Patents by Inventor Norbert Fritz

Norbert Fritz 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: 11365792
    Abstract: A power split transmission structure has at least three interfaces to direct driving power from a drive to at least one output in order to supply the driving power to connected consumers. It comprises at least two variator paths which each comprise a summation gearbox communicating with an electric or hydraulic machine via a mechanical and a non-mechanical path in order to modify torque, speed or both of the driving power. A control device regulates the summation gearbox of each of the variator paths. A power electronics system or hydraulic control device is connected to the electric or hydraulic machine of each of the variator paths. The transmission structure directs the driving power via the variator paths such that the electric or hydraulic machine of each variator path is operable in a generator or motor mode in order to compensate for a power shortfall or a power oversupply at at least one outlet of the transmission structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Norbert Fritz, Rainer Gugel, David Mueller
  • Publication number: 20220118988
    Abstract: A method for checking a fault status of a mobile utility unit by a maintenance station includes generating via control electronics status data representing a fault status of the mobile utility unit, storing the status data as fault data in a fault memory via the control electronics, classifying via a data processing unit the fault data under different fault classes to identify an applicable fault class, and initiating via the data processing unit a procedural measure for the mobile utility unit according to the identified fault class.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: NORBERT FRITZ, MARTIN KREMMER
  • Publication number: 20220122383
    Abstract: A method for supplying a mobile usage unit with a consumable delivered by a movable delivery connection of a maintenance station to a supply inlet of the mobile usage unit includes identifying via a sensor system a supply inlet of the mobile usage unit, the sensor system providing data to a control unit, fluidly connecting via the control unit the delivery connection to the identified supply inlet, delivering via the control unit the consumable to the supply inlet, and after the delivery of the consumable has terminated, fluidly separating via the control unit the delivery connection from the supply inlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: NORBERT FRITZ, MARTIN KREMMER
  • Publication number: 20220118953
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a mobile utility unit includes selecting a surface area of the mobile utility unit for cleaning via a data processing unit. The method includes cleaning the surface area of the mobile utility unit using a cleaning jet. The method includes during the cleaning step, generating current state data which represent a current cleaning state of the surface area via a sensor system connected to the data processing unit. The method includes comparing the current state data with provided comparative data via the data processing unit. The method includes selecting a different surface area of the mobile utility unit for cleaning via the data processing unit depending on a result of the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: NORBERT FRITZ, MARTIN KREMMER
  • Publication number: 20220068055
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a current condition of a mobile usage unit by a servicing station or a current condition of a servicing station for servicing a mobile usage unit includes generating a current condition data representing the current condition via a sensor system, comparing the current condition data to reference data representative of a reference condition via a data processing unit, and depending on a result of the comparison, outputting information related to the current condition to an acoustic or optical display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: NORBERT FRITZ, MARTIN KREMMER
  • Publication number: 20210394777
    Abstract: An agricultural tractor with a system for identifying downstream road users includes a control unit in communication with a user interface, and a sensor having a detection range which runs in a vicinity of a ground and which is in a direction of an attachment connected to the agricultural tractor. The sensor is configured to identify a vehicle located in the detection range or which enters therein, and then generates a corresponding message signal which is supplied to the control unit. The control unit activates the user interface based on the message signal for the output of a driver message. A free region visible from the agricultural tractor by the sensor is formed between a road surface and a lower contour of the attachment facing the road surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: STEFAN BROCKE, NORBERT FRITZ
  • Patent number: 11163292
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to apparatuses, methods and computer programs for controlling a machine. The apparatus is suitable for a mobile communication device for providing a sensor input signal to a machine control entity to control a machine. The apparatus comprises one or more sensor modules for providing first user input sensor data and second user input sensor data. The apparatus further comprises a control module configured to determine the sensor input signal based on the first user input sensor data and the second user input sensor data. The control module is further configured to provide the sensor input signal for sensor data processing to the machine control entity to control at least one of a force transmission interface of the machine for an external component and an engine of the machine via an interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Rasmus Adler, Daniel Schneider, Patrik Feth, Martin Kremmer, Benjamin Neermann, Stefan Volz, Norbert Fritz, Hans Juergen Nissen, Florian Reinmuth
  • Publication number: 20210329844
    Abstract: A method for assisting a compaction-appropriate distribution of harvested material in a flat silo includes providing a silo vehicle having a control unit, ascertaining a dry-substance density to be achieved via the control unit, determining a maximally producible compaction pressure via the control unit, ascertaining a maximally permissible layer thickness via the control unit for the implementation of a distribution-and-compaction process, determining a layer thickness currently being applied during the implementation of the distribution-and-compaction process in a location-specific manner via a GPS receiver, comparing the maximally permissible layer thickness and the layer thickness currently being applied in the location-specific manner via the control unit in order to ascertain a target layer thickness, and driving a regulating device of a distribution tool provided on the silo vehicle to assimilate the layer thickness currently being applied to the target layer thickness via the control unit in an automa
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Inventors: STEFAN BROCKE, NORBERT FRITZ
  • Publication number: 20210321571
    Abstract: A method for compacting silage in a silo includes controlling a compacting vehicle via an electronic control device, passing over the silage deposited in the silo with the compacting vehicle, exerting a compacting action along a compacting path via the compacting vehicle, and varying the compacting action of the compacting vehicle in a location-dependent manner along the compacting path by the action of the control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Publication date: October 21, 2021
    Inventors: STEFAN BROCKE, NORBERT FRITZ
  • Publication number: 20210273726
    Abstract: A method of communicating information via optical data transmission between two utility vehicles includes providing a control unit on a first utility vehicle, a work light on the first utility vehicle, and a second utility vehicle. The method also includes generating activation signals by the control unit of the first utility vehicle in dependence on transmission data to be transmitted, activating the work light by the activation signals, and emitting light signals via the activated work light to the second utility vehicle. The light signals represent the transmission data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Florian Schott, Norbert Fritz, Juergen Hollstein
  • Patent number: 11034238
    Abstract: A method for determining a contact force on a utility vehicle includes providing the utility vehicle with a first wheel axle and a second wheel axle, determining a drive slip of the second wheel axle, and a road surface-specific determination data set associated with a traction coefficient in dependence on the drive slip, and determining the contact force on the second wheel axle based on the drive slip of the second wheel axle and the road surface-specific determination data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Woopen, Norbert Fritz, Rainer Gugel
  • Publication number: 20210122358
    Abstract: A method for classifying an underlying surface travelled by an agricultural utility vehicle includes acquiring a detail of a surface of the underlying surface in the form of optical data, classifying the optical data in a data processing unit with respect to different underlying surface classes, and determining an underlying surface class on the basis of the classifying step. Output data is output from the data processing unit representative of the determined underlying surface class as a classification result. A technical feature of the utility vehicle is adapted as a function of the classification result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: MARTIN SCHMIDT, Norbert Fritz
  • Publication number: 20210001673
    Abstract: A method is provided for dynamically determining a tire longitudinal force. The method includes determining a tire acceleration variable by an acceleration sensor arranged in a tire bead, determining a first time interval between a tire contact patch entry point and an acceleration vertex by a processor unit, and determining a second time interval between the acceleration vertex and a tire contact patch exit point by the processor unit. The method also includes determining a magnitude or direction of a tire longitudinal force variable comprising a tire longitudinal force by the processor unit from a symmetry shift detected between the first and second time intervals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: FLORIAN SCHOTT, NORBERT FRITZ
  • Patent number: 10827675
    Abstract: A drive system of a utility vehicle comprises a drive motor, a load drive train to drive a load, a propulsion drive train to driver propulsion means of the utility vehicle, and a control unit, which is connected to an actuator for setting the transmission ratio of the propulsion drive train, can be provided with a signal concerning the power consumption of the load, and generates the correction value sent to the actuator on the basis of the signal, so that the propulsion speed of the utility vehicle remains at least approximately constant even if there is a change of the power consumption of the load and/or a pitching motion of the utility vehicle caused by a change of the power consumption of the load is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Valentin Gresch, Norbert Fritz, Martin Kremmer
  • Patent number: 10814722
    Abstract: A method is provided for the power requirement-dependent operation of a generator unit mounted on an agricultural work vehicle. A power output of the generator unit is varied as a function of a determined power requirement of an electrical consumer, which is fed with the power of the generator unit of an attachment which is connected to the agricultural work vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Marco Reinards, Barbara Böhm, Norbert Fritz
  • Patent number: 10747413
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to apparatuses, methods and computer programs for controlling a machine. The apparatus is suitable for a mobile communication device for providing a sensor input signal to a machine control entity to control a machine. The apparatus comprises one or more sensor modules for providing first user input sensor data and second user input sensor data. The apparatus further comprises a control module configured to determine the sensor input signal based on the first user input sensor data and the second user input sensor data. The control module is further configured to provide the sensor input signal for sensor data processing to the machine control entity to control the machine via an interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Daniel Schneider, Thomas Kuhn, Rasmus Adler, Viet Yen Nguyen, Patrik Feth, Emilia Cioroaica, Bastian Zimmer, Martin Kremmer, Thomas Floerchinger, Benjamin Neermann, Norbert Fritz, Stefan Volz
  • Patent number: 10617054
    Abstract: A method for distributing delivered crop during a spreading operation includes providing an agricultural utility machine and a spreading tool movably mounted thereto, automatically controlling a motion of the spreading tool, and spreading crop by the spreading tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Valentin Gresch, Florian Reinmuth, Norbert Fritz, Christian Waibel, Martin Kremmer, Florian Schott
  • Publication number: 20200088279
    Abstract: A power split transmission structure has at least three interfaces to direct driving power from a drive to at least one output in order to supply the driving power to connected consumers. It comprises at least two variator paths which each comprise a summation gearbox communicating with an electric or hydraulic machine via a mechanical and a non-mechanical path in order to modify torque, speed or both of the driving power. A control device regulates the summation gearbox of each of the variator paths. A power electronics system or hydraulic control device is connected to the electric or hydraulic machine of each of the variator paths. The transmission structure directs the driving power via the variator paths such that the electric or hydraulic machine of each variator path is operable in a generator or motor mode in order to compensate for a power shortfall or a power oversupply at at least one outlet of the transmission structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Norbert Fritz, Rainer Gugel, David Mueller
  • Patent number: 10538195
    Abstract: An adaptive lighting system of an off-road utility vehicle includes an illumination device controllable with respect to its emission characteristic or light intensity, and a control unit in communication with the illumination device. The control unit is configured to adapt the emission characteristic or light intensity level by controlling the illumination device based upon a determined gaze direction of a vehicle operator, an identified extraneous light effects, a determined relative position of an external off-road utility vehicle, or cartographic location information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Norbert Fritz, Jürgen Hollstein
  • Patent number: 10408310
    Abstract: A power-split gearbox device in an agricultural work vehicle. The gearbox device includes a compounded gearbox, an electrical variator for the continuous varying of a ratio of the compounded gearbox, and a gearbox with an adjustable ratio to connect a drive motor with a propulsion of the work vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Rainer Gugel, Norbert Fritz, Andrew K. Rekow, Dennis L. Jeffries, David Mueller