Caterpillar Inc.

Mark J Hilbert

Mark E Rettig

Travis E Barnes

James W Landes

Steven J Funke

Jason Kenneth Bloms

Edward H Betts, Jr

Prasad V Parupalli

Roy Christopher Fonseca

James Allen Roal

David L Zwetz

Troy A Parker

Timothy Alan Booth

Nathan Ralph Taylor

Marc Schade

Daniel Douglas Swords

A method of identifying an electrical fault in an electrical system may include coupling an electronic service tool to an electronic control module. The method may also include instructing the electronic control module to disable an enable condition and modify a trip condition set by the electronic control module. The method may further include monitoring the electrical system as a user wiggles a component of the electrical system. The method may further include providing the electronic control module with electrical system data, and generating a fault code when the electrical system data fulfills the modified trip condition. The method may further include communicating the fault code to the user.

Apparatus and method for identifying electrical faults

Methods and systems may provide theft protection in one or more work machines. Methods and systems may control one or more operational systems and may provide and manage varying levels of access to work machines. Methods and systems may react to override attempts in order to provide robust theft protection. One or more control modules embedded in a work machine may be leveraged to perform theft protection services. Methods and systems may activate a first control module to restrict access to a first operational system in a work machine and activate a second control module to restrict access to a second operational system in the work machine. The first control module may detect a substitution of a new control module for the second control module and automatically configure the new control module to restrict access to the second operational system in the work machine.

Systems and methods for providing theft protection in a machine

Having the ability to quickly and easily test whether a variable valve mechanism is operating properly can avoid unnecessary down time and the expense associated with potentially replacing a good component on an internal combustion engine. A test can include inducing a misfire in a cylinder of the engine at least in part by commanding a change to a state of a variable valve mechanism at a predetermined timing. For instance, in the case of a diesel engine, a variable valve mechanism can be tested by closing an intake valve late so as to reduce a cylinder compression ratio to a point that autoignition of fuel does not occur, resulting in a misfire. If a misfire is detected, either audibly by a person or possibly electronically via a sensor, then proper activation of the variable valve mechanism is confirmed.

Diagnostic test for variable valve mechanism

A method is provided for monitoring communications in a machine including electronic control module (ECM) components connected via datalinks. A message is received on a datalink. The source address of the received message is determined. The received message is added to an address list based on the source address, and the address list is evaluated to determine the status of a datalink associated with each ECM component.

System and method for monitoring machine status

An apparatus and method for sampling the pressure of a hydraulic actuator fluid used in connection with an electronically controlled hydraulic actuator unit injector fuel system is disclosed. The apparatus and method eliminates aliasing and other sampling errors caused by oscillations in the hydraulic actuator fluid pressure. The apparatus and method senses an engine parameter to permit an electronic controller to calculate an injection time and duration for fuel to be delivered to a particular cylinder. The electronic controller issues a driver signal to a hydraulically actuated unit fuel injector. A hydraulic actuator fluid pressure sensor is associated with the pressurized hydraulic actuator fluid. The electronic controller samples the hydraulic actuator fluid pressure sensor in dependence on the issuance of the driver signal.

Electronic control for a hydraulic-actuator unit injector fuel system

An elevated idle speed control is disclosed for use with an internal combustion engine on a vehicle. The control includes an electronic controller connected to a brake pedal sensor, a clutch pedal sensor, an engine speed determining means, a vehicle speed determining means, and a high idle mode selection means. The control permits a vehicle operator to select a desired high idle speed within a default high idle speed and a maximum high idle speed. The control permits the operator to select a high idle mode as a function of signals from said brake pedal sensor, said clutch pedal sensor, the engine speed determining means, the vehicle speed determining means and the high idle mode selection means.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Mark J Hilbert