Patents by Inventor Mark L. Westphalen

Mark L. Westphalen 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).

  • Steering system having multiple strategies and variable deadzone
    Patent number: 8046134
    Abstract: A steering system for a machine having at least one steerable traction device is disclosed. The steering system may have a steering actuator operatively connected to the at least one steerable traction device, and a travel speed sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a travel speed of the machine. The steering mechanism may also have an operator input device having a deadzone. The deadzone may vary in response to the signal. The steering system may also have a controller in communication with the steering actuator, the operator input device, and the travel speed sensor. The controller may be configured to affect operation of the steering actuator in response to operation of the operator input device only when the operation of the operator input device deviates from the deadzone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Caterpilar Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Huang, John J. Krone, Brad A. Edler, Mark L. Westphalen, Yongmin Ma, Brent M. Carr
  • STEERING SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE STRATEGIES AND VARIABLE DEADZONE
    Publication number: 20110035112
    Abstract: A steering system for a machine having at least one steerable traction device is disclosed. The steering system may have a steering actuator operatively connected to the at least one steerable traction device, and a travel speed sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a travel speed of the machine. The steering mechanism may also have an operator input device having a deadzone. The deadzone may vary in response to the signal. The steering system may also have a controller in communication with the steering actuator, the operator input device, and the travel speed sensor. The controller may be configured to affect operation of the steering actuator in response to operation of the operator input device only when the operation of the operator input device deviates from the deadzone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Huang, John J. Krone, Brad A. Edler, Mark L. Westphalen, Yongmin Ma, Brent M. Carr
  • Steering system having multiple strategies and variable deadzone
    Patent number: 7853380
    Abstract: A steering system for a machine having at least one steerable traction device is disclosed. The steering system may have a steering actuator operatively connected to the at least one steerable traction device, and a travel speed sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a travel speed of the machine. The steering mechanism may also have an operator input device having a deadzone. The deadzone may vary in response to the signal. The steering system may also have a controller in communication with the steering actuator, the operator input device, and the travel speed sensor. The controller may be configured to affect operation of the steering actuator in response to operation of the operator input device only when the operation of the operator input device deviates from the deadzone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Xiaodong Huang, John J. Krone, Brad A. Edler, Mark L. Westphalen, Yongmin Ma, Brent M. Carr
  • STEERING SYSTEM HAVING MULTIPLE STRATEGIES AND VARIABLE DEADZONE
    Publication number: 20090312913
    Abstract: A steering system for a machine having at least one steerable traction device is disclosed. The steering system may have a steering actuator operatively connected to the at least one steerable traction device, and a travel speed sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a travel speed of the machine. The steering mechanism may also have an operator input device having a deadzone. The deadzone may vary in response to the signal. The steering system may also have a controller in communication with the steering actuator, the operator input device, and the travel speed sensor. The controller may be configured to affect operation of the steering actuator in response to operation of the operator input device only when the operation of the operator input device deviates from the deadzone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Huang, John J. Krone, Brad A. Edler, Mark L. Westphalen, Yongmin Ma, Brent M. Carr
  • Steering system having multiple strategies and variable deadzone
    Patent number: 7624836
    Abstract: A steering system for a machine having at least one steerable traction device is disclosed. The steering system may have a steering actuator operatively connected to the at least one steerable traction device, and a travel speed sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a travel speed of the machine. The steering mechanism may also have an operator input device having a deadzone. The deadzone may vary in response to the signal. The steering system may also have a controller in communication with the steering actuator, the operator input device, and the travel speed sensor. The controller may be configured to affect operation of the steering actuator in response to operation of the operator input device only when the operation of the operator input device deviates from the deadzone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaodong Huang, John J. Krone, Brad A. Edler, Mark L. Westphalen, Yongmin Ma, Brent M. Carr
  • Steering system having multiple strategies and variable deadzone
    Publication number: 20080116000
    Abstract: A steering system for a machine having at least one steerable traction device is disclosed. The steering system may have a steering actuator operatively connected to the at least one steerable traction device, and a travel speed sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of a travel speed of the machine. The steering mechanism may also have an operator input device having a deadzone. The deadzone may vary in response to the signal. The steering system may also have a controller in communication with the steering actuator, the operator input device, and the travel speed sensor. The controller may be configured to affect operation of the steering actuator in response to operation of the operator input device only when the operation of the operator input device deviates from the deadzone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Xiaodong Huang, John J. Krone, Brad A. Edler, Mark L. Westphalen, Yongmin Ma, Brent M. Carr