Infrared remote control for soil compacting devices

• US 5,450,068 A
• Filed: 06/24/1993
• Issued: 09/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wacker Neuson Produktion GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Wacker-Werke GmbH & Company KG
• Inventors: Steffen, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jung, David Yink
• Application Number:
  US08/082,667
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/825.71, 340/825.72, 340/825.03, 340/825.77, 455/59, 455/66, 172/2, 172/3
• US Class Current: 340/5.74
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 25/00 Arrangements for preventing or correcting errors; Monitoring arrangements

Abstract

An infrared remote-controlled soil compacting device is controlled such that the device cannot be set into operation as long as the operator with the sending unit is within close vicinity of the soil compacting device so that an accidental operation or propelling in the wrong direction is prevented. This is achieved by providing an infrared close range radiation in addition to the infrared control radiation required for the operational control of the device. The close range radiation has a substantially reduced intensity relative to the control radiation so that the close range radiation can be received within the receiving unit only within close vicinity of the sending unit. When the close range radiation is received within the receiving unit the generation or release of electric signals affecting propelling of the soil compacting device is suppressed.

Claims

1. A method of remote-controlling a self-propelled soil compacting device, said method comprising the steps of:

emitting an electromagnetic control radiation in the infrared range from a sending unit that is separate from the soil compacting device;

modulating the electromagnetic control radiation to produce a modulated electromagnetic control radiation in correspondence to an electric control signal to be transmitted to the soil compacting device;

receiving the electromagnetic control radiation at a receiving unit provided at the soil compacting device;

generating the electric control signal corresponding to the modulated electromagnetic control radiation for controlling the soil compacting device;

sending alternatingly with the electromagnetic control radiation an electromagnetic short range radiation in the infrared range having an intensity that is substantially smaller than the intensity of the electromagnetic control radiation;

coding into the electromagnetic control radiation a first address code and into the electromagnetic short range radiation a second address code, wherein the first and the second address codes differ from one another and are decoded within the receiving unit;

directing the electromagnetic control radiation according to the first address code into a first channel and the electromagnetic short range radiation according to the second address code into a second channel, wherein the first channel is blocked for the electromagnetic short range radiation and the second channel is blocked for the electromagnetic control radiation; and

blocking with the electromagnetic short range radiation the release of predetermined control signals within the receiving unit, when the electromagnetic short range radiation is received within the receiving unit with an intensity that is above a predetermined threshold.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein at least the control signals are blocked that control propelling of the soil compacting device.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

sending in addition to the electromagnetic control radiation and the electromagnetic short range radiation an electromagnetic long range radiation in the infrared range having an intensity that is smaller than the intensity of the electromagnetic control radiation and greater than the intensity of the electromagnetic short range radiation, wherein the electromagnetic control radiation, the electromagnetic short range radiation, and the electromagnetic long range radiation are being sent sequentially;

coding into the electromagnetic long range radiation a third address code, wherein the third address code differs from the first and the second address codes and is decoded within the receiving unit;

directing the electromagnetic long range radiation according to the third address code into a corresponding third channel that is blocked for the electromagnetic control radiation and for the electromagnetic short range radiation; and

blocking with the electromagnetic long range radiation the release of predetermined control signals within the receiving unit, when the electromagnetic long range radiation is received within the receiving unit with an intensity that is below a predetermined threshold.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein at least the control signals are blocked that control propelling of the soil compacting device.

5. A device for remote-controlling a self-propelled soil compacting device, said device comprising:

a sending unit that is separate from the soil compacting device, said sending unit having a means for emitting an electromagnetic control radiation in the infrared range and a means for modulating said electromagnetic control radiation to produce a modulated electromagnetic control radiation in correspondence to an electric control signal to be transmitted to the soil compacting device;

a receiving unit provided at the soil compacting device, said receiving unit having a means for receiving said electromagnetic control radiation and a means for generating the electric control signal corresponding to the modulated electromagnetic control radiation for controlling the soil compacting device;

said sending unit comprising means for emitting an electromagnetic short range radiation in the infrared range having an intensity that is substantially smaller than an intensity of said electromagnetic control radiation and a means for sending alternatingly said electromagnetic control radiation and said electromagnetic short range radiation;

said sending unit further comprising means for coding into said electromagnetic control radiation a first address code and a means for coding into said electromagnetic short range radiation a second address code, wherein said first and said second address codes differ from one another;

said receiving unit further comprising means for receiving said electromagnetic short range radiation and means for differentiating between said electromagnetic control radiation and said electromagnetic short range radiation; and

said receiving unit further comprising means for blocking with said electromagnetic short range radiation the release of predetermined control signals within said receiving unit.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein;

said sending unit further comprises;

1) a means for emitting in addition to said electromagnetic control radiation and said electromagnetic short range radiation an electromagnetic long range radiation in the infrared range having an intensity that is smaller than said intensity of said electromagnetic control radiation and greater than said intensity of said electromagnetic short range radiation;

2) a means for sending sequentially said electromagnetic control radiation, said electromagnetic short range radiation, and said electromagnetic long range radiation; and

3) a means for coding into said electromagnetic long range radiation a third address code, wherein said third address code differs from said first and said second address codes;

and wherein said receiving unit further comprises;

1) a means for receiving said electromagnetic long range radiation;

2) a means for differentiating said electromagnetic long range radiation from said electromagnetic control radiation and said electromagnetic short range radiation; and

3) a means for blocking with said electromagnetic long range radiation the release of predetermined control signals within said receiving unit, when said electromagnetic long range radiation is received within said receiving unit with insufficient intensity.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said means for emitting said electromagnetic control radiation is a first diode, said means for emitting said electromagnetic short range radiation is a second diode, and said means for emitting said electromagnetic long range radiation is a third diode.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein said means for modulating said electromagnetic control radiation is a switching device.

9. A device according to claim 6, wherein said means for receiving said electromagnetic control radiation, said means for receiving said electromagnetic short range radiation, and said means for receiving said electromagnetic long range radiation are in the form of a single infrared detector.

10. A device according to claim 6, wherein said means for generating the electric control signal comprises a logic circuit.

11. A device according to claim 6, wherein said means for sending sequentially said electromagnetic control radiation, said electromagnetic short range radiation, and said electromagnetic long range radiation is a ring counter.

12. A device according to claim 6, wherein said means for coding into said electromagnetic control radiation said first address code is a coding device.

13. A device according to claim 6, wherein said means for coding into said electromagnetic short range radiation said second address code and said means for coding into said electromagnetic long range radiation said third address code are hard-wired connections.

14. A device according to claim 6, wherein said means for differentiating between said electromagnetic control radiation and said electromagnetic short range radiation and said means for differentiating between said electromagnetic long range radiation and said electromagnetic control radiation as well as said electromagnetic short range radiation comprise integrated circuits responding to said first, second, and third address codes.

15. A device according to claim 6, wherein said means for blocking with said electromagnetic short range radiation and said means for blocking with said electromagnetic long range radiation have a common comparator.

16. A device according to claim 6, wherein said means for emitting said electromagnetic control radiation, said means for emitting said electromagnetic short range radiation, and said means for emitting said electromagnetic long range radiation are in the form of a single diode.

17. A device according to claim 5, wherein said means for sending alternatingly said electromagnetic control radiation and said electromagnetic short range radiation is a ring counter.