System for assisting a driver of an industrial truck during driving

• US 7,688,223 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
• Original Assignee: Jungheinrich AG
• Inventors: von Werder, Martin, Magens, Ernst-Peter, Manken, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labbees; Edny
• Application Number:
  US11/524,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20070069907A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340/10.1, 340/901, 340/905, 340/10.2, 340/5.1, 340/825.37, 340/426.36, 455/41.1
• US Class Current: 340/905
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 17/003 for fork-lift trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0755 Position control; Position detectors

Abstract

System for assisting a driver of an industrial truck with the following features: transponders are arranged at predetermined points of the working area of the industrial truck, the transponders are designed so that they transmit a UHF signal upon receipt of a transmission signal, the industrial truck comprises at least one aerial for transmitting and/or receiving an LF signal, an evaluation unit is arranged on the industrial truck which, upon receipt of a signal, sends said signal to an electronic evaluation unit for the UHF signals, the evaluation unit is connected to an on-board computer in the industrial truck.

Claims

1. System for assisting a driver of an industrial truck comprising:

a plurality of transponders (20), having active and inactive states, and normally being in the inactive state, and being arranged at predetermined points of the working area of the industrial truck (10), the plurality of transponders receiving at a LF frequency and transmitting at a UHF frequency;

the transponders (20), upon receipt of the LF frequency signal, switch from the inactive state to the active state and transmit a UHF frequency signal;

the industrial truck (10) having at least one transmission and receiving device and at least one antenna for transmitting and/or receiving a signal towards and from at least one transponder, the transmission and receiving device transmitting at a LF frequency and receiving at a UHF frequency;

the transponders transmit the UHF-signal upon receipt of the LF signal from the transmission and receiving device;

an electronic evaluation unit (16) for the UHF-signals is arranged on the industrial truck (10) and the electronic evaluation unit is connected with an on-board-computer in the industrial truck so that an indication for the driver is generated or a speed of the industrial truck is influenced through a control means for a driving means for the industrial truck;

further characterised in that the transponders (20) are fitted with batteries and upon receipt of the LF frequency signal, transmit the UHF frequency signal, the industrial truck has a first aerial for transmitting the transmission signal, and the evaluation unit has a second aerial for the receipt of the UHF frequency signal, and

further characterised in that on the industrial truck a monitoring circuit is provided which monitors the functions of the industrial truck, data relative to the functions of the industrial truck are stored in the transponder which correspond to prohibited functions or mandatory functions at the location of, or in the vicinity of, the transponders and the monitoring circuit compares the signals coming from the transponders with the respective function and it is indicated to the driver on a display when the respective function deviates from the prohibited function or mandatory function contained in the signal.

2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the transponders (20) are attached to, or in the vicinity of, traffic signs (24).

3. System according to claim 1, characterised in that a first aerial (12) is attached to an overhead guard of the industrial truck.

4. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the industrial truck has a control device for controlling a drive of the industrial truck, and its speed, according to the UHF signal.

5. System according to claim 1, characterised in that a transmission circuit for the transmission signal, is arranged in the evaluation unit (16) and the evaluation unit (16) is connected via a cable (28) to the transmission aerial (12).

6. System according to claim 1, characterised in that a main connection is provided as a supply terminal for the transponders.

7. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the aerial is attached to a front or rear windscreen or to a lift device of the industrial truck.

8. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the transponders are activated by external control devices in the operating area of the industrial truck.