Vehicle control and gateway module

• US 9,330,062 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Agricultural Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Thurow, Bradley R., Wiig, Johan A., Gelinske, Joshua N., Reich, Adam A., Batcheller, Barry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Badii, Behrang
• Assistant Examiner(s): TESTARDI, DAVID A
• Application Number:
  US13/843,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20130211628A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/081 Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/105 Seed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/666 by detecting noise and sounds generated by the flowing fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop

Abstract

A vehicle control and gateway module comprising an electronic control module controlling one or more vehicle systems, a vehicle communications bus, a wireless communications module, an electronic gateway module acting as a translator of information between the vehicle communications bus and the wireless communications module, and a software program, whereby an operator using a remote mobile device can send and receive wireless commands to and from the vehicle with the electronic gateway module translating messages from one data protocol to the other as required.

Claims

1. A gateway system for controlling dynamic equipment, which system comprises:

a wireless mobile device;

an electronic equipment control module connected to said dynamic equipment and configured for controlling and monitoring one or more equipment functions;

a wireless-to-serial node connected to said control module;

said wireless-to-serial node including a wireless communications module;

said mobile device being configured for communicating wirelessly with said wireless-to-serial node via said communications module;

an interface between said wireless-to-serial node and said equipment control module;

said wireless-to-serial node being configured for transmitting to and receiving from said mobile device information and commands related to said one or more equipment functions;

a communications bus connected to said control module;

said control module being configured for transmitting and receiving data on said communications bus;

said communications module being configured for wirelessly transmitting data to and receiving data from said mobile device;

said communications module being configured for translating data received on said communications bus into a wireless message protocol;

wherein said communications module includes a safety function configured for disabling one or more equipment functions under predefined conditions; and

wherein said mobile device includes a pair of actuators which must be simultaneously engaged by an operator in order to enable said one or more equipment functions.

2. The gateway system according to claim 1, which includes:

said mobile device being handheld; and

said communications module being adapted for transmitting text, data and images wirelessly to and receiving data wirelessly from said mobile device.

3. The gateway system according to claim 2 wherein said mobile device is adapted for sending control commands to the control module.

4. The gateway system according to claim 3 wherein said mobile device is adapted for receiving and displaying information from the vehicle system.

5. The gateway system according to claim 2, which includes:

said mobile device acting as a virtual terminal for the dynamic equipment.

6. The gateway system according to claim 2 wherein said equipment function comprises a meter roll.

7. The gateway system according to claim 1, which includes an interface adapted for interfacing with one of the group comprising:

a third-party application;

the Internet;

equipment hardware; and

cloud-based Internet capabilities.

8. The gateway system according to claim 7, which includes an interface adapted for receiving and transmitting messages.

9. The gateway system according to claim 1, which includes:

motor drive circuits connected to motor drives on said dynamic equipment.

10. The gateway system according to claim 1, which is adapted for communicating with one or more of the group comprising a cloud server, a virtual terminal, a cellular telecommunications network and another gateway system.

11. The gateway system according to claim 1, which includes:

said mobile device including a display adapted for representing the equipment function of said equipment.

12. The gateway system according to claim 11, which includes:

said display being adapted for displaying maps of fields wherein said equipment operates; and

said display being adapted for displaying position indicators on said field maps.

13. The gateway system according to claim 1 wherein said mobile computing device includes a display screen and is adapted for displaying a job startup checklist and allowing a user to step through a series of screens associated with preparing the equipment for a specific operation.

14. The gateway system according to claim 13, which includes:

said display screen including a banner depicting equipment condition information.

15. The gateway system according to claim 14 wherein said equipment comprises a pneumatic seeder and said gateway module is adapted for detecting a flow blockage monitor and displaying a seed flow blockage status indicator.

16. The gateway system according to claim 1, which includes:

said equipment comprising a tractor towing an agricultural implement;

said agricultural equipment including multiple reservoirs for material to be applied to a field; and

said gateway system being adapted for selectively controlling the application of said material to said field.

17. The gateway system according to claim 16 wherein said material application is based on GNSS-defined positions of said equipment.

18. The gateway system according to claim 16 which includes:

multiple components each associated with a respective crop row and said field; and

said control module selectively controlling said components.

19. The gateway system according to claim 18 wherein said equipment includes one or more of material dispensing control valves, flow meters, material level indicators, load cells and tank pressure indicators.

20. A gateway system for controlling dynamic equipment, which system comprises:

a wireless mobile device;

an electronic equipment control module connected to said dynamic equipment and configured for controlling and monitoring one or more equipment functions;

a wireless-to-serial node connected to said control module;

said wireless-to-serial node including a wireless communications module;

said mobile device being configured for communicating wirelessly with said wireless-to-serial node via said communications module;

an interface between said wireless-to-serial node and said equipment control module;

said wireless-to-serial node being configured for transmitting to and receiving from said mobile device information and commands related to said one or more equipment functions;

wherein said mobile device includes a display screen;

wherein said dynamic equipment comprises a pneumatic seeder including a particulate flow blockage monitor having acoustic particulate flow sensors connected to said wireless-to-serial node;

said particulate flow blockage monitor being configured for detecting a particulate flow blockage; and

said wireless-to-serial node being configured for transmitting a particulate flow blockage status indicator to said mobile device display screen.

21. The gateway system according to claim 20, which includes:

a communications bus connected to said control module; and

said control module being adapted for transmitting and receiving data on the communications bus.

22. The gateway system according to claim 21, which includes:

serial communications ports connected to said processor and to said communications bus for receiving and transmitting messages from and to said processor.

23. The gateway system according to claim 22, which includes a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver connected to said processor and adapted for providing GNSS positioning signals to said processor and said processor being adapted for computing a position of said GNSS receiver defined by said GNSS signals.

24. The gateway system according to claim 20, which includes an application interface for an operations scheduling tool adapted for providing an operator with access to information related to one or more of the group comprising:

available workers, vehicle status, project completion status, field conditions, weather conditions and field-applied material.