Patents by Inventor John L. Marsolek
John L. Marsolek 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: 20240059173Abstract: A method includes establishing a data connection between a first controller, and a second controller of a mobile machine. The method also includes causing, by the first controller, a charging unit to direct electrical current to an energy storage device of the mobile machine. The method further includes receiving, by the first controller a plurality of electronic files stored in a memory of the mobile machine, and storing the files in a memory of the charging unit. The method also includes providing to the second controller, by the first controller, an indication that each file of the plurality of electronic files has been stored in the memory of the charging unit. In such methods, second controller is configured to delete each file of the plurality of electronic files from the memory of the mobile machine based on the indication.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2022Publication date: February 22, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Matthew Thomas Hanson, John L. Marsolek, Nathaniel S. Doy
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Publication number: 20240001845Abstract: A system for warning that a slope is too steep for securely parking a machine includes: at least one inclinometer configured to be disposed on the machine, the machine being disposed on the slope and to measure a pitch of the machine; a controller that includes a processor and is configured to be operatively connected to the at least one inclinometer and to determine, using the pitch, if the machine cannot park securely; and a warning generator configured to be operatively connected to the controller and to alert at least an operator of the machine that the machine cannot park securely when the controller so determines.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2022Publication date: January 4, 2024Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Brian D. Nagel, John L. Marsolek, Nicholas A. Greene, Caleb L. Anderson
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Publication number: 20230343144Abstract: A system and method include receiving sensor data from a of at least a portion of a work surface of a worksite including a first one or more material properties, a first timestamp, a first location, and the like, determining a multi-layer map based at least in part from this data and including new layer commands, meeting or exceeding data thresholds, new machine operations, machine learning models, and receiving additional sensor data containing a second same, similar, and/or different information, generating a new layer and/or overwriting the existing layer data, and providing a processed map to one or more machines, memory, additional devices, and the like. The method also includes saving prior layers and/or data of overwritten layers. The method further includes causing at least a part of the multi-layer material property map to be displayed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2022Publication date: October 26, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, Joseph L. Faivre, Jeremy Wayne Lee, John L. Marsolek, Matthew Thomas Hanson, Brian D. Nagel, Robert K. Iverson
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Publication number: 20230328477Abstract: A method includes receiving information indicative of a perimeter of a first portion of a work surface, generating, based on the information, a first geofence substantially overlaying the perimeter, and causing a display to display the first geofence. The method also includes receiving a first input indicating an accuracy of the first geofence. The method further includes determining that at least part of the first geofence is less than a threshold distance from a second geofence associated with the work surface. The method also includes generating, based on determining that the at least part of the first geofence is less than the threshold distance from the second geofence, a third geofence associated with the work surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2022Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, John L. Marsolek, Sangameshwar Sonth, Robert J. McGee
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Publication number: 20230323612Abstract: Various control systems and methods for a working machine such as a compactor are disclosed. The control system can include any one or combination of components including a controller in communication with at least a steering system and a position sensor. The controller can be configured to: receive position data from the position sensor including during operator implemented steering of the compactor, save the position data to a memory, determine from the position data saved in the memory a possible intent by an operator to create a compaction area, generate a prompt on an operator interface to confirm an actual intent of the operator, and generate a compaction plan for autonomously steering the compactor to compact in the compaction area. The compaction plan can be based at least partially upon the operator implemented steering of the compactor. The controller can implement the compaction plan via autonomous steering.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2022Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Joshua David Keyes, David Edwin Gerding, John L. Marsolek, Nathaniel S. Doy
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Publication number: 20230297117Abstract: A system for controlling a compactor machine can include a first GPS receiver on one side of a screed of a paver machine and a second GPS receiver on a second side of the screed, the first and second GPS receivers configured to communicate location information of the first and second sides of the screed, respectively, to a compactor machine; and a controller configured to receive the location information from screed and define a pass pattern for the compactor machine in view of the location information.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2022Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Todd W. Mansell, Jonathan A. Anderson, Toby A. Frelich, John L. Marsolek
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Publication number: 20230220645Abstract: A method for controlling a compactor machine can include inputting a compaction specification into a controller for compacting a work area; inputting a compaction target value into the controller; while compacting, evaluating an actual compaction value; and if the actual compaction value reaches the compaction target value, the controller being configured to turn off a vibratory system of the compactor machine while the compactor machine finishes any further passes over the work area as specified by the compaction specification.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2022Publication date: July 13, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, John L. Marsolek, Nicholas A. Oetken, Mark A. Tarvin
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Patent number: 11697379Abstract: A soil compactor machine can include: a machine frame; at least one cylindrical roller drum rotatably coupled to the machine frame and rotatable about a drum axis oriented generally transverse to a direction of travel of the compactor machine; a plurality of sensors mounting locations on the machine frame for mounting one or more lidar sensors and cameras; and a plurality of brackets, wherein, one of each of the plurality of brackets is positioned at each of the sensor mounting locations for mounting the lidar sensors and the cameras, wherein the bracket at each of the sensor mounting locations has a similar design as the other of the plurality of brackets.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2020Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Todd A. Impola, Timothy M. O'Donnell, Jacob J. McAlpine, John L. Marsolek
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Publication number: 20230205215Abstract: A method for controlling a construction machine can include dividing a work area into a plurality of work lanes; selecting a first set of consecutive work lanes of the plurality of work lanes that can be worked without an obstruction; and completing one or more passes on the selected first set of consecutive work lanes before moving on to another set of the plurality of work lanes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2021Publication date: June 29, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, John L. Marsolek, David Edwin Gerding, Rolf af Klinteberg, Robert J. McGee
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Patent number: 11668606Abstract: A method and system of verifying asphalt mat temperature values and location data generated by a paving machine includes identifying a location and temperature value of a threshold thermal characteristic of thermal data generated by the paving machine, and displaying the paver-generated location and temperature value of the threshold thermal characteristic on a display of the paving machine. The method further includes determining a location and temperature value of the threshold thermal characteristic by one or more external systems, and comparing the externally-determined location and temperature value to the paver-generated location and temperature value.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2020Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Joshua D. Keyes, Jacob J. McAlpine, Nicholas A. Oetken, John L. Marsolek
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Publication number: 20230160152Abstract: A control system for a compactor is disclosed. The control system can include any one or combination of one or more position sensors, a steering system, a control interface and a controller. The controller can be in communication with at least the control interface and the one or more position sensors. The controller can be configured to receive data recording a position of the compactor when physically operating the compactor along at least a portion of the desired boundary of a compaction area, determine from the data a virtual boundary of the compaction area corresponding to the position of the compactor when physically operating the compactor along the desired boundary of the compaction area, and generate at least a first work plan for operating the compactor to compact in the compaction area up to the virtual boundary.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2021Publication date: May 25, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, John L. Marsolek, David Edwin Gerding
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Publication number: 20230155423Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method may operatively couple machines, each powered, at least in part by an energy accumulator, together to charge one machine using power of another machine. On condition that a first remaining amount of power in a first machine is less a first total amount of power needed to complete a first task and charging of the first machine takes priority over completion of a second task to be completed by a second machine, the second machine can travel to the first machine and charge a first energy accumulator in the first machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2021Publication date: May 18, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Derek K. HUHN, Robert K. IVERSON, Anwar T. ALNATSHEH, Kenneth G. JONES, John L Marsolek
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Publication number: 20230117372Abstract: A working machine includes one or more batteries driving movement of the working machine within a work area. The working machine includes a controller configured to receive criteria relating to one or more operational characteristics of the working machine and determine one of a plurality of operation modes for the working machine based upon the criteria and a remaining charge of one or more batteries.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2021Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: John L. Marsolek, Nicholas A. Oetken, Kenneth G. Jones, David Edwin Gerding
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Patent number: 11629472Abstract: A method includes receiving first information indicative of a location of a perimeter of a worksite surface, and receiving second information indicative of compaction requirements specific to the worksite surface. The method also includes generating a compaction plan based at least partly on the first and second information. Such a compaction plan includes a travel path for a compaction machine. In such a method, the travel path is substantially within the perimeter of the worksite surface. The method also includes causing at least part of the travel path to be displayed via a control interface of the compaction machine. The method further includes receiving an input indicative of approval of the travel path, and controlling operation of the compaction machine on the worksite surface, in accordance with the compaction plan, based at least partly on receiving the input.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2021Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: John L. Marsolek, Jacob J. McAlpine, Robert J. McGee, Timothy M. O'Donnell
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Publication number: 20230113279Abstract: Systems and methods determine a current production rate of a piece of equipment processing first paving material at a worksite, receive first information indicative of an amount of power within a battery of the piece of equipment, receive second information indicative of a characteristic of the worksite, and determine predicted production rate of the piece of equipment to process second paving material at the worksite. The systems and methods further determine an amount of power required by the piece of equipment to process the second paving material at the worksite and determine that the amount of power within the battery of the piece of equipment is insufficient for the amount of power required by the piece of equipment to process the second paving material at the worksite.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2021Publication date: April 13, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Francisco Romero, John L. Marsolek, Brian R. Dershem, Jonathan A. Anderson
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Publication number: 20230094845Abstract: Non-line of sight (NLOS) remote control for machines is accomplished by a remote-control station with cellular connectivity to run multiple machines remotely. However, NLOS is expensive and may not work in areas with low cell tower coverage. Accordingly, the present disclosure pertains to providing on-machine remote control to operators of machines at a worksite. The on-machine remote control allows one machine to actively control another machine through connectivity between those two machines. For example, a tractor operator may use on-machine remote control to take control of a compactor, such that the compactor may be run using the tractor controls.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2021Publication date: March 30, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: John L. Marsolek, Jacob J. McAlpine, Nathaniel S Doy
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Patent number: 11573126Abstract: In one aspect, a method of determining lateral edges of an asphalt mat deposited by a paving machine includes obtaining thermal image data of the asphalt mat at a thermal measuring device associated with the paving machine, and determining, on the paving machine, the lateral edges of the asphalt mat based on a threshold temperature value and the thermal image data. Other aspects include a method of generating a thermal map of an asphalt mat formed by paving machine, and a system for determining lateral edges of an asphalt mat deposited by a paving machine.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2020Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Tarvin, Jacob J. McAlpine, John L. Marsolek, Sivakumar P. Shanmugasundaram
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Patent number: 11560676Abstract: A method of determining optimal frequency to load haul trucks can include a central controller receiving an indication of the amount of paving material at a paving machine, and an indication of production rate of the paving machine. The central controller can then determine when more paving material should be provided to the paving machine. Based on this determination, the central controller can provide alerts or triggers to a paving material plant to indicate when haul trucks should be loaded to provide additional paving materials to the paving machine.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2019Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Jacob J. McAlpine, John L. Marsolek, Muthushankar Raghunathan
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Patent number: 11550058Abstract: An autonomous articulated soil compactor machine can include: a machine frame; at least one cylindrical roller drum rotatably coupled to the machine frame and rotatable about a drum axis oriented generally transverse to a direction of travel of the compactor machine; a first lidar sensor on a front of the machine; a second lidar sensor on a first side of the machine; and a third lidar sensor on a second side of the machine; wherein the first, second and the third lidar sensors are positioned such that 360 degree lidar coverage is provided around the articulated compactor machine.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Todd A. Impola, Timothy M. O'Donnell, John L. Marsolek, Jacob J. McAlpine
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Patent number: D1018575Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Gautham Subramanian, Shabir Ahmed Umar Ali, John L. Marsolek, Jacob J. McAlpine