US 10059341

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 10,059,341:

• Title: Control strategy for reduced fuel consumption in machine and powertrain system with same
• Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
• Inventors: Jeremy Sharp, Suman Goli, Mark Rettig
• Filing Date: 2016-06-17
• Issue Date: 2018-08-28
• Abstract: A control system for a powertrain includes an electronic control unit (ECU) that receives ground speed and engine load data. The ECU determines engine speed and transmission torque commands based on an engine speed limit and a torque scale factor, both of which can vary with ground speed and load factor. These commands result in an "economy powertrain output" that is less than the operator's requested output, aiming to reduce fuel consumption.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a control system for a machine's powertrain designed to save fuel. The system includes:

  • A sensor to monitor the machine's ground speed.
  • A second sensor to monitor the engine's load.
  • An input device (e.g., an accelerator pedal) that allows an operator to request a certain powertrain output.
  • An electronic control unit (ECU) that communicates with these sensors and the input device.

  The ECU's function is to issue commands for both the engine speed and the torque control mechanism of a variable-torque transmission. These commands are determined based on at least the measured ground speed and/or engine load. The key outcome is that the system produces an "economy powertrain output" that is intentionally less than what the operator initially requested, thereby achieving fuel savings.

There is no authoritative information found in the CAFC 2026 dockets regarding any active cases involving US Patent 10,059,341 as of April 26, 2026.

As of April 26, 2026, there is no known litigation involving US Patent 10,059,341. Searches of patent litigation databases, including Unified Patents and general searches for CAFC and PACER records, did not yield any active or past cases for this specific patent number.

Proceedings overview

The USPTO ODP API returns no AIA trial proceedings for this patent as of the most recent ingest. No web search results were found for AIA trial proceedings for US Patent 10,059,341. Therefore, there is no PTAB activity on file.

Strategic summary

As there are no PTAB proceedings on file for US Patent 10,059,341, all claims (1-10) remain untested by the PTAB. This means that for a defendant facing assertion of this patent, all prior-art grounds are still potentially available, subject to other statutory and common law limitations. The absence of PTAB activity could indicate that the patent has not yet been asserted aggressively enough to provoke an IPR filing, or that potential petitioners have not yet found strong enough grounds to challenge the patent's validity.

Recommended next steps

If you are a defendant facing assertion of US Patent 10,059,341, it is recommended to conduct a thorough prior art search to identify potential grounds for an AIA trial proceeding (e.g., IPR). Since no PTAB activity exists, the patent has not been subjected to the scrutiny of an AIA trial, and therefore, an IPR remains a viable option to challenge its validity.

Inventors

• Jeremy Sharp (Caterpillar Inc.)
• Suman Goli (Caterpillar Inc.)
• Mark Rettig (Caterpillar Inc.)

Original assignee

The original assignee, Caterpillar Inc., is a multinational corporation that designs, develops, engineers, manufactures, markets, and sells machinery, engines, financial products, and insurance to customers via a worldwide dealer network. They ship products embodying the claims, specifically heavy equipment like wheel loaders that would incorporate such control systems for fuel efficiency. Caterpillar Inc. is currently operating.

Assignment timeline

An assignment was recorded for US Patent 10,059,341.

• 2016-06-17 (executed) / recorded 2016-06-17 — Reel 038945/0365
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: SHARP, JEREMY; GOLI, SUMAN; RETTIG, MARK (the inventors)
  • Assignee: CATERPILLAR INC., ILLINOIS
  • Correspondent: NOT PROVIDED
  • Context: Original assignment from inventors to employer.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 10059341
    2016 : Filed by Caterpillar Inc.
         : Inventors assigned to Caterpillar
    2018 : Issued

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. The sole recorded assignment is from the individual inventors to Caterpillar Inc., an operating company.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. Caterpillar Inc. is not a known NPE.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — not present. The original assignment document does not specify a correspondent, and there are no other assignments in the chain.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. There is only one recorded assignment in the chain.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — not present. There are no records of infringement suits for this patent in the CAFC dockets as of April 26, 2026, and no transfers within 6 months of any potential litigation.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. Caterpillar Inc. is an active, operating company.
7. Privateering — not present. There is no indication of Caterpillar Inc. transferring the patent to an NPE to assert on its behalf.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The patent is currently assigned to Caterpillar Inc.

Verdict

Insufficient data. The only recorded assignment is the initial transfer from the inventors to Caterpillar Inc., the original operating assignee. There are no subsequent assignments to suggest any NPE activity.

USPTO Assignment Center search page: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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).

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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).

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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).

16. 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).

17. 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.

18. 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.

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 10,059,341 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis will focus on Independent Claim 1 of US Patent 10,059,341, as it is the broadest claim. The objective is to identify combinations of prior art references that would render the claim obvious and explain the motivation a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) would have to combine them.

Independent Claim 1 Recitation:
"A control system for a powertrain in a machine comprising:
a first sensing mechanism structured to monitor a ground speed of the machine;
a second sensing mechanism structured to monitor an engine load of an engine in the powertrain;
an input device structured to produce an operator input signal indicative of a requested powertrain output; and
an electronic control unit structured to output an engine speed command for an engine in the powertrain and a torque command for a torque control mechanism of a variable-torque transmission in the powertrain,
wherein the electronic control unit is in communication with each of the first sensing mechanism, the second sensing mechanism, and the operator input device, and is structured to determine each of the engine speed command and the torque command based on at least one of the ground speed and the engine load, to produce an economy powertrain output less than the requested powertrain output."

Identified Prior Art References and their Relevance:

1. US8768582B2 to Komatsu Ltd. ("Komatsu"): "Method and device for controlling power output of engine for working machine."

   • Relevance: This patent teaches a working machine with an engine, a vehicle speed sensor, a work load sensor, and a controller. It includes a requested engine output setting means. Crucially, it discloses an engine output limiting means that limits engine output to a "limited engine output" (i.e., less than requested) such that the output becomes smaller as vehicle speed becomes higher, and larger as work load becomes heavier. This directly addresses the concept of an economy mode where output is reduced based on ground speed and engine load.
   • Mapping to Claim 1:
     • "first sensing mechanism structured to monitor a ground speed of the machine" (vehicle speed sensor).
     • "second sensing mechanism structured to monitor an engine load of an engine in the powertrain" (work load sensor, which is indicative of engine load).
     • "input device structured to produce an operator input signal indicative of a requested powertrain output" (requested engine output setting means).
     • "produce an economy powertrain output less than the requested powertrain output" (engine output limiting means for limiting engine output to a limited engine output).
     • "determine...based on at least one of the ground speed and the engine load" (limiting engine output based on vehicle speed and work load).
   • Missing Elements: While teaching engine output limitation, it does not explicitly detail commanding both engine speed and a transmission torque for a variable-torque transmission to achieve this limitation. It primarily focuses on engine output.

2. US9689319B2 to Caterpillar Inc. ("Caterpillar '319"): "Power system having efficiency-based speed control."

   • Relevance: This patent teaches a control system for a power system with a controller. The controller determines a commanded engine speed based on operator input and an "economy engine speed" based on a measured engine load. It then commands the engine to operate at the minimum of the commanded and economy engine speed, effectively producing an output less than requested for fuel economy.
   • Mapping to Claim 1:
     • "engine speed command for an engine" (commanded engine speed).
     • "based on at least one of the ground speed and the engine load" (economy engine speed based on measured engine load).
     • "produce an economy powertrain output less than the requested powertrain output" (commanding engine at the minimum of requested and economy speed).
   • Missing Elements: This reference focuses on engine speed control based on engine load and does not mention ground speed as a direct input for the economy speed determination, nor does it address controlling transmission torque or a variable-torque transmission.

3. US5413540A to Robert Bosch Gmbh ("Bosch"): "Torque-setting system for vehicle with continuously variable transmission (CVT)."

   • Relevance: This patent describes a torque-setting system for a motor vehicle with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which is a type of variable-torque transmission. It includes an engine control unit that provides a desired engine torque signal and a CVT control unit that provides a desired input torque signal, with the units exchanging data. This demonstrates the architecture for controlling both engine and transmission torque in a variable-torque transmission system.
   • Mapping to Claim 1:
     • "torque command for a torque control mechanism of a variable-torque transmission" (CVT control unit providing signal for desired input torque to the CVT).
     • "electronic control unit is in communication with each of the first sensing mechanism, the second sensing mechanism, and the operator input device" (engine control unit and CVT control unit exchanging data, implying communication).
   • Missing Elements: This patent doesn't explicitly teach an economy mode or determining commands based on ground speed and engine load to produce an output less than requested for fuel economy.

Obviousness Combination:
A PHOSITA in the field of powertrain control for heavy machinery, motivated to improve fuel efficiency while maintaining acceptable performance, would find it obvious to combine the teachings of Komatsu (US8768582B2), Caterpillar '319 (US9689319B2), and Bosch (US5413540A) to arrive at Claim 1 of US10059341.

Motivation for Combination:

1. Starting Point (Komatsu US8768582B2): The Komatsu patent provides the core motivation and framework: reducing engine output in an economy mode based on sensed ground speed and engine (work) load to save fuel. This patent explicitly aims to optimize fuel consumption by limiting output according to operational parameters.

2. Adding Engine Speed Control (Caterpillar '319 US9689319B2): A PHOSITA, implementing the "engine output limiting" of Komatsu, would recognize that controlling engine speed is a fundamental method to manage engine power and fuel consumption. The Caterpillar '319 patent specifically teaches deriving an "economy engine speed" based on engine load and commanding the engine to operate at this lower speed when beneficial for fuel economy. It would be an obvious design choice to incorporate this specific engine speed control strategy into Komatsu's broader engine output limiting method, particularly since engine load is already a monitored parameter in Komatsu. This addresses the "engine speed command" aspect of Claim 1 based on engine load.

3. Adding Transmission Torque Control in a Variable-Torque Transmission (Bosch US5413540A): Many modern heavy machines and vehicles (such as the wheel loader described in US10059341) utilize variable-torque transmissions (e.g., CVTs, hybrid transmissions) for efficiency and performance. A PHOSITA would understand that to achieve comprehensive and fine-tuned "economy powertrain output" (as opposed to just gross engine output limitation), control over both the engine and the transmission is necessary, especially when working with a variable-torque transmission. The Bosch patent provides a clear architectural teaching for independently controlling engine torque and the input torque to a CVT (a variable-torque transmission), with communication between the respective control units.

   • Motivation: Applying the ground speed and engine load parameters (already used by Komatsu to limit overall output) to additionally govern the transmission torque command (as enabled by Bosch's architecture) would be a predictable engineering optimization. This would allow for a more precise and efficient modulation of the "economy powertrain output" across various operating conditions, furthering the fuel economy goals of Komatsu without unduly affecting performance in specific scenarios (e.g., by ensuring sufficient torque at low speeds as mentioned in US10059341). This combined control offers greater flexibility and efficiency in delivering the reduced "economy powertrain output" specified in Claim 1.

Therefore, the combination of Komatsu (US8768582B2) for the overarching economy mode logic based on ground speed and engine load, Caterpillar '319 (US9689319B2) for specific engine speed control based on load, and Bosch (US5413540A) for the architecture to implement independent transmission torque control in a variable-torque transmission, would render Claim 1 obvious to a PHOSITA seeking to optimize fuel consumption in heavy machinery.