Patents by Inventor Brian Douglas Hoff

Brian Douglas Hoff 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).

  • Patent number: 8491444
    Abstract: A method of controlling a machine transmission includes determining a first target torque of the transmission. The first target torque includes a combination of a torque limit associated with a power source of the machine and a virtual retarding torque. The method also includes directing the transmission to generate a first output corresponding to the first target torque. The first output of the transmission increases a speed of the power source from a first power source speed to a second power source speed and decreases a travel speed of the machine from a first travel speed to a second travel speed. The method further includes determining that the first target torque is not equal to the torque limit, and determining a second target torque of the transmission in response. The second target torque is less than the first target torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Wei Li, Randall Todd Anderson, Brian Douglas Hoff
  • Patent number: 8321105
    Abstract: One disclosed embodiment relates to a propulsion system for a machine. The propulsion system may include a prime mover operatively connected through a continuously variable transmission to a propulsion device. The propulsion system may also include propulsion-system controls that control an operating parameter of the continuously variable transmission, which may include adjusting the operating parameter based on operator input. Controlling the operating parameter may also include determining an adjustment limit for the operating parameter based on one or more operating conditions and applying the adjustment limit to the operating parameter to modify at least one of acceleration and jerk of the machine based on the one or more operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kristofor Lee Dahl, Brian Douglas Hoff, Richard George Ingram, Michael Anthony Spielman, Jr., Benjamin B. Schmuck, Alberto Martinez, Jr., Yaang Zhao
  • Patent number: 8216109
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission is provided having a driven element. The continuously variable transmission also has at least one operator input device configured to transmit a transmission operating mode request and at least one other operator input device configured to transmit a driven element output request. In addition, the continuously variable transmission has at least one sensor configured to sense at least one parameter indicative of an operating condition of the transmission. The continuously variable transmission further has a controller configured to regulate an output of the driven element in response to the operating mode request, the driven element output request, and the at least one sensed parameter indicative of an operating condition of the transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kristofor Lee Dahl, Brian Douglas Hoff, Richard George Ingram, Michael Anthony Spielman, Jr., Benjamin B. Schmuck, Alberto Martinez, Jr., Yaang Zhao
  • Patent number: 7911079
    Abstract: An electrical system architecture is disclosed. The architecture has a power source configured to generate a first power, and a first bus configured to receive the first power from the power source. The architecture also has a converter configured to receive the first power from the first bus and convert the first power to a second power, wherein a voltage of the second power is greater than a voltage of the first power, and a second bus configured to receive the second power from the converter. The architecture further has a power storage device configured to receive the second power from the second bus and deliver the second power to the second bus, a propulsion motor configured to receive the second power from the second bus, and an accessory motor configured to receive the second power from the second bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Brian Douglas Hoff, Sivaprasad Akasam
  • Patent number: 7877183
    Abstract: A power train is provided having an engine operably coupled to a transmission. The power train also has at least one operator interface device, each operator interface device being configured to generate an operator request. In addition, the power train has a controller configured to, in response to a first operator request, override a second operator request for a desired target engine speed by lowering a current engine speed to a modified target engine speed below the desired target engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Douglas Hoff, Mark Edward Rettig
  • Publication number: 20090143946
    Abstract: A power train is provided having an engine operably coupled to a transmission. The power train also has at least one operator interface device, each operator interface device being configured to generate an operator request. In addition, the power train has a controller configured to, in response to a first operator request, override a second operator request for a desired target engine speed by lowering a current engine speed to a modified target engine speed below the desired target engine speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Brian Douglas Hoff, Mark Edward Rettig
  • Publication number: 20090112424
    Abstract: One disclosed embodiment relates to a propulsion system for a machine. The propulsion system may include a prime mover operatively connected through a continuously variable transmission to a propulsion device. The propulsion system may also include propulsion-system controls that control an operating parameter of the continuously variable transmission, which may include adjusting the operating parameter based on operator input. Controlling the operating parameter may also include determining an adjustment limit for the operating parameter based on one or more operating conditions and applying the adjustment limit to the operating parameter to modify at least one of acceleration and jerk of the machine based on the one or more operating conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Kristofor Lee Dahl, Brian Douglas Hoff, Richard George Ingram, Michael Anthony Spielman, JR., Benjamin B. Schmuck, Alberto Martinez, JR., Yaang Zhao
  • Publication number: 20090088936
    Abstract: A powertrain control system is disclosed. The powertrain control system may have a power source and a CVT coupled to an output of the power source. The powertrain control system may further have a controller in communication with the power source and the CVT. The controller may have a map with a plurality of speed modes, and, for at least one of the plurality of speed modes, the controller may be configured to vary an actual power source speed based on at least one of a CVT output speed or a ground speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Milton Carter Hubbard, Brian Douglas Hoff, Mark Edward Rettig, Steven James Juricak
  • Publication number: 20090088295
    Abstract: A continuously variable transmission is provided having a driven element. The continuously variable transmission also has at least one operator input device configured to transmit a transmission operating mode request and at least one other operator input device configured to transmit a driven element output request. In addition, the continuously variable transmission has at least one sensor configured to sense at least one parameter indicative of an operating condition of the transmission. The continuously variable transmission further has a controller configured to regulate an output of the driven element in response to the operating mode request, the driven element output request, and the at least one sensed parameter indicative of an operating condition of the transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Kristofor Lee Dahl, Brian Douglas Hoff, Richard George Ingram, Michael Anthony Spielman, JR., Benjamin B. Schmuck, Alberto Martinez, JR., Yaang Zhao
  • Publication number: 20090033148
    Abstract: An electrical system architecture is disclosed. The architecture has a power source configured to generate a first power, and a first bus configured to receive the first power from the power source. The architecture also has a converter configured to receive the first power from the first bus and convert the first power to a second power, wherein a voltage of the second power is greater than a voltage of the first power, and a second bus configured to receive the second power from the converter. The architecture further has a power storage device configured to receive the second power from the second bus and deliver the second power to the second bus, a propulsion motor configured to receive the second power from the second bus, and an accessory motor configured to receive the second power from the second bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Brian Douglas Hoff, Sivaprasad Akasam