Wireless communications system for work machine components

• US 7,286,928 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Spengler, Philip Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US11/017,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20060136101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,035 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/115, 701101-103, 701/114, 700 83- 85, 180/167, 710/12
• US Class Current: 701/115
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for providing wireless communications between on-board components of a machine, In one embodiment, a system is disclosed that includes a first on-board component associated with a first transducer for wirelessly transmitting first data signals from the first on-board component, and a second on-board component associated with a receiver for receiving the wirelessly transmitted first data signals from the first on-board component. The system may also include a second transducer for wirelessly transmitting second data signals from the second on-board component, wherein the second on-board component generates the second data signals based on the received first data signals and wirelessly transmits the second data signals through the second transducer. In one embodiment, the machine includes a third on-board component that wirelessly transmits third data signals to the second on-board component via the first transducer.

Claims

1. A system for providing wireless communications between on-board components of a machine, comprising:

a first on-board component associated with a first transducer for wirelessly transmitting first data signals from the first on-board component; and

a second on-board component associated with a receiver for receiving the wirelessly transmitted first data signals from the first on-board component and a second transducer for wirelessly transmitting second data signals from the second on-board component,

wherein the second on-board component generates the second data signals based on the received first data signals and wirelessly transmits the second data signals through the second transducer, and

wherein the machine includes a third on-board component that wirelessly transmits third data signals to the second on-board component via the first transducer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second on-board component wirelessly transmits the second data signals through the second transducer to a fourth on-board component of the machine.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the fourth on-board component receives the second data signals through a receiver configured to receive wireless data signals, and performs a process based the second data signals.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first on-board component is at least one of a sensor, a control module for controlling the operation of other on-board components, an interface component that receives data signals from an off-board system remote from the machine, and a machine component configured to perform a particular machine operation.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second on-board component is at least one of a control module for controlling the operation of other on-board components and an interface component that receives signals from an off-board system remote from the machine.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first on-board component is a sensor and the second on-board component is a control module that controls the operations of other on-board components of the machine based on the first data signals.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second data signals are control signals for controlling the operation of a target on-board component and wherein the second transducer wirelessly transmits the control signals to the target on-board component.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the target on-board component adjusts its operations based on the control signals wirelessly sent by the second transducer.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine includes wireless and wired data links interconnecting the first and second on-board components, and wherein the first on board component is configured to transmit the first data signals to the second on board component over the wired data link and wirelessly transmit the first data signals to the second on board component over the wireless data link via the first transducer.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first on-board component transmits the first data signals to the second on-board component over the wired data link when the first data signals cannot be transmitted to the second on-board component over the wireless data link.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine includes a fourth on-board component having a third transducer for wirelessly transmitting fourth data signals to the second on-board component.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second on-board component generates the second data signals based on at least one of the first, third, and fourth data signals wirelessly transmitted by the first, third, and fourth on-board components, respectively.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine is a commercial truck.

14. A method for providing wireless communications between on-board components of a machine, wherein the machine includes wireless and wired data links interconnecting a first set of on-board components and a second on-board component, the method comprising:

wirelessly transmitting, by a first transducer associated with the first set of on-board components, first data signals;

receiving the first data signals at a receiver associated with the second on-board component;

generating, by the second on-board component, second data signals based on the received first data signals;

wirelessly transmitting the second data signals through a second transducer associated with the second on-board component;

transmitting by one of the first on-board components in the first set, at least one of the first data signals to the second on-board component over the wired data link; and

wirelessly transmitting, by the one first on-board component, at least one of the first data signals to the second on-board component over the wireless data link via the first transducer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein wirelessly transmitting the second data signals includes:

wirelessly transmitting the second data signals through the second transducer to a third on-board component of the machine.

16. The method of claim 15, further including:

receiving the second data signals through a receiver associated with the third on-board component and configured to receive wireless data signals; and

performing, by the third on-board component, a process based the second data signals.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the set of first on-board components includes at least one of a sensor, a control module for controlling the operation of other on-board components, an interface component that receives data signals from an off-board system remote from the machine, and a machine component configured to perform a particular machine operation.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the second on-board component is at least one of a control module for controlling the operation of other on-board components and an interface component that receives signals from an off-board system remote from the machine.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the set of first on-board components includes a sensor and the second on-board component is a control module that controls the operations of other on-board components of the machine based on the first data signals.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the second data signals are control signals for controlling the operation of a target on-board component and wherein the method further includes:

wirelessly transmitting, by the second transducer, the control signals to the target on-board component.

21. The method of claim 20, further including:

adjusting, by the target on-board component, operations of the target on-board component based on the control signals wirelessly sent by the second transducer.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the machine is a commercial truck.

23. The method of claim 14, further including:

transmitting, by the one first on-board component, the first data signals to the second on-board component over the wired data link when the first data signals cannot be transmitted to the second on-board component over the wireless data link.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the machine includes a third on-board component associated with a third transducer, and the method further includes:

wirelessly transmitting third data signals to the second on-board component by the third transducer.

25. The method of claim 24, further including:

generating, by the second on-board component, the second data signals based on at least one of the first and third data signals wirelessly transmitted by the first set of on-board components and the third on-board component, respectively.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the machine includes a third on-board component, and the method further includes:

wirelessly transmitting, by the third on-board component, third data signals to the second on-board component via the first transducer.

27. A system for providing wireless communications between on-board components of a machine, comprising:

first means located on the work machine for wirelessly transmitting first data signals from a first on-board component; and

a second on-board component having a second means located on the machine for receiving the wirelessly transmitted first data signals and for wirelessly transmitting second data signals, wherein

the machine includes wireless and wired data links interconnecting the first and second on-board components, and wherein the first on-board component is configured to transmit the first data signals to the second on-board component over the wired data link and wirelessly transmit the first data signals to the second on-board component over the wireless data link.