Grade control indicator assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020347571-A1
Application number	US-201916399335-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 30, 2019
Priority date	Apr 30, 2019
Publication date	Nov 5, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A grade control indicator assembly is disclosed. The grade control indicator assembly may include a keypad to control one or more functionalities of a machine, where the keypad includes a set of grade control light indicators integrated into the keypad, and where the set of grade control light indicators includes a first subset of grade control light indicators for indicating a grade of the machine with respect to a first side of the machine and a second subset of grade control light indicators for indicating the grade of the machine with respect to a second side of the machine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A grade control indicator assembly, comprising:
a keypad to control one or more functionalities of a machine, the keypad including a set of grade control light indicators integrated into the keypad, and
the set of grade control light indicators including a first subset of grade control light indicators for indicating a grade of the machine with respect to a first side of the machine and a second subset of grade control light indicators for indicating the grade of the machine with respect to a second side of the machine.

2 . The grade control indicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the keypad includes one or more buttons to adjust the grade of the machine.

3 . The grade control indicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the keypad includes one or more buttons to adjust at least one of:
a locking functionality, a memory functionality, a display functionality, or an automatic grade control functionality.

4 . The grade control indicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the keypad is configured to attach to and detach from a display.

5 . The grade control indicator assembly of claim 4 , wherein the keypad is communicatively couplable to the display to provide information relating to a user interaction with the keypad or the grade of the machine.

6 . The grade control indicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein a characteristic of the set of grade control light indicators is adjustable independent of the grade of the machine.

7 . The grade control indicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein a grade control light indicator includes a plurality of indicator bulbs associated with a plurality of colors.

8 . The grade control indicator assembly of claim 1 , wherein the set of grade control light indicators are raised above a frame of the keypad to provide greater than a threshold viewing angle.

9 . A grade control system, comprising:
a display device; and a grade control indicator assembly,
the grade control indicator assembly including a first sub-assembly disposed on a first side of the display device and associated with indicating a grade of a machine with respect to a first corresponding side of the machine, and
the grade control indicator assembly including a second sub-assembly disposed on a second side of the display device and associated with indicating the grade of the machine with respect to a second corresponding side of the machine,
each sub-assembly including a plurality of grade control light indicators raised above a frame of the grade control indicator assembly.

10 . The grade control system of claim 9 , wherein the grade control indicator assembly is decouplable from the display device.

11 . The grade control system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of grade control light indicators of each sub-assembly is associated with a viewing angle, relative to a normal plane perpendicular to a surface of the plurality of grade control light indicators, of greater than or equal to at least one of:
15 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 75 degrees, 90 degrees.

12 . The grade control system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of grade control light indicators forms a portion of a keypad for the display device.

13 . The grade control system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a bus interface.

14 . The grade control system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of grade control light indicators are associated with an adjustable brightness.

15 . A grade control indicator assembly, comprising:
a keypad to control one or more functionalities of a machine, the keypad including a set of grade control light indicators integrated into the keypad and raised above a surface of the keypad to provide greater than a threshold viewing angle, and
the set of grade control light indicators including a first subset of grade control light indicators for indicating a grade of the machine with respect to a first side of the machine and a second subset of grade control light indicators for indicating the grade of the machine with respect to a second side of the machine.

16 . The grade control indicator assembly of claim 15 , wherein the set of grade control light indicators are buttons of the keypad.

17 . The grade control indicator assembly of claim 15 , wherein the set of grade control light indicators are clear-etched or white-etched.

18 . The grade control indicator assembly of claim 15 , wherein the set of grade control light indicators are controllably illuminated buttons.

19 . The grade control indicator assembly of claim 15 , wherein the set of grade control light indicators are backlit buttons.

20 . The grade control indicator assembly of claim 15 , wherein the grade control indicator assembly does not include a display.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Paving Products Inc
• Caterpillar Trimble Control Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hogan Lee
• Hedrington Mathew
• Frelich Toby
• Kopca Andrew
• Tarvin Mark
• Thiesse Ryan

Classifications

• H01H13/83

  characterised by legends, e.g. Braille, liquid crystal displays, light emitting or optical elements · CPC title

• E02F9/264

  Sensors and their calibration for indicating the position of the work tool · CPC title

• E02F3/844 Primary

  for positioning the blade, e.g. hydraulically · CPC title

• H05B47/20

  Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection · CPC title

• H05B47/10 Primary

  Controlling the light source · CPC title