IP Library Granted Patent US 7,605,692
Granted Patent B2
US 7,605,692 · App. 10/584,112 · Granted Oct 20, 2009

Indicator control system with camera section

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,605,692
App. No.
10/584,112
Granted
Oct 20, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

An indicator control system with a camera section provided with a switch for switching from a measurement value display mode to a camera display mode and vice versa to display a selected mode on a monitor section of an indicator. The measurement value display mode shows the measurement data of an object to be monitored on a construction machine, and the camera display mode is for the camera section mounted on the construction machine.

Claims (10)

1. An indicator control system with a camera section comprising: an indicator for selectively switching, by an input switching means, from a measurement value display mode for showing measurement data of an object of a construction machine to a camera display mode of a camera section mounted on the construction machine and vice versa and for displaying a selected mode on a monitor section; an alarm section for generating an alarm, which is provided at a place different from the monitor section on the indicator; an alarm judging means for judging whether or not measurement data of the object to be monitored corresponds to a predetermined alarm standard; and an alarm control means for activating the alarm section when the alarm judging means judges that the alarm is necessary; wherein the alarm control means preliminarily sets, for the object to be monitored which it is judged an alarm is necessary for, different alarm patterns between the measurement value display mode and the camera display mode; wherein the monitor section displays an image data indicative of an alarm and the alarm section displays a predetermined alarm pattern by means of blinking or sound when the monitor section is in the measurement value display mode; and wherein the monitor section keeps a camera display mode and the alarm section displays an alarm pattern by means of blinking or sound which is different from that of the alarm pattern displayed in the measurement value display mode when the monitor section is in the camera display mode.

2. The indicator control system with the camera section as claimed in claim 1 : wherein the switching means consists of manual switching using an input means such as a predetermined switch provided near an operator's seat or on an indicator; wherein the camera section is provided with a camera control unit which can control the functions such as a photographing direction and a focus of a camera; and wherein the indicator is integrally provided with a control panel section including upper, lower, left, and right arrow mark keys as key input means; and wherein the functions of the arrow mark keys are switched to a camera control mode to control the photographing direction and the focus of the camera through the camera control unit by means of the inputs of the arrow mark keys.

3. The indicator control system with the camera section as claimed in claim 1 : wherein the switching means consists of automatic switching effected by detection of a previously registered operation of a predetermined operation member; wherein the camera section is provided with a camera control unit which can control functions such as a photographing direction and a focus of a camera; and wherein the indicator is integrally provided with a control panel section including upper, lower, left, and right arrow mark keys as key input means; and wherein the functions of the arrow mark keys are switched to a camera control mode to control the photographing direction and the focus of the camera through the camera control unit by means of the inputs of the arrow mark keys.

4. The indicator control system with the camera section as claimed in claim 1 : wherein the switching means consists of a switching means that performs switching automatically when an indicator alarm judging means judges that display of an alarm screen is necessary; wherein the camera section is provided with a camera control unit which can control functions such as a photographing direction and a focus of a camera; and wherein the indicator is integrally provided with a control panel section including upper, lower, left, and right arrow mark keys as key input means; and wherein the functions of the arrow mark keys are switched to a camera control mode to control the photographing direction and the focus of the camera through the camera control unit by means of the inputs of the arrow mark keys.

5. The indicator control system with the camera section as claimed in claim 1 : wherein the switching means consists of manual switching using an input means such as a predetermined switch provided near an operator's seat or on an indicator, automatic switching effected by detection of a previously registered operation of a predetermined operation member, and automatic switching effected when an indicator alarm judging means judges that display of an alarm screen is necessary; wherein the camera section is provided with a camera control unit which can control the functions such as a photographing direction or a focus of a camera; and wherein the indicator is provided with a camera control input means for sending a controlling signal to the camera control unit.

6. The indicator control system with a camera section according to claim 1 , characterized in that the camera section can be attached to a desired position of the construction machine; when the camera section is arranged to monitor a rear of the construction machine, a current display mode on the monitor section is switched by detection of operation of a running operation member; when the camera section is arranged to monitor a side of the construction machine, a current display mode on the monitor section is switched by detection of operation of a swirl operation member; and when the camera section is arranged to monitor a front of the construction machine, a current display mode on the monitor section is switched by detection of operation of an operation member for boom, arm, or bucket.

7. The indicator control system with a camera section according to claim 1 , characterized in that detection of a kind of the operation member serving as the switching means and a combination of operations can be changeably registered in memory.

8. The indicator control system with a camera section according to claim 1 , characterized in that the camera section is provided with a camera control unit which changes a camera posture such as a photographing direction of the camera section and controls a focusing mechanism for a zoom lens of a camera; and the indicator is provided with a camera control input means for sending a control signal to the camera control unit.

9. The indicator control system with a camera section according to claim 8 , characterized in that the camera control input means consists of manual input using an input means such as a predetermined switch provided on the indicator.

10. The indicator control system with a camera section according to claim 8 , characterized in that the camera control input means consists of automatic input effected by detection of a previously registered operation of a predetermined operation member carried out by the whole or a part of the camera control input means.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2010
From: CATERPILLAR JAPAN LTD.
To: CATERPILLAR S.A.R.L.
Reel/Frame 024233/0895 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 17, 2008
From: SHIN CATERPILLAR MITSUBISHI LTD.
To: CATERPILLAR JAPAN LTD.
Reel/Frame 021531/0563 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2006
From: YAMADA, HIDEO; MUROTA, ISAO; ONO, TOMOAKI; FUJII, SATOSHI
To: SHIN CATERPILLAR MITSUBISHI LTD.
Reel/Frame 018072/0393 →