Patents by Inventor Steven E. Empson

Steven E. Empson 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: 10248127
    Abstract: A method for depositing piles of material, by a machine, in a work zone of a worksite. The method comprising detecting, by a controller, a first area occupied by a first pile deposited in the work zone, determining, by the controller, an available area in the work zone based on a comparison of the first area with an area of the work zone, determining, by the controller, a remaining number of piles to be deposited in the available area based on the determination of the available area, determining, by the controller, a location for each pile of the remaining number of piles to be deposited in the available area such that each pile of the remaining number of piles are evenly spaced from each other; and generating, by the controller, a machine signal to operate the machine to form the remaining number of piles at the respective determined location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Taylor, Steven E. Empson, Mo Wei
  • Patent number: 10208453
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a work zone in a worksite is disclosed. The work zone includes an overburden region, a dump region having an incline of positive slope, and an initial pivot point at a junction of the overburden region and the incline. The method includes monitoring, by a controller, an elevation of the work zone based on an elevation data received from one or more sensors. Further, the method comprises detecting, by the controller, a location in the work zone having an elevation lower than an elevation of the initial pivot point based on the elevation data. Furthermore, the method comprises updating, by the controller, the detected location as a new pivot point if the detected location is within a predetermined distance from the initial pivot point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Taylor, Steven E. Empson, Mo Wei
  • Publication number: 20180341268
    Abstract: A method for depositing piles of material, by a machine, in a work zone of a worksite. The method comprising detecting, by a controller, a first area occupied by a first pile deposited in the work zone, determining, by the controller, an available area in the work zone based on a comparison of the first area with an area of the work zone, determining, by the controller, a remaining number of piles to be deposited in the available area based on the determination of the available area, determining, by the controller, a location for each pile of the remaining number of piles to be deposited in the available area such that each pile of the remaining number of piles are evenly spaced from each other; and generating, by the controller, a machine signal to operate the machine to form the remaining number of piles at the respective determined location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2017
    Publication date: November 29, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Taylor, Steven E. Empson, Mo Wei
  • Publication number: 20180334783
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a work zone in a worksite is disclosed. The work zone includes an overburden region, a dump region having an incline of positive slope, and an initial pivot point at a junction of the overburden region and the incline. The method includes monitoring, by a controller, an elevation of the work zone based on an elevation data received from one or more sensors. Further, the method comprises detecting, by the controller, a location in the work zone having an elevation lower than an elevation of the initial pivot point based on the elevation data. Furthermore, the method comprises updating, by the controller, the detected location as a new pivot point if the detected location is within a predetermined distance from the initial pivot point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Taylor, Steven E. Empson, Mo Wei