Prior art — US Patent 10059341

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 10059341, I will examine the "Citations" section of the patent document. Prior art generally includes any public disclosure of an invention that existed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention (June 17, 2016, for US10059341B2). These disclosures can be other patents, printed publications, or products already on the market.

Here are the prior art references cited in US Patent 10,059,341, along with their publication/filing dates, brief descriptions, and potential claims they may anticipate under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The focus will be on references directly cited within the patent.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 10,059,341

The following patents are cited as prior art in US10059341B2:

US5413540A
- Full Citation: US5413540A - Torque-setting system for vehicle with continuously variable transmission (CVT)
- Publication Date: 1995-05-09 (Filing Date: 1992-07-21)
- Brief Description: This patent describes a torque-setting system for a vehicle with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). It focuses on controlling the torque in such a transmission.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent potentially anticipates aspects of claims related to controlling transmission torque, particularly within a variable-torque transmission. Claim 7, which discusses determining the torque command according to a torque limit and a scale factor that varies with ground speed, could be impacted if US5413540A discloses a similar mechanism for torque control in a CVT.
US6819985B2
- Full Citation: US6819985B2 - Shift control device for hybrid vehicle
- Publication Date: 2004-11-16 (Filing Date: 2002-03-13)
- Brief Description: This patent describes a shift control device for a hybrid vehicle.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While US10059341B2 focuses on fuel economy through modulated engine speed and transmission torque, the general concept of a control system for a hybrid vehicle (as described in US6819985B2) could be broadly relevant to the overall system described in claim 1. However, without specific details of the shift control leading to economy output based on ground speed and engine load, direct anticipation of the unique fuel economy strategy of US10059341B2 is less likely.
US7472008B2
- Full Citation: US7472008B2 - Systems and methods for controlling mobile machine power
- Publication Date: 2008-12-30 (Filing Date: 2004-07-23)
- Brief Description: This patent (also assigned to Caterpillar Inc.) broadly covers systems and methods for controlling power in mobile machines. This could encompass various strategies for power management.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Given the broad title, this patent could potentially anticipate aspects of claim 1 regarding a control system for a powertrain in a machine. The extent of anticipation would depend on whether US7472008B2 explicitly discloses determining engine speed and torque commands based on ground speed and engine load to produce an economy powertrain output less than requested.
US7962768B2
- Full Citation: US7962768B2 - Machine system having task-adjusted economy modes
- Publication Date: 2011-06-14 (Filing Date: 2007-02-28)
- Brief Description: This patent (also commonly owned by Caterpillar Inc. and mentioned in the background of US10059341B2) specifically proposes a control system with a controller that classifies a currently performed task and adjusts power source operation based upon this classification.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is a highly relevant reference. While US7962768B2 focuses on "task-adjusted economy modes," the concept of varying powertrain output for fuel economy is shared. US10059341B2 differentiates itself by explicitly modulating engine speed and transmission torque based on ground speed and engine load to produce an economy output less than requested. Therefore, claims 1, 2, 4, and 7 of US10059341B2, which describe determining commands based on ground speed and engine load to produce a reduced economy output, would need to show a clear distinction from the "task-adjusted" approach of US7962768B2.
EP2413005A1
- Full Citation: EP2413005A1 - Construction vehicle
- Publication Date: 2012-02-01 (Filing Date: 2009-03-25)
- Brief Description: This European patent application describes a construction vehicle. Without further details, its relevance is broad.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US7472008B2, the broad title suggests potential relevance to the general machine and powertrain system of claim 1. However, specific details on a control strategy for reduced fuel consumption based on ground speed and engine load, resulting in a reduced economy output, would be needed for a direct anticipation claim.
US20130006456A1
- Full Citation: US20130006456A1 - Systems and methods for engine load management for electric drive vehicles
- Publication Date: 2013-01-03 (Filing Date: 2011-06-29)
- Brief Description: This patent application, also from Caterpillar Inc., focuses on engine load management for electric drive vehicles.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is relevant due to its focus on engine load management. Claims 1, 2, 4, and 6 of US10059341B2 involve monitoring engine load and using it to determine engine speed limits. If US20130006456A1 discloses varying engine speed based on engine load to achieve fuel economy, it could anticipate these claims, especially if it leads to an output less than requested in an economy mode.
US20140058649A1
- Full Citation: US20140058649A1 - Wheel loader and control method of wheel loader
- Publication Date: 2014-02-27 (Filing Date: 2012-06-22)
- Brief Description: This patent application describes a wheel loader and its control method.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As US10059341B2 is explicitly described in the context of a wheel loader, this reference is relevant to the machine type. If US20140058649A1 includes details on a control strategy that limits powertrain output based on ground speed and engine load to reduce fuel consumption in a manner similar to US10059341B2, it could potentially anticipate claim 1 and other related method or system claims.
US8761977B2
- Full Citation: US8761977B2 - Method and apparatus for optimizing engine idle speed in a vehicle
- Publication Date: 2014-06-24 (Filing Date: 2009-10-15)
- Brief Description: This patent describes optimizing engine idle speed in a vehicle.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While related to engine speed optimization for efficiency, the specific focus on idle speed suggests it's less likely to directly anticipate the broader fuel economy strategy of US10059341B2, which involves varying engine speed and transmission torque based on ground speed and engine load during active operation. However, certain underlying principles of engine control for fuel efficiency might be considered.
US8768582B2
- Full Citation: US8768582B2 - Method and device for controlling power output of engine for working machine
- Publication Date: 2014-07-01 (Filing Date: 2003-09-02)
- Brief Description: This patent describes a method and device for controlling the power output of an engine for a working machine.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent's title is very similar in scope to US10059341B2. If US8768582B2 details a control method that limits engine power output in an economy mode based on operational parameters like ground speed and engine load, and specifically results in an output less than requested, it could potentially anticipate several claims, especially claim 1 and those related to the engine speed command determination (claims 2, 4-6).
US8788156B2
- Full Citation: US8788156B2 - Wheel loader
- Publication Date: 2014-07-22 (Filing Date: 2012-09-28)
- Brief Description: This patent describes a wheel loader.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US20140058649A1, this reference is relevant to the machine type. Without specific control strategy details from this patent, a direct anticipation claim for the fuel economy method of US10059341B2 is difficult.
US20140257669A1
- Full Citation: US20140257669A1 - System and method of vehicle transient torque management
- Publication Date: 2014-09-11 (Filing Date: 2013-03-11)
- Brief Description: This patent application describes a system and method for vehicle transient torque management.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference could be relevant to claim 7, which deals with determining a torque command based on a torque limit and a scale factor. If US20140257669A1 describes varying torque commands based on operating conditions in a way that aligns with the economy mode described in US10059341B2, particularly if the scale factor varies with ground speed, it could be a strong anticipatory reference.
US20150082779A1
- Full Citation: US20150082779A1 - Work vehicle and method for controlling work vehicle
- Publication Date: 2015-03-26 (Filing Date: 2012-03-15)
- Brief Description: This patent application describes a work vehicle and its control method.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to other work vehicle and wheel loader patents, its relevance hinges on the specificity of its control strategy. If it details a fuel economy mode achieved by limiting powertrain output based on ground speed and engine load, it could anticipate claims related to the overall system and method (e.g., claim 1).
US20150204053A1
- Full Citation: US20150204053A1 - Wheel Loader and Wheel Loader Engine Control Method
- Publication Date: 2015-07-23 (Filing Date: 2012-07-24)
- Brief Description: This patent application describes a wheel loader and a method for controlling its engine.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant as it addresses both the machine type (wheel loader) and engine control. If it describes a control method that limits engine speed or torque based on ground speed and/or engine load to achieve fuel economy, resulting in an output less than requested, it could anticipate claims 1-6.
US20150315766A1
- Full Citation: US20150315766A1 - Hybrid work machine
- Publication Date: 2015-11-05 (Filing Date: 2013-07-24)
- Brief Description: This patent application describes a hybrid work machine.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Given that US10059341B2 discusses hybrid transmissions, this reference is relevant to the powertrain architecture. If US20150315766A1 discloses a control strategy for its hybrid powertrain that involves varying engine speed and transmission torque based on ground speed and engine load for fuel economy, it could anticipate claim 1.
US9227525B2
- Full Citation: US9227525B2 - Method and system for controlling torque in an electric drive powertrain
- Publication Date: 2016-01-05 (Filing Date: 2013-10-14)
- Brief Description: This patent describes a method and system for controlling torque in an electric drive powertrain.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is relevant to torque control in powertrains. Claims 1 and 7 of US10059341B2 address the torque command for a variable-torque transmission. If US9227525B2 discloses a similar method of determining a torque command based on a torque limit and a scale factor that varies with ground speed for fuel economy, it could anticipate these claims, even if the specific powertrain type differs (electric drive vs. hydro-mechanical/electromechanical hybrid).
US9656656B2
- Full Citation: US9656656B2 - System and method for reducing fuel consumption of a work vehicle
- Publication Date: 2017-05-23 (Filing Date: 2012-12-20)
- Brief Description: This patent specifically describes a system and method for reducing fuel consumption in a work vehicle.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is a very strong prior art candidate, as its stated purpose directly aligns with US10059341B2. The key would be to compare the specific mechanisms for reducing fuel consumption. If US9656656B2 explicitly teaches determining engine speed and transmission torque commands based on ground speed and engine load to produce an economy output less than requested, it could anticipate all claims of US10059341B2 that rely on this core strategy (e.g., claim 1, and potentially claims 2-10 depending on the granularity of its disclosure).
US9689319B2
- Full Citation: US9689319B2 - Power system having efficiency-based speed control
- Publication Date: 2017-06-27 (Filing Date: 2014-09-12)
- Brief Description: This patent, also from Caterpillar Inc., describes a power system with efficiency-based speed control.
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The term "efficiency-based speed control" directly relates to the goal of US10059341B2. If US9689319B2 discloses controlling engine speed in an economy mode where the engine speed command is based on an engine speed limit that is dependent on ground speed and/or engine load, resulting in an output less than requested, it could anticipate claims 1, 2, and potentially 4-6.
US20170361842A1
- Full Citation: US20170361842A1 - Propulsion system control with mpc
- Publication Date: 2017-12-21 (Filing Date: 2016-06-16)
- Brief Description: This patent application describes a propulsion system control using Model Predictive Control (MPC).
- Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The filing date of this patent application is one day before the filing date of US10059341B2. While the publication date is after, the filing date makes it potential prior art if it discloses the invention. Model Predictive Control is a sophisticated control strategy. If this application teaches the use of MPC to determine engine speed and torque commands based on ground speed and engine load to achieve fuel economy by producing an output less than requested, it could be highly anticipatory of claim 1, and potentially all other claims depending on the level of detail provided.

Note on 35 U.S.C. § 102: A reference anticipates a claim under 35 U.S.C. § 102 if it discloses every element of the claim, either explicitly or inherently, such that a person of ordinary skill in the art would understand the disclosure to contain all those elements. The analysis above is a preliminary assessment based on the titles and brief descriptions available in the patent document and the summary of US10059341B2. A full anticipation analysis would require a detailed claim-by-claim comparison with the entire text and drawings of each cited prior art reference.