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.

Date of Patent:
Oct. 31, 2000

Filed:

Mar. 23, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:

David M Lokhorst, Victoria, CA;

James David Fedoruk, Etobicoke, CA;

Angela R Halwas, Victoria, CA;

Assignee:

RSI Technologies Ltd., Victoria, CA;

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
E02F / ; E02F / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
31856818 ; 414699 ; 701 50 ; 7447 / ;
Abstract

A controller for a work implement, such as the arm of a backhoe, a feller buncher, an excavator or the like provides a number of advantages over previous controllers and control methods. The controller responds to an operator's inputs to a joystick control such that the work implement moves parallel to the direction in which the joystick is deflected at a speed which is proportional to the amount of deflection of the joystick. The controller used the joystick position to generate a path and attempts to cause the work implement to move along the path. The controller computes a maximum available speed in the direction of motion specified by the joystick and is self calibrated so that full deflection of the joystick selects the maximum available speed. The controller has a self calibration mode which compensates for variability in the motion produced by the various actuators in response to given control signals. In a hydraulically operated machine the self calibration feature involves measuring actual fluid flow rates by measuring changes in the position of actuators and comparing the measured and actual flow rates to yield an error sample. The controller allows the maximum speeds of various parts of a controlled machine to be limited.


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