Wireless snow plow control

• US 9,194,091 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Toro Company (Toro)
• Inventors: Moon, James E. Jr., Christy, Jody, Blank, Gary Laird
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Gerrad A
• Application Number:
  US13/778,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20140052335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0088 Details of electrical connections B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/18 being additional front lights bracket mounted headlights B60Q1/0483
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 5/06 dislodging essentially by non-driven elements, e.g. scraper blades , snow-plough blades, scoop blades

Abstract

Wireless snow plow control methods and systems may include at least three units in mutual wireless communicative connection: a plow control module (PCM), a vehicle control module (VCM), and a remote controller. Each unit may be capable of operating with any one of a plurality of units of another type, with any one of multiple types of vehicles, and with any one of multiple types of snow plows. Three specific units of different types may automatically synchronize for operating a particular snow plow in response to commands from the remote. The VCM may be capable of automatically detecting a connection status of a snow plow, enabling/disabling snow plow lights and vehicle lights based on the connection status, controlling enabled vehicle lights, and wirelessly controlling enabled snow plow lights. The remote may wirelessly transmit commands either directly to the PCM, or to the VCM for forwarding to the PCM.

Claims

1. A system for wireless control of a snow plow that is mountable on a vehicle, comprising:

a remote controller;

a plow control module mounted on the snow plow and including a respective transceiver; and

a vehicle control module mounted on the vehicle and including a respective transceiver that wirelessly communicates with the plow control module transceiver, the vehicle control module being capable of;

detecting an availability of the plow control module; and

based on the detection of the availability of the plow control module, (i) disengaging, from operation, one or more vehicle lights mounted on the vehicle; and

(ii) controlling one or more plow lights mounted on the snow plow based on one or more signals corresponding to vehicle light control of the one or more vehicle lights.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more plow lights include at least one of a plow headlight, a plow turn signal, a plow reverse light, or a plow daytime running lamp;

and wherein the one or more vehicle lights include at least one of a vehicle headlight, a vehicle turn signal, a vehicle reverse light, or a vehicle daytime running lamp.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more plow lights include a plow headlight and a plow turn signal, and wherein the one or more vehicle lights a vehicle headlight and a vehicle turn signal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the detection of the availability of the plow control module is based on a wireless signal originated by the plow control module and received at the vehicle control module.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle control module is further capable of:

detecting an unavailability of the plow control module; and

re-engaging the one or more vehicle lights into operation based on the detection of the unavailability of the plow control module.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more signals corresponding to vehicle light control of the one or more vehicle lights correspond to user manipulation of one or more operator controls for controlling the one or more vehicle lights.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a harness interconnecting the vehicle control module and the one or more vehicle lights.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the harness is configured to redirect, to the vehicle control module instead of to the one or more vehicle lights, the one or more signals corresponding to vehicle light control of the one or more vehicle lights.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle control module is configured to cause wireless communications corresponding to the one or more signals corresponding to vehicle light control of the one or more vehicle lights to be delivered to the plow control module when the plow control module is available, and

the vehicle control module is configured to cause communication corresponding to the one or more signals corresponding to vehicle light control of one or more vehicle lights to be delivered to the one or more vehicle lights when the plow control module is unavailable.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle control module is further capable of wirelessly communicating with the plow control module to control operations of the snow plow.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the vehicle control module is capable of wirelessly communicating with the plow control module to control operations of the snow plow based on commands received from the remote controller.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the commands received form the remote controller are based on user input received at the remote controller.