Patents by Inventor Nolan S. Finch
Nolan S. Finch 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: 11466984Abstract: An ECU includes a memory including computer executable instructions for monitoring the condition of a ground engaging tool, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to: acquire an image of the ground engaging tool, evaluate the image using an algorithm that compares the acquired image to a database of existing images to determine the damage, the amount of wear, or the absence of the ground engaging tool, and grade the quality of the acquired image.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John Michael Plouzek, Mitchell Chase Vlaminck, Nolan S. Finch
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Patent number: 11447931Abstract: The electronic control unit includes a memory including computer executable instructions for recognizing a ground engaging tool; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to: determine a dimension of a ground engaging tool installed on a work tool; compare the determined dimension of the ground engaging tool installed on a work tool to the theoretical dimension of a new ground engaging tool installed on the work tool; and calculate the difference between the determined dimension and the theoretical dimension.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John Michael Plouzek, Mitchell Chase Vlaminck, Nolan S. Finch
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Publication number: 20200362539Abstract: The electronic control unit includes a memory including computer executable instructions for recognizing a ground engaging tool; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to: determine a dimension of a ground engaging tool installed on a work tool; compare the determined dimension of the ground engaging tool installed on a work tool to the theoretical dimension of a new ground engaging tool installed on the work tool; and calculate the difference between the determined dimension and the theoretical dimension.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2019Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John Michael Plouzek, Mitchell Chase Vlaminck, Nolan S. Finch
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Publication number: 20200363203Abstract: An ECU includes a memory including computer executable instructions for monitoring the condition of a ground engaging tool, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions when executed by the processor cause the processor to: acquire an image of the ground engaging tool, evaluate the image using an algorithm that compares the acquired image to a database of existing images to determine the damage, the amount of wear, or the absence of the ground engaging tool, and grade the quality of the acquired image.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2019Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: John Michael Plouzek, Mitchell Chase Vlaminck, Nolan S. Finch
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Patent number: 10094093Abstract: A machine behavior classification system may include an electronic data collection system and an electronic data analysis system. The electronic data collection system may have an image capture apparatus that is configured to monitor a machine and the image capture apparatus may produce an image data file of the machine. Moreover, the electronic data analysis system may receive the image data file and may perform a data analysis of the image data file.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2015Date of Patent: October 9, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Praveen Halepatali, Sang Kyum Kim, Meng Han, Nolan S. Finch, Vineet Agarwal, Neil Moloney
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Patent number: 9880075Abstract: A wear measurement system for a component is disclosed. The wear measurement system may include an imaging device configured to obtain a plurality of two-dimensional images of the component. The wear measurement system may also include a controller. The controller may be configured to generate a three-dimensional point cloud representing the component based on the two-dimensional images. The controller may also be configured to overlay a computer model of the component on the three-dimensional point cloud. Further, the controller may be configured to project the computer model on the two-dimensional images. The controller may also be configured to select at least two reference points appearing in each of a subset of images selected from the two-dimensional images. The controller may be configured to determine locations of the two reference points in the three-dimensional point cloud, determine an image distance between the locations, and determine an amount of wear based on the image distance.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2016Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Nolan S. Finch, Yue Wang, Kook In Han, Timothy J. Bennett, Daniel A. Smyth
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Patent number: 9875535Abstract: A wear measurement system for a component is disclosed. The wear measurement system may have an imaging device configured to obtain a plurality of two-dimensional images of the component. The wear measurement system may also have a controller. The controller may be configured to generate a three-dimensional point cloud representing the component based on the two-dimensional images. The controller may also be configured to select at least two reference points appearing in each of a subset of images selected from the two-dimensional images. Further, the controller may be configured to determine locations of the two reference points in the three-dimensional point cloud. The controller may also be configured to determine an image distance between the locations. In addition, the controller may be configured to determine an amount of wear based on the image distance.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2016Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Nolan S. Finch, Yue Wang, Timothy J. Bennett, Daniel A. Smyth, Kook In Han
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Publication number: 20170234775Abstract: A wear measurement system for a component is disclosed. The wear measurement system may include an imaging device configured to obtain a plurality of two-dimensional images of the component. The wear measurement system may also include a controller. The controller may be configured to generate a three-dimensional point cloud representing the component based on the two-dimensional images. The controller may also be configured to overlay a computer model of the component on the three-dimensional point cloud. Further, the controller may be configured to project the computer model on the two-dimensional images. The controller may also be configured to select at least two reference points appearing in each of a subset of images selected from the two-dimensional images. The controller may be configured to determine locations of the two reference points in the three-dimensional point cloud, determine an image distance between the locations, and determine an amount of wear based on the image distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Nolan S. FINCH, Yue WANG, Kook In HAN, Timothy J. BENNETT, Daniel A. SMYTH
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Publication number: 20170236261Abstract: A wear measurement system for a component is disclosed. The wear measurement system may have an imaging device configured to obtain a plurality of two-dimensional images of the component. The wear measurement system may also have a controller. The controller may be configured to generate a three-dimensional point cloud representing the component based on the two-dimensional images. The controller may also be configured to select at least two reference points appearing in each of a subset of images selected from the two-dimensional images. Further, the controller may be configured to determine locations of the two reference points in the three-dimensional point cloud. The controller may also be configured to determine an image distance between the locations. In addition, the controller may be configured to determine an amount of wear based on the image distance.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.Inventors: Nolan S. FINCH, Yue WANG, Timothy J. BENNETT, Daniel A. SMYTH, Kook In HAN
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Publication number: 20170138017Abstract: A machine behavior classification system may include an electronic data collection system and an electronic data analysis system. The electronic data collection system may have an image capture apparatus that is configured to monitor a machine and the image capture apparatus may produce an image data file of the machine. Moreover, the electronic data analysis system may include a data analytics module that is configured to receive the image data file and the data analytics module may perform a data analysis of the image data file.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2015Publication date: May 18, 2017Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.Inventors: Praveen Halepatali, Sang Kyum Kim, Meng Han, Nolan S. Finch, Vineet Agarwal, Neil Moloney