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• US 20160246322A1
• Filed: 02/17/2016
• Published: 08/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: W. Gessmann GmbH
• Original Assignee: W. Gessmann GmbH
• Inventors: Eggensperger, Martin, Ehrensperger, Alwin
• Application Number:
  US15/045,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20160246322A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/02 Control of position or course in two dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/0474 characterised by means converting mechanical movement into electric signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 2009/04774 with additional switches or sensors on the handle
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

An input device (12), in particular, a joystick, for controlling work equipment and vehicles (14), has a control unit (30) integrated in the input device (12), with a data memory (32), with operating software (34) stored in the data memory (32) for generating control signals (36) caused by operating the input device (30), with a hardware interface (38) for outputting the control signals (36), and with a wireless communication interface (44) for a wireless connection of the input device (12) with a mobile terminal unit (16), which is constituted for the diagnosis, maintenance, and/or configuration of the input device (12), or which can be established via a link of the input device (12) with a central processing unit (18) for the diagnosis, maintenance, and/or configuration of the input unit (12). A service device system with at least one such input device is also described.

Claims

1-12. -12. (canceled)

13. An input device structured as a drive controller or drive-brake controller for controlling work equipment and vehicles, the input device having a housing and a control unit integrated in the housing to constitute a single unit, wherein the control unit comprises:

a data memory;

operating software stored in said data memory for generating control signals caused by operating the input device;

a hardware interface for outputting the control signals via a data cable of the work equipment or vehicle, the data cable being structured for connection to said hardware interface; and

a wireless communication interface for wireless connection of the input device with a mobile terminal unit, the mobile terminal unit being structured for diagnosis, maintenance and/or configuration of the input device and/or structured to establish a link between the input device and a central processing unit for diagnosis, maintenance and/or configuration of the input device.

14. The input device of claim 13, wherein said wireless communication interface of the control unit of the input device is a Bluetooth, a near-field communication (NFC), a ZigBee, a WLAN interface or an optical communication interface.

15. The input device of claim 13, wherein said wireless communication interface of the input device is activated and/or deactivated by means of a switch disposed on the housing.

16. The input device of claim 13, wherein the control unit is programmed to deactivate said wireless communication interface automatically.

17. The input device of claim 13, wherein the control unit is programmed to deactivate said wireless communication interface after a defined activation period of the wireless communication interface has expired.

18. The input device of claim 13, wherein said wireless communication interface is deactivated by a radio signal from the mobile terminal unit received via said communication interface.

19. The input device of claim 13, wherein an individual device identifier is stored in the control unit, the control unit being programmed to transmit said device identifier while or after a radio link between the input device and the mobile terminal unit is established to the mobile terminal unit.

20. The input device of claim 13, wherein the control unit is programmed to deactivate said hardware interface of the input device when a radio link with the mobile terminal unit is established.

21. The input device of claim 13, wherein the input device is a joystick, a drive controller, a drive-brake controller or a ship controller.

22. A service device system with at least one input device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the mobile terminal unit comprises CPU, a data memory, and application software stored in the data memory, wherein the mobile terminal unit has a first interface via which a wireless data link with said communication interface of the input device is established, wherein

a) the application software is constituted for diagnosis, maintenance, and/or configuration of the input device, and/or

b) the mobile terminal unit has a second interface, which differs from the first interface, the application software being implemented to connect the control unit of the input device via the second interface with a central processing unit for the diagnosis, maintenance and/or configuration of the input device.

23. The service device system of claim 22, wherein the service device system comprises a plurality of input devices.

24. The service device system of claim 22, wherein the application software is constituted for time-delayed diagnosis, maintenance and/or configuration of the input device.

25. The service device system of claim 22, wherein data transfer via the wireless communication interface of the input device and the first interface of the mobile terminal unit is encrypted.

26. The service device system of claim 22, wherein the mobile terminal unit is a portable computer or a mobile telephone.