Patents by Inventor Bruce Schnicker

Bruce Schnicker 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).

  • Publication number: 20210259176
    Abstract: A method is provided for use in analyzing seeds, in a population of seeds, for one or more desired characteristic. The method includes removing tissue from individual seeds in a population of seeds using an automated seed sampler, while preserving germination viability of the seeds, and analyzing the tissue for the presence or absence of one or more desired characteristic. The method then includes, based on the analysis of the tissue, quantifying the one or more desired characteristic for each of the individual seeds that possess the one or more desired characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: David BUTRUILLE, Kevin L. DEPPERMANN, Stanton DOTSON, Sam EATHINGTON, Heather FORBES, Michael W. PETERSEN, Bruce SCHNICKER, John TAMULONIS
  • Patent number: 11006593
    Abstract: A method is provided for use in a plant breeding program to generate a population having one or more desired traits. The method includes removing a tissue sample from each of one or more seeds using an automated seed sampler while preserving germination viability of the sampled seeds; analyzing the tissue samples for the presence or absence of a genetic sequence associated with at least one desired trait; based on the analysis of the tissue samples, cultivating plants from the sampled seeds that either possess or lack the genetic sequence associated with the at least one desired trait; creating a parental cross using at least one of the cultivated plants; and selecting seeds from the parental cross and cultivating offspring of the parental cross using the selected seeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: David Butruille, Kevin L. Deppermann, Stanton Dotson, Sam Eathington, Heather Forbes, Michael W. Petersen, Bruce Schnicker, John Tamulonis
  • Publication number: 20200333365
    Abstract: An automated method for removing tissue from a seed is provided. The automated method includes singulating a seed from a plurality of seeds and imaging the singulated seed to obtain at least one characteristic of the seed. The automated method further includes positioning the singulated seed in a sampler of an automated seed sampling assembly and removing, by the sampler, tissue from the singulated seed based on the at least one characteristic of the seed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: David BUTRUILLE, Kevin L. DEPPERMANN, Stanton DOTSON, Sam EATHINGTON, David W. FINLEY, William M. FISCHER, Heather M. FORBES, John M. JENSEN, Allen N. ONDES, Michael W. PETERSEN, Bruce SCHNICKER, John TAMULONIS
  • Patent number: 10705102
    Abstract: A seed sampling system is provided having an automated seed loading assembly including a seed bin and being operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds within the seed bin. The system also includes an automated seed sampling assembly operable to remove tissue samples from the singulated seeds, and an automated seed transport assembly operable to transfer the singulated seeds from the seed loading assembly to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly includes multiple retention members. Each of the retention members is movable relative to the seed loading assembly and to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly is operable to position one of the multiple retention members adjacent to the seed loading assembly for engaging one of the singulated seeds, while positioning another of the retention members adjacent to the seed sampling assembly for presenting another of the singulated seeds to the seed sampling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Deppermann, Michael W. Petersen, Allen N. Ondes, David W. Finley, William M. Fischer, John M. Jensen, David Butruille, Stanton Dotson, Sam Eathington, Heather M. Forbes, Bruce Schnicker, John Tamulonis
  • Publication number: 20180271042
    Abstract: A method is provided for use in a plant breeding program to generate a population having one or more desired traits. The method includes removing a tissue sample from each of one or more seeds using an automated seed sampler while preserving germination viability of the sampled seeds; analyzing the tissue samples for the presence or absence of a genetic sequence associated with at least one desired trait; based on the analysis of the tissue samples, cultivating plants from the sampled seeds that either possess or lack the genetic sequence associated with the at least one desired trait; creating a parental cross using at least one of the cultivated plants; and selecting seeds from the parental cross and cultivating offspring of the parental cross using the selected seeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: David BUTRUILLE, Kevin L. DEPPERMANN, Stanton DOTSON, Sam EATHINGTON, Heather FORBES, Michael W. PETERSEN, Bruce SCHNICKER, John TAMULONIS
  • Patent number: 9986699
    Abstract: Novel methods are provided to facilitate germplasm improvement activities through the use of high throughput, nondestructive sampling of seeds. A method for introgressive hybridization, for example, generally includes removing tissue samples from individual seeds using an automated seed sampler without affecting germination viability of the seeds, and analyzing nucleic acids extracted from the tissue samples for at least one genetic marker. The method then further includes selecting the sampled seeds that possess the at least one genetic marker, cultivating fertile plants from the selected seeds, and crossing the fertile plants with other plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Deppermann, Michael W. Petersen, David Butruille, Stanton Dotson, Sam Eathington, Heather Forbes, Bruce Schnicker, John Tamulonis
  • Publication number: 20150355205
    Abstract: A seed sampling system is provided having an automated seed loading assembly including a seed bin and being operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds within the seed bin. The system also includes an automated seed sampling assembly operable to remove tissue samples from the singulated seeds, and an automated seed transport assembly operable to transfer the singulated seeds from the seed loading assembly to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly includes multiple retention members. Each of the retention members is movable relative to the seed loading assembly and to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly is operable to position one of the multiple retention members adjacent to the seed loading assembly for engaging one of the singulated seeds, while positioning another of the retention members adjacent to the seed sampling assembly for presenting another of the singulated seeds to the seed sampling assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Kevin L. Deppermann, Michael W. Petersen, Allen N. Ondes, David W. Finley, William M. Fischer, John M. Jensen, David Butruille, Stanton Dotson, Sam Eathington, Heather M. Forbes, Bruce Schnicker, John Tamulonis
  • Publication number: 20150164011
    Abstract: Novel methods are provided to facilitate germplasm improvement activities through the use of high throughput, nondestructive sampling of seeds. A method for introgressive hybridization, for example, generally includes removing tissue samples from individual seeds using an automated seed sampler without affecting germination viability of the seeds, and analyzing nucleic acids extracted from the tissue samples for at least one genetic marker. The method then further includes selecting the sampled seeds that possess the at least one genetic marker, cultivating fertile plants from the selected seeds, and crossing the fertile plants with other plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Inventors: Kevin L. Deppermann, Michael W. Petersen, David Butruille, Stanton Dotson, Sam Eathington, Heather Forbes, Bruce Schnicker, John Tamulonis
  • Patent number: 9003696
    Abstract: A seed sampling system is provided having an automated seed loading assembly including a seed bin and being operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds within the seed bin. The system also includes an automated seed sampling assembly operable to remove tissue samples from the singulated seeds, and an automated seed transport assembly operable to transfer the singulated seeds from the seed loading assembly to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly includes multiple retention members. Each of the retention members is movable relative to the seed loading assembly and to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly is operable to position one of the multiple retention members adjacent to the seed loading assembly for engaging one of the singulated seeds, while positioning another of the retention members adjacent to the seed sampling assembly for presenting another of the singulated seeds to the seed sampling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Deppermann, Michael W. Petersen, Allen N. Ondes, David W. Finley, William M. Fischer, John M. Jensen, David Butruille, Stanton Dotson, Sam Eathington, Heather M. Forbes, Bruce Schnicker, John Tamulonis
  • Patent number: 8959833
    Abstract: The present invention provides for novel methods to facilitate germplasm improvement activities through the use of high throughput, nondestructive sampling of seeds. A method of evaluating seeds for a desired trait, for example, for facilitating germplasm improvement activities, etc., generally includes removing tissue samples from individual seeds using an automated seed sampler without affecting germination viability of the seeds, analyzing the tissue samples for one or more characteristics indicative of a desired trait, and selecting the sampled seeds that include the desired trait.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Deppermann, Michael W. Petersen, David Butruille, Stanton Dotson, Sam Eathington, Heather Forbes, Bruce Schnicker, John Tamulonis
  • Patent number: 8312672
    Abstract: The present invention provides for novel methods to facilitate germplasm improvement activities through the use of high throughput, nondestructive sampling of seeds. A method for analyzing a population of haploid seeds generally includes providing a population of seeds comprising haploid seeds, removing tissue samples from a plurality of the seeds in the population using an automated seed sampler system while preserving the germination viability of the sampled seeds, and analyzing the tissue samples for the presence or absence of one or more characteristics indicative of at least one genetic or chemical trait.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Deppermann, Michael W. Petersen, David Butruille, Stanton Dotson, Sam Eathington, Heather Forbes, Bruce Schnicker, John Tamulonis
  • Publication number: 20120117865
    Abstract: A seed sampling system is provided having an automated seed loading assembly including a seed bin and being operable to singulate seeds from a plurality of seeds within the seed bin. The system also includes an automated seed sampling assembly operable to remove tissue samples from the singulated seeds, and an automated seed transport assembly operable to transfer the singulated seeds from the seed loading assembly to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly includes multiple retention members. Each of the retention members is movable relative to the seed loading assembly and to the seed sampling assembly. The seed transport assembly is operable to position one of the multiple retention members adjacent to the seed loading assembly for engaging one of the singulated seeds, while positioning another of the retention members adjacent to the seed sampling assembly for presenting another of the singulated seeds to the seed sampling assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Deppermann, Michael W. Petersen, Allen N. Ondes, David W. Finley, William M. Fischer, John M. Jensen, David Butruille, Stanton Dotson, Sam Eathington, Heather M. Forbes, Bruce Schnicker, John Tamulonis
  • Patent number: 8076548
    Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV596775. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV596775, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV596775 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV596775 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV596775.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Schnicker, Robert Getschman, Jason Bull
  • Publication number: 20110217700
    Abstract: The present invention provides for novel methods to facilitate germplasm improvement activities through the use of high throughput, nondestructive sampling of seeds. A method for analyzing a population of haploid seeds generally includes providing a population of seeds comprising haploid seeds, removing tissue samples from a plurality of the seeds in the population using an automated seed sampler system while preserving the germination viability of the sampled seeds, and analyzing the tissue samples for the presence or absence of one or more characteristics indicative of at least one genetic or chemical trait.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Deppermann, Michael W. Petersen, David Butruille, Stanton Dotson, Sam Eathington, Heather Forbes, Bruce Schnicker, John Tamulonis
  • Patent number: 7941969
    Abstract: The present invention provides for novel methods to facilitate germplasm improvement activities through the use of high throughput, nondestructive sampling of seeds. A method for analyzing a population of haploid seeds generally includes providing a population of seeds comprising haploid seeds, removing tissue samples from a plurality of the seeds in the population using an automated seed sampler system while preserving the germination viability of the sampled seeds, and analyzing the tissue samples for the presence or absence of one or more characteristics indicative of at least one genetic or chemical trait.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Deppermann, Michael W. Petersen, David Butruille, Stanton Dotson, Sam Eathington, Heather Forbes, Bruce Schnicker, John Tamulonis
  • Publication number: 20100263087
    Abstract: The present invention provides for novel methods to facilitate germplasm improvement activities through the use of high throughput, nondestructive sampling of seeds. A method for analyzing a population of haploid seeds generally includes providing a population of seeds comprising haploid seeds, removing tissue samples from a plurality of the seeds in the population using an automated seed sampler system while preserving the germination viability of the sampled seeds, and analyzing the tissue samples for the presence or absence of one or more characteristics indicative of at least one genetic or chemical trait.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Deppermann, Michael W. Petersen, David Butruille, Stanton Dotson, Sam Eathington, Heather Forbes, Bruce Schnicker, John Tamulonis
  • Patent number: 7703238
    Abstract: The present invention provides for novel methods to facilitate germplasm improvement activities through the use of high throughput, nondestructive sampling of seeds. In one embodiment, a high-throughput, non-destructive method for analyzing individual seeds in a population of seeds comprises removing a sample from a plurality of seeds in the population while preserving the germination viability of the seed and analyzing the sample for the presence or absence of one or more characteristics of at least one genetic or chemical trait.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Deppermann, Michael W. Petersen, David Butruille, Stanton Dotson, Sam Eathington, Heather Forbes, Bruce Schnicker, John Tamulonis
  • Patent number: 7663036
    Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH945822. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH945822, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH945822 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH945822.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventor: Bruce Schnicker
  • Publication number: 20090288196
    Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH945822. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH945822, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH945822 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH945822.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Inventor: Bruce Schnicker
  • Publication number: 20090276900
    Abstract: According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV596775. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV596775, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV596775 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV596775 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV596775.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventors: BRUCE SCHNICKER, Robert Getschman, Jason Bull