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US 10,589,626 B2Granted
Implement positioning guidance system
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorJoseph Allen Thoreson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for guiding an implement on a machine to a target location is disclosed. The system comprises a GUI and a controller in operable communication with the GUI. The controller is configured to: (a) determine a current location of the implement relative to the target location on the work surface; and (b) display on the GUI a symbol in one of a plurality of states, each state associated with one or more locations of the implement relative to the target location. The state in which the symbol is displayed is indicative of the current location of the implement relative to the target location and each state is identified by at least one illuminated portion of the symbol. The controller is further configured to: (c) repeat (a) and (b) each time the implement is moved to a new current location.
Claims17
A system for guiding an implement on a machine to a target location on a work surface, the system comprising:
- a graphical user interface (GUI);
- and
- a controller comprising at least one processor and at least one memory component in operable communication with the GUI, the controller configured to:
- (a) determine a current location of the implement relative to the target location on the work surface;
- (b) display on the GUI a symbol in one of a plurality of states, each state of the plurality of states associated with one or more locations of the implement relative to the target location, wherein the one of the plurality of states in which the symbol is displayed is indicative of the current location of the implement relative to the target location, each state of the plurality of states identified by variegating one portion of the symbol;
- and
- (c) repeat (a) and (b) each time the implement is moved to a new current location, wherein the symbol includes a plurality of portions each having a variegated condition and a non-variegated condition, the symbol including:
- a centroid portion associated with the target location,
- keystone portions arranged in an annular ring of keystones concentric about the centroid portion, each keystone portion indicates a relative direction of the current location of the implement from the target location,
- perimeter portions disposed within a space between each of the keystone portions and the centroid portion, each perimeter portion defining a periphery associated with one keystone portion;
- and
- wherein the plurality-of states includes an on-target state and a plurality of directional states,
- the on-target state having the centroid portion variegated with a target visual cue when the current location of the implement is less than a threshold distance from the target location, and
- each directional state having a single keystone portion variegated with a first visual cue when the current location of the implement is greater than the threshold distance from the target location indicating the relative direction from the target location.
11 more elements
A method of guiding an implement on a machine to a target location on a work surface, the method comprising:
- determining, by a controller, a current location of the implement relative to the target location;
- displaying on a graphical user interface (GUI) a symbol in one of a plurality of states, each state of the plurality of states associated with one or more locations of the implement relative to the target location, wherein the one of the plurality of states in which the symbol is displayed is indicative of the current location of the implement relative to the target location, each state of the plurality of states identified by variegating one portion of the symbol;
- and
- repeating the determining and the displaying each time the implement is moved to a new current location,
- wherein the symbol includes a plurality of portions each having a variegated condition and a non-variegated condition, the symbol including:
- a centroid portion associated with the target location,
- keystone portions arranged in an annular ring of keystones concentric about the centroid portion, each keystone portion indicates a relative direction of the current location of the implement from the target location,
- perimeter portions disposed within a space between each of the keystone portions and the centroid portion, each perimeter portion defining a periphery associated with one keystone portion and the centroid portion;
- and
- wherein the plurality of states includes an on-target state and a plurality of directional states,
- the on-target state having the centroid portion variegated with a target visual cue when the current location of the implement is less than a threshold distance from the target location, and
- each directional state having a single keystone portion variegated with a first visual cue when the current location of the implement is greater than the threshold distance from the target location indicating the relative direction from the target location.
9 more elements
A system for guiding an implement on a machine to a target location on a work surface, the system comprising:
- a graphical user interface (GUI) disposed remotely from the machine;
- and
- a controller comprising at least one processor and at least one memory component in operable communication with the GUI, the controller configured to:
- (a) determine a current location of the implement relative to the target location on the work surface;
- (b) display on the GUI a symbol in one of a plurality of states, each state of the plurality of states associated with one or more locations of the implement relative to the target location, wherein the one of the plurality of states in which the symbol is displayed is indicative of the current location of the implement relative to the target location, each state of the plurality of states identified by variegating one portion of the symbol;
- and
- (c) repeat (a) and (b) each time the implement is moved to a new current location, wherein the symbol includes a plurality of portions each having a variegated condition and a non-variegated condition, the symbol including:
- a centroid portion associated with the target location,
- keystone portions arranged in an annular ring of keystones concentric about the centroid portion, each keystone portion indicates a relative direction of the current location of the implement from the target location,
- perimeter portions disposed within a space between each of the keystone portions and the centroid portion, each perimeter portion defining a periphery associated with one keystone portion;
- and
- wherein the plurality of states includes an on-target state and a plurality of directional states,
- the on-target state having the centroid portion variegated with a target color when the current location of the implement is less than a threshold distance from the target location, and
- each directional state having a single keystone portion variegated with a first color when the current location of the implement is greater than the threshold distance from the target location indicating the relative direction from the target location.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.