Patents by Inventor René Müller

René Müller 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: 20260147339
    Abstract: A self-propelled construction machine includes a DGNSS rover unit including a computing and evaluation unit, configured such that, on the basis of satellite signals and correction signals of a reference station, construction machine position data describing the position of a construction machine reference point are determined. The computing and evaluation unit generates at least one machine-readable data set, in particular a QR code, which is shown on a display for a reference station position data set stored in a reference station position data memory device. The QR code can be scanned with a smartphone on which a map service with a navigation function is installed, so that the setup point on which a reference station is to be set up can be easily found on the site. In an alternative embodiment, the data can also be scanned using an NFC receiving unit (NFC reader) based upon RFID technology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2025
    Publication date: May 28, 2026
    Inventors: René Müller, Ruud DeJong
  • Publication number: 20260098966
    Abstract: A method for determining a reference station setup point for setting up a reference station includes moving a construction machine to a waypoint. At this waypoint, position data describing the position of a construction machine reference point on the construction machine are determined on the basis of the satellite signals of a global navigation satellite system and the correction signals of a reference station already set up on site in the vicinity of the earthmoving machine. The position data describing the position of the reference station setup point are determined based on the position data describing the position of the construction machine reference point on the construction machine at this waypoint and on the basis of a specified spatial relationship between the construction machine reference point and the point specified as the reference station setup point on the ground surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2025
    Publication date: April 9, 2026
    Inventors: Matthias Fritz, René Müller, Manuel Rossa, Michael Troß, Ruud DeJong
  • Patent number: 12571170
    Abstract: A system of differential working is provided wherein a controller of a construction machine is provided with a working depth data set and with a design surface data set. A location of the construction machine within a reference system external to the construction machine is determined, for example using a global navigation satellite system. The controller may determine the desired working depth at the current locations of the ends of the working implement from the working depth data set. The controller may determine the desired cross-slope at the current location of the working implement from the design surface data set. The desired working depths and the desired cross-slope may be communicated to a grade control system of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Fritz, René Müller, Manuel Rossa
  • Publication number: 20260062874
    Abstract: A construction machine uses a controller configured to determine a cross-sectional profile of a design surface at a selected position and orientation of a milling drum of the construction machine. The controller automatically determines a preferred sensor sub-set from a plurality of possible sensor sub-sets selected from a set of available sensors. The preferred sensor sub-set must be usable to create at least a portion of the cross-sectional profile of the design surface. The controller automatically maintains or switches control of the milling depth to use the preferred sensor sub-set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2025
    Publication date: March 5, 2026
    Inventors: René Müller, Manuel Rossa, Matthias Fritz, Christian Berning
  • Patent number: 12542014
    Abstract: A system is provided for determining the plausibility that a current ground surface on which a construction machine is located conforms to a prior survey of that ground surface. A controller is provided with a digital model defined within a reference system external to the construction machine. The controller determines a current relative orientation and an expected relative orientation, of at least one sensor pair of a plurality of distance sensors, relative to each other and relative to a reference plane defined in the digital model. The controller compares those orientations to confirm whether the current relative orientation conforms to the expected relative orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2026
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Fritz, René Müller, Manuel Rossa
  • Publication number: 20250391210
    Abstract: A system is provided for determining the plausibility that a current ground surface on which a construction machine is located conforms to a prior survey of that ground surface. A controller is provided with a digital model defined within a reference system external to the construction machine. The controller determines a current relative orientation and an expected relative orientation, of at least one sensor pair of a plurality of distance sensors, relative to each other and relative to a reference plane defined in the digital model. The controller compares those orientations to confirm whether the current relative orientation conforms to the expected relative orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2024
    Publication date: December 25, 2025
    Inventors: Matthias Fritz, René Müller, Manuel Rossa
  • Patent number: 12416123
    Abstract: A construction machine uses a controller configured to determine a cross-sectional profile of a design surface at a selected position and orientation of a milling drum of the construction machine. The controller automatically determines a preferred sensor sub-set from a plurality of possible sensor sub-sets selected from a set of available sensors. The preferred sensor sub-set must be usable to create at least a portion of the cross-sectional profile of the design surface. The controller automatically maintains or switches control of the milling depth to use the preferred sensor sub-set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2025
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: René Müller, Manuel Rossa, Matthias Fritz, Christian Berning
  • Patent number: 12366042
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine (1), in particular road milling machine or surface miner, for working a ground pavement, comprising a milling drum (10), which is mounted in a machine frame, wherein a milling cut develops during milling of the ground pavement with the milling drum (10), wherein the milling drum (10) comprises a first and a second end side, at least a first measuring device, which is arranged next to the first end side of the milling drum (10) and measures the distance of the machine frame relative to the ground pavement next to the first end side of the milling drum (10), at least a second measuring device, which is arranged next to the second end side of the milling drum (10) and measures the distance of the machine frame relative to the ground pavement next to the second end side of the milling drum (10), and a control device (40) for controlling the milling depth, wherein, in a first milling operation, the control device (40) determines the milling depth by means of measurements pe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Hanjo Held, René Müller
  • Publication number: 20240344279
    Abstract: A construction machine uses a controller configured to determine a cross-sectional profile of a design surface at a selected position and orientation of a milling drum of the construction machine. The controller automatically determines a preferred sensor sub-set from a plurality of possible sensor sub-sets selected from a set of available sensors. The preferred sensor sub-set must be usable to create at least a portion of the cross-sectional profile of the design surface. The controller automatically maintains or switches control of the milling depth to use the preferred sensor sub-set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Inventors: René Müller, Manuel Rossa, Matthias Fritz, Christian Berning
  • Publication number: 20230340736
    Abstract: A system of differential working is provided wherein a controller of a construction machine is provided with a working depth data set and with a design surface data set. A location of the construction machine within a reference system external to the construction machine is determined, for example using a global navigation satellite system. The controller may determine the desired working depth at the current locations of the ends of the working implement from the working depth data set. The controller may determine the desired cross-slope at the current location of the working implement from the design surface data set. The desired working depths and the desired cross-slope may be communicated to a grade control system of the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Publication date: October 26, 2023
    Inventors: Matthias Fritz, René Müller, Manuel Rossa
  • Publication number: 20230304235
    Abstract: A self-propelled substrate milling machine includes a machine frame supported by front and rear left-hand and right-hand running gear units, wherein a milling drum is arranged on the machine frame. The substrate milling machine is characterized by a transverse inclination sensor system, which is designed to control the substrate milling machine in such a way that the position of the front left-hand and right-hand running gear units which stand on the unmachined substrate, is detected with respect to the machine frame, and transverse inclination values describing the transverse inclination of the substrate surface transverse to the working direction of the substrate milling machine with respect to the machine frame is determined from the position of these running gear units, said transverse inclination values being the basis for the control of the substrate milling machine. The transverse inclination sensor system detects the transverse inclination of the course of the route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Mariusz Gasiorek, Hanjo Held, René Müller
  • Patent number: 11629463
    Abstract: A machine train is composed of a road milling machine that travels in front and a road finisher that travels behind. The road milling machine has a profile data determining device configured so that a sequence of height profile data describing the height of the road surface in the longitudinal direction is determined while the road milling machine advances. For transmission of the height profile data, a data transmission device is provided on the road milling machine and a data receiving device is provided on the road finisher. To change the position of the screed, the road finisher has a levelling device that comprises at least one actuator and a control unit, which is configured so that the control unit generates a control signal for controlling the at least one actuator in accordance with a height profile data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventors: Christoph Menzenbach, René Müller, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20220145552
    Abstract: A machine train is composed of a road milling machine that travels in front and a road finisher that travels behind. The road milling machine has a profile data determining device configured so that a sequence of height profile data describing the height of the road surface in the longitudinal direction is determined while the road milling machine advances. For transmission of the height profile data, a data transmission device is provided on the road milling machine and a data receiving device is provided on the road finisher. To change the position of the screed, the road finisher has a levelling device that comprises at least one actuator and a control unit, which is configured so that the control unit generates a control signal for controlling the at least one actuator in accordance with a height profile data set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Christoph Menzenbach, René Müller, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20220025590
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine (1), in particular road milling machine or surface miner, for working a ground pavement, comprising a milling drum (10), which is mounted in a machine frame, wherein a milling cut develops during milling of the ground pavement with the milling drum (10), wherein the milling drum (10) comprises a first and a second end side, at least a first measuring device, which is arranged next to the first end side of the milling drum (10) and measures the distance of the machine frame relative to the ground pavement next to the first end side of the milling drum (10), at least a second measuring device, which is arranged next to the second end side of the milling drum (10) and measures the distance of the machine frame relative to the ground pavement next to the second end side of the milling drum (10), and a control device (40) for controlling the milling depth, wherein, in a first milling operation, the control device (40) determines the milling depth by means of measurements pe
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Hanjo Held, René Müller
  • Patent number: 11193245
    Abstract: A machine train is composed of a road milling machine that travels in front and a road finisher that travels behind. The road milling machine has a profile data determining device configured so that a sequence of height profile data describing the height of the road surface in the longitudinal direction is determined while the road milling machine advances. For transmission of the height profile data, a data transmission device is provided on the road milling machine and a data receiving device is provided on the road finisher. To change the position of the screed, the road finisher has a levelling device that comprises at least one actuator and a control unit, which is configured so that the control unit generates a control signal for controlling the at least one actuator in accordance with a height profile data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Inventors: Christoph Menzenbach, René Müller, Cyrus Barimani
  • Patent number: 11105052
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine (1), in particular road milling machine or surface miner, for working a ground pavement, comprising a milling drum (10), which is mounted in a machine frame, wherein a milling cut develops during milling of the ground pavement with the milling drum (10), wherein the milling drum (10) comprises a first and a second end side, at least a first measuring device, which is arranged next to the first end side of the milling drum (10) and measures the distance of the machine frame relative to the ground pavement next to the first end side of the milling drum (10), at least a second measuring device, which is arranged next to the second end side of the milling drum (10) and measures the distance of the machine frame relative to the ground pavement next to the second end side of the milling drum (10), and a control device (40) for controlling the milling depth, wherein, in a first milling operation, the control device (40) determines the milling depth by means of measurements pe
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Hanjo Held, René Müller
  • Publication number: 20200199828
    Abstract: In a self-propelled construction machine (1), in particular road milling machine or surface miner, for working a ground pavement, comprising a milling drum (10), which is mounted in a machine frame, wherein a milling cut develops during milling of the ground pavement with the milling drum (10), wherein the milling drum (10) comprises a first and a second end side, at least a first measuring device, which is arranged next to the first end side of the milling drum (10) and measures the distance of the machine frame relative to the ground pavement next to the first end side of the milling drum (10), at least a second measuring device, which is arranged next to the second end side of the milling drum (10) and measures the distance of the machine frame relative to the ground pavement next to the second end side of the milling drum (10), and a control device (40) for controlling the milling depth, wherein, in a first milling operation, the control device (40) determines the milling depth by means of measurements pe
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Publication date: June 25, 2020
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Hanjo Held, René Müller
  • Patent number: 10267146
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine, a recycler or a surface miner, comprising a machine frame 1 supported by a chassis 2 which comprises front and rear running gear 3, 4. A working device 5 is arranged on the machine frame 1 and comprises a working roller 17 for working the ground. Lifting devices 15, 16 are associated with the individual running gears 3, 4 and can each be retracted or extended for raising or lowering the running gears with respect to the machine frame. In addition, the construction machine comprises a control unit 20 for actuating the lifting devices 15, 16, which control unit comprises a lifting position measuring device 22 for detecting the lifting position of the lifting devices and a tilt detection device 23 for detecting the tilt of the machine frame 1 transversely to the working direction A of the construction machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: René Müller, Sebastian Winkels, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20180340302
    Abstract: The invention relates to a machine train composed of a road milling machine 1 that travels in front and comprises a machine frame 3 supported by crawler tracks 3, 4 or wheels and a milling drum 10 arranged on the machine frame that is for milling away material, and to a road finisher 16 that travels behind and comprises a machine frame 18 which is supported by crawler tracks 17 or wheels and on which a reservoir 19 for material to be laid and a screed 20 for laying material are arranged. The invention also relates to a method for operating a machine train composed of a road milling machine travelling in front and a road finisher travelling behind.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2018
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Inventors: Christoph Menzenbach, René Müller, Cyrus Barimani
  • Publication number: 20180112528
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine, a recycler or a surface miner, comprising a machine frame 1 supported by a chassis 2 which comprises front and rear running gear 3, 4. A working device 5 is arranged on the machine frame 1 and comprises a working roller 17 for working the ground. Lifting devices 15, 16 are associated with the individual running gears 3, 4 and can each be retracted or extended for raising or lowering the running gears with respect to the machine frame. In addition, the construction machine comprises a control unit 20 for actuating the lifting devices 15, 16, which control unit comprises a lifting position measuring device 22 for detecting the lifting position of the lifting devices and a tilt detection device 23 for detecting the tilt of the machine frame 1 transversely to the working direction A of the construction machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: René Müller, Sebastian Winkels, Cyrus Barimani