Operator detection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11155166-B2
Application number	US-201916589812-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2019
Priority date	Oct 1, 2019
Publication date	Oct 26, 2021
Grant date	Oct 26, 2021

Abstract

A work machine may include a steering system, a user interface, a detection device, and a control device. The user interface may generate an input signal corresponding to operator input. The detection device may generate a detection signal corresponding to a presence of an operator relative to the user interface. The control device may determine that the operator is unavailable based on the detection signal and the input signal, and enable a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable. The control device may determine, while the lockout mode is enabled, a readiness indicator. The readiness indicator may confirm a readiness of the operator based on determining that the detection signal satisfies a readiness criterion. The control device may disable the lockout mode based on determining that the readiness criterion is satisfied.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
determining, by a device, that an operator, of a work machine, is unavailable;
enabling, by the device, a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable,
the lockout mode being configured to restrict operator control of at least one function of the work machine;

determining, by the device, while the lockout mode is enabled, that the operator is ready to operate the work machine based on an indication that the operator is seated and one or more of:
an indication that an arm rest, of the work machine, has been cycled, or
an indication regarding a depression of a pedal of the work machine; and

disabling, by the device, the lockout mode based on determining that the operator is ready to operate the work machine.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the operator is unavailable comprises:
determining that the operator is unavailable based on determining that the operator is not present relative to a user interface of the work machine and not providing operator input to the user interface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein enabling the lockout mode comprises one or more of:
engaging a parking brake of the work machine; and
one or more of:
restricting operator control of a steering function of the work machine,
the lockout mode disabling communication between a steering control lever and a steering system of the work machine; or

restricting operator control of an implement function of the work machine,
the lockout mode disabling communication between an implement control lever and an implement system of the work machine.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining the indication that the arm rest has been cycled based on an arm rest latch of the work machine,
the arm rest latch being installed in the arm rest and configured to detect a motion of the arm rest, and
the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicating that the arm rest was raised and lowered while the lockout mode is enabled.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining the indication regarding the depression of the pedal based on determining that the pedal is depressed a threshold amount.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein disabling the lockout mode comprises one or more of:
enabling communication between a steering control lever and a steering system of the work machine;
enabling communication between an implement control lever and an implement system of the work machine; or
enabling operator control of a parking brake of the work machine.

7. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the indication that the operator is seated is from a pressure sensor of a seat of the work machine,
wherein the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicates that the arm rest has been raised and lowered in association with the lockout mode, and
wherein the indication regarding the depression of the pedal indicates that a brake control pedal is depressed one or more of a threshold amount or for a threshold duration.

8. A device, comprising:
one or more memories; and
one or more processors, communicatively coupled to the one or more memories, configured to:
determine that an operator, of a work machine, is unavailable;
enable a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable,
the lockout mode being configured to restrict operator control of a function of the work machine;

determine, while the lockout mode is enabled, that the operator is ready to operate the work machine based on an indication that the operator is seated and one or more of:
an indication that an arm rest, of the work machine, has been cycled, or
an indication regarding a depression of a pedal of the work machine; and

cause an action to be performed in connection with one or more of the lockout mode or the operator being ready to operate the work machine.

9. The device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to, when determining that the operator is unavailable:
determine that the operator is unavailable based on determining that the operator is not seated in a seat of the work machine, not operating the work machine in a drive mode, and not pressing the pedal.

10. The device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
determine the indication that the arm rest has been cycled based on an arm rest latch of the work machine,
the arm rest latch being installed in the arm rest and configured to detect a motion of the arm rest, and
the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicating that the arm rest was raised and lowered while the lockout mode is enabled.

11. The device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
determine the indication regarding the depression of the pedal based on determining that the pedal is depressed a threshold amount.

12. The device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to, when causing the action to be performed:
enable communication between a steering control lever and a steering system of the work machine.

13. The device of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to, when causing the action to be performed:
generate a lockout event based on determining that the lockout mode was enabled; and
generate one or more of a record or a notification of the lockout event.

14. The device of claim 8 ,
wherein the indication that the operator is seated is from a pressure sensor of a seat of the work machine,
wherein the indication that the arm rest has been cycled indicates that the arm rest has been raised and lowered in association with the lockout mode, and
wherein the indication regarding the depression of the pedal indicates that a brake control pedal is depressed one or more of a threshold amount or for a threshold duration.

15. A work machine, comprising:
a steering system;
a user interface configured to generate an input signal corresponding to operator input;
a detection device configured to generate a detection signal corresponding to a presence of an operator relative to the user interface; and
a control device in communication with the steering system, the user interface, and the detection device, the control device being configured to:
determine that the operator is unavailable based on the detection signal and the input signal,
enable a lockout mode based on determining that the operator is unavailable,
the lockout mode restricting operator control of the steering system,

determine, while the lockout mode is enabled, that the operator is ready to operate the work machine based on an indication that the operator is seated and one or more of:
an indication that an arm rest, of the work machine, has been cycled, or
an indication regarding a depression of a pedal of the work machine, and

disable the lockout mode based on determining that the operator is ready to operate the work machine.

16. The work machine of claim 15 , wherein the detection device includes one or more of a seat sensor, an arm rest sensor, or an arm rest latch,
the seat sensor being installed in a seat of the work machine and configured to detect a weight of the operator,
the arm rest sensor being installed in an arm rest of the work machine and configured to detect a position of the arm rest, and
the arm rest latch being installed in the arm rest and configured to detect a motion of the arm rest.

17. The work machine of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
determine

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Cobo Michael A
• Robinson Mark A
• Ayers Justin
• Marks Scott
• Mason Joshua
• Berning Beau

Classifications

• B60N2210/16

  Electromagnetic waves · CPC title

• B60N2210/40

  Force or pressure sensors · CPC title

• B60N2/002

  Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon (detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266) · CPC title

• E02F9/268

  with failure correction follow-up actions · CPC title

• B60N2/797 Primary

  for use as electrical control means, e.g. switches · CPC title