Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Funk

Timothy J. Funk 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: 7383114
    Abstract: An apparatus and method using GPS for dynamically adjusting side-to-side positioning of a farm implement along a geographical path. The apparatus includes a global positioning system (GPS) antenna disposed on the farm implement, a GPS receiver coupled to the GPS antenna for determining a location of the GPS antenna, and a dual guidance computer for comparing the location to stored geographical coordinates of a desired path for providing a guide signal for offsetting the lateral position of an adjustable hitch or angling a wheel or ground rudder in a steerable implement for guiding the implement along the path; and a range extent signal for maintaining the offset of the hitch or steering angle of the implement within its dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Arthur F. Lange, Timothy J. Funk
  • Patent number: 7054731
    Abstract: An apparatus and method using GPS for dynamically adjusting side-to-side positioning of a farm implement along a geographical path. The apparatus includes a global positioning system (GPS) antenna disposed on the farm implement, a GPS receiver coupled to the GPS antenna for determining a location of the GPS antenna, and a dual guidance computer for comparing the location to stored geographical coordinates of a desired path or providing a guide signal for offsetting the lateral position of an adjustable hitch or angling a wheel or ground rudder in a steerable implement for guiding the implement along the path; and a range extent signal for maintaining the offset of the hitch or steering angle of the implement within its dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited
    Inventors: Arthur F. Lange, Timothy J. Funk
  • Publication number: 20040073468
    Abstract: A fleet management system manages a plurality of machines. The fleet manager includes a communication conduit coupled to the machines for receiving status information related to the machines and a repository coupled to the communication conduit for receiving and storing the status information. The system also includes a fleet manager controller coupled to the repository for analyzing the status information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Bhavin J. Vyas, Timothy J. Funk