Patents by Inventor David Kuhnel

David Kuhnel 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: 9854726
    Abstract: An agricultural communication system is provided that enables sensor-to-sensor link communications of peripheral farming devices (planters, fertilizer or pesticide applicators, etc.) so as to enhance diagnostics for locating system faults and blockages. The system also provides a means to operate with single-faults present with real-time diagnostics to the operator. The point-to-point communications also facilitates simplified installation by automatically determining the sensor addressing based on the physical connection of the sensors. Since the sensor-to-sensor daisy chain bus system is self-configuring there is no dependency on the sensor manufacturing data or sequential installation procedure to define the sensor address as required in other prior art systems. A dual power supply from each end of the looped bus with independent switching provides operation in the presence of single-faults, and a diagnostic mode combined with sensor power supply voltage measurements provides fault location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: DICKEY-JOHN CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Kuhnel, Gregry C. Miller
  • Publication number: 20170006765
    Abstract: An agricultural communication system is provided that enables sensor-to-sensor link communications of peripheral farming devices (planters, fertilizer or pesticide applicators, etc.) so as to enhance diagnostics for locating system faults and blockages. The system also provides a means to operate with single-faults present with real-time diagnostics to the operator. The point-to-point communications also facilitates simplified installation by automatically determining the sensor addressing based on the physical connection of the sensors. Since the sensor-to-sensor daisy chain bus system is self-configuring there is no dependency on the sensor manufacturing data or sequential installation procedure to define the sensor address as required in other prior art systems. A dual power supply from each end of the looped bus with independent switching provides operation in the presence of single-faults, and a diagnostic mode combined with sensor power supply voltage measurements provides fault location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: David Kuhnel, Gregry C. Miller
  • Patent number: 9320192
    Abstract: There is disclosed a single and twin and multiple row planting system configured to be adapted to a planter including a motor drive seed dispenser that is controlled by a planting controller that deposits seeds with a predetermined seed spacing that accommodates differing individual planter row speeds and terrain. In particular, a distance-based seed tagging system and method are used to achieve the desired seed spacing and seed stagger configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: DICKEY-john Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald W. Steffen, David Kuhnel
  • Patent number: 9307694
    Abstract: An agricultural communication system is provided that enables sensor-to-sensor link communications of peripheral farming devices (planters, fertilizer or pesticide applicators, etc.) so as to enhance diagnostics for locating system faults and blockages. The system also provides a means to operate with single-faults present with real-time diagnostics to the operator. The point-to-point communications also facilitates simplified installation by automatically determining the sensor addressing based on the physical connection of the sensors. Since the sensor-to-sensor daisy chain bus system is self-configuring there is no dependency on the sensor manufacturing data or sequential installation procedure to define the sensor address as required in other prior art systems. A dual power supply from each end of the looped bus with independent switching provides operation in the presence of single-faults, and a diagnostic mode combined with sensor power supply voltage measurements provides fault location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: DICKEY-JOHN CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Kuhnel, Gregry C. Miller
  • Publication number: 20150134210
    Abstract: There is disclosed a single and twin and multiple row planting system configured to be adapted to a planter including a motor drive seed dispenser that is controlled by a planting controller that deposits seeds with a predetermined seed spacing that accommodates differing individual planter row speeds and terrain. In particular, a distance-based seed tagging system and method are used to achieve the desired seed spacing and seed stagger configurations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Ronald W. Steffen, David Kuhnel
  • Publication number: 20140343806
    Abstract: An agricultural communication system is provided that enables sensor-to-sensor link communications of peripheral farming devices (planters, fertilizer or pesticide applicators, etc.) so as to enhance diagnostics for locating system faults and blockages. The system also provides a means to operate with single-faults present with real-time diagnostics to the operator. The point-to-point communications also facilitates simplified installation by automatically determining the sensor addressing based on the physical connection of the sensors. Since the sensor-to-sensor daisy chain bus system is self-configuring there is no dependency on the sensor manufacturing data or sequential installation procedure to define the sensor address as required in other prior art systems. A dual power supply from each end of the looped bus with independent switching provides operation in the presence of single-faults, and a diagnostic mode combined with sensor power supply voltage measurements provides fault location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: David Kuhnel, Gregry C. Miller