Animated map display method for computer-controlled agricultural product application equipment
First Claim
1. A method for displaying information in a computer-controlled system for distributing a product onto a field using a vehicle driven by an operator, the distribution of said product being controlled at least in part by an map corresponding to regions of said field to receive varying densities of said product, said map being maintained in a processor and containing information relating to an agronomic plan, said field defining a real-world terrain having features, said operator having a field of view through a viewing surface encompassing at least a portion of said real-world terrain which changes over time as said vehicle traverses said field, said method comprising the steps of:
- identifying a location and an orientation of the vehicle within the field at a given time;
determining from said location and said orientation the features of the terrain within the field of view of the operator at said given time by reference to the map;
generating an image containing the information to be displayed to the operator; and
presenting said image so that it is visible within the field of view of the operator such that the operator views the information corresponding to the real-world terrain encompassed by the field of view of the operator, said image being displayed on the viewing surface using a heads-up type display such that at least a portion of said image is visually overlaid onto the real world terrain encompassed by the field of view of the operator,whereby the operator simultaneously views the real-world terrain and the information and selectively compares the information being projected with the features of the real-world terrain of the field.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An animated map display transposes information from any of the basic or application maps of a computer-controlled agronomic system, as well as geological or environmental features, physical structures, sensor signals, status information, and other data, into a two- or three-dimensional representation that is projected using a heads-up display (HUD) overlaid onto the real-world terrain and environment visible to the operator through the windshield of the product application vehicle. The animated map display may present information relating to a particular map set as a three-dimensional image corresponding spatially to real-world terrain or environment, as well as alphanumeric, pictorial, symbolic, color, or textural indicia relating to navigational, sensor, or other data inputs. The operator may use an input interface graphically linked to the animated map display to interactively enter information, relationships, or data into the database or agronomic system.
191 Citations
45 Claims
-
1. A method for displaying information in a computer-controlled system for distributing a product onto a field using a vehicle driven by an operator, the distribution of said product being controlled at least in part by an map corresponding to regions of said field to receive varying densities of said product, said map being maintained in a processor and containing information relating to an agronomic plan, said field defining a real-world terrain having features, said operator having a field of view through a viewing surface encompassing at least a portion of said real-world terrain which changes over time as said vehicle traverses said field, said method comprising the steps of:
-
identifying a location and an orientation of the vehicle within the field at a given time; determining from said location and said orientation the features of the terrain within the field of view of the operator at said given time by reference to the map; generating an image containing the information to be displayed to the operator; and presenting said image so that it is visible within the field of view of the operator such that the operator views the information corresponding to the real-world terrain encompassed by the field of view of the operator, said image being displayed on the viewing surface using a heads-up type display such that at least a portion of said image is visually overlaid onto the real world terrain encompassed by the field of view of the operator, whereby the operator simultaneously views the real-world terrain and the information and selectively compares the information being projected with the features of the real-world terrain of the field. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
-
-
45. A method for displaying information in a computer-controlled system for distributing a product onto a field using a vehicle driven by an operator, the distribution of said product being controlled at least in part by an map corresponding to regions of said field to receive varying densities of said product, said map being maintained in a processor and containing information relating to an agronomic plan, said field defining a real-world terrain having features, said operator having a field of view encompassing at least a portion of said real-world terrain which changes over time as said vehicle traverses said field, said method comprising the steps of:
-
identifying a location and an orientation of the vehicle within the field at a given time; determining from said location and said orientation the features of the terrain within the field of view of the operator at said given time by reference to the map; generating an image containing the information to be displayed to the operator; presenting said image so that it is visible within the field of view of the operator such that the operator views the information corresponding to the real-world terrain encompassed by the field of view of the operator; and providing the vehicle with a sensor, said sensor measuring a predetermined characteristic in the field as the vehicle traverses the field, said sensor generating a data signal corresponding to the measurement of said predetermined characteristic, wherein at least a portion of the information displayed in said image is updated periodically in response to said data signal generated by said sensor.
-
Specification