PNEUMATICALLY TELESCOPING MAST WITH DUAL MODE REMOTE CONTROL

• US 20080258931A1
• Filed: 04/17/2008
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: The Will-Burt Company
• Original Assignee: The Will-Burt Company
• Inventors: Christensen, Jerry Albert, Bohurjak, Michael Allen
• Application Number:
  US12/104,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20080258931A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.69
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/16 in which transmission is by pulses

Abstract

A dual mode handheld remote control for selectively operating and communicating with an associated mast arrangement in one of a wired or a wireless mode is provided. The remote control includes a housing and a controller disposed internally to the housing. The controller includes a wireless communication mode for wirelessly communicating with the mast arrangement and a wired communication mode for communicating with the mast arrangement via a wired connection. An input device is secured to the housing and is operatively connected to the controller. The input device is responsive to an associated command selected by an associated operator and relays the associated command to the controller for controlling the associated mast arrangement. A power source is provided for powering the remote control.

Claims

1. A dual mode handheld remote control for selectively operating and communicating with an associated mast arrangement in one of a wired or a wireless mode, the remote control comprising:

a housing;

a controller disposed internally to the housing, the controller including a wireless communication mode for wirelessly communicating with the mast arrangement and a wired communication mode for communicating with the mast arrangement via a wired connection;

an input device secured to the housing and operatively connected to the controller, the input device being responsive to an associated command selected by an associated operator and relaying the associated command to the controller for controlling the associated mast arrangement; and

a power source for powering the remote control.

2. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the controller includes one of a direct sequence spread spectrum encoder, a frequency hopping spread spectrum encoder, or an amplitude shift keying command encoder for encoding the associated command.

3. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the controller switches from the wired communication mode to the wireless communications mode upon the selective disengagement of the wired connection between the remote control and the mast arrangement.

4. The remote control of claim 1, wherein the power for the power source is derived substantially from at least one capacitor when the remote control is operating in the wireless communications mode.

5. The remote control of claim 1, further comprising a display operatively connected to the controller for displaying one or more of a selected command, a fault code, or a remaining power level.

6. An adjustable telescopic mast arrangement for supporting and controlling an associated mast accessory, the arrangement comprising:

a mast base including a mast assembly having a plurality of telescopic mast sections, the mast assembly being pivotally attached to the base and supporting the associated mast accessory, the mast assembly including a stowed position and an extended position;

a base controller operatively connected to the mast base for raising and lowering the mast assembly;

a mast accessory controller operatively connected to the associated mast accessory for controlling at least one function of the associated mast accessory; and

a dual mode handheld remote control for controlling the mast base and the mast accessory, the remote control receiving an associated command from an associated operator and transmitting the associated command to one of the base controller or the mast accessory controller in either of a wired communication mode or a wireless communication mode.

7. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the remote control further includes a controller, the controller having one of a direct sequence spread spectrum encoder, a frequency hopping spread spectrum encoder, or an amplitude shift keying encoder for encoding and transmitting the associated command.

8. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the remote control transmits the associated command via the wired mode when a communications cable is selectively engaged between the remote control and one of the base or mast accessory controller, and wherein the remote control transmits the associated encoded command via the wireless mode when the communications cable is selectively disengaged.

9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the remote control transmits the associated command in the wired mode over a RS-485 serial link.

10. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the remote control further includes a power source derived substantially from at least one capacitor when the remote control is operating in the wireless mode.

11. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the remote control further includes a display for displaying one or more of a selected command, a fault code, or a remaining power level.

12. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the base controller and the mast accessory controller communicate via a serial link.

13. The arrangement of claim 6, wherein the base controller includes a power down stow mode based upon a mast actuator motor current, the power down stow mode requiring a manual reset by the associated operator prior to reactivating the arrangement.

14. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the remote control, the base controller, and the mast accessory controller include unique MAC addresses.

15. The arrangement of claim 14, wherein the remote control and the base controller exchange MAC address information and negotiate parameters for establishing a wireless communication connection.

16. The arrangement of claim 6, further including a lookup light for illuminating a space associated with the arrangement and a lookup light malfunction sensor operably connected to the lookup light and at least one of the base or mast accessory controllers, wherein the base or mast accessory controller limits the motion of the arrangement when a lookup light malfunction is detected.

17. A method for controlling an adjustable telescopic mast arrangement using a dual mode handheld remote control, the arrangement capable of supporting and controlling an associated mast accessory, the method comprising:

powering and initiating a mast base, a mast base controller, and a mast accessory controller;

providing the dual mode handheld remote control having a controller, the controller including a wired communication mode and a wireless communication mode;

connecting the controller of the remote control to the base controller such that the controller of the remote control is in communication with the mast base controller in the wired mode and selectively operating at least one function of the mast arrangement via the remote control while in the wired communication mode;

negotiating at least one wireless communication parameter while in the wired communication mode for establishing a future wireless communication connection between the remote control and the base controller;

disconnecting the controller of the remote control from the base controller;

switching the controller of the remote control from the wired communication mode to the wireless communication mode; and

establishing wireless communication between the remote control and the base controller using the previously negotiated at least one wireless communication parameter and selectively operating at least one function of the mast arrangement via the remote control while in the wireless communication mode.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of negotiating at least one communication parameter includes transmitting a first MAC address of the base controller to the controller of the remote control and transmitting a second MAC address of the controller of the remote control to the base controller.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of switching the controller of the remote control from a wired communication mode to a wireless communication mode occurs automatically and substantially simultaneously when the remote control is disconnected from the base controller when in the wired communication mode.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of establishing wireless communication further includes encoding the wireless communication between the controller of the remote control and the base controller using one of a direct sequence spread spectrum encoder, a frequency hopping spread spectrum encoder, or an amplitude shift keying encoder.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of establishing wireless communication further includes transmitting one of a mast arrangement status, fault code, or mast position information and displaying the information on a display of the remote control.