Granted Patent B2

US 12,409,829 · App. 18/151,808 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Inventors: John Marsolek (Watertown, MN); Ryan J. Nelson (Maple Grove, MN)

Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.

B60W20/13B60W20/15B60W50/14B60W2510/244B60W2556/45E01C2301/00

Abstract

Claims (61)

1. A control system, comprising:

a control of a user interface; and

a controller configured to:

cause a machine to operate in a first mode using a battery without using an internal combustion engine;

receive an input, via the control, indicating that a second mode of the machine is to be disabled, wherein, in the second mode, the machine uses the internal combustion engine when a level of the battery is below a threshold; and

cause, based on the input and when the level of the battery is below the threshold, suppression of operation of the machine in the second mode.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface is on a device remote from the machine.

3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the user interface is on board the machine.

4. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive, from a device remote from the machine, an indication to operate the machine in the second mode after suppression of operation of the machine in the second mode; and

cause, based on the indication, operation of the machine in the second mode.

5. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine, responsive to receiving the input, an estimated time at which the level of the battery is to be below the threshold; and

transmit, prior to the estimated time, a request for recharging of the battery.

6. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine that the level of the battery is below the threshold prior to causing suppression of operation of the machine in the second mode.

7. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive an indication of a target proportion of time that the machine is to operate in the first mode;

monitor an amount of time that the machine operates in the first mode; and

provide, via the user interface and based on the amount of time, information indicating whether a proportion of time that the machine has operated in the first mode meets the target proportion of time.

8. A method, comprising:

causing, by a controller, a machine to operate in a first mode using a battery without using an internal combustion engine;

determining, by the controller, that a level of the battery is below a threshold; and

selectively causing, by the controller, the machine to switch from operating in the first mode to operating in a second mode based on whether an input indicating that the second mode is to be disabled is received, wherein, in the second mode, the machine uses the internal combustion engine.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving the input indicating that the second mode is to be disabled.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein selectively causing the machine to switch from operating in the first mode to operating in the second mode comprises:

causing, based on receiving the input indicating that the second mode is to be disabled and when the level of the battery is below the threshold, suppression of operation of the machine in the second mode.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving, from a device remote from the machine, an indication to operate the machine in the second mode after suppression of operation of the machine in the second mode; and

causing, based on the indication, operation of the machine in the second mode.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining that a condition for permitting the second mode of the machine to be enabled is satisfied; and

enabling or accepting, based on satisfaction of the condition, a subsequent input indicating that the second mode of the machine is to be enabled.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the condition is that one or more of:

a particular time period has elapsed since suppression of operation of the machine in the second mode,

the machine has traveled at least a particular distance since suppression of operation of the machine in the second mode,

a location of the machine is outside of an area associated with a zero emissions requirement, or

a credential, indicating authorization to enable operation of the machine in the second mode, is received.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

monitoring an amount of time that the machine operates in the first mode.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving an indication of a target proportion of time that the machine is to operate in the first mode; and

providing, via a user interface and based on the amount of time, information indicating whether a proportion of time that the machine has operated in the first mode meets the target proportion of time.

16. A machine, comprising:

a battery;

an internal combustion engine; and

a controller configured to:

cause the machine to operate in a first mode using the battery without using the internal combustion engine;

receive an input, via a user interface associated with the machine, indicating that a second mode of the machine is to be disabled, wherein, in the second mode, the machine uses the internal combustion engine when a level of the battery is below a threshold; and

cause, based on the input and when the level of the battery is below the threshold, suppression of operation of the machine in the second mode.

17. The machine of claim 16 , wherein the user interface is on a device remote from the machine.

18. The machine of claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive, from a device remote from the machine, an indication to operate the machine in the second mode after suppression of operation of the machine in the second mode; and

cause, based on the indication, operation of the machine in the second mode.

19. The machine of claim 16 wherein the controller is further configured to:

transmit, responsive to detecting that the level of the battery is below a recharging threshold, a request for recharging of the battery.

20. The machine of claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

monitor an amount of time that the machine operates in the first mode;

determine that the amount of time is indicative of non-compliance with a standard; and

transmit a notification indicating non-compliance with the standard.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (24)