Guidewire controls for a material handling vehicle
First Claim
1. A method to be used with a material handling vehicle that is operative in an automatic wire guidance mode, the vehicle used with a plurality of automatic wire guidance systems, each system transmitting guidance signals having a frequency and amplitude characteristic of the system, the guidance signals used to guide the vehicle, the vehicle including a steering control means and a signal sensor, the control means including a frequency filter and a gain amplifier, the method for automatically setting the filter frequency and amplifier gain so that the steering control means is responsive to guidance signals from one of said guidance systems, said one of the guidance systems being a system with which the vehicle is to be used, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) sensing the guidance signal corresponding to the one of the guidance systems;
b) processing the sensed signal to ascertain the characteristic frequency of the guidance signal and determine the amplitude gain required to alter the guidance signals for use by the control means; and
c) setting the filter frequency and the amplifier gain so that the steering control means is responsive to signals having substantially the characteristic amplitude and frequency of the guidance signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention features a universal, manned, material handling vehicle. The material handling vehicle is capable of operating in a manned mode, a wire guidance mode, and a rail guidance mode. This manned material handling vehicle contains a steering management control system having a logic program which allows the vehicle to adapt itself to different wire control systems. That is, particular parameters, frequency and amplitude of the underlying wire guidance system can be determined. In this manner, the manned vehicle is universally adaptive to a wide variety of wire guidance systems. When in manned operation mode, should the vehicle receive a wire guidance signal, the system controller will be duly informed. When in wire guidance operation mode, should the vehicle lose or fail to receive a clear wire guidance signal appropriate to guide on, it will automatically revert to the manned operation mode. The steering management control system also monitors the weight and height of the vehicle'"'"'s load. This steering management control system receives signals from the steering tiller, as well as from the guidewire embedded in the floor of the material storage facility.
42 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method to be used with a material handling vehicle that is operative in an automatic wire guidance mode, the vehicle used with a plurality of automatic wire guidance systems, each system transmitting guidance signals having a frequency and amplitude characteristic of the system, the guidance signals used to guide the vehicle, the vehicle including a steering control means and a signal sensor, the control means including a frequency filter and a gain amplifier, the method for automatically setting the filter frequency and amplifier gain so that the steering control means is responsive to guidance signals from one of said guidance systems, said one of the guidance systems being a system with which the vehicle is to be used, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) sensing the guidance signal corresponding to the one of the guidance systems; b) processing the sensed signal to ascertain the characteristic frequency of the guidance signal and determine the amplitude gain required to alter the guidance signals for use by the control means; and c) setting the filter frequency and the amplifier gain so that the steering control means is responsive to signals having substantially the characteristic amplitude and frequency of the guidance signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus to be used with a material handling vehicle that is operative in an automatic wire guidance mode, the vehicle used with a plurality of automatic wire guidance systems, each system transmitting guidance signals having a frequency and amplitude characteristic of the system, the guidance signals used to guide the vehicle, the vehicle including a steering control means, the steering control means including a frequency filter and a gain amplifier, the apparatus for automatically setting the filter frequency and the amplifier gain so that the steering control means is responsive to guidance signals from one of said guidance systems, said one of the guidance systems being a system with which the vehicle is to be used, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a sensor for sensing the guidance signal corresponding to the one of the guidance systems; (b) a processor for processing the sensed signal to ascertain the characteristic frequency of the guidance signals and determine the amplitude gain required to alter the guidance signals for use by the control means; and c) means for setting the filter frequency and the amplifier gain so that the steering control means is responsive to signals having the characteristic amplitude and frequency of the guidance signals. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method to be used with a material handling vehicle that is operative in an automatic wire guidance mode, the vehicle used with an automatic wire guidance system, the system transmitting a guidance signal used to guide the vehicle, the vehicle including a steering control means and at least first and second signal sensors to sense the guidance signal, the method for minimizing the effects of noise on the position of the vehicle with respect to the guidance wire, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) sensing the guidance signal using the first and the second signal sensors to provide first and second sensed signals; subtracting the first signal from the second signal to generate a differenced output indicative of the position of the guidance wire with respect to the sensors; c) limiting the maximum rate of change of the differenced output so as to minimize the effects of noise on the position of the vehicle with respect to the guidance wire; and d) using the limited differenced output to adjust the position of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification