# US 2017/0280623 A1 · Control apparatus for utility vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0280623 A1 - Document ID: US20170280623A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/473,491 - Filed: 2017-03-29 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Makoto Yamamura; Toshiaki Kawakami - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170280623A1 ## CPC - A01D 34/008: {for automated or remotely controlled operation} - A01D 34/64: mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle (A01D34/695 takes precedence) - A01D 34/74: Cutting-height adjustment - A01D 34/78: electric - A01D 69/02: electric - B60K 1/02: comprising more than one electric motor - B60K 7/0007: {the motor being electric} - G01C 21/08: involving use of the magnetic field of the earth - G05D 1/0265: {using buried wires} - A01D 2101/00: Lawn-mowers - B60K 2001/0416: {Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle} - B60L 53/16: Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles - B60L 2200/40: Working vehicles - B60L 2210/30: AC to DC converters - B60R 16/0207: {Wire harnesses} - B60R 21/0136: responsive to actual contact with an obstacle {, e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle (monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558)} - B60R 2021/01013: {Means for detecting collision, impending collision or roll-over} - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract In an apparatus for controlling operation of a utility vehicle that runs a working area to perform work by a work unit, there provided with a set mowing height inputting unit configured to input a mowing height of lawn mowing work set by a user, a desired mowing height setting unit configured to set a desired mowing height based on the set mowing height inputted by the set mowing height inputting unit, and a mowing height regulating unit configured to regulate height from ground surface of the work unit based on the desired mowing height set by the desired mowing height setting unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for controlling operation of a utility vehicle that runs a working area to perform work by a work unit, comprising: an electronic control unit having a microprocessor and a memory, wherein the microprocessor is configured to function as: a set mowing height inputting unit configured to input a mowing height of lawn mowing work set by a user; a desired mowing height setting unit configured to set a desired mowing height based on the set mowing height inputted by the set mowing height inputting unit; and a mowing height regulating unit configured to regulate height from ground surface of the work unit based on the desired mowing height set by the desired mowing height setting unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the desired mowing height setting unit adjusts the desired mowing height by a predetermined amount based on the set mowing height inputted by the set mowing height inputting unit. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further including: a load detecting unit configured to detect load of the work unit; and the desired mowing height setting unit adjusts the desired mowing height based on the load of the work unit detected by the load detecting unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the desired mowing height setting unit adjusts the desired mowing height in such a manner that the desired mowing height is raised when the detected load of the work unit is equal to greater than a predetermined value, while the desired mowing height is lowered when the detected load of the work unit is less than the predetermined value. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined value is an average value of the load of the work unit during a prescribed period. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, further including: a switch; and the set mowing height inputting unit inputs the mowing height of lawn mowing work when the switch is turned on. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the work unit includes a mower blade whose height from ground surface is made adjustable. ### Claim 8 A method for controlling operation of a utility vehicle that runs a working area to perform work by a work unit, comprising the steps of: inputting a mowing height of lawn mowing work set by a user; setting a desired mowing height based on the set mowing height inputted by the step of set mowing height inputting; and regulating height from ground surface of the work unit based on the desired mowing height set by the step of desired mowing height setting. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of desired mowing height setting adjusts the desired mowing height by a predetermined amount based on the set mowing height inputted by the step of set mowing height inputting. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further including the step of: detecting load of the work unit; and the step of desired mowing height setting adjusts the desired mowing height based on the load of the work unit detected by the step of load detecting. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of desired mowing height setting adjusts the desired mowing height in such a manner that the desired mowing height is raised when the detected load of the work unit is equal to greater than a predetermined value, while the desired mowing height is lowered when the detected load of the work unit is less than the predetermined value. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined value is an average value of the load of the work unit during a prescribed period. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of set mowing height inputting inputs the mowing height of lawn mowing work when a switch is turned on. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the work unit includes a mower blade whose height from ground surface is made adjustable.