Kenneth Ker Her

7701203, Apr 20, 2010

May 11, 2007

11/803022

Stephen Fouts - Washington IL, US
Curtis Johnson - Peoria IL, US
Kenneth Her - Peoria IL, US
Roger Obourn - Washington IL, US
Robert Talley - Creve Coeur IL, US
Dan Shearer - Metamora IL, US

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

G01B 7/14

3242072, 32420724

A method of sensing a position of a movable component of an operator interface includes a step of receiving a first signal from a first Hall effect sensor and a second signal from a second Hall effect sensor. The method also includes a step of determining the position of the movable component based on the first signal and the second signal if the first and second signals represent expected values. The method includes a further step of determining the position of the movable component based on one of the first and second signals if the other of the first and second signals represents an unexpected value.

7761254, Jul 20, 2010

May 11, 2007

11/801996

Stephen Fouts - Washington IL, US
Matthew Vande Wiele - Peoria IL, US
Rex Glover - Deer Creek IL, US
Curtis Johnson - Peoria IL, US
Kenneth Her - Peoria IL, US
Roger Obourn - Washington IL, US
Dan Shearer - Metamora IL, US

Caterpillar Inc - Peoria IL

H03K 3/59

702115, 32420714, 3242072, 327511, 700302, 7447312, 74335

A machine having an operator interface for requesting an action from an actuator of the machine includes a movable component of the operator interface. The movable component is movable among at least two positions. One of a magnet and a Hall effect sensor is positioned to move in response to movement of the movable component. The other of the magnet and the Hall effect sensor has a stationary position relative to the movable component. A pulse width modulator is operably coupled to the Hall effect sensor for producing a first pulse width modulated signal. The first pulse width modulated signal is altered in response to movement of one of the Hall effect sensor and the magnet relative to the other. An electronic controller is in communication with the pulse width modulator and the actuator and is configured to actuate the actuator in response to evaluation of the first pulse width modulated signal.

7881841, Feb 1, 2011

Dec 28, 2006

11/646534

James Donald Dattilo - Metamora IL, US
Shawn I. Cullen - Peoria IL, US
Norval Paul Thomson - Dunlap IL, US
Kenneth K. Her - Peoria IL, US
Marc Daniel Proud - Glasford IL, US
Arvil Duane Wilson - Pekin IL, US
Wendell Dean Stahl - Bradford IL, US

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

G05D 1/00

701 42, 318561, 180446

A motion-control system includes an operator interface with an operator-input member and a controllable force feedback device drivingly connected to the operator-input member. The motion-control system may also include controls that regulate the motion of one or more moveable components, including adjusting a first operating parameter in a manner that depends at least in part on a control error between a target value of a second operating parameter and an actual value of the second operating parameter. The target value of the second operating parameter may be based at least in part on the motion of the operator-input member. The controls may also operate the controllable force feedback device to provide feedback force on the operator-input member in a manner that depends at least in part on the control error and such that the derivative of the feedback force with respect to the control error varies dependent at least in part on the control error.

52193144, Jun 15, 1993

Aug 10, 1990

7/565078

Kenneth K. Her - Peoria IL
Nelson A. Jones - Peoria IL
Kent C. Bates - Chillicothe IL

Caterpillar Inc. - Peoria IL

F16D 377

464 84

A flexible coupling formed from sheet material and having preselected stiffness characteristics is incorporated between an engine output member and an input member of a mechanism to reduce the linear vibration levels of the system in use and to accommodate a preselected amount of misalignment therebetween. The flexible coupling has radially outer and inner edge portions, and a formed intermediate portion connecting them which in cross section has a generally truncated V-shape. A preferred embodiment has an annular body with the intermediate portion thereof having conical outer and inner walls, a relatively flat end wall, and blended corners connecting the walls and edge portions. When used between a diesel engine and an electric generator set the formed flexible coupling shifted the major structural resonances away from the normal operating range and greatly reduced the linear vibration levels thereof.