Method of and apparatus for operating working machines

• US 7,266,415 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH (CLAAS KGaA mbH)
• Original Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH (CLAAS KGaA mbH)
• Inventors: Fitzner, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Thomas K.
• Application Number:
  US10/912,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20050033454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 700/170, 700/12, 700/37, 700/52, 700/28, 700/87
• US Class Current: 700/17
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/127 Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines

Abstract

A method for operation of a working machine with at least one adjustable operating parameter of at least one working unit of the working machine, includes associating the working machine with a control generator coupled to a control editor for changing the at least one operating parameter; providing controls in the control generator, and changing the controls by the control editor.

Claims

1. A method for operation of a working machine with at least one adjustable operating parameter of at least one working unit of the working machine, the method comprising the steps of associating the working machine with a control generator coupled to a control editor for changing the at least one operating parameter;

generating by the control generator controls that are defined by a natural language program steps and storing the controls defined by natural language program steps in the control generator;

changing the controls defined by natural language program steps by the control editor;

defining problems by a user in a natural language; and

answering the problems in the natural language by the controls stored in the control generator, so that the user can define the problems without special knowledge about a complicated relationship between the operating parameters and crop properties.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising providing a terminology of the natural language program steps in language elements.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 further comprising connecting the language elements with a source code provided in the control generator.

4. A method as defined in claim 2 further comprising forming by the language elements both input data and output data of the operational parameter to be adjusted, which lead in the control editor directly to generation of corresponding controls.

5. A method as defined in claim 4 further comprising including in the input data operational parameters of the working machine, problems during operation of the working machine, inner and outer boundary conditions, and objectives to be achieved during operation of the working machine.

6. A method as defined in claim 4 further comprising including in the output data the adjustable operational parameters of the working machine.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising generating in the stored control editable in the control generator an optimal nominal value of the at least one operational parameter;

and outputting the nominal value in natural language.

8. A method as defined in claim 7 further comprising performing the outputting of the optimal nominal value of the operational parameter in a manner selected from the group consisting of visually, acoustically, and both.

9. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising structuring the controls as controls selected from the group consisting of “

when-then”

controls, decision tables, flow diagrams, and combinations thereof.

10. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising providing a storage module for storing the controls;

assembling the control generator that is coupled with the control editor together with the storage module into a single module;

arranging the single module centrally; and

connecting a plurality of such working machines with the single module through a data exchange system.

11. A method as defined in claim 10 further comprising exchanging the generated controls between a plurality of such machines.

12. A method as defined in claim 11 further comprising connecting the plurality of the working machines with said single module;

and exchanging the generated controls by the working machines.

13. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising providing in the natural language program steps that define the controls, informations selected from the group consisting of adjustment advices and mounting instructions.

14. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising adjusting the determined operational parameter automatically on a corresponding one of working units of the working machine.

15. A method as defined in claim 1 further comprising carrying out by a operator a qualitative assessment of the optimized adjustable operation parameter.

16. An apparatus for operating a working machine with at least one adjustable operation parameter of at least one working unit of the working machine, the apparatus comprising a control generator which is coupled with a control editor for changing the at least one operating parameter of the working machine, said control generator being operative for generating and storing controls which are defined by natural language program steps and which are editable by said control editor;

and an inputting and indicating unit connected with said control generator and indicating the natural language program steps as well as results generated by said control generator; and

means for defining problems by a user in a natural language and answering the problems in the natural language by the controls stored in the control generator, so that the user can define the problems without special knowledge about a complicated relationship between the operating parameters and crop properties.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said apparatus is formed as an apparatus for the working machine which is an agricultural working machine.

18. A method for operation of a working machine with at least one adjustable operating parameter of at least one working unit of the working machine, the method comprising the steps of associating the working machine with a control generator coupled to a control editor for changing the at least one operating parameter;

generating by the control generator and storing controls that are defined by natural language program steps;

changing the controls defined by natural language program steps by the control editor;

connecting an inputting indicating and unit to the control indicator;

indicating by the inputting and indicating unit the natural language program steps as well as results generated by the control generator; and

means for defining problems by a user in a natural language and answering the problems in the natural language by the controls stored in the control generator, so that the user can define the problems without special knowledge about a complicated relationship between the operating parameters and crop properties.

19. An apparatus for operating a working machine with at least one adjustable operation parameter of at least one working unit of the working machine, the apparatus comprising a control generator which is coupled with a control editor for changing the at least one operating parameter of the working machine, said control generator being operative for generating and storing controls which are defined by natural language program steps and which are editable by said control editor;

an inputting and indicating unit connected with said control generator and indicating the natural language program steps as well as results generated by said control generator; and

means for defining problems by a user in a natural language and answering the problems in the natural language by the controls stored in the control generator, so that the user can define the problems without special knowledge about a complicated relationship between the operating parameters and crop properties.