Patents by Inventor Craig L. Koehrsen

Craig L. Koehrsen 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: 20140214235
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a plurality of machines operating at a worksite. The control system may have a plurality of communicating devices, and a plurality of onboard controllers, each mountable to the plurality of machines. The control system may also have an offboard controller in communication with the plurality of onboard controllers via the plurality of communicating devices. The offboard controller may be configured to selectively assign each of a plurality of sequentially arranged dump targets for use by each of the plurality of machines based on an order in which the plurality of machines arrive at a dump location. The offboard controller may be further configured to make a determination that lanes extending to two dump targets of the plurality of sequentially arranged dump targets overlap, and selectively skip assignment of one of the two dump targets based on the determination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Ananth P. KINI, Joshua C. STRUBLE, Andrew J. VITALE, Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Bryan J. EVERETT, Mark H. C. BANHAM, Dean G. POVEY, Matthew A. HOLMES
  • Publication number: 20140214236
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a machine at a worksite. The control system may have an offboard controller. The offboard controller may be configured to receive information regarding a berm at the worksite, determine starting and ending points spaced apart along an edge of the berm based on the information, and determine a maximum orthogonal distance from a virtual line extending between the starting and ending points to the edge of the berm. The offboard controller may be further configured to selectively validate the starting and ending points based on the maximum orthogonal distance, and to designate a center of the virtual line between validated starting and ending points as a dump target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Ananth P. KINI, Joshua C. STRUBLE, Andrew J. VITALE, Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Bryan J. EVERETT, Mark H. C. BANHAM, Dean G. POVEY, Matthew A. HOLMES
  • Patent number: 8660791
    Abstract: A method of tracking a fleet of machines operating at a common worksite is disclosed. The method may include receiving at a central controller an unacknowledged message from communicating devices onboard the fleet of machines, the unacknowledged message including a current location of each of the fleet of machines determined by locating devices onboard the fleet of machines. The method may also include updating a location listing of the fleet of machines with the current location, and repetitively multicasting the location listing to the communicating devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Craig L. Koehrsen, Darryl V. Collins, Bryan J. Everett
  • Patent number: 8548668
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a machine having a work tool and operating at a work site. The control system may have a sensor associated with the work tool and configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the work tool, an offboard worksite controller, and an onboard controller in communication with the sensor and the offboard worksite controller. The onboard controller may be configured to receive from an operator an input indicative of a current task being performed by the machine, and track movement of a portion of the work tool corresponding with the operator input. The onboard controller may also be configured to communicate the tracked movement to the offboard worksite controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan J. Everett, Craig L. Koehrsen, Rodney R. Richards, Steven J. Cook
  • Patent number: 8548741
    Abstract: A tracking system is disclosed for use with a fleet of machines operating at a common worksite. The tracking system may have a locating device located onboard each machine of the fleet of machine that is configured to determine a current location of an associated machine of the fleet of machines, and a communicating device located onboard each machine in communication with the locating device. The tracking system may also have a central controller located offboard the fleet of machines in communication with each communicating device. The central controller may be configured to receive an unacknowledged message from each communicating device relaying the current location of the associated machine. The central controller may also be configured to update a location listing of the fleet of machines with the current location, and to repetitively multicast the location listing to the communicating devices of the fleet of machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Catepillar Inc.
    Inventors: Craig L. Koehrsen, Darryl V. Collins, Bryan J. Everett
  • Patent number: 8360343
    Abstract: A mobile fluid delivery machine for delivering fluid to a site has a tank storing fluid, and at least one spray head configured to spray the stored fluid onto the site. In addition, the machine has a communication device configured to receive fluid delivery mission instructions from a site computing system, the mission instructions identifying a sequence of path segments on the site and corresponding fluid delivery amounts allocated to the path segments, and a location device configured to determine the location of the machine on the site. Th machine may also have a fluid delivery system configured to determine whether the location of the fluid delivery machine corresponds to a path segment of the sequence, and when it is determined that the location of the machine corresponds to a path segment in the sequence, to identify the fluid delivery amount allocated to that path segment based on the mission instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Adam J. Gudat, James D. Humphrey, Peter W. Anderton, David C. Orr, Kenneth L. Stratton, Craig L. Koehrsen, Claude W. Keefer, Michael D. Braunstein
  • Publication number: 20130002455
    Abstract: A method of tracking a fleet of machines operating at a common worksite is disclosed. The method may include receiving at a central controller an unacknowledged message from communicating devices onboard the fleet of machines, the unacknowledged message including a current location of each of the fleet of machines determined by locating devices onboard the fleet of machines. The method may also include updating a location listing of the fleet of machines with the current location, and repetitively multicasting the location listing to the communicating devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Darryl V. Collins, Bryan J. Everett
  • Publication number: 20130006468
    Abstract: A tracking system is disclosed for use with a fleet of machines operating at a common worksite. The tracking system may have a locating device located onboard each machine of the fleet of machine that is configured to determine a current location of an associated machine of the fleet of machines, and a communicating device located onboard each machine in communication with the locating device. The tracking system may also have a central controller located offboard the fleet of machines in communication with each communicating device. The central controller may be configured to receive an unacknowledged message from each communicating device relaying the current location of the associated machine. The central controller may also be configured to update a location listing of the fleet of machines with the current location, and to repetitively multicast the location listing to the communicating devices of the fleet of machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Darryl V. Collins, Bryan J. Everett
  • Publication number: 20120287277
    Abstract: A display system for a mobile machine operating at a worksite is disclosed. The display system may have at least one detection device configured to detect objects within a distance of the mobile machine, at least one camera configured to generate a plurality of camera views of the worksite around the mobile machine, a display located within the mobile machine, and a controller in communication with the at least one detection device, the at least one camera, and the display. The controller may be configured to cause an indication of proximity of objects detected by the at least one detection device to be shown on the display, and to automatically cause the camera view of the plurality of camera views associated with a closest objected detected by the at least one detection device to be shown on the display simultaneous with the indication of proximity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Craig L. Koehrsen, Aaron M. Donnelli, Clay D. Reitz, Ferid Gharsalli, Kiran Bharwani
  • Publication number: 20120249342
    Abstract: A display system for a mobile machine operating at a worksite is disclosed. The display system may have an obstacle detection device configured to detect objects within a distance of the mobile machine, and a locating system configured to track objects at the worksite. The display system may also have a display located within the mobile machine, and a controller in communication with the obstacle detection device, the locating system, and the display. The controller may be configured to cause information from the obstacle detection device and the locating system to be simultaneously shown in an overlapping manner on a common portion of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventors: Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Aaron M. DONNELLI, Clay D. REITZ
  • Publication number: 20120232779
    Abstract: A worksite system is disclosed. The worksite system may have an input module configured to receive at least one of a boundary and a characteristic of an awareness zone at a worksite, and at least one locating device configured to determine a position of a mobile machine and another mobile entity at the worksite. The worksite system may also have a controller in communication with the input module and the at least one locating device. The controller may be configured to track movement of the mobile machine, and to make a determination of a presence of the other mobile entity. The controller may also be configured to initiate a collision avoidance strategy in response to at least one of the mobile machine nearing or entering the awareness zone when the other mobile entity is in the awareness zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Thomas F. DOHERTY
  • Publication number: 20120136523
    Abstract: A control system for use at a dump location having a plurality of dump sites is disclosed. The control system may have a control module associated with a mobile machine and a worksite controller. The worksite controller may be configured to receive a signal from the control module indicative of the mobile machine crossing a boundary at a dump location, and assign a travel route for the mobile machine based on the signal. The travel route may include a travel segment on a common entrance row, a first single-use path from the common entrance row to a particular one of the plurality of dump sites, a second single-use path from the particular one of the plurality of dump sites to a common exit row, and a travel segment on the common exit row. The worksite controller may be further configured to communicate the travel route to the control module as the mobile machine moves toward the dump location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Bryan J. EVERETT, Craig L. Koehrsen, Eric A. Moughler, Mark H. Banham
  • Publication number: 20120136509
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a plurality of mobile machines operating at a worksite having a resource. The control system may have a worksite controller configured to divide a common travel path into a plurality of segments, including at least a spot segment at the resource and a stage segment. The worksite control may further be configured to receive a first input indicative of a desire for a first of the plurality of mobile machines to leave the spot segment, and to direct the first of the plurality of mobile machines out of the spot segment based on the first input. The worksite controller may be further configured to receive first location information for the first of the plurality of mobile machines, and to direct the second of the plurality of mobile machines from the stage segment into the spot segment based on the first location information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Bryan J. Everett, Michael Siemer, Craig L. Koehrsen, Andrew J. Vitale, John R. Ellwood
  • Publication number: 20120136525
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a machine having a work tool and operating at a work site. The control system may have a sensor associated with the work tool and configured to generate a signal indicative of a position of the work tool, an offboard worksite controller, and an onboard controller in communication with the sensor and the offboard worksite controller. The onboard controller may be configured to receive from an operator an input indicative of a current task being performed by the machine, and track movement of a portion of the work tool corresponding with the operator input. The onboard controller may also be configured to communicate the tracked movement to the offboard worksite controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Bryan J. EVERETT, Craig L. Koehrsen, Rodney R. Richards, Steven J. Cook
  • Publication number: 20120136524
    Abstract: A control system is disclosed for use with a mobile loading machine operating at a first location and a plurality of mobile haul machines configured to move material received at the first location to a second location. The control system may have a plurality of control modules, each associated with one of the mobile loading machine and the plurality of mobile haul machines, and a worksite controller. The worksite controller may be configured to make a determination that a position of the mobile loading machine has changed, and to generate a new travel path for the plurality of mobile haul machines based on the determination. The worksite controller may also be configured to selectively communicate the new travel path to each of the plurality of control modules. The new travel path between the first and second locations may be automatically determined in accordance with at least one user-selected goal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Bryan J. EVERETT, Andrew J. Vitale, Craig L. Koehrsen, James D. Humphrey
  • Publication number: 20110288769
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fluid delivery on a site using at least one fluid delivery machine are disclosed. An exemplary such method includes identifying at least one path on the site based on map information associated with the site, calculating a fluid delivery requirement of the at least one path based on environmental information associated with the site, and dispatching a fluid delivery machine on a mission to treat the at least one path with fluid based on the fluid delivery requirement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Adam J. GUDAT, James D. Humphrey, Peter W. Anderton, David C. Orr, Kenneth L. Stratton, Craig L. Koehrsen, Claude W. Keefer, Michael D. Braunstein
  • Publication number: 20110266360
    Abstract: Systems and methods for executing a fluid delivery mission are disclosed. In one embodiment a mobile fluid delivery machine for delivering fluid to a site has a tank storing fluid, and at least one spray head configured to spray the stored fluid onto the site. In addition, the mobile fluid delivery machine has a communication device configured to receive fluid delivery mission instructions from a site computing system, the mission instructions identifying a sequence of path segments on the site and corresponding fluid delivery amounts allocated to the path segments, and a location device configured to determine the location of the mobile fluid delivery machine on the site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Adam J. Gudat, James D. Humphrey, Peter W. Anderton, David C. Orr, Kenneth L. Stratton, Craig L. Koehrsen, Claude W. Keefer, Michael D. Braunstein
  • Patent number: 6751540
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for storing earthwork design templates in an on-board system on a work machine. The machine operator may select one or more of the templates and place and orient the template on a topographic map displayed on a screen. The operator may adjust the position and heading in the x-y plane and adjust the elevation, slope, and cross slope of the template relative to the map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Claude W. Keefer, Craig L. Koehrsen
  • Publication number: 20030069679
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for storing earthwork design templates in an on-board system on a work machine. The machine operator may select one or more of the templates and place and orient the template on a topographic map displayed on a screen. The operator may adjust the position and heading in the x-y plane and adjust the elevation, slope, and cross slope of the template relative to the map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Claude W. Keefer, Craig L. Koehrsen
  • Patent number: 6114993
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method for determining and displaying a correlated position of a truck as it is being loaded by an earth moving machine is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving a loading event signal and then determining the correlated position of the truck in response to the loading event signal. The correlated position of the truck is then displayed relative to the land size.In an alternative embodiment, a method for determining and displaying productivity information regarding material excavated by an earth moving machine and loaded into a truck is provided. The method includes the steps of determining the bucket load material type of the material loaded in the bucket. Productivity information is then displayed at a remote location in response to the bucket load material type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel E. Henderson, Craig L. Koehrsen