IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,781,572
Granted Patent B2
US 10,781,572 · App. 15/561,136 · Granted Sep 22, 2020

Working machine

Inventors: Masaomi Machida (Hiratsuka, JP); Takeshi Kurihara (Hiratsuka, JP)
Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
E02F9/26B60R1/00E02F9/261G01S13/04H04N5/247H04N5/272H04N7/181B60R2300/105B60R2300/303E02F3/32G01S13/867G01S13/87G01S13/931G01S2013/93271G01S2013/93272G01S2013/93274
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,781,572
App. No.
15/561,136
Granted
Sep 22, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A work machine includes plural cameras, a display unit and a controller controlling the cameras and the display unit. The controller includes an overview image generator generating an overview image from the images by the cameras, an image superimposing unit superimposing a top view image of the work machine on the overview image, a working-equipment display unit putting a part of working equipment in the top view image of the work machine in non- or transparent-display, and an operation judging unit judging at least one of operation of the working equipment and travel of the work machine. When the operation judging unit judges the operation of the working equipment etc. is performed, the working-equipment display unit displays the top view image of the work machine without displaying at least one part of the working equipment or with transparently displaying the at least one part of the working equipment.

Claims (63)

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of cameras configured to take images of surroundings of a work machine, the work machine comprising an undercarriage, an upper revolving body provided on the undercarriage and configured to revolve relative to the undercarriage, and working equipment comprising a bucket;

a display unit configured to display the images taken by the plurality of cameras; and

a controller configured to control the plurality of cameras and the display unit, wherein

at least one of the plurality of cameras is capable of taking an image under the working equipment,

the controller is further configured to:

generate an overview image based on the images taken by the plurality of cameras;

superimpose a top view image of the work machine on the overview image;

switch the top view image of the work machine between (i) a first state in which the top view image includes the upper revolving body and at least one part of the working equipment and (ii) a second state in which the top view image includes a non-transparent image of the upper revolving body and does not include the at least one part of the working equipment or in which the top view image includes the non-transparent image of the upper revolving body and a transparent image of the at least one part of the working equipment; and

determine at least one of a movement of the working equipment and a travel movement of the work machine, and

wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the display unit to display the overview image on which the top view image of the work machine is superimposed;

based on determining that the at least one of the movement of the working equipment and the travel movement of the work machine is performed, switch the top view image of the work machine from the first state to the second state; and

based on determining that at least one of an operation of the working equipment or a travel operation of the work machine is stopped, set the top view image of the work machine to the first state.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the controller is further configured to display an outline of the working equipment in the top view image of the work machine on the overview image on which the top view image of the work machine is superimposed.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein

at least one of the plurality of cameras is capable of taking an image under the upper revolving body of the work machine, and

the controller is further configured to display the top view image of the work machine without displaying at least one part of the upper revolving body of the work machine or with transparently displaying the at least one part of the upper revolving body of the work machine, in addition to the at least one part of the working equipment.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the display unit is provided in any one of a remote control seat, a control room, and a portable terminal for a remote control.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine the movement of the working equipment based on the operation of the working equipment; and

determine the travel movement of the work machine based on the travel operation of the work machine.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to, based on the work machine travelling in response to operation of a travel lever, switch the top view image of the work machine from the first state to the second state.

7. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the non-transparent image of the upper revolving body comprises solid lines.

8. A system comprising:

a surroundings monitor radar configured to monitor surroundings of a work machine, the work machine comprising a main body and working equipment comprising a bucket;

a plurality of cameras configured to take images of surroundings of the work machine;

a display unit configured to display the images taken by the plurality of cameras; and

a controller configured to control the plurality of cameras and the display unit, wherein

at least one of the plurality of cameras is capable of taking an image under the working equipment or the main body of the work machine,

the controller is configured to:

generate an overview image based on the images taken by the plurality of cameras;

superimpose a top view image of the work machine on the overview image;

switch the top view image of the work machine between (i) a first state in which the top view image includes the main body and at least one part of the working equipment and (ii) a second state in which the top view image includes a non-transparent image of the main body and does not include the at least one part of the working equipment or in which the top view image includes the non-transparent image of the main body and a transparent image of the at least one part of the working equipment, or switch between (iii) a third state in which the top view image includes at least one part of the non-transparent image of the main body of the work machine and (iv) a fourth state in which the top view image does not include the at least one part of the non-transparent image of the main body of the work machine or in which the top view image includes a transparent image of the at least one part of the non-transparent image of the main body of the work machine; and

determine presence or absence of an obstacle in surroundings of the work machine based on a signal from the surroundings monitor radar, wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the display unit to display the overview image on which the top view image of the work machine is superimposed;

based on determining that the obstacle is detected, switch the top view image of the work machine from the first state to the second state or from the third state to the fourth state; and

based on determining that the obstacle is not detected, set the top view image to the first state or the third state.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein

the controller is further configured to display an outline of the working equipment in the top view image of the work machine on the overview image on which the top view image of the work machine is superimposed.

10. The system according to claim 8 , wherein

the controller is further configured to display the top view image of the work machine without displaying the at least one part of the main body of the work machine or with transparently displaying the at least one part of the main body of the work machine, in addition to the at least one part of the working equipment.

11. The system according to claim 8 , wherein

the display unit is provided in any one of a remote control seat, a control room, and a portable terminal for a remote control.

12. A system comprising:

a plurality of cameras configured to take images of surroundings of a work machine, the work machine comprising an undercarriage, an upper revolving body provided on the undercarriage and configured to revolve relative to the undercarriage, and working equipment comprising a bucket;

a display unit configured to display the images taken by the plurality of cameras; and

a controller configured to control the plurality of cameras and the display unit,

wherein the controller is further configured to:

generate an overview image based on the images taken by the plurality of cameras;

superimpose a top view image of the work machine on the overview image;

switch the top view image of the work machine between (i) a first state in which the top view image includes the upper revolving body and at least one part of the working equipment and (ii) a second state in which the top view image includes a non-transparent image of the upper revolving body and does not include the at least one part of the working equipment or in which the top view image includes the non-transparent image of the upper revolving body and a transparent image of the at least one part of the working equipment; and

determine at least one of a movement of the working equipment and a travel movement of the work machine, and

wherein the controller is further configured to:

control the display unit to display the overview image on which the top view image of the work machine is superimposed;

based on determining that the at least one of the movement of the working equipment and the travel movement of the work machine is performed, switch the top view image of the work machine from the first state to the second state; and

based on determining that at least one of an operation of the working equipment or a travel operation of the work machine is stopped, set the top view image of the work machine to the first state.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the display unit is provided in any one of a remote control seat, a control room, and a portable terminal for a remote control.

14. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine the movement of the working equipment based on the operation of the working equipment; and

determine the travel movement of the work machine based on the travel operation of the work machine.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2017
From: MACHIDA, MASAOMI; KURIHARA, TAKESHI
To: KOMATSU LTD.
Reel/Frame 043685/0293 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2015-074059 · Mar 31, 2015 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180044893A1 · Feb 15, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,716,206