Reconfigurable control unit for work vehicles

A reconfigurable control unit for selectively providing a command and display interface for an applicating vehicle and a harvesting vehicle, the applicating vehicle adapted to apply a farming input to an agricultural field as controlled by an applicating control unit and the harvesting vehicle adapted to harvest a crop from the agricultural field as monitored by a harvesting control unit, the applicating control unit and the harvesting control unit each configured to send a unique configuration message on a data bus supported by the respective applicating and harvesting vehicle, the reconfigurable control unit comprising:

• a data bus interface couplable to the data bus on the applicating vehicle and to the data bus on the harvesting vehicle;
• a memory configured to store an applicating program and a harvesting program suitable for use with the applicating control unit and the harvesting control unit, respectively;
• a processor coupled to the data bus interface and the memory, the processor configured to receive the unique configuration message from the data bus, determine whether the control unit is mounted on the applicating or the harvesting vehicle based upon the received configuration message, and select the applicating program or the harvesting program based upon the determined work vehicle;
• and
• an operator interface coupled to the processor and including at least one actuatable input device configured to generate input signals and at least one display device configured to generate a visual display, wherein the input signals and the visual display are defined at least in part by the selected program.

A reconfigurable control unit for selectively providing an operator interface for a first and a second work vehicle, the first and the second work vehicle adapted to perform a first and a second type of work as controlled by a first and a second work controller, respectively, each type of work being different, the reconfigurable control unit comprising:

• a data bus interface removably couplable to the first and second work controllers;
• a memory for storing a first and a second application program suitable for use with the first and the second work controller, respectively;
• a processor coupled to the data bus interface and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the control unit is mounted on the first or the second work vehicle, and to select the first or the second application program based upon the determined work vehicle;
• and
• an operator interface coupled to the processor and including at least one actuatable input device for generating input signals and at least one display device for generating a visual display, wherein the input signals and the visual display are defined at least in part by the selected application program.

A reconfigurable control unit for selectively providing an operator interface for a first and a second work vehicle, the first and the second work vehicle adapted to perform a first and a second type of work as controlled by a first and a second work controller, respectively, each type of work being different, the reconfigurable control unit comprising:

• bus interface means for interfacing the control unit to a bus on each of the first and the second work vehicle;
• memory means for storing a first and a second application program suitable for use with the first and the second work controller, respectively;
• means for determining whether the control unit is mounted on the first or the second work vehicle;
• means for selecting the first or the second application program based upon the determined work vehicle;
• and
• means for interfacing with an operator, the operator interface means including at least one actuatable input device for generating input signals and at least one display device for generating a visual display, wherein the input signals and the visual display are defined at least partly by the selected application program.

A reconfigurable control unit for selectively providing an operator interface for an applicating vehicle and a second vehicle, the applicating vehicle having a first work controller configured to control the application of a product, the second vehicle having a second work controller configured to perform a function different than the first work controller, the reconfigurable control unit comprising:

• a data bus interface removably couplable to each work controller;
• a memory for storing a product application program and second program suitable for use with the first and the second work controller, respectively;
• a processor coupled to the data bus interface and the memory configured to determine whether the control unit is mounted on the applicating vehicle or the second vehicle and to select one of the product application program and the second program based upon the determined work vehicle;
• and
• an operator interface coupled to the processor including a display device configured to generate a visual display, wherein the visual display is defined at least in part by the selected application program.

A system for selectively providing an operator interface for a first and a second work vehicle, the first and the second work vehicle adapted to perform a first and a second type of work, each type of work being different, comprising:

• a first work controller coupled to the first work vehicle;
• a second work controller coupled to the second work vehicle;
• a reconfigurable control unit, comprising:
• a data bus interface removably couplable to the first and second work controllers;
• a memory for storing a first and a second application program suitable for use with the first and the second work controller, respectively;
• a processor coupled to the data bus interface and the memory, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the control unit is mounted on the first or the second work vehicle, and to select the first or second application program based upon the determined work vehicle;
• and
• an operator interface coupled to the processor including a display device configured to generate a visual display, wherein the visual display is defined at least in part by the selected application program.