Light bar with tilt sensor
AssigneeTrimble Navigation Limited
InventorsArthur F. Lange, Michael Timmons, Dominic Farmer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is drawn to a light bar assembly for guiding the movement of a vehicle on a tilted surface. The light bar assembly is comprised of a housing having a light bar and a tilt sensor. The light bar is disposed in the housing and adapted to guide the movement of the vehicle. In addition, the tilt sensor is disposed in the housing and adapted to indicate the attitude of the vehicle. As such, the attitude of the vehicle is taken into consideration when the vehicle is being guided along the adjusted travel path on the tilted surface. Moreover, with the addition of the light bar assembly, an existing prior art guidance control system can be conveniently and economically upgraded to a robust system that includes the tilt sensor.
Claims16
A light bar assembly comprising:
- a) a housing;
- b) a light bar disposed in said housing, said light bar adapted to guide the movement of a vehicle;
- and
- c) a tilt sensor disposed in said housing, said tilt sensor adapted to determine the attitude of said vehicle.
A guidance control system for a vehicle, said guidance control system comprising:
- a) a Position Determination System (PDS) adapted to determine the position of a vehicle;
- b) a light bar assembly including a housing, and a light bar, said light bar disposed in said housing and adapted to guide the movement of a vehicle, said light bar assembly also including a tilt sensor disposed in said housing, said tilt sensor adapted to determine the attitude of said vehicle;
- and
- c) a control unit coupled to-said PDS and said light bar assembly, said control unit adapted to determine an adjusted travel path for said vehicle using said determined attitude, and said control unit adapted to indicate said adjusted travel path using said light bar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.