Patents by Inventor NICHOLAS C. BALTZ

NICHOLAS C. BALTZ 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: 20240138310
    Abstract: A cross member on a receiving vehicle which is coupled to a following vehicle, is located relative to a leading vehicle. The location of the cross member is tracked during an unloading operation so the leading vehicle avoids the cross member when unloading material into the receiving vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Sara C. O'CONNOR, Kellen E. O'CONNOR, Jeremy J. FAUST, Ryan R. WHITE, Nicholas C. BALTZ
  • Publication number: 20240138313
    Abstract: A hitch point where a receiving vehicle is coupled to a following vehicle is located relative to a leading vehicle. The trajectory or route of the following vehicle is detected and a dynamic model estimates a location of a receiving area in the receiving vehicle relative to the leading vehicle based on the trajectory or route of the following vehicle and the location of the hitch point relative to the leading vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Sara C. O'CONNOR, Kellen E. O'CONNOR, Jeremy J. FAUST, Ryan R. WHITE, Nicholas C. BALTZ
  • Publication number: 20240142980
    Abstract: Annotations for a map of a worksite are generated by a controller. The controller receives georeferenced crop state data and georeferenced agricultural characteristic data, collectively referred to as agronomy data. The georeferenced crop state data and georeferenced agricultural characteristic data are analyzed by the controller to determine relationships therebetween. The controller generates the annotations based on the determined relationships. The controller generates explanations, which are type of annotation, based on determined relationships between current agronomy data and historical agronomy data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Baltz, Adam J. Royal, Duane M. Bomleny, Kent S. Brown, Noel W. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20240064283
    Abstract: A camera calibration tool for calibrating one or more cameras of a mobile machine comprising calibration targets and a net. Each of the calibration targets comprises identifiable indicia. The net is adapted to be coupled to the mobile machine. The net has one or more configurations that define predetermined target locations, with location markers, in a predetermined layout. The calibration targets are positioned respectively at the predetermined target locations in the predetermined layout to calibrate the one or more cameras by use of the calibration targets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Baltz, Ashraf Qadir, Adam J. Royal
  • Patent number: 11870973
    Abstract: A camera calibration tool for calibrating one or more cameras of a mobile machine comprising calibration targets and a net. Each of the calibration targets comprises identifiable indicia. The net is adapted to be coupled to the mobile machine. The net has one or more configurations that define predetermined target locations, with location markers, in a predetermined layout. The calibration targets are positioned respectively at the predetermined target locations in the predetermined layout to calibrate the one or more cameras by use of the calibration targets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Baltz, Ashraf Qadir, Adam J. Royal
  • Publication number: 20230360404
    Abstract: A perception system coupled to a harvesting head that includes row units, and slip clutches configured to couple the row units to a drive shaft and automatically disengage a jammed row unit. The perception system includes vision sensors collecting image data in front of the head, and a processor that processes the image data, and notifies the operator when it detects excessive crop buildup in front of one of the row units based on the image data. The perception processor can activate a notification device, and it can indicate which row unit has the detected crop buildup. The vision sensors can be positioned to have separate or overlapping fields of view covering the row units. A method of collecting image data in front of the row units, processing the image data to detect excessive crop buildup, and notifying the operator of detected buildups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas C. Baltz, Chad R. Borkgren, Ashraf Qadir, Logan K. Trueblood, Duane M. Bomleny
  • Publication number: 20230031978
    Abstract: A camera calibration tool for calibrating one or more cameras of a mobile machine comprising calibration targets and a net. Each of the calibration targets comprises identifiable indicia. The net is adapted to be coupled to the mobile machine. The net has one or more configurations that define predetermined target locations, with location markers, in a predetermined layout. The calibration targets are positioned respectively at the predetermined target locations in the predetermined layout to calibrate the one or more cameras by use of the calibration targets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: NICHOLAS C. BALTZ, ASHRAF QADIR, ADAM J. ROYAL