Implement interface display
View Patent ↗A power machine having an operator interface is disclosed. The power machine has a frame, an engine supported by the frame, and a cab supported that defines an operator compartment. The power machine provides an auxiliary power source capable of providing auxiliary power to an implement that is operably coupled to the power machine. Control input devices that are actuable by an operator provide signals indicative of actuation thereof. The implement is in communication with the power machine. The operator interface is accessible within the operator compartment for providing operational information related to control of the implement to the operator. The operator interface receives signals related to the provided operational information that are communicated by the implement.
1. A power machine having a frame, an engine supported by the frame, a cab supported by the frame that defines an operator compartment, an auxiliary power source capable of providing auxiliary power to an implement having an actuator thereon for performing a function that is operably coupled to the power machine, control input devices actuable by an operator that provide signals indicative of actuation thereof for controlling the actuator, the implement having an electronic controller that is in communication with the power machine, the power machine further comprising:
an operator interface including a display panel having a display accessible within the operator compartment for providing operational instructional information related to actuation of the control input devices for controlling the actuator on the implement to the operator, wherein the operator interface is configured to receive signals related to the provided instructional information, including information related to controlling the actuator via the control input devices, communicated by the electronic controller on the implement.
2. The power machine of claim 1 and further comprising:
a controller coupled to the display panel, wherein the controller is in communication with the implement.
3. The power machine of claim 2 , wherein the controller is in communication with the operator interface and wherein signals communicated between the implement and the operator interface are passed through the controller.
4. The power machine of claim 2 , wherein the controller is capable of identifying the type of implement that is operably coupled to the power machine from signals provided by the implement.
5. The power machine of claim 1 , wherein the operator interface is capable of receiving signals communicated wirelessly from the implement.
6. The power machine of claim 1 , wherein the display panel includes at least one operator actuable input and wherein the display is capable of communicating a status of the operator actuable input to the implement.
7. The power machine of claim 6 , wherein the status of the operator actuable input impacts signals being provided to the power machine by the implement.
8. The power machine of claim 7 , wherein the operator interface provides visual information to the operator in a menu-driven arrangement of pages of information to be displayed, and wherein receiving a signal indicative of actuation of the operator actuable input causes the implement to move to a different page.
9. The power machine of claim 1 , wherein the signals received by the operator interface cause the display to provide the instructional information to the operator, with the instructional information related to actuation of the control input devices for controlling the function on the implement including an indication of which of the control input devices is to be manipulated to control the function.
10. The power machine of claim 1 , wherein the implement has a plurality of controllable functions, the power machine includes a plurality of control input devices and wherein the instructional information provided by the display related to actuation of the control input devices includes an indication of which of the plurality of control input devices controls which of the plurality of controllable functions.
11. An implement capable of performing a task and being operably coupled to a power machine, wherein the implement receives a power source from the power machine to perform the task and further comprising:
an electrical device on the implement that is capable of communicating signals related to operational information including instructions for manipulating operator input devices configured to control a function on the implement with an operator interface on the power machine for providing the operational information to an operator.
12. The implement of claim 11 , wherein the operator interface includes a visual display capable of displaying textual information to the operator.
13. The implement of claim 12 , wherein the operator interface is attached to the power machine.
14. The implement of claim 11 , wherein the operator interface includes an actuable input device and wherein the electrical device on the implement is capable of receiving signals indicative of whether the actuable input device is actuated.
15. The implement of claim 11 wherein the electrical device on the implement includes a memory device capable of storing operational information related to the implement and wherein the electrical device on the implement is capable of receiving signals from the operator interface and storing information in the memory device based on the received signals.
16. A method of providing operational information to an operator about controlling a function on an implement operably coupled to a power machine, comprising:
communicating information related to an operational instruction for controlling the fuction on the implement by manipulating operator input device on the power machine from a controller on the implement to an operator interface on the power machine; and
receiving the communicated information related to the operational instruction from the controller on the implement at the operator interface and displaying the communicated operational instructions for use to the operator, the instructions for use indicating how to manipulate operator input devices on the power machine to control the function on the implement.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein receiving communication from the controller on the implement includes receiving communication at a hand held device.
18. The method of claim 16 and further comprising:
communicating information related to a manually actuable input device from the display to the controller on the implement.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein communicating information includes communicating information to an operator interface on a work machine to which the implement is attached.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein communicating information to the operator interface includes communicating information to a controller that passes the information to the operator interface.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein communicating information related to an operational status includes communicating information about an operating parameter controlled by the controller on the implement.
22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the providing operational information related to the implement including instructions for use includes indicating which of a plurality of operator input devices is to be manipulated to control the function.
23. The method of claim 16 , wherein the implement includes a plurality of controllable functions, the power machine includes a plurality of operator input devices and wherein the providing operational information related to the implement including instructions for use includes indicating which of the plurality of operator input devices controls which of the plurality of controllable functions.