Security system of construction macnine

• US 20040004540A1
• Filed: 03/25/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HITACHI Construction Machinery (Malaysia) Sdn.Bhd.(Singapore) (Hitachi Construction Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: HITACHI Construction Machinery (Malaysia) Sdn.Bhd.(Singapore) (Hitachi Construction Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shimamura, Tadatoshi, Watanabe, Hiroshi, Shibata, Koichi, Sugiyama, Genroku, Shibamori, Kazuhiro, Komatsu, Hideki, Adachi, Hiroyuki, Hirata, Toichi, Kondo, Itsuo, Nagashima, Yuji, Kimura, Toshinori
• Granted Patent: US 7,002,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/426.18
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/308 Industrial vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/104 characterised by the type of theft warning signal, e.g. visual or audible signals with special characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/24 using electronic identifiers containing a code not memorised by the user
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2054 Fleet management
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/24 Safety devices , e.g. for preventing overload E02F9/226 takes precedence

Abstract

A security system of a construction machine of the present invention has a construction machine, a base station and a communication device. The construction machine comprises a data sending and receiving portion for sending first information, a storage portion for storing received information, and a control portion for controlling an operation of the construction machine. The base station receives the first information from the data sending and receiving portion of the construction machine and sends second information to the construction machine and manages the construction machine. It is configured so that the communication device is connected to the base station through a communication network and can send third information to the construction machine through the base station.

Claims

1. A security system of a construction machine, comprising:

a construction machine comprising a data sending and receiving portion for sending first information, a storage portion for storing received information, and a control portion for controlling an operation of the construction machine,

a base station for receiving the first information from the data sending and receiving portion of the construction machine and sending second information to the construction machine and managing the construction machine, and

a communication device which is connected to the base station through a communication network and can send third information to the construction machine through the base station.

2. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first information relates to operating information about the construction machine, and the communication device requests acquisition of the first information from the base station.

3. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the communication device comprises one or plural fixed type and portable type communication devices.

4. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the communication network between the base station and the communication device is the Internet.

5. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the fixed type communication device is a terminal including a personal computer capable of being connected to the communication network, and the portable type communication device includes a portable phone.

6. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first information is information about theft of the construction machine.

7. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the first information is sent from the base station to the communication device by electronic mail.

8. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the storage portion stores an operable operating area, and the control portion decides that the construction machine has been stolen when it is detected that the construction machine moves beyond the operating area.

9. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the second information includes information about the operating area and is stored in the storage portion as a new operating area when the construction machine receives the information about the operating area.

10. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the communication device sends the third information to the base station and thereby the base station sends the second information to the construction machine.

11. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the construction machine sends an answer back signal indicating the completion of setting of the operating area to the base station when the operating area is set.

12. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first information includes information about failure/accident of the construction machine.

13. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first information includes information as to whether the construction machine is operating or stopping at present and information about cumulative operating time;

the communication device requests the base station to acquire the first information from the construction machine; and

the base station sends the second information so as to acquire the first information from the construction machine at a point in time of receiving the third information from the communication device.

14. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that information about an operation of the construction machine is regularly sent from the construction machine to the base station as operating history information, and the operating information about the construction machine is acquired by the communication device through the Internet.

15. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second information sent from the base station relates to an operable time zone or an operable period of the construction machine;

the storage portion of the construction machine stores the operable time zone or the operable period of the construction machine based on the second information; and

the control portion of the construction machine prohibits an operation of the construction machine beyond the operable time zone or the operable period stored.

16. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the third information sent from the communication device relates to the operable time zone or the operable period in the base station, and the base station sends the second information to the construction machine based on the third information received from the communication device.

17. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the operation includes at least travel.

18. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the construction machine comprises a position detecting portion for detecting a position of said construction machine;

and when a predetermined operation is performed with respect to the construction machine, the control portion reads the operating area stored in the storage portion and also inputs the present position information of the construction machine from the position detecting portion and compares the operating area with the position information of the construction machine.

19. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that in the case of deciding that the construction machine is beyond the operating area, the control portion outputs a signal for prohibiting an operation of the construction machine.

20. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that in the case of deciding that the construction machine is beyond the operating area, the control portion sends the decision result to the base station side.

21. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the communication device is a portable type communication terminal.

22. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that the portable type communication terminal is a portable phone.

23. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the base station provides map information, and the base station or the communication device reads the map information, and the operating area is set based on this read map information.

24. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 23, characterized in that the map information is divided into plural sections, and the base station or the communication device selects and sets an operating area from among the divided sections.

25. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that plural areas can be set as the operable area.

26. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the predetermined operation is a starting operation of a prime mover provided in the construction machine.

27. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the construction machine comprises a position detecting portion for detecting a position of the construction machine;

and when a state in which a signal according to information from the outside cannot be received by the control portion of the construction machine occurs and the duration of the signal non-receivable state exceeds reference time, the control portion prohibits engine starting of the construction machine or breaks an oil hydraulic system.

28. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 27, characterized in that when a state in which a signal according to a position by the position detecting portion cannot be received occurs and the duration of the signal non-receivable state exceeds reference time, engine starting of the construction machine is prohibited or an oil hydraulic system is broken.

29. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 27, characterized in that when a state in which the control portion cannot receive a signal according to information from the center server occurs and the duration of the signal non-receivable state exceeds reference time, engine starting of the construction machine is prohibited or an oil hydraulic system is shut off.

30. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the construction machine comprises a disconnection detection portion comprising a disconnection detection wiring, and a concentration cable formed by bundling antenna wiring of the position detecting portion, antenna wiring of the sending and receiving portion and the disconnection detection wiring;

and when the disconnection detection wiring is cut at the time of cutting of the concentration cable, the control portion prohibits engine starting of the construction machine or breaks an oil hydraulic system according to a disconnection detection signal sent from the disconnection detection portion.

31. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 27, characterized in that the engine starting is prohibited by breaking a current-carrying system or a fuel supply system of the construction machine.

32. A security system of a construction machine as claimed in claim 30, characterized in that the engine starting is prohibited by breaking a current-carrying system or a fuel supply system of the construction machine.