Patents by Inventor Kenneth Lee Stratton

Kenneth Lee Stratton 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: 9142063
    Abstract: A positioning system and method for determining a position of a machine on a worksite are disclosed. The method may store a map of the worksite which includes one or more known objects in the worksite. The method may determine whether a locating device associated with the machine is accurately providing the position of the machine. The method may also include detecting one or more objects in the worksite. The method may further determine an unmatched object from among the detected objects that does not match the one or more known objects stored in the map. The method may also store the unmatched object in the map as a known object of the worksite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Qi Chen, Michael D. Braunstein, Satish Yadav, Eric Alan Reiners, Kenneth Lee Stratton
  • Publication number: 20140236477
    Abstract: A positioning system and method for determining a position of a machine on a worksite are disclosed. The method may store a map of the worksite which includes one or more known objects in the worksite. The method may determine whether a locating device associated with the machine is accurately providing the position of the machine. The method may also include detecting one or more objects in the worksite. The method may further determine an unmatched object from among the detected objects that does not match the one or more known objects stored in the map. The method may also store the unmatched object in the map as a known object of the worksite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Qi Chen, Michael D. Braunstein, Satish Yadav, Eric Alan Reiners, Kenneth Lee Stratton
  • Patent number: 8340907
    Abstract: A slippage condition response system for a first machine of a plurality of machines is disclosed. The response system may have a sensing system configured to sense a parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the response system may have a locator configured to sense a parameter indicative of a location of the first machine. The response system may also have a transmitter. In addition, the response system may have a controller, which may be in communication with the sensing system, the locator, and the transmitter. The controller may be configured to monitor the location of the first machine. The controller may also be configured to monitor the parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the controller may be configured to transmit to an offboard system at least one location where the first machine experienced a slippage condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Lee Stratton, Brian Mintah, Gary Edward Hull, James Decker Humphrey, Bryan J. Everett
  • Publication number: 20120136546
    Abstract: A slippage condition response system for a first machine of a plurality of machines is disclosed. The response system may have a sensing system configured to sense a parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the response system may have a locator configured to sense a parameter indicative of a location of the first machine. The response system may also have a transmitter. In addition, the response system may have a controller, which may be in communication with the sensing system, the locator, and the transmitter. The controller may be configured to monitor the location of the first machine. The controller may also be configured to monitor the parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the controller may be configured to transmit to an offboard system at least one location where the first machine experienced a slippage condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventors: Kenneth Lee Stratton, Brian Mintah, Gary Edward Hull, James Decker Humphrey, Bryan J. Everett
  • Patent number: 8140239
    Abstract: A slippage condition response system for a first machine of a plurality of machines is disclosed. The response system may have a sensing system configured to sense a parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the response system may have a locator configured to sense a parameter indicative of a location of the first machine. The response system may also have a transmitter. In addition, the response system may have a controller, which may be in communication with the sensing system, the locator, and the transmitter. The controller may be configured to monitor the location of the first machine. The controller may also be configured to monitor the parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the controller may be configured to transmit to an offboard system at least one location where the first machine experienced a slippage condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Lee Stratton, Brian Mintah, Gary Edward Hull, James Decker Humphrey, Bryan J. Everett
  • Publication number: 20100245129
    Abstract: A system and method for identifying modifications made to a machine is disclosed. The method may include determining, by a scanning device, at least one actual dimension of the machine. The method may further include determining at least one previously known dimension of the machine. The method may further include comparing the at least one actual dimension of the machine with the at least one previously known dimension of the machine. The method may further include determining, based on the comparison, if the at least one actual dimension of the machine is within a threshold range of the at least one previously known dimension of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Kenneth Lee Stratton
  • Publication number: 20100152942
    Abstract: A slippage condition response system for a first machine of a plurality of machines is disclosed. The response system may have a sensing system configured to sense a parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the response system may have a locator configured to sense a parameter indicative of a location of the first machine. The response system may also have a transmitter. In addition, the response system may have a controller, which may be in communication with the sensing system, the locator, and the transmitter. The controller may be configured to monitor the location of the first machine. The controller may also be configured to monitor the parameter indicative of a slippage condition of the first machine. Additionally, the controller may be configured to transmit to an offboard system at least one location where the first machine experienced a slippage condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth Lee Stratton, Brian Mintah, Gary Edward Hull, James Decker Humphrey, Bryan J. Everett
  • Patent number: 7677323
    Abstract: System and method for automatically adjusting control gains on an earthmoving machine include a control system for controlling mechanisms that supply power to an earthmoving implement. The gains associated with the force to the implement are automatically adjusted depending on a blade load that may be determined by a calculation of torque attributable to a blade load. The control gains include a proportional gain and a derivative gain that may be used to determine a control effort lift command associated with the control gains for supplying an appropriate gain to the mechanisms that control the implement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth Lee Stratton, Randall Dean Pruitt
  • Patent number: 7654335
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an implement based upon a gear shift include a shift detector circuit which detects a direction of the gear shift and an implement controller circuit which adjusts an implement in response to the direction of the gear shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth Lee Stratton
  • Patent number: 7594441
    Abstract: An automated lost load response system for work machines is disclosed. The response system has a first sensor situated to detect the contour of the road surface forward of a first machine, and a second sensor situated to detect the contour of the road surface rearward of the first machine. Each of the first and second sensors generates a signal corresponding to its detection of the contour of the road surface. The response system also has a controller that is in communication with both sensors. The controller is configured to provide a load loss warning based on the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Adam John Gudat, Bradley Scott Kriel, Kenneth Lee Stratton
  • Publication number: 20090177337
    Abstract: A tool simulation system for a machine is disclosed. The system has a user interface located remotely from the machine and a processor in communication with the user interface and the machine. The processor is configured to receive a plurality of parameters input at the machine's location, calculate tool loading based on the plurality of parameters, and display tool loading on the user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Inventors: Fu Pei Yuet, Jean-Jacques Clar, Kenneth Lee Stratton, Jamie Shults, Augusto Opdenbosch, Juan Carlos Santamaria
  • Publication number: 20090084173
    Abstract: An automated lost load response system for work machines is disclosed. The response system has a first sensor situated to detect the contour of the road surface forward of a first machine, and a second sensor situated to detect the contour of the road surface rearward of the first machine. Each of the first and second sensors generates a signal corresponding to its detection of the contour of the road surface. The response system also has a controller that is in communication with both sensors. The controller is configured to provide a load loss warning based on the signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Adam John Gudat, Bradley Scott Kriel, Kenneth Lee Stratton
  • Publication number: 20090043462
    Abstract: A worksite mapping system is disclosed. The worksite mapping system has a receiving module configured to receive a position and a characteristic of an object at a worksite, a positioning device configured to determine a position of a mobile machine at the worksite, and a controller in communication with the receiving module and the positioning device. The controller is configured to generate an electronic map of the worksite, and an electronic representation of the object on the electronic map based on the received position. The controller is further configured to generate at least one boundary zone around the object based on the received characteristic, and an electronic representation of the mobile machine on the electronic map based on the determined position. The controller is further configured to initiate a collision avoidance strategy in response to a mobile machine entering the at least one boundary zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Kenneth Lee Stratton, G. Derrick Darby, Jamie Shults, Robert Briggs, Augusto Opdenbosch, Juan Carlos Santamaria, Fu Pei Yuet, Jean-Jacques Clar
  • Patent number: 6845311
    Abstract: An automatic control system for a work machine includes a positioning system, a site model, and a controller. The work machine operates at a work site containing material to be operated on by the work machine. The positioning system determines a relative location of the work machine within the work site and produces a machine position signal. The site model contains data related to a condition of the material. The controller is coupled to the site model, receives the machine position signal and determines a current condition of the material as a function of the position signal and the site model, and controls the work machine as a function of the current condition of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Lee Stratton, Daniel E. Henderson