Patents by Inventor James W. Henry

James W. Henry 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: 12276088
    Abstract: An agricultural system for detecting failure of a ground-engaging tool of an agricultural implement includes a ground-engaging tool supported on an agricultural implement, with the ground-engaging tool being configured to engage a field during an agricultural operation of the agricultural implement within the field. The system further includes a field profile sensor configured to generate data indicative of a profile of an aft portion of the field located rearward of the ground-engaging tool relative to a direction of travel of the agricultural implement. Additionally, the system includes a computing system configured to monitor the profile of the aft portion of the field during the agricultural operation based at least in part on the data generated by the field profile sensor and determine that the ground-engaging tool failed based at least in part on the profile of the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignees: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd., CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: James W. Henry, Brittany Schroeder
  • Publication number: 20250008861
    Abstract: An agricultural system includes an implement including a frame assembly. A leveler is operably coupled with the frame assembly. A leveler actuator is operably coupled with the leveler and the frame assembly. The leveler actuator is configured to alter a position of the leveler relative to the frame assembly. A computing system is communicatively coupled to the leveler actuator and configured to receive soil data indicative of a soil type, receive levelness data indicative of a measured levelness of a field, receive a defined soil levelness, and determine a defined leveler actuator position based at least partially on the soil type, the measured levelness of the field, and the defined soil levelness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: David Long, James W. Henry
  • Publication number: 20250008862
    Abstract: A system for monitoring field conditions includes a sensor arm pivotably coupled proximate its first end to an agricultural implement and proximate its second end to a sensor configured to generate data indicative of a field condition. Moreover, the system includes an actuator configured to actuate the sensor arm relative to the agricultural implement such that a field of view of the sensor is directed towards a first lateral region of the aft portion of the field when the sensor arm is in a first position and a second lateral region of the aft portion of the field when the sensor arm is in a second position. Additionally, the system includes a computing system configured to control an operation of the actuator to actuate the sensor arm, receive the data generated by the sensor, and determine the field condition of at least the first and second lateral regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2023
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: David Long, James W. Henry
  • Patent number: 12185650
    Abstract: A system for controlling an operation of an agricultural implement includes a ground-penetrating tool configured to penetrate soil within a field to a penetration depth. Furthermore, the system includes a sensor configured to capture data indicative of a compaction layer within the field as the implement travels across the field. Additionally, the system includes a computing system configured to generate a representation of a portion of the soil within the field based on the data captured by the sensor. Moreover, the computing system is configured to determine a position of a bottom surface of the compaction layer based on the generated representation. In addition, the computing system is configured to control the penetration depth of the ground-penetrating tool based on the determined position of the bottom surface of the compaction layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: James W. Henry
  • Publication number: 20240401309
    Abstract: A system for detecting disk blade damage on an agricultural implement includes a disk blade configured to rotate relative to soil within a field across which the agricultural implement is traveling. Moreover, the system includes an imaging device configured to generate image data depicting an aft portion of the field located rearward of the disk blade relative to a direction of travel of the agricultural implement, with the aft portion of the field including a lane of the field to be worked by the disk blade. In addition, a computing system is configured to analyze the image data generated by the imaging device to identify when vegetation is present within the lane of the field. Furthermore, the computing system is configured to determine that the disk blade is damaged when the vegetation is present within the lane of the field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Brittany Schroeder, Christopher Barrick, James W. Henry
  • Publication number: 20240301665
    Abstract: An agricultural system for detecting failure of a ground-engaging tool of an agricultural implement includes a ground-engaging tool supported on an agricultural implement, with the ground-engaging tool being configured to engage a field during an agricultural operation of the agricultural implement within the field. The system further includes a field profile sensor configured to generate data indicative of a profile of an aft portion of the field located rearward of the ground-engaging tool relative to a direction of travel of the agricultural implement. Additionally, the system includes a computing system configured to monitor the profile of the aft portion of the field during the agricultural operation based at least in part on the data generated by the field profile sensor and determine that the ground-engaging tool failed based at least in part on the profile of the field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Inventors: James W. Henry, Brittany Schroeder
  • Patent number: 12084005
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for acquiring data associated with an agricultural field. The system includes an agricultural machine and a data acquisition (DAQ) module supported relative to the agricultural machine. The DAQ module includes a module housing and one or more sensing devices housed within the module housing. The one or more sensing device are configured to generate data associated with a condition of a field as the agricultural machine travels across the field. In addition, the system includes an air circulation system provided in operative association with the DAQ module that is configured to direct an airflow into an interior of the module housing for circulation therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: James W. Henry, Joshua Knoblauch, Mark Ridley
  • Patent number: 12069976
    Abstract: A method for determining residue coverage of a field includes receiving, with a computing system, a captured image depicting an imaged portion of a field from one or more imaging devices. Furthermore, the method includes determining, with the computing system, an image gradient orientation at each of a plurality of pixels within the captured image. Additionally, the method includes determining, with the computing system, a plurality of image gradient orientation densities associated with the captured image based on the determined image gradient orientations. Moreover, the method includes determining, with the computing system, a residue coverage parameter associated with the imaged portion of the field based on the determined plurality of image gradient orientation densities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: James W. Henry, Christopher Nicholas Warwick, David John Powell
  • Publication number: 20240260498
    Abstract: An agricultural system for monitoring field conditions of a field after an agricultural operation in the field includes an agricultural implement having a frame and ground-engaging tools supported on the frame, with the ground-engaging tools being configured to engage the field during the agricultural operation. The agricultural system further includes a sensor supported on the agricultural implement, where the sensor has a field of view directed towards an aft portion of the field disposed rearward of the agricultural implement relative to a direction of travel, with the sensor being configured to generate data indicative of a field condition associated with the aft portion of the field. Additionally, the agricultural system includes an actuator configured to selectively move the sensor relative to the agricultural implement such that the field of view of the sensor moves along the direction of travel relative to an aft end of the agricultural implement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2023
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventor: James W. Henry
  • Publication number: 20240196771
    Abstract: An agricultural implement includes a frame and a basket assembly supported on the frame such that the basket assembly is configured to roll relative to a surface of a field as the agricultural implement travels across the field, with the basket assembly including a plurality of bars spaced circumferentially about an outer perimeter of the basket assembly. Furthermore, the agricultural implement includes a sensor configured to generate data indicative of a width of a bar of the plurality of the bars. Additionally, the agricultural implement includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the sensor. In this respect, the computing system is configured to determine the width of the bar based on the data generated by the sensor. Moreover, the computing system is configured to determine when the basket assembly is plugged based on the determined width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventor: James W. Henry
  • Patent number: 12007222
    Abstract: A system for determining field surface conditions may include a frame member and a ground engaging tool coupled thereto. The ground engaging tool may be configured to engage soil within a field as an agricultural implement is moved across the field. The system may further include a vision sensor having a field of view directed towards a portion of a surface of the field and being configured to capture vision-based data indicative of a field surface condition of the field. The system may also include a secondary sensor coupled to the ground engaging tool and configured to capture secondary data indicative of the field surface condition. Additionally, the system may include a controller configured to determine an initial surface condition as a function of the vision-based data and to adjust the initial surface condition based at least in part on the secondary data received from the secondary sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: James W. Henry
  • Publication number: 20240183835
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for monitoring the condition of discs of agricultural implements includes a plurality of discs configured to be supported relative to an agricultural implement, and a field profile sensor configured to generate data indicative of a field profile of an aft portion of the field located rearward of the plurality of discs relative to a direction of travel of the agricultural implement. In addition, the system includes a controller communicatively coupled to the field profile sensor. The controller is configured to monitor the data received from the field profile sensor and determine an operating condition of one or more of the plurality of discs based at least in part on the field profile of the aft portion of the field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventor: James W. Henry
  • Patent number: 11980112
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for controlling an operation of a tillage implement being towed across a field by a work vehicle may include a tillage tool configured to engage soil and crop material present within a field as the tillage implement is being towed across the field by the work vehicle. Furthermore, the system may include a controller configured to receive an input associated with crop material present within the field and determine a location of a crop row relative to the tillage tool based on the received input. Additionally, the controller may be configured to control a direction of travel of the tillage implement based on the determined location of the crop row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: James W. Henry, Nicholas Nahuel Andrejuk, Joshua David Harmon
  • Patent number: 11930730
    Abstract: A method for determining soil clod size within a field includes receiving an image depicting an imaged portion of the field. Furthermore, the method includes identifying a soil clod present within the imaged portion of the field. Additionally, the method includes determining a maximum height of the identified soil clod above a soil surface of the field. Moreover, the method includes determining a maximum length of the identified soil clod. In addition, the method includes determining a radius of a sphere based on the determined maximum height and the determined maximum length, with the sphere including a first portion approximating a portion of the identified soil clod positioned above the soil surface and a second portion approximating a portion of the identified soil clod positioned below the soil surface. Furthermore, the method includes determining a size of the identified soil clod based on the determined radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: James W. Henry
  • Patent number: 11864484
    Abstract: In one aspect, a system for determining soil clod size or soil surface residue coverage of a field may include an agricultural implement configured to perform a non-soil-working operation on the field as the agricultural implement is towed across the field. Furthermore, the system may include a non-contact-based sensor installed on the agricultural implement, with the non-contact-based sensor configured to capture data indicative of at least one of a soil clod size of the field or a soil surface residue coverage of the field. Additionally, a controller of the disclosed system may be configured to receive data from the non-contact-based sensor as the agricultural implement is moved across the field. Moreover, the controller may be configured to determine at least one of the soil clod size of the field or the soil surface residue coverage of the field based on the received data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Trevor Stanhope, James W. Henry
  • Patent number: 11852621
    Abstract: A system for monitoring tilled floor conditions within a field includes a sensor frame and a tilled floor sensing assembly supported on the sensor frame. The assembly, in turn, includes a plurality of pins configured to be extended relative to the sensor frame such that each pin penetrates a top surface of the field. Furthermore, the assembly includes a plurality of position sensors, with each position sensor configured to capture data indicative of a position of a given pin of the plurality of pins relative to the sensor frame. Moreover, the assembly includes a plurality of force sensors, with each force sensor configured to capture data indicative of a force being applied to a given pin of the plurality of pins. Additionally, the data captured by the plurality of position sensors and the data captured by the plurality of force sensors is indicative of a tilled floor profile of the field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicholas Nahuel Andrejuk, James W. Henry
  • Patent number: 11849662
    Abstract: A system for identifying soil layers within a field includes a non-contact-based sensor configured to capture data indicative of a subsurface soil layer within the field. Furthermore, the system includes a computing system communicatively coupled to the non-contact-based sensor. In this respect, the computing system is configured to determine a thickness of the subsurface soil layer in a vertical direction based on the data captured by the non-contact-based sensor. Moreover, the computing system is configured to identify the subsurface soil layer as one of a compaction layer or a B-horizon based on the determined thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventor: James W. Henry
  • Patent number: 11854218
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method for detecting terrain variations within a field includes receiving one or more images depicting an imaged portion of an agricultural field. The method also includes classifying a portion of the plurality of pixels that are associated with soil within the imaged portion of the agricultural field as soil pixels with each soil pixel being associated with a respective pixel height. Additionally, the method includes identifying each soil pixel having a pixel height that exceeds a height threshold as a candidate ridge pixel and each soil pixel having a pixel height that is less than a depth threshold as a candidate valley pixel. The method further includes determining whether a ridge or a valley is present within the imaged portion of the agricultural field based at least in part on the candidate ridge pixels or the candidate valley pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
    Inventors: James W. Henry, Christopher Nicholas Warwick
  • Patent number: 11810285
    Abstract: A method for determining soil clod parameters within a field includes receiving, with a computing system, three-dimensional image data depicting an imaged portion of the field. The three-dimensional image data, in turn, includes a first two-dimensional image depicting the imaged portion of the field relative to a first position and a second two-dimensional image depicting the imaged portion of the field relative to a second position, with the first position being spaced apart from the second position. Furthermore, the method includes identifying, with the computing system, a soil clod depicted with the received three-dimensional image data. Additionally, the method includes comparing, with the computing system, the first and second two-dimensional images to identify a shadow surrounding at least a portion of the identified soil clod. Moreover, the method includes determining, with the computing system, a soil clod parameter associated with the identified soil clod based on the identified shadow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: CNH INDUSTRIAL CANADA, LTD.
    Inventor: James W. Henry
  • Publication number: 20230324314
    Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a computing system configured to store a machine-learned model and perform operations. The operations include receiving data from a transceiver-based sensor configured to emit an output signal directed toward soil within a portion of a field and receive an echo signal indicative of a backscattering of the output signal by the soil. Additionally, the operations include extracting a set of features associated with the echo signal from the received data. Moreover, the operations include inputting the set of features into the machine-learned model and receiving a preliminary soil moisture value for the set of features as an output of the machine-learned model. In addition, the operations include determining a final soil moisture value for the portion of the soil within the field based on the preliminary soil moisture value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Brittany Schroeder, Trevor Stanhope, James W. Henry, Michael Pregesbauer