Patents by Inventor Russell Thacher

Russell Thacher 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: 8359142
    Abstract: A method of controlling application of a substance to vegetation using data obtained via a mobile machine is provided. A height of the vegetation is measured during a scheduled task of the mobile machine. The measured height of the vegetation is compared with a calculated height of the vegetation. Then, an amount of the substance applied by an irrigation system to an area containing the vegetation is adjusted based on a difference between the measured height of the vegetation and the calculated height of the vegetation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Joshua D. Hoffman, Noel Wayne Anderson, David August Johnson, Russell Thacher, Kirk Eisenbeis
  • Patent number: 8295979
    Abstract: A method for scheduling mowing tasks by a robotic mower is provided. An estimated height of grass cut by the robotic mower is determined for a predetermined number of past mowing tasks. The estimated height of grass cut is compared with a predicted height of grass in an operating environment for the robotic mower. Then, a mowing schedule for the robotic mower is adjusted by decreasing a time between mowing tasks in response to the estimated height of grass cut being greater than the predicted height of grass. Alternatively, the mowing schedule for the robotic mower is adjusted by increasing the time between mowing tasks in response to the estimated height of grass cut being less than the predicted height of grass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Russell Thacher, Kirk Eisenbeis, David August Johnson, Noel Wayne Anderson, Joshua D. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 8285460
    Abstract: A method of controlling application of a substance to vegetation using data obtained via a mobile machine is provided. A height of the vegetation is measured during a scheduled task of the mobile machine. The measured height of the vegetation is compared with a calculated height of the vegetation. Then, an amount of the substance applied by an irrigation system to an area containing the vegetation is adjusted based on a difference between the measured height of the vegetation and the calculated height of the vegetation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Joshua D. Hoffman, Noel Wayne Anderson, David August Johnson, Russell Thacher, Kirk Eisenbeis
  • Publication number: 20120173087
    Abstract: A method of controlling application of a substance to vegetation using data obtained via a mobile machine is provided. A height of the vegetation is measured during a scheduled task of the mobile machine. The measured height of the vegetation is compared with a calculated height of the vegetation. Then, an amount of the substance applied by an irrigation system to an area containing the vegetation is adjusted based on a difference between the measured height of the vegetation and the calculated height of the vegetation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Joshua D. Hoffman, Noel Wayne Anderson, David August Johnson, Russell Thacher, Kirk Eisenbeis
  • Publication number: 20110166715
    Abstract: A method of controlling application of a substance to vegetation using data obtained via a mobile machine is provided. A height of the vegetation is measured during a scheduled task of the mobile machine. The measured height of the vegetation is compared with a calculated height of the vegetation. Then, an amount of the substance applied by an irrigation system to an area containing the vegetation is adjusted based on a difference between the measured height of the vegetation and the calculated height of the vegetation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Joshua D. Hoffman, Noel Wayne Anderson, David August Johnson, Russell Thacher, Kirk Eisenbeis
  • Publication number: 20110166701
    Abstract: A method for scheduling mowing tasks by a robotic mower is provided. An estimated height of grass cut by the robotic mower is determined for a predetermined number of past mowing tasks. The estimated height of grass cut is compared with a predicted height of grass in an operating environment for the robotic mower. Then, a mowing schedule for the robotic mower is adjusted by decreasing a time between mowing tasks in response to the estimated height of grass cut being greater than the predicted height of grass. Alternatively, the mowing schedule for the robotic mower is adjusted by increasing the time between mowing tasks in response to the estimated height of grass cut being less than the predicted height of grass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Russell Thacher, Kirk Eisenbeis, David August Johnson, Noel Wayne Anderson, Joshua D. Hoffman
  • Publication number: 20070295545
    Abstract: A differential steering and traction control system for an electrically propelled mower. Each of the front wheels has an electric motor wheel drive, and each rear wheel may have an electric steering motor. The operator's station has a steering wheel and a speed control. An electronic controller provides steering commands to the electric steering motor and separate speed commands to each electric motor wheel drive based on the angle of the rear wheel and the position of the speed control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Inventors: Bernard Romig, Jitendra Vaidya, Brent Rinholm, Randall Griffin, Russell Thacher
  • Publication number: 20070051554
    Abstract: A differential steering assist system is provided for an off road utility vehicle with a pair of steerable front wheels and at least one pair of driven left and right rear wheels. The system uses a steering position sensor and wheel speed sensors that sense the wheel speed of the driven left and right rear wheels. An electronic control unit provides speed reducing commands to the left or right rear wheels based on the sensed steering position and sensed wheel speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Inventor: Russell Thacher
  • Publication number: 20060046895
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a vehicle for regenerative braking facilitates decreasing the warm-up time of the fuel cell stack from start-up to full electrical power generation capacity. A controller detects a starting time of a fuel cell stack associated with a vehicle. A drive motor generates electrical energy during braking or deceleration of the vehicle, where the drive motor is mechanically coupled to at least one wheel of the vehicle. A controller refers to or determines a time window following the starting time. The switching unit routes the electrical energy to a resistive load associated with a heat exchanger thermally coupled to a fuel cell stack of the vehicle if the electrical energy is generated during the time window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Publication date: March 2, 2006
    Inventors: Russell Thacher, James Musser