Input control method of touch panel monitor for working machine

• US 10,689,829 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2015
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Sarl (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Sarl (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yamada, Hideo
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bogale, Amen Woldesenbet
• Application Number:
  US15/128,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20170107693A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/145 Instrument input by combination of touch screen and hardware input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/61 Specially adapted for utility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/00 Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator fittings acting on two or more sub-units B60W30/14; speedometers G01P; systems or devices for controlling speed in general G05D13/00 ; in traffic anti-collision system for road vehicles G08G1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/32 working downwardly and towards the machine, e.g. with backhoes
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/16 Cabins, platforms, or the like, for drivers for motor vehicles in general B62D33/06, for cranes B66C13/54
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2004 Control mechanisms, e.g. control levers control levers per se G05G
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/226 Safety arrangements, e.g. hydraulic driven fans, preventing cavitation, leakage, overheating
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2292 Systems with two or more pumps
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2296 Systems with a variable displacement pump
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 15/26 Locking mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/08 Servomotor systems incorporating electrically operated control means F15B21/02, F15B21/065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 2211/6303 using input signals

Abstract

Method for controlling input to a touch panel includes a monitor screen display displaying a rear camera image screen, a measurement screen at the touch panel, and an input operation screen display in which an input operation can be performed. When the machine is operable, a monitor screen can be displayed in an input lock state in which the input operation is inhibited by turning off a hydraulic lock switch and releasing a hydraulic lock state. A specific input lock releasing operation on the touch panel releases the lock and the monitor screen display is switched to the input operation screen display.

Claims

1. An input control method of a touch panel monitor for a working machine capable of switching, on a touch panel mounted on the working machine, between a monitor screen display and an input operation screen display where a monitor input operation is enabled, wherein

the working machine includes:

a working unit that operates with operating hydraulic pressure,

a hydraulic actuator that actuates respective units of the machine; and

a hydraulic lock switch that switches between a hydraulic lock state where a manual operation of a hydraulic circuit that operates the hydraulic actuator is disabled, and a hydraulic unlock state where the manual operation of the hydraulic circuit is enabled, and

when the working machine is operable, control is performed such that a monitor input lock state where the monitor input operation is disabled while enabling the monitor screen display is created,

control is performed such that the monitor input lock state is released to switch the input operation screen display from disabled to enabled by entering a specific monitor input unlock operation on the touch panel so that the display is switched to the input operation screen display, and

control is performed such that the touch panel enters into the monitor input lock state when the hydraulic lock state is switched to the hydraulic unlock state by the hydraulic lock switch.

2. The input control method of a touch panel monitor for a working machine according to claim 1, wherein

control is performed such that the touch panel automatically enters into the monitor input lock state when there is no monitor input operation on the touch panel for a predetermined period even in a state where the monitor input, operation is enabled after the monitor input lock state is released.

3. The input control method of a touch panel monitor for a working machine according to claim 1, wherein

when an operation screen that influences the operation of the working machine is displayed on the touch panel, control is performed such that a setting change screen is displayed by simultaneously touching a plurality of positions on the touch panel.