Patents by Inventor James J. Kalafut

James J. Kalafut 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: 20040210370
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a display in real time of an excavation site having underground objects. The method and apparatus includes determining a location of an earthworking machine in site coordinates, determining a location of an earthworking implement relative to the earthworking machine, determining the location in site coordinates of at least one underground object at the excavation site and responsively inputting the location of the at least one underground object to a terrain map of the excavation site, and displaying the terrain map including the location of the earthworking machine, the location of the earthworking implement, and the location of the at least one underground object in real time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2000
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Adam J. Gudat, James J. Kalafut, Norman K. Lay, Robert J. Price
  • Patent number: 6744406
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a desired position of a pseudolite at a site. The method and apparatus includes predicting an area of coverage of the site by at least one GPS satellite, determining a condition of reduced coverage as a function of the predicted area of coverage, displaying the area having reduced coverage on a terrain map, and placing a pseudolite at a location at the site to provide coverage in the area having reduced coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: James J. Kalafut, William E. Allen
  • Publication number: 20030112181
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a desired position of a pseudolite at a site. The method and apparatus includes predicting an area of coverage of the site by at least one GPS satellite, determining a condition of reduced coverage as a function of the predicted area of coverage, displaying the area having reduced coverage on a terrain map, and placing a pseudolite at a location at the site to provide coverage in the area having reduced coverage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: James J. Kalafut, William E. Allen
  • Patent number: 6453227
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a display of a work machine at a work site. The work machine has a work implement controllably attached. The method includes the steps of determining a position of the work machine relative to the site, determining a position of the work implement relative to the work machine, and displaying a scaled image of the site, the work machine, and the work implement relative to the work machine, wherein movement of the work implement relative to the work machine is shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Kalafut, Robert J. Price
  • Patent number: 6418364
    Abstract: A method for determining a position and a heading of a work machine having a work implement controllably attached. The method includes the steps of positioning the work machine at a desired work location, determining an initial position and heading of the work machine in site coordinates, determining a position of the work implement relative to the work machine, positioning the work implement at a desired reference point, determining the position of the work implement at the reference point in site coordinates, periodically positioning the work implement at the reference point during work operations, and determining a new position and heading of the work machine as a function of the position of the work implement relative to the work machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Kalafut, Jeffrey S. Alig
  • Publication number: 20020077737
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a display of a work machine at a work site. The work machine has a work implement controllably attached. The method includes the steps of determining a position of the work machine relative to the site, determining a position of the work implement relative to the work machine, and displaying a scaled image of the site, the work machine, and the work implement relative to the work machine, wherein movement of the work implement relative to the work machine is shown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventors: James J. Kalafut, Robert J. Price
  • Publication number: 20020072840
    Abstract: A method for determining a position and a heading of a work machine having a work implement controllably attached. The method includes the steps of positioning the work machine at a desired work location, determining an initial position and heading of the work machine in site coordinates, determining a position of the work implement relative to the work machine, positioning the work implement at a desired reference point, determining the position of the work implement at the reference point in site coordinates, periodically positioning the work implement at the reference point during work operations, and determining a new position and heading of the work machine as a function of the position of the work implement relative to the work machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: James J. Kalafut, Jeffrey S. Alig
  • Patent number: 6282477
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying a location of an object at an earthworking site. The method and apparatus includes determining a location in geographical coordinates of an earthworking implement at the earthworking site, determining a location in geographical coordinates of the object, displaying the earthworking implement and the object on a display having a top view and a side profile view of the earthworking site, selecting a perimeter of interest in the top view with respect to the earthworking implement, determining the coordinates of a portion of the object bounded by the perimeter of interest, and displaying a three-dimensional image of the portion of the object in the side profile view as a function of the perimeter of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Adam J. Gudat, James J. Kalafut, N. Keith Lay, Robert J. Price