Patents by Inventor Michael G. Kean
Michael G. Kean 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).
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Patent number: 11970839Abstract: An excavator includes a rotatable house and a bucket operably coupled to the house. An inertial measurement unit (IMU) is operably coupled to the excavator and is configured to provide at least one IMU signal indicative of rotation of the house. A backup camera is disposed to provide a video signal relative to an area behind the excavator. A controller is coupled to the IMU and operably coupled to the backup camera. The controller is configured to receive the at least one IMU signal from the IMU and to generate a position output based on the at least one IMU signal and the video signal from the backup camera.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2019Date of Patent: April 30, 2024Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: Michael G. Kean
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Patent number: 11966220Abstract: A system and method of selective input confirmation for automated loading by a work vehicle comprising a main frame and a work attachment movable with respect to the main frame for loading/unloading material in a loading area external to the work vehicle during a loading process having loading stages. Location inputs are detected for the loading area respective to the main frame and/or work attachment. First user inputs correspond to selected automation for respective loading stages, for which detection routines are executed with respect to parameters of the loading area based on the detected location inputs. If second user inputs are determined to be required with respect to certain parameters of the loading area, the second user inputs are received and movement of the main frame and/or work attachment are controlled for automating the corresponding loading stages based at least in part thereon.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Michael G. Kean, Giovanni A. Wuisan
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Patent number: 11946230Abstract: A system includes a work vehicle, user interface, and controller. The work vehicle includes a frame, boom, implement, perception sensor, and ground speed sensor. The perception sensor senses an approaching environment. The user interface includes controls and indicators. The controller is coupled to the controls, indicators, perception sensor, and ground speed sensor. The controller receives a command to move the work vehicle, drives the work vehicle, determines a distance to the container, determines the ground speed, determines a boom raising start distance from the container, receives a command to raise the boom, and activates one of the indicators if the user command to raise the boom occurs prior to the work vehicle reaching the boom raising start distance from the container.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2020Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Giovanni A. Wuisan, Scott J. Breiner, Kevin W. Campbell, Kurt A. Chipperfield, Michael G. Kean, Nathaniel M. Czarnecki
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Patent number: 11879231Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlled loading by a self-propelled work vehicle comprising ground engaging units supporting a main frame, and at least one work attachment moveable with respect to the main frame for loading and unloading material in a loading area external to the work vehicle. Using at least one detector, such as cameras and/or vehicle motion sensors, location inputs for the loading area are detected respective to the main frame and/or at least one work attachment. A trigger input is detected in association with transition of the work vehicle from a first work state to an automated second work state. In the second work state, at least movement of the main frame and/or the at least one work attachment is automatically controlled relative to a defined reference associated with the loading area. Such a system and method facilitates loading operations and accordingly higher productivity regardless of operator experience.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Michael G. Kean, Nathaniel M. Czarnecki, Ryan Stumvoll
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Patent number: 11873621Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling movement of an implement for a self-propelled work vehicle, said implement comprising one or more components coupled to a main frame of the work vehicle. A linkage joint in defined in association with at least one implement component, wherein sensors are respectively associated with opposing sides of the linkage joint. Output signals from each sensor comprise sense elements which are fused in an independent coordinate frame associated at least in part with the respective linkage joint, wherein the independent coordinate frame is independent of a global navigation frame for the work vehicle. At least one joint characteristic (e.g., joint angle) is tracked based on at least a portion of the sense elements from the received output signals for each of the opposing sides of the respective linkage joint. Movement of implement components may optionally be controlled in view of the tracked joint characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: Michael G. Kean
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Patent number: 11828041Abstract: A grader includes a chassis, a saddle linkage, and a motion measurement system. The saddle linkage is supported for movement relative to the chassis and includes a mount movably coupled to the chassis, first and second arms each movably coupled to the mount, and a crossbar movably coupled to each of the first and second arms. The mount has a lock pin aperture, each of the first and second arms has a locking hole, and the crossbar has a plurality of locking holes. The lock pin aperture may be aligned with one locking hole of the first arm, the second arm, or the crossbar to position the saddle linkage in use of the grader. The motion measurement system is coupled to the saddle linkage and configured to measure movement or position of one or more components of the grader in use thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Michael G. Kean, Michael D. Peat, David A. Veasy
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Patent number: 11821167Abstract: An excavator includes a rotatable house and a bucket operably coupled to the rotatable house. The excavator also includes one or more swing sensors configured to provide at least one rotation sensor signal indicative of rotation of the rotatable house and one or more controllers coupled to the sensor. The one or more controllers being configured to implement inertia determination logic that determines the inertia of a portion of the excavator and control signal generator logic that generates a control signal to control the excavator, based on the inertia of the portion of the excavator.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventor: Michael G Kean
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Patent number: 11814816Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile work machine on a worksite including receiving an indication of an object detected on the worksite, determining a location of the object relative to the mobile work machine, receiving an image of the worksite, correlating the determined location of the object to a portion of the image, and generating a control signal that controls a display device to display a representation of the image with a visual object indicator that represents the detected object on the portion of the image.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: November 14, 2023Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Michael G. Kean, Drew F. Harwell, Cale Darling
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Patent number: 11755028Abstract: A method of controlling a mobile work machine on a worksite includes receiving an indication of an object detected on the worksite, determining a location of the object relative to the mobile work machine, receiving an image of the worksite, correlating the determined location of the object to a portion of the image, evaluating the object by performing image processing of the portion of the image, and generating a control signal that controls the mobile work machine based on the evaluation.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: Michael G. Kean
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Patent number: 11702051Abstract: Vehicles and methods of operating vehicles are disclosed herein. A vehicle includes a main frame, a work implement, and a control system. The work implement is supported by the main frame and configured to carry a payload in use of the vehicle. The control system is supported by the main frame and configured to control operation of the vehicle. The control system includes a payload measurement system configured to provide payload input indicative of a variable payload carried by the work implement in use of the vehicle and a controller coupled to the payload measurement system.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2021Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: David Myers, Michael R. Gratton, Michael G. Kean, Todd F. Velde, Dustin T. Staade, Matthew Sbai, Ryan Detweiler, Grant R. Henn, Mary B. Wigginton, Aaron R. Kenkel
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Patent number: 11680382Abstract: A stability control system identifies an actionable condition, such as instability, in an off-road mobile machine, based upon an in-rubber tire sensor. A remedial action is identified, and a control signal is generated to control the mobile machine to take the remedial action.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Mark J. Cherney, Michael G. Kean
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Patent number: 11661722Abstract: A self-propelled work vehicle is provided with a control system enabling the use of gestures on a touch screen interface to provide a simple and intuitive way to manipulate displayed images, and/or automatically changing a region of interest of a surround view camera unit. Exemplary automatic manipulation may be implemented if a work vehicle is detected as performing a certain function, wherein surround view images can automatically change to a smaller sub-view which gives more focused visibility appropriate to that function. The distortion and simulated field of view of surround view images may also/otherwise be automatically manipulated based on a detected operation/function. The control system can also/otherwise dynamically modify surround view images in accordance with a detected work state, and/or based on outputs from an obstacle detection system. The control system can also/otherwise lock the sub-view to recognized objects of interest, such as trucks or trenches.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Rachel Bruflodt, Michael G. Kean, Keith J. Lensing, Giovanni A. Wuisan
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Patent number: 11647686Abstract: A self-propelled work vehicle is provided with systems and methods for communicating the presence of nearby objects to an operator. A horizontally rotatable machine frame supports a work implement which is further vertically rotatable. Various object sensors are each configured to generate object signals representative of detected objects in respective fields of vision. A controller determines a working area for the work vehicle, corresponding at least to a swing radius of the machine frame and optionally further to a swing radius of the work implement at a given orientation and/or angle of rotation. The controller determines positions of each detected object relative to the machine frame based on the object signals and known positions of the respective object sensors, and generates output signals based on the determined object positions with respect to the working area. The output signals may facilitate vehicle interventions, and/or visual alerts corresponding to bird's eye displays.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Michael G. Kean, Drew F. Harwell
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Patent number: 11640177Abstract: A sensor data processing and control system acquires data from multiple, disparate sources on a worksite. A plurality of different data pipes are generated for different action systems. The action systems receive data through a corresponding data pipe and generate action signals, based upon aggregated and fused data received through the data pipe.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Kenneth Barnes, Michael G. Kean, Reginald M. Bindl
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Publication number: 20230129397Abstract: A joint orientation system is provided for a work vehicle having a chassis and an implement coupled to the chassis at a joint. The joint orientation system includes a first IMU positioned on a first side of the work vehicle relative to the joint and configured to collect a first IMU acceleration and a first IMU angular velocity and a second IMU positioned on a second side relative to the joint and configured to collect a second acceleration and a second angular velocity of the implement. A controller is configured to receive the first and second IMU accelerations and the first and second IMU angular velocities; determine a joint orientation correction based on IMU accelerations and IMU angular velocities; modify an estimate of joint orientation with the joint orientation correction to generate a current joint orientation; and output the current joint orientation for actuation of the implement.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2021Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Todd F. Velde, Michael G. Kean
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Patent number: 11624169Abstract: An excavator includes a rotatable house and a bucket operably coupled to the rotatable house. The excavator also includes one or more swing sensors configured to provide at least one rotation sensor signal indicative of rotation of the rotatable house and one or more controllers coupled to the sensor. The one or more controllers being configured to implement inertia determination logic that determines the inertia of a portion of the excavator and control signal generator logic that generates a control signal to control the excavator, based on the inertia of the portion of the excavator.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventor: Michael G. Kean
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Publication number: 20230092265Abstract: A system and method are provided for operating a work machine comprising a laser receiver and an implement for working a terrain. Responsive to movement of the laser receiver, a laser reference is received at a plurality of positions relative to a transmitting laser source, wherein the laser reference corresponds in slope and direction at a defined elevation offset with respect to a target surface profile of the terrain being worked. A plane of the laser reference is determined from data points corresponding to the plurality of positions at which the laser reference is received, and movement of at least the implement is controlled with respect to at least the determined plane of the laser reference and the defined elevation offset.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2021Publication date: March 23, 2023Inventors: Michael G. Kean, Bryan J. Rausch
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Patent number: 11609562Abstract: A work machine has a backup camera that captures images of an area of a worksite behind the work machine. A controller identifies pre-defined markings in the worksite and localizes the pre-defined markings to the work machine, based on the images. A control signal generator generates control signals to automatically control the work machine based upon the localized markings.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2020Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: Deere & CompanyInventors: Michael G. Kean, Amy K. Jones, Brett S. Graham, Nathaniel M. Czarnecki, Gordon E. Miller, Rachel Bruflodt
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Publication number: 20230038266Abstract: A computer-implemented method of operating an implement for a work machine as disclosed herein includes a calibration mode and an operation mode. In the calibration mode: at least one of one or more components of the implement may be rotated about at least one linkage joint corresponding to the at least one of the one or more components into one or more poses; for the one or more poses, the implement may be revolved about a frame of the work machine; output signals may be received from at least one sensor associated with the at least one of the one or more components; and at least one characteristic for the at least one of the one or more components may be tracked. In the operation mode, movement of the at least one of the one or more components may be based in part on the tracked at least one characteristic.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2021Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventor: Michael G. Kean
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Patent number: 11530525Abstract: A work machine includes a chassis, a boom coupled to the chassis, and a work implement coupled to the boom and movable relative to the chassis. In system may further include dynamic payload weighing system configured to measure the payload weight on the work implement. The system may also include an electrohydraulic system controller in communication with the dynamic payload weighing system and an electrohydraulic control valve electrically coupled to the electrohydraulic system controller and moveable to a plurality of weight-specific valve positions based on the measured payload weight on the implement.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2019Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: DEERE & COMPANYInventors: Michael R. Gratton, David Myers, Aaron R. Kenkel, Michael G. Kean, Mary B. Wigginton, Grant R. Henn, Todd F. Velde, Joseph R. Keene, Dustin T. Staade, Kevin Campbell, Thomas L. Kennedy, Ryan Detweiler, Matthew Sbai