Patents by Inventor Carsten Thees

Carsten Thees 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: 11572671
    Abstract: A machine includes a frame, a plurality of traction devices supporting the frame, an engine and an operator cab mounted to the frame, an implement system configured to move the work tool to a desired position, position sensors, a tilt-rotate system to move the work tool to a desired orientation, orientation sensors, an operator interface, and a control module. The control module is configured to receive a model of the work tool, receive boundary inputs defining a virtual boundary, receive signals from the position sensors and the orientation sensors, receive implement control inputs from the operator interface, determine a position and orientation of the work tool based on the signals and the model, determine whether the work tool is approaching the virtual boundary based on the position and orientation, the boundary inputs, and the implement control inputs, and automatically prevent the work tool from crossing the virtual boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar SARL
    Inventors: Michael Aron Viergutz, Kensuke Tanaka, Yozo Nakamoto, Carsten Thees, Kiesuke Shirani
  • Publication number: 20220325502
    Abstract: A machine includes a rotational sensor configured to sense rotation of an upper frame of the machine relative to a lower frame of the machine. The machine also includes a three-dimensional position sensor spaced from an axis of rotation of the upper frame relative to the lower frame. The machine can also include a number of additional sensors including sensors to detect track movement, imaging sensors, ranging sensors, IMUs, linear displacement sensors and/or the like. A computing system receives the various inputs from the sensors and fuses the data to determine state information for the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpilar Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Hobbs, Carsten Thees, Russell A. Schloss
  • Publication number: 20220106767
    Abstract: A machine includes a frame, a plurality of traction devices supporting the frame, an engine and an operator cab mounted to the frame, an implement system configured to move the work tool to a desired position, position sensors, a tilt-rotate system to move the work tool to a desired orientation, orientation sensors, an operator interface, and a control module. The control module is configured to receive a model of the work tool, receive boundary inputs defining a virtual boundary, receive signals from the position sensors and the orientation sensors, receive implement control inputs from the operator interface, determine a position and orientation of the work tool based on the signals and the model, determine whether the work tool is approaching the virtual boundary based on the position and orientation, the boundary inputs, and the implement control inputs, and automatically prevent the work tool from crossing the virtual boundary.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar SARL
    Inventors: Michael Aron VIERGUTZ, Kensuke Tanaka, Yozo Nakamoto, Carsten Thees, Kiesuke Shirani
  • Patent number: 10770089
    Abstract: A sound monitoring system for collecting and processing an environmental noise level surrounding a work machine is disclosed. The sound monitoring system may include an acoustic sensor having a plurality of microphones arranged into a signal detection array to capture the environmental noise level and generate an acoustic output signal. Additionally, the sound monitoring system may include a controller communicably coupled to the acoustic sensor and programmed to perform a signal processing to identify a first portion and a second portion of the acoustic output signal. Furthermore, the controller may be programmed to generate a controller output signal based on the first and second portions of the output level. A speaker may be located on the work machine and communicably coupled to the controller such that the speaker receives and emits the controller output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Schloss, Justin Douglas Speichinger, Carsten Thees
  • Publication number: 20190348057
    Abstract: A sound monitoring system for collecting and processing an environmental noise level surrounding a work machine is disclosed. The sound monitoring system may include an acoustic sensor having a plurality of microphones arranged into a signal detection array to capture the environmental noise level and generate an acoustic output signal. Additionally, the sound monitoring system may include a controller communicably coupled to the acoustic sensor and programmed to perform a signal processing to identify a first portion and a second portion of the acoustic output signal. Furthermore, the controller may be programmed to generate a controller output signal based on the first and second portions of the output level. A speaker may be located on the work machine and communicably coupled to the controller such that the speaker receives and emits the controller output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Schloss, Justin Douglas Speichinger, Carsten Thees