Patents by Inventor Timothy A. Schaefer
Timothy A. Schaefer 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).
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Publication number: 20240377377Abstract: An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding to produce a sample slurry. The system includes a chemical analysis sub-system which processes and analyzes the prepared slurry for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The chemical analysis sub-system may be embodied in a multi-layered microfluidic manifold processing substrate comprising microfluidic devices which extract and quantify the concentration of analytes or other chemical parameters associated with the sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2022Publication date: November 14, 2024Inventors: Todd Swanson, Timothy A. Schaefer, Riley Litwiller
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Publication number: 20240369525Abstract: An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding to produce a sample slurry. The system includes a chemical analysis sub-system which processes and analyzes the prepared slurry for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The chemical analysis sub-system may be embodied in a multi-layered microfluidic manifold processing substrate comprising microfluidic devices which extract and quantify the concentration of analytes or other chemical parameters associated with the sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2024Publication date: November 7, 2024Inventors: Todd SWANSON, Timothy A. SCHAEFER, Riley LITWILLER
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Patent number: 12031970Abstract: An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding to produce a sample slurry. The system includes a chemical analysis sub-system which processes and analyzes the prepared slurry for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The chemical analysis sub-system may be embodied in a multi-layered microfluidic manifold processing substrate comprising microfluidic devices which extract and quantify the concentration of analytes or other chemical parameters associated with the sample.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2021Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: Precision Planting LLCInventors: Todd Swanson, Timothy A. Schaefer, Riley Litwiller
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Publication number: 20240198331Abstract: An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding first to produce a sample slurry. The system includes a multi-layered microfluidic manifold chemical analysis substrate configured to provide a temperature-compensated concentration of analytes or other chemical properties associated with the sample. The system utilizes a programmable controller, temperature sensor, and absorbance measurement device for that purpose. The system can be used to analyze various type of agricultural-related samples including soil, vegetation, manure, milk or other.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2022Publication date: June 20, 2024Inventors: Todd Swanson, Adam Vaccari, Timothy A. Schaefer, Riley Litwiller
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Patent number: 11871694Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for selection of crop-input varieties. Multiple varieties of seeds may be planted with a row unit seed hopper having a plurality of compartments for receiving seed, each compartment having a seed passage through which seeds pass under gravity. A seed transfer actuator is disposed within or below the row unit seed hopper and is in communication with each of the seed passages and is configured to selectively open the seed passage of one of the plurality of compartments to permit the seeds therein to pass into the seed pool of a seed meter while closing the seed passage of other of the plurality of compartments to prevent the seeds from the other plurality of compartments passing into the seed pool of the seed meter.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2020Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Precision Planting LLCInventors: Todd Swanson, Luke Stuber, Timothy A. Schaefer
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Publication number: 20230133335Abstract: An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2021Publication date: May 4, 2023Inventors: Todd Swanson, Timothy A. Schaefer, Riley Litwiller, Dale M. Koch, Nicholas Minarich
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Publication number: 20220196628Abstract: An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding to produce a sample slurry. The system includes a chemical analysis sub-system which processes and analyzes the prepared slurry for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The chemical analysis sub-system may be embodied in a multi-layered microfluidic manifold processing substrate comprising microfluidic devices which extract and quantify the concentration of analytes or other chemical parameters associated with the sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2021Publication date: June 23, 2022Inventors: Todd SWANSON, Timothy A. SCHAEFER, Riley LITWILLER
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Publication number: 20210341452Abstract: An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding to produce a sample slurry. The system includes a chemical analysis sub-system which processes and analyzes the prepared slurry for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The chemical analysis sub-system may be embodied in a multi-layered microfluidic manifold processing substrate comprising microfluidic devices which extract and quantify the concentration of analytes or other chemical parameters associated with the sample.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 9, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Inventors: Todd SWANSON, Timothy A. SCHAEFER, Riley LITWILLER
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Publication number: 20210268456Abstract: An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (e.g., mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The preparation sub-system may comprise a slurry recirculation flow loop configured with devices to stir, measure, and adjust a water to solids ratio of the slurry.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Todd SWANSON, Kent LEVY, Timothy A. SCHAEFER, Riley LITWILLER, Reid HARMAN, Joshua SEELYE, Adam VACCARI, Joanquin GANOZA, Dale M. KOCH
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Publication number: 20210007269Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for selection of crop-input varieties. Multiple varieties of seeds may be planted with a row unit seed hopper having a plurality of compartments for receiving seed, each compartment having a seed passage through which seeds pass under gravity. A seed transfer actuator is disposed within or below the row unit seed hopper and is in communication with each of the seed passages and is configured to selectively open the seed passage of one of the plurality of compartments to permit the seeds therein to pass into the seed pool of a seed meter while closing the seed passage of other of the plurality of compartments to prevent the seeds from the other plurality of compartments passing into the seed pool of the seed meter.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2020Publication date: January 14, 2021Inventors: Todd Swanson, Luke Stuber, Timothy A. Schaefer
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Patent number: 10820485Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for selection of crop-input varieties. In one embodiment multiple varieties of seeds may be planted utilizing a row unit seed hopper having a plurality of compartments for receiving seed, each compartment having a seed passage through which seeds pass under gravity. A seed transfer actuator is disposed within or below the row unit seed hopper and is in communication with each of the seed passages and is configured to selectively open the seed passage of one of the plurality of compartments thereby permitting the seeds therein to pass into the seed pool of a seed meter while closing the seed passage of other of the plurality of compartments preventing the seeds from the other plurality of compartments passing into the seed pool of the seed meter.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2018Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Precision Planting LLCInventors: Todd Swanson, Luke Stuber, Timothy A. Schaefer
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Publication number: 20180124998Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for selection of crop-input varieties. In one embodiment multiple varieties of seeds may be planted utilizing a row unit seed hopper having a plurality of compartments for receiving seed, each compartment having a seed passage through which seeds pass under gravity. A seed transfer actuator is disposed within or below the row unit seed hopper and is in communication with each of the seed passages and is configured to selectively open the seed passage of one of the plurality of compartments thereby permitting the seeds therein to pass into the seed pool of a seed meter while closing the seed passage of other of the plurality of compartments preventing the seeds from the other plurality of compartments passing into the seed pool of the seed meter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2018Publication date: May 10, 2018Inventors: Todd Swanson, Luke Stuber, Timothy A. Schaefer