Patents by Inventor Dan Bjertness

Dan Bjertness 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: 20250359503
    Abstract: A method of operating a crop sprayer includes determining a duty cycle of a pulse width modulation valve, measuring a flowrate of a fluid through the pulse width modulation valve to determine a measured flowrate, and applying a correction factor to the measured flowrate to determine a corrected flowrate based on the duty cycle. A crop sprayer includes a chassis, a product tank containing a fluid, a boom comprising at least one boom arm configured to laterally extend from the chassis, and a nozzle assembly operably coupled to the at least one boom arm and in fluid communication with the product tank. The nozzle assembly includes a sensor housing, a flow meter, and a pulse width modulation valve. The crop sprayer includes a sensor monitoring system configured to determine a corrected flowrate through the nozzle assembly. Related control systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2025
    Publication date: November 27, 2025
    Inventors: John Michael Zietz, Dan Bjertness, Nathan Axvig, Lucas Vanhoever
  • Publication number: 20250359504
    Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a chassis, a product tank containing a fluid, and a fluid distribution system in fluid communication with the product tank. The fluid distribution system includes at least one fluid outlet line configured to deliver a fluid to an agricultural field, at least one pulse width modulation valve in fluid communication with the at least one fluid outlet line, and at least one pressure sensor upstream of the at least one pulse width modulation valve, the at least one pressure sensor configured to measure a fluid pressure proximate the at least one pulse width modulation valve. The agricultural machine further includes a monitoring system configured to determine at least one of a duty cycle or a modulation frequency of the at least one pulse width modulation valve based on the fluid pressure. Related methods and monitoring systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2025
    Publication date: November 27, 2025
    Inventors: Michael Ehresmann, Dan Bjertness, John Michael Zietz, Dan Cederberg, Lucas Vanhoever
  • Patent number: 12369520
    Abstract: A monitoring system for an agricultural sprayer includes spray nozzles, spray monitoring sensors, electromagnetic sensors, and control circuitry in electronic communication with the electromagnetic sensors. Each spray nozzle is configured to spray a fluid. Each spray monitoring sensor is disposed adjacent to a corresponding one of the spray nozzles and is configured to measure a spray parameter of that spray nozzle. The electromagnetic sensors are configured to generate signals when the electromagnetic sensors sense a magnetic field. Each electromagnetic sensor is disposed adjacent to and each of is representative of one of the spray monitoring sensors. The control circuitry is configured to receive the signals from the electromagnetic sensors in a received signal order and assign physical locations to the spray monitoring sensors based on the sequential communication order and a predetermined sequential order. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Dan Wood, Ross Eickhoff, Dan Bjertness
  • Patent number: 12196586
    Abstract: An optical flow rate sensor system for a sprayer includes an optical sensor, an optical sensor window within a display housing, a projectile within a drum housing, and vortexing geometry upstream of the projectile. The optical sensor is located adjacent to the optical sensor window. The projectile includes a first section having a first optical absorption value and a second section having a second optical absorption value that is lower than the first optical absorption value. The projectile is configured to revolve around an axis of the drum housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Garrett Maurer, Justin Jee, Dan Bjertness, Ross Eickhoff
  • Patent number: 12188797
    Abstract: A flow rate sensor system for an agricultural sprayer includes a drum housing and a central passage housing defining a flow path, a Hall-effect sensor, a Hall-effect sensor window in a display housing, a magnetic carrier within the drum housing, and a magnet positioned in the magnetic carrier. The flow path has a first portion generally parallel to an axis, and a second vortex portion around the axis. The Hall-effect sensor faces the axis. The Hall-effect sensor window is between the Hall-effect sensor and the axis. The magnetic carrier is configured to rotate about the axis. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Garrett Maurer, Justin Jee, Dan Bjertness, Ross Eickhoff
  • Publication number: 20230028107
    Abstract: A monitoring system for an agricultural sprayer includes spray nozzles, spray monitoring sensors, electromagnetic sensors, and control circuitry in electronic communication with the electromagnetic sensors. Each spray nozzle is configured to spray a fluid. Each spray monitoring sensor is disposed adjacent to a corresponding one of the spray nozzles and is configured to measure a spray parameter of that spray nozzle. The electromagnetic sensors are configured to generate signals when the electromagnetic sensors sense a magnetic field. Each electromagnetic sensor is disposed adjacent to and each of is representative of one of the spray monitoring sensors. The control circuitry is configured to receive the signals from the electromagnetic sensors in a received signal order and assign physical locations to the spray monitoring sensors based on the sequential communication order and a predetermined sequential order. Related methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Dan Wood, Ross Eickhoff, Dan Bjertness
  • Publication number: 20230025158
    Abstract: An optical flow rate sensor system for a sprayer includes an optical sensor, an optical sensor window within a display housing, a projectile within a drum housing, and vortexing geometry upstream of the projectile. The optical sensor is located adjacent to the optical sensor window. The projectile includes a first section having a first optical absorption value and a second section having a second optical absorption value that is lower than the first optical absorption value. The projectile is configured to revolve around an axis of the drum housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Garrett Maurer, Justin Jee, Dan Bjertness, Ross Eickhoff
  • Publication number: 20230023497
    Abstract: A flow rate sensor system for an agricultural sprayer includes a drum housing and a central passage housing defining a flow path, a Hall-effect sensor, a Hall-effect sensor window in a display housing, a magnetic carrier within the drum housing, and a magnet positioned in the magnetic carrier. The flow path has a first portion generally parallel to an axis, and a second vortex portion around the axis. The Hall-effect sensor faces the axis. The Hall-effect sensor window is between the Hall-effect sensor and the axis. The magnetic carrier is configured to rotate about the axis. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Garrett Maurer, Justin Jee, Dan Bjertness, Ross Eickhoff
  • Patent number: D978694
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Kory Weckman, Dan Bjertness, Ross Eickhoff
  • Patent number: D988883
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Kory Weckman, Dan Bjertness, Ross Eickhoff
  • Patent number: D1066085
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Dan Bjertness, Michael Ehresmann, Kory Weckman
  • Patent number: D1073502
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Kory Weckman, Dan Bjertness, Andrew Kolling