Image display system for controlling automatic leveling of heavy equipment

• US 8,205,164 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment Holding Sweden AB
• Original Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment Holding Sweden AB
• Inventors: Kim, Jin Seop, Lee, Chang Soo, Kim, In Woo
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Basom, Blaine T.
• Application Number:
  US12/241,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20090089703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,358 Days
• Field of Search: 715/771, 715/839, 715/764, 700/279, 700/83, 701/50, 180/89.14, 180/89.15, 379/06, 340/691.6, 333/28, 280/6.154, 280/6.153
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/06 Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means

Abstract

An image display system for controlling automatic leveling of heavy equipment is provided. The image display system includes the leveling means for adjusting horizontal levels of a lower frame provided with a traveling means and an upper frame having a cab and installed on an upper part of the lower frame, a sensor unit for sensing posture information of the heavy equipment, a leveler electronic control unit for generating an image signal from the posture information, and an image display unit for displaying the image signal on a display screen. The posture information includes inclination angles of the upper frame and the lower frame sensed on the basis of a horizontal surface against a direction of gravity, an azimuth angle of the heavy equipment sensed against a forward direction of the upper frame, and a swing angle of the upper frame sensed on the basis of a front direction of the lower frame. According to the image display system, the leveling state of the heavy equipment is easily recognized, and the control performance of the heavy equipment is improved.

Claims

1. An image display system for controlling automatic leveling of heavy equipment with a lower frame, an upper frame, and leveling means, the lower frame having traveling means, the upper frame being tiltably and swingably connected to the lower frame, and the leveling means being for adjusting horizontal levels of the upper frame, the image display system comprising:

a sensor unit, adapted to sense posture information of the heavy equipment;

a leveler electronic control unit, adapted to generate an image signal from the posture information; and

an image display unit, adapted to display the image signal on a display screen,

wherein the posture information includes inclination angles of the upper frame and the lower frame sensed on the basis of a horizontal surface against a direction of gravity, an azimuth angle of the heavy equipment sensed against a forward direction of the upper frame, and a swing angle of the upper frame sensed on the basis of a front direction of the lower frame,

wherein the sensor unit comprises;

inclination angle sensors, installed on one side of each of the upper frame and the lower frame, for sensing pitching angles and rolling angles of each of the upper frame and the lower frame,

an electronic compass, installed on one side of the upper frame, for sensing the azimuth angle of the heavy equipment against the forward direction of the upper frame, and

swing angle sensing means, installed briefly in a center position of the leveling means, for sensing the swing angle of the upper frame,

wherein the image display unit displays the heavy equipment as a symbol that symbolizes the heavy equipment, and the pitching and rolling angles of each of the lower frame and the upper frame is displayed as an operation change of the symbol on the image display unit,

wherein, on the symbol, a horizontal line against a direction of gravity is displayed as a reference line of the leveling means, and

wherein the azimuth angle of the heavy equipment is further displayed on the image display unit.

2. The image display system of claim 1, wherein the symbol is divided into a front symbol seen from the front of the heavy equipment and a side symbol seen from a side of the heavy equipment.

3. The image display system of claim 1, wherein the pitching and rolling angles are displayed as a numeral together with an operation change of the symbol.

4. The image display system of claim 1, wherein a leveling control mode is further displayed on the image display unit as a symbol.

5. The image display system of claim 1, wherein a warning for reporting warning conditions during the leveling control of the heavy equipment is further displayed on the image display unit.

6. The image display system of claim 1, wherein the symbol is displayed with colors to increase visibility.