Patents by Inventor Greg Stump

Greg Stump 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: 20040168358
    Abstract: Systems for locating an underground utility include means for generating detection data representative of an underground utility within a subsurface of the earth. Systems may also include means for generating geographic positioning data representative of a geographic position of the underground utility and means for storing the geographic positioning data and the detection data. Means are provided for associating the geographic positioning data with the detection data to generate location data representative of a location of the underground utility within the subsurface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Publication date: September 2, 2004
    Applicant: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Greg Stump
  • Patent number: 6701647
    Abstract: A portable structure supports a subsurface imaging system and is moveable over a given imaging site. At least a first antenna of a plurality of antennae is oriented in a manner differing from an orientation of a second antenna of the plurality of antennae, such as the first antenna being orientated substantially orthogonal to the second antenna. The antennae may operate in a bi-static mode. Transmitter and receiver circuitry, coupled to the antennae, respectively generates electromagnetic probe signals and receives electromagnetic return signals resulting from the probe signals. A processor processes the received electromagnetic return signals. A display may be provided as part of the subsurface imaging system and/or as part of a processing system separate from the subsurface imaging system which processes the received electromagnetic return signals. The processor can generate two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional detection data using the received electromagnetic return signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Greg Stump
  • Publication number: 20030074812
    Abstract: A portable structure supports a subsurface imaging system and is moveable over a given imaging site. At least a first antenna of a plurality of antennae is oriented in a manner differing from an orientation of a second antenna of the plurality of antennae, such as the first antenna being orientated substantially orthogonal to the second antenna. The antennae may operate in a bi-static mode. Transmitter and receiver circuitry, coupled to the antennae, respectively generates electromagnetic probe signals and receives electromagnetic return signals resulting from the probe signals. A processor processes the received electromagnetic return signals. A display may be provided as part of the subsurface imaging system and/or as part of a processing system separate from the subsurface imaging system which processes the received electromagnetic return signals. The processor can generate two-dimensional and/or three-dimensional detection data using the received electromagnetic return signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Greg Stump
  • Patent number: 6477795
    Abstract: An excavator data acquisition and control system and process for characterizing the subsurface geology of an excavation site, and for utilizing the acquired data to optimize the production performance of an excavator is disclosed. A geologic imaging system and a geographic positioning system are employed to initially survey a predetermined excavation site or route. A geologic characterization unit may also be employed to enhance the geologic imaging data. The acquired data are processed to provide detailed geologic and position data for the excavation site and utilized by a main control unit to optimize excavator production performance. In one embodiment, the main control unit accesses a geologic filter database, which includes geologic profile data for numerous types of geology, when analyzing unknown subsurface geology. Removing geological filter data content corresponding to known geology from the acquired geologic imaging data provides for immediate recognition of unknown and suspect subsurface objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Greg Stump
  • Patent number: 6195922
    Abstract: An excavator data acquisition and control system and process for characterizing the subsurface geology of an excavation site, and for utilizing the acquired data to optimize the production performance of an excavator. A geologic imaging system and a geographic positioning system are employed to initially survey a predetermined excavation site or route. A geologic characterization unit may also be employed to enhance the geologic imaging data. The acquired data are processed to provide detailed geologic and position data for the excavation site and utilized by a main control unit to optimize excavator production performance. In one embodiment, the main control unit accesses a geologic filter database, which includes geologic profile data for numerous types of geology, when analyzing unknown subsurface geology. Removing geological filter data content corresponding to known geology from the acquired geologic imaging data provides for immediate recognition of unknown and suspect subsurface objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Greg Stump
  • Patent number: 6119376
    Abstract: An excavator data acquisition and control system and process for characterizing the subsurface geology of an excavation site, and for utilizing the acquired data to optimize the production performance of an excavator is disclosed. A geologic imaging system and a geographic positioning system are employed to initially survey a predetermined excavation site or route. A geologic characterization unit may also be employed to enhance the geologic imaging data. The acquired data are processed to provide detailed geologic and position data for the excavation site and utilized by a main control unit to optimize excavator production performance. In one embodiment, the main control unit accesses a geologic filter database, which includes geologic profile data for numerous types of geology, when analyzing unknown subsurface geology. Removing geological filter data content corresponding to known geology from the acquired geologic imaging data provides for immediate recognition of unknown and suspect subsurface objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Greg Stump
  • Patent number: 5704142
    Abstract: A data acquisition system for acquiring geological information from a subsurface includes a geologic imaging system that is used to survey the subsurface of a site or route. A geologic characterization unit may also be employed to enhance the geologic imaging data obtained by the geologic imaging system. The acquired data are processed to provide detailed geologic information for the subsurface. In one embodiment, a memory stores geologic filter data including geologic profile data for numerous types of known geology. A processor, cooperating with the memory and data acquisition unit, uses the geologic filter data to remove content from the acquired geologic imaging data corresponding to known geology, thereby providing for immediate recognition of unknown and suspect subsurface characteristics. In another embodiment, the memory stores excavation difficulty data associated with known types of geology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Greg Stump
  • Patent number: 5659985
    Abstract: An information acquisition and control system and process acquires geological information from a subsurface and modifies the operation of an excavating machine using the acquired geological information. The system includes a data acquisition system to acquire geological information along an excavation route, a machine controller to control the operation of the excavating machine, and a main controller that produces estimated machine performance parameters for use by the machine controller using the acquired geological information and machine operation information. In another embodiment, geologic characteristics acquired for a first subsurface are associated with excavation performance information for the first subsurface to produce correlation data. Geologic characteristics acquired at a second subsurface are compared with the correlation data to produce estimated excavation performance information for the second subsurface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Greg Stump
  • Patent number: 5553407
    Abstract: An excavator data acquisition and control system and process for characterizing the subsurface geology of an excavation site, and for utilizing the acquired data to optimize the production performance of an excavator. A geologic imaging system and a geographic positioning system are employed to initially survey a predetermined excavation site or route. A geologic characterization unit may also be employed to enhance the geologic imaging data. The acquired data are processed to provide detailed geologic and position data for the excavation site and utilized by a main control unit to optimize excavator production performance. In one embodiment, the main control unit accesses a geologic filter database, which includes geologic profile data for numerous types of geology, when analyzing unknown subsurface geology. Removing geological filter data content corresponding to known geology from the acquired geologic imaging data provides for immediate recognition of unknown and suspect subsurface objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Greg Stump