Implement illumination control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9527493-B2
Application number	US-201113158983-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 13, 2011
Priority date	Jun 29, 2010
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A control system controls a light source which illuminates an implement coupled to a utility vehicle. The control system includes a vehicle control unit and a data bus which is connected to the vehicle control unit, the light source and an actuator which adjusts the light source. An implement control unit is mounted in the implement and is connected to the data bus. The implement control unit transmits, via the data bus, data regarding the work width and/or work height and/or position of the implement with respect to the utility vehicle. The vehicle control unit, in response to the data transmitted from the implement control unit, controls the actuator to adjust of the orientation and/or of the opening angle of a light cone of the light source.

First claim

I claim:

1. In a utility vehicle to which an implement is removably coupled thereto, the utility vehicle having a vehicle control unit and a light source mounted on the vehicle for illuminating the implement, the light source having an orientation and a light cone, and a control system for controlling the light source, the control system comprising:
an actuator connected to the vehicle control unit, the actuator adjusting at least one of the orientation and an opening angle of the light cone;
an implement control unit mounted on the implement; and
a data bus connected to the vehicle control unit and to the implement control unit, wherein the implement control unit controls the implement and transmits to the vehicle control unit, via the data bus, data regarding the implement, the vehicle control unit controlling the actuator as a function of the data transmitted by the implement control unit.

2. The control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the actuator adjusts the horizontal and/or vertical orientation of the light source.

3. The control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the implement control unit transmits, via the bus, data representing an attachment point of the implement with respect to the utility vehicle; and
the vehicle control unit controls the actuator in response to the data representing an attachment point.

4. The control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the light source is attached on the utility vehicle.

5. The control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the data regarding the implement comprises a work width of the implement.

6. The control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the data regarding the implement comprises a work height of the implement.

7. The control system of claim 1 , wherein:
the data regarding the implement comprises a position of the implement with respect to the utility vehicle.

Assignees

• Von Mezynski Christian
• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Von Mezynski Christian

Classifications

• B60Q1/245

  Searchlights, e.g. adjustable from within the vehicle (adjustable headlights B60Q1/06) · CPC title

• B60Q2300/32

  Road surface or travel path · CPC title

• B60Q1/085

  due to special conditions, e.g. adverse weather, type of road, badly illuminated road signs or potential dangers (B60Q1/10, B60Q1/12, B60Q1/1423 take precedence) · CPC title

• B60Q7/02

  to be attached to overhanging loads or extending parts of vehicle · CPC title

• B60W10/00 Primary

  Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function (for propulsion of purely electrically-propelled vehicles with power supplied within the vehicle B60L50/00 - B60L58/00) · CPC title