System for changing function of work machine and base station

• US 20030144750A1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Hiroshi, Shibata, Koichi, Sugiyama, Genroku, Komatsu, Hideki, Adachi, Hiroyuki, Hirata, Toichi
• Granted Patent: US 6,898,502 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/435 for dipper-arms, backhoes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23297 Remote load of program with cellular, wireless, satellite connection
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2637 Vehicle, car, auto, wheelchair

Abstract

This system is comprised of a hydraulic excavator 1 and a base station 16. The hydraulic excavator 1 is deployed at a construction site and is provided with a rewritable memory 402 storing control programs and/or data required for control of the machinery, a CPU 401 for reading out the control programs etc. from the memory 402 and executing them, and a communications device 42. The base station 16 is provided with a communications device 16a, a management server 17 for identifying the serial number of the hydraulic excavator and transferring information with the control unit, and a database 18 managed by the management server 17 and storing control programs etc. corresponding to the hydraulic excavator such as control programs for each model of the hydraulic excavator. When changing or switching the attachment etc. at the hydraulic excavator etc., information is transferred with the management server of the base station and the control programs or data stored in the storage unit are rewritten to enable work suited to the changed part.

Claims

1. A function changing system of machinery characterized by being comprised of:

machinery deployed at a construction site and provided with a rewritable storage unit storing control programs and/or data required for control of work operation, a control unit for reading out at least control programs from the storage unit to execute the work operation, and a first communications device, and

a base station provided with a second communications device, a center server for identifying a serial number of said machinery and transferring information with said control unit, and a database managed by that center server and storing basic control programs and data for each model of machinery and control programs and data for operation of said machinery;

wherein

said control unit of said machinery and said center server of said base station transfer information by said first and second communications devices and a communications line;

when part of said machinery is changed, the content of the change is given to said control unit and sent by said control unit to said center server of said base station;

when receiving said content of the change, said management server transmits control programs and/or data corresponding to said content of change to said control unit of said machinery; and

when receiving said control programs and/or data, said control unit rewrites the stored content of said storage unit by the received content.

2. A function changing system of machinery as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said database of said base station stores standard basic control programs and data for each model.

3. A function changing system of machinery as set forth in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a large number of said machinery is deployed at different sites and said database of said base station stores standard control programs and data for each serial number of all of serial numbers of said machinery.

4. A function changing system of machinery as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that

when a nonstandard attachment is mounted for a partial change of said machinery, dimensional data of said attachment is sent from said machinery side to said center server side;

said center service is provided with a processor unit and, when receiving said dimensional data, uses the dimensional data to prepare parameter data at said processor unit and transmits that parameter data to said control unit of said machinery; and

when receiving said parameter data, said control unit rewrites the stored content of said storage unit with the received content.

5. A function changing system of machinery as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that change of part of said machinery is a change of control programs stored in said storage unit and is performed when turning off the power of said machinery.

6. A function changing system of machinery as set forth in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a key pad is used when giving the content of change to said control unit of said machinery.

7. A function changing system of machinery characterized by being comprised of:

machinery deployed at a construction site and provided with a rewritable storage unit storing control programs and/or data required for control of work operation, a control unit for reading out at least control programs from the storage unit to execute the work operation, and a first communications device and

a base station provided with a second communications device, a center server for identifying a serial number of said machinery and transferring information with said control unit, and a database managed by that center server and storing basic control programs and data each model of machinery and control programs and data for operation of said machinery;

wherein

said control unit of said machinery and said center server of said base station are configured to transfer information with each other based on two-way communication through said first and second communications devices and a communications line;

when it is necessary to change control programs and/or data stored in said storage unit of said machinery, said center server transmits the control programs and/or data to be changed to said control unit of said machinery; and

when receiving said control programs and/or data, said control unit rewrites the stored content of said storage unit by the received content.

9. A function changing system of machinery as set forth in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said stored content is rewritten conditional on receiving a confirmation signal.

8. A function changing system of machinery characterized by being comprised of:

machinery deployed at a construction site and provided with a rewritable storage unit storing control programs and/or data required for control of work operation, a control unit for calling up at least control programs from the storage unit to execute the work operation, and a first communications device, and

a base station provided with a second communications device, a center server for identifying a serial number of the machinery and transferring information with the control unit, and a database managed by that center server and storing basic control programs and data for each model of machinery and control programs and data for operation of the machinery, wherein

said center server of said base station transmits information to said control unit of said machinery through said first and second communications devices and a communications line;

when it is necessary to change control programs and/or data stored in said storage unit of said machinery, said center server transmits the control programs and/or data to be changed to said control unit of said machinery; and

when receiving said control programs and/or data, said control unit rewrites the stored content of said storage unit by the received content.

10. A base station for managing individually or all together the work capabilities of a large number of machinery deployed at different construction sites, said base station characterized by being provided with:

a communications device for communicating with the communications device provided at each of the large number of machinery;

a center server for identifying the serial number of each of said large number of machinery and transferring information with the control unit of said machinery through said communications device; and

a database managed by said center server and storing basic control programs and data for each model of said machinery and control programs and data for operating said machinery.

11. A base station as set forth in claim 10, characterized in that said database stores standard basic control programs and data for each model.

12. A base station as set forth in claim 10, characterized in that said database stores the standard control programs and data for each serial number for all serial numbers of said large number of machinery.

13. A base station as set forth in claim 10, characterized in that said center server receives transmission of a signal relating to a partial change from machinery, prepares parameter data suitable for the changed portion, and transmits that parameter data to said control unit of said machinery.

14. A base station as set forth in claim 10, characterized in that for an upgrade of the control programs or change of the parameters relating to the work capability of machinery, the control programs and data required for said control unit of said machinery are sent from said center server by a one-way mode.

15. A base station as set forth in claim 14, characterized in that the control programs and data relating to the partial change of said machinery are sent from said center server when the power of said machinery is turned off.

16. A base station as set forth in claim 14, characterized in that said center server has a database for managing a set state of control programs for every serial number.