# US 8,751,095 B2 · Multi-direction vehicle control sensing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,751,095 B2 - Document ID: US8751095B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/764,481 - Filed: 2013-02-11 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Granted: 2014-06-10 - Earliest claimed: 2006-07-17 - Assignees: NMHG Oregon, LLC - Applicants: NMHG Oregon, LLC - Inventors: Christopher J. Goodwin; Brian R. Crowell; Timothy L. Rose; James W. Davis; Gerald A. Johnson; Kevin J. McGoldrick; Michael Curry - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751095B2 ## CPC - B62D 6/00: Arrangements for automatically controlling steering depending on driving conditions sensed and responded to, e.g. control circuits (means for initiating a change in direction B62D1/00; steering valves B62D5/06; combined with means for inclining the vehicle body or wheels on bends B62D9/00) - B62D 9/00: Steering deflectable wheels not otherwise provided for (steering positon indicators B62D15/02) - B62D 15/00: Steering not otherwise provided for - B66F 9/07568: {Steering arrangements} - B66F 9/0759: {Details of operating station, e.g. seats, levers, operator platforms, cabin suspension} - B66F 9/20: Means for actuating or controlling masts, platforms, or forks (power take-off from vehicle transmissions, combined with vehicle propulsion systems B60K) - Y10T 74/20: Control lever and linkage systems - Y10T 74/20012: Multiple controlled elements - Y10T 74/20207: Multiple controlling elements for single controlled element - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A vehicle includes a first control configured to operate the vehicle from a first operator position facing a front of the vehicle and a second control configured to operate the vehicle from a second operator position facing a rear of the vehicle. The vehicle further includes a processor configured to monitor for an operator presence in the first operator position or the second operator position and receive a vehicle operating request, wherein the operator presence is monitored independent of receiving the vehicle operating request. The processor is further configured to enable either the first control or the second control and select a vehicle operating parameter associated with the vehicle operating request, wherein the vehicle operating parameter varies according to which control is enabled. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steering system comprising: a first control; a second control; and a processing device configured to: monitor an operator presence; enable a control selected from the first control and the second control in response to monitoring the operator presence; receive a steering command for a vehicle; steer the vehicle with a first steering sense in a first direction of travel in response to receiving the steering command and enabling the first control; and steer the vehicle with a second steering sense in the first direction of travel in response to receiving the steering command and enabling the second control. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The steering system of claim 1, wherein the first control is associated with a first operator position, and wherein the second control is associated with a second operator position which is substantially opposite to that of the first operator position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The steering system of claim 1, wherein the first control comprises: a control handle; and a sensor configured to detect the operator presence at the control handle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The steering system of claim 1, wherein the first control comprises an acceleration control, and wherein the processing device is configured to enable the first control by enabling the acceleration control to accelerate the vehicle in the first direction of travel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The steering system of claim 1, wherein the enabled control comprises a sensor, and wherein the processing device is configured to monitor the operator presence at the enabled control in response to receiving input from the sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The steering system of claim 1, further comprising a steering apparatus located on an opposite side of the vehicle from the enabled control, wherein the processing device is configured to receive the steering command from the steering apparatus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The steering system of claim 1, wherein the processing device is configured to monitor the operator presence independently of receiving the steering command. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The steering system of claim 1, wherein the second steering sense is reversed with respect to the first steering sense. ### Claim 9 A method, comprising: monitoring for an operator presence; enabling a control selected from a first control and a second control in response to said monitoring for an operator presence; receiving a steering command for a vehicle; and in a first direction of travel and responsive to the steering command, steering the vehicle with a first steering orientation or steering the vehicle with a second steering orientation that is the reverse of the first steering orientation depending on which control is enabled. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said steering the vehicle comprises steering the vehicle in a clockwise steering orientation in the first direction of travel in response to enabling the first control, and wherein said steering comprises steering the vehicle in a counterclockwise steering orientation in the first direction of travel in response to enabling the second control. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein said in a first direction of travel and responsive to the steering command, steering the vehicle comprises turning the vehicle left when the first control is enabled, and turning the vehicle right when the second control is enabled. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the first control is associated with a first operator position facing a front of the vehicle, and wherein the second control is associated with a second operator position facing a rear of the vehicle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein an enabling command is received from one or more sensors configured to detect the operator presence, and wherein said enabling comprises enabling the control associated with an operator position where the operator presence is detected. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first control is associated with a first operator position, and wherein the second control is associated with a second operator position which is substantially opposite to that of the first operator position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising comparing the steering command with a state of vehicle operation to determine if the vehicle is in a ready state, wherein said in a first direction of travel and responsive to the steering command, steering the vehicle comprises steering the vehicle in response to determining that the vehicle is in the ready state. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising disabling the control which is not selected. ### Claim 17 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, further comprising: monitoring a continued operator presence at the enabled control; and disabling the enabled control when the continued operator presence is not detected for a predetermined time period. ### Claim 18 An apparatus, comprising: first control means for controlling a vehicle; second control means for controlling the vehicle; means for monitoring an operator presence; means for enabling a control selected from the first control and the second control in response to monitoring the operator presence; and means for steering the vehicle in a first direction of travel in response to receiving a steering command, wherein a steering orientation associated with the steering command in the first direction of travel is reversed depending on the enabled control. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for steering comprises means for steering the vehicle in a clockwise steering orientation in the first direction of travel in response to enabling the first control, and wherein the means for steering comprises means for steering the vehicle in a counterclockwise steering orientation in the first direction of travel in response to enabling the second control. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for monitoring comprises means for monitoring the operator presence at one or both of the first control means and the second control means. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising means for adjusting a vehicle maximum speed depending on the enabled control.