Patents by Inventor Duane Pillar

Duane Pillar 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: 20080109131
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle is disclosed that includes a control system which comprises a plurality of microprocessor based interface modules, a communication network, and at least one output device. The control system is configured to disable the output device based on certain conditions of the refuse vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: May 8, 2008
    Inventors: Duane Pillar, William Woolman
  • Publication number: 20080103651
    Abstract: A vehicle system comprises a control system for an equipment service vehicle and a personal digital assistant. The control system comprises a power source, a power transmission link, a plurality of input devices, a plurality of output devices, a plurality of microprocessor-based interface modules and a communication network. The plurality of interface modules are coupled to the power source by way of the power transmission link. The plurality of interface modules are interconnected to each other by way of the communication network. Each of the plurality of interface modules are coupled to respective ones of the plurality of input devices and the plurality of output devices. The plurality of interface modules store I/O status information for the plurality of input devices and the plurality of output devices. The control system is configured to wirelessly communicate at least some of the I/O status information to the personal digital assistant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Duane Pillar, Bradley Squires
  • Publication number: 20080103662
    Abstract: A concrete placement vehicle. The concrete placement vehicle includes a concrete mixing and placement system, at least one vehicle sensor configured to monitor a characteristic of the concrete placement vehicle and at least one concrete system sensor configured to monitor a characteristic of the system for mixing and placing concrete. The vehicle further includes a control system configured to control the operation of the concrete placement vehicle and the concrete mixing and placement system based on inputs received from the at least one vehicle sensor and the at least one concrete system sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Duane Pillar, William Woolman
  • Publication number: 20080071438
    Abstract: An electric vehicle is described herein which includes a microprocessor based interface module which is used to control electric motors coupled to drive wheels. The interface module is configured to include a backup communications link to allow an operator to control the vehicle in situations where control information is unavailable over a primary communications network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Inventors: Nader Nasr, Christopher Yakes, Rongjun Zhang, Duane Pillar
  • Publication number: 20080065285
    Abstract: An electric traction vehicle is described herein which may be used to provide power to off-board electric power-consuming systems or devices. The electric traction vehicle may provide 250 kilowatts or more of three phase AC power to an off-board electric power consuming system. The electric traction vehicle may also include an electrical power storage device which can be selectively discharged to allow the vehicle to be serviced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher Yakes, Jon Morrow, Duane Pillar, Bradley Squires
  • Publication number: 20080059030
    Abstract: A concrete vehicle is described herein which includes a chassis, a concrete handling system, a vehicle subsystem control system, and a wireless communication system configured to communicate with an off-board electronic device. The subsystem control system includes status information for a plurality of vehicle parameters. The wireless communication system is used to communicate status information pertaining to at least one vehicle parameter to the off-board electronic device when the vehicle parameter breaches a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Inventors: Thomas Quigley, Duane Pillar, Bradley Squires
  • Publication number: 20070288131
    Abstract: An electric traction vehicle is described herein which may be used to provide power to off-board electric power-consuming systems or devices. The electric traction vehicle may provide 250 kilowatts or more of three phase AC power to an off-board electric power consuming system. The electric traction vehicle may also include an electrical power storage device which can be selectively discharged to allow the vehicle to be serviced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Inventors: Christopher Yakes, Jon Morrow, Duane Pillar, Bradley Squires
  • Publication number: 20070185625
    Abstract: A turret control system and method is disclosed. The turret control system includes one or more control modules, such as an envelope control module, turret targeting module, a turret pan module, a turret deploy module, a turret store module. The preferred turret control system also provides improved turret control flexibility and improved operator feedback.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Inventors: Duane Pillar, Neil Bjornstad, William Woolman, Bradley Squires
  • Publication number: 20070173987
    Abstract: A vehicle comprises a chassis, a mechanical system, and a control system configured to control the mechanical assembly. The mechanical system is mounted on the chassis and configured to be moved through a range of positions responsive to operator inputs from a human operator. The control system processing logic configured to generate output signals for the output devices based on input signals from the directional controller to thereby control movement of the boom assembly in accordance with the operator inputs. The communication system is configured to communicate signals, including the input signals and the output signals, between the directional controller, the processing logic, and the output devices, the communication system at least partially comprising a radio-frequency transmission medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Inventors: Ryan Rowe, Duane Pillar, Neil Bjornstad, William Woolman, Bradley Squires
  • Publication number: 20070061054
    Abstract: A turret is configured to be rotationally coupled to a vehicle which includes a first apparatus that is immovably coupled to the vehicle. The turret comprises a second apparatus coupled to the turret. The second apparatus is configured to be rotationally coupled to the first apparatus. The turret further comprises a turret controller which uses feedback control to control rotation of the turret relative to the vehicle. The turret further comprises a position sensor coupled to the second apparatus. The position sensor being configured to provide information related to the position of the turret to the turret controller. The turret is configured to engage the first apparatus to rotate the turret relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: March 15, 2007
    Inventors: Ryan Rowe, Duane Pillar, Neil Bjornstad, William Woolman, Bradley Squires
  • Publication number: 20050234622
    Abstract: An electronic control system may be used to control the steering angle of a vehicle wheel. The electronic control system may be used to determine that a measured speed that a steering angle of a wheel is changing exceeds a threshold speed. The electronic control system may be used to determine that a measured range of motion of the steering angle exceeds a threshold amount. The electronic control system may use an encoder to measure the position of a steering angle of a vehicle wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Publication date: October 20, 2005
    Inventors: Duane Pillar, Jeffrey Miller, Catherine Linsmeier, Kevin Magners
  • Publication number: 20050209747
    Abstract: An electric traction vehicle is described herein which may be used to provide power to off-board electric power-consuming systems or devices. The electric traction vehicle may provide 250 kilowatts or more of three phase AC power to an off-board electric power consuming system. The electric traction vehicle may also include an electrical power storage device which can be selectively discharged to allow the vehicle to be serviced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2005
    Publication date: September 22, 2005
    Inventors: Christopher Yakes, Jon Morrow, Duane Pillar, Bradley Squires
  • Publication number: 20050131600
    Abstract: A concrete vehicle is described herein which includes a chassis, a concrete handling system, a vehicle subsystem control system, and a wireless communication system configured to communicate with an off-board electronic device. The subsystem control system includes status information for a plurality of vehicle parameters. The wireless communication system is used to communicate status information pertaining to at least one vehicle parameter to the off-board electronic device when the vehicle parameter breaches a threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Publication date: June 16, 2005
    Inventors: Thomas Quigley, Duane Pillar, Bradley Squires
  • Publication number: 20050113996
    Abstract: An ambulance comprises a user interface capable of displaying input and output (“I/O”) status information and a control system coupled to the user interface. The user interface is capable of displaying video images from a video camera, map information generated based on a dispatch system, and/or other information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Duane Pillar, Jeffrey Miller, William Woolman, Michael Bolton, Jacob Fischer, Lisa Breu
  • Publication number: 20050114007
    Abstract: A vehicle is described herein which includes a first communication network, a second communications network and a router which is used to facilitate communication between the first and second networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Duane Pillar, Dale Frampton
  • Publication number: 20050113988
    Abstract: An electric vehicle is described herein which includes a microprocessor based interface module which is used to control electric motors coupled to drive wheels. The interface module is configured to include a backup communications link to allow an operator to control the vehicle in situations where control information is unavailable over a primary communications network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Inventors: Nader Nasr, Christopher Yakes, Rongjun Zhang, Duane Pillar
  • Publication number: 20050004733
    Abstract: A concrete placement vehicle. The concrete placement vehicle includes a concrete mixing and placement system, at least one vehicle sensor configured to monitor a characteristic of the concrete placement vehicle and at least one concrete system sensor configured to monitor a characteristic of the system for mixing and placing concrete. The vehicle further includes a control system configured to control the operation of the concrete placement vehicle and the concrete mixing and placement system based on inputs received from the at least one vehicle sensor and the at least one concrete system sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Duane Pillar, William Woolman