Construction equipment including rear view camera

• US 8,340,874 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2010
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment Holding Sweden AB
• Original Assignee: Volvo Construction Equipment Holding Sweden AB
• Inventors: Lee, Chun Han
• Primary Examiner(s): MCCULLOUGH, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US12/702,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20100204873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,050 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 348118-120, 348/148, 172/430, 371/443
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/26 to the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0858 Arrangement of component parts installed on superstructures not otherwise provided for, e.g. electric components, fenders, air-conditioning units E02F9/16, E02F9/18 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/261 Surveying the work-site to be treated

Abstract

Construction equipment including a hydraulic pump driven by an engine, a lower driving structure, an upper swing structure swingably mounted on the lower driving structure, a working device mounted on the upper swing structure and having a boom, an arm, and a bucket respectively driven by a hydraulic cylinder is disclosed. The construction equipment comprises a rear view camera to permit a driver to view rearward traffic conditions.

Claims

1. A construction equipment including a hydraulic pump driven by an engine, a lower driving structure, an upper swing structure swingably mounted on the lower driving structure, a working device mounted on the upper swing structure and having a boom, an arm and a bucket each respectively driven by a hydraulic cylinder, the construction equipment comprising:

a rear view camera installed on a predetermined rear position on the upper swing structure and photographing rearward and lateral sides of the construction equipment in real time;

a monitor provided in a cabin mounted on the upper swing structure to display an image output from the rear view camera;

a driving detecting unit for detecting driving of the hydraulic pump to output a detected signal, the driving detecting unit comprising a sensor for detecting when pressure of working oil of the hydraulic pump is more than a set reference pressure;

a control unit for displaying the image output from the rear view camera on the monitor when pressure of the working oil of the hydraulic pump is more than a the set reference pressure; and

an image turning-off means for turning off the image displayed on the monitor when a working condition is changed by a driver;

wherein the driving detecting unit of the hydraulic pump includes a second sensor for detecting a current value applied to an electronic proportional control valve which controls a pump regulator adjusting an inclined angle of a swash plate so as to control a discharge amount of the hydraulic pump, and the second sensor transmits an electric signal corresponding to the current value to the control unit.

2. The construction equipment according to claim 1, wherein the driving detecting unit of the hydraulic pump includes a pressure sensor installed in an outlet flow passage of the hydraulic pump and detecting the pressure of the working oil to transmit an electric signal corresponding to the pressure to the control unit.

3. The construction equipment according to claim 1, wherein the driving detecting unit of the hydraulic pump includes an inclined-angle detecting sensor for detecting an inclined angle of a swash plate of the hydraulic pump to transmit an electric signal corresponding to the inclined angle to the control unit.

4. The construction equipment according to claim 3, wherein the image turning-off means turns off the image output from the rear view camera displayed on the monitor in the case where a manipulation signal for operating the working device is input.

5. The construction equipment according to claim 3, wherein if a manipulation signal for operating the working device is input or a manipulation signal for operating the swing device to swing the upper swing structure with respect to the lower driving structure is input, the image output from the rear view camera is turned off the monitor.

6. A construction equipment including a hydraulic pump driven by an engine, a lower driving structure, an upper swing structure swingably mounted on the lower driving structure, a working device mounted on the upper swing structure and having a boom, an arm and a bucket each respectively driven by a hydraulic cylinder, the construction equipment comprising:

a rear view camera installed on a predetermined rear position on the upper swing structure and photographing rearward and lateral sides of the construction equipment in real time;

a monitor provided in a cabin mounted on the upper swing structure to display an image output from the rear view camera;

a driving detecting unit for detecting driving of the hydraulic pump to output a detected signal, the driving detecting unit comprising a sensor for detecting when pressure of working oil of the hydraulic pump is more than a set reference pressure;

a control unit for displaying the image output from the rear view camera on the monitor when pressure of the working oil of the hydraulic pump is more than the set reference pressure; and

an image turning-off means for turning off the image displayed on the monitor when a working condition of the construction equipment is changed by a driver without a need for the driver to manipulate a dedicated switch to turn off the displayed image.

7. The construction equipment according to claim 6, wherein the driving detecting unit of the hydraulic pump includes a pressure sensor installed in an outlet flow passage of the hydraulic pump and detecting the pressure of the working oil to transmit an electric signal corresponding to the pressure to the control unit.

8. The construction equipment according to claim 6, wherein the driving detecting unit of the hydraulic pump includes an inclined-angle detecting sensor for detecting an inclined angle of a swash plate of the hydraulic pump to transmit an electric signal corresponding to the inclined angle to the control unit.

9. The construction equipment according to claim 6, wherein the driving detecting unit of the hydraulic pump includes an inclined-angle detecting sensor for detecting a current value applied to an electronic proportional control valve which controls a pump regulator adjusting an inclined angle of the swash plate so as to control a discharge amount of the hydraulic pump, and the sensor transmits an electric signal corresponding to the current value to the control unit.

10. The construction equipment according to claim 6, wherein the image turning-off means turns off the image output from the rear view camera displayed on the monitor in the case where a manipulation signal for operating the working device is input.

11. The construction equipment according to claim 6, wherein if a manipulation signal for operating the working device is input or a manipulation signal for operating the swing device to swing the upper swing structure with respect to the lower driving structure is input, the image output from the rear view camera is turned off the monitor.