Transponder communication and control system for a vehicle
First Claim
1. A method of controlling the operation of a vehicle including a radio communications circuit coupled to a microprocessor-based controller, the circuit being configured to communicate with a vehicle operator'"'"'s handheld radio frequency transponder, the controller configured to control at least a plurality of hydraulic actuators, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing the vehicle including the radio communications circuit, the controller and the plurality of actuators;
b. providing the radio transponder to the vehicle operator;
c. generating electromagnetic radiation from the radio communications circuit;
d. bringing the transponder within the range of the electromagnetic radiation;
e. energizing the transponder by the electromagnetic radiation;
f. transmitting data from the transponder after the step of energizing the transponder, the data being associated with the operator and indicating limits on use of the vehicle, the limits including a subsystem the operator is permitted to use, the subsystem including the plurality of hydraulic actuators;
g. receiving at the radio communications circuit the data transmitted by the transponder; and
h. controlling at least one subsystem of the vehicle in response to the data received at the radio communications circuit including the step of;
the controller responsively disabling at least one subsystem.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for controlling the operation of a vehicle is disclosed that includes a radio frequency transponder and a vehicle configured to respond to data stored in the transponder by preventing or disabling operation of the vehicle under certain conditions indicated by data stored in the transponder. A communications controller receives the data from the transponder, then monitors the operation of the vehicle to make sure it is operated within the limits that are stored in the transponder. By communicating with other controllers on the vehicle that are in charge of other subsystems, it receives information relating to whether the operational limits of the vehicle have been approached or exceeded, and takes appropriate action in that event, the action may include not enabling the vehicle initially, or disabling the vehicle, or causing an operator display to indicate which limit has been exceeded or approached.
104 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the operation of a vehicle including a radio communications circuit coupled to a microprocessor-based controller, the circuit being configured to communicate with a vehicle operator'"'"'s handheld radio frequency transponder, the controller configured to control at least a plurality of hydraulic actuators, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. providing the vehicle including the radio communications circuit, the controller and the plurality of actuators;
b. providing the radio transponder to the vehicle operator;
c. generating electromagnetic radiation from the radio communications circuit;
d. bringing the transponder within the range of the electromagnetic radiation;
e. energizing the transponder by the electromagnetic radiation;
f. transmitting data from the transponder after the step of energizing the transponder, the data being associated with the operator and indicating limits on use of the vehicle, the limits including a subsystem the operator is permitted to use, the subsystem including the plurality of hydraulic actuators;
g. receiving at the radio communications circuit the data transmitted by the transponder; and
h. controlling at least one subsystem of the vehicle in response to the data received at the radio communications circuit including the step of;
the controller responsively disabling at least one subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for permitting a plurality of users of a work vehicle including a plurality of hydraulic actuators to have different degrees of operating access to the vehicle, each of the users having an operating key for operating the vehicle and a radio transponder coupled to the operating key for storing data indicative of the authorized degree of operating access to the vehicle, the method comprising:
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transmitting first data indicative of a first authorized degree of operating access to a vehicle control system on the vehicle from a first transponder coupled to a first operating key for the vehicle;
comparing the first transmitted data with data stored in the vehicle control system to determine the first authorized degree of access and to provide a first user with the first authorized degrees of access;
using the first operating key to operate the vehicle;
transmitting second data indicative of a second authorized degree of operating access to the vehicle control system from a second transponder coupled to a second operating key for the vehicle;
comparing the second transmitted data with data stored in the vehicle control system to determine the second authorized degree of access and to provide a second user with the second authorized degree of access;
using the second operating key to operate the same vehicle at a time different than when the first operating key is being used;
wherein the first authorized degree of access and the second authorized degree of access represent different degrees of control of the plurality of hydraulic actuators. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for permitting different authorized degrees of access for a plurality of users of a vehicle, comprising:
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a first radio transponder storing data indicative of a first authorized degree of access to the vehicle;
a second radio transponder storing data indicative of a second authorized degree of access to the vehicle, wherein the first authorized degree of access is different from the second authorized degree of access;
an operating switch and first and second operating keys configured to operate the operating switch, wherein the first and second operating keys are coupled to the first and second transponders; and
an electronic control system mounted on the vehicle and configured to provide different authorized degrees of access to the vehicle to a first user and a second user based on the data indicative of the first and second authorized degree of access stored in the first and second transponders, the electronic control system including a radio transmitter and a reader circuit, the radio transmitter configured to energize the first transponder when the first operating key is located proximate to the operating switch and the second transponder when the second operating key is located proximate to the operating switch, the reader circuit configured to read the data from the first and second radio transponders when a respective one of the first and second transponders is energized, and the data received from the first transponder and the data received from the second transponder each includes data indicative of the level of control of a hydraulic subsystem given to the first and second user, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification