Patents by Inventor James Whitfield

James Whitfield 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: 11892836
    Abstract: The present application comprises a system for controlling a plurality of autonomous vehicles on a mine site, the system comprising: a centralized platform configured to store an inventory list of vehicles travelling on the mine site and comprising a first communication interface configured to communicate missions to the vehicles; a plurality of autonomous vehicles, the autonomous vehicles comprising: a first communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with the centralized platform for receiving a predetermined mission, a trajectory control system configured to autonomously control the autonomous vehicle according to the predetermined mission; and at least one portable device, the portable device comprising a second communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with a second communication interface of the plurality of vehicles from the mine site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: LIEBHERR MINING EQUIPMENT NEWPORT NEWS CO.
    Inventors: James Whitfield, Jr., Bryan Harper
  • Patent number: 11860643
    Abstract: A system for controlling a plurality of autonomous vehicles on a mine site comprises a centralized platform configured to store an inventory list of vehicles travelling on the mine site and configured to determine and communicate missions to the vehicles of a plurality of autonomous vehicles. The autonomous vehicles may comprise an interface configured to communicate with the centralized platform for receiving a predetermined mission, a trajectory control system configured to autonomously control the autonomous vehicle according to the predetermined mission, a detection system configured to detect other vehicles by evaluating sensor information received from at least one sensor of the vehicle, a collision prediction system configured to predict collisions with the other vehicles detected by the detection system, and a V2V communication interface for directly communicating with a V2V communication interface of at least one of the other vehicles on the mine site for exchanging information between the vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: LIEBHERR MINING EQUIPMENT NEWPORT NEWS CO.
    Inventors: James Whitfield, Jr., Bryan Harper, Jason Altice
  • Patent number: 11703859
    Abstract: The present application provides a method for autonomously controlling a vehicle performed by a control system of the vehicle on the basis of a mission received from a mission controller, the method comprising: receiving a mission comprising a set of instructions from the mission controller; validating the mission by checking whether the mission meets a first set of requirements; executing the mission if the mission meets the first set of requirements and rejecting the mission if the mission does not meet the first set of requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: LIEBHERR MINING EQUIPMENT NEWPORT NEWS CO.
    Inventors: James Whitfield, Jr., Jason Altice
  • Publication number: 20220109651
    Abstract: System and methods are directed to displaying interactive content with static content in a user interface of an application. More specifically, it may be determined that an interactive component is to be rendered in a user interface of a first application, where the user interface includes static content. In response to determining that the interactive component is it be rendered, at least one linking parameter may be determined for linking the interactive component with interactive content stored in a shared storage. Based on the at least one linking parameter, the interactive component may be rendered in the user interface of the first application in-line with the static content of the user interface of the first application. Changes to the interactive content made by a second user of a second application may then be updated within the interactive component rendered in the user interface of the first application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Applicant: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Yan Zhong LEIGH, Kyle Patrick CURLETT, Ankur LAL, Zohaib RAUF, Sathish Kumar Venkat RANGAM, Cosmin CATRINESCU, Jonathan Seth KAUFTHAL, Brian Daniel MEERSMA, Maya RODRIG, Humberto Lezama GUADARRAMA, Betsy Yu-pui MCINTYRE, William Dean SAULNIER, Jiuqing SONG, Arnavi Mahendra CHHEDA, Yue MA, Leeviana Peng GRAY, Barnabas James WHITFIELD, Andrei Valentinovich ZENKOVITCH
  • Patent number: 11242067
    Abstract: The present application relates to a vehicle comprising a vehicle control system, the vehicle control system being configured to operate the vehicle in an autonomous mode and in a manual mode, the vehicle control system comprising: a first selector switch for switching between said autonomous mode and said manual mode; a second selector switch for switching between said autonomous mode and said manual mode; and an interlock circuit configured to deactivate propulsion of the machine when the first and the second selector switch are switched to different modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: LIEBHERR MINING EQUIPMENT NEWPORT NEWS CO.
    Inventors: James Whitfield, Jr., Bryan Harper
  • Patent number: 11230273
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for autonomously controlling a vehicle performed by a vehicle control system, the vehicle control system comprising a zone control system, a collision prediction system and a braking control system, the method comprising the steps of: defining in the zone control system at least a first zone and a second zone relative to a vehicle position, predicting a collision with an obstacle with the prediction system, autonomously braking the vehicle with the braking control system in a first braking mode if the collision is predicted to occur in the first zone and braking the vehicle with the braking control system in a second braking mode if the collision is predicted to occur in the second zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: LIEBHERR MINING EQUIPMENT NEWPORT NEWS CO.
    Inventor: James Whitfield, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210232137
    Abstract: The present application comprises a system for controlling a plurality of autonomous vehicles on a mine site, the system comprising: a centralized platform configured to store an inventory list of vehicles travelling on the mine site and comprising a first communication interface configured to communicate missions to the vehicles; a plurality of autonomous vehicles, the autonomous vehicles comprising: a first communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with the centralized platform for receiving a predetermined mission, a trajectory control system configured to autonomously control the autonomous vehicle according to the predetermined mission; and at least one portable device, the portable device comprising a second communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with a second communication interface of the plurality of vehicles from the mine site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: James WHITFIELD, Jr., Bryan HARPER
  • Publication number: 20210004004
    Abstract: The present application provides a method for autonomously controlling a vehicle performed by a control system of the vehicle on the basis of a mission received from a mission controller, the method comprising: receiving a mission comprising a set of instructions from the mission controller; validating the mission by checking whether the mission meets a first set of requirements; executing the mission if the mission meets the first set of requirements and rejecting the mission if the mission does not meet the first set of requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: James WHITFIELD, JR., Jason ALTICE
  • Publication number: 20210004024
    Abstract: The present application provides a system for controlling a plurality of autonomous vehicles on a mine site, the system comprising: a centralized platform configured to store an inventory list of vehicles travelling on the mine site and configured to determine and communicate missions to the vehicles; a plurality of autonomous vehicles, the autonomous vehicles comprising: an interface configured to communicate with the centralized platform for receiving a predetermined mission, a trajectory control system configured to autonomously control the autonomous vehicle according to the predetermined mission, a detection system configured to detect other vehicles by evaluating sensor information received from at least one sensor of the vehicle, a collision prediction system configured to predict collisions with the other vehicles detected by the detection system; a V2V communication interface for directly communicating with a V2V communication interface of at least one of the other vehicles on the mine site for
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: James WHITFIELD, JR., Bryan HARPER, Jason ALTICE
  • Publication number: 20200361481
    Abstract: The present application relates to a vehicle comprising a vehicle control system, the vehicle control system being configured to operate the vehicle in an autonomous mode and in a manual mode, the vehicle control system comprising: a first selector switch for switching between said autonomous mode and said manual mode; a second selector switch for switching between said autonomous mode and said manual mode; and an interlock circuit configured to deactivate propulsion of the machine when the first and the second selector switch are switched to different modes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: James WHITFIELD, JR., Bryan HARPER
  • Publication number: 20200346628
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for autonomously controlling a vehicle performed by a vehicle control system, the vehicle control system comprising a zone control system, a collision prediction system and a braking control system, the method comprising the steps of: defining in the zone control system at least a first zone and a second zone relative to a vehicle position, predicting a collision with an obstacle with the prediction system, autonomously braking the vehicle with the braking control system in a first braking mode if the collision is predicted to occur in the first zone and braking the vehicle with the braking control system in a second braking mode if the collision is predicted to occur in the second zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventor: James WHITFIELD, JR.
  • Patent number: 10677712
    Abstract: A high-throughput corrosion testing mechanism was developed for metals in a variety of environments in controlled, multiplexed microenvironments. Many parallel experiments can be conducted with microbial and environmental variables independently manipulated to identify the key determinants of corrosion progression. The synthetic assay design enables subsequent surface characterization of select samples within the array. In as little as one day, diverse corrosive environments can be compared quantitatively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Matthew James Whitfield, Krystyn J. Van Viet
  • Publication number: 20150119286
    Abstract: A high-throughput corrosion testing mechanism was developed for metals in a variety of environments in controlled, multiplexed microenvironments. Many parallel experiments can be conducted with microbial and environmental variables independently manipulated to identify the key determinants of corrosion progression. The synthetic assay design enables subsequent surface characterization of select samples within the array. In as little as one day, diverse corrosive environments can be compared quantitatively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Matthew James Whitfield, Krystyn J. Van Viet
  • Patent number: 8930052
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling the drive system for mobile equipment, when the operator's drive commander is kept constant, electric traction motors are controlled by a torque controller to provide uniform torque, deviations in speeds of the electric traction motors are determined and electric motor power of at least one is varied relatively to the electric motor power of the other in response to a determined deviation in speed to keep the torques uniform. The power control balancing compensates for the torque differences previously encountered when the speeds of the traction motors differ at equal power supplied to the traction motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Liebherr Mining Equipment Company
    Inventor: James A. Whitfield
  • Publication number: 20120130578
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling the drive system for mobile equipment, when the operator's drive commander is kept constant, electric traction motors are controlled by a torque controller to provide uniform torque, deviations in speeds of the electric traction motors are determined and electric motor power of at least one is varied relatively to the electric motor power of the other in response to a determined deviation in speed to keep the torques uniform. The power control balancing compensates for the torque differences previously encountered when the speeds of the traction motors differ at equal power supplied to the traction motors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Liebherr Mining Equipment Company
    Inventor: James A. Whitfield
  • Patent number: 7820076
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oleaginous mildew and corrosion-inhibiting composition, and the use of said composition to protect metal from corrosion and mildew. The composition comprises, in parts by weight, from about 20 to 60 parts of an oleaginous material such as a lubricating oil, 10 to 40 parts of organic solvent, 20 to 60 parts of corrosion-inhibitor consisting of a sulfonic acid-carboxylic acid metal complex or a mixture of said metal complex with a small but effective amount of an oil soluble alkyl phosphate, from 0.1 to 2.0 parts of an oil soluble antioxidant, from 0.0 to 5.0 parts of a water-displacing compound, an effective amount of a mildew-inhibiting compound, and from 0.0 to 1.0 part of a heterocyclic metal deactivator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: El Sayed S. Arafat, Craig A. Matzdorf, James A. Whitfield
  • Patent number: 7629004
    Abstract: This invention comprises a composition and the process of using the composition for removing and preventing mold, mildew, and fungal growth. The composition comprises at least one alkali metal perborate, at least one inhibiting compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal silicates, triazoles and mixtures thereof in any ratio, at least one corrosion inhibitor, and effective amounts of surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: El Sayed S. Arafat, Craig A. Matzdorf, Stephen J. Spadafora, David L. Gauntt, Paul R. Roser, James A. Whitfield
  • Patent number: 7494670
    Abstract: This invention comprises a composition and the process of using the composition for removing and preventing mold, mildew, and fungal growth. The composition comprises at least one alkali metal perborate, at least one inhibiting compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal silicates, triazoles and mixtures thereof in any ratio, at least one corrosion inhibitor, and effective amounts of surfactant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: El Sayed S. Arafat, Craig A. Matzdorf, Stephen J. Spadafora, David L. Gauntt, Paul R. Roser, James A. Whitfield
  • Publication number: 20070096060
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oleaginous mildew and corrosion-inhibiting composition, and the use of said composition to protect metal from corrosion and mildew. The composition comprises, in parts by weight, from about 20 to 60 parts of an oleaginous material such as a lubricating oil, 10 to 40 parts of organic solvent, 20 to 60 parts of corrosion-inhibitor consisting of a sulfonic acid-carboxylic acid metal complex or a mixture of said metal complex with a small but effective amount of an oil soluble alkyl phosphate, from 0.1 to 2.0 parts of an oil soluble antioxidant, from 0.0 to 5.0 parts of a water-displacing compound, an effective amount of a mildew-inhibiting compound, and from 0.0 to 1.0 part of a heterocyclic metal deactivator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Publication date: May 3, 2007
    Inventors: El Sayed Arafat, Craig Matzdorf, James Whitfield
  • Publication number: 20060280808
    Abstract: This invention comprises a composition and the process of using the composition for removing and preventing mold, mildew, and fungal growth. The composition comprises at least one alkali metal perborate, at least one inhibiting compound selected from the group consisting of alkali metal silicates, triazoles and mixtures thereof in any ratio, at least one corrosion inhibitor, and effective amounts of surfactant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: El Sayed Arafat, Craig Matzdorf, Stephen Spadafora, David Gauntt, Paul Roser, James A. Whitfield