Vehicle lift system with advanced operating platform

• US 10,065,842 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gray Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gray Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Jaipaul, Larry M., Rucker, Stephen J., Chan, Raymond C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donels, Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US14/628,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20150246797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 187247, 187391
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 3/24 fluid-pressure operated water-pressure machines F03B; hydraulic gearings F16H; cylinders, pistons F16J; fluid-pressure servomotors F15B
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 3/46 Combinations of several jacks with means for interrelating lifting or lowering movements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment

Abstract

A vehicle lift system incorporating one or more lift control modules having an advanced operating platform. The lift control module includes a user interface for receiving user instructions from a user, at least one control module processor, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium with an advanced operating platform stored thereon. The computer readable medium includes a first application operable executable by the advanced operating platform. The first application directs the control module processor to provide instructions to the vehicle lift to control the vehicle lift based on the user instructions. The computer readable medium further includes a second application executable by the advanced operating platform. The second application directs the control module processor to perform certain steps, with such certain steps not directed to controlling the vehicle lift. Furthermore, the advanced operating platform is configured to execute said first application and said second application simultaneously.

Claims

1. A vehicle lift system including a vehicle lift with a post, an actuator, and a carriage assembly, where said vehicle lift system further comprises:

a lift control system for controlling the actuator so as to lift the carriage assembly relative to the post, wherein said lift control system includes at least one core processor;

a lift control module for providing instructions to said lift control system, said lift control module including—

a user interface for receiving user instructions from a user,

at least one control module processor,

a non-transitory computer-readable medium with an advanced operating platform stored thereon, wherein the computer-readable medium further includes one or more electronic libraries stored thereon, with said electronic libraries being accessible by said advanced operating platform,

wherein each of said electronic libraries include one or more library program codes for instructing said at least one control module processor to perform steps,

wherein said computer readable medium further includes—

a first application operable to be executed by said advanced operating platform, wherein said first application directs said at least one control module processor to provide instructions to said lift control system to control the actuator based on the user instructions,

a second application operable to be executed by said advanced operating platform, wherein said second application directs said at least one control module processor to perform certain steps, with such certain steps not directed to controlling the actuator,

wherein at least one of said first application or said second application instructs said control module processor to perform steps based, at least in part, on said library program codes in said one or more electronic libraries; and

a communication link between said lift control system and said lift control module,

wherein said lift control module is configured to operate remotely from the vehicle lift, wherein said lift control module is configured to remotely execute the first application such that said lift control module can wirelessly provide instructions, via said communications link, to said lift control system of the vehicle lift to control the actuator of the vehicle lift.

2. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein the lift control module is selected from one of the following:

a tablet, a laptop computer, or a smartphone.

3. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a touchscreen of said lift control module.

4. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein the lift control module is configured to be removably attached to said vehicle lift.

5. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein the advanced operating platform provides for said first and second applications to be executed simultaneously.

6. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein the advanced operating platform manages hardware components of the lift control module, with such hardware components selected from one or more of the following:

the at least one control module processor, the user interface, memory elements, communication components, and a display device.

7. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein the advanced operating platform provides built in codecs for executing audio and video data by the lift control module.

8. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein library program codes of the electronic libraries are predefined.

9. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein library program codes of the electronic libraries are configured to be modified by the user.

10. The vehicle lift system of claim 1, wherein the lift control system includes a camera located on the vehicle lift for obtaining image data, and wherein the lift control system is operable to transmit the obtained image data to the lift control module.

11. The vehicle lift system of claim 10, wherein the lift control module is configured to display the obtained image data to facilitate correct positioning of the vehicle lift relative to the vehicle to be lifted.

12. A lift control module for providing instructions to a vehicle lift, said lift control module comprising:

a user interface for receiving user instructions from a user;

at least one control module processor;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium with an advanced operating platform stored thereon, wherein said computer readable medium further includes—

a first application operable to be executed by said advanced operating platform, wherein said first application directs said at least one control module processor to provide instructions to said vehicle lift to control the vehicle lift based on the user instructions,

a second application operable to be executed by said advanced operating platform, wherein said second application directs said at least one control module processor to perform certain steps, with such certain steps not directed to controlling the vehicle lift; and

wherein said advanced operating platform is operable to execute said first application and said second application simultaneously,

wherein said lift control module is configured to operate remotely from the vehicle lift, wherein said lift control module is configured to remotely execute the first application such that said lift control module can wirelessly provide instructions to the vehicle lift to control the vehicle lift.

13. The lift control module of claim 12, wherein said second application provides access to one or more of the following:

user'"'"'s manuals, instructional videos, and Internet websites.

14. The lift control module of claim 12, wherein the lift control module is selected from one of the following:

a tablet, a laptop computer, or a smartphone.

15. The lift control module of claim 12, wherein said second application is configured to receive lift data from the vehicle lift, wherein the lift data comprises vehicle lift diagnostic information.

16. The lift control module of claim 12, wherein said lift control module is configured to lock the user out of one or more of said first application and said second application until the user provides an identification authentication via said user interface.

17. The lift control module of claim 16, wherein the authentication information is selected from one or more of the following:

a username, a password, and biometric information.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an advanced operating platform stored thereon for remotely controlling a vehicle lift, said advance operating platform operable to instruct a processor of a remote lift control module to perform the following steps:

generate a user interface displayable on a display device of the remote lift control module;

receive information, via the user interface, indicative of a first user instruction for the remote lift control module to remotely perform a first function, wherein the first function comprises controlling an actuator associated with the vehicle lift;

wirelessly provide instructions from the remote lift control module to the vehicle lift to perform the first function of controlling the actuator associated with the vehicle lift in response to the first user instruction;

receive information, via the user interface, indicative of a second user instruction to perform a second function, wherein the second function is not directed to controlling the actuator associated with the vehicle lift; and

perform the second function in response to the second user instruction;

wherein the first function and the second function are performed simultaneously.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the first user instruction comprises an instruction to raise the actuator of the vehicle lift to a predetermined raised position.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the remote lift control module further includes a microphone, and wherein the remote lift control module is configured to receive information indicative of one of the first user instruction and the second user instruction, via the microphone.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the second function comprises an instruction to connect the remote lift control module to an electronic resource via a communication network.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the electronic resource provides information displayable on the graphic display, wherein the information includes vehicle lift operating instructions.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the second function is configured to receive lift data from the vehicle lift.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the lift data is selected from one or more of the following:

energy usage, battery voltage, lift height, lift velocity, and lifting frequencies.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the second function is configured to lock-out the vehicle lift based on the second user instruction.

26. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the vehicle lift remains locked out until the user provides a third user instruction, and wherein the third user instruction comprises a username and password.

27. A lift control module for providing instructions to a vehicle lift, with the vehicle lift and the lift control module being powered by a battery, said lift control module including:

a graphic display for displaying information to a user;

a communications network for communicating with the vehicle lift;

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with a computer program stored thereon, wherein the computer program instructs at least one of the processors to perform the following steps—

determine an initial voltage level of the battery,

if the voltage level of the battery is below an operational voltage, provide a signal to deactivate the lift control module,

if the voltage level of the battery is above the operational voltage, provide a signal for the lift control module to enter a light sleep mode, wherein in the light sleep mode, the graphic display of the lift control module does not consume electrical power from the battery,

wherein, while in the light sleep mode, the computer program instructs at least one of the processors to periodically determine a subsequent voltage level of the battery,

wherein after the subsequent voltage is determined, if the subsequent voltage level of the battery is below the operational voltage, the computer program instructs at least one of the processors to provide a signal to deactivate the lift control module, and if the voltage level of the battery is above the operational voltage, the computer program instructs at least one of the processors to provide a signal for the lift control module to remain in the light sleep mode.

28. The lift control module of claim 27, wherein said operational voltage is about 12 Volts.

29. The lift control module of claim 27, wherein the computer program instructs at least one of the processors to perform the following additional steps—

while in the light sleep mode for a given time period, provide a signal for the lift control module to enter a deep sleep mode, wherein in the deep sleep mode, the user interface, the communications network, and at least a portion of at least one of the processors do not consume electrical power from the battery,

wherein, while in the deep sleep mode, the voltage level of the battery is periodically determined,

wherein after the voltage is determined while in the deep sleep mode, if the voltage level of the battery is below the operational voltage, provide a signal to deactivate the lift control module, and if the voltage level of the battery is above the operational voltage, provide a signal for the lift control module to remain in the deep sleep mode.