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).
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Patent number: 9142063Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Qi Chen, Michael D. Braunstein, Satish Yadav, Eric Alan Reiners, Kenneth Lee Stratton
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Publication number: 20140236477Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2013Publication date: August 21, 2014Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Qi Chen, Michael D. Braunstein, Satish Yadav, Eric Alan Reiners, Kenneth Lee Stratton
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Patent number: 8340907Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 7, 2012Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Kenneth Lee Stratton, Brian Mintah, Gary Edward Hull, James Decker Humphrey, Bryan J. Everett
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Publication number: 20120136546Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2012Publication date: May 31, 2012Inventors: Kenneth Lee Stratton, Brian Mintah, Gary Edward Hull, James Decker Humphrey, Bryan J. Everett
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Patent number: 8140239Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 17, 2008Date of Patent: March 20, 2012Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Kenneth Lee Stratton, Brian Mintah, Gary Edward Hull, James Decker Humphrey, Bryan J. Everett
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Publication number: 20100245129Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2009Publication date: September 30, 2010Inventor: Kenneth Lee Stratton
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Publication number: 20100152942Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2008Publication date: June 17, 2010Inventors: Kenneth Lee Stratton, Brian Mintah, Gary Edward Hull, James Decker Humphrey, Bryan J. Everett
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Patent number: 7677323Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 15, 2006Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLCInventors: Kenneth Lee Stratton, Randall Dean Pruitt
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Patent number: 7654335Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 8, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLCInventor: Kenneth Lee Stratton
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Patent number: 7594441Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 27, 2007Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Adam John Gudat, Bradley Scott Kriel, Kenneth Lee Stratton
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Publication number: 20090177337Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2008Publication date: July 9, 2009Inventors: Fu Pei Yuet, Jean-Jacques Clar, Kenneth Lee Stratton, Jamie Shults, Augusto Opdenbosch, Juan Carlos Santamaria
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Publication number: 20090084173Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2007Publication date: April 2, 2009Inventors: Adam John Gudat, Bradley Scott Kriel, Kenneth Lee Stratton
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Publication number: 20090043462Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2008Publication date: February 12, 2009Inventors: Kenneth Lee Stratton, G. Derrick Darby, Jamie Shults, Robert Briggs, Augusto Opdenbosch, Juan Carlos Santamaria, Fu Pei Yuet, Jean-Jacques Clar
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Patent number: 6845311Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 4, 2003Date of Patent: January 18, 2005Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Kenneth Lee Stratton, Daniel E. Henderson