Patents by Inventor Justin Koch

Justin Koch 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: 20220124969
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring an agricultural implement. An example method includes, as an agricultural implement traverses a field, transmitting command signals to an implement actuator of the agricultural implement, whereby the implement actuator implements operating parameters associated with prescription data for the field. The method also includes receiving, at a monitor device, raw as-applied data from an implement sensor associated with the implement actuator, processing the raw as-applied data into processed as-applied data, and storing the processed as-applied data in a memory. The method further includes rendering a map representing the processed as-applied data, where the rendered map includes one or more application map images indicative of the processed as-applied data over an image of at least part of the field, and then displaying the rendered map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 28, 2022
    Inventors: Justin Koch, Doug Sauder, Tim Sauder, Jakob Stuber
  • Patent number: 11307074
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a yield sensor of a harvesting machine. The yield sensor generates a grain force signal as clean grain piles are thrown by the elevator flights against the sensor surface of the yield sensor. A grain height sensor is disposed to detect a height of the clean grain pile on each passing elevator flight. Each grain height signal is associated with a corresponding grain force signal by applying a time shift to account for a time delay between the time the grain height signal is generated and the time at which the impact signal is generated. The grain force signal is corrected by multiplying the grain force signal by a correction factor. The correction factor is the sum of the grain height signals divided by the sum of the grain force signals over a predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Michael Strnad, Justin Koch
  • Patent number: 11252857
    Abstract: In one aspect, a crop input applicator is provided. In one aspect, the applicator comprises a valve (e.g., voice coil valve) disposed to deposit liquid on or near a seed furrow and/or on or near a seed. In one aspect, the applicator includes one or more seed sensors disposed to detect passage of seeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: 360 YIELD CENTER, LLC
    Inventors: Tyler Ritland, Connor Hesterberg, Timothy Sauder, Brandon Tate, Jonathan T. Welte, Justin Koch, Phillip Baurer
  • Patent number: 11219155
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring an agricultural implement. The system includes a monitor device, a communication module and a display device. The monitor device is in electrical communication with a plurality of sensors monitoring the operation of agricultural implement. The implement sensors generate “as-applied” data. The as-applied data is processed and transmitted to a display device via a communication module. The display device renders maps representing the as-applied data. The generated maps may be accessed and displayed as map overlays on a display device with a common view characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: The Climate Corporation
    Inventors: Justin Koch, Doug Sauder, Tim Sauder, Jakob Stuber
  • Patent number: 11191219
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for capturing images of a field and performing agricultural data analysis of the images. In one embodiment, a computer system for monitoring field operations includes a database for storing agricultural image data including images of at least one stage of crop development that are captured with at least one of an apparatus and a remote sensor moving through a field. The computer includes at least one processing unit that is coupled to the database. The at least one processing unit is configured to execute instructions to analyze the captured images, to determine relevant images that indicate a change in at least one condition of the crop development, and to generate a localized view map layer for viewing the field at the at least one stage of crop development based on at least the relevant captured images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: THE CLIMATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Phil Baurer, Justin Koch, Doug Sauder, Brad Stoller
  • Publication number: 20210015024
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for agricultural data analysis. In one embodiment, a computer system for monitoring field operations includes a database for storing agricultural data including yield and field data and at least one processing unit that is coupled to the database. The at least one processing unit is configured to execute instructions to monitor field operations, to store agricultural data, to automatically determine whether at least one correlation between different variables or parameters of the agricultural data exceeds a threshold, and to perform analysis of the agricultural data to identify a category of man-made issues or other issues that have potentially caused the correlation when at least one correlation occurs between different variables or parameters of the agricultural data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: DOUG SAUDER, CORY MUHLBAUER, Justin KOCH
  • Publication number: 20210003743
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and method for monitoring weather conditions and controlling field operations based on the weather conditions. In one embodiment, a system for monitoring weather conditions for field operations includes a plurality of weather devices for monitoring weather conditions of fields with at least at one weather device in proximity to each field being monitored and at least one weather device having an electronics module for determining weather data including precipitation data. The system also includes an agricultural computer system having at least one processing unit for executing instructions for monitoring weather conditions. The at least one processing unit is configured to execute instructions to receive weather data from the plurality of weather devices for monitoring weather conditions of fields, to process the weather data, and to generate data including precipitation rate for monitoring weather conditions and operations of the plurality of weather devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Dale Koch, Todd Swanson, Justin Koch
  • Publication number: 20200352086
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Jason Stoller, Justin Koch, Brian McMahon, Derek Sauder, Ian Radtke, Michael Strnad, Dale Koch, Matthew Morgan, Tracy Leman, Paul Wildermuth
  • Publication number: 20200329630
    Abstract: A method of maintaining a desired seed population rate during periods of acceleration of the agricultural planter. In one method, if the horizontal acceleration of the planter is greater than a predefined upper threshold, the seed disc is driven at a rotational speed to maintain the desired seed population rate based on a highest stable ground speed. In another method, if the horizontal acceleration is less than a predefined lower acceleration threshold, the seed disc is driven at a rotational speed to maintain the desired seed population rate based on a lowest stable ground speed. In another method, if the horizontal acceleration is less than the predefined upper acceleration threshold and is greater than the predefined lower acceleration threshold, the seed disc is driven at a rotational speed to maintain the desired seed population rate based on an a preferred planter ground speed input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Phil Baurer, Keith Beyer, Ben Schlipf, Justin Koch
  • Patent number: 10791666
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for agricultural data analysis. In one embodiment, a computer system for monitoring field operations includes a database for storing agricultural data including yield and field data and at least one processing unit that is coupled to the database. The at least one processing unit is configured to execute instructions to monitor field operations, to store agricultural data, to automatically determine whether at least one correlation between different variables or parameters of the agricultural data exceeds a threshold, and to perform analysis of the agricultural data to identify a category of man-made issues or other issues that have potentially caused the correlation when at least one correlation occurs between different variables or parameters of the agricultural data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: THE CLIMATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Doug Sauder, Cory Muhlbauer, Justin Koch
  • Patent number: 10785905
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Jason Stoller, Justin Koch, Brian McMahon, Derek Sauder, Ian Radtke, Michael Strnad, Dale Koch, Matthew Morgan, Tracy Leman, Paul Wildermuth
  • Publication number: 20200296885
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Jason Stoller, Justin Koch, Brian McMahon, Derek Sauder, Ian Radtke, Michael Strnad, Dale Koch, Matthew Morgan, Tracy Leman, Paul Wildermuth
  • Patent number: 10768340
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and method for monitoring weather conditions and controlling field operations based on the weather conditions. In one embodiment, a system for monitoring weather conditions for field operations includes a plurality of weather devices for monitoring weather conditions of fields with at least at one weather device in proximity to each field being monitored and at least one weather device having an electronics module for determining weather data including precipitation data. The system also includes an agricultural computer system having at least one processing unit for executing instructions for monitoring weather conditions. The at least one processing unit is configured to execute instructions to receive weather data from the plurality of weather devices for monitoring weather conditions of fields, to process the weather data, and to generate data including precipitation rate for monitoring weather conditions and operations of the plurality of weather devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: THE CLIMATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dale Koch, Todd Swanson, Justin Koch
  • Publication number: 20200264025
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a yield sensor of a harvesting machine. The yield sensor generates a grain force signal as clean grain piles are thrown by the elevator flights against the sensor surface of the yield sensor. A grain height sensor is disposed to detect a height of the clean grain pile on each passing elevator flight. Each grain height signal is associated with a corresponding grain force signal by applying a time shift to account for a time delay between the time the grain height signal is generated and the time at which the impact signal is generated. The grain force signal is corrected by multiplying the grain force signal by a correction factor. The correction factor is the sum of the grain height signals divided by the sum of the grain force signals over a predetermined period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Strnad, Justin Koch
  • Patent number: 10736258
    Abstract: A seeding control system and method to improve yield by minimizing overplanting and underplanting during planting operations. As the planter traverses the field, a precise seed placement map is created by associating the time of each seed pulse generated by the seed sensors with the location of a GPS unit. Based on the generated seed placement map, a stop-planting boundary is defined by previously planted seed or other field boundary such that when a swath of the planter crosses over the stop-planting boundary the swath controllers disengage the drivers of the corresponding seed meters to prevent planting of seeds. The swath controllers cause the drivers to reengage allowing planting to resume when the affected swaths pass out of the stop planting boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Phil Baurer, Keith Beyer, Ben Schlipf, Justin Koch
  • Publication number: 20200224808
    Abstract: A delivery assembly for a crop input delivery system. The delivery system includes a boom adapted to be supported at a proximal end from a mobile vehicle, the mobile vehicle holding a supply of the crop input, the boom supporting a conduit having a proximal end in fluid communication with the supply of crop input. The delivery system further includes a first coupler and a second coupler. The first coupler is supported on a distal end of the boom and is coupled to the conduit. The second coupler is in fluid communication with a storage tank disposed on the implement, the second coupler configured to fluidly couple with the first coupler. A clamping assembly releasably couples the first and second couplers in fluid engagement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Nowell Moore, Justin Koch, Jesse Kaiser, Nathan Bidner
  • Patent number: 10681862
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for monitoring soil properties and applying fertilizer during a planting operation. Various sensors are disposed in ground engaging components for monitoring soil properties. The ground engaging components may have structure for opening a side trench in the sidewalls of the seed trench and may include liquid application conduits for injecting liquid into the sidewalls of the resulting side trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: THE CLIMATE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Stoller, Justin Koch, Brian McMahon, Derek Sauder, Ian Radtke, Michael Strnad, Dale Koch, Matthew Morgan, Tracy Leman, Paul Wildermuth
  • Patent number: 10677628
    Abstract: A method of determining a mass flow rate, volumetric flow and test weight of grain during harvesting operations. A sensor is disposed in the harvesting machine against which clean grain piles are thrown by the clean grain elevator flights. The sensor changes the direction of the clean grain pile such that each clean grain pile compresses into a substantially discrete, contiguous shape producing discrete grain forces resulting in discrete signal pulse magnitudes generated by the sensor. The mass flow rate is calculated by summing the signal magnitudes and dividing the summed magnitudes by the sampling period. The volumetric flow rate is calculated by multiplying the pulse width generated by the sensor by a multiplier which relates pulse width to volumetric flow. The test weight of the clean grain is calculated by dividing the mass flow rate by the volumetric flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Michael Strnad, Justin Koch
  • Publication number: 20200132658
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an integrated sensor system with modular sensors and wireless connectivity components for monitoring properties of field soil is described. In an embodiment, an integrated sensor system comprises one or more sensors that are configured to determine one or more measures of at least one property of soil. The integrated sensor system also includes one or more processing units that are configured to receive, from the sensors, the measures of at least one property of soil and calculate soil property data based on the measures. The system further includes a transmitter that is configured to receive the soil property data from the processing units, establish a communications connection with at least one computer device, and automatically transmit the soil property data to the at least one computer device via the communications connection. In an embodiment, the communications connection is a wireless connection established between the transmitter and a smart hub or a LoRA-enabled device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventors: Justin Koch, Michael H. Malone, Phil David Baurer, Nalini Gupta, Calden Nathaniel Carroll Stimpson, Andreas Markus Wenzel, Jordan Kusiek, Michael Gall, Jeffrey Lawrence Kohne, Eric L. Borrowman
  • Publication number: 20200126166
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for monitoring one or more agricultural implements during agricultural operations and for monitoring operator performance criterion. In some embodiment, the operator performance criterion may be reported to a monitor on the agricultural implement as well as a remote fleet monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Inventors: Justin Koch, William Frank, Doug Sauder