Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Other

John P Hoffman

Ricky D Vance

Dennis A Barney

Joseph G Kozlevcar

Larry Ellis Kendrick

Gerald D Hardy

Weldon L Phelps

Stephen W Rector

Gregory L Williamson

James G Cook

Lowell T Hoffman

Larry C Collins

Stephen Hoffman

Upper body garment

A battery charging system may include a permanent magnet alternator. The system uses controlled rectifiers to supply charging output from an alternator to the battery, to control the charging current and to provide a taper charge. The system may also use a voltage regulator coupled with the controlled rectifiers. The voltage regulator progressively deactivates the controlled rectifiers, in response to the state of charge of the battery, to provide a taper charge. The alternator may be used in vehicles, including automobiles, and for other electrical generating purposes.

Permanent magnet alternator system for battery charging

Systems for monitoring sensed parameters and diagnosing fault conditions are useful in connection with many machines. Advantageously, such systems are capable of indicating the level of the sensed parameters in both a graphical and a digital format. In the subject invention, a switch selects one of a normal mode and a numeric readout mode. A sensor produces a sensor signal. A device displays a number in digital form that is representative of the sensor signal in response to the switch selecting the numeric readout mode. A gauge is provided to display the sensor signal in graphical form in response to the switch selecting the normal mode and to flash an illuminable device in response to the switch selecting the numeric readout mode.

Method and apparatus for displaying sensor outputs in a diagnostic system

Vehicle computer monitoring system screen and display

An apparatus for improving the power dissipation of a semiconductor device surface mounted on a printed circuit board having at least a top printed circuit board layer and a bottom printed circuit board layer is provided. The apparatus includes a first pad of metallic material connected to a top surface of the top printed circuit board layer. The semiconductor device is connected to the first pad. A second pad of metallic material is connected a to the top surface of at least one of the top and bottom printed circuit board layers, wherein the second pad is electrically isolated from the semiconductor device. The apparatus also includes at least one thermal via for heat transfer through the printed circuit board layers thermally coupled to the thermal pad. A heat sink is thermally coupled to the at least one thermal via.

Apparatus for improving the power dissipation of a semiconductor device

An apparatus for providing reverse protection to an electronic circuit is provided. The electronic circuit has a positive input terminal and a negative input terminal. The positive input terminal is coupled to a positive battery terminal via the apparatus. The negative input terminal is connected to a negative battery terminal. The apparatus includes a MOSFET transistor having a gate terminal, a drain terminal and a source terminal. One of the drain terminal and the source terminal is connected to the positive battery terminal and an other of the drain terminal and the source terminal is connected to the positive input terminal. One end of a resistor is connected to the gate terminal. One end of a pair of Zener diodes is connected to the gate terminal. The other end is connected to the source terminal.

Reverse voltage protection circuit

A driver circuit for controllably connecting an inductive load to a source of electrical power in response to an input control signal is provided. The inductive load includes an inductive winding of a solenoid. The driver circuit controllably connects and disconnects the inductive load to and from the source in response to a first control signal and controllably provides a discharge path for a flyback current of the inductive load in response to a second control signal. The driver circuit senses both the energizing current and the flyback current and responsively provides an energization path and a flyback discharge path in a non-overlapping manner.

Dual current sensing driver circuit with switching energization

The present invention an apparatus provides a pulse width modulated signal to a load in response to an input signal. The apparatus receives the input signal and a feedback signal, determines a difference between the received signals, integrates the difference, and responsively produces an error signal. The error signal is compared with a reference wave signal and a correction signal is produced. The apparatus produces the pulse width modulation signal by conditioning the correction signal. The apparatus determines the feedback signal by attenuating the pulse width modulation signal in a manner similar to the attenuation caused by the load.

Pulse width modulated driver

Systems for monitoring sensed parameters and diagnosing fault conditions are useful in many applications. Advantageously, such systems are capable of operating in a plurality of operating modes and in connection with each of a plurality of machines. In the subject invention, a plurality of gauges are included for indicating the levels of the sensed parameters. A plurality of symbols are included for identifying sensed parameters. A control receives an identification code and selectively illuminates one or more of a plurality of gauges and symbols in response to the identification code. A plurality of warning lights are each associated with a switch-type input. A display selectively indicates a pin code for each switch-type input having a fault condition. The indicator lights having an associated switch-type input in the fault condition are flashed. A device selectively indicates a pin code in response to each diagnosable input having a present or a previous fault condition.

Computerized diagnostic and monitoring system

Instruments are often designed to operate in connection with a variety of machine types. Advantageously, such gauges are sufficiently flexible to indicate the levels of parameters in either a high warning or a low warning format. In the subject invention, a gauge includes a plurality of indicating segments being selectively illuminable for indicating the levels of the sensed parameter in the normal operating range, a high warning segment being selectively illuminable for indicating the level of the sensed parameter being above the normal operating range, and a low warning segment being selectively illuminable for indicating the level of the sensed parameter being below the normal operating range. An identification code is produced and received by an instrument which responsively enables one of the high and low warning segments.

Computerized monitoring system having a programmable gauge

Systems for diagnosing fault conditions in a plurality of inputs are useful in many applications. Advantageously, such systems allow troubleshooting by a single technician. The subject invention includes a plurality of sensors for producing sensor signals, each of the sensor signals indicating one of plurality of states of a parameter. A device is included to indicate that one or more of the sensor signals has changed states.

Method and apparatus for indicating a changed condition

Systems for diagnosing fault conditions in a plurality of inputs are useful in many applications. Advantageously, such systems allow a technician to quickly and clearly identify the fault condition. The subject invention includes a plurality of sensors to produce a plurality of sensor signals. Each of the sensor signals is in one of a normal state or a fault condition and has an associated pin number. A plurality of indicator lights are also each associated with one of the sensor signals. A display individually indicates each pin number associated with a sensor signal in the fault condition. Each of the indicator lights associated with one of the sensor signals in the fault condition is flashed. The indicator light associated with the sensor signal for which the associated pin number is indicated by the display is steadily illuminated.

Method and apparatus for indicating faults in switch-type inputs

Gauges for indicating the level of sensed parameters are often provided in connection with a variety of machines. Advantageously, such gauges are sufficiently flexible to indicate the level of a parameter having a warning level that is dependent upon the level of a second sensed parameter. In the subject invention, a gauge indicates the level of a primary sensed parameter having a normal operating range. A sensor produces a signal indicative of the level of a secondary sensed parameter and the levels of the primary sensed parameter associated with the normal operating range are modified in response to the level of the secondary sensed parameter.

Method and apparatus for modifying the functionality of a gauge

Instruments are often designed to operate in connection with a variety of machine types. Advantageously, the instrument is capable of modifying the appearance and function of its displays in response to the machine to which the instrument is connected. The subject invention includes a device for producing an identification code and a plurality of gauges for indicating levels of the sensed parameters. Each of the gauges has an outline segment for illustrating a range of levels of the sensed parameter indicated by the gauge and a symbol for identifying the sensed parameter indicated by the gauge. A controller receives the identification code and selectively enables one or more of the plurality of gauges and illuminates the outline segment and symbol associated with each of the enabled gauges in response to the identification code.

Method and apparatus for reconfiguring a computerized monitoring system

Implement draft control devices are typically utilized on agricultural vehicles such as tractors and on other earthworking type vehicles. Advantageously, such control systems should respond quickly to changing soil conditions, while remaining stable so that the hitch and implement systems do not oscillate or are not changed in a rapid or erratic fashion. The instant embodiment of a draft control system includes a control system that receives hitch position control signals and engine acceleration signals, and controllably modifies the hitch position control signals in response to the rate of acceleration and deceleration of the engine. By utilizing engine acceleration and deceleration rates as opposed to mere changes in engine speed, the system is able to respond quickly to needed changes in implement depth while remaining stable during operation.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

John P Hoffman