| CATERPILLAR TRIMBLE CONTROL TECHNOLOGIES LLC Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20110255918 | PAVING MACHINE CONTROL AND METHOD - A control and a method of control for a machine that applies a material to a subgrade at a work site and pulls a floating screed, having a screed plate, over the top surface of the material behind the machine is useful in paving with asphalt material. The floating screed is attached to the machine by a tow arm at a tow point on said tow arm. The vertical height of the tow point is controlled by an hydraulic cylinder on said machine in response to a valve control signal applied to an hydraulic valve by a valve control drive. The screed determines the thickness of the material on the subgrade and is manipulated by adjusting the height of the tow point. A first sensor is mounted on the floating screed for sensing three-dimensional position. A second sensor for senses the pitch of said screed. A processor circuit is responsive to the first and second sensors for determining the height of the trailing edge of the screed plate and the movement of the screed over the top surface of the material. An adjusted height error value is combined with a tow point correction value produced by a three dimensional positioning system to provide for adjustment of the tow point by no more than a predetermined amount as the screed plate travels a predetermined minimum distance. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110178677 | MACHINE CONTROL AND GUIDANCE SYSTEM INCORPORATING A PORTABLE DIGITAL MEDIA DEVICE - A machine control and guidance system for an earthmoving machine, includes one or more sensors and a portable digital media device mounted on the earthmoving machine. The portable digital media device may comprise an iPhone, an iTouch, or other similar device. Each of the sensors senses the position or orientation of a portion of the earthmoving machine and provides a wireless output signal indicating the position or orientation. The portable digital media device is in wireless communication with each of the sensors. The device has an associated display and a memory in which is stored an application program which permits the device to determine the position of one or more portions of the earthmoving machine and to display the position of one or more portions of the earthmoving machine on the display. | 07-21-2011 |
| 20100215434 | WIRELESS SENSOR WITH KINETIC ENERGY POWER ARRANGEMENT - A system and method for sensing surface compaction effected by a compactor machine of the type having a vibrating compacting roller, and providing a sensor signal indicating sensed surface compaction to a control mounted on the compactor machine, includes a sensor for sensing compaction and providing a signal indicating sensed surface compaction. The sensor is mounted on the compacting roller support of the compactor machine. The system includes a vibration-to-electric energy converter, mounted with the sensor on the compacting roller support and subjected to vibration. The converter converts the vibration energy to electric energy which may be supplied to the sensor and to a transmitter. The transmitter is powered by the electric energy from said vibration-to-electric energy converter and transmits the sensor signal to a receiver on the machine. The receiver provides the sensor signal to a control for the machine. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100046800 | THREE DIMENSIONAL SCANNING ARRANGEMENT INCLUDING DYNAMIC UPDATING - A three dimensional machine scanning arrangement for a machine traveling over a worksite includes a pair of scanners that are mounted on the machine. Each of the pair of scanners measures distances to a number of points on the ground at the worksite. One of the pair of scanners faces rearward and the other of the pair of scanners is faces forward. A control is responsive to the pair of scanners. The control determines the contour of the worksite. A display, mounted on the machine, is responsive to the control for displaying the contour of the worksite. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100014916 | PAVING MACHINE CONTROL AND METHOD - A control is provided for a machine that applies a material to a subgrade and pulls a floating screed over the top surface of the material behind the machine. The floating screed is attached to the machine by at least one tow arm at a tow point on the tow arm. The vertical height of the tow point is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder on the machine in response to a valve control signal applied to a hydraulic valve. The screed determines the thickness of the material on the subgrade as it is manipulated by adjusting the height of the tow point such that the top surface of the material follows a reference surface. A first sensor is mounted on the machine, adjacent the front of the machine, for sensing the relative height of the reference surface and providing a first sensor output related thereto. A second sensor for senses the height of the tow point relative to the machine and provides a second sensor output related thereto. This can be accomplished directly, or by sensing the height of the tow point with respect to the reference surface and subtracting the portion of the this sensed height attributable to changes in the reference surface. A control circuit, responsive to the first sensor output and the second sensor output, provides a valve control signal to the hydraulic valve for control of said hydraulic cylinder. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20090312974 | INCLINOMETER MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD PROVIDING CORRECTION FOR MOVEMENT INDUCED ACCELERATION ERRORS - The present invention includes a system and a method by which the inclination of a machine element, such as a platform, may be sensed, and errors that might otherwise result from tangential and radial acceleration eliminated. The platform defines orthogonal X and Y axes, and a Z axis orthogonal to both the X and Y axes. The platform is rotatable about an axis extending parallel to the Z axis. The system includes an inclinometer, mounted on the platform at a location spaced from the axis of rotation by a distance r, for providing inclinometer outputs indicating acceleration in the X and Y directions, designated as I | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090259373 | Earthmoving Machine Sensor - System and method for providing an excavation characteristic associated with an earthmoving machine. In one embodiment, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with an attachment mounted to an earthmoving machine may be identified. An optical benchmark signal may be detected, by an optical receiver. The position of the attachment relative to the earthmoving machine may be determined based, at least in part, on identification of the RFID tag. The position of the attachment may be provided to an operator of the earthmoving machine | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090256860 | System and Method for Presenting Topographical Data for an Earthmoving Operation - System and method for presenting a visual image of a work site for an earthmoving machine. In one embodiment, target design data for the work site may be received. A spatial location and orientation for an earthmoving machine operating in relation to the work site may also be received. A visual image of at least a portion of the work site may be received from an imaging device mounted to the earthmoving machine. A visual image of the portion of the work site may be displayed with a subset of the design data overlaying the visual image, wherein the subset of the design data relates to the portion of the work site. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090162177 | LOADER AND LOADER CONTROL SYSTEM - A loader and a control system for a loader provide for monitoring the position of a part of the implement carried by the loader. The loader has a body with left and right upright tower portions, and a loader drive system including ground engaging drive elements. Left and right interconnected lift arm assemblies each have an implement lift arm pivotally connected with a corresponding tower portion of the body at a lift arm pivot point. A lift actuator is connected between the body and the lift arm. The implement is pivotally connected with the lift arm assemblies about an implement pivot axis. The lift arm pivot point and the implement pivot axis in side elevation define a straight reference line. At least one implement tilt actuator is connected between at least one of the lift arm assemblies and the implement. A position sensor is mounted on the body at the level of, or above, the lift arm pivot points. An inclinometer is movable with the left and right interconnected lift arm assemblies to provide an indication of the inclination of the lift arm assemblies along the straight reference line. An angle sensor provides an indication of the orientation of said implement with respect to said left and right interconnected lift arm assemblies. The control is responsive to the position sensor, the inclinometer, and the angle sensor. The control determines the position of the position sensor and the position of a part of the implement with respect to the position sensor. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090158625 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR TOOL COUPLING - A control system for a tool coupling of the type that attaches a tool to an excavator dipper stick and provides for rotation of the tool with respect to the dipper stick about an axis, and further provides for tilting of the tool, includes a rotation sensor and a tilt sensor. The rotation sensor is mounted on the coupling for determining the amount of rotation of the tool with respect to the dipper stick about an axis. The tilt sensor is mounted on the coupling for determining the amount of tilt of the tool with respect to gravity. A control is responsive to the rotation sensor and to the tilt sensor for determining the orientation of the tool. | 06-25-2009 |
