The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 03, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 05, 1996
Vernon J Brabec, Livermore, CA (US);
Bill B Crumb, Livermore, CA (US);
Renard T Graham, Antioch, CA (US);
Topcon Laser Systems, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (US);
Abstract
A method is disclosed for controlling the cutting depth and angle of an excavator bucket to excavate a surface to a desired contour. The method includes the steps of: (1) inputting data to a machine control system to define a desired contour of the excavated surface; (2) positioning the excavator bucket close to the desired contour; (3) enabling automatic control; and (4) automatically controlling movement of the excavator bucket only when the position of the excavator bucket is within a predetermined distance or angle of the desired contour. The method is used to automatically control the excavation to a desired depth if the bucket is within a predetermined distance of a desired depth. The method is also used to automatically control the angular orientation of bucket if the slope of the bucket is within a predetermined angle of a desired slope.