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:
May. 24, 2010
Filed:
Feb. 05, 2008
Richard W. Heiniger, Parkville, MO (US);
Kent D. Funk, Robinson, KS (US);
John A. Mcclure, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Dennis M. Collins, Fountain Hills, AZ (US);
John T. E. Timm, San Jose, CA (US);
Richard W. Heiniger, Parkville, MO (US);
Kent D. Funk, Robinson, KS (US);
John A. McClure, Scottsdale, AZ (US);
Dennis M. Collins, Fountain Hills, AZ (US);
John T. E. Timm, San Jose, CA (US);
Hemisphere GPS LLC, Calgary, Alberta, CA;
Abstract
An automatic steering system and method are provided for a vehicle including an hydraulic primary steering system. The automatic steering system includes a guidance module with a GPS receiver and a microprocessor adapted to process and store GPS data defining travel paths, which can be associated with a cultivated field in an agricultural vehicle application. An automatic steering module is connected to the guidance module and to a steering valve control block, which provides pressurized hydraulic fluid in parallel with the vehicle's primary hydrostatic steering system. The automatic steering system utilizes a constant factor, such as steering rate, for predictability and simplicity in the operation of the automatic steering system. A feedback loop from the vehicle hydrostatic steering system uses the vehicle's actual turning rate for comparison with a desired turning rate. The system is adapted for original equipment installation and retrofitting on vehicles, such as farm tractors, with various primary hydrostatic steering system configurations. An automatic steering method includes the steps of: initializing the system; adjusting the steering with an hydraulic valve to provide a constant steering rate; providing feedback corresponding to the vehicle's actual turning rate and combining the feedback with other input signals to provide automatic steering.