Electrical System for Riding Lawn Care Vehicle

• US 20150007541A1
• Filed: 12/28/2012
• Published: 01/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Original Assignee: Husqvarna AB (HUSQVARNA)
• Inventors: Drew, Bernard, Albinger, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 9,265,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/10.2A
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 2101/00 Lawn-mowers
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/001 Accessories not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/005 Mulching means
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/006 Control or measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/008 for automated or remotely controlled operation
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/64 mounted on a vehicle, e.g. a tractor, or drawn by an animal or a vehicle A01D34/695 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/66 with two or more cutters
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/74 Cutting-height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/78 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 69/02 electric

Abstract

A riding lawn mower is provided with an electrical system. The electrical system includes a control module, transceiver modules, and a wiring system. The control module allows for programmably controlling electrical operations of the riding lawn mower. The transceiver modules are operably connected with respective devices of the riding lawn mower so as to communicate data between the respective devices and the control module. The wiring system comprising wires that electrically connect the transceiver modules with the control module/The wiring system includes a power wire that provide electrical power to the transceiver modules from the battery; and a data bus comprising a data wire that transmits data between the control module and the transceiver modules.

Claims

1. A riding lawn mower comprising:

a frame;

a cutting deck operably attached to the frame and comprising one or more cutting blades;

an operator station operably attached to the frame and configured to support an operator during operation of the riding lawn mower;

wheels operably attached to the frame;

steering controls for directing at least one of the wheels;

a battery;

an axle configured to turn at least one of the wheels;

one or more engines or motors operably attached to the frame and configured to provide power to rotate the axle and the one or more cutting blades;

a control module for programmably controlling electrical operations of the riding lawn mower;

a plurality of transceiver modules separate from the control module, the transceiver modules being operably connected between the control module and respective devices of the riding lawn mower so as to communicate data between the respective devices and the control module; and

a wiring system comprising wires that electrically connect the transceiver modules with the control module, wherein the wiring system comprises;

a data bus comprising a data wire that transmits data and power between the control module and at least one of the transceiver modules, the data wire being configured to be attached to the frame of the riding lawn mower,

wherein the transceiver modules are connected to the data wire in parallel.

2. The riding lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the wiring system comprises:

a power wire that provides electrical power from the battery to at least one of the transceiver modules.

3. The riding lawn mower of claim 1, wherein each transceiver module comprises a switch and a transceiver configured to receive a request from the control module and to communicate data regarding status of the switch back to the control module.

4. The riding lawn mower of claim 1, wherein each transceiver is physically separate from the control module so that at least one transceiver is remote from the control module.

5. The riding lawn mower of claim 1, wherein the control module is programmable so as to send requests to the transceiver modules and to perform predetermined functions based on responses to the requests.

6. The riding lawn mower of claim 5, wherein the requests comprise requests for status information of devices attached with the transceiver modules.

7. The riding lawn mower of claim 6,

wherein each transceiver module comprises a unique identifier,

wherein each request comprises instructions and a request identifier which matches the unique identifier of one of the transceiver modules, and

wherein in response to the request identifier matching the unique identifier of a transceiver module, the transceiver module executes the instructions in the request.

8. The riding lawn mower of claim 7, wherein the instructions comprise instructions to obtain status information of a device associated with the transceiver module.

9. The riding lawn mower of claim 1, wherein at least one of the transceiver modules comprises a sensor to detect a predetermined trigger.

10. The riding lawn mower of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communications module that is configured to wirelessly communicate information to a mobile communications device.

11. The riding lawn mower of claim 10, wherein the information comprises diagnostic information specific to operational parts of the riding lawn mower.

12. The riding lawn mower of claim 10, wherein wirelessly communicating the information occurs over a short range wireless communication network between the wireless communications module of the riding lawn mower and the mobile communications device.

13. The riding lawn mower of claim 10, wherein the wireless communications module is configured to receive an instruction from the mobile communications device to control one or more operational parts of the riding lawn mower.

14. The riding lawn mower of claim 13, wherein the one or more operational parts comprise the engine or head lights.

15. A riding lawn care vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a cutting deck operably attached to an underside portion of the frame;

an operator seat operably attached to the frame;

wheels operably attached to the frame;

steering controls for directing at least one of the wheels;

a control module for controlling electrical operations of the riding lawn care vehicle;

at least one transceiver module being operably connected with a device of the riding lawn care vehicle so as to communicate data to and from the device to the control module, the at least one transceiver module comprising;

memory comprising a transceiver identifier;

a transceiver configured to receive a request from the control module, the request comprising a request identifier and an instruction; and

a processor configured to;

receive the request identifier from the transceiver;

retrieve, from the memory, the transceiver identifier of the transceiver module;

compare the request identifier of the request with the transceiver identifier of the transceiver module to determine if the transceiver identifier and the request identifier match; and

in response to the transceiver identifier and the request identifier matching, execute the instruction.

16. The riding lawn care vehicle of claim 15, wherein the control module is programmable so as to send the request to the at least one transceiver module and to perform predetermined functions based on a response to the request.

17. The riding lawn care vehicle of claim 15, wherein the control module transmits the request wirelessly from the control module to the at least one transceiver module.

18. The riding lawn care vehicle of claim 15, wherein the at least one transceiver module comprises a plurality of transceiver modules connected in parallel to a wiring system.

19. The riding lawn care vehicle of claim 18, wherein the wiring system comprises wires that electrically connect the transceiver modules with the control module, wherein the wiring system comprises:

a power wire that provides electrical power to the transceiver modules; and

a data bus comprising a data wire that transmits data to and from the control module, and

wherein the transceiver modules are connected to the power wire in parallel and are also connected to the data bus in parallel.

20. A riding lawn care vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a cutting deck operably attached to an underside portion of the frame;

wheels operably attached to the frame;

steering controls for directing at least one of the wheels;

a wiring system;

a control module connected to the wiring system and controlling electrical operations of the riding lawn care vehicle;

a first transceiver module connected to the wiring system and comprising a first transceiver to communicate with the control module, the first transceiver being attached to a first device of the riding lawn care vehicle;

a second transceiver module connected to the wiring system and comprising a second transceiver to communicate with the control module, the second transceiver being attached to a second device of the riding lawn care vehicle,

wherein the first and second transceiver modules are connected with the control module via the wiring system, and

wherein the control module is programmed to send instructions to the first and second transceiver modules and to perform operations based on a response to the instructions.

21-23. -23. (canceled)