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).

  • Patent number: 11466984
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Michael Plouzek, Mitchell Chase Vlaminck, Nolan S. Finch
  • Patent number: 11447931
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Michael Plouzek, Mitchell Chase Vlaminck, Nolan S. Finch
  • Publication number: 20200362539
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Michael Plouzek, Mitchell Chase Vlaminck, Nolan S. Finch
  • Publication number: 20200363203
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: John Michael Plouzek, Mitchell Chase Vlaminck, Nolan S. Finch
  • Patent number: 10094093
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Praveen Halepatali, Sang Kyum Kim, Meng Han, Nolan S. Finch, Vineet Agarwal, Neil Moloney
  • Patent number: 9880075
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nolan S. Finch, Yue Wang, Kook In Han, Timothy J. Bennett, Daniel A. Smyth
  • Patent number: 9875535
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nolan S. Finch, Yue Wang, Timothy J. Bennett, Daniel A. Smyth, Kook In Han
  • Publication number: 20170234775
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nolan S. FINCH, Yue WANG, Kook In HAN, Timothy J. BENNETT, Daniel A. SMYTH
  • Publication number: 20170236261
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Nolan S. FINCH, Yue WANG, Timothy J. BENNETT, Daniel A. SMYTH, Kook In HAN
  • Publication number: 20170138017
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: CATERPILLAR INC.
    Inventors: Praveen Halepatali, Sang Kyum Kim, Meng Han, Nolan S. Finch, Vineet Agarwal, Neil Moloney