Method and apparatus for providing a display of a work machine at a work site

• US 6,453,227 B1
• Filed: 12/16/2000
• Issued: 09/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Price, Robert J., Kalafut, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/738,837
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 640 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/213, 701/208, 701/211, 701/300, 340/995, 374/14, 374/15, 374/16, 342/357.06, 342/357.13
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing a display of a work machine at a work site. The work machine has a work implement controllably attached. The method includes the steps of determining a position of the work machine relative to the site, determining a position of the work implement relative to the work machine, and displaying a scaled image of the site, the work machine, and the work implement relative to the work machine, wherein movement of the work implement relative to the work machine is shown.

Claims

1. A method for providing a display of a work machine at a work site, the work machine having a work implement controllably attached, including the steps of:

determining a position of the work machine relative to the site;

determining a position of the work implement relative to the work machine; and

displaying a scaled image of the site, the work machine, and the work implement relative to the work machine, wherein movement of the work implement relative to the work machine is shown.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the work implement is controllably attached to the work machine by a plurality of linkages, and further including the steps of:

determining the position of each linkage relative to the work machine; and

displaying a scaled image of each linkage, wherein movement of each linkage relative to the work machine is shown.

3. A method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein displaying a scaled image includes the step of displaying at least a top view and a side profile view of the work machine at the work site.

4. An apparatus for providing a display of a work machine at a work site, the work machine having a work implement controllably attached, comprising:

a position determining system for determining a position of the work machine relative to the site;

means for determining a position of the work implement relative to the work machine;

a display located on the work machine; and

a controller for receiving position information of the work machine and the work implement, and responsively delivering a signal to the display for displaying a scaled image of the site, the work machine, and the work implement relative to the work machine, wherein movement of the work implement relative to the work machine is shown.

5. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the work implement is controllably attached to the work machine by a plurality of linkages.

6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein the means for determining a position of the work implement relative to the work machine is adapted to determine the position of each linkage relative to the work machine.

7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the controller is further adapted to display a scaled image of each linkage, wherein movement of each linkage relative to the work machine is shown.

8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the display includes at least a display of a top view and a side profile view of the work machine at the work site.

9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the position determining system includes a global position satellite (GPS) system.

10. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the means for determining a position of the work implement includes a plurality of linkage position sensors.

11. An apparatus for providing a display of an excavating machine at a work site, the excavating machine having a plurality of linkages and a bucket controllably attached, comprising:

a position determining system for determining a position of the excavating machine relative to the site;

a plurality of linkage sensors for determining a position of the bucket relative to the excavating machine;

a display on the excavating machine; and

a controller for receiving position information of the excavating machine and the bucket, and responsively delivering a signal to the display for displaying a scaled image of the site, the excavating machine, and the bucket relative to the excavating machine, wherein movement of the bucket relative to the excavating machine is shown.