VEHICLE FUNCTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20010016794A1
• Filed: 04/14/1999
• Published: 08/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: NEWENDORP, BRUCE CRAIG, FALCK, PETER LESLIE, GOODNIGHT, TRENT LYNN, LANG, STEPHEN PAUL, KITTLE, CARL EDWIN, YOUNGBLOOD, MICHAEL OWEN
• Granted Patent: US 6,292,729 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/00 Lifting or adjusting devices or arrangements for agricultural machines or implements lifting mechanisms for the cutter-bar of a mower A01D34/24; adjusting devices for the cutter-bar of a mower A01D34/28; constructional features of lifting devices per se B66F
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/1117 using a hitch position sensor
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/20 Drives; Control devices gearings in general F16H; controlling in general G05; electric multi-motor drives H02K, H02P
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23423 Record playback
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2663 Tractor

Abstract

A tractor includes various actuators or functions, such as a powershift transmission, a hitch and hitch control system, a PTO, a plurality of selective control valves, etc., all controlled by one or more control units in response to sensed parameters and operator manipulated control devices, such as switches, knobs and levers. A function management system includes a programmed control unit which has a learn/save mode which is operable while the vehicle is moving. During the learn/save mode the operator performs a sequence of manual manipulations of the operator control devices, and the control unit records and then stores information pertaining to the sequence of operations, together with information pertaining to the distances traveled by the tractor between operations. The control unit also has an execute or replay mode, operable in response to an operator command signal, wherein the control unit automatically performs the stored sequence of operations so that the sequence of operations is performed at the same distance intervals at which they were learned, regardless of the speed of the vehicle.

Claims

1. In a vehicle having a function which performs certain operations as the vehicle moves over terrain under the control of a control unit in response to manipulation of an operator control, a function management system comprising:

a learn mode implemented by the control unit, the learn mode being operable while the vehicle is moving, and wherein, in response to a manual sequence of manipulations of the operator control, the function performs a sequence of operations, and wherein the control unit stores information pertaining to the sequence of operations and stores information pertaining to distance intervals between said operations, with respect the movement of the vehicle during the performance of said sequence of operations; and

a replay mode implemented by the control unit, wherein the control unit automatically performs said sequence of operations and wherein the operations of said sequence are performed with distances intervals therebetween which are substantially the same as that which occurred during operation of the learn mode, regardless of the speed of the vehicle.

2. The function management system of

claim 1

, wherein:

the function management system is operable only when the vehicle is moving over terrain.

3. The function management system of

claim 1

, wherein:

the function management system is operable only when the vehicle is moving over terrain and a transmission of the vehicle is in a forward gear.

4. The function management system of

claim 1

, further comprising:

a manually operable sequence selection switch coupled to the control unit, the control unit replaying a selected one of a plurality of learned operational sequences depending upon the status of the sequence selection switch.

5. The function management system of

claim 1

, further comprising:

an operator actuatable switch connected to the control unit; and

the control unit responding to actuation of said switch by automatically performing said sequence of operations every time said switch is actuated.

6. The function management system of

claim 1

, wherein:

the control unit includes a display for displaying information pertaining to the stored sequence information.

7. The function management system of

claim 6

, wherein:

the control unit automatically displays stored sequence information when the function management system is turned on.

8. The function management system of

claim 1

, further comprising:

an operator actuatable learn/save switch connected to the control unit;

the control unit, in response to a first actuation of the learn/save switch, enabling a learn mode wherein the control unit records information pertaining to the manually performed sequence of operations; and

the control unit, in response to a second actuation of the learn/save switch after said sequence information is recorded, enabling a save mode wherein the control unit stores said information in permanent memory.

9. The function management system of

claim 8

, wherein:

the control unit erases a stored sequence from memory if the learn/save switch is actuated twice with no operations manually performed between said switch actuations.

10. The function management system of

claim 1

, further comprising:

an operator actuatable switch connected to the control unit; and

the control unit stopping storing sequence information in response to an actuation of said switch.

11. The function management system of

claim 10

, wherein:

the operator actuatable switch is operatively coupled to a clutch pedal of the vehicle.

12. The function management system of

claim 1

, further comprising:

an operator actuatable switch connected to the control unit; and

the control unit stopping automatic performance of a sequence in response to an actuation of said switch.

13. The function management system of

claim 12

, wherein:

the operator actuatable switch is operatively coupled to a clutch pedal of the vehicle.

14. The function management system of

claim 1

, further comprising:

an first operator actuatable switch connected to the control unit;

a second operator actuatable switch connected to the control unit; and

the control unit, in response to a first actuation of the first switch, enabling a learn mode wherein the control unit records information pertaining to the manually performed sequence of operations, the control unit, in response to a second actuation of the first switch after said sequence information is recorded, enabling a save mode wherein the control unit stores said information in permanent memory, and the control unit stopping automatic performance of a sequence in response to an actuation of the second switch.

15. The function management system of

claim 14

, wherein:

the second switch is operatively coupled to a clutch pedal of the vehicle.

16. In a vehicle having function which performs operations as the vehicle moves over terrain under the control of a control unit in response to manipulation of operator controls, a function management system comprising:

a learn mode implemented by the control unit, the a learn mode being operable while the vehicle is moving, and wherein, in response to a first manual sequence of manipulations of the operator controls, the functions perform a first sequence of operations, and wherein the control unit stores information pertaining to the first sequence of operations and stores information pertaining to distance intervals between said operations, with respect the movement of the vehicle during the performance of said first sequence of operations, and in response to a second manual sequence of manipulations of the operator controls, the functions perform a second sequence of operations, and wherein the control unit stores information pertaining to the second sequence of operations and stores information pertaining to distance intervals between said operations, with respect the movement of the vehicle during the performance of said second sequence of operations; and

a replay mode implemented by the control unit, wherein the control unit automatically performs a selected one of said sequences and wherein the operations of said sequence are performed with distances intervals therebetween which are substantially the same as that which occurred during operation of the learn mode, regardless of the speed of the vehicle.

17. The function management system of

claim 16

, wherein:

the function management system is operable only when the vehicle is moving over terrain and a transmission of the vehicle is in a forward gear.

18. The function management system of

claim 16

, further comprising:

a manually operable sequence selection switch coupled to the control unit, the control unit replaying a selected one of the operational sequences depending upon the status of the sequence selection switch.

19. The function management system of

claim 18

, wherein:

the control unit aborts execution of a learned sequence if the sequence selection switch is toggled a non-selected sequence while a selected sequence is being executed.

20. In a vehicle having a plurality of functions which performs certain operations as the vehicle moves over terrain under the control of a control unit in response to manipulation of a corresponding plurality of operator controls, a function management system comprising:

a learn mode implemented by the control unit, the learn mode being operable while the vehicle is moving, and wherein, in response to a manual sequence of manipulations of the operator controls, the functions perform a sequence of operations, and wherein the control unit stores information pertaining to the sequence of operations and stores information pertaining to distance intervals between said operations, with respect the movement of the vehicle during the performance of said sequence of operations; and

a replay mode implemented by the control unit, wherein the control unit automatically performs said stored sequence of operations and wherein said sequence of operations are performed with distances intervals therebetween which are substantially the same as that which occurred during operation of the learn mode, regardless of the speed of the vehicle.

21. The function management system of

claim 20

, wherein:

the function management system is operable only when the vehicle is moving over terrain.

22. The function management system of

claim 20

, wherein:

the function management system is operable only when the vehicle is moving over terrain and a transmission of the vehicle is in a forward gear.

23. The function management system of

claim 20

, further comprising:

a manually operable sequence selection switch coupled to the control unit, the control unit replaying a selected one of a plurality of learned operational sequences depending upon the status of the sequence selection switch.