Patents by Inventor Mark E. Hartman

Mark E. Hartman 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: 11768289
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Impola, Siddarth Desikan, Nathaniel Doy, Lawrence A. Mianzo, Mark E. Hartman, Shanmukha Bhumireddy, Sri Sekharan
  • Publication number: 20220373680
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: Caterpillar Paving Products lnc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Impola, Siddarth Desikan, Nathaniel Doy, Lawrence A. Mianzo, Mark E. Hartman, Shanmukha Bhumireddy, Sri Sekharan
  • Patent number: 10852438
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of a machine or a portion of the machine. The method comprises processing a waveform based on detected reflected light and a derivative of the waveform. The waveform includes a return. The method further comprises classifying the return as a phantom target or a non-amorphous target based on the result of the processing, and controlling movement of the machine or a portion of the machine based on the result of the classifying the return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Hartman, Weston Taylor, Nathaniel W. Hart, Thomas Joseph Houchin
  • Publication number: 20190056504
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling movement of a machine or a portion of the machine. The method comprises processing a waveform based on detected reflected light and a derivative of the waveform. The waveform includes a return. The method further comprises classifying the return as a phantom target or a non-amorphous target based on the result of the processing, and controlling movement of the machine or a portion of the machine based on the result of the classifying the return.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Hartman, Weston Taylor, Nathaniel W. Hart, Thomas Joseph Houchin
  • Patent number: 8427331
    Abstract: A method for testing a power converter having at least one power transistor is disclosed. The method may include receiving a power transistor test request, and resetting a fault flag. The method may also include applying a gate driver signal to each power transistor, receiving a feedback signal from each power transistor, and determining a difference between the gate driver signal and the feedback signal associated with a respective power transistor. The method may further include identifying a fault if the difference exceeds a threshold profile, and setting a fault flag when a fault is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Hartman, James D. Siegle, Thuong D. Le, Bruce H. Hein
  • Patent number: 8004226
    Abstract: A method of detecting one or more failed current sensor and estimating a phase current for the failed current sensor on a three-phase machine is disclosed. The method may include detecting one or more failed current sensor by determining if an absolute value of a sum of the phase currents of the motor is below an open circuit value. The method may also include determining which phase currents are approximately zero, for each phase current associated with each phase of the motor, if the sum of the phase currents of the motor is not below the open circuit value. The method may further include estimating the phase current for the failed current sensor by determining the phase current value for the failed current sensor, that when added to the phase currents of the remaining current sensors, will make the sum of all the phase currents equal to approximately zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Hartman, Jesse R. Gerdes, Gregory J. Speckhart, Jackson Wai
  • Publication number: 20100164735
    Abstract: A method for testing a power converter having at least one power transistor is disclosed. The method may include receiving a power transistor test request, and resetting a fault flag. The method may also include applying a gate driver signal to each power transistor, receiving a feedback signal from each power transistor, and determining a difference between the gate driver signal and the feedback signal associated with a respective power transistor. The method may further include identifying a fault if the difference exceeds a threshold profile, and setting a fault flag when a fault is identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Mark E. Hartman, James D. Siegle, Thuong D. Le, Bruce H. Hein
  • Publication number: 20100033122
    Abstract: A method of detecting one or more failed current sensor and estimating a phase current for the failed current sensor on a three-phase machine is disclosed. The method may include detecting one or more failed current sensor by determining if an absolute value of a sum of the phase currents of the motor is below an open circuit value. The method may also include determining which phase currents are approximately zero, for each phase current associated with each phase of the motor, if the sum of the phase currents of the motor is not below the open circuit value. The method may further include estimating the phase current for the failed current sensor by determining the phase current value for the failed current sensor, that when added to the phase currents of the remaining current sensors, will make the sum of all the phase currents equal to approximately zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Mark E. Hartman, Jesse R. Gerdes, Gregory J. Speckhart, Jackson Wai