Patents by Inventor Darren M. Knutson

Darren M. Knutson 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: 6643577
    Abstract: When operating a work machine having more than one function, there are situations in which an operator may need to simultaneously control both functions. For instance, when a backhoe loader operator would like to perform a maneuver referred to as the “duck walk”, the operator must simultaneously control at least one aspect of a backhoe and one aspect of a loader. A work machine that has an operator control station with at least two controllers, which may be assigned a first mode pattern, a second mode pattern, and a hybrid mode pattern. When the at least two controllers are in the first mode pattern, the at least two controllers are operably coupled to a first set of equipment, such as a loader. When the at least two controllers are in the second mode pattern, the at least two controllers are operably coupled to a second set of equipment, such as a backhoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Clayton L. Padgett, Darren M. Knutson, Jeffrey S. Alig, W. Christopher Swick