How Farm Vehicles Plant Evenly in Odd-Shaped Fields
This patent describes a smart system for farm vehicles that plans planting paths in fields with non-parallel sides, automatically turning off parts of the planter to avoid wasting seeds by replanting.
Original patent title: “Method for avoiding point rows for quadrilateral fields using autoguidance”
This patent describes a smart system for farm vehicles that plans planting paths in fields with non-parallel sides, automatically turning off parts of the planter to avoid wasting seeds by replanting. Granted to CNH Amercia in 2012 with 22 claims and 9 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2029.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The patent details a method for a "work vehicle" (like a tractor) to plant crops in a field that isn't a perfect rectangle, specifically one with "divergent" side boundaries. A computer in the vehicle's "control system" calculates a "swath pattern" (the path the vehicle will take) by determining the number of "swaths" (rows) and their widths (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). Crucially, it adjusts the width of "side by side individual swaths" by "disabling one or more individual rows of an implement" (the planting tool) to prevent "re-planting of a portion of an overlapped adjacent swath" (Claim 1). For example, if a field narrows, the system can turn off some planter sections to ensure seeds are only placed in unplanted areas.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover fields that are not described as having at least four boundaries, including two "divergently" extending side boundaries.
- Does not cover systems that adjust swath width without "disabling individual output controllable rows" of the implement.
- Does not cover manual guidance systems where an operator entirely controls the vehicle's path and implement row activation.
- Does not cover swath patterns where the "centerlines of the side by side swaths" do not "diverge uniformly" between the end boundaries.
- Does not cover methods that do not calculate swath width as a function of "overlap of existing planted areas."
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in generating a swath pattern with uniformly diverging centerlines across a non-rectangular field, combined with the dynamic ability to disable specific rows of the implement to prevent wasteful replanting in overlapped areas. This ensures efficient coverage without gaps or double-planting.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
John Deere AutoTrac systems
Case IH AFS AccuGuide
Trimble Autosteer systems
Precision planting equipment with section control
Modern agricultural guidance systems
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is vital for precision agriculture, allowing farmers to maximize efficiency and minimize waste. By precisely planning paths and adjusting implements, it helps conserve expensive resources like seeds, fertilizer, and fuel. It enables farming of irregularly shaped fields with the same precision as rectangular ones, which is common in many agricultural regions.
Filed
April 8, 2009
Granted
October 23, 2012
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
CNH Industrial, the assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →'s parent company, continues to develop and integrate advanced guidance and precision farming technologies into its Case IH and New Holland brands. Major competitors like John Deere, AGCO, and Trimble also invest heavily in similar autoguidance and implement control systems for their agricultural machinery.
Market impact
This type of patent contributed to the widespread adoption of precision agriculture. It enabled farmers to significantly reduce input costs (seeds, fertilizer, chemicals) by preventing waste in irregularly shaped fields. It also improved operational efficiency, allowing for faster and more accurate field work, which is crucial for large-scale farming operations.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The patent details a method for a "work vehicle" (like a tractor) to plant crops in a field that isn't a perfect rectangle, specifically one with "divergent" side boundaries. A computer in the vehicle's "control system" calculates a "swath pattern" (the path the vehicle will take) by determining the number of "swaths" (rows) and their widths (Claim 1). Crucially, it adjusts the width of "side by side individual swaths" by "disabling one or more individual rows of an implement" (the planting tool) to prevent "re-planting of a portion of an overlapped adjacent swath" (Claim 1). For example, if a field narrows, the system can turn off some planter sections to ensure seeds are only placed in unplanted areas.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in generating a swath pattern with uniformly diverging centerlines across a non-rectangular field, combined with the dynamic ability to disable specific rows of the implement to prevent wasteful replanting in overlapped areas. This ensures efficient coverage without gaps or double-planting.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover fields that are not described as having at least four boundaries, including two "divergently" extending side boundaries.
- Does not cover systems that adjust swath width without "disabling individual output controllable rows" of the implement.
- Does not cover manual guidance systems where an operator entirely controls the vehicle's path and implement row activation.
- Does not cover swath patterns where the "centerlines of the side by side swaths" do not "diverge uniformly" between the end boundaries.
- Does not cover methods that do not calculate swath width as a function of "overlap of existing planted areas."
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
20/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
15/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$37K – $120K
Midpoint $75K · 2.6 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Patent Claims
0 independent claims · 1 dependent
Claims are the legal boundaries of the patent. An independent claim stands alone. A dependent claim adds limitations to its parent, narrowing — but not broadening — the scope.
The original legal language
Original claims
22 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Dix, P. J., & Wendte, K. (2012). How Farm Vehicles Plant Evenly in Odd-Shaped Fields (U.S. Patent No. 8,296,052). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8296052/method-for-avoiding-point-rows-for-quadrilateral-fields-using-autoguidance
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Farm Vehicles Plant Evenly in Odd-Shaped Fields cover?
This patent describes a smart system for farm vehicles that plans planting paths in fields with non-parallel sides, automatically turning off parts of the planter to avoid wasting seeds by replanting.
Who owns patent US 8296052?
CNH Amercia owns this patent, granted in 2012.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on April 8, 2029, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8296052 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 9 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is vital for precision agriculture, allowing farmers to maximize efficiency and minimize waste. By precisely planning paths and adjusting implements, it helps conserve expensive resources like seeds, fertilizer, and fuel. It enables farming of irregularly shaped fields with the same precision as rectangular ones, which is common in many agricultural regions.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover fields that are not described as having at least four boundaries, including two "divergently" extending side boundaries.
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