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: 10470366
    Abstract: An agricultural combine including a residue spreading system that is steerable to influence distribution of the residue spreading system. The combine is provided with a sensor provided for emitting a wave signal through the residue when the combine is spreading the residue. The sensor is configured to measure reflections of the signal from a first zone of the residue and from a second zone of the residue. The spreading system is steered based on the reflections. The wave signal has a wavelength that is larger than 0.001 mm and that is smaller than 50 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Mahieu, Bart M. A. Missotten, Karel M. C. Viaene
  • Patent number: 10470365
    Abstract: A monitoring system for a combine harvester having a header with a header width for harvesting a crop. The monitoring system includes a plurality of sensors, configured to provide a plurality of measurement waves to a discharge area for crop residue, and receive a plurality of response waves reflected from the discharge area. The system further includes a processing unit comprising an input terminal configured to receive a response signal of the plurality of sensors, the response signal representative of the plurality of response waves reflected from the discharge area. The processing unit is configured to process the response signal and determine, based on the response signal, a distribution of the crop residue over the discharge area. The processing unit further comprises an output terminal configured to output a distribution signal representative of the distribution of the crop residue over the discharge area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Mahieu, Bart M. A. Missotten, Bart Lenaerts, Frederik Tallir, Jeroen Lowie
  • Publication number: 20190335658
    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: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas Mahieu, Bart M.A. Missotten
  • Publication number: 20190274254
    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: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Inventors: Clayton E. Banks, Jr., Dré W.J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Bart M.A. Missotten, William Mark McCully
  • Publication number: 20190223375
    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: April 4, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    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
  • Patent number: 10356979
    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: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Mahieu, Bart M. A. Missotten
  • Publication number: 20190150361
    Abstract: The present invention is in particular related to an agricultural harvesting vehicle, such as a combine harvester for gathering crops from a field and processing the crops in order to separate grain kernels from residue material such as stalks and leaves. The harvesting vehicle of the invention is provided with a cleaning section comprising a blower (10) and at least one sieve (3, 5), usually a set of an upper and lower sieve. The sieves (3, 5) are configured to transport a layer comprising a mixture of grain kernels and residue material towards an exit edge (16) of the sieve so that kernels fall through the sieve's openings and residue remains on the sieve until it is ejected from the sieve by crossing the exit edge (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Glenn Aesaert, Dré W.J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Karel M.C. Viaene
  • Patent number: 10292323
    Abstract: A method for operating an agricultural combine in a field using at least one field-map. The method includes steps of determining (S1) a position of the agricultural combine in the field, retrieving (S2) field-related data from the at least one field-map related to the determined position in the field, and adjusting (S3) residue processing system settings of the agricultural combine based on the retrieved data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Bart M. A. Missotten, Dré W. J. Jongmans, Frederik Tallir, Thomas Mahieu
  • Patent number: 10254147
    Abstract: An unloading automation system for unloading of harvested crop from an agricultural vehicle, such as a combine harvester, into a container. The container may be part of a vehicle container combination that is arranged to maneuver next to the agricultural vehicle in the field. The unloading automation system includes a filling degree measurement system and position measurement system, wherein the position measurement is based on UWB technology. This non-optical technology improves measurement results in dusty environments. The filing degree measurement system and the position measurement system have at least one UWB tag or base station in common.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Koen J. J. Vermue, Bart M. A. Missotten, Thomas Mahieu, Karel M. C. Viaene, Dré W. J. Jongmans, Glenn Aesaert
  • Patent number: 10194585
    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: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Glenn Aesaert, Dré W. J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Karel M. C. Viaene
  • Patent number: 10130039
    Abstract: An agricultural harvester for harvesting a crop on a field. The harvester includes a chopping assembly configured to chop a crop residue of the harvested crop. The chopping assembly includes an inlet for receiving the crop residue, a rotor provided with one or more cutting tools and configured to chop the crop residue, a drive assembly configured to drive the rotor, and an outlet for outputting the chopped crop residue onto the field. The harvester further includes an image based sensor configured to generate a signal comprising an image of the chopped crop residue and a processing unit configured to receive the signal from the image based sensor, process the signal to derive a geometric parameter indicative of a geometry of the chopped crop residue, and determine a control signal for the drive assembly based on the geometric parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Mahieu, Bart M. A. Missotten, Bart Lenaerts, Frederik Tallir, Pieter Van Overschelde, Tom N. N. Somers
  • Patent number: 10104840
    Abstract: A cleaning section of an agricultural harvester. The cleaning section including a sieve, a plurality of load sensors, and a sieve slope compensating system. The sieve is positioned in the harvester to receive crop material from a threshing section. The plurality of load sensors are coupled to the sieve. The load sensors are configured to produce signals representative of a distributed load of the crop material on the sieve. The sieve slope compensating system is configured to tilt or side shake the sieve dependent upon the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Frank R. G. Duquesne, Bart M. A. Missotten, Glenn Aesaert, Dré W. J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Frederik Tallir, Karel M. C. Viaene
  • Publication number: 20180098490
    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: December 8, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    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
  • Patent number: 9877427
    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: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    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: 20170276534
    Abstract: An unloading automation system for unloading of harvested crop from an agricultural vehicle, such as a combine harvester, into a container. The container may be part of a vehicle container combination that is arranged to maneuver next to the agricultural vehicle in the field. The unloading automation system includes a filling degree measurement system and position measurement system, wherein the position measurement is based on UWB technology. This non-optical technology improves measurement results in dusty environments. The filing degree measurement system and the position measurement system have at least one UWB tag or base station in common.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Koen J.J. Vermue, Bart M.A. Missotten, Thomas Mahieu, Karel M.C. Viaene, Dré W.J. Jongmans, Glenn Aesaert
  • Publication number: 20170231156
    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: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Glenn Aesaert, Dré W.J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Karel M.C. Viaene
  • Publication number: 20170215330
    Abstract: A method for operating an agricultural combine in a field using at least one field-map. The method includes steps of determining (S1) a position of the agricultural combine in the field, retrieving (S2) field-related data from the at least one field-map related to the determined position in the field, and adjusting (S3) residue processing system settings of the agricultural combine based on the retrieved data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Bart M.A. Missotten, Dré W.J. Jongmans, Frederik Tallir, Thomas Mahieu
  • Publication number: 20170196169
    Abstract: A cleaning section of an agricultural harvester. The cleaning section including a sieve, a plurality of load sensors, and a sieve slope compensating system. The sieve is positioned in the harvester to receive crop material from a threshing section. The plurality of load sensors are coupled to the sieve. The load sensors are configured to produce signals representative of a distributed load of the crop material on the sieve. The sieve slope compensating system is configured to tilt or side shake the sieve dependent upon the signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Frank R.G. Duquesne, Bart M.A. Missotten, Glenn Aesaert, Dré W.J. Jongmans, Thomas Mahieu, Frederik Tallir, Karel M.C. Viaene
  • Publication number: 20170142900
    Abstract: A monitoring system for a combine harvester having a header with a header width for harvesting a crop. The monitoring system includes a plurality of sensors, configured to provide a plurality of measurement waves to a discharge area for crop residue, and receive a plurality of response waves reflected from the discharge area. The system further includes a processing unit comprising an input terminal configured to receive a response signal of the plurality of sensors, the response signal representative of the plurality of response waves reflected from the discharge area. The processing unit is configured to process the response signal and determine, based on the response signal, a distribution of the crop residue over the discharge area. The processing unit further comprises an output terminal configured to output a distribution signal representative of the distribution of the crop residue over the discharge area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Mahieu, Bart M.A. Missotten, Bart Lenaerts, Frederik Tallir, Jeroen Lowie
  • Patent number: D860232
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    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