Display device and display controller of construction machinery

• US 6,766,600 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Issued: 07/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Tomita, Sadahisa, Ogura, Hiroshi, Fujishima, Kazuo, Watanabe, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): BATSON, VICTOR D
• Application Number:
  US10/169,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20030001751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 373/48, 373/82, 172/2, 172/3, 172/4.5, 172/5, 172/6, 701/50, 111/200
• US Class Current: 37/348
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2296 Systems with a variable displacement pump
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence

Abstract

A display unit for a construction machine is provided which allow for an operator to easily set a target plane or area in works to be performed under automatic control, and to freely change the contents to be displayed regardless of whether the machine is under the automatic control, so that information which the operator wants to see can be promptly displayed.

Claims

1. A display unit for a construction machine including a front attachment and control means for carrying out an automatic control of said front attachment, said display unit being provided in a cab of said construction machine, and comprising a display portion for displaying positional information for said front attachment and setting information for said automatic control of said front attachment, and an operating portion for instructing change of contents displayed on said display portion and input of said setting information, thereby controlling the displayed contents in accordance with an instructions from said operating portion,

wherein said display portion is capable of selectively displaying a first screen for displaying the setting state of a target plane or area in works to be performed under said automatic control by using numerical values and a movable symbolic illustration, and at least one second screen for providing another display,

said first screen being a screen used when said input of setting information is instructed by said operating portion, and said movable symbolic illustration displayed on said first screen including a line representing said setting state of the target plane or area in works, said line being movable depending on the instruction of said operating portion when said input of setting information is instructed by said operating portion,

each of said first and second screens having a menu area used for changing said first and second screens from one to the other in accordance with an instruction from said operating portion.

2. A display unit for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein said operating portion includes selection keys, numerical value entry keys, and a decision key;

said first screen changes display of the setting state upon manipulation of said numerical value entry keys; and

said menu area in each of said first and second screens is used for changing said first and second screens from one to the other with manipulation of said selection keys and said decision key.

3. A display unit for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein when the automatic control is started, each of said first and second screens displays that said construction machine is under control.

4. A display unit for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein said second screen includes a screen for displaying, in enlarged scale, the positional relationship of a fore end of said front attachment relative to the target plane or area in said works by using a movable symbolic illustration.

5. A display unit for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein said menu area has a plurality of items including an item of screen change;

said operating portion includes first entry means for selecting a desired one of the plurality of items in said menu area, and second entry means for deciding the selection made by said first entry means; and

said display portion changes said first and second screens from one to the other when said item of screen change is selected by said first entry means and the selection of said item of screen change is decided by said second entry means.

6. A display unit for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein said menu area of said first screen has an item of screen change and an item of automatic control ON/OFF;

and

said display portion changes said first and second screens from one to the other regardless of the selected state of said item of automatic control ON/OFF when selection of said item of screen change is instructed from said operating portion.

7. A display unit for a construction machine according to claim 1, wherein said menu area of said first screen has a plurality of items including an item of screen change and an item of automatic control ON/OFF;

said menu area said second screen has a plurality of items including an item of screen change;

said operating portion includes first entry means for selecting a desired one of the plurality of items in said menu area, and second entry means for deciding the selection made by said first entry means; and

when one item is selected by said first entry means and the selection of the one item is decided by said second entry means, said display portion executes the selected item.

8. A display unit for a construction machine including a front attachment and control means for carrying out an automatic control of said front attachment, said display unit being provided in a cab of said construction machine including, and comprising a display portion for displaying positional information of said front attachment and setting information for said automatic control of said front attachment, and an operating portion for instructing change of contents displayed on each said display portion input of said setting information, thereby controlling the displayed contents in accordance with an instruction from said operating portion,

wherein said display portion is capable of selectively displaying a first screen for displaying the setting state of a target plane or area in works to be performed under said automatic control by using numerical values and a movable symbolic illustration, a second screen for displaying states of a body of said construction machine and said front attachment by using numerical values and a movable symbolic illustration, and a third screen for displaying, in enlarged scale, the positional relationship of a fore end of said front attachment relative to the target plane or area in said works by using a movable symbolic illustration,

said first screen being a screen used when said input of setting information is instructed by said operating portion, and said movable symbolic illustration displayed on said first screen including a line representing said setting state of the target plane or area in works, said line being movable depending on the instruction of said operating portion when said input of setting information is instructed by said operating portion, and

each of said first, second and third screens having a menu area used for changing said first, second and third screens from one to another in accordance with an instruction from said operating portion.

9. A display control unit for a construction machine including a front attachment and control means for carrying out an automatic control of said front attachment, said display control unit being provided in a cab of said construction machine for controlling, in accordance with an instruction from an operating portion, contents displayed on a display portion for displaying positional information of said front attachment and setting information for said automatic control of said front attachment, said display control unit comprising:

first control means for causing said display portion to selectively display a first screen for displaying the setting state of a target plane or area in works to be performed under automatic control by using numerical values and a movable symbolic illustration, and at least one second screen for providing another display, and to display a menu area including an item of screen change in each of said first and second screens;

second control means for processing said item of screen change in accordance with an instruction from said operating portion and changing said first and second screens from one to the other; and

said first control means being configured to display said first screen such that said movable symbolic illustration displayed on said first screen includes a line representing said setting state of the target plane or area in works, said line being movable depending on the instruction of said operating portion when said input of setting information is instructed by said operating portion.