ARRANGEMENT FOR THE CONTROL OF A DEVICE INTERFACE OF AN AGRICULTURAL WORK VEHICLE

• US 20150366124A1
• Filed: 06/16/2015
• Published: 12/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: KREMMER, MARTIN, REINARDS, MARCO
• Granted Patent: US 9,622,399 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 59/06 for machines mounted on tractors
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/1006 the hydraulic or pneumatic means structurally belonging to the tractor
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 76/00 Parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, not provided for in groups A01B51/00 - A01B75/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36159 Detachable or portable programming unit, display, pc, pda
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45017 Agriculture machine, tractor

Abstract

An arrangement for the control of a device interface of an agricultural work vehicle includes a control unit of the work vehicle, which is connected, in a controlling manner, with an external power actuator for the adjustment of the position of the device interface, and a portable computer with input and a processor which has a wireless communication connection with the control unit and on which software was downloaded, which makes possible control of the actuator by the input, via the processor and the control unit.

Claims

1. A system for the remote control of a device interface of an agricultural work vehicle, the system comprising:

a control unit of the work vehicle connected, in a controlling manner, with an external-power actuator for the adjustment of the position of the device interface, the control unit connected with a vehicle of the agricultural work vehicle; and

a portable computer with an input, a processor, a wireless communication unit for communication with the control unit, the portable computer configured to control of the external-power actuator based on the input and via the processor and the control unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is connected with a vehicle bus and communicates, via an interface, with a device bus, on which a bus of a device that can be coupled, in a separable manner, with the agricultural work vehicle can be connected and allows for control, via a virtual terminal of an actuator of the device and/or by control of the device;

wherein the control unit is connected to control an actuator of the agricultural work vehicle;

wherein a communication device is connected to the device bus, the communication device comprising a communication controller, a protocol converter, and a transmitting and receiving module, the protocol converter configured to convert a communication protocol used by the computer into a ISO 11783 protocol used by the device bus; and

wherein the communication controller simulates a device connected to the device bus so as to control the positions of the device interfaces of the agricultural work vehicle with portable the computer.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the interface is configured to check with a security library to determine whether to authorizes a device connected on the device bus to control, via the vehicle bus, functions of the agricultural work vehicle and if the communication control can be operated only after a successful pairing, in particular, by exchanging a pairing code and/or authorization of the portable computer and the agricultural work vehicle, where paring is made by near-field communication and/or input an operator into the portable computer and/or a work vehicle terminal, to transmit identification to the interface, with the aid of which the interface recognizes that the communication control and the portable computer communicating with it fulfill the security criteria and may transmit instructions to the device bus.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein remote control of the device interface of the work vehicle can occur if at least one of the following conditions is fulfilled:

the portable computer and the agricultural work vehicle are paired by exchanging a pairing code;

the portable computer and the work vehicle are authorized successfully among one another by near-field communication and/or input by the operator into the computer and/or a work vehicle terminal;

the work vehicle is shut down;

or

in a predetermined time, the work vehicle has received a heartbeat communication from the personal computer and there is no general timeout of the communication between the personal computer and the agricultural work vehicle.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the personal computer and the agricultural work vehicle can be switched between a first state in which remote control is not possible and a second state in which remote control is possible, wherein transition from the first state into a mode of the second state, in which by actuating a touch-sensitive display unit or keys of the personal computer, remote control of the device interface is only possible with the shutdown of the work vehicle, by exchanging a pairing code and optional authorization and after selection of the interface site to be controlled, and

wherein a general timeout and/or in the absence of a heartbeat communication and/or a moving work vehicle, transition into the first state automatically takes place, from which only by a renewed exchange of a pairing code and optional authorization and after a renewed selection of the device interface to be controlled is it possible to transition into the mode of the second state.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the portable computer switches from a mode in which by the actuation of a touch-sensitive display unit or keys of the computer, remote control of the device interface is possible, to a passive mode, in which remote control is not possible, by a blocking of its display unit or the response of a proximity switch, wherein from the passive state, a direct return to a mode in which by actuation of a touch-sensitive display unit or keys of the portable computer, remote control of the device interface is possible, can be carried out without a new pairing and/or authentication only after a confirmation input where an operator command is received to continue controlling the previously controlled work vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein a warning light of the agricultural work vehicle is activated when the portable computer is in a mode in which by actuation of a touch-sensitive display unit or the keys of the portable computer, remote control of the device interface is possible and/or a vibration signal of the personal computer is activated if in the aforementioned mode, activation of the touch-sensitive display unit or the keys of the portable computer takes place.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to communicate with the control device via a radio communication according to a network protocol-based standard or a standard for cell phones.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the device interface is front three-point linkage and the external-power actuator is configured to:

raise and lower a lower guiding element of the front three-point linkage;

adjust a length of an upper guiding element of the front three-point linkage;

open and close of a lock a device positioned on a guiding element of the front three-point linkage; and

/or

switch between a simple and a double action.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the device interface is a rear three-point linkage and the external-power actuator is configured to:

raise and lower a lower guiding element of the rear three-point linkage;

adjust a length of an upper guiding element of the rear three-point linkage;

extend and retract hydraulic stabilizers; and

/or and/or

to open and close a lock of a device positioned on a guiding element.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the device interface is a trailer coupling the external-power actuator is configured to:

open and close the trailer coupling;

adjust the trailer coupling in a forward direction and/or a vertical direction.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the device interface is a PTO shaft and the external-power actuator is configured to switch on and off of the PTO shaft.