Construction Vehicle with Rear Object Detection

• US 20090229150A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Hindman, Jahmy Jomont, Pfohl, Kevin Lee, Meyer, Douglas G., Honey, Gary S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,984,574 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 37/403
• 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: E02F 9/261 Surveying the work-site to be treated

Abstract

A vehicle, such as a loader, includes a chassis, a plurality of traction devices positioned to support the chassis, a tool supported by the chassis to move material, and a rear object detector. The object detector may be supported by the chassis of the vehicle and configured to detect objects around the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle including

a chassis;

a plurality of traction devices positioned to support the chassis;

a tool supported by the chassis to move material;

an object detector supported by the chassis and configured to detect objects around the vehicle;

a camera supported by the chassis;

a monitor supported by the chassis and configured to output images provided by the camera; and

a controller configured to modify the output of the monitor based on input from the object detector.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising an alarm providing an alarm signal to an operator of the vehicle indicative of an object being detected by the object detector.

3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to receive input from the object detector and alter the alarm signal of the alarm based on the detected distance of the detected object.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the monitor is configured to display operational parameters of the vehicle and the modification of the output of the monitor results in a reduction of the display of the operational parameters of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to modify the output of the monitor by displaying images provided by the camera on the monitor after detection of an object by the object detector.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to modify the output of the monitor by replacing images provided by the camera with operational parameters of the vehicle after the object is no longer detected within a distance of the vehicle by the object detector.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the object detector is a radar.

8. A vehicle including

a chassis;

a plurality of traction devices positioned to support the chassis;

a tool supported by the chassis to move material;

an object detector supported by the chassis and configured to detect objects around the vehicle;

a monitor supported by the chassis; and

a controller configured to control the output of the monitor, the controller having a first mode in which the monitor at least displays operational information of the vehicle, the controller being configured to modify the output of the monitor based on input from the object detector.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, further comprising a camera, wherein the controller has a second mode in which the monitor at least displays output from the camera, the controller switches between the first and second modes based on the input from the object detector.

10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein a greater percentage of the monitor display is dedicated to the operational information when the controller is in the first mode than when the controller is in the second mode.

11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the monitor is devoid of the operational information when the controller is in the second mode.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the monitor is devoid of output from the camera when the controller is in the first mode.

13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the controller has a third mode in which the monitor displays a menu.

14. A vehicle including

a chassis;

a plurality of traction devices positioned to support the chassis;

a tool supported by the chassis to move material;

an object detector supported by the chassis and configured to detect objects around the vehicle;

an alarm providing an alarm signal to an operator of the vehicle indicative of an object being detected by the object detector; and

a controller configured to receive input from the object detector and alter the alarm signal of the alarm based on the detected distance of the detected object.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the alarm signal includes at least an audible component.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the audible component includes at least repeating first and second segments, the length of the segments being dependent on detected distance of the detected object.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the first segment is audible and the second segment is substantially inaudible, and the length of the second segment decreases as the detected distance of the object decreases.

18. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a monitor and camera, wherein the controller is configured to control a signal to the monitor including at least an output from the camera.

19. A vehicle including

a chassis;

a plurality of traction devices positioned to support the chassis;

a tool supported by the chassis to move material; and

means for displaying at least one object positioned behind the chassis based on detection of the at least one object.

20. A vehicle of claim 19, wherein the display means includes a monitor, an object detector, a camera, and a controller receiving inputs from the monitor and the controller configured to control a signal provided to the monitor that determines the images displayed by the monitor.

21. A vehicle including

a chassis;

a plurality of traction devices positioned to support the chassis;

a tool supported by the chassis to move material;

an object detector supported by the chassis and configured to detect objects around the vehicle;

a camera supported by the chassis;

a monitor supported by the chassis and configured to output images provided by the camera;

an audible alarm, and

a controller configured to activate the audible alarm and modify the output of the monitor based on input from the object detector.