STABILIZER LEG CONTROL SYSTEM, A VEHICLE, AND A METHOD

Abstract

A stabilizer leg control system (2) for controlling at least one stabilizer leg (4) arranged to support the stability of a vehicle (6), the control system comprises: a control unit (8) configured to control the operation of said at least one stabilizer leg (4), a user interface unit (10) comprising a user interface (12) configured to receive user input to control various functions of the vehicle, including to control the operation of said at least one stabilizer leg (4) of said vehicle, and to establish bidirectional communication to said control unit by a communication signal (14), and a receiver unit (16), a transmission unit (18) structured to be mounted at, or in the vicinity of, each of said at least one stabilizer leg (4), wherein said transmission unit (18) is configured to transmit a transmission unit signal (20). The user interface (12) is configured to receive a stabilizer leg activation input from a user when said at least one stabilizer leg is to be operated, and upon receipt of a stabilizer activation input, the user interface unit (10) is configured to generate a transmission unit activation signal (22). The transmission unit (18) is configured to be activated, and to generate said transmission unit signal (20), upon receipt of said transmission unit activation signal (22), and wherein said user interface unit (10) is configured to receive said transmission unit signal (20) by said receiver unit (16), and upon receipt of said transmission unit signal (20) the user interface unit (10) is enabled to operate the stabilizer leg related to the transmission unit (18) that generated the transmission unit signal (20).

Claims

1. A stabilizer leg control system for controlling at least one stabilizer leg arranged to support the stability of a vehicle, the control system comprising: a control unit configured to control the operation of said at least one stabilizer leg, a user interface unit comprising a user interface configured to receive user input to control various functions of the vehicle, including to control the operation of said at least one stabilizer leg of said vehicle, and to establish bidirectional communication to said control unit by a communication signal, and a receiver unit, at least one transmission unit structured to be mounted at, or in the vicinity of, each of said at least one stabilizer leg, wherein said transmission unit is configured to transmit a transmission unit signal, wherein said user interface is configured to receive a stabilizer leg activation input from a user when said at least one stabilizer leg is to be operated, and upon receipt of a stabilizer activation input, the user interface unit is configured to generate a transmission unit activation signal, wherein said transmission unit is configured to be activated, and to generate said transmission unit signal, upon direct or indirect receipt of said transmission unit activation signal, and wherein said user interface unit is configured to receive said transmission unit signal by said receiver unit, and upon receipt of said transmission unit signal the user interface unit is enabled to operate the stabilizer leg related to the transmission unit that generated the transmission unit signal.

2. The stabilizer leg control system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is configured to receive said transmission unit activation signal, and upon receipt of said signal activate said transmission unit.

3. The stabilizer leg control system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission unit signal comprises identification data uniquely identifying the stabilizer leg where the transmission unit is mounted, and wherein said user interface unit is configured to send received identification data to said control unit that is configured to compare received identification data to stored identification data of the activated transmission unit that transmitted the transmission unit signal, and to generate an enabling signal to said user interface unit if the received identification data corresponds to the stored identification data.

4. The stabilizer leg control system according to claim 1, wherein said transmission unit signal comprises identification data uniquely identifying the stabilizer leg where the transmission unit is mounted, and wherein said user interface unit is enabled to operate said at least one stabilizer leg only if the received identification data relate to a stabilizer leg intended to be controlled, which is determined by determining if said user interface unit is within a transmission sector of the identified stabilizer leg.

5. The stabilizer leg control system according to claim 1, wherein said user interface is provided with several input menus, each corresponding to various functions of the vehicle, wherein one input menu, a stabilizer leg menu, is designated to receive user input for controlling the at least one stabilizer leg, and wherein a stabilizer activation input is considered received when the user enters said menu for controlling the at least one stabilizer leg.

6. The stabilizer leg control system according to claim 5, wherein said stabilizer leg menu is configured to control the stabilizer leg related to the transmission unit that generated a received transmission unit signal.

7. A vehicle comprising at least one stabilizer leg arranged to support the stability of the vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises a stabilizer leg control system according to claim 1.

8. A method for a stabilizer leg control system for controlling at least one stabilizer leg arranged to support the stability of a vehicle, the control system comprising: a control unit configured to control the operation of said at least one stabilizer leg, a user interface unit comprising a user interface configured to receive user input to control various functions of the vehicle, including to control the operation of said at least one stabilizer leg of said vehicle, and to establish bidirectional communication to said control unit by a communication signal, and a receiver unit, at least one transmission unit structured to be mounted at, or in the vicinity of, each of said at least one stabilizer leg, wherein said transmission unit is configured to transmit a transmission unit signal, wherein said method comprises: receiving, by said user interface, a stabilizer leg activation input from a user when said at least one stabilizer leg is to be operated, upon receipt of a stabilizer activation input, generating a transmission unit activation signal, upon receipt of said transmission unit activation signal, activating said transmission unit, generating, by said transmission unit, said transmission unit signal, receiving, by said receiver unit, said transmission unit signal, and upon receipt of said transmission unit signal, enabling the user interface unit to operate the stabilizer leg related to the transmission unit that generated the transmission unit signal.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising receiving, by said control unit, said transmission unit activation signal, and upon receipt of said signal activating said transmission unit.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein said transmission unit signal comprises identification data uniquely identifying the stabilizer leg where the transmission unit is mounted, and wherein the method comprises: sending, by said user interface unit, said received identification data to said control unit, comparing said received identification data to stored identification data of the activated transmission unit that transmitted the transmission unit signal, and generating an enabling signal to said user interface unit if the received identification data corresponds to the stored identification data.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein said transmission unit signal comprises identification data uniquely identifying the stabilizer leg where the transmission unit is mounted, and wherein the method comprises: enabling said user interface unit to operate said at least one stabilizer leg only if the received identification data relate to a stabilizer leg intended to be controlled, which is determined by determining if said user interface unit is within a transmission sector of the identified stabilizer leg.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein said user interface is provided with several input menus, each corresponding to various functions of the vehicle, wherein one input menu, a stabilizer leg menu, is designated to receive user input for controlling the at least one stabilizer leg, and wherein a stabilizer activation input is considered received when the user enters said menu for controlling the at least one stabilizer leg.

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising controlling, by said stabilizer leg menu, the stabilizer leg related to the transmission unit that generated a received transmission unit signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration from above of a vehicle provided with a stabilizer leg control system according to the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating the method according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0040] The stabilizer leg control system, the vehicle, and the method, will now be described in detail with references to the appended figures, Throughout the figures the same, or similar, items have the same reference signs. Moreover, the items and the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

[0041] With references to FIGS. 1 and 2 the stabilizer leg control system 2 for controlling at least one stabilizer leg 4 arranged to support the stability of a vehicle 6 will be described. In the illustrated vehicle in FIG. 2, two stabilizer legs 4 are shown, one on each side of the vehicle. The vehicle is provided with a working equipment 5, e.g. a crane.

[0042] The control system comprises a control unit 8 configured to control the operation of the at least one stabilizer leg 4 by generating a control signal 9 to be applied to the stabilizer leg(s) to be controlled. The control system is further provided with a user interface unit 10, e.g. a remote controller, comprising a user interface 12 configured to receive user input to control various functions of the vehicle, including to control the operation of the at least one stabilizer leg 4 of the vehicle. Preferably, the user interface is provided with a graphical user interface, e.g. a touch screen, or a display, and input members, e.g. physical buttons and/or levers, to receive user input, e.g. to control menus visible on the display. The user interface unit is also configured to establish bidirectional wireless communication to the control unit by a communication signal 14. The user interface unit also comprises a receiver unit 16.

[0043] The control system further comprises at least one transmission unit 18, each structured to be mounted at, or in the vicinity of, each of the at least one stabilizer leg 4, and that the transmission unit 18 is configured to transmit a transmission unit signal 20, which is a wireless signal, and preferably an electromagnetic signal, e.g. as an optical signal in the infrared part of the spectrum, which is advantageous as the direction of infrared signals easily may be controlled to have a specific coverage that in this case may be e.g. approx. 180 degrees and thus cover one side of the vehicle. The transmission unit is mounted on the stabilizer leg, or on the vehicle, so that the transmitted transmission unit signal covers an area in the neighborhood of a stabilizer leg. As an example, which is illustrated in FIG. 2, a truck with a loader crane that has two stabilizers, mounted on each side of the vehicle, may have two transmission units: one mounted on the left side of the vehicle and one on the right side of the vehicle. The transmission unit may e.g. comprise a number of LEDs mounted so that the signal is transmitted in a broad angle facing outwards from the longitudinal side of the vehicle, see FIG. 2. The transmission unit is powered by the working equipment or the vehicle, alternatively it may be powered by a battery.

[0044] The user interface 12 is configured to receive a stabilizer leg activation input from a user 7 when the at least one stabilizer leg is to be operated, and upon receipt of a stabilizer activation input, the user interface unit 10 is configured to generate a transmission unit activation signal 22. The transmission unit 18 is configured to be activated, and to generate the transmission unit signal 20, upon receipt of the transmission unit activation signal 22. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 only one of the transmission units are activated upon receipt of a transmission unit activation signal. It is naturally also possible to activate all, in this case both, transmission units, or a subset of the transmission units, e.g. those on one side of the vehicle. Preferably, the transmission units) will be activated as long as the stabilizer legs) is/are operated.

[0045] Then, the user interface unit 10 is configured to receive the transmission unit signal 20 by the receiver unit 16, and upon receipt of the transmission unit signal 20, the user interface unit 10 is enabled to operate the stabilizer leg related to the transmission unit 18 that generated the transmission unit signal 20.

[0046] In one embodiment, the control unit 8 is configured to receive the transmission unit activation signal 22, and upon receipt of the signal, activate the transmission unit 18. I.e. the transmission unit is indirectly activated. The activation may e.g. be by supplying electrical power to the transmission unit, or by wirelessly activating the transmission unit. In an alternative variation the transmission unit activation signal is sent directly to the transmission unit that is configured to receive the signal, set itself into an active mode of operation from a passive low-energy-consumption mode, and generate the transmission unit signal 20.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the transmission unit signal 20 comprises identification data uniquely identifying the stabilizer leg 4 where the transmission unit 18 is mounted. The user interface unit 10 is configured to send received identification data to the control unit S that is configured to compare received identification data to stored identification data of the activated transmission unit 18 that transmitted the transmission unit signal 20. As a result of the comparison, the control unit is configured to generate an enabling signal 24 to the user interface unit 10 if the received identification data corresponds to the stored identification data. Receipt of the enabling signal 24 enables the user interface unit 10 to control the stabilizer leg 4 related to the transmission unit identified by the identification data.

[0048] According to another embodiment, the transmission unit signal 20 comprises identification data uniquely identifying the stabilizer leg 4 where the transmission unit 18 is mounted. The user interface unit 10 is then enabled to operate the at least one stabilizer leg 4 only if the received identification data relate to a stabilizer leg intended to be controlled, which is determined by determining if the user interface unit 10 is within a transmission sector 26 of the identified stabilizer leg 4. The transmission sector 26 is schematically illustrated in FIG. 2. The transmission sector defines the maximum allowable distance between the transmission unit 18 and the user interface unit 10, for the user interface unit 10 to be allowed to control the stabilizer leg associated with the transmission unit 18.

[0049] As mentioned above the user interface 12 is provided with a graphical user interface and is provided with several input menus, each corresponding to various functions of the vehicle. The different menus may be designated to different operating modes, where one operating mode is for operating the stabilizer legs. Thus, one input menu is related to control the stabilizer legs, denoted a stabilizer leg menu, and is designated to receive user input for controlling the at least one stabilizer leg. A stabilizer activation input is considered received when the user enters the stabilizer leg menu for controlling the at least one stabilizer leg. Preferably, the stabilizer leg menu is configured to control the stabilizer leg related to the transmission unit 18 that generated a received transmission unit signal 20. In other words, the user interface is automatically set to control the stabilizer leg being identified by the receipt of the transmission unit signal from the activated transmission unit related to the stabilizer leg. The user than has a confirmed view of the stabilizer leg to be controlled. Short interruptions where no receipt of the transmission unit signal is made may be allowed without cancelling the control of the stabilizer leg. This short interruption may be e.g. 2-3 seconds at a maximum.

[0050] In one exemplary implementation, if two stabilizer legs are mounted to the same side of the vehicle then it would be possible that these two stabilizer legs could be selectable and controlled via the user interface.

[0051] The present invention also relates to a vehicle 6 comprising at least one stabilizer leg 4 arranged to support the stability of the vehicle, and that the vehicle comprises a stabilizer leg control system 2 as described above. The vehicle may be any type of vehicle provided with at least one stabilizer leg.

[0052] The present invention also relates to a method for a stabilizer leg control system 2 for controlling at least one stabilizer leg 4 arranged to support the stability of a vehicle 6, The control system has been described in detail above and it is herein referred to that description. The method will be described with references to the flow diagram shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the control system comprises: a control unit 8 configured to control the operation of the at least one stabilizer leg 4, a user interface unit 10 comprising a user interface 12 configured to receive user input to control various functions of the vehicle, including to control the operation of the at least one stabilizer leg 4 of the vehicle; and to establish bidirectional communication to the control unit by a communication signal 14. The user interface unit 10 also comprises a receiver unit 16. The stabilizer leg control system also comprises a transmission unit 18 structured to be mounted at, or in the vicinity of, each of the at least one stabilizer leg 4, wherein the transmission unit 18 is configured to transmit a transmission unit signal 20.

[0053] The method comprises: [0054] receiving, by the user interface 12, a stabilizer leg activation input from a user when the at least one stabilizer leg is to be operated; [0055] upon receipt of a stabilizer activation input, generating a transmission unit activation signal 22; [0056] upon receipt of the transmission unit activation signal 22, activating the transmission unit; [0057] generating, by the transmission unit 18, the transmission unit signal 20; [0058] receiving, by the receiver unit 16, the transmission unit signal 20, and [0059] upon receipt of the transmission unit signal 20, enabling the user interface unit 10 to operate the stabilizer leg related to the transmission unit 18 that generated the transmission unit signal 20.

[0060] In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving, by the control unit 8, the transmission unit activation signal 22, and upon receipt of the signal, activating the transmission unit 18. E.g. by supplying electrical energy to the transmission unit.

[0061] In a further embodiment, the transmission unit signal 20 comprises identification data uniquely identifying the stabilizer leg 4 where the transmission unit 18 is mounted, and the method comprises: [0062] sending, by the user interface unit 10, the received identification data to the control unit 8; [0063] comparing the received identification data to stored identification data of the activated transmission unit 18 that transmitted the transmission unit signal 20, and [0064] generating an enabling signal 24 to the user interface unit 10 if the received identification data corresponds to the stored identification data.

[0065] In another embodiment, the transmission unit signal 20 comprises identification data uniquely identifying the stabilizer leg 4 where the transmission unit 18 is mounted, and that the method comprises: [0066] enabling the user interface unit 10 to operate the al least one stabilizer leg 4 only if the received identification data relates to a stabilizer leg intended to be controlled, which is determined by determining if the user interface unit 18 is within a transmission sector 26 of the identified stabilizer leg 4 (see FIG. 2).

[0067] According to another embodiment of the method, the user interface 12 is provided with several input menus, each corresponding to various functions of the vehicle. One of those input menus, a stabilizer leg menu, is designated to receive user input for controlling the at least one stabilizer leg, and a stabilizer activation input is considered received when the user enters said menu for controlling the at least one stabilizer leg. Preferably, the method comprises controlling, by the stabilizer leg menu, the stabilizer leg related to the transmission unit 18 that generated a received transmission unit signal 20.

[0068] In one variation of the control system, unique identification data is coded in the transmission signal, and by transmitting the signal in a series of pulses with decreasing amplitude levels and comparing the received signal amplitude to a predetermined threshold at the receiver unit, the distance from the transmission unit may be estimated by the number of pules in a series of pulses that is detected with a signal amplitude being above the predetermined threshold by the receiver unit at the user interface unit. The receiver unit included in the user interface unit is adapted to receive the signals from the transmission units. The user interface unit may further comprise signal processing capabilities for analyzing the received signals to e.g. extract the unique identification data from the signal and further to count the number of pulses detected in a series of pulses.

[0069] The identity of the stabilizer leg, vehicle, and/or side of the vehicle may be deduced from the identification data in the signal to verify that that the user interface unit is in the neighbourhood of the stabilizer leg that it is about to control. The identification data may e.g. be mapped to a particular stabilizer leg and the vehicle in a table in the control unit. In this way the system may ensure that the signal is received from the right vehicle and further identify which stabilizer leg unit on the vehicle. The number of detected pulses in a series of pulses is one way of estimating the distance from the user interface unit to the transmission unit.

[0070] The number of pules may be directly compared to a predetermined threshold corresponding to a safe distance, or may first be converted to a distance that is compared to a predetermined distance threshold. The system may hence determine that the user interface unit is close enough so that the user can make sure that the stabilizer is controlled in a safe way.

[0071] The analysis of the identification data and distance from the transmission unit may be performed at the user interface unit or at the control unit of the vehicle/working equipment. The user interface unit would in the latter case then transmit the information from the received signal or the signal itself to the control unit of the vehicle/working equipment. This may be transmitted using the present protocols for communication between the user interface unit and the vehicle/working equipment.

[0072] In one embodiment the transmitter units are activated by the control unit. The activation is performed in response to the control unit receives signals from the user interface unit indicating that the operator of the vehicle or working equipment is interested in controlling the stabilizer leg. This may for example be based on a user input on the user interface of the user interface unit specifying that the operator is entering a menu in the user interface of the user interface unit for controlling the stabilizer legs.

[0073] When the transmission units have been activated the user interface unit and/or the control unit may verify which transmission unit on the vehicle/working unit that the user interface unit is intended to control and/or is within a safe distance of. This may then be communicated to the user before the user even attempts to control the stabilizer legs by e.g. graphics in the user interface of the user interface unit. If the user tries to control a stabilizer leg which is not within a safe distance further tactile, audio or visual signals may be generated using the user interface unit. This would improve aid the user in the workflow and provide improved user friendliness of the system.

[0074] If further signal transmission units are added to the vehicle the relative position of the user interface unit may further be deduced by the system. The position of the user interface unit may further be used and combined with other systems to ensure the safety around the user holding the user interface unit by defining a volume around the operator where e.g. the crane cannot be moved.

[0075] The control unit may be realized by one or many units connected to each other by a communication bus system, e.g. a CAN system. It is provided with all necessary processing capabilities to perform all various functions required to operate the vehicle and working equipment.

[0076] The present invention is not limited to the above-described preferred embodiments. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be used. Therefore, the above embodiments should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appending claims.