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).
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Publication number: 20140214235Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: 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
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Publication number: 20140214236Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2013Publication date: July 31, 2014Applicant: 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
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Patent number: 8660791Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Craig L. Koehrsen, Darryl V. Collins, Bryan J. Everett
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Patent number: 8548668Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 4, 2011Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Bryan J. Everett, Craig L. Koehrsen, Rodney R. Richards, Steven J. Cook
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Patent number: 8548741Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Catepillar Inc.Inventors: Craig L. Koehrsen, Darryl V. Collins, Bryan J. Everett
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Patent number: 8360343Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 30, 2010Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: 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
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Publication number: 20130002455Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2011Publication date: January 3, 2013Inventors: Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Darryl V. Collins, Bryan J. Everett
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Publication number: 20130006468Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2011Publication date: January 3, 2013Inventors: Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Darryl V. Collins, Bryan J. Everett
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Publication number: 20120287277Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2011Publication date: November 15, 2012Inventors: Craig L. Koehrsen, Aaron M. Donnelli, Clay D. Reitz, Ferid Gharsalli, Kiran Bharwani
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Publication number: 20120249342Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Inventors: Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Aaron M. DONNELLI, Clay D. REITZ
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Publication number: 20120232779Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2011Publication date: September 13, 2012Inventors: Craig L. KOEHRSEN, Thomas F. DOHERTY
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Publication number: 20120136523Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Inventors: Bryan J. EVERETT, Craig L. Koehrsen, Eric A. Moughler, Mark H. Banham
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Publication number: 20120136509Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Inventors: Bryan J. Everett, Michael Siemer, Craig L. Koehrsen, Andrew J. Vitale, John R. Ellwood
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Publication number: 20120136525Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Inventors: Bryan J. EVERETT, Craig L. Koehrsen, Rodney R. Richards, Steven J. Cook
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Publication number: 20120136524Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Inventors: Bryan J. EVERETT, Andrew J. Vitale, Craig L. Koehrsen, James D. Humphrey
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Publication number: 20110288769Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2010Publication date: November 24, 2011Inventors: Adam J. GUDAT, James D. Humphrey, Peter W. Anderton, David C. Orr, Kenneth L. Stratton, Craig L. Koehrsen, Claude W. Keefer, Michael D. Braunstein
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Publication number: 20110266360Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2010Publication date: November 3, 2011Inventors: Adam J. Gudat, James D. Humphrey, Peter W. Anderton, David C. Orr, Kenneth L. Stratton, Craig L. Koehrsen, Claude W. Keefer, Michael D. Braunstein
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Patent number: 6751540Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 10, 2001Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: Caterpillar IncInventors: Claude W. Keefer, Craig L. Koehrsen
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Publication number: 20030069679Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2001Publication date: April 10, 2003Inventors: Claude W. Keefer, Craig L. Koehrsen
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Patent number: 6114993Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 5, 1998Date of Patent: September 5, 2000Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Daniel E. Henderson, Craig L. Koehrsen