Processing device with field-replaceable user interface for industrial vehicle

• US 10,078,996 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2016
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Castaneda, Anthony T., Hillman, Gregg E., Wellman, Timothy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu, William
• Application Number:
  US15/211,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20170018253A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1654 the display being detachable, e.g. for remote use
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/182 with special features, e.g. for use in industrial environments; grounding or shielding against radio frequency interference [RFI] or electromagnetical interference [EMI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4282 on a serial bus, e.g. I2C bus, SPI bus on daisy chain buses G06F13/4247
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]

Abstract

A processing device for an industrial vehicle includes a field-replaceable user interface. The processing device includes a service module and a main module. The service module, which is field replaceable, includes a display having a touch screen, at least one user input control and a service module circuit board. The main module comprises a main module circuit board. The service module circuit board and the main module circuit board include complementary rigid couplers that connect independently of a cable there between when the service module is mated with the main module.

Claims

1. A processing device for an industrial vehicle, comprising:

a main module having;

a main module circuit board comprising;

main module circuitry including a processor that is communicably coupled to memory and input/output circuitry, the processor configured to read instructions from the memory to execute vehicle-specific processing; and

a rigid main-side coupler electrically connected to the main module circuitry; and

a service module that defines a graphical user interface having;

a display;

a control area having a user input control; and

a service module circuit board comprising;

interface circuitry communicably coupled to the display and the user input control; and

a rigid service-side coupler electrically connected to the interface circuitry;

wherein;

the rigid service-side coupler aligns with and electrically connects to the rigid main-side coupler when the service module is attached to the main module;

the service module connects to the main module by a temporary securement facilitating field replacement of the service module to the main module;

a first anti-vibration post extends a gap between the main module circuit board and the service module circuit board when the main module is mated with the service module; and

a first fastener forms a clamp in cooperation with the first anti-vibration post to secure the main module circuit board relative to the service module circuit board.

2. The processing device of claim 1, wherein the rigid main-side coupler electrically connects to the rigid service-side coupler independently of a cable between the rigid main-side coupler and the rigid service-side coupler.

3. The processing device of claim 1, wherein the rigid service-side coupler directly electrically connects to the rigid main-side coupler.

4. The processing device of claim 1, wherein the rigid service-side coupler electrically connects to the rigid main-side coupler to create a plurality of electrical pathways between the main module circuitry and the interface circuitry.

5. The processing device of claim 1, wherein:

the first anti-vibration post rigidly connects between the main module circuit board and the service module circuit board so as to hold the main module circuit board spaced from, and parallel to the service module circuit board.

6. The processing device of claim 1 further comprising:

a second anti-vibration post sized so as to also extend the gap between the main module circuit board and the service module circuit board when the main module is mated with the service module.

7. The processing device of claim 6, wherein the first anti-vibration post and the second anti-vibration post flank the rigid main-side coupler mated to the rigid service-side coupler.

8. The processing device of claim 1, wherein the first anti-vibration post extends from the service module circuit board.

9. The processing device of claim 1, wherein the first anti-vibration post extends from the main module circuit board.

10. The processing device of claim 1, wherein the first anti-vibration post is integral with the service module circuit board.

11. The processing device of claim 1, wherein the first anti-vibration post is sized to be generally equal to a gap between the main module circuit board and the service module circuit board when the rigid service-side coupler aligns with and electrically connects to the rigid main-side coupler.

12. The processing device of claim 1, wherein the main module further comprises a second anti-vibration post sized to be generally equal to the size of the first anti-vibration post.

13. The processing device of claim 1 further comprising:

a first boss upon which a bottom of the main module circuit board rests, aligned to a first side of the rigid main-side coupler;

wherein the first anti-vibration post extends from a major surface of the service module circuit board spaced from a first side of the rigid service-side coupler;

and wherein;

when the service module is attached to the main module;

the rigid service-side coupler aligns with and electrically connects to the rigid main-side coupler;

the first boss aligns with the first anti-vibration post; and

a first screw extends through the first boss, passes through a first hole in the main module circuit board, and securely fastens to the first anti-vibration post.

14. The processing device of claim 1 further comprising:

a first boss upon which a bottom of the main module circuit board rests, aligned to a first side of the rigid main-side coupler, wherein the first anti-vibration post extends from a major surface of the service module circuit board spaced from a first side of the rigid service-side coupler;

a second boss upon which the bottom of the main module circuit board rests, aligned to a second side of the rigid main-side coupler; and

a second anti-vibration post extending from a major surface of the service module circuit board spaced from a second side of the rigid service-side coupler;

wherein;

when the service module is attached to the main module;

the rigid service-side coupler aligns with and electrically connects to the rigid main-side coupler;

the first boss aligns with the first anti-vibration post;

a first screw extends through the first boss, passes through a first hole in the main module circuit board, and securely fastens to the first anti-vibration post;

the second boss aligns with the second anti-vibration post;

a second screw extends through the second boss, passes through a second hole in the main module circuit board, and securely fastens to the second anti-vibration post.

15. The processing device of claim 1, wherein the mating of the service-side coupler to the main-side coupler creates a first high-speed connection, and a connection supporting communication of information to the display.

16. The processing device of claim 15, wherein the mating of the service-side coupler to the main-side coupler also creates a data throughput to communicate user interaction with the user control to the main module circuitry.

17. The processing device of claim 1, wherein the control area comprises a plurality of user input controls implemented as buttons.

18. The processing device of claim 1, wherein:

the main module is housed in a first shell such that the rigid main-side coupler is exposed; and

the service module is housed in a second shell such that the rigid service-side coupler is exposed; and

wherein;

when the main module couples to the service module, the rigid main-side coupler aligns with and electrically connects to the service-side coupler.

19. The processing device of claim 18, wherein:

when the main module couples to the service module, the first shell mates with the second shell to form a sealed enclosure.

20. The processing device of claim 1, wherein the memory of the main module circuitry stores industrial vehicle identification information and a history of collected vehicle data, where the vehicle data is received via the input/output circuitry.

21. The processing device of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a touch screen display.