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US 7,890,236 B2Granted
Automated control module for a power machine
AssigneeClark Equipment Company
InventorJason A. Osborn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The application discloses an automated control module, which is configured to receive an input signal from a sensor and generate a universal control signal that can be processed by different machine controllers having different control configurations. In one embodiment the universal control signal is transmitted to a machine controller on the power machine through a connection assembly including a connector plug and socket. In another embodiment, the universal control signal is transmitted through a wireless interface. The machine controller processes the universal control signal and outputs a device control signal to operate different devices “on board” the power machine.
Claims20
An assembly for a power machine comprising:
- an automated control module configured to receive an input signal from at least one sensor and generate an automated control command responsive to the input signal from the at least one sensor;
- a control selection component configured to receive a control selection input from a control selector providing one of an automated control mode selection and an operator control mode selection;
- a machine control assembly operably coupled to the power machine to control one or more functions of the power machine and the machine control assembly is configured to receive the control selection input from the control selector and if the input control selection is the automated control mode selection, the machine control assembly utilizes the automated control command from the automated control module to provide a device control signal responsive to the automated control command to operate the one or more functions of the power machine and if the input control selection is the operator control mode selection, the machine control assembly utilizes an operator control command from an operator input device to provide the device control signal to operate the one or more functions of the power machine;
- and
- a communication interface configured to transmit the automated control command to the machine control assembly to generate the device control signal utilizing the automated control command.
2 more elements
A control assembly for a power machine comprising
- an automated control module configured to receive a location input signal from at least one sensor element on a component of the power machine movable relative to a body portion of the power machine to provide an input position of the movable component relative to the body portion of the power machine, wherein the automated control module is configured to generate an automated control command to energize one or more actuator devices to move the component relative to the body portion of the power machine utilizing the location input signal;
- a machine control assembly coupled to the one or more actuator devices on the power machine and configured to receive the automated control command and use the automated control command to generate a control signal to control circuitry to energize the one or more actuator devices to move the component utilizing the automated control command in one operating mode and to use a user control command from a user input device to energize the one or more actuator devices to move the movable component in another operating mode;
- and
- a communication interface between the automated control module and the machine control assembly to transmit the automated control command to the machine control assembly coupled to one or more actuator devices on the power machine.
1 more element
A control assembly for a power machine comprising:
- an automated control module configured to receive an input signal from at least one sensor and generate an output control command based upon the input signal;
- a machine control assembly coupled to one or more drive motors on the power machine to drive and steer the power machine and the machine control assembly is configured to receive the output control command from the automated control module and a user command from a user input device and the machine control assembly is configured to utilize the output control command from the automated control module to generate a control signal to energize the one or more actuator drive motors to drive and steer the power machine in one operating mode and to utilize the user command from the user input device to generate the control signal to energize the one or more drive motors in another operating mode;
- and
- a communication interface between the automated control module and the machine control assembly configured to transmit the output control command from the automated control module to the machine control assembly coupled to the one or more drive motors on the power machine.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.