Method and apparatus for providing detents on an electronic control handle
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing a detent function on a hydraulic system, the hydraulic system including a hydraulic implement movable between first and second implement positions, comprising:
- control input means, operable by an operator between first and second control positions, for producing a control input signal indicative of desired movement of the hydraulic implement between the first and second implement positions;
electronic control means, coupled to said control input means, for receiving said control input signal and responsively producing a valve actuation signal;
hydraulic control means, coupled between said electronic control means and the hydraulic implement, for receiving the valve actuation signal and responsively providing hydraulic fluid flow to the hydraulic implement;
wherein said electronic control means includes;
means for monitoring said control input signal and responsively producing an active detent signal if said control input signal follows a preset pattern; and
means for receiving said active detent signal and automatically providing a detent function by actuating said hydraulic control means at full displacement in response to receiving said active detent signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for providing a detent function on a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system includes a hydraulic implement movable between first and second implement positions. The apparatus and method receives a control input signal generated by an electronic control handle in response to operator input, monitors the control input signal, and actives a detent function if the control input signal follows a preset pattern. The preset pattern includes moving the handle to a detent area, between first and second positions, and then back to neutral, within a given time period. There is also a force feedback to the handle, opposing operator movement; which is proportional to the distance moved from neutral, and which has different attributes within and outside the detect area.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing a detent function on a hydraulic system, the hydraulic system including a hydraulic implement movable between first and second implement positions, comprising:
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control input means, operable by an operator between first and second control positions, for producing a control input signal indicative of desired movement of the hydraulic implement between the first and second implement positions; electronic control means, coupled to said control input means, for receiving said control input signal and responsively producing a valve actuation signal; hydraulic control means, coupled between said electronic control means and the hydraulic implement, for receiving the valve actuation signal and responsively providing hydraulic fluid flow to the hydraulic implement; wherein said electronic control means includes; means for monitoring said control input signal and responsively producing an active detent signal if said control input signal follows a preset pattern; and means for receiving said active detent signal and automatically providing a detent function by actuating said hydraulic control means at full displacement in response to receiving said active detent signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for providing a detent function on a hydraulic system, the hydraulic system including a hydraulic implement movable between first and second implement positions, comprising:
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an electronic control handle, operable by an operator between first and second control positions, for producing a control input signal indicative of desired movement of the hydraulic implement between the first and second implement positions; electronic control means, coupled to said electronic control handle, for receiving said control input signal and responsively producing a valve actuation signal; hydraulic control means, coupled between said electronic control means and the hydraulic implement, for receiving the valve actuation signal and responsively providing hydraulic fluid flow to the hydraulic implement; wherein said electronic control means including means for monitoring said control input signal and responsively providing a detent function if said operator moves said electronic control handle into a detent request area and releases said electronic control handle within a predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. An apparatus for providing a detent function on a hydraulic system, the hydraulic system including a hydraulic implement movable between first and second implement positions, comprising:
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an electronic control handle, operable by an operator between first and second control positions, for producing a control input signal indicative of desired movement of the hydraulic implement between the first and second implement positions; electronic control means, coupled to said control input means, for receiving said control input signal, providing a detent function, and responsively producing a valve actuation signal; hydraulic control means, coupled between said electronic control means and the hydraulic implement, for receiving the valve actuation signal and responsively providing hydraulic fluid flow to the hydraulic implement; and
,force feedback means for providing feedback to said operator through said control input means, said feedback to said operator is defined as a force applied to said electronic control handle in a direction opposite to movement of said electronic control handle by said operator, said force being proportional to the distance of the electronic control handle from a NEUTRAL position;
wherein the force applied to the electronic control lever between said NEUTRAL position and said first control position is linear with a first preset slope and the force applied to the electronic control lever between said first control position and said second control position being linear with a second preset slope;wherein said force applied to said electronic handle between said first and second control positions being greater than the force applied between said NEUTRAL position and first control position; and
, wherein said second preset slope is greater than said first preset slope.
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16. A method for providing a detent function on a hydraulic system, the hydraulic system including a hydraulic implement movable between first and second positions, including:
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receiving a control input signal generated by a control handle in response to operator input; monitoring said control input signal; activating a detent function if said control input signal follows a preset pattern; and
,wherein said preset pattern is followed if said input control signal is equal to a first predetermined value and subsequently equal to a second predetermined value within a predetermined period of time.
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Specification