Variable track joystick devices and work vehicles containing the same

1. A variable track joystick device utilized to control at least first and second work vehicle functions, the variable track joystick device comprising:

a support housing;

a joystick movable with respect to the support housing;

a joystick guidance mechanism coupled to the support housing and controllable to selectively confine joystick movement to a predetermined track pattern; and

a controller operably coupled to the joystick guidance mechanism, the controller configured to:

determine when the variable track joystick device is placed in a selected one of (i) a first mode in which joystick movement controls the first work vehicle function and (ii) a second mode in which joystick movement controls the second work vehicle function, wherein the first work vehicle function comprises a transmission control function, while the second work vehicle function comprises an implement control function; and

command the joystick guidance mechanism to restrict joystick movement to the predetermined track pattern when the variable track joystick device is placed in the first mode, while permitting joystick movement outside of the predetermined track pattern when the variable track joystick device is placed in the second mode.

2. The variable track joystick device of claim 1 , wherein the implement control function comprises a loader control function.

3. The variable track joystick device of claim 1 , wherein the joystick guidance mechanism restricts joystick movement to at least one linear track when confining joystick movement to the predetermined track pattern.

4. The variable track joystick device of claim 1 , wherein the joystick is rotatable relative to the support housing about a first rotational axis and about a second rotational axis perpendicular to the first rotational axis; and

wherein the joystick guidance mechanism restricts joystick movement to at least first and second linear tracks parallel to the first and second rotational axes, respectively, when confining joystick movement to the predetermined track pattern.

5. The variable track joystick device of claim 4 , wherein the first and second linear tracks intersect at a home position of the joystick.

6. The variable track joystick device of claim 1 , wherein the joystick comprises:

a joystick handle projecting from the support housing;

a joystick base received within the support housing; and

a coupling between the joystick base and the support housing, the coupling permitting rotation of the joystick base over a full Range of Motion (ROM).

7. The variable track joystick device of claim 6 , wherein the joystick guidance mechanism comprises:

at least one guide member within the support housing; and

an actuator coupled to the at least one guide member and to the controller, the actuator configured to selectively move the at least one guide member into a blocking position in which the at least one guide member physically prevents movement of the joystick base over the full ROM.

8. The variable track joystick device of claim 1 , wherein the joystick guidance mechanism comprises:

an actuator in signal communication with the controller;

first and second guide members within the support housing and mechanically linked to the actuator, the first and second guide members movable between (i) a non-blocking position and (ii) a blocking position in which the first and second guide members physically limit joystick movement to the predetermined track pattern;

wherein the controller commands the actuator to move the first and second guide members into the block positioning when the variable track joystick device is placed in the first mode and into non-blocking position when the variable track joystick device is placed in the second mode.

9. The variable track joystick device of claim 8 , wherein the first and second guide members converge to define at least one linear track when moving from the non-blocking position to the blocking position.

10. A variable track joystick device utilized to control at least first and second work vehicle functions, the variable track joystick device comprising:

a support housing;

a joystick movable with respect to the support housing;

a joystick guidance mechanism coupled to the support housing and controllable to selectively confine joystick movement to a predetermined track pattern; and

a controller operably coupled to the joystick guidance mechanism, the controller configured to:

determine when the variable track joystick device is placed in a selected one of (i) a first mode in which joystick movement controls the first work vehicle function and (ii) a second mode in which joystick movement controls the second work vehicle function; and

command the joystick guidance mechanism to restrict joystick movement to the predetermined track pattern when the variable track joystick device is placed in the first mode, while permitting joystick movement outside of the predetermined track pattern when the variable track joystick device is placed in the second mode;

wherein the joystick guidance mechanism restricts joystick movement to multiple intersecting linear tracks when confining joystick movement to the predetermined track pattern.

11. A variable track joystick device utilized to control at least first and second work vehicle functions, the variable track joystick device comprising:

a support housing;

a joystick movable with respect to the support housing;

a joystick guidance mechanism coupled to the support housing and controllable to selectively confine joystick movement to a predetermined track pattern;

a controller operably coupled to the joystick guidance mechanism, the controller configured to:

determine when the variable track joystick device is placed in a selected one of (i) a first mode in which joystick movement controls the first work vehicle function and (ii) a second mode in which joystick movement controls the second work vehicle function; and

command the joystick guidance mechanism to restrict joystick movement to the predetermined track pattern when the variable track joystick device is placed in the first mode, while permitting joystick movement outside of the predetermined track pattern when the variable track joystick device is placed in the second mode; and

a mode selection interface enabling an operator of the work vehicle to switch between the first and second modes; and

wherein the controller determines when the variable track joystick device is placed in a selected one of the first and second modes based, at least in part, on operator input received via the mode selection interface.

12. A variable track joystick device utilized onboard a work vehicle, the variable track joystick device comprising:

a support housing;

a joystick having a joystick base located within the support housing and a joystick handle projecting from the support housing;

a coupling provided between the joystick base and the support housing, the coupling permitting rotation of the joystick base over a Range of Motion (ROM) relative to the support housing about first and second perpendicular axes;

a joystick guidance mechanism, comprising:

at least one guide member coupled to the support housing and movable relative to the joystick base; and

an actuator mechanically linked to the at least one guide member and controllable to selectively move the at least one guide member between (i) a blocking position in which the at least one guide member encroaches into the ROM of the joystick base to restrict joystick movement, and (ii) a non-blocking position in which the at least one guide member resides outside of the ROM of the joystick base; and

a controller in signal communication with the actuator, the controller configured to:

determine when the variable track joystick device is placed in a selected one of (i) a first mode in which joystick movement controls functioning of a transmission of the work vehicle and (ii) a second mode in which joystick movement controls functioning of a work implement of the work vehicle; and

command the actuator to move the at least one guide member into the blocking position when the variable track joystick is placed in the first mode and into the non-blocking position when the variable track joystick is placed in the second mode.

13. The variable track joystick device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one guide member includes a first guide member and a second guide member that converge to define at least one linear track when moving from the non-blocking position to the blocking position.

14. The variable track joystick device of claim 12 , wherein the coupling permits movement of the joystick handle over a generally circular ROM centered on a home position of the joystick when the at least one guide member is in the non-blocking position.

15. A work vehicle comprising:

a transmission;

a work implement; and

a variable track joystick device comprising:

a support housing;

a joystick movable with respect to the support housing;

a joystick guidance mechanism coupled to the support housing and controllable to selectively confine joystick movement to a predetermined track pattern; and

a controller operably coupled to the joystick guidance mechanism, the controller configured to:

determine when the variable track joystick device is placed in a selected one of (i) a transmission control mode in which joystick movement controls functioning of the transmission and (ii) a work implement control mode in which joystick movement controls functioning of the work implement; and

command the joystick guidance mechanism to restrict joystick movement to the predetermined track pattern when the variable track joystick device is placed in the transmission control mode, while permitting joystick movement outside of the predetermined track pattern when the variable track joystick device is placed in the work implement control mode.

16. The work vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the joystick guidance mechanism restricts joystick movement to multiple intersecting linear tracks when confining joystick movement to the predetermined track pattern.

17. The work vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the joystick guidance mechanism comprises:

at least one guide member movably coupled to the support housing; and

an actuator coupled to the at least one guide member and controllable to selectively move the at least one guide member between (i) a blocking position in which the at least one guide member encroaches into the ROM of the joystick base to restrict joystick movement, and (ii) a non-blocking position in which the at least one guide member resides outside of the ROM of the joystick base;

wherein the controller commands the actuator to move the at least one guide member into the blocking position when the variable track joystick is placed in the transmission control mode and into the non-blocking position when the variable track joystick is placed in the work implement control mode.

18. The work vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the work implement comprises a loader, and wherein the work implement control mode comprises a loader control mode.