Patents by Inventor Thomas Mader

Thomas Mader 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: 11903363
    Abstract: A space divider of a milking parlor arrangement for at least one milking parlor for milking milk-producing animals, wherein the space divider is arranged approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the animal to be milked, has an arm device having a milking cluster, which can be adjusted from a parking position to a working position and back. The arm device is arranged with the milking cluster in the parking position in the space divider and can be adjusted into the working position laterally to the animal to be milked between the front and rear legs thereof in fully automatic operation or semiautomatic operation. The space divider is designed in such a way that no additional space is required between adjacent animals, so that many animals can be milked in a milking parlor arrangement while the smallest possible amount of space is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Otto Krone, Derk Hensel, Thomas Mader, Armin Hönscheid, Dieter Hille, Erich Schneider, Marc Trossehl
  • Patent number: 11388882
    Abstract: A space divider of a milking parlor arrangement for at least one milking parlor for milking milk-producing animals, wherein the space divider is arranged approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the animal to be milked, has an arm device having a milking cluster, which can be adjusted from a parking position to a working position and back. The arm device is arranged with the milking cluster in the parking position in the space divider and can be adjusted into the working position laterally to the animal to be milked between the front and rear legs thereof. The space divider may include a replaceable service unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: GEA FARM TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventors: Otto Krone, Derk Hensel, Thomas Mader, Rolf Teckentrup, Armin Hönscheid, Dieter Hille, Magnus Wiethoff, Marc Trossehl, Reinhard Balkenhol, Adib Matty
  • Publication number: 20210037780
    Abstract: A space divider of a milking parlor arrangement for at least one milking parlor for milking milk-producing animals, wherein the space divider is arranged approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the animal to be milked, has an arm device having a milking cluster, which can be adjusted from a parking position to a working position and back. The arm device is arranged with the milking cluster in the parking position in the space divider and can be adjusted into the working position laterally to the animal to be milked between the front and rear legs thereof in fully automatic operation or semiautomatic operation. The space divider is designed in such a way that no additional space is required between adjacent animals, so that many animals can be milked in a milking parlor arrangement while the smallest possible amount of space is required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Otto Krone, Derk Hensel, Thomas Mader, Armin Hönscheid, Dieter Hille, Erich Schneider, Marc Trossehl
  • Patent number: 10905096
    Abstract: A milking parlor for milking dairy animals, having a pillar, a gate pillar provided with a pivoting entrance gate and a pivoting exit gate, and a bridge located on the pillar and the gate pillar; the milking parlor further includes a driving assembly that is located within the bridge and is coupled to the entrance gate and the exit gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Mader
  • Patent number: 10849304
    Abstract: A space divider (4) of a milking parlor arrangement (1, 1?, 1?, 1??) for at least one milking parlor (3) for milking milk-producing animals (T), wherein the space divider (4) is arranged approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the animal (T) to be milked, has an arm device (6) having a milking cluster (5), which can be adjusted from a parking position to a working position and back. The arm device (6) is arranged with the milking cluster (5) in the parking position in the space divider (4) and can be adjusted into the working position laterally to the animal (T) to be milked between the front and rear legs thereof in fully automatic operation or semi-automatic operation. The space divider (4) is designed in such a way that no additional space is required between adjacent animals (T), so that many animals (T) can be milked in a milking parlor arrangement (1, 1?, 1?, 1??) while the smallest possible amount of space is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Otto Krone, Derk Hensel, Thomas Mader, Armin Hönscheid, Dieter Hille, Erich Schneider, Marc Trossehl
  • Patent number: 10694717
    Abstract: The invention relates to a milking parlor arrangement (1), in particular a milking carousel, comprising at least one milking parlor (3) for milking milk-producing animals (T) and comprising an inner robot device with at least one robot arm (9). The at least one milking parlor (3) comprises two longitudinal sides and two narrow sides, namely a head narrow side and a hindquarters narrow side, one narrow side being paired with the head side of a milk-producing animal (T) to be milked as the head narrow side. The milking parlor also comprises an arm device (6) with a milking machine (5), said arm device being adjustable between a parked position and a working position and back. The at least one robot arm (9) is arranged on the head narrow side paired with the head side of the animal (T) to be milked of the at least one milking parlor (3) of the milking parlor arrangement (1) in order to adjust the arm device (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Otto Krone, Olaf Suhr, Bernhard Schulze-Wartenhorst, Erich Schneider, Thomas Mader
  • Publication number: 20200160622
    Abstract: A system and method for battery health monitoring includes at least one sensor that reads at least voltage from one or more monitored batteries. Other metrics may optionally be monitored such as but not limited to, temperature, humidity, kinesis and the like. The system and method may display data to a local or remote user via a web portal or application, and transmit alarms and notifications via available technologies such as, but not limited to, short message services (SMS), email and other like messaging protocols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Anthony Aquila, Joseph Thomas Mader, John Bono
  • Patent number: 10657739
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving on-board diagnostic (OBD) data from an OBD port of a vehicle, receiving tire pressure data from one or more tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensors, and receiving accelerometer data from one or more accelerometers. The method further includes determining, based on at least some of the OBD data and at least some of the accelerometer data, recommended tires to install on the vehicle. The method further includes determining, based on at least some of the OBD data and at least some of the tire pressure data, a recommended tire pressure for at least one tire of the vehicle. The method further includes sending information to display the recommended tires to install on the vehicle and the recommended tire pressure on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Solera Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Mader, Neal Jonathon Lowell, Raymond Charles Daley, Sean Thomas Dodd, Anthony Aquila
  • Patent number: 10529264
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle mirror includes an on-board diagnostics (OBD) transceiver and one or more processors. The processors access OBD data received by the OBD transceiver from an OBD port of a vehicle. The processors further determine, from the OBD data, a vehicle type, a change in voltage of the vehicle's battery, and a secondary vehicle factor. When the vehicle is determined to be a combustion engine vehicle, the processors transition the vehicle mirror from a sleep power state to an awake power state when the change in voltage is greater than a predetermined amount and the secondary factor of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined threshold. When the vehicle is determined to be an electric vehicle, the processors transition the vehicle mirror from the sleep power state to the awake power state when any activity is detected in the OBD data and the secondary factor of the vehicle is greater than the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Solera Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Mader, Daniel Jun-Hyun Kim, Anthony Aquila, Neal Jonathon Lowell
  • Patent number: 10522061
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle mirror includes a heads-up display (HUD) projector, an on-board diagnostics (OBD) transceiver, and one or more processors. The processors access OBD data received by the OBD transceiver from an OBD port of a vehicle. The processors further determine an identification of the vehicle from the accessed OBD data and determine one or more calibration parameters for the HUD projector based on the determined identification of the vehicle. The one or more calibration parameters are operable to position a displayed image from the HUD projector onto a HUD reflector within a line-of-sight of a driver of the vehicle. The processors further send one or more instructions based on the one or more calibration parameters to the HUD projector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Solera Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Mader, Daniel Jun-Hyun Kim, Anthony Aquila, Neal Jonathon Lowell
  • Patent number: 10482801
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle mirror includes an on-board diagnostics (OBD) transceiver and one or more processors. The processors access OBD data received by the OBD transceiver from an OBD port of a vehicle. The processors further monitor the OBD data to determine whether communications with the OBD port have been lost, determine an OBD speed of the vehicle, and determine an RPM of an engine of the vehicle. The processors further determine a GPS speed of the vehicle from a GPS transceiver. When communications with the OBD port are lost, the processors transition the vehicle mirror to a sleep power state. When communications with the OBD port have not been lost, the processors transition the vehicle mirror to the sleep power state when the OBD speed is determined to be zero for at least a first predetermined amount of time and the RPM of the engine is determined to be less than a threshold RPM amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Solera Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Mader, Daniel Jun-Hyun Kim, Anthony Aquila, Neal Jonathon Lowell
  • Publication number: 20190347969
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle mirror includes an on-board diagnostics (OBD) transceiver and one or more processors. The processors access OBD data received by the OBD transceiver from an OBD port of a vehicle. The processors further determine, from the OBD data, a vehicle type, a change in voltage of the vehicle's battery, and a secondary vehicle factor. When the vehicle is determined to be a combustion engine vehicle, the processors transition the vehicle mirror from a sleep power state to an awake power state when the change in voltage is greater than a predetermined amount and the secondary factor of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined threshold. When the vehicle is determined to be an electric vehicle, the processors transition the vehicle mirror from the sleep power state to the awake power state when any activity is detected in the OBD data and the secondary factor of the vehicle is greater than the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Mader, Daniel Jun-Hyun Kim, Anthony Aquila, Neal Jonathan Lowell
  • Publication number: 20190053464
    Abstract: A milking parlor for milking dairy animals, having a pillar, a gate pillar provided with a pivoting entrance gate and a pivoting exit gate, and a bridge located on the pillar and the gate pillar; the milking parlor further includes a driving assembly that is located within the bridge and is coupled to the entrance gate and the exit gate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas Mader
  • Publication number: 20180276908
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle mirror includes an on-board diagnostics (OBD) transceiver and one or more processors. The processors access OBD data received by the OBD transceiver from an OBD port of a vehicle. The processors further determine, from the OBD data, a vehicle type, a change in voltage of the vehicle's battery, and a secondary vehicle factor. When the vehicle is determined to be a combustion engine vehicle, the processors transition the vehicle mirror from a sleep power state to an awake power state when the change in voltage is greater than a predetermined amount and the secondary factor of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined threshold. When the vehicle is determined to be an electric vehicle, the processors transition the vehicle mirror from the sleep power state to the awake power state when any activity is detected in the OBD data and the secondary factor of the vehicle is greater than the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Mader, Daniel Jun-Hyun Kim, Anthony Aquila, Neal Jonathon Lowell
  • Publication number: 20180277028
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle mirror includes a heads-up display (HUD) projector, an on-board diagnostics (OBD) transceiver, and one or more processors. The processors access OBD data received by the OBD transceiver from an OBD port of a vehicle. The processors further determine an identification of the vehicle from the accessed OBD data and determine one or more calibration parameters for the HUD projector based on the determined identification of the vehicle. The one or more calibration parameters are operable to position a displayed image from the HUD projector onto a HUD reflector within a line-of-sight of a driver of the vehicle. The processors further send one or more instructions based on the one or more calibration parameters to the HUD projector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Mader, Daniel Jun-Hyun Kim, Anthony Aquila, Neal Jonathon Lowell
  • Publication number: 20180276916
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a vehicle mirror includes an on-board diagnostics (OBD) transceiver and one or more processors. The processors access OBD data received by the OBD transceiver from an OBD port of a vehicle. The processors further monitor the OBD data to determine whether communications with the OBD port have been lost, determine an OBD speed of the vehicle, and determine an RPM of an engine of the vehicle. The processors further determine a GPS speed of the vehicle from a GPS transceiver. When communications with the OBD port are lost, the processors transition the vehicle mirror to a sleep power state. When communications with the OBD port have not been lost, the processors transition the vehicle mirror to the sleep power state when the OBD speed is determined to be zero for at least a first predetermined amount of time and the RPM of the engine is determined to be less than a threshold RPM amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Mader, Daniel Jun-Hyun Kim, Anthony Aquila, Neal Jonathon Lowell
  • Publication number: 20180096542
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving on-board diagnostic (OBD) data from an OBD port of a vehicle, receiving tire pressure data from one or more tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensors, and receiving accelerometer data from one or more accelerometers. The method further includes determining, based on at least some of the OBD data and at least some of the accelerometer data, recommended tires to install on the vehicle. The method further includes determining, based on at least some of the OBD data and at least some of the tire pressure data, a recommended tire pressure for at least one tire of the vehicle. The method further includes sending information to display the recommended tires to install on the vehicle and the recommended tire pressure on a display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Joseph Thomas Mader, Neal Jonathon Lowell, Raymond Charles Daley, Sean Thomas Dodd, Anthony Aquila
  • Patent number: 9918450
    Abstract: A space divider of a milking parlor arrangement for at least one milking parlor for milking milk-producing animals, wherein the space divider is arranged approximately parallel to a longitudinal axis of the animal to be milked, has an arm device having a milking cluster, which can be adjusted from a parking position to a working position and back. The arm device is arranged with the milking cluster in the parking position in the space divider and can be adjusted into the working position laterally to the animal to be milked between the front and rear legs thereof. The space divider is designed in such a way that no additional space is required between adjacent animals, so that many animals can be milked in a milking parlor arrangement while the smallest possible amount of space is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: GEA Farm Technologies GmbH
    Inventors: Otto Krone, Derk Hensel, Thomas Mader, Rolf Teckentrup, Armin Hönscheid, Dieter Hille, Magnus Wiethoff, Marc Trossehl, Reinhard Balkenhol, Adib Matty
  • Patent number: D865639
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold Ray Adams, III, Anthony Aquila, Raymond Charles Daley, Timothy H. Huff, Daniel Jun-Hyun Kim, Joseph Thomas Mader
  • Patent number: D865640
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Solera Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold Ray Adams, III, Anthony Aquila, Raymond Charles Daley, Jordan Timothy Detota, Timothy H. Huff, Daniel Jun-Hyun Kim, Neal Jonathon Lowell, Joseph Thomas Mader