Patents by Inventor Beau BERNING

Beau BERNING 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).

  • Operator detection system
    Patent number: 11155166
    Abstract: A work machine may include a steering system, a user interface, a detection device, and a control device. The user interface may generate an input signal corresponding to operator input. The detection device may generate a detection signal corresponding to a presence of an operator relative to the user interface. The control device may determine that the operator is unavailable based on the detection signal and the input signal, and enable a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable. The control device may determine, while the lockout mode is enabled, a readiness indicator. The readiness indicator may confirm a readiness of the operator based on determining that the detection signal satisfies a readiness criterion. The control device may disable the lockout mode based on determining that the readiness criterion is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Cobo, Mark A. Robinson, Justin Ayers, Scott Marks, Joshua Mason, Beau Berning
  • OPERATOR DETECTION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20210094417
    Abstract: A work machine may include a steering system, a user interface, a detection device, and a control device. The user interface may generate an input signal corresponding to operator input. The detection device may generate a detection signal corresponding to a presence of an operator relative to the user interface. The control device may determine that the operator is unavailable based on the detection signal and the input signal, and enable a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable. The control device may determine, while the lockout mode is enabled, a readiness indicator. The readiness indicator may confirm a readiness of the operator based on determining that the detection signal satisfies a readiness criterion. The control device may disable the lockout mode based on determining that the readiness criterion is satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. COBO, Mark A. ROBINSON, Justin AYERS, Scott MARKS, Joshua MASON, Beau BERNING