Patent · US Expired

Reconfigurable control unit for work vehicles

US6167337A · kind A · utility

119Cited by
10References
33Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 2, 1998
Grant dateDec 26, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 2, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG05B2219/2663
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A reconfigurable control unit is disclosed for providing an operator interface to control units on different types of work vehicles, such as, tractors, combines, sprayers, etc. The reconfigurable control unit stores a plurality of application programs in a memory and selects only the application program needed depending on the work vehicle type that the reconfigurable control unit is coupled to. The type of work vehicle to which the reconfigurable control unit is coupled to is determined based upon a unique configuration message received from a controller on the work vehicle. The work vehicle type may also be determined by scanning a data bus connector that couples the reconfigurable control unit to the work vehicle, or by soliciting operator input to determine which type of work vehicle the reconfigurable control unit is coupled to.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.