# US 12,601,123 B2 · State of compaction indication

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- Number: US 12,601,123 B2
- Document ID: US12601123B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/805,797
- Filed: 2024-08-15
- Published: 2026-02-19
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2024-08-15
- Assignees: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
- Applicants: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
- Inventors: Timothy M. Carda
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12601123B2

## CPC

- E01C 19/288: {adapted for monitoring characteristics of the material being compacted, e.g. indicating resonant frequency, measuring degree of compaction, by measuring values, detectable on the roller; using detected values to control operation of the roller, e.g. automatic adjustment of vibration responsive to such measurements}
- B60Q 5/005: {automatically actuated}
- B60Q 9/00: Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling}
- E01C 23/01: Devices or auxiliary means for setting-out or checking the configuration of new surfacing, e.g. templates, screed {or reference line} supports (form rails E01C19/50); Applications of apparatus for measuring, indicating, or recording the surface configuration of existing surfacing, e.g. profilographs (E01C23/07 takes precedence; measuring roughness or irregularity in general G01B)
- E01C 2301/00: Machine characteristics, parts or accessories not otherwise provided for
- E01C: CONSTRUCTION OF, OR SURFACES FOR, ROADS, SPORTS GROUNDS, OR THE LIKE; MACHINES OR AUXILIARY TOOLS FOR CONSTRUCTION OR REPAIR (forming roads or like surfaces by compacting or grading snow or ice E01H)
- B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A system for determining a state of compaction of a work material during a compaction operation: a roller associated with a machine for engaging and compacting the work material; a power loss sensor for generating power loss signals indicative of a power loss of the machine; a speed sensor for generating speed signals indicative of a speed of the machine; and a controller that: receives an actual drive power target value, receives the power loss signals from the power loss sensor, receives the speed signals from the speed sensor, determines a gross power of the machine based on the power loss signals, determines a friction loss power of the machine based on the speed signals, and determines an actual drive power of the machine based on the gross power and the friction loss power, the actual drive power corresponding to the state of compaction of the work material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for determining a state of compaction of a work material during a compaction operation, the system comprising:
a roller associated with a machine and configured to engage and compact the work material;
a power loss sensor configured to generate power loss signals indicative of a power loss of the machine;
a speed sensor configured to generate speed signals indicative of a speed of the machine; and
a controller configured to:
receive an actual drive power target value,
receive the power loss signals from the power loss sensor,
receive the speed signals from the speed sensor,
determine a gross power of the machine based on the power loss signals,
determine a friction loss power of the machine based on the speed signals,
determine an actual drive power of the machine based on the gross power and the friction loss power, the actual drive power corresponding to the state of compaction of the work material, and
provide an indication to an operator of the machine upon a deviation between the actual drive power and the actual drive power target value.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises at least one of:
an audio alert,
a visual alert, and
a haptic alert.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the indication comprises the audio alert,
wherein the audio alert comprises a first tone and/or first volume if the deviation has a first deviation value, and
wherein the audio alert comprises a second tone and/or second volume different than the first tone/first volume if the deviation has a second deviation value different than the first deviation value.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The system of claim 3, wherein the first deviation value corresponds to a first state of compaction of the work material, and
wherein the second deviation value corresponds to a second state of compaction of the work material different than the first state of compaction of the work material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the indication comprises the haptic alert,
wherein the haptic alert comprises a first vibration frequency if the deviation has a first deviation value, and
wherein the haptic alert comprises a second vibration frequency different than the first vibration frequency if the deviation has a second deviation value different than the first deviation value.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the first deviation value corresponds to a first state of compaction of the work material, and
wherein the second deviation value corresponds to a second state of compaction of the work material different than the first state of compaction of the work material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the haptic alert is emitted through at least one of:
an operator seat of the machine, and
a steering input of the machine.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein, if the deviation has a first deviation value, the controller is configured to adjust an intensity of the indication to a first intensity value, and
wherein, if the deviation has a second deviation value different than the first deviation value, the controller is configured to adjust the intensity of the indication to a second intensity value different than the first intensity value.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the second deviation value is greater than the first deviation value, and
wherein the second intensity value is greater than the first intensity value.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein the intensity of the indication comprises at least one of:
a tone of an audio alert,
a volume of an audio alert,
a brightness of a visual alert, and
a vibration frequency of a haptic alert.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein, if the actual drive power is greater than the actual drive power target value, the indication comprises an increase machine speed instruction, and
wherein, if the actual drive power is less than the actual drive power target value, the indication comprises a decrease machine speed instruction.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the actual drive power target value comprises an actual drive power target range having a lower bound and an upper bound.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the lower bound and upper bound are adjustable.

### Claim 14

A method for determining a state of compaction of a work material during a compaction operation by a machine, the machine having a roller for engaging and compacting the work material, the method comprising:
receiving an actual drive power target value;
receiving power loss signals indicative of a power loss of the machine;
receiving speed signals indicative of a speed of the machine;
determining a gross power of the machine based on the power loss signals;
determining a friction loss power of the machine based on the speed signals;
determining an actual drive power of the machine based on the gross power and the friction loss power, the actual drive power corresponding to the state of compaction of the work material; and
providing an indication to an operator of the machine upon a deviation between the actual drive power and the actual drive power target value.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the indication comprises at least one of:
an audio alert,
a visual alert, and
a haptic alert.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the indication comprises the audio alert,
wherein the audio alert comprises a first tone and/or first volume if the deviation has a first deviation value, the first deviation value corresponding to a first state of compaction of the work material, and
wherein the audio alert comprises a second tone and/or second volume different than the first tone/first volume if the deviation has a second deviation value different than the first deviation value, the second deviation value corresponding to a second state of compaction of the work material different than the first state of compaction of the work material.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the indication comprises the haptic alert,
wherein the haptic alert comprises a first vibration frequency if the deviation has a first deviation value corresponding to a first state of compaction of the work material, and
wherein the haptic alert comprises a second vibration frequency different than the first vibration frequency if the deviation has a second deviation value different than the first deviation value, the second deviation value corresponding to a second state of compaction of the work material different than the first state of compaction of the work material.

### Claim 18

A controller for determining a state of compaction of a work material during a compaction operation by a machine, the machine having a roller for engaging and compacting the work material, the controller being configured to:
receive an actual drive power target value;
receive power loss signals indicative of a power loss of the machine;
receive speed signals indicative of a speed of the machine;
determine a gross power of the machine based on the power loss signals;
determine a friction loss power of the machine based on the speed signals;
determine an actual drive power of the machine based on the gross power and the friction loss power, the actual drive power corresponding to the state of compaction of the work material; and
provide an indication to an operator of the machine upon a deviation between the actual drive power and the actual drive power target value.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The controller of claim 18, wherein the actual drive power target value comprises an actual drive power target range having an adjustable lower bound and an adjustable upper bound.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The controller of claim 18, wherein, if the deviation has a first deviation value, the controller is configured to adjust an intensity of the indication to a first intensity value,
wherein, if the deviation has a second deviation value different than the first deviation value, the controller is configured to adjust the intensity of the indication to a second intensity value different than the first intensity value,
wherein the intensity of the indication comprises at least one of:
a volume of an audio alert,
a tone of an audio alert,
a brightness of a visual alert, and
a vibration frequency of a haptic alert.