Patents by Inventor Lee A. Schmidt

Lee A. Schmidt 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: 10194575
    Abstract: A guidance system for a mobile machine includes a location determining device for determining a location of the machine, a user interface and a controller. The controller is configured to receive location information from the location determining device, detect a path followed by the machine using the location information, present a plurality of preliminary waypoints to a user via the user interface, receive waypoint information from the user via the user interface indicating one or more selected waypoints corresponding to one or more of the preliminary waypoints, and automatically guide the machine using the one or more selected waypoints. The controller may automatically generate the plurality of preliminary waypoints as the machine traverses the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Lee A. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20170071122
    Abstract: A guidance system for a mobile machine includes a location determining device for determining a location of the machine, a user interface and a controller. The controller is configured to receive location information from the location determining device, detect a path followed by the machine using the location information and, as the machine travels the path, receive waypoint information from a user via the user interface indicating a plurality of initial waypoints associated with the path. The controller is further configured to present the initial waypoints to the user, receive selected waypoint information from the user via the user interface indicating one or more of the initial waypoints as selected waypoints, and automatically guide the machine using the one or more selected waypoints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventor: Lee A. SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20160274587
    Abstract: A guidance system for a mobile machine includes a location determining device for determining a location of the machine, a user interface and a controller. The controller is configured to receive location information from the location determining device, detect a path followed by the machine using the location information, present a plurality of preliminary waypoints to a user via the user interface, receive waypoint information from the user via the user interface indicating one or more selected waypoints corresponding to one or more of the preliminary waypoints, and automatically guide the machine using the one or more selected waypoints. The controller may automatically generate the plurality of preliminary waypoints as the machine traverses the path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventor: Lee A. SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 9303998
    Abstract: A guidance system for a mobile machine includes a location determining device for determining a location of the machine, a user interface and a controller. The controller is configured to receive location information from the location determining device, detect a path followed by the machine using the location information and, as the machine travels the path, receive waypoint information from a user via the user interface indicating a plurality of initial waypoints associated with the path. The controller is further configured to present the initial waypoints to the user, receive selected waypoint information from the user via the user interface indicating one or more of the initial waypoints as selected waypoints, and automatically guide the machine using the one or more selected waypoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Lee A. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9269200
    Abstract: A real-time performance evaluation system can compare machine performance to a performance standard. A Fleet Operations Subsystem (FOS) can determine a machine status such as Parked, Idle, Working, Travel or Turning. The FOS can be configured to determine machine performance by determining the amount of time spent in each status. The performance can be compared to predetermined performance standards, for example a minimum number of hours spent working, or a maximum number of hours spent idle. A performance score can be generated based on the comparison. A report of the performance evaluation can be provided. A report can be in the form of a performance marker graphic on a visual display. The performance marker can represent the performance score. The performance marker can be in the form of an alarm symbol for a poorly performing machine. The system provides an operator or manager the opportunity to improve machine performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Lee A. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9066464
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle tracking system provides a moving geofence about the location of a vehicle. When the moving geofence contacts a point of interest, such as another moving geofence, an alert is issued. The particular characteristics of the moving geofence may be generated in accordance with a predetermined scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Lee A. Schmidt, Lorenz Riegger
  • Publication number: 20150142308
    Abstract: A guidance system for a mobile machine includes a location determining device for determining a location of the machine, a user interface and a controller. The controller is configured to receive location information from the location determining device, detect a path followed by the machine using the location information and, as the machine travels the path, receive waypoint information from a user via the user interface indicating a plurality of initial waypoints associated with the path. The controller is further configured to present the initial waypoints to the user, receive selected waypoint information from the user via the user interface indicating one or more of the initial waypoints as selected waypoints, and automatically guide the machine using the one or more selected waypoints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventor: Lee A. SCHMIDT
  • Publication number: 20120259537
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle tracking system provides a moving geofence about the location of a vehicle. When the moving geofence contacts a point of interest, such as another moving geofence, an alert is issued. The particular characteristics of the moving geofence may be generated in accordance with a predetermined scheme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Lee A. Schmidt, Lorenz Riegger
  • Publication number: 20120253744
    Abstract: A real-time performance evaluation system can compare machine performance to a performance standard. A Fleet Operations Subsystem (FOS) can determine a machine status such as Parked, Idle, Working, Travel or Turning. The FOS can be configured to determine machine performance by determining the amount of time spent in each status. The performance can be compared to predetermined performance standards, for example a minimum number of hours spent working, or a maximum number of hours spent idle. A performance score can be generated based on the comparison. A report of the performance evaluation can be provided. A report can be in the form of a performance marker graphic on a visual display. The performance marker can represent the performance score. The performance marker can be in the form of an alarm symbol for a poorly performing machine. The system provides an operator or manager the opportunity to improve machine performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Lee A. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20120253709
    Abstract: An automatic machine status detection system uses apparatus data from one or more sensors or machine components to determine a status for an agricultural machine. An automatic data unit onboard a machine can receive apparatus data and communicate it to a central management system. In an exemplary embodiment, a status determination module can receive the apparatus data, use the to make one or more state determinations, and based on the results of those determinations, determine an activity status for a machine. Engine state, motion state, heading state, implement state and PTO state can be used to determine that a machine has a status identified as “Off”, “Idle”, “Traveling”, “Turning” or “Working”. Machine status information can be provided to a user to improve operations efficiency and facilitate billing and administrative services.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lee A. Schmidt, Lorenz Riegger
  • Publication number: 20120253743
    Abstract: A real-time performance determination system is configured to determine machine performance over a predetermined time interval. An automatic data unit onboard a machine can provide apparatus data to a Fleet Operations System (FOS) of a Fleet Management System. Apparatus data can be used to determine a machine status such as Parked, Idle, Working, Travel or Turning. A performance determination module of the FOS can determine the amount of time a machine spent in a particular status. A performance report can include a graphical indicator in a visual display that can convey the percentage of time spent in each status. A report can include performance determinations for a plurality of machines, each represented by performance indicator that allows easy comparison of machines. A performance report can be provided to a fleet manager for fleet management purposes such as scheduling and allocation of resources, as well as performing machine maintenance and adjustments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Lee A. Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20110160994
    Abstract: A field boundary may be provided. First, a plurality of location data points may be received. Next, it may be determined whether each of the plurality of location data points is associated with at least one work area. Then a boundary line of the at least one work area may be identified from at least a subset of the plurality of location data points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: LEE A. SCHMIDT, LORENZ RIEGGER, CHRISTOPHER BURTON O'NEIL
  • Publication number: 20110153143
    Abstract: A system alerts a user that a vehicle will arrive at a point of interest within a predetermined time interval and includes a vehicle-mounted assembly and a remote assembly. The vehicle-mounted assembly includes a location-determining device connected to the vehicle for determining the location of the vehicle, and a first communication device connected to the location-determining device for sending data comprising the location of the vehicle over a communications network. The remote assembly includes a second communication device for receiving the data from the first communication device over a communications network, and a computing device in communication with the second communication device for computing a time-geofence, and for alerting the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Christopher Burton O'Neil, Lee A. Schmidt