Apparatus and method for controlling the position of an implement and marker of a work vehicle

An apparatus for positioning a farming implement connected to a farm work vehicle controlled by an operator comprising:

• an actuation system positioning said implement with respect to a reference;
• a position sensor providing a position signal indicative of the position of said implement above said reference;
• and
• an electronic control unit receiving said position signal and operatively connected to said actuation system,
• said electronic control unit directing said actuation system to operate at least one actuation element associated with said implement between an enabled and disabled position, and
• said position signal, when indicating that said implement has reached a predetermined position for a predetermined period of time, operable through said electronic control unit to disable said at least one actuation element.

An apparatus for positioning a farming implement connected to a farm work vehicle controlled by an operator comprising:

• an actuation system positioning said implement with respect to a reference;
• a position sensor providing a position signal indicative of the position of said implement above said reference;
• an operator interface receiving a mode of operation input signal from said operator and providing a mode of operation output signal indicative of said mode of operation input signal;
• and
• an electronic control unit receiving said position signal and said output signal and operatively connected to said actuation system,
• wherein said electronic control unit directs said actuation system in response to said position signal and said mode of operation output signal.

An apparatus for positioning a farming implement connected to a farm work vehicle controlled by an operator comprising:

• an actuation system positioning said implement with respect to a reference;
• a position sensor providing a position signal indicative of the position of said implement above said reference;
• an operator interface receiving a mode of operation input signal from said operator and providing a mode of operation output signal indicative of said mode of operation input signal;
• and
• an electronic control unit receiving said position signal and said mode of operation output signal and operatively connected to said actuation system,
• said electronic control unit directing said actuation system to operate at least one actuation element associated with said implement between an enabled and disabled position, and
• wherein said electronic control unit enables or disables said at least one actuation element in response to said position signal and said mode of operation output signal.

An apparatus for positioning a farming implement connected to a farm work vehicle controlled by an operator comprising:

• an actuation system positioning said implement with respect to a reference;
• a position sensor providing a position signal indicative of the position of said implement above said reference;
• an operator interface receiving a mode of operation input signal from said operator and providing a mode of operation output signal indicative of said mode of operation input signal;
• and
• an electronic control unit receiving said position signal and said output signal and operatively connected to said actuation system,
• wherein said electronic control unit directs said actuation system to stop said implement, if said mode of operation input signal is an "off" mode input signal.

An apparatus for positioning a farming implement connected to a farm work vehicle controlled by an operator comprising:

• an actuation system positioning said implement with respect to a reference;
• a position sensor providing a position signal indicative of the position of said implement above said reference;
• an operator interface receiving a mode of operation input signal from said operator and providing a mode of operation output signal indicative of said mode of operation input signal;
• and
• an electronic control unit receiving said position signal and said mode of operation output signal and operatively connected to said actuation system,
• said electronic control unit directing said actuation system to operate at least one actuation element associated with said implement between an enabled and disabled position, and
• wherein said electronic control unit disables said at least one actuation element, if said mode of operation input signal is an "off" mode input signal.

An apparatus for positioning at least one field marker associated with a farming implement connected to a farm work vehicle controlled by an operator comprising:

• an actuation system positioning said implement and said at least one marker with respect to a reference;
• a position sensor providing a position signal indicative of the position of said implement above said reference;
• and
• an electronic control unit receiving said position signal and operatively connected to said actuation system,
• said electronic control unit directing said actuation system upon a predetermined time lapse after said position signal indicates that said implement has reached a predetermined position.

An apparatus for positioning at least one field marker associated with a farming implement connected to a farm work vehicle controlled by an operator comprising:

• an actuation system positioning said implement and said at least one marker with respect to a reference;
• a position sensor providing a position signal indicative of the position of said implement above said reference;
• an operator interface receiving a plurality of input signals from said operator and providing an output signal indicative of said plurality of input signals;
• and
• an electronic control unit receiving said position signal and said output signal and operatively connected to said actuation system,
• wherein said electronic control unit directs said actuation system in response to said plurality of input signals, if said input signals are received when said position signal indicates that said implement has reached a predetermined position.

An apparatus for positioning at least one field marker associated with a farming implement connected to a farm work vehicle controlled by an operator comprising:

• an actuation system positioning said implement and said at least one marker with respect to a reference;
• a position sensor providing a position signal indicative of the position of said implement above said reference;
• an operator interface receiving a plurality of input signals from said operator and providing an output signal indicative of said plurality of input signals;
• and
• an electronic control unit receiving said position signal and said output signal and operatively connected to said actuation system,
• wherein said electronic control unit directs said actuation system in response to said plurality of input signals, if said input signals are received when said position signal indicates that said implement has reached a predetermined position, said electronic control unit including a code means for directing said actuation system upon a predetermined time lapse after said position signal indicates that said implement has reached a predetermined position, and said electronic control unit directs said actuation system to cease the movement of said at least one marker, if at least one of said plurality of input signals is a "none" mode input signal.

An apparatus for positioning at least one field marker associated with a farming implement connected to a farm work vehicle controlled by an operator comprising:

• an actuation system positioning said implement and said at least one marker with respect to a reference;
• a position sensor providing a position signal indicative of the position of said implement above said reference;
• an operator interface receiving a plurality of input signals from said operator and providing an output signal indicative of said plurality of input signals;
• and
• an electronic control unit receiving said position signal and said output signal and operatively connected to said actuation system,
• wherein said electronic control unit directs said actuation system in response to said plurality of input signals, if said input signals are received when said position signal indicates that said implement has reached a predetermined position, said electronic control unit including a code means for directing said actuation system upon a predetermined time lapse after said position signal indicates that said implement has reached a predetermined position, and including another marker, wherein said electronic control unit directs said actuation system to position each of said markers so that each of said markers is in substantially the same position with respect to said reference, if at least one of said plurality of input signals is a "both" mode input signal.

An apparatus for positioning at least one field marker associated with a farming implement connected to a farm work vehicle controlled by an operator comprising:

• an actuation system positioning said implement and said at least one marker with respect to a reference;
• a position sensor providing a position signal indicative of the position of said implement above said reference;
• an operator interface receiving a plurality of input signals from said operator and providing an output signal indicative of said plurality of input signals;
• and
• an electronic control unit receiving said position signal and said output signal and operatively connected to said actuation system,
• wherein said electronic control unit directs said actuation system in response to said plurality of input signals, if said input signals are received when said position signal indicates that said implement has reached a predetermined position, said electronic control unit including a code means for directing said actuation system upon a predetermined time lapse after said position signal indicates that said implement has reached a predetermined position, and including a pair of markers comprising a left marker attached to a left side of said implement and a right marker attached to a right side of said implement, said markers being complements of one another, and
• wherein said electronic control unit provides a direction to said actuation system to position a first of said complementary markers in a lowered position and a second of said complementary markers in a raised position, if at least one of said plurality of input signals is a "manual" mode input signal.

An apparatus for positioning at least one field marker associated with a farming implement connected to a farm work vehicle controlled by an operator comprising:

• an actuation system positioning said implement and said at least one marker with respect to a reference;
• a position sensor providing a position signal indicative of the position of said implement above said reference;
• an operator interface receiving a plurality of input signals from said operator and providing an output signal indicative of said plurality of input signals;
• and
• an electronic control unit receiving said position signal and said output signal and operatively connected to said actuation system,
• wherein said electronic control unit directs said actuation system in response to said plurality of input signals, if said input signals are received when said position signal indicates that said implement has reached a predetermined position,
• said electronic control unit including a code means for directing said actuation system upon a predetermined time lapse after said position signal indicates that said implement has reached a predetermined position, and including a pair of markers comprising a left marker attached to a left side of said implement and a right marker attached to a right side of said implement, said markers being complements of one another,
• wherein said electronic control unit provides a direction to said actuation system to position a first of said complementary markers in a lowered position and a second of said complementary markers in a raised position, and
• wherein said electronic control unit provides a new direction reversing which of said complementary markers is to be positioned in said lowered position and which of said complementary markers is to be positioned in said raised position, upon the occurrence of at least one event,
• if at least one of said plurality of input signals is an "alternating" mode input signal.

A method of positioning at least one field marker associated with a farming implement connected to a farm work vehicle controlled by an operator comprising the steps of:

• providing a position signal indicative of the position of said implement above a reference;
• monitoring for a plurality of input signals from said operator;
• and
• directing an actuation system to position said at least one marker in response to said plurality of input signals, if said input signals are received when said position signal indicates that said implement has reached a predetermined position.

A method of positioning at least one field marker associated with a farming implement connected to a farm work vehicle controlled by an operator comprising the steps of:

• providing a position signal indicative of the position of said implement above a reference;
• monitoring for a plurality of input signals from said operator;
• directing an actuation system to position said at least one marker in response to said plurality of input signals if said input signals are received when said position signal indicates that said implement has reached a predetermined position;
• directing said actuation system to position said at least one marker upon a predetermined time lapse after said position signal indicates that said implement has reached a predetermined position;
• directing said actuation system to cease the movement of said at least one marker,
• if at least one of said plurality of input signals is a "none" mode input signal;
• and
• directing said actuation system to position said at least one marker so that each of said at least one marker is in substantially the same position with respect to a reference if at least one of said plurality of input signals is a "both" mode input signal,
• wherein said at least one marker includes another marker.

A method of positioning a pair of complementary field markers associated with a farming implement connected to a farm work vehicle controlled by an operator comprising the steps of:

• providing a position signal indicative of the position of said implement above a reference;
• monitoring for a plurality of input signals from said operator;
• directing an actuation system to position said complementary markers in response to said plurality of input signals, if said input signals are received when said position signal indicates that said implement has reached a predetermined position;
• directing said actuation system to position said complementary markers upon a predetermined time lapse after said position signal indicates that said implement has reached said predetermined position;
• and
• directing said actuation system to position a first of said complementary markers in a lowered position and a second of said complementary markers in a raised position,
• if at least one of said plurality of input signals is a "manual" mode input signal.

A method of positioning a pair of complementary field markers associated with a farming implement connected to a farm work vehicle controlled by an operator comprising the steps of:

• providing a position signal indicative of the position of said implement above a reference;
• monitoring for a plurality of input signals from said operator;
• directing an actuation system to position said complementary markers in response to said plurality of input signals, if said input signals are received when said position signal indicates that said implement has reached a predetermined position;
• directing said actuation system to position said complementary markers upon a predetermined time lapse after said position signal indicates that said implement has reached said predetermined position;
• directing said actuation system to position a first of said complementary markers in a lowered position and a second of said complementary markers in a raised position;
• and
• reversing which of said complementary markers is to be positioned in said lowered position and which of said complementary markers is to be positioned in said raised position upon the occurrence of at least one event,
• if at least one of said plurality of input signals is an "alternating" mode input signal.