at the sampling location, a determination is made regarding a classification score for the presence of a classification of material at the sampling location. A quality of the bulk grain of the image is determined based upon an aggregation of the classification scores for the presence of the classification of material at the sampling locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Carl Knox Wellington, Aaron J. Bruns, Victor S. Sierra, James J. Phelan, John M. Hageman, Cristian Dima, Hanke Boesch, Herman Herman, Zachary Abraham Pezzementi, Cason Robert Male, Joan Campoy, Carlos Vallespi-gonzalez
  • Patent number: 9826683
    Abstract: A harvester includes an auger tube having a first portion and a second portion adjacent the first portion, an auger flight within the first portion of the tube and terminating prior to the second portion to move grain to the second portion, a window along the second portion of the tube and a camera to capture images of grain within the second portion of the tube. A computing device determines grain mass flow based upon the captured images, a dimension of the second portion of the tube and a grain density factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignees: Deere & Company, Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron J. Bruns, Matthew J. Darr
  • Patent number: 9807932
    Abstract: A set of sensor inputs are received in an agricultural machine. The sensor inputs are indicative of sensed or measured variables. A probabilistic control system probabilistically infers values for another set of variables and generates a set of control signals based on the probabilistically inferred values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: William D. French, Jr., Aaron J. Bruns, Janos Kis
  • Patent number: 9779330
    Abstract: A method and non-transitory computer-readable medium capture an image of bulk grain and apply a feature extractor to the image to determine a feature of the bulk grain in the image. For each of a plurality of different sampling locations in the image, based upon the feature of the bulk grain at the sampling location, a determination is made regarding a classification score for the presence of a classification of material at the sampling location. A quality of the bulk grain of the image is determined based upon an aggregation of the classification scores for the presence of the classification of material at the sampling locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Carl Knox Wellington, Aaron J. Bruns, Victor S. Sierra, James J. Phelan, John M. Hageman, Cristian Dima, Hanke Boesch, Herman Herman, Zachary Abraham Pezzementi, Cason Robert Male, Joan Campoy, Carlos Vallespi-gonzalez
  • Patent number: 9702753
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a mass flow sensor while harvesting grain includes sensing an accumulated mass of a portion of grain within the grain tank with a first sensor. A mass flow rate sensor is calibrated based at least in part on a signal of the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignees: Deere & Company, Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah K. Johnson, Aaron J. Bruns, James J. Phelan, Matthew J. Darr, Robert McNaull
  • Patent number: 9645006
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a mass flow sensor while harvesting grain includes sensing an accumulated mass of a portion of grain within the grain tank with a first sensor. A mass flow rate sensor is calibrated based at least in part on a signal of the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignees: Deere & Company, Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Phelan, Jeremiah K. Johnson, Aaron J. Bruns, Matthew J. Darr, Robert McNaull