Control system for agricultural vehicle and calibration method for such control systems

A control system for an agricultural vehicle, the vehicle including a battery coupled to the control system, a movable attachment member configured for coupling to an implement, and an actuator circuit coupled to the attachment member and configured to move the member in response to command signals from the control system, the control system comprising:

• means for generating voltage signals representative of the voltage of the battery;
• means for generating a signal correction factor based upon the voltage signals;
• and
• means for applying the signal correction factor to the control signals.

A control system for an agricultural vehicle, the vehicle including a source of electrical energy coupled to the control system, a movable attachment member, and a solenoid operated actuator circuit including at least one solenoid coil configured to move the attachment member in response to control signals from the control system, the control system comprising:

• means for generating parameter signals representative of an electrical parameter of the coil;
• means for generating a correction factor based upon the parameter signals;
• and
• means for applying the correction factor to the control signals.

A calibration method for an agricultural vehicle, the vehicle including an attachment member suitably configured for coupling to an agricultural implement;

• an actuator circuit coupled to the attachment member for moving the attachment member between a lower position and a raised position in response to command signals, a sensing device configured to produce a position signal representative of the position of the attachment member, a control circuit configured to receive the position signal and to produce the command signals, and a memory circuit, the method comprising the steps of:
• determining a first threshold value by applying a command signal to the actuator circuit, incrementally increasing the magnitude of the command signal, monitoring the position signal from the sensing device, and storing the first threshold value in the memory circuit when the sensing device detects a change in position of the attachment member;
• repeating said steps to determine at least a second threshold value;
• averaging the values to determine a threshold command value;
• storing the threshold command value in the memory circuit.

A control method for an agricultural vehicle, the vehicle having a battery, a control circuit coupled to the battery and at least one device movable in response to control signals from the control circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating voltage signals representative of a voltage of the battery;
• generating a correction factor from the voltage signals;
• and
• applying the correction factor to the control signals.

A control method for an agricultural vehicle, the vehicle having a battery, a control circuit coupled to the battery, a movable device and a solenoid operated actuator circuit having at least one solenoid coil, the actuator circuit being coupled to the movable device and configured to move the device in response to control signals from the control circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating parameter signals representative of an electrical parameter of the coil;
• generating a correction factor from the parameter signals;
• and
• applying the correction factor to the control signals.