# US 10,873,357 B2 · Smart attachment for a work vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,357 B2 - Document ID: US10873357B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/584,177 - Filed: 2017-05-02 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-02 - Assignees: Deere & Company - Applicants: Deere & Company - Inventors: Keith N. Chaston; Brent A. Smith - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873357B2 ## CPC - H04B 1/3827: Portable transceivers - H01Q 1/1207: {for fastening a rigid aerial element} - H01Q 1/2225: {used in active tags, i.e. provided with its own power source or in passive tags, i.e. deriving power from RF signal} - H01Q 1/32: Adaptation for use in or on road or rail vehicles - H01Q 1/40: Radiating elements coated with or embedded in protective material - H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks - H01Q 3/18: wherein the primary active element is movable and the reflecting device is fixed - H01Q 9/42: with folded element, the folded parts being spaced apart a small fraction of the operating wavelength - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H01Q: ANTENNAS, i.e. RADIO AERIALS (radiators or antennas for microwave heating H05B6/72) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A smart attachment, or more particularly a wireless beacon for coupling with at least one of an attachment and a work vehicle that operates in rugged environments. The beacon comprises a cylindrical housing with a proximal surface and a distal surface coupled with a fastener. This beacon may further comprise a power source, a printed circuit board, an antenna, and an accelerometer, all located within the cylindrical housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A beacon subassembly for use with an attachment for a work vehicle, the attachment coupled to a fastener comprising a cylindrical recess wherein the cylindrical recess comprises a helical ridge which spirals about the centerline axis of the cylindrical recess, the beacon subassembly comprising: a cylindrical housing with a proximal surface and a distal surface and a threaded surface between the proximal surface and the distal surface of the cylindrical housing wherein the threaded surface couples with the helical ridge of the fastener; a power source located within the cylindrical housing; a printed circuit board coupled with the power source wherein the printed circuit board is located within the cylindrical housing, and an antenna coupled with the printed circuit board wherein the antenna is located within the cylindrical housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The beacon subassembly of claim 1, wherein the proximal surface of the cylindrical housing is at least one of flush and below a proximal surface of the fastener. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The beacon subassembly of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical housing further comprises at least a pair of diametrically opposed recesses positioned on the proximal surface of the cylindrical housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The beacon subassembly of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical housing further comprises at least one hex-shaped recess centered on the proximal surface of the cylindrical housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The beacon subassembly of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical housing comprises a polymer. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The beacon subassembly of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical housing further comprises a honeycomb structure on at least a portion of the cylindrical housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The beacon subassembly of claim 1, wherein the threaded surface of the cylindrical housing further comprises a pressure activated adhesive. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The beacon subassembly of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical housing further comprises an accelerometer coupled with the power source. ### Claim 9 A beacon for attachment to a work vehicle, the beacon comprising: a fastener comprising a cylindrical recess wherein the cylindrical recess comprises a helical ridge which spirals about a centerline axis of the cylindrical recess, a cylindrical housing with a proximal surface and a distal surface and a threaded surface between the proximal surface and the distal surface of the cylindrical housing wherein the threaded surface couples with the helical ridge of the fastener, a power source located within the cylindrical housing, a printed circuit board coupled with the power source wherein the printed circuit board is located within the cylindrical housing, and an antenna coupled with the printed circuit board wherein the antenna is located within the cylindrical housing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The beacon subassembly of claim 8, wherein the cylindrical housing further comprises at least a pair of diametrically opposed recesses positioned on the proximal surface of the cylindrical housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The beacon subassembly of claim 8, wherein the cylindrical housing further comprises at least one hex-shaped recess centered on the proximal surface of the cylindrical housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The beacon subassembly of claim 8, wherein the cylindrical housing comprises a polymer. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The beacon subassembly of claim 8, wherein the threaded surface of the cylindrical housing further comprises a pressure activated adhesive. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The beacon subassembly of claim 8, wherein the cylindrical housing further comprises an accelerometer coupled to the power source. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The beacon subassembly of claim 8, wherein the proximal surface of the cylindrical housing is at least one of flush and below a proximal surface of the fastener. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The beacon subassembly of claim 8, wherein the cylindrical housing further comprises a honeycomb structure on at least a portion of the cylindrical housing. ### Claim 17 A beacon for attachment to a work vehicle, the beacon comprising: a fastener comprising a cylindrical recess wherein the cylindrical recess comprises a first centerline axis, a cylindrical housing with a proximal surface and a distal surface wherein the cylindrical housing comprises a second cylindrical axis, a power source located within the cylindrical housing, a printed circuit board coupled with the power source wherein the printed circuit board is located within the cylindrical housing, an antenna coupled with the printed circuit board wherein the antenna is located within the cylindrical housing, an accelerometer coupled to the power source, and an annular snap joint coupling the cylindrical housing and the fastener wherein the first centerline axis and the second centerline axis coincide. ### Claim 18 (depends on 8) The beacon subassembly of claim 8, wherein the cylindrical housing further comprises at least a pair of diametrically opposed recesses positioned on the proximal surface of the cylindrical housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 8) The beacon subassembly of claim 8, wherein the proximal surface of the cylindrical housing is at least one of flush and below a proximal surface of the fastener. ### Claim 20 (depends on 8) The beacon subassembly of claim 8, wherein the cylindrical housing further comprises a honeycomb structure on at least a portion of the cylindrical housing.