Patents by Inventor Jeffrey K. Baker

Jeffrey K. Baker 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: 11949845
    Abstract: During operation of a machine, an understanding of terrain features is critical. Accordingly, disclosed embodiments augment a video stream, captured by a camera mounted on the machine, with terrain information. In particular, an overlay is generated on at least one image frame. The overlay, which may comprise one or more semi-transparent bands, may cyclically recede from a foreground to a background of the image frame(s), cyclically advance from a background to a foreground of the image frame(s), or cyclically move horizontally across the image frame(s). The overlay may be colorized to illustrate the height of the terrain underneath the overlay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Allan Lehocky, Michael William Bridenbaugh, Brad Robert Van de Veer, Jeffrey K. Berry, Jeffrey J. Baker
  • Publication number: 20240073393
    Abstract: During operation of a machine, an understanding of terrain features is critical. Accordingly, disclosed embodiments augment a video stream, captured by a camera mounted on the machine, with terrain information. In particular, an overlay is generated on at least one image frame. The overlay, which may comprise one or more semi-transparent bands, may cyclically recede from a foreground to a background of the image frame(s), cyclically advance from a background to a foreground of the image frame(s), or cyclically move horizontally across the image frame(s). The overlay may be colorized to illustrate the height of the terrain underneath the overlay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Allan LEHOCKY, Michael William BRIDENBAUGH, Brad Robert VAN DE VEER, Jeffrey K. BERRY, Jeffrey J. BAKER
  • Publication number: 20100258682
    Abstract: In a transportation system (rail system or otherwise), a wayside device potentially operates in a plurality of operational modes. The wayside device is outfitted with an interface system for interfacing the wayside signal device with a vehicle control system. The interface system determines the present operational mode of the wayside device and independently communicates information relating to the determined present operational mode to the vehicle control system. The vehicle control system may control the vehicle based on the information relating to the determined present operational mode. The interface system includes functionality for validating the determined present operational mode prior to transmission of the information to the vehicle control system, to ensure that the vehicle control system is provided with correct and/or current information. The wayside device may be a wayside signal device whose operational modes (as determined by the interface system) are signal aspects conveyed to a vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Jeffrey Michael FRIES, Gregory K. HANN, Aric WEINGARTNER, Joseph Forrest NOFFSINGER, Jeffrey K. BAKER
  • Patent number: 6459965
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling movement of a plurality of vehicles over a guideway partitioned into a plurality of guideway blocks. The method uses a control system including an onboard computer (OBC) located on board each vehicle, at least one server for communicating with the OBCs, and a vehicle tracking system. The method including the steps of determining a composite block status for all guideway blocks, broadcasting the composite block status to the OBCs, and controlling movement of each vehicle based on the composite block status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: GE-Harris Railway Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Alan L. Polivka, James R. Egnot, Robert E. Heggestad, Jeffrey K. Baker, William L. Matheson
  • Publication number: 20020062181
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling movement of a plurality of vehicles over a guideway partitioned into a plurality of guideway blocks. The method uses a control system including an onboard computer (OBC) located on board each vehicle, at least one server for communicating with the OBCs, and a vehicle tracking system. The method including the steps of determining a composite block status for all guideway blocks, broadcasting the composite block status to the OBCs, and controlling movement of each vehicle based on the composite block status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2001
    Publication date: May 23, 2002
    Inventors: Alan L. Polivka, James R. Egnot, Robert E. Heggestad, Jeffrey K. Baker, William L. Matheson