Patents by Inventor Mark A. Tarvin

Mark A. Tarvin 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: 11746482
    Abstract: A system may include a first transportation device of a milling machine, a controller, and an inclination control system. The controller can control a construction machine including the first transportation device, which can move the construction machine over an operating surface. The inclination control system includes a first sensor coupled to the first transportation device to sense an orientation of the first transportation device relative to the frame of the milling machine. The controller controls the milling machine based on inclination information received from the inclination control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Engelmann, Mark A. Tarvin, Conwell K. Rife, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230220645
    Abstract: A method for controlling a compactor machine can include inputting a compaction specification into a controller for compacting a work area; inputting a compaction target value into the controller; while compacting, evaluating an actual compaction value; and if the actual compaction value reaches the compaction target value, the controller being configured to turn off a vibratory system of the compactor machine while the compactor machine finishes any further passes over the work area as specified by the compaction specification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Nathaniel S. Doy, John L. Marsolek, Nicholas A. Oetken, Mark A. Tarvin
  • Patent number: 11679639
    Abstract: A machine for road work can comprise a frame, a plurality of ground engaging units, a plurality of vertically moveable legs, each leg connecting one of the plurality of ground engaging units to the frame, a pair of spatial sensors, such as global navigation satellite system (GNSS) sensors, and a controller configured to, in response to a three-dimensional signal received from each of the spatial sensors, activate at least some of the plurality of vertically moveable legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Conwell K. Rife, Jr., Eric S. Engelmann, Mark A. Tarvin
  • Patent number: 11573126
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method of determining lateral edges of an asphalt mat deposited by a paving machine includes obtaining thermal image data of the asphalt mat at a thermal measuring device associated with the paving machine, and determining, on the paving machine, the lateral edges of the asphalt mat based on a threshold temperature value and the thermal image data. Other aspects include a method of generating a thermal map of an asphalt mat formed by paving machine, and a system for determining lateral edges of an asphalt mat deposited by a paving machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Tarvin, Jacob J. McAlpine, John L. Marsolek, Sivakumar P. Shanmugasundaram
  • Patent number: 11555278
    Abstract: A paving machine may include a frame, a screed, sensor devices, and a control unit. The screed may include a main section, a first extension, and a second extension. The sensor devices may output a first sensor signal corresponding to a position of the first extension and a second sensor signal corresponding to a position of the second extension. The control unit may receive the first and second sensor signals, determine a screed width based on the first and second sensor signals, receive location data corresponding to a location of the paving machine, determine locations of the first and second extensions based on the screed width and the location data, generate a boundary map based on the locations of the first and second extensions, and cause an action to be performed based on the boundary map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Ellwein, Mark Tarvin
  • Publication number: 20220259822
    Abstract: The disclosure describes technology that is related to mobile machines performing an automated mobilization task based on a mobilization command received from an electronic device that is separate from the mobile machines. The mobile machine may receive, from the electronic device, a mobilization command that instructs relocation of the mobile machine from an initial location to a final location. The mobile machine may traverse a path on a worksite that includes a series of locations extending from the initial location of the mobile machine to the final location. Furthermore, the mobile machine may determine its present position includes the final location, and, in response, send a relocation notification to the electronic device indicating that the mobilization task is completed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Gautham Subramanian, Mark William Whiting, Mark A. Tarvin
  • Patent number: 11149405
    Abstract: A grade control indicator assembly is disclosed. The grade control indicator assembly may include a keypad to control one or more functionalities of a machine, where the keypad includes a set of grade control light indicators integrated into the keypad, and where the set of grade control light indicators includes a first subset of grade control light indicators for indicating a grade of the machine with respect to a first side of the machine and a second subset of grade control light indicators for indicating the grade of the machine with respect to a second side of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Hogan, Mathew Hedrington, Toby Frelich, Andrew Kopca, Mark Tarvin, Ryan Thiesse
  • Patent number: 11105051
    Abstract: A system may include a first transportation device, a controller, and an inclination control system. The controller can control a construction machine including the first transportation device, which can move the construction machine over an operating surface. The inclination control system includes first and second slope sensors. The first slope sensor is coupled to the first transportation device and the second slope sensor is coupled to the construction machine. The controller controls the construction machine based on inclination information received from the inclination control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Engelmann, Mark A. Tarvin, Conwell K. Rife, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20210238814
    Abstract: A system may include a first transportation device of a milling machine, a controller, and an inclination control system. The controller can control a construction machine including the first transportation device, which can move the construction machine over an operating surface. The inclination control system includes a first sensor coupled to the first transportation device to sense an orientation of the first transportation device relative to the frame of the milling machine. The controller controls the milling machine based on inclination information received from the inclination control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicants: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Eric S. Engelmann, Mark A. Tarvin, Conwell K. Rife, JR.
  • Publication number: 20210215542
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method of determining lateral edges of an asphalt mat deposited by a paving machine includes obtaining thermal image data of the asphalt mat at a thermal measuring device associated with the paving machine, and determining, on the paving machine, the lateral edges of the asphalt mat based on a threshold temperature value and the thermal image data. Other aspects include a method of generating a thermal map of an asphalt mat formed by paving machine, and a system for determining lateral edges of an asphalt mat deposited by a paving machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. TARVIN, Jacob J. MCALPINE, John L. Marsolek, Sivakumar P. SHANMUGASUNDARAM
  • Publication number: 20210010210
    Abstract: A paving machine is disclosed. The paving machine may include a frame, a screed, sensor devices, and a control unit. The screed may include a main section, a first extension, and a second extension. The sensor devices may output a first sensor signal corresponding to a position of the first extension and a second sensor signal corresponding to a position of the second extension. The control unit may receive the first and second sensor signals, determine a screed width based on the first and second sensor signals, receive location data corresponding to a location of the paving machine, determine locations of the first and second extensions based on the screed width and the location data, generate a boundary map based on the locations of the first and second extensions, and cause an action to be performed based on the boundary map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Applicants: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jacob ELLWEIN, Mark TARVIN
  • Publication number: 20200347571
    Abstract: A grade control indicator assembly is disclosed. The grade control indicator assembly may include a keypad to control one or more functionalities of a machine, where the keypad includes a set of grade control light indicators integrated into the keypad, and where the set of grade control light indicators includes a first subset of grade control light indicators for indicating a grade of the machine with respect to a first side of the machine and a second subset of grade control light indicators for indicating the grade of the machine with respect to a second side of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Applicants: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Lee HOGAN, Mathew HEDRINGTON, Toby FRELICH, Andrew KOPCA, Mark TARVIN, Ryan THIESSE
  • Patent number: 10633805
    Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a machine control system in a construction machine having an implement with an extender. The machine control system may include an acceleration sensor mounted to the implement and a processor configured to perform various operations. The operations may include determining that the extender is not moving and in response operating under a first control scheme. Operating under the first control scheme may include receiving acceleration data from the acceleration sensor, generating an estimated slope of the implement based on the acceleration data, and modifying a slope of the implement based on the first estimated slope by causing movement of at least one tow arm. The operations may also include determining that the extender is moving and in response operating under a second control scheme. Operating under the second control scheme may include maintaining the slope of the implement substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Francisco Green, Tony Steinhagen, Mark Tarvin
  • Publication number: 20200123716
    Abstract: A system may include a first transportation device, a controller, and an inclination control system. The controller can control a construction machine including the first transportation device, which can move the construction machine over an operating surface. The inclination control system includes first and second slope sensors. The first slope sensor is coupled to the first transportation device and the second slope sensor is coupled to the construction machine. The controller controls the construction machine based on inclination information received from the inclination control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicants: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Eric S. Engelmann, Mark A. Tarvin, Conwell K. Rife, JR.
  • Publication number: 20200122540
    Abstract: A machine for road work can comprise a frame, a plurality of ground engaging units, a plurality of vertically moveable legs, each leg connecting one of the plurality of ground engaging units to the frame, a pair of spatial sensors, such as global navigation satellite system (GNSS) sensors, and a controller configured to, in response to a three-dimensional signal received from each of the spatial sensors, activate at least some of the plurality of vertically moveable legs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicants: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Conwell K. Rife, Jr., Eric S. Engelmann, Mark A. Tarvin
  • Publication number: 20190301110
    Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a machine control system in a construction machine having an implement with an extender. The machine control system may include an acceleration sensor mounted to the implement and a processor configured to perform various operations. The operations may include determining that the extender is not moving and in response operating under a first control scheme. Operating under the first control scheme may include receiving acceleration data from the acceleration sensor, generating an estimated slope of the implement based on the acceleration data, and modifying a slope of the implement based on the first estimated slope by causing movement of at least one tow arm. The operations may also include determining that the extender is moving and in response operating under a second control scheme. Operating under the second control scheme may include maintaining the slope of the implement substantially constant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Publication date: October 3, 2019
    Inventors: Francisco Green, Tony Steinhagen, Mark Tarvin
  • Publication number: 20030176907
    Abstract: A ventricular stylet and pacing lead having a novel, modified curve shape enabling easy placement and positioning, a uniquely oversized torque handle enabling efficient manipulation and an internally carried, arcuately barbed tip enabling minimally traumatic fixation within the heart, thereby decreasing total implant time, decreasing ventricular lead placement time and facilitating better apical placement in the right ventricle, thus lowering thresholds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventor: Mark Tarvin