Patents by Inventor James H. Crain

James H. Crain 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: 11048938
    Abstract: A method for recognizing individual plants of a selected type growing in a field, wherein the method comprises capturing color NIR image data of an entire field having plants of a selected type growing therein utilizing an automated plant counting system and calculating a ratio value between each pixel of the color image data and the corresponding pixel of the NIR image data utilizing a plant recognition algorithm executed via a data processing system of the plant counting system. The method additionally comprises generating, via execution of the plant recognition algorithm, a false color image of the field based on the calculated ratios for each pixel, and identifying, via execution of the plant recognition algorithm, all plants of the selected type in the false color image based on a plant distinguishing characteristic uniquely rendered for each individual plant of the selected type in the false color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Hundley, James H. Crain
  • Publication number: 20190244022
    Abstract: A method for recognizing individual plants of a selected type growing in a field, wherein the method comprises capturing color NIR image data of an entire field having plants of a selected type growing therein utilizing an automated plant counting system and calculating a ratio value between each pixel of the color image data and the corresponding pixel of the NIR image data utilizing a plant recognition algorithm executed via a data processing system of the plant counting system. The method additionally comprises generating, via execution of the plant recognition algorithm, a false color image of the field based on the calculated ratios for each pixel, and identifying, via execution of the plant recognition algorithm, all plants of the selected type in the false color image based on a plant distinguishing characteristic uniquely rendered for each individual plant of the selected type in the false color image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher A. Hundley, James H. Crain
  • Patent number: 10303944
    Abstract: A method for recognizing individual plants of a selected type growing in a field, wherein the method comprises capturing color NIR image data of an entire field having plants of a selected type growing therein utilizing an automated plant counting system and calculating a ratio value between each pixel of the color image data and the corresponding pixel of the NIR image data utilizing a plant recognition algorithm executed via a data processing system of the plant counting system. The method additionally comprises generating, via execution of the plant recognition algorithm, a false color image of the field based on the calculated ratios for each pixel, and identifying, via execution of the plant recognition algorithm, all plants of the selected type in the false color image based on a plant distinguishing characteristic uniquely rendered for each individual plant of the selected type in the false color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Hundley, James H. Crain
  • Publication number: 20170061211
    Abstract: A method for recognizing individual plants of a selected type growing in a field, wherein the method comprises capturing color NIR image data of an entire field having plants of a selected type growing therein utilizing an automated plant counting system and calculating a ratio value between each pixel of the color image data and the corresponding pixel of the NIR image data utilizing a plant recognition algorithm executed via a data processing system of the plant counting system. The method additionally comprises generating, via execution of the plant recognition algorithm, a false color image of the field based on the calculated ratios for each pixel, and identifying, via execution of the plant recognition algorithm, all plants of the selected type in the false color image based on a plant distinguishing characteristic uniquely rendered for each individual plant of the selected type in the false color image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher A. Hundley, James H. Crain
  • Patent number: 9495597
    Abstract: A method for recognizing individual plants of a selected type growing in a field, wherein the method comprises capturing color NIR image data of an entire field having plants of a selected type growing therein utilizing an automated plant counting system and calculating a ratio value between each pixel of the color image data and the corresponding pixel of the NIR image data utilizing a plant recognition algorithm executed via a data processing system of the plant counting system. The method additionally comprises generating, via execution of the plant recognition algorithm, a false color image of the field based on the calculated ratios for each pixel, and identifying, via execution of the plant recognition algorithm, all plants of the selected type in the false color image based on a plant distinguishing characteristic uniquely rendered for each individual plant of the selected type in the false color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Christopher A. Hundley, James H. Crain
  • Publication number: 20140285673
    Abstract: A method for recognizing individual plants of a selected type growing in a field, wherein the method comprises capturing color NIR image data of an entire field having plants of a selected type growing therein utilizing an automated plant counting system and calculating a ratio value between each pixel of the color image data and the corresponding pixel of the NIR image data utilizing a plant recognition algorithm executed via a data processing system of the plant counting system. The method additionally comprises generating, via execution of the plant recognition algorithm, a false color image of the field based on the calculated ratios for each pixel, and identifying, via execution of the plant recognition algorithm, all plants of the selected type in the false color image based on a plant distinguishing characteristic uniquely rendered for each individual plant of the selected type in the false color image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher A. Hundley, James H. Crain
  • Publication number: 20110320229
    Abstract: Generating a crop prescription using a computer coupled to a memory area includes receiving yield data for a plurality of crop population trials, wherein each trial is varied by at least one of a hybrid line, a population density, and a row spacing. At least one statistical model is generated based on the yield data to obtain a plurality of coefficients, which are stored in the memory area. A predicted yield for at least one selected hybrid line is determined based on the coefficients and a selected row spacing, and a predicted profit is determined for the at least one selected hybrid line based on the coefficients and the selected row spacing. A crop prescription is presented that includes a recommended hybrid line and population density for use by a grower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Sammy J. Stehling, James H. Crain, Timothy D. Perez