METHOD FOR DISPLAYING PERFORMANCE INFORMATION FOR ONE OR MORE VEHICLES

• US 20080297512A1
• Filed: 05/30/2007
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Sanchez, Julian
• Granted Patent: US 8,345,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/12 in graphical form

Abstract

A method and system for displaying information related to a work vehicle comprises sensors for detecting levels associated with corresponding performance variables. An assigner assigns points in an image or graphical data representation associated with corresponding detected levels. A graphical module interconnects the points in the image to form a performance polygon indicative of a collective level of performance of the performance variables. A display is arranged for displaying the performance polygon to a user.

Claims

1. A method for displaying performance information related to a work vehicle, the method comprising:

establishing performance variables associated with the work vehicle;

detecting corresponding levels of the established performance variables;

assigning points in image data or a graphical data representation associated with the detected corresponding levels;

interconnecting the points in the image to form a performance polygon indicative of a collective level of performance of the performance variables; and

displaying the performance polygon to a user.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the performance variables comprise three or more of the following:

revolutions per unit time of a shaft, revolutions per unit time of a motor shaft, revolutions per unit time of a crankshaft, revolutions per unit time of a drive shaft, ground speed of the work vehicle, engine speed of the work vehicle, an operational parameter of an implement, a rotational speed of a shaft of an implement, a torque on the shaft of the implement, a load on the implement or a drive motor or engine associated therewith, and vacuum level of an implement.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising:

establishing a reference polygon; and

generating an alarm if a shape of the performance polygon deviates from that of the reference polygon.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the performance variables comprise three performance variables and wherein the performance polygon has a generally triangular shape.

5. The method according to claim 4 further comprising:

establishing a reference triangle;

generating an alarm if the angles of the performance triangle deviate materially from those of the reference triangle.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the performance variables comprise four performance variables and wherein the performance polygon has a generally rectangular shape, a generally trapezoidal shape, or a trapezium-like shape.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the assigning comprises assigning a pixel position and pixel state of each point corresponding to a detected level, each point plotted on an axis or grid within the image data.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the assigning further comprises:

plotting a detected level of a first performance variable as a first pixel or pixel cluster with an assigned pixel state along a first horizontal axis;

plotting a detected level of a second performance variable may be plotted as a second pixel or pixel cluster with an assigned pixel state along a first vertical axis; and

plotting a third performance variable may be plotted as a third pixel or pixel cluster with an assigned pixel state along a second vertical axis.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the interconnecting further comprises:

interconnecting the assigned points with linear segments of pixels of substantially equivalent pixels states to designated pixel states of the assigned points.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the interconnecting further comprises:

assigning the designated pixel states to an interior region of pixels bounded by the performance polygon or by the linear segments that form the performance polygon.

11. A system for displaying information related to a work vehicle, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensors for detecting levels associated with corresponding performance variables;

an assigner for assigning points in an image or graphical data representation associated with corresponding detected levels;

an graphical module for interconnecting the assigned points in the image to form a performance polygon indicative of a collective level of performance of the performance variables; and

a display displaying the performance polygon to a user.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the performance variables comprise three or more of the following:

revolutions per unit time of a shaft, revolutions per unit time of a motor shaft, revolutions per unit time of a crankshaft, revolutions per unit time of a drive shaft, ground speed of the work vehicle, engine speed of the work vehicle, an operational parameter of an implement, a rotational speed of a shaft of an implement, a torque on the shaft of the implement, a load on the implement or a drive motor or engine associated therewith, and vacuum level of an implement.

13. The system according to claim 11 further comprising:

a data storage device for storing a reference polygon; and

a detector for generating an alarm signal if a shape of the performance polygon deviates from that of the reference polygon.

14. The system according to claim 11 wherein the performance variables comprise three performance variables and wherein the performance polygon comprises a generally triangular shape.

15. The system according to claim 11 further comprising:

a data storage device for storing reference triangle;

a detector for generating an alarm signal if the angles of the reference triangle deviate materially from those of the reference triangle.

16. The system according to claim 11 wherein the performance variables comprise four performance variables and wherein the performance polygon comprises a generally rectangular shape, a generally trapezoidal shape, or trapezium-like shape.

17. The system according to claim 11 further comprising a wireless communications device for transmitting image data associated with the image to the display at a remote location.

18. A system for displaying information related to multiple vehicles, the system comprising:

a plurality of first sensors for detecting levels associated with corresponding performance variables of a first vehicle;

a first assigner for assigning points in an image associated with corresponding detected levels of the first vehicle;

a first graphical module for interconnecting the points in the image to form a first performance polygon indicative of a collective level of performance of the performance variables of the first vehicle;

a first wireless communications device for transmitting image data associated with the image of the first performance polygon;

a plurality of second sensors for detecting levels associated with corresponding performance variables of a second vehicle;

a second assigner for assigning points in an image associated with corresponding detected levels of the second vehicle;

a second graphical module for interconnecting the points in the image to form a second performance polygon indicative of a collective level of performance of the performance variables of the second vehicle;

a second wireless communications device for transmitting image data associated with the image of the second performance polygon;

a third wireless communications device for receiving the image data; and

a display displaying the received image data, including the first performance polygon and the second performance polygon, to a user.

19. The system according to claim 18 wherein the performance variables comprise one or more of the following:

revolutions per unit time of a shaft, revolutions per unit time of a motor shaft, revolutions per unit time of a crankshaft, revolutions per unit time of a drive shaft, ground speed of the work vehicle, engine speed of the work vehicle, an operational parameter of an implement, a rotational speed of a shaft of an implement, a torque on the shaft of the implement, a load on the implement or a drive motor or engine associated therewith, and vacuum level of an implement.

20. The system according to claim 18 further comprising:

a data storage device for storing a reference polygon; and

a detector for generating an alarm signal if a shape of at least one of the first performance polygon and the second performance polygon deviates from that of the reference polygon.

21. The system according to claim 18 wherein the performance variables comprise three performance variables and wherein each of the first performance polygon and the second performance polygon comprises a generally triangular shape.

22. The system according to claim 21 further comprising:

a data storage device for storing a reference triangle;

a detector for generating an alarm signal if the angles of the triangle shape deviate materially from those of the reference triangle.

23. The system according to claim 18 wherein the performance variables comprise four performance variables and wherein the polygon comprises a generally rectangular shape, a generally trapezoidal shape, and a trapezium-like shape.