Monitor display for construction machine

• US 7,657,841 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2005
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shibamori, Kazuhiro, Sakyo, Tsuyoshi, Nakamura, Keiichiro, Shimamura, Tadatoshi, Nakamura, Kazunori, Sugiyama, Genroku
• Primary Examiner(s): Zhou; Ting
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREENE, SABRINA LETICIA
• Application Number:
  US11/547,830
• Publication Number:
  US 20070168101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,754 Days
• Field of Search: 715/771, 715/764, 715/778, 701/1, 700/1
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/40 Working vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/22 by presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/106 for selecting a programme, variable or parameter
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23037 Touch key integrated in display
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24156 Inhibit program entry, keyboard by entering sequence of certain keys

Abstract

A display device for a construction machine has a display switching means, output control means, operation detecting means, and display prohibiting means. The display switching means switches information displayed on a monitor placed in an operation cabin, where the switching is made to prevent display of unnecessary information on the monitor while the construction machine is performing work. The output control means selects display information recorded in information recording means and outputs the selected information to the monitor. The operation detecting means detects whether or not the construction machine is in a working state. When the operation detecting means detects that the construction machine is in the working state, display switching operation of the monitor is performed by the display switching means, and the display prohibiting means prohibits the display of specific information.

Claims

1. A monitor display to be installed within a cab of a mobile construction machine, adapted to selectively display sets of information including at least one of predetermined information stored in an information storage means and other information, characterized in that said monitor display comprises:

a contents switch means for switching contents of said monitor display selectively from one set of information to another, wherein each set of information constitutes a screen;

an output control means adapted to output contents of a selected screen to said monitor display according to a signal from said contents switch means;

a machine status checkout means adapted to determine whether said mobile construction machine is currently in an operating state or in an idling state;

a contents prohibiting means adapted to prohibit display of certain screens as long as said mobile construction machine is in an operating state, even if said switch means is manipulated to select any of said certain screens;

wherein a plurality of said screens are categorized into one group including operation monitor screens, that are permitted to be selected during any of an operating state and an idling state of said mobile construction machine, and are arranged to display information including basic information and operation-assisting information;

wherein a plurality of said screens are categorized into another group including instructive screens and setup screens, that are prohibited to be selected during an operating state of said mobile construction machine, but are permitted to be selected during an idling state of said mobile construction machine, and are arranged to display information including instructive information and setup information; and

wherein said output control means is adapted to display a basic monitor screen preferentially to other operation monitor screens, while permitting to switch between said basic monitor screen and any one of other operation monitor screens by said contents switch means regardless of whether said mobile construction machine is in an operating state or in an idling state, and while permitting to switch to any one of said instructive screens and setup screens only when said mobile construction machine is in an idling state.

2. A monitor display as defined in claim 1, wherein said basic information is information on operating conditions of said mobile construction machine, including at least one of an engine cooling water temperature meter, a fuel meter, an operating oil temperature meter, a clock, and an hour meter.

3. A monitor display as defined in claim 1,

wherein said monitor display is connected to a rear monitor camera set on said mobile construction machine to provide a rear view for an operator within said cab;

wherein said output control means is adapted to display rear view images from said rear monitor camera as a screen on said monitor display when said mobile construction machine is detected as being in an idling state by said machine status checkout means; and

wherein said output control means is adapted to switch said monitor display to a basic monitor screen that shows contents of machine operating conditions including at least one of an engine cooling water temperature meter, a fuel meter, an operating oil temperature meter, a clock, and an hour meter, as soon as said machine status checkout means finds said mobile construction machine to be currently in an operating state.

4. A monitor display as defined in claim 1,

wherein said contents switch means is constituted by one of a plural number of manual switches provided alongside said monitor display;

and

wherein said contents switch means is adapted to function also as a setup switch when making a setup or alteration in connection with contents displayed on said monitor display.

5. A monitor display as defined in claim 4,

wherein contents to be displayed on said monitor display include a cab interference screen containing information for prevention of interference with the cab;

and

wherein said manual switches are adapted to function also as switches for setting operational limit values of said mobile construction machine.

6. A monitor display as defined in claim 1,

wherein said machine status checkout means is adapted to check whether the mobile construction machine is currently in an operating state or in an idling state through at least one of detection of engine speed, detection of pressure of a hydraulic actuator, and detection of position of a gate lock lever provided on or beside an operator'"'"'s seat.

7. A monitor display as defined in claim 1,

wherein said operation monitor screens include a basic monitor screen, a rear view monitor screen, a moment limiter (ML) monitor screen, and a cab interference monitor screen.

8. A monitor display as defined in claim 1,

wherein said instructive screens include a maintenance screen, a troubleshooting screen, and a communication dialogue screen.

9. A monitor display as defined in claim 1,

wherein said setup screens include an attachment selection screen, and a clock setting screen.