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).

  • Publication number: 20240318388
    Abstract: A system for assisting an asphalt compactor in performing a directional change can include a controller configured to perform a turn-out for the asphalt compactor by steering the asphalt compactor at a desired turning angle on an asphalt mat; the controller configured to turn off a vibratory system for the asphalt compactor during the turn-out; the controller configured to slow down and stop the asphalt compactor after a desired distance into the turn-out; and the controller configured to move the asphalt compactor in an opposite direction and restart the vibratory system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Lindholm, John L. Marsolek, Cary M. Bryant, Jeremy W. Lee, Matthew D. Chisholm, Joseph A. Lehtola, Robert J. McGee, Mark A. Tarvin, Rianto A. Rahman, Paul S. Petersen
  • 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
  • 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: 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: 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: 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.