Video display for refuse collection
AssigneeThe Heil Co.
InventorJohn Forrest Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A refuse collection vehicle includes a grabber that is operable to engage a refuse container, a lift arm coupled to the grabber and operable to raise and lower the grabber, a camera that is arranged to generate video data of a scene external to the refuse collection vehicle, and a semi-transparent display device configured to display the video data generated by the camera, wherein the semi-transparent display is positioned within a forward line of sight of an operator of the refuse collection vehicle.
Claims20
A refuse collection vehicle comprising:
- a grabber that is operable to engage a refuse container;
- a lift arm coupled to the grabber and operable to raise and lower the grabber;
- a camera that is arranged to generate video data of a scene external to the refuse collection vehicle;
- a sensor configured to detect when the grabber has released the refuse container;
- and
- a semi-transparent display device configured to display the video data generated by the camera,
- wherein:
- the semi-transparent display device is attached to a windshield of the refuse collection vehicle and is positioned within a forward line of sight of an operator of the refuse collection vehicle and in line with and behind a steering wheel of the refuse collection vehicle;
- and
- the semi-transparent display device is configured to stop displaying the video data in response to the sensor detecting that the grabber has released the refuse container.
A method of operating a refuse collection vehicle to collect refuse from a refuse container, the method comprising:
- receiving video data from a camera coupled to the refuse collection vehicle and arranged to generate video data of a scene external to the refuse collection vehicle;
- controlling a graphical display system of the refuse collection vehicle to display the video data received from the camera onto a semi-transparent display device of the graphical display system, wherein the semi-transparent display device is attached to a windshield of the refuse collection vehicle and is positioned within a forward line of sight of an operator of the refuse collection vehicle and in line with and behind a steering wheel of the refuse collection vehicle;
- receiving a signal from a sensor indicating that a grabber of the refuse collection vehicle has released the refuse container;
- and
- in response to receiving the signal, causing the graphical display system to stop displaying the video data.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.