Patents by Inventor Curtis R. Hammer
Curtis R. Hammer 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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Publication number: 20240122111Abstract: In-situ stalk diameter sensor data is obtained by an agricultural harvesting system. Predictive stalk diameter data that provides predictive stalk diameter values at different locations in a worksite is obtained by the agricultural harvesting system. The agricultural harvesting system determines a confidence level of the stalk diameter sensor data and a confidence level of the predictive stalk diameter data. The agricultural harvesting system selects one of the stalk diameter sensor data or the predictive stalk diameter data to use for control based on the confidence level of the stalk diameter sensor data and the confidence level of the predictive stalk diameter data. The selected data can be used to control a mobile agricultural harvesting machine, such as controlling one or more deck plates of the mobile agricultural harvesting machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: Troy M. HEIMS, Nathan E. KREHBIEL, Duane M. BOMLENY, Curtis R. HAMMER, Nathan R. VANDIKE, Meghna Chandrasekaran
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Publication number: 20240122119Abstract: An agricultural system comprises a stalk-diameter sensing system associated with a row unit and configured to sense diameter-related data of respective stalks and generate signals based on the diameter-related data. Deck plates associated with the row unit are spaced apart to define a deck plate spacing. A deck plate positioning system is coupled to at least one of the deck plates to adjust the deck plate spacing. A control system is configured to communicate with the stalk-diameter sensing system and the deck plate positioning system. The control system is configured to receive the signals, determine a statistical representative stalk diameter for a sample of stalks based on the diameter-related data, determine a target deck plate spacing based on the statistical representative stalk diameter, and output a control signal to command the deck plate positioning system to set the deck plate spacing based on the target deck plate spacing.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Inventors: TROY M. HEIMS, NATHAN E. KREHBIEL, DUANE M. BOMLENY, CURTIS R. HAMMER, NATHAN R. VANDIKE, MEGHNA CHANDRASEKARAN
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Patent number: 11957072Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes obtaining a weed map of a field including a crop, the weed map representing weed plant locations on the field, identifying, based at least in part on the weed map, weed seed locations that represent presence of weed seeds on the field, and generating a control signal for a pre-emergence weed mitigation operation based on the weed seed locations.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2020Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Sebastian Blank, Curtis R. Hammer, Noel W. Anderson, Dohn W. Pfeiffer, Gurmukh H. Advani
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Patent number: 11747536Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for emitting light from a header reel are disclosed. More particularly, systems, methods, and apparatuses for emitting light at one or more locations along a bat tube of a header reel are disclosed. In some instances, a light source may be provided on the bat tube between adjacent reel fingers coupled to the bat tube. In some instances, the light source may be provided at an aperture formed in the bat tube. The emitted light provides for illumination and operator visualization during, for example, agricultural operations performed at night or during low ambient light conditions.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Heather G. Laugen, Curtis R. Hammer
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Patent number: 11748824Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for identifying traversability of a site. Site conditions of a target site affecting traversability can be identified using real-time or historical data. Soil conditions, weather conditions, moisture levels, and other factors may be used to determine whether a target site is traversable by a target piece of equipment. The traversability information can be identified for a target area, that comprises a target site, and a traversability map can be generated for the site. Target equipment specifications can be used to determine whether the target equipment may effectively traverse the target site based on the traversability map. Further, a traversability path may be generated for a piece of target equipment based on the traversability map, site conditions, and the equipment specifications. Additionally, site management may be enhanced using the site condition data to plan traversability of target equipment at the target site.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2020Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Sebastian Blank, Dohn W. Pfeiffer, Curtis R. Hammer
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Publication number: 20230225238Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine includes crop processing functionality configured to engage crop in a field, perform a crop processing operation on the crop, and move the processed crop to a harvested crop repository, and a control system configured to identify a weed seed area indicating presence of weed seeds, and generate a control signal associated with a pre-emergence weed seed treatment operation based on the identified weed seed area.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2023Publication date: July 20, 2023Inventors: Sebastian BLANK, Curtis R. HAMMER, Noel W. ANDERSON, Dohn W. PFEIFFER, Gurmukh H. ADVANI
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Patent number: 11641800Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine includes crop processing functionality configured to engage crop in a field, perform a crop processing operation on the crop, and move the processed crop to a harvested crop repository, and a control system configured to identify a weed seed area indicating presence of weed seeds, and generate a control signal associated with a pre-emergence weed seed treatment operation based on the identified weed seed area.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Sebastian Blank, Curtis R. Hammer, Noel W. Anderson, Dohn W. Pfeiffer, Gurmukh H. Advani
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Publication number: 20220377981Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for emitting light from a header reel are disclosed. More particularly, systems, methods, and apparatuses for emitting light from one or more apertures formed in a reel finger are disclosed. The reel fingers included on a reel may include a cavity through which light is transmitted. The emitted light provides for illumination and operator visualization during, for example, agricultural operations performed at night or during low ambient light conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2021Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: HEATHER G. LAUGEN, CURTIS R. HAMMER
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Publication number: 20220377982Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for emitting light from a header reel are disclosed. More particularly, systems, methods, and apparatuses for selectively emitting light from different portions of a reel header are disclosed. In some implementations, light is selectively emitted from different parts of a reel header based on a position of the reel header. For example, light may be emitted based on a position of the portion of the reel header as the reel header is rotated. The emitted light provides for illumination and operator visualization during, for example, agricultural operations performed at night or during low ambient light conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2021Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: HEATHER G. LAUGEN, CURTIS R. HAMMER
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Publication number: 20220381967Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses for emitting light from a header reel are disclosed. More particularly, systems, methods, and apparatuses for emitting light at one or more locations along a bat tube of a header reel are disclosed. In some instances, a light source may be provided on the bat tube between adjacent reel fingers coupled to the bat tube. In some instances, the light source may be provided at an aperture formed in the bat tube. The emitted light provides for illumination and operator visualization during, for example, agricultural operations performed at night or during low ambient light conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2021Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: HEATHER G. LAUGEN, CURTIS R. HAMMER
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Publication number: 20220377978Abstract: An agricultural system includes a corn head with an end divider and an actuator that moves the end divider between a raised position and a retracted position. An actuator controller receives an input and automatically controls the actuator to move the end divider to a position based upon the input.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2021Publication date: December 1, 2022Inventors: Heather G. LAUGEN, Nathan E. KREHBIEL, Steve A. COON, Troy M. HEIMS, Curtis R. HAMMER
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Publication number: 20210243950Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine includes crop processing functionality configured to engage crop in a field, perform a crop processing operation on the crop, and move the processed crop to a harvested crop repository, and a control system configured to identify a weed seed area indicating presence of weed seeds, and generate a control signal associated with a pre-emergence weed seed treatment operation based on the identified weed seed area.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2020Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Sebastian Blank, Curtis R. Hammer, Noel W. Anderson, Dohn W. Pfeiffer, Gurmukh H. Advani
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Publication number: 20210243938Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes obtaining a weed map of a field including a crop, the weed map representing weed plant locations on the field, identifying, based at least in part on the weed map, weed seed locations that represent presence of weed seeds on the field, and generating a control signal for a pre-emergence weed mitigation operation based on the weed seed locations.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2020Publication date: August 12, 2021Inventors: Sebastian BLANK, Curtis R. HAMMER, Noel W. ANDERSON, Dohn W. PFEIFFER, Gurmukh H. ADVANI
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Publication number: 20210241390Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a identifying traversability of a site. Site conditions of a target site affecting traversability can be identified using real-time or historical data. Soil conditions, weather conditions, moisture levels, and other factors may be used to determine whether a target site is traversable by a target piece of equipment. The traversability information can be identified for a target area, that comprises a target site, and a traversability map can be generated for the site. Target equipment specifications can be used to determine whether the target equipment may effectively traverse the target site based on the traversability map. Further, a traversability path may be generated for a piece of target equipment based on the traversability map, site conditions, and the equipment specifications. Additionally, site management may be enhanced using the site condition data to plan traversability of target equipment at the target site.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2020Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: Deere & CompanyInventors: Sebastian Blank, Dohn W. Pfeiffer, Curtis R. Hammer
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Patent number: 10729067Abstract: A biomass impact sensor for sensing impacts of biomass material may include a pressure sensitive film having a first sensing face and a second opposite face, a first layer of a first material composition directly abutting the first sensing face having a first stiffness, and a second layer of a second material composition directly abutting the second opposite face. The first layer and the second layer may be joined along opposite edges of the pressure sensitive film to envelope the sensing material layer on the opposite edges.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Curtis R. Hammer, Jonathan J. Nelson
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Publication number: 20200120870Abstract: A biomass impact sensor for sensing impacts of biomass material may include a pressure sensitive film having a first sensing face and a second opposite face, a first layer of a first material composition directly abutting the first sensing face having a first stiffness, and a second layer of a second material composition directly abutting the second opposite face. The first layer and the second layer may be joined along opposite edges of the pressure sensitive film to envelope the sensing material layer on the opposite edges.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2018Publication date: April 23, 2020Inventors: Curtis R. Hammer, Jonathan J. Neslon
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Patent number: 10624256Abstract: A method of operating a planter where plot characteristics are input into a controller that is associated with a planter. A distance measuring device associated with the controller senses ground speed and distance traveled and transmits the sensed information to the controller. The controller then automatically adjusts the rotational speed of a seed plate of a row planter mounted to the planter based upon the sensed information to achieve the input plot characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2013Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: Gary W. Clem, Inc.Inventors: Brian W. Carr, Andrew G. Jenkins, Curtis R. Hammer, Scott A. Sporrer, Nick Merfeld, Marcus D. Woster
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Patent number: 10485229Abstract: An example embodiment includes an agricultural sprayer having a boom that supports many sections of fluid distribution pipes and an even larger number of spray nozzles. Various activities related to the spray nozzles are enabled or disabled using infinity switches or slide configurations that are mounted an operator seat armrests or on remote controllers.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Curtis R. Hammer, Patrick J. Fisher, Richard A. Humpal, Dolly Y. Wu
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Publication number: 20160338335Abstract: An example embodiment includes an agricultural sprayer having a boom that supports many sections of fluid distribution pipes and an even larger number of spray nozzles. Various activities related to the spray nozzles are enabled or disabled using infinity switches or slide configurations that are mounted an operator seat armrests or on remote controllers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2015Publication date: November 24, 2016Inventors: Curtis R. Hammer, Patrick J. Fisher, Richard A. Humpal, Dolly Y. Wu
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Publication number: 20140121910Abstract: A method of operating a planter where plot characteristics are input into a controller that is associated with a planter. A distance measuring device associated with the controller senses ground speed and distance traveled and transmits the sensed information to the controller. The controller then automatically adjusts the rotational speed of a seed plate of a row planter mounted to the planter based upon the sensed information to achieve the input plot characteristics.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2013Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: GARY W. CLEM, INC.Inventors: Brian W. Carr, Andrew G. Jenkins, Curtis R. Hammer, Scott A. Sporrer, Nick Merfeld, Marcus D. Woster