IP Library Granted Patent US 6,854,554
Granted Patent B2
US 6,854,554 · App. 09/738,402 · Granted Feb 15, 2005

Joystick steering on power machine with filtered steering input

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,854,554
App. No.
09/738,402
Granted
Feb 15, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A user input device in accordance with one features of the present invention includes one or more joysticks, movable by a user in an operator compartment of a power machine. The joysticks control direction of movement of the power machine, as well as travel speed.

Claims (54)

1. A control system for a power machine having steerable wheels, comprising:

a joystick assembly having a joystick movable relative to a neutral position, the joystick assembly providing a joystick position signal indicative of a displacement of the joystick from the neutral position;

a filter coupled to the joystick assembly and configured to receive the joystick position signal and filter unwanted frequency components from the joystick position signal to provide a filtered position signal; and

a controller providing a wheel steering control signal controlling a steering angle of the wheels based on the filtered position signal.

2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the filter comprises:

a filter circuit electrically filtering the joystick position signal.

3. The control system of claim 1 wherein the filter comprises:

a software filter component configuring the controller to provide the control signal based on the joystick position signal without the unwanted frequency components.

4. The control system of claim 1 wherein the control signal comprises a steering control signal indicative of desired steering of the wheels.

5. The control system of claim 1 wherein the control signal comprises a speed control signal indicative of a desired speed and fore/aft direction of the wheels.

6. The control system of claim 1 wherein the filter comprises a low pass filter.

7. The control system of claim 6 wherein the low pass filter is configured to filter frequency components in the position signal in excess of approximately 3 Hertz.

8. The control system of claim 6 wherein the low pass filter is configured to filter frequency components in the position signal in excess of approximately 2.5 Hertz.

9. A control system for a power machine having steerable wheels, comprising:

a joystick assembly having a joystick movable relative to a neutral position, the joystick assembly providing a joystick position signal indicative of a displacement of the joystick from the neutral position, wherein the joystick assembly comprises:

a hand grip;

a user actuable input coupled to the hand grip; and

a joystick controller mounted to the handgrip and providing an output indicative of a position of the joystick and a state of the user actuable input;

a filter coupled to the joystick assembly and configured to receive the joystick position signal and filter unwanted frequency components from the joystick position signal to provide a filtered position signal; and

a controller providing a wheel control signal controlling the wheels based on the filtered position signal.

10. The control system of claim 9 wherein the filter is implemented by the joystick controller.

11. A power machine, comprising:

a plurality of individually steerable wheels;

a plurality of steering motors coupled to the wheels to steer the wheels;

a traction motor driving rotation of the wheels;

a joystick assembly having a joystick movable relative to a neutral position, the joystick assembly providing a joystick position signal indicative of a displacement of the joystick from the neutral position;

a filter coupled to the joystick assembly and configured to receive the joystick position signal and filter unwanted frequency components from the joystick position signal to provide a filtered position signal; and

a controller providing a wheel steering control signal to the steering motors and the traction motor to control a steering angle of the wheels based on the filtered position signal.

12. The power machine of claim 11 wherein the filter comprises:

a filter circuit electrically filtering the joystick position signal.

13. The power machine of claim 11 wherein the filter comprises:

a software filter component configuring the controller to provide the control signal based on the joystick position signal without the unwanted frequency components.

14. The power machine of claim 11 wherein the control signal comprises a steering control signal provided to the steering motors and indicative of desired steering of the wheels.

15. The power machine of claim 11 wherein the control signal comprises a speed control signal provided to the traction motor and indicative of a desired speed and fore/aft direction of the wheels.

16. The power machine of claim 11 wherein the filter comprises a low pass filter.

17. The power machine of claim 16 wherein the low pass filter is configured to filter frequency components in the position signal in excess of approximately 2.5 Hertz.

18. The power machine of claim 16 wherein the low pass filter is configured to filter frequency components in the position signal in excess of approximately 3 Hertz.

19. A power machine comprising:

a plurality of individually steerable wheels;

a plurality of steering motors coupled to the wheels to steer the wheels;

a traction motor driving rotation of the wheels;

a joystick assembly having a joystick movable relative to a neutral position, the joystick assembly providing a joystick position signal indicative of a displacement of the joystick from the neutral position, wherein the joystick assembly comprises:

a hand grip;

a user actuable input coupled to the hand grip; and

a joystick controller mounted to the handgrip and providing an output indicative of a position of the joystick and a state of the user actuable input;

a filter coupled to the joystick assembly and configured to receive the joystick position signal and filter unwanted frequency components from the joystick position signal to provide a filtered position signal; and

a controller providing a wheel control signal to the steering motors and the traction motor controlling the wheels based on the filtered position signal.

20. The power machine of claim 19 wherein the filter is implemented by the joystick controller.

21. A control system for a power machine having pivotable wheels comprising:

a joystick assembly having a joystick movable relative to a neutral position, the joystick assembly providing a joystick position signal indicative of a displacement of the joystick from the neutral position;

a low pass filter coupled to the joystick assembly and configured to receive the joystick position signal and filter frequency components in excess of 2.5 Hertz from the joystick position signal to provide a filtered position signal; and

a controller providing a wheel control signal controlling the wheels, including wheel pivoting, based on the filtered position signal.

22. The control system of claim 21 wherein the low pass filter is configured to filter frequency components in excess of 3 Hertz.

23. The control system of claim 21 further comprising a speed sensor providing a signal indicative of wheel speed to the controller.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 042583/0886 Recorded Sep 1, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Reel/Frame 061365/0464 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 1, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Reel/Frame 061365/0517 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME (042583/0863) Recorded Apr 28, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Reel/Frame 060110/0065 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (NOTES) Recorded Jun 1, 2020
From: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052802/0464 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded May 25, 2017
From: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 042583/0886 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM LOAN) Recorded May 25, 2017
From: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 042583/0863 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT-ABL Recorded May 24, 2017
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Reel/Frame 042563/0747 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT-TERM LOAN Recorded May 24, 2017
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Reel/Frame 042563/0801 →
MERGER Recorded May 18, 2017
From: DOOSAN INFRACORE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
To: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Reel/Frame 042500/0899 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT-TERM LOAN Recorded Jun 4, 2014
From: DOOSAN INFRACORE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 033085/0916 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT-ABL Recorded Jun 4, 2014
From: DOOSAN INFRACORE INTERNATIONAL, INC.; CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 033085/0873 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 25, 2012
From: HSBC BANK PLC
To: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Reel/Frame 028848/0288 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 3, 2008
From: CLARK EQUIPMENT COMPANY
To: HSBC BANK PLC
Reel/Frame 020582/0664 →