Removable programmable cartridge for a lift truck control system

• US 5,890,086 A
• Filed: 09/24/1997
• Issued: 03/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Crown Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Schumacher, Mark E., Wilkinson, John C. Jr., Thobe, Nicholas D., Wellman, Timothy A., Dammeyer, Ned E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Gary
• Application Number:
  US08/936,680
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/29, 701/32, 701/33, 701/50, 324/73.1, 340/438, 340/439, 365/195, 365/189.1, 365/189.09, 365/201, 365/206, 371/28, 395/427, 395/430, 711/100
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/24 Electrical devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A lift truck control system which utilizes a distributed control network including at least a display module, a distribution module, a traction module, a brake module and a steering module. The display and steering modules each are configurable by software which controls the module and the various drivers in each module. In the preferred embodiment, the display module includes flash memory which stores application software and can be rewritten so that the performance characteristics of the modules are software configurable. The display module is connectable to a programmable cartridge which includes nonvolatile flash memory that carries application software for the display and steering modules. When connected, the cartridge downloads the particular application software which is written over the stored software in flash memory for the display and steering modules. The programmable cartridge also can be used to store and download boot software to the display and steering modules, so that the boot procedure performed by the display and steering modules is also software configurable. The system accepts modules which can be installed in a variety of different lift truck vehicles with minimal physical changes; the performance of the modules is configured by the application software written into the flash memory of the module.

Claims

1. For use with a lift truck of a type having memory module means for receiving and storing an application program for vehicle operation and operation module means for receiving said application program from said memory module means and utilizing said application program to control a predetermined component of said truck, said operation module means having memory means for receiving said application program from said memory module means and said operation module means utilizing said application program to configure said operation module means to control said component in a predetermined manner, a programmable cartridge comprising:

a housing;

nonvolatile cartridge memory means in said housing for storing said application program;

means in said housing for removably connecting said cartridge memory means to said memory module means;

microprocessor means in said housing for effecting transfer of said application program from said cartridge memory means to terminal means for receiving said application program therefrom;

means for connecting said housing to service terminal means; and

means for switching said cartridge to a pass through mode, wherein said microprocessor means allows a service terminal to communicate through said cartridge directly to said memory module means.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 further comprising means in said housing for removably connecting said cartridge memory means to said terminal means for receiving said application program therefrom.

3. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor means effects transfer of said application program from said memory module means to said cartridge memory means.

4. The cartridge of claim 3 wherein said microprocessor means effects transfer of said application program from a data base to said cartridge memory means.

5. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor means is connected to switch said housing connecting means to a host mode, wherein said connection to said service terminal means is severed and data and application software is exchanged between said nonvolatile cartridge memory means and said memory module means.

6. The cartridge of claim 5 wherein said microprocessor means in said cartridge switches said cartridge between said pass through mode and said host mode upon receipt of instructions from said memory module means.

7. The cartridge of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor means can connect said cartridge memory means to receive data from said memory module means and store said data in said cartridge memory means.

8. The cartridge of claim 1 further comprising means for receiving power for said cartridge memory means and said microprocessor means from said memory module means.

9. The cartridge of claim 8 wherein said power receiving means includes means for transmitting power from said memory module means to an associated service terminal.

10. The cartridge of claim 9 wherein said removable connecting means includes said power receiving means.

11. For use with a lift truck of a type having memory module means for receiving and storing an application program for vehicle operation and operation module means for receiving said application program from said memory module means and utilizing said application program to control a predetermined component of said truck, said operation module means having memory means for receiving said application program from said memory module means and said operation module means utilizing said application program to configure said operation module means to control said component in a predetermined manner, a programmable cartridge comprising:

a housing;

nonvolatile cartridge memory means in said housing for storing said application program;

means in said housing for removably connecting said cartridge memory means to said memory module means;

microprocessor means in said housing for effecting transfer of said application program from said cartridge memory means to said memory module means;

means for connecting said housing to service terminal means;

said microprocessor means being connected to switch said cartridge to a pass through mode, wherein said microprocessor means allows said service terminal means connected to said cartridge to communicate through said cartridge directly to said memory module means;

said microprocessor means being connected to switch said housing connecting means to a host mode, wherein said connection to said service terminal means is severed and data and application software is exchanged between said nonvolatile cartridge memory means and said memory module means.

12. The cartridge of claim 11 further comprising means in said housing for removably connecting said cartridge memory means to terminal means for receiving said application program therefrom.

13. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein said microprocessor means in said cartridge switches said cartridge between said pass through mode and said host mode upon receipt of instructions from said memory module means.

14. For use with a lift truck of a type having a memory module for receiving and storing an application program for vehicle operation and an operation module for receiving said application program from said memory module and utilizing said application program to control a predetermined component of said truck, said operation module having a memory for receiving said application program from said memory module and said operation module utilizing said application program to configure said operation module to control said component in a predetermined manner, a programmable cartridge comprising:

a housing;

a nonvolatile cartridge memory carried in said housing for storing said application program;

a first connector carried on said housing for removably coupling said cartridge memory to said memory module of said lift truck;

a second connector carried on said housing for removably coupling said cartridge memory to a service terminal;

a microprocessor carried in said housing, operatively coupled to said cartridge memory, to said first connector and to said connector, and configured to transfer said application program from said cartridge memory to said memory module of said lift truck; and

a switch operatively coupled between said first connector and said microprocessor and being operatively coupled between said first connector and said second connector, said switch being adapted to toggle between a pass through mode wherein said first connector is operatively coupled to said second connector;

thereby coupling said service terminal to said memory module, and a host mode wherein said microprocessor is operatively coupled to said first connector, thereby coupling said cartridge memory to said memory module.