Turf maintenance vehicle multiple controller method and apparatus

• US 6,230,089 B1
• Filed: 11/27/1996
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: Lonn, Dana R., Gaebel, James Robert, Metheny, Eric Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Donnelly, Arthur D.
• Application Number:
  US08/757,397
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 701/48, 701/50, 701/36, 701/29, 701/33, 56/10.2 A, 56/10.2 E, 56/16.7, 56/6
• US Class Current: 701/48
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/006 Control or measuring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/475 Driving mechanisms for the cutters A01D34/56
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 34/60 fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/1274 for drives
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3245 using a level monitoring device G01M3/3272 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/321 Display for diagnostics, e.g. diagnostic result display, self-test user interface

Abstract

A system for communicating between a plurality of electronic control units (ECU'"'"'s) located on-board a turf maintenance system is provided. The controllers are connected by a common bus network. When the ECU'"'"'s boot up a primary controller sends a message out on the bus requesting a response if any secondary controllers are connected to the bus. The secondary controllers are programmed to listen for the request, to generate a message to identify itself, and to transmit the requested message to identify itself over the bus. The primary controller waits for a predetermined time to receive and identify the secondary controller message. The primary controller then polls for additional secondary controllers in a similar manner. Accordingly, the primary controller sequentially determines whether additional controllers are connected to the bus. Once the initial list of ECU'"'"'s is built, the primary controller moves into a main program loop, including routines to exchange information with each of the secondary controllers which identified themselves during the polling process.

Claims

1. A method of networking a plurality of processors on a turf maintenance system, comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting a primary controller on-board a turf maintenance system to one or more secondary controllers on-board the turf maintenance system via a bus, wherein the primary controller and the one or more secondary controllers each perform a different function on the turf maintenance system, and the primary controller controls the cutting clip;

(b) polling the secondary controllers over the bus to determine if they are connected to the bus and operative;

(c) determining if the secondary controllers respond; and

(d) passing information between the primary and secondary controllers that respond.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of periodically repeating steps b, c and d.

3. A method of networking a plurality of processors on a turf maintenance system, comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting a primary controller on-board a turf maintenance system to one or more secondary controllers on-board the turf maintenance system via a bus, wherein the primary controller and the one or more secondary controllers each perform a different function on the turf maintenance system, and wherein one of the one or more secondary controllers detects if a hydraulic fluid leak occurs;

(b) polling the secondary controllers over the bus to determine if they are connected to the bus and operative;

(c) determining if the secondary controllers respond; and

(d) passing information between the primary and secondary controllers that respond.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of periodically repeating steps b, c and d.

5. A method of networking a plurality of processors on a turf maintenance system, comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting a primary controller on-board a turf maintenance system to one or more secondary controllers on-board the turf maintenance system via a bus, wherein the primary controller and the one or more secondary controllers each perform a different function on the turf maintenance system, and the primary controller monitors the status of the transmission of the turf maintenance system;

(b) polling the secondary controllers over the bus to determine if they are connected to the bus and operative;

(c) determining if the secondary controllers respond; and

(d) passing information between the primary and secondary controllers that respond.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of periodically repeating steps b, c and d.

7. A method of networking a plurality of processors on a turf maintenance system, comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting a primary controller on-board a turf maintenance system to one or more secondary controllers on-board the turf maintenance system via a bus, wherein the primary controller and the one or more secondary controllers each perform a different function on the turf maintenance system, and the primary controller monitors the presence of an operator on the turf maintenance system;

(b) polling the secondary controllers over the bus to determine if they are connected to the bus and operative;

(c) determining if the secondary controllers respond; and

(d) passing information between the primary and secondary controllers that respond.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of periodically repeating steps b, c and d.

9. A method of networking a plurality of processors on a turf maintenance system, comprising the steps of:

(a) connecting a primary controller on-board a turf maintenance system to one or more secondary controllers on-board the turf maintenance system via a bus, wherein the primary controller and the one or more secondary controllers each perform a different function on the turf maintenance system, and the primary controller monitors a plurality of input parameters of the turf maintenance system, including the status of the transmission and the presence of an operator on the turf maintenance system, and wherein the primary controller controls the cutting clip;

(b) polling the secondary controllers over the bus to determine if they are connected to the bus and operative;

(c) determining if the secondary controllers respond; and

(d) passing information between the primary and secondary controllers that respond.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of periodically repeating steps b, c and d.

11. An apparatus for a turf maintenance system for implementing a controller area network, comprising:

(a) an electrical bus;

(b) a primary controller device, operatively connected to the bus, for monitoring the status of the transmission of the turf maintenance system;

(c) at least one secondary controller device, operatively connected to the bus, for controlling a process of the turf maintenance system; and

(d) wherein the primary controller device includes;

(i) transmission means for passing information between the primary and secondary controller devices over the bus;

(ii) means for polling the secondary controllers to respond by transmitting an identification message over the bus to the primary controller; and

(iii) means for determining if the secondary controllers respond.

12. An apparatus for a turf maintenance system for implementing a controller area network, comprising:

(a) an electrical bus;

(b) a primary controller device, operatively connected to the bus, for monitoring the presence of an operator on the turf maintenance system;

(c) at least one secondary controller device, operatively connected to the bus, for controlling a process of the turf maintenance system; and

(d) wherein the primary controller device includes;

(i) transmission means for passing information between the primary and secondary controller devices over the bus;

(ii) means for polling the secondary controllers to respond by transmitting an identification message over the bus to the primary controller; and

(iii) means for determining if the secondary controllers respond.

13. An apparatus for a turf maintenance system for implementing a controller area network, comprising:

(a) an electrical bus;

(b) a primary controller device, operatively connected to the bus, for controlling the cutting clip;

(c) at least one secondary controller device, operatively connected to the bus, for controlling a process of the turf maintenance system; and

(d) wherein the primary controller device includes;

(i) transmission means for passing information between the primary and secondary controller devices over the bus;

(ii) means for polling the secondary controllers to respond by transmitting an identification message over the bus to the primary controller; and

(iii) means for determining if the secondary controllers respond.

14. An apparatus for a turf maintenance system for implementing a controller area network, comprising:

(a) an electrical bus;

(b) a primary controller device, operatively connected to the bus, for monitoring a plurality of input parameters of the turf maintenance system, including the status of the transmission and the presence of an operator on the turf maintenance system, and wherein the primary controller controls the cutting clip;

(c) at least one secondary controller device, operatively connected to the bus, for controlling a process of the turf maintenance system; and

(d) wherein the primary controller device includes;

(i) transmission means for passing information between the primary and secondary controller devices over the bus;

(ii) means for polling the secondary controllers to respond by transmitting an identification message over the bus to the primary controller; and

(iii) means for determining if the secondary controllers respond.

15. An apparatus for a turf maintenance system for implementing a controller area network, comprising:

(a) an electrical bus;

(b) a primary controller device, operatively connected to the bus, for controlling a first process of the turf maintenance system;

(c) at least one secondary controller device, operatively connected to the bus, wherein at least one secondary controller device detects if a hydraulic fluid leak occurs on the turf maintenance system; and

(d) wherein the primary controller device includes;

(i) transmission means for passing information between the primary and secondary controller devices over the bus;

(ii) means for polling the secondary controllers to respond by transmitting an identification message over the bus to the primary controller; and

(iii) means for determining if the secondary controllers respond.