Lift truck control system
US5687081A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 30, 1994 |
| Grant date | Nov 11, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 30, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F8/65
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A lift truck control system which utilizes a distributed control network including at least a display module, a distribution module, a traction module, a brake module and a steering module. The display and steering modules each are configurable by software which controls the module and the various drivers in each module. In the preferred embodiment, the display module includes flash memory which stores application software and can be rewritten so that the performance characteristics of the modules are software configurable. The display module is connectable to a programmable cartridge which includes nonvolatile flash memory that carries application software for the display and steering modules. When connected, the cartridge downloads the particular application software which is written over the stored software in flash memory for the display and steering modules. The programmable cartridge also can be used to store and download boot software to the display and steering modules, so that the boot procedure performed by the display and steering modules is also software configurable. The system accepts modules which can be installed in a variety of different lift truck vehicles with mi…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.