Patents by Inventor Lawrence Mianzo
Lawrence Mianzo 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: 11869331Abstract: An example wear detection system receives first image data related to at least one ground engaging tool (GET) of a work machine from one or more sensors at a first time instance in a dig-dump cycle of the work machine. The wear detection system processes the first image data to determine a first wear measurement and first wear level for the at least one GET. The wear detection system determines whether the first wear level is indicative of a GET replacement condition. The wear detection system generates an alert when the first wear level is indicative of the GET replacement condition. The wear detection system receives second image data related to the at least one GET a second time instance different from the first time instance when the first wear level is not indicative of the GET replacement condition and determines a second wear measurement and second wear level for the at least one GET.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Lawrence A Mianzo, Tod A Oblak, Shawn Nainan Mathew, John M Plouzek, Raymond Alan Wise, Daniel Paul Adler
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Patent number: 11834082Abstract: A system and method for detecting buckled rail and for predicting a risk for rail buckling is disclosed. The method may comprise receiving data from a camera mounted on locomotive traveling on the railroad track. The data may include images of the buckled rail and dimensions of the buckled rail when the camera detects the buckled rail. The data may further include images of the ballast and condition of the ballast. The method may further comprise receiving data from a thermal camera mounted to the locomotive indicating the temperature of the rails. The method may further comprise transmitting an alarm signal to a display interface of a remote unit if the dimensions of the buckled rail meet a predetermined threshold, and predicting a risk for rail buckling based at least on the temperature of the rails and the condition of the ballast.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2019Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Progress Rail Services CorporationInventors: Marc Miller, Chad A. Moore, Lawrence A. Mianzo, Mike Hoffelder, Darrell Cantrell, Derrill J. Koelz, Narayana G. Nadukuru
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Patent number: 11821177Abstract: An example wear detection system receives a left image and a right image of a bucket of a work machine having at least one ground engaging tool (GET). The example system identifies a first region of interest from the left image corresponding to the GET and a second region of interest from the right image corresponding to the GET. The example system also generates a left-edge digital image corresponding to the first region of interest and a right-edge digital image corresponding to the second region of interest. Further, the example system determines a sparse stereo disparity between the left-edge digital image and the right-edge digital image, and also determines a wear level or loss for the at least one GET based on the sparse stereo disparity.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2021Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Lawrence A Mianzo, Tod A Oblak, John M Plouzek, Shawn Nainan Mathew, Raymond Alan Wise
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Patent number: 11768289Abstract: A work machine, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system, and method of reducing false object detections are disclosed. The work machine may include a frame, a power unit, a locomotive device, and the LiDAR system. The LiDAR system may include at least one laser, at least one sensor, a bracket, and a control unit configured to execute an object detection program. The LiDAR system is configured to exclude from its object detection program a plurality of beams emitted toward the work machine through a design of the bracket and/or software methods of the control unit. The method may include storing a database of exclude coordinates and using the database to filter out undesirable data samples from the object detection program.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2021Date of Patent: September 26, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.Inventors: Todd A. Impola, Siddarth Desikan, Nathaniel Doy, Lawrence A. Mianzo, Mark E. Hartman, Shanmukha Bhumireddy, Sri Sekharan
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Patent number: 11669956Abstract: An example wear detection system receives first imaging data from one or more sensors associated with a work machine. The first imaging data comprises data related to at least one ground engaging tool (GET) of the work machine. The example system identifies a region of interest including data of the at least one GET within the first imaging data. Based on the identified region of interest, the example system controls a LiDAR sensor to capture second imaging data capturing the at least one GET that is of higher resolution than the first imaging data. The example system generates a three-dimensional point cloud of the at least one GET based on the second imaging data and determines a wear level or loss for the at least one GET based on the three-dimensional point cloud.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Lawrence A Mianzo, Tod A Oblak, John M Plouzek, Raymond Alan Wise, Shawn Nainan Mathew
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Patent number: 11650147Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for real-time characterization of drilled particles during a drilling operation can be comprised of a light illumination source to output short-wave-infrared (SWIR) light toward the drilled particles as the drilled particles exit a drill hole being drilled by a drilling machine; a sensor to sense reflected short-wave-infrared (SWIR) light reflected from the drilled particles exiting the drill hole; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to at least the sensor. The processing circuitry can be configured to determine a spectrum of the reflected short-wave-infrared light sensed by the sensor, and determine particle characterization for a portion of the drilled particles by performing hyperspectral analysis on the determined spectrum and based on predetermined candidate particle characterizations.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Tod A. Oblak, Lyle Taylor, James Peterson, Carl Hendricks, John F. Halterman, Lawrence A. Mianzo, Narayana G. Nadukuru
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Publication number: 20230053154Abstract: An example wear detection system receives a plurality of images from a plurality of sensors associated with a work machine. Individual sensors of the plurality of sensors have respective fields-of-view different from other sensors of the plurality of sensors. The wear detection system identifies a first region of interest and second region of interest associated with the at least one GET. The wear detection system determines a first set of image points and a second set of images points for the at least one GET based on geometric parameters associated with the GET. The wear detection system determines a wear level or loss for the at least one GET based on the GET measurement.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2021Publication date: February 16, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Lawrence A. Mianzo, Tod A. Oblak, John M. Plouzek, Raymond Alan Wise, Shawn Nainan Mathew, Daniel Paul Adler
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Publication number: 20230051843Abstract: An example wear detection system receives first image data related to at least one ground engaging tool (GET) of a work machine from one or more sensors at a first time instance in a dig-dump cycle of the work machine. The wear detection system processes the first image data to determine a first wear measurement and first wear level for the at least one GET. The wear detection system determines whether the first wear level is indicative of a GET replacement condition. The wear detection system generates an alert when the first wear level is indicative of the GET replacement condition. The wear detection system receives second image data related to the at least one GET a second time instance different from the first time instance when the first wear level is not indicative of the GET replacement condition and determines a second wear measurement and second wear level for the at least one GET.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2021Publication date: February 16, 2023Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Lawrence A. Mianzo, Tod A. Oblak, Shawn Nainan Mathew, John M. Plouzek, Raymond Alan Wise, Daniel Paul Adler
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Publication number: 20220383469Abstract: An example wear detection system receives first imaging data from one or more sensors associated with a work machine. The first imaging data comprises data related to at least one ground engaging tool (GET) of the work machine. The example system identifies a region of interest including data of the at least one GET within the first imaging data. Based on the identified region of interest, the example system controls a LiDAR sensor to capture second imaging data capturing the at least one GET that is of higher resolution than the first imaging data. The example system generates a three-dimensional point cloud of the at least one GET based on the second imaging data and determines a wear level or loss for the at least one GET based on the three-dimensional point cloud.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2021Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Lawrence A. Mianzo, Tod A. Oblak, John M. Plouzek, Raymond Alan Wise, Shawn Nainan Mathew
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Publication number: 20220373680Abstract: A work machine, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system, and method of reducing false object detections are disclosed. The work machine may include a frame, a power unit, a locomotive device, and the LiDAR system. The LiDAR system may include at least one laser, at least one sensor, a bracket, and a control unit configured to execute an object detection program. The LiDAR system is configured to exclude from its object detection program a plurality of beams emitted toward the work machine through a design of the bracket and/or software methods of the control unit. The method may include storing a database of exclude coordinates and using the database to filter out undesirable data samples from the object detection program.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2021Publication date: November 24, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products lnc.Inventors: Todd A. Impola, Siddarth Desikan, Nathaniel Doy, Lawrence A. Mianzo, Mark E. Hartman, Shanmukha Bhumireddy, Sri Sekharan
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Publication number: 20220307978Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for real-time characterization of drilled particles during a drilling operation can be comprised of a light illumination source to output short-wave-infrared (SWIR) light toward the drilled particles as the drilled particles exit a drill hole being drilled by a drilling machine; a sensor to sense reflected short-wave-infrared (SWIR) light reflected from the drilled particles exiting the drill hole; and processing circuitry operatively coupled to at least the sensor. The processing circuitry can be configured to determine a spectrum of the reflected short-wave-infrared light sensed by the sensor, and determine particle characterization for a portion of the drilled particles by performing hyperspectral analysis on the determined spectrum and based on predetermined candidate particle characterizations.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2021Publication date: September 29, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Tod A. OBLAK, Lyle TAYLOR, James PETERSON, Carl HENDRICKS, John F. HALTERMAN, Lawrence A. Mianzo, Narayana G. Nadukuru
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Publication number: 20220251807Abstract: An example wear detection system receives a left image and a right image of a bucket of a work machine having at least one ground engaging tool (GET). The example system identifies a first region of interest from the left image corresponding to the GET and a second region of interest from the right image corresponding to the GET. The example system also generates a left-edge digital image corresponding to the first region of interest and a right-edge digital image corresponding to the second region of interest. Further, the example system determines a sparse stereo disparity between the left-edge digital image and the right-edge digital image, and also determines a wear level or loss for the at least one GET based on the sparse stereo disparity.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2021Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Lawrence A. Mianzo, Tod A. Oblak, John M. Plouzek, Shawn Nainan Mathew, Raymond Alan Wise
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Publication number: 20210078622Abstract: A system and method for detecting buckled rail and for predicting a risk for rail buckling is disclosed. The method may comprise receiving data from a camera mounted on locomotive traveling on the railroad track. The data may include images of the buckled rail and dimensions of the buckled rail when the camera detects the buckled rail. The data may further include images of the ballast and condition of the ballast. The method may further comprise receiving data from a thermal camera mounted to the locomotive indicating the temperature of the rails. The method may further comprise transmitting an alarm signal to a display interface of a remote unit if the dimensions of the buckled rail meet a predetermined threshold, and predicting a risk for rail buckling based at least on the temperature of the rails and the condition of the ballast.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2019Publication date: March 18, 2021Applicant: Progress Rail Services CorporationInventors: Marc Miller, Chad A. Moore, Lawrence A. Mianzo, Mike Hoffelder, Darrell Cantrell, Derrill J. Koelz, Narayana G. Nadukuru
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Patent number: 10889958Abstract: A display system for displaying image data of an environment of a machine includes an imaging device. The imaging device generates image data of the environment of the machine. The imaging device stores the image data in an uncompressed form. The imaging device compresses the image data and generates signals indicative of the compressed image data. The display system further includes a display screen communicably coupled to the imaging device. The display screen receives the signals indicative of the compressed image data from the imaging device and displays the compressed image data on the display screen. The imaging device and the display screen identify whether a region of interest exists in the image data. The display screen displays the image data corresponding to the region of interest in the uncompressed form.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2017Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Tod A. Oblak, Lawrence A. Mianzo, Jeffrey T. Stringer
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Patent number: 10519631Abstract: A method for monitoring the movement of a work tool of a machine using a work tool vision a comprises sensing data related to the image of a work tool, selecting a template of an image of a work tool, and displaying the sensed image of the work tool after modifying the sensed image of the work tool by at least zooming on a portion of the sensed data of the image if the sensed data of the image of a work tool matches the template of an image of a work tool.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Joe E. Forcash, Michael Hoffelder, Robert C. McCall, Lawrence A. Mianzo
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Patent number: 10250812Abstract: A display system for displaying image data of an environment of a machine includes a display screen and a plurality of imaging devices communicably coupled to the display screen. Each of the plurality of imaging devices generates image data of the environment of the machine and has an associated operating parameter. The plurality of imaging devices stores the image data in an uncompressed form. The plurality of imaging devices compresses the image data and generates signals indicative of the compressed image data. The plurality of imaging devices receives the operating parameter associated with at least one another imaging device. The plurality of imaging devices transmits the compressed image data to the display screen based on the associated operating parameter and the received parameter of the at least one another imaging device. The plurality of imaging devices displays an image on the display screen based on the transmitted image data.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2017Date of Patent: April 2, 2019Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Tod A. Oblak, Lawrence A. Mianzo, Jeffrey T. Stringer
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Publication number: 20190093320Abstract: A method for monitoring the movement of a work tool of a machine using a work tool vision a comprises sensing data related to the image of a work tool, selecting a template of an image of a work tool, and displaying the sensed image of the work tool after modifying the sensed image of the work tool by at least zooming on a portion of the sensed data of the image if the sensed data of the image of a work tool matches the template of an image of a work tool.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2017Publication date: March 28, 2019Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Joe E. Forcash, Michael Hoffelder, Robert C. McCall, Lawrence A. Mianzo
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Publication number: 20180352162Abstract: A display system for displaying image data of an environment of a machine includes an imaging device. The imaging device generates image data of the environment of the machine. The imaging device stores the image data in an uncompressed form. The imaging device compresses the image data and generates signals indicative of the compressed image data. The display system further includes a display screen communicably coupled to the imaging device. The display screen receives the signals indicative of the compressed image data from the imaging device and displays the compressed image data on the display screen. The imaging device and the display screen identify whether a region of interest exists in the image data. The display screen displays the image data corresponding to the region of interest in the uncompressed form.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2017Publication date: December 6, 2018Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Tod A. Oblak, Lawrence A. Mianzo, Jeffrey T. Stringer
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Publication number: 20180338087Abstract: A display system for displaying image data of an environment of a machine includes a display screen and a plurality of imaging devices communicably coupled to the display screen. Each of the plurality of imaging devices generates image data of the environment of the machine and has an associated operating parameter. The plurality of imaging devices stores the image data in an uncompressed form. The plurality of imaging devices compresses the image data and generates signals indicative of the compressed image data. The plurality of imaging devices receives the operating parameter associated with at least one another imaging device. The plurality of imaging devices transmits the compressed image data to the display screen based on the associated operating parameter and the received parameter of the at least one another imaging device. The plurality of imaging devices displays an image on the display screen based on the transmitted image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2017Publication date: November 22, 2018Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Tod A. Oblak, Lawrence A. Mianzo, Jeffrey T. Stringer
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Patent number: 6711489Abstract: A method for real time estimation of air charge, residual gas, and backflow in an engine cylinder, i.e., in-cylinder variables, by estimating total mass flow into and out of the cylinders. These estimations are then integrated based on starting and ending times for induction strokes of each cylinder to calculate air charge and residual gas for each cylinder. The method uses intake and exhaust manifold pressure measurements to estimate the in-cylinder variables. The intake and exhaust manifold pressure measurements are processed through the ideal gas law to dynamically determine the net change in the amount of gas inside the manifolds in order to estimate the in-cylinder variables on-line.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2001Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Ibrahim Haskara, Lawrence A. Mianzo