Computer/bus message system for vehicle drive control system
First Claim
1. A drive system for a utility vehicle, the drive system comprising:
- a generator driven by an internal combustion engine;
at least one drive axle with wheels;
at least one steerable axle with wheels;
a plurality of actuator systems, including individual electric drive motors for driving the wheels of the drive axle and powered by the generator, and steering actuators for steering the wheels of the steerable axle;
a plurality of manually operable input control devices, including a steering input control device and a speed input control device;
a plurality of controllers, including steering controllers for controlling the steering actuators and motor controllers for controlling the electric drive motors;
a process computer having a plurality of parallel and substantially independently operating function modules which receive input signals from the input control devices and which generate control signals which are supplied to the plurality of controllers; and
a system bus communicated with the process computer and with the plurality of controllers, the process computer generating a control message which is communicated over the bus simultaneously to all of the plurality of controllers, and the process computer generating other signals which are communicated between the function modules without being communicated over the bus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A drive system for utility vehicles, in particular for agricultural or industrial tractors, includes a generator driven by an internal combustion engine, a drive axle with wheels driven by associated electric motors which are powered by the generator, a steerable axle with wheels which are steerable together or individually by steering actuators, and manual operating control devices for vehicle operating functions such as steering and vehicle. The drive system includes a process computer which includes parallel and independently operating function modules for controlling high priority vehicle functions, such as steering, as well as function modules for low priority vehicle functions, such as speed input. The process computer transmits target value signals for actuator, such as electric wheel drive motors and steering actuators, in the form of a combined message communicated over a system bus. Information is exchanged between the function modules internally within the processor.
230 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A drive system for a utility vehicle, the drive system comprising:
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a generator driven by an internal combustion engine; at least one drive axle with wheels; at least one steerable axle with wheels; a plurality of actuator systems, including individual electric drive motors for driving the wheels of the drive axle and powered by the generator, and steering actuators for steering the wheels of the steerable axle; a plurality of manually operable input control devices, including a steering input control device and a speed input control device; a plurality of controllers, including steering controllers for controlling the steering actuators and motor controllers for controlling the electric drive motors; a process computer having a plurality of parallel and substantially independently operating function modules which receive input signals from the input control devices and which generate control signals which are supplied to the plurality of controllers; and a system bus communicated with the process computer and with the plurality of controllers, the process computer generating a control message which is communicated over the bus simultaneously to all of the plurality of controllers, and the process computer generating other signals which are communicated between the function modules without being communicated over the bus. - 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)
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Specification