Patents by Inventor Matthew J. Darr

Matthew J. Darr 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: 20230016410
    Abstract: A crop detection system and method of using the same includes a machine vision system mounted to a mobile vehicle. The machine vision system includes an information capturing device connected to a computer having a processor and memory. The memory includes stored crop and field information. Positioning members are mounted to an extend forward of the mobile structure. The information capturing device includes a camera, a sensor, a transceiver and/or a stereo sensor configuration and is positioned to sense the presence, size, location and orientation of characteristics of a crop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Patrick H. Clem, Scott A. Sporrer, William P. Kelly, Justin D. Woods, Matthew T. Sobotka, Cody J. Sobotka, Jeff S. Westbrook, Matthew J. Darr
  • Patent number: 11234366
    Abstract: A vegetation index characteristic is assigned to an image of vegetation at a worksite. The vegetation index characteristic is indicative of how a vegetation index value varies across the corresponding image. The image is selected for predictive map generation based upon the vegetation index characteristic. The predictive map is provided to a harvester control system which generates control signals that are applied to controllable subsystems of the harvester, based upon the predictive map and the location of the harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Matthew J. Darr, Federico Pardina-Malbran
  • Publication number: 20220000008
    Abstract: A mobile agricultural machine includes a row unit having a furrow opener mounted to the row unit and configured to engage a surface of ground over which the mobile agricultural machine travels to open a furrow in the ground. A furrow closer is mounted to the row unit behind the furrow opener relative to a direction of travel of the mobile agricultural machine and configured to engage the surface of the ground to close the furrow. A furrow sensor system is mounted to the row unit and configured to sense characteristics relative to the furrow opened by the furrow opener and generate a sensor signal indicative of the characteristics. The mobile agricultural machine can further include a control system configured to determine a furrow quality metric corresponding to the furrow sensed by the furrow sensor system based on the sensor signal and generate an action signal to control an action of the mobile agricultural machine based on the furrow quality metric.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Cary S. HUBNER, Matthew J. DARR, Justin BORGSTADT, John P. JUST
  • Publication number: 20210321566
    Abstract: A predictive map including predictive values of an agricultural characteristic of a worksite is obtained. An in-situ value of the agricultural characteristic is identified based on a sensor signal provided by an in-situ sensor. A corrected predictive map, including corrected predictive values of the agricultural characteristic, is generated based on the in-situ value of the agricultural characteristic. A controllable subsystem of a work machine is controlled based on the location of the work machine and the corrected predictive map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew J. DARR, Federico PARDINA-MALBRAN
  • Publication number: 20210274773
    Abstract: One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a center frame positioning method for an agricultural sprayer. The method comprises activating a center frame positioning system and collecting and processing position data related to a position of a suspended center frame in the center frame positioning system. The method further comprises evaluating the position data to determine whether any adjustment to the position of the suspended center frame is needed and controlling actuator force in at least one actuator to adjust the position of the suspended center frame based on the evaluating the position data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: September 9, 2021
    Applicants: Deere & Company, Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam D. Sporrer, Kyle R. Blaylock, Matthew J. Darr, Robert McNaull, Kevin L. Ehrecke
  • Publication number: 20200323134
    Abstract: A vegetation index characteristic is assigned to an image of vegetation at a worksite. The vegetation index characteristic is indicative of how a vegetation index value varies across the corresponding image. The image is selected for predictive map generation based upon the vegetation index characteristic. The predictive map is provided to a harvester control system which generates control signals that are applied to controllable subsystems of the harvester, based upon the predictive map and the location of the harvester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Matthew J. DARR, Federico PARDINA-MALBRAN
  • Patent number: 10371561
    Abstract: A system is provided that can include a 3D sensor. The 3D sensor can be configured to detect an area of an elevator on a harvester. The 3D sensor can further be configured to transmit a first signal associated with the area. The system can also include a processing device in communication with the 3D sensor. The system can further include a memory device in which instructions executable by the processing device are stored for causing the processing device to receive the first signal and determine a volume of a material on the elevator based on the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignees: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc., Deere & Company, Carnegie Mellon University
    Inventors: Matthew J. Darr, Daniel Joseph Corbett, Herman Herman, Carlos Vallespi-Gonzalez, Bryan E. Dugas, Hernan Badino
  • Patent number: 10188037
    Abstract: A method and apparatus estimate yield. A first signal is received that an aggregate yield measured by an aggregate yield sensor during a measurement interval. A second signal is received that indicates a plurality of geo-referenced regions across which a harvester has traveled prior to the measurement interval. The method and apparatus allocate, to each of at least two geo-referenced regions, an aggregate yield portion allocation based upon different travel times for crops to the aggregate yield sensor Visual-Infrared Vegetative Index data derived from sensing of plants in selected portions of the electromagnetic spectrum at a time other than harvest. The aggregate yield portion allocations are output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Aaron J. Bruns, Matthew J. Darr
  • Patent number: 10091943
    Abstract: A harvester generates a round module and positions the round module on a handler. The handler includes a cylinder having a base end and a rod end. A differential pressure across the cylinder is detected. A round module weight is generated based on the detected differential pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignees: Deere & Company, Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Cracraft, Jesse D. Haecker, Thomas M. Alferink, Jeffrey C. Askey, Matthew J. Darr
  • Publication number: 20180064032
    Abstract: A harvester generates a round module and positions the round module on a handler. The handler includes a cylinder having a base end and a rod end. A differential pressure across the cylinder is detected. A round module weight is generated based on the detected differential pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: MARK A. CRACRAFT, JESSE D. HAECKER, THOMAS M. ALFERINK, JEFFREY C. ASKEY, MATTHEW J. DARR
  • Patent number: 9826683
    Abstract: A harvester includes an auger tube having a first portion and a second portion adjacent the first portion, an auger flight within the first portion of the tube and terminating prior to the second portion to move grain to the second portion, a window along the second portion of the tube and a camera to capture images of grain within the second portion of the tube. A computing device determines grain mass flow based upon the captured images, a dimension of the second portion of the tube and a grain density factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignees: Deere & Company, Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron J. Bruns, Matthew J. Darr
  • Patent number: 9702753
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a mass flow sensor while harvesting grain includes sensing an accumulated mass of a portion of grain within the grain tank with a first sensor. A mass flow rate sensor is calibrated based at least in part on a signal of the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignees: Deere & Company, Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah K. Johnson, Aaron J. Bruns, James J. Phelan, Matthew J. Darr, Robert McNaull
  • Patent number: 9645006
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a mass flow sensor while harvesting grain includes sensing an accumulated mass of a portion of grain within the grain tank with a first sensor. A mass flow rate sensor is calibrated based at least in part on a signal of the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignees: Deere & Company, Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Phelan, Jeremiah K. Johnson, Aaron J. Bruns, Matthew J. Darr, Robert McNaull
  • Publication number: 20170118914
    Abstract: A harvester includes an auger tube having a first portion and a second portion adjacent the first portion, an auger flight within the first portion of the tube and terminating prior to the second portion to move grain to the second portion, a window along the second portion of the tube and a camera to capture images of grain within the second portion of the tube. A computing device determines grain mass flow based upon the captured images, a dimension of the second portion of the tube and a grain density factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Aaron J. Bruns, Matthew J. Darr
  • Publication number: 20170089742
    Abstract: A method and apparatus estimate yield. A first signal is received that an aggregate yield measured by an aggregate yield sensor during a measurement interval. A second signal is received that indicates a plurality of geo-referenced regions across which a harvester has traveled prior to the measurement interval. The method and apparatus allocate, to each of at least two geo-referenced regions, an aggregate yield portion allocation based upon different travel times for crops to the aggregate yield sensor Visual-Infrared Vegetative Index data derived from sensing of plants in selected portions of the electromagnetic spectrum at a time other than harvest. The aggregate yield portion allocations are output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Aaron J. Bruns, Matthew J. Darr
  • Patent number: 9578808
    Abstract: A crop yields sensing system comprises a first sensor of a first type associated with a portion of a harvester to output first signals facilitating determination of crop yield and a second sensor of a second type different than the first type to output second signals facilitating determination of crop yield for the portion of the harvester. The system further comprises a processing unit to receive the first signals and the second signals and determine crop yield for the portion of the harvester based on a combination of the first signals and the second signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignees: Deere & Company, Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels Dybro, Aaron J. Bruns, Matthew J. Darr, Robert McNaull
  • Patent number: 9392746
    Abstract: A system and method for transferring agricultural material from a transferring vehicle to a storage portion of a receiving vehicle, and detecting and filling void areas of the agricultural material is disclosed. A transferring vehicle having a spout transfers agricultural material to a storage portion of a receiving vehicle. An imaging device associated with the transferring vehicle and facing towards the storage portion of the receiving vehicle collects imaging data. An image processing module is operable to, based on the imaging data, estimate fill levels of agricultural material within the storage portion; identify an area of the storage portion as targeted to fill; and identify a first void within the targeted area. A controller in communication with the image processing module is configured to command the spout to a position to direct agricultural material to the first void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignees: DEERE & COMPANY, IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Darr, Robert McNaull, John Kruckeberg, Zachary T. Bonefas
  • Publication number: 20150377689
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a mass flow sensor while harvesting grain includes sensing an accumulated mass of a portion of grain within the grain tank with a first sensor. A mass flow rate sensor is calibrated based at least in part on a signal of the first sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: Jeremiah K. Johnson, Aaron J. Bruns, James J. Phelan, Matthew J. Darr, Robert McNaull
  • Publication number: 20150377690
    Abstract: A method of calibrating a mass flow sensor while harvesting grain includes sensing an accumulated mass of a portion of grain within the grain tank with a first sensor. A mass flow rate sensor is calibrated based at least in part on a signal of the first sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: James J. Phelan, Jeremiah K. Johnson, Aaron J. Bruns, Matthew J. Darr, Robert McNaull
  • Publication number: 20150327440
    Abstract: A crop yields sensing system comprises a first sensor of a first type associated with a portion of a harvester to output first signals facilitating determination of crop yield and a second sensor of a second type different than the first type to output second signals facilitating determination of crop yield for the portion of the harvester. The system further comprises a processing unit to receive the first signals and the second signals and determine crop yield for the portion of the harvester based on a combination of the first signals and the second signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Applicants: Deere and Company, Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels Dybro, Aaron J. Bruns, Matthew J. Darr, Robert McNaull