Remote controlling device for operative machines

• US 6,750,780 B1
• Filed: 03/15/1999
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bitelli, S.P.A. (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bitelli, Romolo
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US09/267,689
• Time in Patent Office: 1,919 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.69, 340/10.34, 340/825.72, 359/146, 359/145, 398/115, 398/116, 398/117
• US Class Current: 340/12.3
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/63 Redundant transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 25/00 Arrangements for preventing or correcting errors; Monitoring arrangements

Abstract

The invention realises a remote controlling device of an operative machine which comprises a transmitter arranged on the ground at the disposal of an operator and a receiver arranged inboard, supplied with an accomplishment circuit connected with the drives of such machine. The transmitter comprises a first section which transmits luminous infrared waves and a second section which transmits electromagnetic waves which cooperate with the receiver comprising a first section receiving the luminous infrared waves and a second section receiving the electromagnetic waves. In the receiver electronic means are present, suitable for realising a permission signal which activates the accomplishment circuit only if the first receiving section receives the luminous infrared waves emitted by the first transmitting section.

Claims

1. A remote control device for a machine comprising:

a transmitter separate from the machine at the disposal of an operator;

a receiver on the machine including an accomplishment circuit operatively connected with the machine;

wherein said transmitter includes a first transmitting section of luminous infrared waves and a second transmitting section of electromagnetic waves which cooperate with said receiver; and

wherein said receiver includes a first receiving section of luminous infrared waves and a second receiving section of electromagnetic waves, said receiver including electronic means for producing a permission signal for activation of said accomplishment circuit only if said first receiving section receives said luminous infrared waves emitted by said first transmitting section, electromagnetic waves can then be transmitted through said accomplishment circuit of said second receiving section only after receiving and only as long said luminous infrared waves are received through said first receiving section.

2. The remote control device according to claim 1 wherein said first transmitting section includes an enabling circuit for producing an enabling signal a luminous infrared wave generator operatively coupled thereto for producing an infrared (IR) signal in response to the enabling signal;

and a transmitter for generating luminous infrared waves corresponding to the IR signal.

3. The remote control device according to claim 2 wherein said second transmitting section includes a frequency generator responsively coupled to the enabling circuit for producing a radio frequency (RF) signal in response to the enabling signal;

a modulator connected to the frequency generator for modulating the RF signal; and

a radio transmitter electrically connected to the modulator, for generating modulated RF electromagnetic output waves.

4. The remote control device according to claim 3 including a command device for producing command signals, and command keys for controlling the command device;

and wherein said modulator is responsively connected with the output of the command device for modulating the RF signal in accordance with the command signals.

5. The remote control device according to claim 1, wherein said first receiving section includes a receiver of luminous infrared waves;

and a detector responsively coupled to the receiver.

6. The remote control device according to claim 4 wherein said second receiving section includes a receiver of electromagnetic waves and said accomplishment circuit being responsively coupled to the electromagnetic device for activating the machine.

7. The remote control device according to claim 6, including a demodulator and wherein said accomplishment circuit is connected at the output of the demodulator.

8. The remote control device according to claim 1 wherein said receiver includes a power feeder and a power generator electrically connected with the power feeder in producing a power source.

9. A remote control device for controlling operations of a machine comprising:

a transmitter separated from the machine including an IR transmitter channel and an RF transmitter channel; and

a receiver locatable on the machine including an IR receiver and an RF receiver, said RF receiver including a detector for producing an output only in response to the IR signal and a gate coupled to the RF receiver for gating the RF signal only as long as the IR signal is detected.