Patents by Inventor Stephen Nofsinger

Stephen Nofsinger 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).

  • Control of multiple engines using one or more parameters associated with the multiple engines
    Patent number: 10927774
    Abstract: An engine controller to control a plurality of engines is disclosed. The engine controller may identify a plurality of engines configured to provide power to a load, wherein the plurality of engines have a first set of priorities associated with providing the power to the load; receive a plurality of parameters from a plurality of monitoring devices monitoring the plurality of engines; calculate a plurality of metrics corresponding to the plurality of engines based on the plurality of parameters; determine, based on the plurality of metrics, that a switching condition is satisfied to switch from the first set of priorities to a second set of priorities for the plurality of engines; determine the second set of priorities for the plurality of engines based on the plurality of metrics; and cause the plurality of engines to provide respective amounts of power to the load based on the second set of priorities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijun Cai, Ronald Gayles, Yanchai Zhang, Stephen Nofsinger, Maurice Dust
  • CONTROL OF MULTIPLE ENGINES USING ONE OR MORE PARAMETERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MULTIPLE ENGINES
    Publication number: 20200072137
    Abstract: An engine controller to control a plurality of engines is disclosed. The engine controller may identify a plurality of engines configured to provide power to a load, wherein the plurality of engines have a first set of priorities associated with providing the power to the load; receive a plurality of parameters from a plurality of monitoring devices monitoring the plurality of engines; calculate a plurality of metrics corresponding to the plurality of engines based on the plurality of parameters; determine, based on the plurality of metrics, that a switching condition is satisfied to switch from the first set of priorities to a second set of priorities for the plurality of engines; determine the second set of priorities for the plurality of engines based on the plurality of metrics; and cause the plurality of engines to provide respective amounts of power to the load based on the second set of priorities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijun CAI, Ronald Gayles, Yanchai Zhang, Stephen Nofsinger, Maurice Dust
  • Systems and methods for controlling power output to a load by multiple gensets based on load operation modes
    Patent number: 10491004
    Abstract: A control system for a plurality of generator sets (gensets) includes a plurality of controllers and a data link. Each of the plurality of controllers is operatively associated with at least one of the plurality of gensets. The plurality of controllers is configured to control power output of each of the plurality of gensets, based on a plurality of operating modes. Each of the plurality of operating modes is configured for a power consumption scenario associated with the load. The datalink connects each of the plurality of controllers to at least one other controller of the plurality of controllers. The plurality of controllers is further configured to select a current operating mode, from the plurality of operating modes, for the plurality of gensets and control power output of at least one of the plurality of gensets based on the current operating mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Josenia Gerdes, Vijay Janardhan, Edward Schroeder, Stephen Nofsinger
  • Systems and Methods for Controlling Power Output to a Load by Multiple Gensets Based On Load Operation Modes
    Publication number: 20180109110
    Abstract: A control system for a plurality of generator sets (gensets) includes a plurality of controllers and a data link. Each of the plurality of controllers is operatively associated with at least one of the plurality of gensets. The plurality of controllers is configured to control power output of each of the plurality of gensets, based on a plurality of operating modes. Each of the plurality of operating modes is configured for a power consumption scenario associated with the load. The datalink connects each of the plurality of controllers to at least one other controller of the plurality of controllers. The plurality of controllers is further configured to select a current operating mode, from the plurality of operating modes, for the plurality of gensets and control power output of at least one of the plurality of gensets based on the current operating mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Josenia Gerdes, Vijay Janardhan, Edward Schroeder, Stephen Nofsinger