Method of controlling an agricultural vehicle lighting system and system thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11716795-B2
Application number	US-202117193716-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2021
Priority date	Jun 30, 2020
Publication date	Aug 1, 2023
Grant date	Aug 1, 2023

Abstract

An agricultural work vehicle for operating in a field includes a chassis, a cab mounted to the chassis, a controller for controlling operation of the work vehicle, and a lighting system including a array field light. The array field light projects a light emission to illuminate a defined zone. A light control module is disposed in electrical communication with the controller and operably controls the at least one array field light. A sensing device senses an area surrounding the work vehicle. The sensing device transmits a signal indicative of a detected object to the controller, which in turn determines if the detected object is in the defined zone. If the detected object is in the defined zone, the light control module controllably adjusts an output from the array field light so that only a portion of the defined zone in which the object is not located is illuminated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An agricultural work vehicle for operating in a field, comprising:
a chassis;
a cab mounted to the chassis;
a controller for controlling operation of the work vehicle;
a lighting system of the work vehicle comprising an array field light, the array field light configured to project a light emission to illuminate a zone;
a light control module disposed in electrical communication with the controller, the light control module configured to operably control the at least one array field light;
a sensing device configured to sense an area surrounding the work vehicle;
wherein, upon detecting an object in the area, the sensing device transmits a signal indicative of the detected object to the controller;
wherein, the controller determines if the detected object is in the zone;
further wherein, if the detected object is in the zone, the light control module controllably adjusts an output from the array field light so that only a portion of the zone in which the object is not located is illuminated.

2. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the array field light comprises a high-definition pixel LED lighting module.

3. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the sensing device comprises a camera, a proximity sensor, a light, or a combination thereof.

4. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the light control module continuously adjusts the output from the array field light as the detected object moves within the zone.

5. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the light control module operably enables or disables one or more pixel segments based on a location of the detected object in the zone.

6. The work vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a control system including the controller, the lighting system, the light control module, and a GPS input, the GPS input providing a location of the detected object relative to the work vehicle and the zone.

7. The work vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
an implement operably coupled to the work vehicle;
an implement lighting system including an implement light control module and an implement array field light coupled to the implement;
wherein, the implement light control module is in electrical communication with the controller for operably controlling an output of a light emission from the implement array field light;
further wherein, the implement light control module operably controls the output from the implement array field light so that the light emission towards the work vehicle is reduced or disabled.

8. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the sensing device is configured to detect a glare from the detected object, and the light control module operably adjusts the light emission of the array field light to reduce the glare.

9. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the lighting system comprises a second array field light, the second array field light configured to project a light emission to illuminate a second zone;
wherein, the controller determines if the detected object is in the second zone;
further wherein, if the detected object is in the second zone, the light control module controllably adjusts an output from the second array field light so that only a portion of the second zone in which the object is not located is illuminated.

10. The work vehicle of claim 9 , wherein:
the controller operably identifies a second portion of the second zone in which the detected objected is located;
the light control module operably controls the output from the second array field light such that the second portion of the second zone is not illuminated.

11. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller operably identifies a second portion of the zone in which the detected objected is located;
the light control module operably controls the output from the array field light such that the second portion of the zone is not illuminated.

12. The work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller operably identifies a second portion of the zone in which the detected objected is located;
the light control module operably reduces the output from the array field light such that the second portion of the zone is only partially illuminated.

13. A control system of an agricultural work vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle controller for controlling the work vehicle;
a light control module for controlling a lighting system of the work vehicle, the lighting system including at least a first array field light and a second array field light;
a sensing device comprising a camera or sensor for detecting a presence of an object in an area surrounding the work vehicle, the sensing device being in electrical communication with the controller;
wherein, the first array field light is operably controllable to project a light emission to illuminate a first zone in the area and the second array field light is operably controllable to project a light emission to illuminate a second zone in the area, the first zone and second zone being different from one another;
wherein, upon detecting the object in the area, the sensing device transmits a signal indicative of the detected object to the controller;
wherein, the controller determines if the detected object is in the first zone or the second zone;
further wherein,
if the detected object is in the first zone, the light control module controllably adjusts an output from the first array field light so that only a portion of the first zone in which the object is not located is illuminated; and
if the detected object is in the second zone, the light control module controllably adjusts an output from the second array field light so that only a portion of the second zone in which the object is not located is illuminated.

14. The control system of claim 13 , wherein the first and second array field lights comprise a high-definition pixel LED lighting module.

15. The control system of claim 13 , wherein the light control module continuously adjusts the output from the first or second array field light as the detected object moves within the respective first or second zone.

16. The control system of claim 13 , wherein the light control module operably enables or disables one or more pixel segments of the first or second array field light based on a location of the detected object in the respective first or second zone.

17. The control system of claim 13 , wherein:
the controller operably identifies a second portion of the first or second zone in which the detected objected is located;
the light control module operably controls the output from the respective first or second array field light such that the second portion of the first or second zone is not illuminated.

18. The control system of claim 13 , wherein:
the controller operably identifies a second portion of the first or second zone in which the detected objected is located;
the light control module operably reduces the output from the respective first or second array field light such that the second portion of the first or second zone is only partially illuminated.

19. An agricultural work vehicle system for performing a work function in a field, comprising:
a work vehicle comprising:
a controller for controlling operation of the work vehicle;
a lighting system comprising a first array field light and a second array field light, the first array field light configured to project a light emission to illuminate a first zone in the field and the second array field light configured to project a light emission to illuminate a second zone in the field;
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Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Demski Nathan R
• Huenink Brian M
• Keen Eric A

Classifications

• B60Q1/24 Primary

  for lighting other areas than only the way ahead · CPC title

• A01B76/00

  Parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, not provided for in groups A01B51/00 - A01B75/00 · CPC title

• B60Q1/0023

  the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera · CPC title

• B60Q1/0088

  Details of electrical connections (B60Q1/305 takes precedence; electrical connection of the light source itself F21S41/192, F21S43/195) · CPC title

• B60Q1/2696

  Mounting of devices using LEDs · CPC title