Earthmoving machine sensor

• US 8,306,705 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2008
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Trimble Control Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Nichols, Mark Edward, Wolf, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US12/101,502
• Publication Number:
  US 20090259373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/50, 701101-103, 701/114, 701/115, 700 2- 5, 700 83- 85, 700/108, 700/159, 700/275, 340/10.1, 340/572.1, 340/679, 340/686.6, 340/870.01, 235/375, 180/167, 710/12, 455/404.1
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/264 Sensors and their calibration for indicating the position of the work tool

Abstract

System and method for providing an excavation characteristic associated with an earthmoving machine. In one embodiment, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with an attachment mounted to an earthmoving machine may be identified. An optical benchmark signal may be detected, by an optical receiver. The position of the attachment relative to the earthmoving machine may be determined based, at least in part, on identification of the RFID tag. The position of the attachment may be provided to an operator of the earthmoving machine.

Claims

1. A sensor for an earthmoving machine, the sensor comprising:

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag reader that identifies a RFID tag on an attachment coupled to the earthmoving machine;

an optical receiver that detects an optical benchmark signal; and

an output circuit that provides one or more signals corresponding to identification of the RFID tag and position of the attachment.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the RFID tag reader detects an RFID tag on at least one of an object, utility equipment, and a boundary located in the vicinity of the earthmoving machine.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the optical receiver detects an angle of the earthmoving machine relative to the optical benchmark signal.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the optical receiver detects a vertical distance of at least one of the earthmoving machine and the attachment relative to the optical benchmark signal.

5. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a housing arranging the RFID tag reader and the optical receiver, the housing mounted to the earthmoving machine.

6. The sensor of claim 5, wherein the housing is mounted to a support mast of the earthmoving machine.

7. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising an angle sensor that detects the orientation of the attachment relative to the earthmoving machine.

8. A method comprising the acts of:

identifying a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag on an attachment coupled to an earthmoving machine;

detecting an optical benchmark signal, by an optical receiver, receiving optical signal data;

determining position of the attachment relative to the earthmoving machine based, at least in part, on identification of the RFID tag; and

providing the position of the attachment to an operator of the earthmoving machine.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting an RFID tag on at least one of an object, utility equipment, and a boundary located in the vicinity of the earthmoving machine.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting an angle of the earthmoving machine relative to the optical benchmark signal.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting a vertical distance of at least one of the earthmoving machine and the attachment relative to the optical benchmark signal.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting the orientation of the attachment relative to the earthmoving machine.

13. A system comprising:

an optical source providing an optical benchmark signal;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag coupled to an attachment to an earthmoving machine;

a sensor that detects the RFID tag, receives the optical benchmark signal, and outputs one or more signals; and

a controller coupled to the sensor, wherein the controller;

receives an identification of the tag on the attachment,

determines a position of the attachment relative to the earthmoving machine based, at least in part, on the identification of the tag on the attachment, and

provides the position of the attachment to an operator of the earthmoving machine.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor detects an RFID tag on at least one of an object, utility equipment, and a boundary located in the vicinity of the earthmoving machine.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the optical benchmark signal comprises a planar laser beam signal.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor detects an angle of the earthmoving machine relative to the optical benchmark signal.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor detects a vertical distance of the earthmoving machine relative to the optical benchmark signal.

18. The system of claim 13, further comprising a housing arranging the RFID tag reader and the optical receiver to the earthmoving machine.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the housing is mounted to a support mast of the earthmoving machine.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the sensor further comprises an angle sensor that senses the orientation of the attachment relative to the earthmoving machine.