Apparatus for determining the position of a work implement
First Claim
1. An apparatus for determining the position of a work implement relative to an earthworking machine, the implement being controllably mounted to the machine, comprising:
- an antenna mounted to the machine and oriented to transmit a high frequency signal toward the implement and receive a reflected signal back from the implement;
an oscillator electrically coupled to the antenna and adapted to energize the antenna with electrical energy to generate the high frequency signal, the oscillator producing an output signal having a frequency responsive to the inductance of the antenna; and
a circuit adapted to receive the output signal of the oscillator and responsively determine the position of the work implement relative to the machine, the position being a function of the frequency of the output signal.
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Abstract
An apparatus for determining the position of a work implement relative to an earthworking machine. An antenna is mounted to the machine and is oriented to transmit a high frequency signal toward the implement and receive a reflected signal back from the implement. An oscillator is electrically coupled to the antenna and energizes the antenna with electrical energy to generate the high frequency signal. The oscillator produces an output signal having a frequency responsive to the inductance of the antenna. A microprocessor based circuit receives the output signal of the oscillator and responsively determines the position of the work implement relative to the machine. The position of the work implement is a function of the frequency of the output signal.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. An apparatus for determining the position of a work implement relative to an earthworking machine, the implement being controllably mounted to the machine, comprising:
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an antenna mounted to the machine and oriented to transmit a high frequency signal toward the implement and receive a reflected signal back from the implement; an oscillator electrically coupled to the antenna and adapted to energize the antenna with electrical energy to generate the high frequency signal, the oscillator producing an output signal having a frequency responsive to the inductance of the antenna; and a circuit adapted to receive the output signal of the oscillator and responsively determine the position of the work implement relative to the machine, the position being a function of the frequency of the output signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification