Patents by Inventor Kurt Maynard

Kurt Maynard 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: 9296594
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tower crane load locator and sway indicator is disclosed and includes: a plurality of RFID tags at different locations on or around the tower crane; at least two RFID readers at different locations on the tower crane; a navigation satellite system (NSS) position receiver; and a load information interface. The RFID readers comprising a range determiner to provide range measurements between each of the RFID readers and each of the plurality of RFID tags. The sway determiner is coupled with a hook block of the tower crane. The NSS position receiver is coupled with the tower crane. The load information interface to combine information from range measurements, the sway determiner and the NSS position receiver to generate location and sway information of the load with respect to the tower crane and provide the location and sway information in a user accessible format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: John F. Cameron, Kurt Maynard, Curt Conquest, Gregory C. Best
  • Patent number: 9041595
    Abstract: A tower crane load location determiner is disclosed. One example includes a load location measurer to provide load location measurement information for a load coupled with a tower crane. In addition, a load position determiner utilizes the load location measurement information to determine a location of the load. A user accessible load location provider provides the determined location of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: John F. Cameron, Kurt Maynard
  • Patent number: 9002508
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tower crane load locator is disclosed. One example includes at least four RFID components to provide RFID range measurements between the at least four RFID components. In addition, a load position determiner utilizes the RFID range measurements to determine a location of the load. A load information generator provides the location of the load information suitable for subsequent access by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: John F. Cameron, Kurt Maynard, Curt Conquest, Gregory C. Best
  • Publication number: 20140222193
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tower crane load locator is disclosed. One example includes at least four RFID components to provide RFID range measurements between the at least four RFID components. In addition, a load position determiner utilizes the RFID range measurements to determine a location of the load. A load information generator provides the location of the load information suitable for subsequent access by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: John F. Cameron, Kurt Maynard, Curt Conquest, Gregory C. Best
  • Publication number: 20140218233
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tower crane load locator and sway indicator is disclosed and includes: a plurality of RFID tags at different locations on or around the tower crane; at least two RFID readers at different locations on the tower crane; a navigation satellite system (NSS) position receiver; and a load information interface. The RFID readers comprising a range determiner to provide range measurements between each of the RFID readers and each of the plurality of RFID tags. The sway determiner is coupled with a hook block of the tower crane. The NSS position receiver is coupled with the tower crane. The load information interface to combine information from range measurements, the sway determiner and the NSS position receiver to generate location and sway information of the load with respect to the tower crane and provide the location and sway information in a user accessible format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Inventors: John F. Cameron, Kurt Maynard, Curt Conquest, Gregory C. Best
  • Patent number: 8768609
    Abstract: A sensor unit system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the sensor unit comprises a sensor unit comprising a first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver which is configured for determining a position of the sensor unit in three dimensions. The sensor unit system further comprises a display unit comprising a second GNSS receiver. The display unit is communicatively coupled with the sensor unit via a wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) connection. The display unit and the sensor unit are physically separate entities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kurt Maynard, John Cameron
  • Patent number: 8738175
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tower crane load locator is disclosed. One example includes at least four RFID components to provide RFID range measurements between the at least four RFID components. In addition, a load position determiner utilizes the RFID range measurements to determine a location of the load. A load information generator provides the location of the load information suitable for subsequent access by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: John F. Cameron, Kurt Maynard, Curt Conquest, Gregory C. Best
  • Patent number: 8618949
    Abstract: A lifting device sensor unit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the sensor unit comprises a housing configured to removably couple about a load line of a lifting device. A first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver is coupled with the housing and is configured for determining a sensor unit position in three dimensions. A load monitor is coupled with the housing and is configured for monitoring a load coupled with the load line, including monitoring a load position and a load orientation of the load. A wireless transceiver is coupled with the housing and is configured for wirelessly providing information including the load position, the load orientation, and the sensor unit position, to a display unit located apart from the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Kurt Maynard, John Cameron
  • Publication number: 20130154869
    Abstract: A tower crane load location determiner is disclosed. One example includes a load location measurer to provide load location measurement information for a load coupled with a tower crane. In addition, a load position determiner utilizes the load location measurement information to determine a location of the load. A user accessible load location provider provides the determined location of the load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: John F. Cameron, Kurt Maynard
  • Publication number: 20130146556
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tower crane load locator is disclosed. One example includes at least four RFID components to provide RFID range measurements between the at least four RFID components. In addition, a load position determiner utilizes the RFID range measurements to determine a location of the load. A load information generator provides the location of the load information suitable for subsequent access by a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: John F. Cameron, Kurt Maynard, Curt Conquest, Gregory C. Best
  • Patent number: 8255358
    Abstract: A system and method for providing asset management information to a customer is disclosed. The method receives information from a first reporting source about an asset. In addition, information from a second reporting source about an asset is also received. A database is then populated with the information from the first reporting source and the information from the second reporting source such that information from the first reporting source and information from the second reporting source can be collected from the database. An asset information report is then provided to a customer application from the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Paul Ballew, Kurt Maynard
  • Patent number: 8004397
    Abstract: A mountable reporting source comprising a controller coupled with an interrogating component configured for automatically receiving an identifier which is unique to an asset. A position determining component coupled with the controller is configured for determining a geographic location of the mountable reporting source. A merge asset information enabling communications component is coupled with the controller and is configured for transmitting a message conveying the identifier, the geographic location and a first portion of information about the asset. The mountable reporting source is associated with the asset based on the characteristics of the asset and the objectives of the construction project. An asset management system is enabled to merge the first portion of information about the asset reported by the mountable reporting source with a second portion of information about the asset reported by another reporting source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Mark Forrest, Kurt Maynard
  • Publication number: 20110191025
    Abstract: A sensor unit system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the sensor unit comprises a sensor unit comprising a first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver which is configured for determining a position of the sensor unit in three dimensions. The sensor unit system further comprises a display unit comprising a second GNSS receiver. The display unit is communicatively coupled with the sensor unit via a wireless Personal Area Network (PAN) connection. The display unit and the sensor unit are physically separate entities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Kurt MAYNARD, John CAMERON
  • Publication number: 20110187548
    Abstract: A lifting device sensor unit is disclosed. In one embodiment, the sensor unit comprises a housing configured to removably couple about a load line of a lifting device. A first global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver is coupled with the housing and is configured for determining a sensor unit position in three dimensions. A load monitor is coupled with the housing and is configured for monitoring a load coupled with the load line, including monitoring a load position and a load orientation of the load. A wireless transceiver is coupled with the housing and is configured for wirelessly providing information including the load position, the load orientation, and the sensor unit position, to a display unit located apart from the sensor unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Kurt Maynard, John Cameron
  • Publication number: 20080086391
    Abstract: A system and method for impromptu asset tracking. According to one embodiment, information from a first reporting source about a first asset is received. Asset identification information about a second asset is received from the first reporting source. The first reporting source is coupled with the first asset. The asset identification information comprises identification data gathered by the first reporting source on an impromptu basis when the first reporting source is within a transmission range of a proximity communication device coupled with the second asset. A database is populated with the asset identification information such that the asset identification information can be collected from the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Kurt Maynard, Robert William Petrie
  • Publication number: 20080084333
    Abstract: A mountable reporting source comprising a controller coupled with an interrogating component configured for automatically receiving an identifier which is unique to an asset. A position determining component coupled with the controller is configured for determining a geographic location of the mountable reporting source. A merge asset information enabling communications component is coupled with the controller and is configured for transmitting a message conveying the identifier, the geographic location and a first portion of information about the asset. The mountable reporting source is associated with the asset based on the characteristics of the asset and the objectives of the construction project. An asset management system is enabled to merge the first portion of information about the asset reported by the mountable reporting source with a second portion of information about the asset reported by another reporting source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Mark Forrest, Kurt Maynard