Electrohydraulic controller feedback system and method
First Claim
1. An electrohydraulic controller feedback system comprising:
- an electrohydraulic operator controller for operator control of a machine hydraulic function;
a feedback mechanism for sensing a property of the machine hydraulic function and for generating tactile feedback in the electrohydraulic operator controller based on the sensed property of the machine hydraulic function;
wherein the tactile feedback varies according to a user-selectable profile, the user-selectable profile including a breakpoint, the tactile feedback being related to the sensed property of the machine hydraulic function by a first relationship for values of the sensed property less than the breakpoint and the tactile feedback being related to the sensed property of the machine hydraulic function by a second relationship for values of the sensed property greater than the breakpoint, the second relationship being different than the first relationship.
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Abstract
An electrohydraulic controller feedback system and method including an electrohydraulic operator controller and a feedback mechanism is disclosed. An operator controls a machine hydraulic function using the electrohydraulic operator controller, the feedback system senses a property of the hydraulic function, and generates tactile feedback in the electrohydraulic operator controller based on the sensed property. The electrohydraulic operator controller can be, for example, a joystick or control lever. The tactile feedback can be vibrations that vary based on the sensed property. The vibration can vary according to a profile relating the vibration amount to the sensed property. The profile can include portions of various shapes, for example, linear, exponential or parabolic, and can include breakpoints. The profile can include high sensitivity regions where small changes in the sensed property result in large vibration changes.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electrohydraulic controller feedback system comprising:
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an electrohydraulic operator controller for operator control of a machine hydraulic function; a feedback mechanism for sensing a property of the machine hydraulic function and for generating tactile feedback in the electrohydraulic operator controller based on the sensed property of the machine hydraulic function; wherein the tactile feedback varies according to a user-selectable profile, the user-selectable profile including a breakpoint, the tactile feedback being related to the sensed property of the machine hydraulic function by a first relationship for values of the sensed property less than the breakpoint and the tactile feedback being related to the sensed property of the machine hydraulic function by a second relationship for values of the sensed property greater than the breakpoint, the second relationship being different than the first relationship. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 20)
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7. An electrohydraulic controller feedback system comprising:
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an electrohydraulic operator controller for physical operator control of a machine hydraulic function; an electrohydraulic machine controller coupled to the electrohydraulic operator controller, the electrohydraulic machine controller receiving an electrical input signal from the electrohydraulic operator controller based on the physical positioning of the electrohydraulic operator controller by the operator, the electrohydraulic machine controller generating an output signal based on the electrical input signal from the electrohydraulic operator controller and sending the output signal to control valves to control the machine hydraulic function, the electrohydraulic machine controller also sensing a sensed property of the machine hydraulic function; a feedback mechanism coupled to the electrohydraulic machine controller and to the electrohydraulic operator controller, the electrohydraulic machine controller sending a sensor signal indicating the sensed property of the machine hydraulic function to the feedback mechanism, the feedback mechanism generating a feedback signal to cause tactile feedback in the electrohydraulic operator controller based on the sensor signal from the electrohydraulic machine controller; wherein the tactile feedback in the electrohydraulic operator controller varies according to a user-selectable profile, the user-selectable profile including a first breakpoint, the tactile feedback being related to the sensed property of the machine hydraulic function by a first relationship for values of the sensed property less than the first breakpoint and the tactile feedback being related to the sensed property of the machine hydraulic function by a second relationship for values of the sensed property greater than the first breakpoint, the second relationship being different than the first relationship. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for providing electrohydraulic controller feedback, the method comprising:
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controlling a machine hydraulic function using an electrohydraulic operator controller; sensing a sensed property of the machine hydraulic function; generating tactile feedback in the electrohydraulic operator controller based on the sensed property of the machine hydraulic function; varying the tactile feedback in the electrohydraulic operator controller according to a user-selectable profile including a breakpoint; varying the tactile feedback based on to the sensed property of the machine hydraulic function according to a first relationship for values of the sensed property less than the first breakpoint; and varying the tactile feedback based on the sensed property of the machine hydraulic function according to a second relationship for values of the sensed property greater than the first breakpoint, the second relationship being different than the first relationship. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification