GB2360500A

GB2360500A - A display, control and monitoring system for an industrial truck

Info

Publication number: GB2360500A
Application number: GB0106423A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ralf Baginski; Frank Maenken; Ernst-Peter Magens
Original assignee: Jungheinrich AG
Current assignee: Jungheinrich AG
Priority date: 2000-03-20
Filing date: 2001-03-15
Publication date: 2001-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2021-03-15
Also published as: SE0100128D0; SE0100128L; GB2360500B; DE10015009A1; SE523882C2; DE10015009B4; GB0106423D0

Abstract

An industrial truck with control operating, display and sensor devices for propulsion, steering, lifting, braking etc. has communication between the operating and control devices performed via an in-vehicle bus system connected to a central computer which has a multitasking operating system and a vibration-free data memory. The operation and display functions are amalgamated in a central operation and display unit within the driver' range of vison with the operation and display functions subdivided into appropriate groups such as for the travel mode, the lift and lower modes, etc., and invoked each according to needs in the operation and display unit. The display unit may includes a graphics screen which may be a touch screen. The system may include wireless communication with external monitoring and control devices.

Description

2360500 A DISPLAY, CONTROL, AND MONITORING SYSTEM FOR AN INDUSTRIAL TRUCK

The invention relates to a display, control, and monitoring system for an industrial truck according to claim 1.

As is known industrial trucks of most varied designs serve the flow of materials in the form of unit loads on pallets. They are equipped with an electric battery drive or a combustion engine drive. To make the industrial trucks work, devices are required to operate their functions, on one hand, and to indicate certain functions, on the other. Extra equipment such as a radiotelephone or a data radio are used in part. The number of such element varies in dependence on the design type of the vehicle and its application case. For an ergonomic operation, they require to be disposed within the driver's manual reach or range of vision. Since the driver, apart from operating the vehicle proper, has to keep an eye to the environment (way of travel, obstacles, oncoming vehicles, picking up and spotting of loads, etc.) the control elements should be arranged in an appropriate and easy-to-grip manner and, possibly, make it unnecessary move hands over to another place. The display devices should be arranged, if possible, within the angle of view which the driver takes in performing the respective function. In addition to the display and control elements for the vehicle functions proper, specific functions are often added which make it easier for the driver or fleet user to work with the vehicle.

Conventionally, the extra devices which are oriented more to an application case are installed in addition to the vehicle specific devices. For example, those are height-measuring and display units, terminals for communication between the industrial trucks and immovable stations, camera monitor systems to facilitate the picking up and spotting of loads, weighing equipment to determine the weight of the load, operational data acquisition equipment, etc. The units mentioned normally have separate sensors for data acquisition, separate intelligent units for data .. /2 processing and storage, and separate units for the display and transfer of data. For an optimal control, the separate display units are all arranged within the user's angle of view. This reduces the driver's range of vision. Besides, it results in significant expenditure because many system modules exist twice. What adds to this is that it causes more complexity and requires more space.

It is the object of the invention to provide a display, control, and monitoring system for industrial trucks which improves the operability of the industrial truck and reduces expenditure at the same time. The invention flirther aims at reducing the space required for the control and display devices and improving communication between the surrounding departments, e.g. the store management or the after-sales service, and the driver in order to achieve optimisation in the field of logistics and service.

The object is attained by the features of claim 1.

The inventive system provides a central onboard computer. It is connected to the bus system installed in the vehicle which forms part of the invehicle information system. For this purpose, for example, a CAN bus system is provided as is known as such. All signals are processed and all data are stored in the onboard computer itself rather than in separate, individual co-called "stand-alone" units. It also includes connecting the individual vehicle sensors to the bus system. This is accomplished either by the fact that the sensors are capable of working with the bus system and, hence, can be connected directly to the bus system or that signals from the sensors are reprocessed so as to become usable with the bus system.

The central onboard computer is provided with a multitasking operating system. This can be a commercial operating system such as Windows-CE, Linux, Java OS or the like. It allows for the simultaneous utilisation of different functions with the associated software system modules. The driver merely operates and utilises some functions at a respective time whilst all of the other functions are running invisibly to the operator in the background.

/3 A graphics screen preferably is provided for display and operation may preferably be effected via a touch-sensitive screen (touch screen) or, as an alternative, via keys the function of which can be varied depending on the respective menu (softkeys). The displays on the graphics screen, which also can be in colours, along with the respective display symbols such as bar graph displays, dial-like instruments, etc., are freely programmable and may be accommodated to the respective display desired. For a distinct storage of operation and input data, data systems are employed which are managed by the operating system and are used in conjunction with rugged, vibration-resistant storage media that do not have movable elements, e.g. semiconductor memories.

External communication preferably is effected by coupling via standardised interfaces using commercial system modules which permit an access, e.g. to the public mobile radio network, local data transfer networks, etc. Standardised PC communications protocols such as internet usage may be employed, on the other hand.

The menus of the onboard computer software are appropriately assigned to determined operating modes of the industrial truck, e.g. the travel mode, the lift and lower mode, etc. In an aspect of the invention, it is also possible to invoke individual menus automatically if the driver actuates certain vehicle functions. Thus, for example, the travel menu may be activated automatically if the driver actuates the accelerator pedal for a major period of time. The same applies to the lift and lower menu if the lift and lower functions are actuated.

The inventive system has a number of advantages. Thus, the driver can concentrate on a single display and user interface. This also improves the conditions of vision because the various displays and control units may be omitted. They will be realised on the onboard computer in case of need. The expenditure in manufacture and development is reduced by synergistic effects in the hardware and the use of commercial hardware and software modules. Since the onboard computer .. /4 is incorporated in the in-vehicle information system CAN bus) and out-of- vehicle systems (intranet, internet) all information is available to the onboard computer and, hence, the operator. Compatible data formats allow for easy data exchange with standard applications. Generally, the inventive system makes it possible to communicate between the vehicle internal bus system and external subscribers via noncontact data transfer such as radio, IR lines or the like as well as an associated data processing, storage, and display.

Embodiments of the invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a diagram of how to arrange an onboard computer for a forklift truck.

Fig. 2 schematically shows the assignment of various hardware to the onboard computer of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows the user interface of the onboard computer prior to its putting into operation.

Fig. 4 shows the user interface for the travel mode menu.

Fig. 5 shows the user interface for the lift and lower mode menu.

Fig. 6 shows the user interface for the Computer/Service menu.

Fig. 7 shows the user interface for the Data/Mobile radio menu including sub-menus.

Referring to Fig. 1, a fork-lift truck 10 is shown with a drive unit 12 and a load-carrying unit 14. A cabin 16 on the drive unit 12 is designed to be pivoted about a vertical axis to enable different directions of view for the driver. Thus, the cabin may also be pivoted through 180' so that the driver looks "rearwards". The roof of the cabin has outlined thereon an aerial 18 which is connected to a transmitting and receiving apparatus in the vehicle for the transfer of data by radio between the vehicle and an external station 36.

.. 15 The drive unit 12 includes a drive (not shown) which is operated by a battery or a combustion engine, and the steering mechanism acts on at least one rear wheel 20. The load-carrying unit 14 has a lift frame 22 on which a lifting fork 24 is guided so as to be adjustable in height. Nor is the drive shown for the frame 22 the inclination of which is adjustable, and for the fork 24. Basically, the elements concerned are those which are known as such in fork-lift trucks.

As further emerges from Fig. 1 the cabin 16 has arranged therein an onboard computer 26 the user interface of which is arranged in the direction of driver's view and is within the manual reach of the driver's hand, reference to which will be made further below. In-vehicle communication also includes a CAN bus system 28 which, for example, establishes a communication between operating levers in the cabin 16 and drive controls in the drive unit 12.

Furthermore, the onboard computer 26 has an interface for external communication with the store management and the after-sales service, for example, via the internet or mobile radio as is suggested at 30. The store management and the after-sales service have a PC 32 and 34, respectively, where the PC 32 is adapted to directly receive transmitted noncontact signals. as is suggested by an aerial 36 whereas the PC 34 has an interface with a mobile phone 38 with which the onboard computer 26 is able to communicate. For example, the PC's 32, 34 may also communicate with each other via the internet.

Connected to the onboard computer 26 are all sensors and other peripheral devices with which a fork-lift truck, e.g. a fork-lift truck 10 of Fig. 1, can be equipped. For example, these may include sensors 40 for height display, sensors 42 for the display of most varied modes of operation of the vehicle, possibly inclusive of a so-called shock sensor, and sensors 44 to check the weight of a load resting on the fork 24. This enumeration is made by way of example only and is by no means complete as will be elucidated by the explanations which follow. The onboard computer 26 further has connected thereto a transmitting and receiving device 46 for .. /6 a data radio as well as a camera 48 to monitor stacking, for example. The onboard computer 26, for example, includes the operating system Windows- CE and makes possible a number of displays and supervisions as ensues from the bordered representation 50 in Fig. 2. The designation LISA denotes a diagnostic system. The CAN bus 28 enables the onboard computer 26 to receive, store, and process all operational data of the vehicle and to evaluate them in the diagnostic mode. Reference will also be made thereto below.

Figures 3 through 7 show various message and control displays of the onboard computer on a graphics screen 52 which, for example, is designed as a touch screen. Thus, is will be within the manual reach of the driver of the industrial truck of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows the status which is displayed if the power supply has been turned on for the fork-lift truck 10, but it has not been put into operation yet. The driver is invited to enter his PIN. Once the PIN is accepted a display according to Fig. 4 will appear on the right-hand border of the screen 52, which has a column with various keypads which will hereinafter be referred to as keys and out of which the uppermost one 54 is assigned to the '7ravel mode" menu, the key 56 below it is assigned to the "Lift and lower" menu, the key 58 is assigned to the "Diagnosis" menu, and the key 60 is assigned to the "Store communication" menu. What appears on the screen of Fig. 4 are a dial-like display 64 for the speed, an operating-hour meter 66, a steering-angle display 68, a (digital) time display 70, a battery condition display 74, and a display 76 for the discharge and charge current. What perhaps should be noted on the latter is that energy recovery is provided already in many fork-lift trucks, e.g. in load lowering. Even the flow of a charge current during energy recovery would be signalled in 76.

A series of keys can be seen at bottom left the key 78 of which actuates the parking brake and the key 80 of which constitutes a slow-speed switch. The keys 82 to 90 make it possible to pivot the cabin 16 to the initial position of Fig. 1 and various further positions as can be deduced from the arrows which are shown in the keys. Upon actuation of the key 82, the cabin will swivel to the get-out and parking position. The keys 78 through 90 will exhibit a first colour, e.g. green, in case of non-actuation, and a second colour, e.g. red, in case of an actuation. This enables the driver to establish which key he has actuated. The same applies to the keys 54 to 60.

In the illustration of Fig. 5, the driver has depressed the key 56. By doing so, he has activated the "Lift mode" menu and the screen 52 displays a multitude of relevant messages which will be briefly mentioned now. A display of the lifting or lowering speed is made on the left of the screen at 92. The maximum speed is indicated here to be + 0.6 m per second. Bars (not shown) will appear in the panel 92, which propagate upwardly and downwardly and give the driver the speed information. It should be understood that other display symbols can also be provided to distinctly notify the driver of the speeds in lifting and lowering. The same applies to the displays for the '7ravel mode" menu.

A display panel is outlined at 94 next to the lifting and lowering speed display on a fork 96 corresponding to the fork 24 of Fig. 1. A graticule is indicated by 98, which marks the position of the centre of gravity of the load on the fork in a horizontal direction. Thus, the driver will readily recognise the respective centre of gravity. The level of the graticule 98 indicates the lifting height of the load here. Below the "fork" 98, a numeric display 104 is provided for the weight of the load and a numeric display 106 for the lifting height. Thus, a weighing mechanism will be provided which is capable of determining both the magnitude of the load and the position of the centre of gravity. It should be understood that other symbols may be used here to distinctly inform the driver on the weight of the load and the centre of gravity. The dark region 100 within the display panel 94 indicates that if the graticule remains in this region the weight of the load remains within admissible limits. The region 102 indicates that if the graticule migrates into this region the .. /8 magnitude of the load is in the critical range. The region 103 indicates that the vehicle is overburdened. The regions 100, 102, and 103 may be given appropriate colours. Six keys 108 by means of which the lifting height can be preselected are provided on the right of the symbolic load representation. For example, if a load has arrived at a predetermined height level, e.g. in order to be moved into shelves, the driver may predetermine or store such level by actuating a key 108 so that he need not move to the lifting height by hand the next time, but the lifting operation is discontinued automatically at the level chosen. It is understood that the same applies to the setting of a bottom height or initial height to pick up or spot a load.

The screen 52 further has symbolically shown thereon the lift frame at 110, which is intended to be variable in its inclination towards the cabin. The range of inclination is suggested by the segments 112, 113. The screen representation also discriminates between a rearward inclination range 112 and a forward inclination range 113 during the inclination process. A numeric display 1 12a indicates the degree of inclination. The inclination, e.g. into the vertical position, may be preselected by means of the key 114 so that if the push-button switch or lever is actuated for the purpose of releasing the drive.to incline the mast the inclination process is ceased automatically when the value set is reached.

The "Calculator/Service" menu is invoked by an actuation of the key 58. Depending on the type of the aforementioned PIN code, a calculator including the fundamental operations will appear in this menu for the common driver. A service worker may invoke several sub-menus here, e.g. by an actuation of the key 114 "Parameter settings", a fault diagnosis with instructions for maintenance and repair shown in the background by an actuation of the key 116, the operational data base, e.g. including a shock sensor evaluation, by an actuation of the key 118, and an accident diagnosis (black box function) by an actuation of the key 120. If an onboard computer is used it will be possible to establish a so-called black box function in which the respective final seconds of various operational data are stored, for .. /9 example. If a malfunction or accident occurs the data make it possible to determine the fork-lift truck condition and to derive the cause of the malfunction or accident therefrom, if possible.

The "Data/Mobile radio" menu with its sub-menus is activated by an actuation of the key 60. For example, the carriage order No. 122 is transmitted from a store to the fork-lift truck 10 via the data radio and is processed by the onboard computer 26. The order number and the order as given on the screen will appear on the monitor. When the driver has carried out the order he may acknowledge it by actuating a key which is not shown here in detail. This makes it possible to give him another order now. When the menu of Fig. 7 is invoked a column of further keys the reference numbers of which are 120 through 126 will appear on the left-hand border of the screen 52. Upon actuation of the key 120, the carriage order sub-menu which is shown will be invoked. Instructions for operation or maintenance may be imaged on the screen 12, for example, by an actuation of the key 122. An in-house communication system or even an out-of-house system (mobile radio, data radio, intranet, internet) may be invoked, for example, by an actuation of the key 124. Coupling to a logistics company may be effected by an actuation of the key 126, e.g. via the internet, a mobile radio, etc.

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Claims

Claims:

1 A display, control, and monitoring system for an industrial truck, comprising a driving device, a steering device, a lifting device, a braking device, etc. and control, operating, and display devices therefor wherein communication between the operating devices and the control devices is performed via an invehicle bus system and the display devices are connected to individual sensors on the vehicle, characterised in that a central computer (26) is connected to the bus system (28) which has a multitasking operating system and a vibration-free data memory and the operator interface and the screen of which are within the driver's manual reach or range of vision in the cabin (16) of the industrial truck (10), the sensors are connected to the bus system via appropriate interfaces and the signals are processed and all operating data are stored in the central computer (26) for the operation of the industrial truck (10), and operation and display functions are amalgamated in a central operation and display unit wherein the operation and display functions are subdivided into appropriate groups such as for the travel mode, the lift and lower modes, etc., and are invoked each according to needs in the operation and display unit.

2. The system according to claim 1, characterised in that a graphics screen (52) is provided.

The system according to claim 2, characterised in that operation functions are activated by the screen designed as a touch screen or via softkeys.

.. /11 4. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the menus for certain vehicle functions are invoked automatically by an actuation of associated control devices.

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the onboard computer has at least one standardised interface for external wireless communication.

6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a travel speed display and/or an operating-hour meter and/or a steering angle display or travel direction display and/or a hour-and- minute display and/or a date display and/or a battery condition display and/or a charge or discharge current display and/or a parking brake switch and/or a slow-speed switch and/or a switch for different pivoting modes of a rotary driver seat module are invoked for the '7ravel mode" menu on the screen.

7. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that a display for the lifting and lowering speed and/or an overload display and/or a numeric display for the weight of the load and/or a numeric display for the lifting height and/or control elements for height preselection with a numeric display and/or a qualitative display for the inclination of the lift frame and/or a numeric display for the inclination of the lift frame and/or a push-button switch for a specific preselection of inclination (e.g. a vertical mast position) are invoked for the "Lift and lower mode" menu on the screen (52).

8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that parameter settings and/or a fault diagnosis with instructions for maintenance or repair shown in the background and/or a operational data base, e.g. including an ../12 analysis of a shock sensor, and/or an accident diagnosis (black box function) are invoked for the "Calculator/Service" menu on the screen (52).

9. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the carriage order and/or in-vehicle information and/or out-of- vehicle communication sub-menus are invoked for the "Data/Mobile radio" menu.

10. A display, control, and monitoring system for an industrial truck, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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