Patents by Inventor Todd Swanson

Todd Swanson 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).

  • Publication number: 20230210052
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and harvesters for adjusting settings of a harvester. In one embodiment, a computer implemented method includes capturing, with at least one image capture device that is located on the harvester, images of a field view of an unharvested region to be harvested, analyzing the captured images to determine crop information for a crop of a harvested region that is adjacent to the unharvested region, and adjusting settings or operating parameters of the harvester for the unharvested region based on the crop information for the crop of the harvested region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Aaron Herrmann, Todd Swanson, Jason J. Stoller
  • Patent number: 11678601
    Abstract: A system for seed orientation includes a seed disk capable of rotation in operation and having at least one singulator to adjust an orientation of seed to a desired seed orientation for placement within a furrow during planting. A vision system in proximity to the seed disk determines seed orientation data for seed on the seed disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Dale Koch, Jeremy Hodel, Todd Swanson, Ian Radtke
  • Patent number: 11678600
    Abstract: A system for sensing characteristics of a trench in a soil surface during planting operations. A trench opening assembly opens a trench in the soil surface as the trench opening assembly moves in a forward direction of travel. A trench closing assembly disposed rearward of the trench opening assembly closes the opened trench with soil. One or more sensors may be disposed on an appurtenance disposed in said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the open trench or an area of the trench closed with soil by the trench closing assembly or a sensor may be disposed outside of said trench configured to provide characteristics of an area of the trench closed with soil or a combination of the sensors may be disposed in the trench and outside of the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Dale Koch, Jason Stoller, Todd Swanson, Michael Strnad, Matthew Morgan, Ian Radtke, Timothy Kater, Jeremy Hodel
  • Publication number: 20230173415
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Todd Swanson, Nicholas Minarich, Nicholas WINKLER
  • Patent number: 11653591
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a seed firmer having a resilient portion and a firming portion that are molded together into a unitary part with each portion being a different material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Brian McMahon, Todd Swanson, Michael Strnad
  • Publication number: 20230140950
    Abstract: A coating system for parylene deposition may include a chamber, a pumping system having a first and a second pump, where a pumping speed of the first and second pumps is based at least in part on an operating pressure; and a controller, the controller configured by machine-readable instructions to control activation of the first pump to initiate a pump down operation of the chamber, determine a cut-in pressure for switching operation from the first to the second pump, monitor an internal pressure of the chamber, switch operation to the second pump based at least in part on determining that the internal pressure of the chamber is at or below the cut-in pressure; and continue, using the second pump, the pump down operation of the deposition chamber until the internal pressure is at or below a target pressure for parylene deposition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Steven Scott Neely, Michael Todd Swanson, II, Bradford Alan Gillette, Brian J. Behne
  • Publication number: 20230144670
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Todd Swanson, Dale M. Koch, Nicholas Minarich, Nicholas WINKLER
  • Publication number: 20230133335
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Todd Swanson, Timothy A. Schaefer, Riley Litwiller, Dale M. Koch, Nicholas Minarich
  • Patent number: 11632905
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and harvesters for adjusting settings of a harvester. In one embodiment, a computer Implemented method includes capturing, with at least one image capture device that is located on the harvester, images of a field view of an unharvested region to be harvested, analyzing the captured images to determine crop information for a crop of a harvested region that is adjacent to the unharvested region, and adjusting settings or operating parameters of the harvester for the unharvested region based on the crop information for the crop of the harvested region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Aaron Herrmann, Todd Swanson, Jason J. Stoller
  • Patent number: 11612093
    Abstract: An agricultural planting system for controlling the depth of an opener device comprising: an agricultural planter; an opener device mounted on the agricultural planter for engaging the ground of a field; a gauge wheel mounted on the agricultural planter for rotating on the ground of the field; a GPS device coupled to the agricultural planter, the GPS device configured to determine a location of the agricultural planter in the field; and a controller in electrical communication with the agricultural planter and the GPS device, the controller having predetermined settings associated with a map of the field, the controller being configured to select a relative elevation of the opener device and the gauge wheel based at least in part on the location determined by the GPS device, and produce, based on the location, a signal for adjusting the depth of engagement into the ground of the opener device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Precision Planting, LLC
    Inventors: Jason Stoller, Todd Swanson
  • Patent number: 11555945
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and method for monitoring weather conditions and controlling field operations based on the weather conditions. In one embodiment, a system for monitoring weather conditions for field operations includes a plurality of weather devices for monitoring weather conditions of fields with at least at one weather device in proximity to each field being monitored and at least one weather device having an electronics module for determining weather data including precipitation data. The system also includes an agricultural computer system having at least one processing unit for executing instructions for monitoring weather conditions. The at least one processing unit is configured to execute instructions to receive weather data from the plurality of weather devices for monitoring weather conditions of fields, to process the weather data, and to generate data including precipitation rate for monitoring weather conditions and operations of the plurality of weather devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: CLIMATE LLC
    Inventors: Dale Koch, Todd Swanson, Justin Koch
  • Patent number: 11547036
    Abstract: A seed trench depth sensor is adapted to mount to an agricultural implement. The trench depth sensor determining the difference between a distance measured to a bottom of the seed trench by a first sensor and a distance measured to a surface of the soil by a second sensor disposed rearward of the first sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Precision Planting LLC
    Inventors: Michael Strnad, Jeremy Hodel, Dale Koch, Todd Swanson, Dillon Sloneker
  • Publication number: 20230000015
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and harvesters for adjusting settings of a harvester. In one embodiment, a computer Implemented method includes capturing, with at least one image capture device that is located on the harvester, images of a field view of an unharvested region to be harvested, analyzing the captured images to determine crop information for a crop of a harvested region that is adjacent to the unharvested region, and adjusting settings or operating parameters of the harvester for the unharvested region based on the crop information for the crop of the harvested region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Aaron Herrmann, Todd Swanson, Jason J. Stoller
  • Patent number: 11526643
    Abstract: Formal verification methods are used to solve a valid model of a design-under-test (DUT) to enumerate valid coverage points based on an architectural specification of the DUT. A formal solver can be queried to solve for valid solutions by crossing one or more fields of a variable. After each valid solve, values of the variable fields can be recorded and a count for number of valid solutions can be incremented. A new rule can be added to the solving process after each valid solve to invalidate the recorded values of the variable fields for subsequent solves. The count for the number of valid solutions can provide a running total of the valid solutions found for the query. Results of the query can be processed to convert the recorded values to provide the enumerated coverage points. The enumerated coverage points can be converted to test cases for running simulations on the DUT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Swanson
  • Patent number: 11516959
    Abstract: An agricultural trench depth sensing system having a trench implement adapted to be disposed in a soil trench opened in a soil surface. In one embodiment an ultrasonic sensor detects a distance to an upper surface of said trench implement or a target disposed thereon. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes one or more fingers which rotate with respect to said trench implement to detect the soil surface relative to said trench implement. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes side sensors for detecting the sidewall of the soil trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventors: Todd Swanson, Dale Koch, Adam Vaccari, Dexter Travis, Reid Harman
  • Publication number: 20220377969
    Abstract: An agricultural trench depth sensing system having a trench implement adapted to be disposed in a soil trench opened in a soil surface. In one embodiment an ultrasonic sensor detects a distance to an upper surface of said trench implement or a target disposed thereon. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes one or more fingers which rotate with respect to said trench implement to detect the soil surface relative to said trench implement. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes side sensors for detecting the sidewall of the soil trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Todd Swanson, Dale M. Koch, Adam Vaccari, Dexter Travis, Reid Harman
  • Publication number: 20220381548
    Abstract: An agricultural trench depth sensing system having a trench implement adapted to be disposed in a soil trench opened in a soil surface. In one embodiment an ultrasonic sensor detects a distance to an upper surface of said trench implement or a target disposed thereon. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes one or more fingers which rotate with respect to said trench implement to detect the soil surface relative to said trench implement. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes side sensors for detecting the sidewall of the soil trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Todd Swanson, Dale M. Koch, Michael Strnad
  • Publication number: 20220373317
    Abstract: An agricultural trench depth sensing system having a trench implement adapted to be disposed in a soil trench opened in a soil surface. In one embodiment an ultrasonic sensor detects a distance to an upper surface of said trench implement or a target disposed thereon. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes one or more fingers which rotate with respect to said trench implement to detect the soil surface relative to said trench implement. In another embodiment, said trench implement includes side sensors for detecting the sidewall of the soil trench.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Todd Swanson, Dale M. Koch
  • Publication number: 20220364998
    Abstract: A system for collecting and chemically analyzing water samples extracted from the soil to measure one or more analytes of interest such as soil nutrient levels of agricultural interest for increasing crop yield and quality in one use of the system. The system includes a sample collection probe (20) comprising a filter media (26) arranged to contact the soil when embedded therein and capture a water sample from the soil, and operably coupled to a sample processing sub-system (180) thereby collectively forming a sampling station (190). The sub-system (180) is configured to receive and analyze the water sample. A programmable probe controller (60) directs operation of the sample collection, processing, and chemical analysis in situ. A networked array (110) of sampling probes dispersed throughout the field may communicate wirelessly with at least one remote electronic device such as via the cloud computing (102). A modular version of a sampling probe (200) permits customized sampling at various soil depths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Dale M. Koch, Nicholas Minarich, Todd Swanson, Rachel Nelson, Adam Vaccari
  • Publication number: 20220330476
    Abstract: Disclosed are devices, systems and methods related to agricultural planters. In some implementations, the row unit includes a soil engaging member, where the soil engaging member engages at least one sidewall of a trench and displaces soil from the sidewall to cover the seed. In further implementations, the row unit includes a sensing system for sensing sidewall compaction and/or soil moisture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Dale Koch, Jason Stoller, Todd Swanson, Michael Strnad, Matthew Morgan, Ian Radtke, Timothy Kater, Jeremy Hodel