Patents by Inventor Thomas MAHIEU

Thomas MAHIEU 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: 11844302
    Abstract: A controller for a harvester. The controller is configured to receive crop flow information representative of how crop is flowing through the harvester and generate display information for providing a visual display to an operator of the harvester. The visual display includes an animation of crop flowing through the harvester. The controller is further configured to set one or more properties of the animation of the crop flowing through the harvester based on the received crop flow information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bart M. A. Missotten, Glenn Aesaert, Michael Carpentier, Dré W. J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Ricardo Mesquita, Karel M. C. Viaene, Bart Vroman, Johnny M. F. Scherrens
  • Publication number: 20230225246
    Abstract: An agricultural residue depositing apparatus includes a human-controllable mobile vehicle that is capable of generating agricultural residue and depositing it on a ground surface over which the mobile vehicle is moveable. The vehicle includes an interface device that is capable of generating one or more output that is interpretable by a human operator. The apparatus include sensors of agricultural residue deposited by the mobile vehicle and processors to which the sensors are operatively connected. The processors are additionally operatively connected to the interface device such that the interface device generates one or more outputs, based on one or more signals generated by the one or more sensors, of or relating to agricultural residue deposited by the mobile vehicle. The processors are capable of adding human-interpretable augmentation to the outputs indicating one or more parameters of or relating to the deposition of residue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Arno Leenknegt, Bart M.A. Missotten, Dré W.J. Jongmans, Frederik Tallir, Lucas Deruyter, Thomas Mahieu
  • Publication number: 20230084831
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for determining a threshing loss in a threshing system. The method includes irradiating a crop sample downstream at least a portion of a threshing system with electromagnetic waves having a frequency in a range of 0.1-10 THz, measuring a reflection and/or a transmission of the electromagnetic waves by the crop sample, establishing, based on the measured reflection and/or transmission, an at least two-dimensional terahertz image of the crop sample, identifying at least one ear in the terahertz image, identifying at least one grain kernel in the identified ear, and determining the threshing loss based on the identified grain kernel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bart Lenaerts, Thomas Mahieu, Bart M.A. Missotten
  • Patent number: 11605178
    Abstract: A device for analyzing a grain sample including a light source, an image sensor, and a controller. The light source is configured for illuminating the grain sample. The image sensor is configured for capturing images of the grain sample. The controller is coupled to the image sensor and is configured for receiving the images of the grain sample therefrom and for analyzing the images to detect at least one material other than grain in the grain sample. The light source is configured for illuminating the grain sample with a local light spot having a size that is smaller than a width of an average wheat kernel. The image analysis and the detection of material other than grain may, at least partly, be performed using trained neural networks and other artificial intelligence algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bart M. A. Missotten, Thomas Mahieu
  • Publication number: 20230013330
    Abstract: A controller for a harvester. The controller is configured to receive crop flow information representative of how crop is flowing through the harvester and generate display information for providing a visual display to an operator of the harvester. The visual display includes an animation of crop flowing through the harvester. The controller is further configured to set one or more properties of the animation of the crop flowing through the harvester based on the received crop flow information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Bart M.A. Missotten, Glenn Aesaert, Michael Carpentier, Dré W.J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Ricardo Mesquita, Karel M.C. Viaene, Bart Vroman, Johnny M.F. Scherrens
  • Publication number: 20220394925
    Abstract: A combine harvester includes a crop material sensor arrangement having a crop material sensor configured to monitor crop material downstream of a threshing and separating system of the combine, and having a sensor window through which the crop material sensor monitors the crop material. The sensor window is arranged adjacent to a flow path of the crop material such that crop material flows past the sensor window as it flows along the flow path, and the sensor window is arranged such that an angle is formed between a plane defined by the sensor window and a tangential projection that extends from a component of the combine harvester that influences the flow path immediately upstream of the sensor window. This ensures that the camera window remains sufficiently clean to allow the crop material sensor to monitor crop material through the window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bart M.A. Missotten, Arno Leenknegt, Dré W.J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Bart Lenaerts, Yuanyuan Li, Lucas Deruyter, Frederik Tallir
  • Publication number: 20220375115
    Abstract: A device for analyzing a grain sample including a light source, an image sensor, and a controller. The light source is configured for illuminating the grain sample. The image sensor is configured for capturing images of the grain sample. The controller is coupled to the image sensor and is configured for receiving the images of the grain sample therefrom and for analyzing the images to detect at least one material other than grain in the grain sample. The light source is configured for illuminating the grain sample with a local light spot having a size that is smaller than a width of an average wheat kernel. The image analysis and the detection of material other than grain may, at least partly, be performed using trained neural networks and other artificial intelligence algorithms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Bart M. A. Missotten, Thomas Mahieu
  • Patent number: 11464159
    Abstract: A controller for a harvester. The controller is configured to receive crop flow information representative of how crop is flowing through the harvester and generate display information for providing a visual display to an operator of the harvester. The visual display includes an animation of crop flowing through the harvester. The controller is further configured to set one or more properties of the animation of the crop flowing through the harvester based on the received crop flow information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bart M. A. Missotten, Glenn Aesaert, Michael Carpentier, Dré W. J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Ricardo Mesquita, Karel M. C. Viaene, Bart Vroman, Johnny M. F. Scherrens
  • Publication number: 20220142048
    Abstract: A system and a method are provided for controlling a combine harvester. The method includes the steps of: receiving grain flow sensor signals from a plurality of grain flow sensors; based on the received grain flow sensor signals, determining a current load on a straw walker section; and based on the current load, adjusting an aggressiveness setting of a threshing and separation section of the combine harvester. The grain flow sensors are provided underneath and adjacent to a crop transfer surface of the straw walker section of the combine harvester and are distributed over a length of the straw walker section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Inventors: Glenn Aesaert, Matthias Baert, Dré W.J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Bart M.A. Missotten, Frederik Tallir
  • Publication number: 20210378176
    Abstract: A controller for controlling a harvesting performance of an agricultural harvester. The controller receives automation settings, selected by an operator via a human-machine interface. The controller also receives data from on-board harvester sensors. The controller defines a target value for quality parameters based on the automation settings, and determines a current value of each of the quality parameters in dependence on the crop sensor data. The controller determines an actuator setting for actuators of the agricultural harvester when the current value of one or more of the plurality of quality parameters differs by greater than an acceptable amount from the associated target value. The actuator setting is determined in dependence on the automation settings and the target value. The controller controls the actuators to achieve the determined actuator setting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Inventors: Arno Leenknegt, Pieter Maelegheer, Thomas Mahieu, Bart M.A. Missotten, Brecht Vanmullem
  • Patent number: 11191211
    Abstract: A monitoring system for a combine harvester. The monitoring system includes a sensor configured to provide a measurement wave to a flow of crop residue on the harvester and to receive a response wave from the flow of crop residue. The monitoring system further includes a processor having an input terminal for receiving a response signal of the sensor representative of the response wave. The processor is configured to determine a crop parameter associated with the density of the flow of crop based on the response signal of the sensor. The processor further has an output terminal for outputting a density signal representing the crop parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Mahieu, Bart M. A. Missotten
  • Publication number: 20210345551
    Abstract: A system for controlling the aggressiveness of a tailings processor that re-threshes tailings received from the grain cleaning system in an agricultural harvester is provided with at least one imaging device to image a grain sample. At least a portion of the grain sample has at least once passed through the tailings processor. A controller is connected to the imaging device and to an arrangement to automatically adjust the aggressiveness of the tailings processor. The controller is configured to automatically adjust the aggressiveness of the tailings processor using the arrangement, based on based on the level of broken grain and/or unthreshed grain determined from the image from the at least one imaging device by comparing the level of broken grain and/or unthreshed grain to the desired level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Clayton E. Banks, JR., Dré W.J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Bart M.A. Missotten, William Mark McCully
  • Patent number: 11076533
    Abstract: A system for controlling the aggressiveness of a tailings processor that re-threshes tailings received from the grain cleaning system in an agricultural harvester is provided with at least one imaging device to image a grain sample. At least a portion of the grain sample has at least once passed through the tailings processor. A controller is connected to the imaging device and to an arrangement to automatically adjust the aggressiveness of the tailings processor. The controller is configured to automatically adjust the aggressiveness of the tailings processor using the arrangement, based on information provided by the at least one imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Clayton E. Banks, Jr., Dré W. J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Bart M. A. Missotten, William Mark McCully
  • Publication number: 20210127573
    Abstract: A monitoring system for a combine harvester having a header for harvesting a crop and a residue spreading system for spreading a crop residue. The monitoring system includes a sensing system configured to provide one or more measurement waves that intersect a flow of crop residue discharged by the spreading system and receive a plurality of response waves reflected from the crop residue. The system further includes a processing unit configured to receive a response signal of the sensing system; process the response signal; and determine, based on the response signal, a density and velocity distribution of the crop residue across a two-dimensional measurement area. The response signal is representative of the plurality of response waves reflected from the crop residue. The measurement area is at an end of a trajectory of the crop residue towards a deposit area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Mahieu, Bart M.A. Missotten, Bart Lenaerts, Jean-Edouard Blanquart
  • Patent number: 10820507
    Abstract: A harvesting vehicle including a cleaning section including a blower and at least one sieve. The sieve is configured to transport a layer comprising a mixture of grain kernels and residue material towards an exit edge of the sieve so that kernels fall through openings of the sieve and the residue remains on the sieve until it is ejected from the sieve by crossing the exit edge. The sieve may be subject to a grain loss, including a sieve-off loss and a blowout loss. The cleaning section further includes a sensor configured to determine whether the blowout loss or the sieve-off loss is a highest contributor to the grain loss. The cleaning section may also include a grain loss detector configured to measure the sieve-off loss and at least a portion of the blowout loss and a blowout sensor mounted above the sieve for measuring the blowout loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Glenn Aesaert, Dré W. J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Karel M. C. Viaene
  • Publication number: 20200178460
    Abstract: A controller for a harvester. The controller is configured to receive crop flow information representative of how crop is flowing through the harvester and generate display information for providing a visual display to an operator of the harvester. The visual display includes an animation of crop flowing through the harvester. The controller is further configured to set one or more properties of the animation of the crop flowing through the harvester based on the received crop flow information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Bart M.A. Missotten, Glenn Aesaert, Michael Carpentier, Dré W.J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Ricardo Mesquita, Karel M.C. Viaene, Bart Vroman, Johnny M.F. Scherrens
  • Patent number: 10653063
    Abstract: A combine harvester including an aft portion, a spreader assembly, a monitoring system, and a processing unit. The monitoring system including sensors coupled to the aft portion. The sensors: receiving a plurality of response waves reflected from a portion of the crop residue that is discharged from the spreader assembly toward a discharge area before the portion of crop residue arrives at the discharge area; and sending a response signal representative of the plurality of response waves reflected from the portion of the crop residue, the reflected waves comprising a sequence of multiple reflections distributed over time. The processing unit receiving the response signal from the plurality of sensors; and processing the response signal to determine a reflected energy distribution from the portion of the crop residue representative of a distribution of the crop residue over the discharge area substantially perpendicular to a travel direction of the combine harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Mahieu, Bart M. A. Missotten, Bart Lenaerts, Frederik Tallir, Jeroen Lowie
  • Patent number: 10624258
    Abstract: A controller for a harvester. The controller is configured to receive crop flow information representative of how crop is flowing through the harvester and generate display information for providing a visual display to an operator of the harvester. The visual display includes an animation of crop flowing through the harvester. The controller is further configured to set one or more properties of the animation of the crop flowing through the harvester based on the received crop flow information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bart M. A. Missotten, Glenn Aesaert, Michael Carpentier, Dré W. J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Ricardo Mesquita, Karel M. C. Viaene, Bart Vroman, Johnny M. F. Scherrens
  • Patent number: 10575461
    Abstract: A controller for a harvester. The controller is configured to receive crop flow information representative of how crop is flowing through the harvester and generate display information for providing a visual display to an operator of the harvester. The visual display includes an animation of crop flowing through the harvester. The controller is further configured to set one or more properties of the animation of the crop flowing through the harvester based on the received crop flow information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bart M. A. Missotten, Glenn Aesaert, Michael Carpentier, Dre W. J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Ricardo Mesquita, Karel M. C. Viaene, Bart Vroman, Johnny M. F. Scherrens
  • Publication number: 20200008352
    Abstract: A combine harvester including an aft portion, a spreader assembly, a monitoring system, and a processing unit. The monitoring system including sensors coupled to the aft portion. The sensors: receiving a plurality of response waves reflected from a portion of the crop residue that is discharged from the spreader assembly toward a discharge area before the portion of crop residue arrives at the discharge area; and sending a response signal representative of the plurality of response waves reflected from the portion of the crop residue, the reflected waves comprising a sequence of multiple reflections distributed over time. The processing unit receiving the response signal from the plurality of sensors; and processing the response signal to determine a reflected energy distribution from the portion of the crop residue representative of a distribution of the crop residue over the discharge area substantially perpendicular to a travel direction of the combine harvester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Mahieu, Bart M.A. Missotten, Bart Lenaerts, Frederik Tallir, Jeroen Lowie