Patents by Inventor Christopher J. Utter

Christopher J. Utter 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).

  • Publication number: 20220291691
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle is provided herein that includes a position sensor configured to identify a location of the vehicle and a heading of the vehicle. A human-machine interface (HMI) is operatively coupled with the vehicle. A controller is in electronic communication with the position sensor and the HMI. The controller is configured to access one or more databases to identify a first location, a first heading, and a first speed for the vehicle, and to identify a first aggregate heading value and a first aggregate speed value associated with the first location; determine that either the heading or the speed of the vehicle is outside of acceptable ranges; and issue a wave-off alert to the HMI when the vehicle is outside of acceptable ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher J. Utter, Edward A. Branscombe
  • Patent number: 11353881
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle is provided herein that includes a position sensor configured to identify a location of the vehicle and a heading of the vehicle. A human-machine interface (HMI) is operatively coupled with the vehicle. A controller is in electronic communication with the position sensor and the HMI. The controller is configured to access one or more databases to identify a first location, a first heading, and a first speed for the vehicle, and to identify a first aggregate heading value and a first aggregate speed value associated with the first location; determine that either the heading or the speed of the vehicle is outside of acceptable ranges; and issue a wave-off alert to the HMI when the vehicle is outside of acceptable ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Modular Mining Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Utter, Edward A. Branscombe
  • Patent number: 11189172
    Abstract: A system and method for zone projection are presented. Specifically, anticipated paths of travel are determined for a number of different vehicles operating within an environment. Based upon those anticipated paths of travel, as well as likely stopping distances of each vehicle, the system generate zones around each vehicle. These projected zones define a geographical region into which each vehicle is likely to proceed as it maneuvers about the environment. With the zones determined, the system is configured to detect zones that overlap, and, when such overlapping zones are detected, can generate an alarm warning of a potential collision condition that may exist between the two corresponding vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: MODULAR MINING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Edward A. Branscombe, Christopher J. Utter, William M. Casson
  • Patent number: 10981502
    Abstract: A system for monitoring vehicle dynamics and detecting adverse events during operation is presented. Position sensors attached to a vehicle are configured to identify a vehicle orientation (heading) as well as the vehicle's direction of travel (trajectory). A system controller connected to these position sensors can detect the difference between these two measurements. When the difference between these two measurements exceeds a safety threshold, it can be an indication of a slip event. A slip event can be caused by compromised traction or stability and may lead to a loss of vehicle control. The system controller can be configured to monitor various vehicle dynamics to detect these slip events. The system controller may be configured to track geolocations of slip events to create a database of historical slip events for determining location-based risk factors and prevention of future events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: MODULAR MINING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Utter, William M. Casson, Edward A. Branscombe
  • Publication number: 20200238903
    Abstract: A system for monitoring vehicle dynamics and detecting adverse events during operation is presented. Position sensors attached to a vehicle are configured to identify a vehicle orientation (heading) as well as the vehicle's direction of travel (trajectory). A system controller connected to these position sensors can detect the difference between these two measurements. When the difference between these two measurements exceeds a safety threshold, it can be an indication of a slip event. A slip event can be caused by compromised traction or stability and may lead to a loss of vehicle control. The system controller can be configured to monitor various vehicle dynamics to detect these slip events. The system controller may be configured to track geolocations of slip events to create a database of historical slip events for determining location-based risk factors and prevention of future events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher J. Utter, William M. Casson, Edward A. Branscombe
  • Patent number: 10654413
    Abstract: A system for monitoring vehicle dynamics and detecting adverse events during operation is presented. Position sensors attached to a vehicle are configured to identify a vehicle orientation (heading) as well as the vehicle's direction of travel (trajectory). A system controller connected to these position sensors can detect the difference between these two measurements. When the difference between these two measurements exceeds a safety threshold, it can be an indication of a slip event. A slip event can be caused by compromised traction or stability and may lead to a loss of vehicle control. The system controller can be configured to monitor various vehicle dynamics to detect these slip events. The system controller may be configured to track geolocations of slip events to create a database of historical slip events for determining location-based risk factors and prevention of future events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: MODULAR MINING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Utter, William M. Casson, Edward A. Branscombe
  • Publication number: 20200110417
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle is provided herein that includes a position sensor configured to identify a location of the vehicle and a heading of the vehicle. A human-machine interface (HMI) is operatively coupled with the vehicle. A controller is in electronic communication with the position sensor and the HMI. The controller is configured to access one or more databases to identify a first location, a first heading, and a first speed for the vehicle, and to identify a first aggregate heading value and a first aggregate speed value associated with the first location; determine that either the heading or the speed of the vehicle is outside of acceptable ranges; and issue a wave-off alert to the HMI when the vehicle is outside of acceptable ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher J. Utter, Edward A. Branscombe
  • Publication number: 20190287407
    Abstract: A system and method for zone projection are presented. Specifically, anticipated paths of travel are determined for a number of different vehicles operating within an environment. Based upon those anticipated paths of travel, as well as likely stopping distances of each vehicle, the system generate zones around each vehicle. These projected zones define a geographical region into which each vehicle is likely to proceed as it maneuvers about the environment. With the zones determined, the system is configured to detect zones that overlap, and, when such overlapping zones are detected, can generate an alarm warning of a potential collision condition that may exist between the two corresponding vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Inventors: Edward A. Branscombe, Christopher J. Utter, William M. Casson
  • Publication number: 20190176697
    Abstract: A system for monitoring vehicle dynamics and detecting adverse events during operation is presented. Position sensors attached to a vehicle are configured to identify a vehicle orientation (heading) as well as the vehicle's direction of travel (trajectory). A system controller connected to these position sensors can detect the difference between these two measurements. When the difference between these two measurements exceeds a safety threshold, it can be an indication of a slip event. A slip event can be caused by compromised traction or stability and may lead to a loss of vehicle control. The system controller can be configured to monitor various vehicle dynamics to detect these slip events. The system controller may be configured to track geolocations of slip events to create a database of historical slip events for determining location-based risk factors and prevention of future events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher J. Utter, William M. Casson, Edward A. Branscombe
  • Patent number: 10315565
    Abstract: A system for monitoring vehicle dynamics and detecting adverse events during operation is presented. Position sensors attached to a vehicle are configured to identify a vehicle orientation (heading) as well as the vehicle's direction of travel (trajectory). A system controller connected to these position sensors can detect the difference between these two measurements. When the difference between these two measurements exceeds a safety threshold, it can be an indication of a slip event. A slip event can be caused by compromised traction or stability and may lead to a loss of vehicle control. The system controller can be configured to monitor various vehicle dynamics to detect these slip events. The system controller may be configured to track geolocations of slip events to create a database of historical slip events for determining location-based risk factors and prevention of future events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: MODULAR MINING SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Utter, William M. Casson, Edward A. Branscombe
  • Publication number: 20180236937
    Abstract: A system for monitoring vehicle dynamics and detecting adverse events during operation is presented. Position sensors attached to a vehicle are configured to identify a vehicle orientation (heading) as well as the vehicle's direction of travel (trajectory). A system controller connected to these position sensors can detect the difference between these two measurements. When the difference between these two measurements exceeds a safety threshold, it can be an indication of a slip event. A slip event can be caused by compromised traction or stability and may lead to a loss of vehicle control. The system controller can be configured to monitor various vehicle dynamics to detect these slip events. The system controller may be configured to track geolocations of slip events to create a database of historical slip events for determining location-based risk factors and prevention of future events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher J. Utter, William M. Casson, Edward A. Branscombe