Systems and methods for communicating with an industrial cart

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10820533-B2
Application number	US-201815937108-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2018
Priority date	Jun 14, 2017
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

A cart having a wheel, a drive motor coupled to the wheel such that an output of the drive motor causes the wheel to rotate and propel the cart, a cart-computing device communicatively coupled to the drive motor, wherein the cart-computing device generates a control signal to adjust the operation of the drive motor, and a sensor module communicatively coupled to the cart-computing device. The sensor module, in a first mode, generates a signal and transmits the signal to the cart-computing device in response to a detected event. The sensor module, in a second mode, transmits a first communication signal in response to the first communication signal generated by the cart-computing device. The sensor module, in a third mode, receives a second communication signal in response to a source external to the cart transmitting the second communication signal to the cart.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cart comprising:
a wheel;
a drive motor coupled to the wheel such that an output of the drive motor causes the wheel to rotate and propel the cart;
a cart-computing device communicatively coupled to the drive motor, wherein the cart-computing device generates a control signal to adjust an operation of the drive motor in response to receiving an electrical signal via the wheel wherein the electrical signal comprises a communication signal and electrical power; and
a sensor module comprising an emitter and a detector configured to utilize at least one of: an infrared light, an ultrasound wave, a magnetic field, or visible light, the sensor module is communicatively coupled to the cart-computing device, wherein the sensor module:
in a first mode, generates a signal and transmits the signal to the cart-computing device in response to a detected event,
in a second mode, transmits a first communication signal in response to the first communication signal generated by the cart-computing device, and
in a third mode, receives a second communication signal in response to a source external to the cart transmitting the second communication signal to the cart.

2. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the first mode, the second mode, and the third mode, operate during individual periods of time.

3. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the first mode operates during a first period of time and the second mode and the third mode operate during a second period of time, different that the first period of time.

4. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the first communication signal or the second communication signal corresponds to a status information of the cart.

5. The cart of claim 4 , wherein the status information includes information corresponding to a malfunction of the cart.

6. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the first communication signal or the second communication signal corresponds to one or more instructions for controlling the operation of the cart.

7. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the cart-computing device generates the first communication signal based on the signal generated by the sensor module in response to the detected event.

8. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the cart-computing device generates and transmits the control signal to the drive motor to cause the drive motor to operate based on the signal generated by the sensor module in response to the second communication signal received by the sensor module.

9. The cart of claim 1 , wherein the sensor module comprises an infrared transmitter and an infrared emitter.

10. A system comprising:
a track;
a first cart supported on the track, the first cart comprising:
a wheel coupled to the first cart and supported on the track;
a drive motor coupled to the wheel such that an output of the drive motor causes the wheel to rotate and propel the first cart;
a cart-computing device communicatively coupled to the drive motor, wherein the cart-computing device generates a control signal to adjust an operation of the drive motor in response to receiving an electrical signal via the wheel wherein the electrical signal comprises a communication signal and electrical power; and
a sensor module comprising an emitter and a detector configured to utilize at least one of: an infrared light, an ultrasound wave, a magnetic field, or visible light, the sensor module is communicatively coupled to the cart-computing device; and

a second cart supported on the track, the second cart comprising:
a wheel coupled to the second cart and supported on the track;
a drive motor coupled to the wheel such that an output of the drive motor causes the wheel to rotate and propel the second cart;
a cart-computing device communicatively coupled to the drive motor, wherein the cart-computing device generates a control signal to adjust an operation of the drive motor; and
a sensor module communicatively coupled to the cart-computing device, wherein:

the sensor module of the first cart generates a first signal in response to a first detected event and transmits the first signal to the cart-computing device of the first cart,
the sensor module of the first cart transmits a first communication signal generated by the cart-computing device of the first cart to the sensor module of the second cart, and
the sensor module of the second cart receives the first communication signal and transmits the first communication signal to the cart-computing device of the second cart.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first detected event corresponds to detecting, with the sensor module of the first cart, a presence of the second cart and the first signal generated by the sensor module of the first cart corresponds to a distance between the first cart and the second cart.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the sensor module of the second cart generates a second signal in response to a second detected event and transmits the second signal to the cart-computing device of the second cart,
the sensor module of the second cart transmits a second communication signal generated by the cart-computing device of the second cart to the sensor module of the first cart, and
the sensor module of the first cart receives the second communication signal and transmits the second communication signal to the cart-computing device of the first cart.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the cart-computing device of the first cart generates the first communication signal based on the first signal generated by the sensor module of the first cart in response to the first detected event.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the cart-computing device of the first cart generates and transmits the control signal to the drive motor of the first cart to cause the drive motor of the first cart to operate based on a second communication signal received by the sensor module of the first cart.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the sensor module is coupled to the first cart such that the sensor module generates the first signal in response to the first detected event behind the first cart,
the first detected event corresponds to detection of a presence of the second cart behind the first cart on the track,
the first signal corresponds to a distance between the first cart and the second cart, and
the cart-computing device of the first cart generates the control signal to adjust the operation of the drive motor of the first cart in response to the first signal to maintain a position relative to the second cart.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the sensor module is coupled to the first cart such that the sensor module generates the first signal in response to the first detected event in front of the first cart,
the first detected event corresponds to detection of a presence of the second cart in front of the first cart on the track,
the first signal corresponds to a distance between the first cart and the second cart,
the cart-computing device of the first cart generates the control signal to adjust the operation of the drive motor of the first cart in response to the first signal to maintain a position relative to the second cart.

17. A system comprising:
a track;
a track sensor module coupled to the track;
a master controller communicatively coupled to the track sensor module; and
a cart supported on the track, the cart comprising:
a wheel coupled to the cart and supported on the track;
a drive motor coupled to the wheel such that an output of the drive motor causes the wheel to rotate and propel the cart;
a cart-computing device communicatively coupled to

Assignees

• Grow Solutions Tech Llc

Inventors

• Millar Gary Bret

Classifications

• Y02A40/25

  Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor · CPC title

• G05B19/4189

  characterised by the transport system · CPC title

• G05B19/042

  using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B61L15/0027

  Radio-based, e.g. using GSM-R · CPC title

• B61B13/02

  Rack railways · CPC title