System for customizing responsiveness of a machine

• US 7,702,443 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Brown, Bryan D., Price, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby; Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US12/213,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20080255712A1
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/24, 701/25, 701/36, 701/33, 701/50, 701/70, 172 9- 12
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/205 Remotely operated machines, e.g. unmanned vehicles E02F3/8866 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

A control system for customizing a relationship between an operator input at an input controller and a corresponding response of a work machine is disclosed. The control system includes an input controller operable to receive an operator input and generate a corresponding control signal. The control system also includes a hand-held programmable device having parameters stored therein. The parameters are adjustable to control responsiveness of a component of the work machine over a range of inputs at the input controller. The hand-held programmable device is operable to adjust the parameters in response to an input from an operator. A control module is disposed on the work machine and is operable to receive signals from the hand-held programmable device. The signals are representative of a desired relationship between an operator input to the input controller and a corresponding response of the work machine. The control module is also operable to receive the control signal from the input controller and process the control signal based on the signals from the hand-held programmable device.

Claims

1. A control system for customizing a relationship between an operator input at an input controller and a corresponding response of a machine, comprising:

an input controller operable to receive an operator input and generate a corresponding control signal;

a programmable device having parameters stored therein, the parameters being adjustable to control responsiveness of a component of the machine over a range of inputs at the input controller, the programmable device being operable to adjust the parameters in response to an input from an operator; and

a control module disposed on the machine, the control module being operable to receive signals from the programmable device, the signals being representative of a desired relationship between an operator input to the input controller and a corresponding response of the machine, wherein the control module is further operable to receive the control. signal from the input controller and process the control signal based on the signals from the programmable device.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the parameters define a relationship between velocity of an actuator and movement of the input controller.

3. The control system of claim 2, wherein the programmable device is operable to store different relationships between velocity of an actuator and movement of an input controller for more than one implement.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the parameters include at least one of a deadband point, a saturation point, a radius, and a transition point.

5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the programmable device includes a display operable to display a modulation map showing the parameters.

6. The control system of claim 1, wherein the programmable device allows selection of an implement, the parameters being based on at least one of the implement type and the task to be performed.

7. The control system of claim 1, including a receiver operable to receive the signals from the programmable device and transmit data representing the signals to the control module.

8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the programmable device is operable to transmit the signals to the receiver by wireless transmission.

9. The control system of claim 1, wherein the programmable device is operable to simultaneously adjust the parameters controlling the relationship between the operator input at the input controller and a corresponding response of more than one component of the machine.

10. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control module is operable only when in communication with the programmable device.

11. The control system of claim 1, wherein the programmable device is remotely controlled.

12. A method for customizing a relationship between an operator input at an input controller and a corresponding response of a machine, comprising:

storing parameters in a programmable device;

adjusting the parameters to control responsiveness of a component of the machine over a range of inputs at the input controller, the programmable device being operable to adjust the parameters in response to an input from an operator;

receiving signals from the programmable device at a control module, the signals being representative of a desired relationship between an operator input to the input controller and a corresponding response of the machine;

receiving a control signal from the input controller; and

processing the control signal based on the signals received from the programmable device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein adjusting the parameters adjusts a relationship between velocity of an actuator and movement of the input controller.

14. The method of claim 13, including storing a different relationship between velocity of an actuator and movement of an input controller for more than one implement.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein adjusting the parameters includes adjusting at least one of a deadband point, a saturation point, a radius, and a transition point.

16. The method of claim 12, including displaying a modulation map on the programmable device, the modulation map showing the parameters.

17. The method of claim 12, including receiving the signals from the programmable device at a receiver;

and

transmitting the signals as data to the control module.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein adjusting the parameters includes simultaneously adjusting the relationship between the operator input at the input controller and a corresponding response of more than one component of the machine.

19. A machine comprising:

an input controller operable to receive an operator input and generate a corresponding control signal;

a programmable device having parameters stored therein, the parameters being adjustable to control a relationship between velocity of an actuator and movement of the input controller, the programmable device being operable to adjust the parameters in response to an input from an operator;

a receiver operable to receive signals from the programmable device representative of the relationship; and

a control module disposed on the machine, the control module being operable to receive data representing the signals from the receiver, wherein the control module is operable to receive the control signal from the input controller and process the control signal based on the signals from the programmable device.

20. The machine of claim 19, wherein the programmable device is operable to store a relationship between velocity of an actuator and movement of the input controller for more than one implement, wherein the relationships for at least two of the implements is different.