WO2022214339A1

WO2022214339A1 - Control unit for a construction machine, and method for operating a construction machine

Info

Publication number: WO2022214339A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/058037
Authority: WO
Inventors: Timo Löw; Moritz Nick; Tobias Schmidt; Thorsten Anheier; Thomas SEIS
Original assignee: Bomag Gmbh
Priority date: 2021-04-07
Filing date: 2022-03-26
Publication date: 2022-10-13
Also published as: DE102021108690A1; EP4320004A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a control unit (17) for construction machines (1), in particular soil compaction machines, pavers or soil milling machines, comprising at least two control elements (19) configured for an operator to input control commands, a control element support panel (18) on which the control elements (19) are arranged, and an analysis unit (20) which is connected to the control elements (19) via one signal transmission link (22) each, is arranged separately from the control element support panel (18) and is configured to receive and process output signals of the control elements (19), the signal transmission link (22) being a flexible cable connection or a wireless connection. The invention further relates to a construction machine (1) and to a method (35).

Description

CONTROL UNIT FOR A CONSTRUCTION MACHINE, CONSTRUCTION MACHINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING A CONSTRUCTION MACHINE

The invention relates to a control unit for construction machinery, in particular soil compactor, road finisher or soil milling machine. In addition, the invention also relates to a construction machine with such an operating unit and a method for operating a construction machine.

Generic construction machines are, for example, soil compactors, such as tandem rollers, compactors, rubber wheel rollers and garbage compactors, as well as road finishers or milling machines, for example road milling machines, stabilizers or recyclers. Such construction machines are typically used in road and path construction and for the construction and compaction of landfills. They often include a large number of machine functions that can/must be controlled by an operator during work. The machine functions relate to, for example, the feed rate and the use of various working units of the construction machine. In addition, machine functions can also assume different states, for example speed or intensity levels.

In order to enable the operator to control the construction machine, these comprise at least one control unit, the control unit in the present case comprising at least two control elements which are designed for the manual input of control commands by an operator. The operating elements are arranged, for example, on an operating element support plate, in particular a common operating element, and can be actuated manually by an operator, for example by pressing, sliding and/or turning. In addition, the operating unit typically includes an evaluation unit which is connected to the operating elements via a respective signal transmission connection and is designed to receive and process output signals from the operating elements. Such an evaluation unit can, for example, be a suitable processor or a data processing device comprising at least one processor. A control unit of this type therefore forms, for example, a control panel or control panel arranged in the driver's cab of the construction machine with at least two and in particular a large number of control elements, via which the operator controls the construction machine or functions of the construction machine.

In such control units of the prior art controls are regularly used, which are structurally designed for each of them to be controlled function. For example, the operating elements, often mechanically, are typically limited to a defined number of possible operating positions that correspond to the number of machine functions or states that can be set using this operating element. For a machine function which, for example, has only two states, for example “on” and “off”, an operating element is typically provided which also has only two operating positions. For this purpose, in particular, constructional restrictions, such as mechanical stops, are used. The same applies to controls that function, for example, different states of a machine, for example, with adjustable intensity between levels from "0" to "5" to control. The controls then emit output signals that indicate which of the specified switch positions they are currently in. The number of possible switching positions of the control element corresponds to the possible number of states of the machine function to be controlled. Due to the large number of machine functions to be controlled that are typically present in construction machines of this type, this means that a large number of differently designed special operating elements have to be manufactured, installed and kept in stock. However, if a defect in a control element occurs, for example, an exchange can also only be made with this one special control element, which is designed, for example, for three rotational positions at specific angles to one another, etc. At the same time, the operating controls must also be replaced if, for example, the range of functions of the construction machine is to be expanded or if the various states of a machine function are to be reclassified, i.e. if suddenly three operating positions are to be provided for one control element instead of two. In this case, the control elements have to be newly developed or at least adapted and often completely replaced, sometimes even together with the control element support plate and the evaluation unit.

In addition, it is common in the prior art to arrange the controls of the control unit together with the evaluation unit or units on a common support structure, for example on a common circuit board in a housing. As a result, the operating units are always only used in the relative position to each other specified by the circuit board. can. In addition, such an entirety of controls and evaluation unit in a common housing requires an increased installation space, which is of course only available to a very limited extent, particularly where the control units are to be mounted in the driver's cab of the construction machine. For example, it is customary to provide control units on the armrests of a seat provided for the operator in the driver's cab. The flexibility of the arrangement of the operating unit on the construction machine is limited by the predetermined relative position of the operating units among one another and their common arrangement with the evaluation unit as a coherent module, in particular with a common housing.

Against this background, it is the object of the present invention to improve a construction machine and in particular its operating unit and a method for controlling a construction machine in such a way that a more flexible and cost-effective operating concept is provided. In particular, the flexibility of the control elements used should be increased, and a subsequent extension of the range of functions or a change in the assignment of machine functions to the individual control elements should be made easier. At the same time, measures to increase functional safety should be made possible.

[0007] This task is solved with a control unit, a construction machine and a method according to the independent claims. Preferred developments are specified in the dependent claims.

Specifically, it is initially provided for a control unit according to the invention that the evaluation unit is arranged separately from the control element support plate. The evaluation unit and the control elements arranged on the control element support plate are therefore no longer on a common support plate or support structure, which significantly increases the flexibility of arrangement. It is further provided according to the invention that the signal transmission connection is a flexible cable connection or a wireless connection. This also contributes to increased arrangement flexibility. In the control unit according to the invention, it is therefore provided overall that the evaluation unit, in which at least part of the evaluation of the input entered via the control element takes place, is spatially separated from the control element support plate and in particular from the control elements themselves. This means that the evaluation unit does not have to have a fixed relative position with respect to the operating elements, but instead, for example, a machine designer can fall back on considerably more degrees of freedom in this regard. The evaluation unit therefore does not have to be arranged, for example, together with the operating elements on the operating element support plate. It is sufficient if the controls are arranged on the control element support plate. are net. The operating elements can be connected to the evaluation unit via the flexible cable connection according to the invention or the wireless connection, in particular they can exchange data, with the evaluation unit being able to be mounted at any point on the construction machine. In this way, the controls can be arranged in relation to each other as desired. It is preferable for the cable connection to have a maximum length of 35 cm in order to ensure adequate signal quality. At the same time, the spatially separate arrangement of the evaluation unit saves installation space immediately where the operating elements of the operating unit are provided and where only limited installation space is typically available. The function of the evaluation unit can preferably be to carry out a software-based evaluation and/or sorting of one or more mechanical actuating movements of the operating element or elements. In particular, this can include the processing of the specific adjustment information transmitted by the operating elements to the evaluation unit, for example with regard to its real scope, for example the specific rotary adjustment of a rotary switch in degrees, etc. In contrast to the individual control elements, the evaluation unit thus includes a type of "intelligence" that, for example, carries out a data evaluation, assigns a meaning in the sense of a specific control command to the adjustment path and/or adjustment movement signals transmitted by the at least two control elements, whereas the control elements themselves essentially only record an adjustment path and/or an adjustment movement and transmit their extent to the evaluation unit, specifically together with an identification, as explained in more detail below Processor (CPU). The evaluation unit, on the other hand, comprises executable software and/or a processor (CPU) (for example comprising a clock signal). This is also particularly important here insofar as the evaluation unit is the first to transmit the data transmitted by the at least two control elements Adjustment path and/or adjustment movement data assigns a function and/or a control command derived from this data. In addition or as an alternative, a function of the evaluation unit can therefore also be, in particular, to sort incoming adjustment information from the operating elements and to assign certain machine functions and/or functional changes, for example for forwarding to a machine controller. It goes without saying that the evaluation unit is preferably designed to carry out these functions. The controls themselves are primarily used to mechanically receive an operating command/operating input by the user and to forward the extent of the adjustment movement to the evaluation unit, whereas the evaluation unit is the only one that assigns a specific functional meaning to this extent of the adjustment movement. This way you can comparatively simple and, in particular, controls constructed identically to one another.

Basically, the controls can be designed in different ways. Before given to the controls are designed as a rotary encoder, toggle switch, push button switch or slide switch. Particularly in the case of rotary encoders, also known as angle encoders, rotary encoders or rotary encoders, it is preferred that these are designed as rotary push encoders that can be turned by the operator to enter a control command and also be pressed like a push button. Particularly preferred operating elements for the present invention are rotary encoders and rotary push encoders. The operating elements are preferably encoders, which generate an electrical signal correlating to this actuating movement from an actuating movement input mechanically by an operator, for example a rotary and/or translatory movement. In particular, this can be a signal that correlates to an adjustment path. For this purpose, for example, an element of the encoder moved by the actuating movement, for example a shaft and/or a reference device, for example optical, magnetic or mechanical with contacts, can be used for absolute or incremental recognition and/or detection of this actuating movement. The mechanical adjustment movement triggered manually by the operator thus takes place on the input side of the encoder. On the output side, an electrical signal generated on the basis of the detection of the actuating movement is output.

The at least two controls can basically be different controls, for example a rotary knob and a toggle switch. In addition, two mutually structurally different rotary knobs can also be used, for example with different rotary detents and/or configuration of the rotary knob. However, it is particularly preferred if the at least two operating elements and in particular all operating elements of the operating unit are designed to be structurally identical to one another. However, this not only relates to the type of control element, ie rotary knob or toggle switch, for example, but ideally the entire structural or structural design of the respective control element. In particular, the operating elements are therefore preferably not designed individually for the input options for a specific machine function, for example for activating and deactivating a working unit. This therefore also very particularly preferably includes an embodiment of the at least two operating elements in such a way that they are not limited, in particular mechanically, to a specific, fixed number of switching positions provided ex works. As will be explained in more detail below, the assignment of switching positions takes place downstream by the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control. If the at least two operating elements are a rotary encoder, this is preferably designed in such a way that it cannot rotate about its axis of rotation, in other words it therefore has no rotary stops and can rotate freely through 360° about the axis of rotation from any position leaves.

[0011] The only difference between the at least two control elements is the one-to-one identification of the control elements, which is described in more detail below, although this is preferably a difference at the software level. The at least two operating elements therefore preferably include a memory element in which at least one's own unique identification code is stored. This can be queried and read out by the evaluation unit via the signal transmission connection and/or transmitted from the respective control unit together with a signal that represents the adjustment movement and/or the adjustment path of the control element by the operator to the evaluation unit via the signal transmission connection. For this purpose, the operating elements can have a unique identification code ex works or they can also be written with such a code, for example on the machine itself. This can be particularly advantageous for maintenance and replacement work on one or more control elements, since the "old" unique identifications of the replaced control elements can then be transferred to the new control elements. Unique means that the identification, for example an identification code or an identification number, is reversibly unique for the respective control element. This uniqueness therefore makes it possible for the evaluation unit to uniquely identify each control element with which it has a signal connection solely on the basis of this identification. At the hardware level, on the other hand, the control elements are preferably configured identically or structurally identical to one another. This means That the operating elements are interchangeable If, for example, the two operating elements of the operating unit were interchanged and, for example, in the respective other position on the operating element support arranged on a panel, the result would be the same operating unit on a purely structural level. The fact that the operating elements assume different control functions or that inputs via the operating elements are assigned to different control functions is implemented by the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control, as described in more detail below. The fact that the operating elements used can be constructed identically to one another means that they can be used for different machine functions, as a result of which the number of different components required for the production of a construction machine is reduced. In this way, costs can be saved both in the production and in the replacement of defective operating elements. save th. With the transmission of adjustment path and/or adjustment movement signals from the at least two operating elements to the evaluation unit, the operating elements thus also immediately transmit their respective unique identification to the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit thus has a data pair for each operating element, specifically the adjustment path and/or adjustment movement signal and the respective identification. The generation and assignment of the adjustment path signals and/or adjustment movement signals received from the operating elements to specific machine functionalities therefore only takes place on the evaluation unit. It is therefore not necessary, for example, to assign fixed slots to the respective control elements on the evaluation unit, since the adjustment path and/or adjustment movement signals arriving at the evaluation unit are not assigned locally via the slot but via the unique identification signals of the control elements. This considerably simplifies the assembly and maintenance process.

As already mentioned, the operating unit according to the invention preferably uses at least two structurally identical operating elements. There is therefore a deviation from the fact that in the prior art operating elements that are customarily tailored to the respective machine function are used. The operating unit therefore has at least two and in particular a large number, for example three, four, five or six, structurally identical operating elements. The output signals of the control elements are therefore no longer tailored to the respective machine function. For example, a control element therefore does not provide an output signal which directly indicates a state of a machine function desired by the operator (e.g. "vibration drive on"). In contrast to this, it is preferably provided that the at least two control elements are designed in such a way that they generate output signals which describe a relative movement and/or an absolute position of the respective control element.The control elements are therefore functionally configured as sensors, in particular adjustment travel sensors and/or adjustment movement sensors, for example rotary sensors if rotary encoders are used, which detect their own position and/or change in position The output signal preferably includes exclusively this unprocessed position signal (relative or absolute) and the respective unique identification signal of the control element l For example, the unique identification and the information that the rotary knob of this rotary encoder was rotated through a specific angle and/or that the rotary knob is in a specific angular position between 0° and 360°, in particular in relation to a zero crossing position. In the case of a pressure switch, the output signal contains the unique identification and, for example, the information on that the push button was pressed and/or how many times the push button was pressed. The pressure switch could also be a touch pressure switch. However, the operating elements do not require structurally specified switching positions or stops. The number of possible switching positions of the operating element exceeds the possible number of states of the machine function to be controlled. In concrete terms, the number of theoretically possible physical switching positions of the control element is limited only by the sensitivity of the position detection of the control element, ie for example by a predetermined grid of the possible adjustment movement, in particular for example 12 grid positions for a full revolution of a rotary encoder. The output signals from the operating elements are forwarded to the evaluation unit via the signal transmission connection. The evaluation unit in turn assigns adjustment information of the operating elements to the output signals, ie the received absolute or relative position information of the respective operating elements, using the unique identification of each operating element. The adjustment information thus includes, on the one hand, the absolute or relative position information of the respective control elements and, on the other hand, information about the control element from which the information originates. This assignment does not take place physically on the evaluation unit, for example by means of slots specified for each control element, but based on the unique identification transmitted by the respective control elements to the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit thus ensures in particular an assignment and sorting of the signals to the respective control elements and forwards these assigned signals to the central machine control or makes them available in a memory for reading out by the central machine control. The assignment can include, for example, the evaluation unit placing the respective adjustment information, for example using a unique identification of the control element, at a point in the CAN message provided for this purpose and sending it cyclically to the central machine control. The CAN message designates the information sent from the evaluation unit to the central machine control. From the point in the CAN message where the adjustment information is located, the central machine control can identify from which operating element the adjustment information comes or to which machine function the adjustment information is assigned. In addition or as an alternative, the assignment can include, for example, the evaluation unit storing the respective adjustment information in a memory location that corresponds to a specific machine function assigned to the operating element. If, for example, one of the controls is assigned a machine function by the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control that has three possible switching positions, then the output signals from this control element are in the corresponding switching positions and in switching operations converted between these switching positions. The conversion into the switching positions can already be carried out by the evaluation unit when the adjustment information is derived. However, it is also possible that the specific switching position, which corresponds to a machine function desired by the operator, is only determined by the central machine control from the adjustment information provided by the evaluation unit. The extent of the movement of the operating elements that the operator has to apply to them in order to switch back and forth between the switch positions can be set as desired. For example, the corre sponding adjustment paths can be chen angegli to those between the stops of conventional controls. However, the adjustment paths can also be set to be longer or shorter, taking into account the resolution of the sensors of the operating elements. It is important here that the operating elements are each only designed as sensors that only forward their respective position, for example rotational position, to the evaluation unit. Adjustment information is only assigned to these signals in the evaluation unit, and control commands are in turn assigned in the central machine control system. The assignment of adjustment information to the respective output signals by the evaluation unit does not mean that control commands, for example for actuators of the machine, are derived directly from the output signals. The actual machine functions are controlled by the central machine control. However, the evaluation unit already sorts the output signals coming from the control elements and inserts them at the designated point in the CAN message or stores them, for example, in a memory, specifically at a memory location that is intended for a specific machine function. This pre-sorted forwarding of the output signals of the operating elements by the evaluation unit as adjustment information to the central machine control means that the central machine control system can use the individual storage locations to identify the actual machine function for which the respective signal is intended. The assignment by the evaluation unit is therefore purely functional and is used for communication between the operating elements and the central machine control.

In particular, the evaluation unit assigns different machine functions of the construction machine to the output signals of the at least two operating elements. The evaluation unit derives adjustment information associated with these machine functions from the output or adjustment signals of the two operating elements. Specific control commands for the machine's working units affected by the machine function can then in turn be obtained from the adjustment information by the central machine controller. For example, the operating elements are assigned to different working units of the construction machine. The respective machine functions can have a matching or a different number of possible switching positions exhibit. According to the invention, this makes no difference since the operating elements are preferably designed in such a way that they are suitable for several, in particular all, machine functions. The operating elements, in particular all operating elements, therefore preferably have a number of possible switching positions which is at least as large as the highest number of switching positions of a machine function to be controlled by the operating elements. Conversely, this means that the possible switching positions of the operating elements exceed the necessary number of switching positions for most machine functions. For example, the controls could be designed as continuous rotary encoders. However, no continuous design is preferred, but instead, for example, a design of the operating elements as rotary encoders with a 12-step grid. Even with such a design, the possible switching positions of the operating elements typically exceed the number of switching positions required for a given machine function. The switch positions of the operating elements that are not used are preferably interpreted as transitional positions, in particular by the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control. In addition or as an alternative, it can also be provided that when the operating element is rotated by 360°, for example, the evaluation unit converts all of the recorded positions into a value that is sent to the central machine controller. This value then corresponds, for example, to the adjustment information, which in turn is assigned to a specific machine function by being assigned to a specific location in the CAN message or by being stored in a specific memory location. The central machine control then recognizes, for example, the direction of rotation, sets the machine function and, if necessary, sends the state that the display devices of the operating element, which are explained in more detail below, are to assume to the evaluation unit. However, any increased production costs due to the provision of unused switching positions are compensated for by the fact that no longer have to be produced and stored under different operating elements. Due to the fact that the possible switching positions of the operating elements exceed the necessary switching positions, which means that all operating elements are suitable for all machine functions, the allocation of the operating elements to the machine functions can be changed, for example on the software side. In addition, changes to the machine functions, for example additional machine functions or additional switching positions of existing machine functions, can be implemented by software changes without having to replace the operating elements, as is customary in the prior art.

[0014] In order to support the assignment of the operating elements to individual machine functions, it is provided that the at least two operating elements each have one of the evaluation units are equipped with recognizable, in particular unique, identification. This can be, for example, an identification number, for example a serial number, which is stored in an EEPROM, for example. Alternatively, a corresponding identification could also take place using an RFID chip. The identification is recognized or read out by the evaluation unit and the respective operating element is assigned a machine function on this basis by the evaluation unit.

An advantage of the recognizable by the evaluation unit, unambiguous identification of the operating elements is that it allows, according to a preferred embodiment, that the evaluation unit recognizes an exchange of a control element based on a changed identification. In particular, it is provided that the evaluation unit regularly or continuously reads out the identification of the operating elements. If the identification of a control element changes, the evaluation unit recognizes that the respective control element has been replaced. In response to this, a corresponding message can then be displayed to the operator, for example. The operator can confirm the replacement of the control element in a dialog box so that, for example, operation can be continued with the replaced control element. Alternatively, a teach-in routine can also be started on the software side in order to configure the new control element and the evaluation unit for the new control element. In addition or as an alternative, the central machine control can also monitor the identification of the operating elements. For this purpose, the identification of the operating elements is stored, for example, in a memory area of the evaluation unit that is accessible to the central machine control. When the system is started, the central machine control reads the identifications of the connected operating elements in this memory area of the evaluation unit and can thus recognize general changes to the hardware (e.g. the replacement of operating elements with new parts). In addition, the evaluation unit can independently check whether the identifications learned during initial commissioning still match the currently connected identifications. In this way, the evaluation unit can detect a mix-up of the slots of the control elements and rectify it itself, for example by means of autorouting. If the autorouting or the automatic assignment fails, the evaluation unit reports this to the central machine control and initiates appropriate troubleshooting steps (e.g. a manual teach-in process by the operator).

[0016] In the prior art, it is customary to already equip the controls for themselves with an evaluation unit that adapts the output signals of the controls to the systems used in each case. In this case, either each control element has its own evaluation unit, for example a microcontroller, or the control elements are on a common circuit board arranged, this board then also carries an evaluation unit, such as a microcontroller. In this case, there is an evaluation unit for each group of control elements that are on the same circuit board. According to the present invention, it is now preferred that the control unit exclusively includes a single evaluation unit, which receives and processes the output signals of all control elements. In this case, it is provided that the evaluation unit, in contrast to the prior art, is not structurally bound to the operating elements, for example via a common circuit board. The individual operating elements are structurally independent of the evaluation unit and can be installed at any location using the flexible cable connection or the wireless connection. In particular, the individual operating elements are therefore designed without a microcontroller or without a microprocessor and, in particular, are not arranged on a common circuit board. The output signals of the operating elements therefore consist of the sensor signals reflecting their respective switching position, for example rotational position. Unlike in the prior art, the output signals are not processed by an evaluation unit that is built into the control element. On the other hand, the entire evaluation of the output signals and their conversion into usable adjustment information is carried out by the only one, central evaluation unit that is connected to the operating elements.

It is preferred that the at least two operating elements are each connected to the evaluation unit via a serial interface. In other words, the signal transmission connection between the evaluation unit and the control elements is in the form of a serial interface, in particular via an SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) or an I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit). The manufacturing costs of the operating units according to the invention can be greatly reduced through the use of simple serial interfaces. In particular, these interfaces also offer the advantage that the operating elements do not have their own evaluation unit and can forward their output signals directly via the serial interface to the shared evaluation unit of the operating unit.

[0018] In addition, the invention makes it possible to implement current functional safety requirements on the operating unit in a simple manner. For example, it is preferred that the connections of the at least two operating elements to the evaluation unit are each configured redundantly. Each of the operating units is therefore connected to the evaluation unit in parallel via two serial interfaces, for example. Should one of the two serial interfaces actually be defective, error-free control of the machine via the operating unit would continue to be guaranteed. In addition, this can prevent the machine from performing unwanted, dangerous movements in the event of a defect. With the redundant design of the signal transmission connection, especially in the case of push and turn inputs, is therefore a measure according to PL e (Performance Level e) according to the EN ISO 13849 standard.

In order to obtain the simplest possible construction, it can be provided that the at least two control elements are supplied with electrical energy via the evaluation unit and a corresponding cable connection. It is therefore preferred to use a signal transmission connection that enables the operating element to be supplied with electrical energy or current at the same time. When using a serial interface, either a serial interface is used that allows electrical energy to be supplied, or the serial interface is provided with an additional power supply. To assemble the controls, it is therefore sufficient for them to be connected to the evaluation unit after they have been arranged on the control element support plate, which ensures both data transmission and the supply of electrical energy to the control elements.

The evaluation unit receives all of the output signals from the operating elements used in the operating unit and converts them into the adjustment information. In order to actually implement the information available on the evaluation unit for controlling the construction machine, it is preferably provided that the evaluation unit is connected to a central machine control unit (ECU) of the construction machine via a main connection. The main connection is designed in particular as a CAN bus (for example with the CANopen, CANopen safety or J1939 protocol). The information forwarded from the evaluation unit to the central machine control via the main connection is also referred to as a CAN message. The central machine control is, for example, the on-board computer of the construction machine. The central machine control, in turn, is designed in particular to control actuators of the construction machine using the control commands entered by the operator. In other words, who actually implements the control commands entered by the operator on the construction machine from the central machine control system, in that the latter controls the machine functions, for example via suitable actuators. The control commands, in turn, are obtained from the central machine control from the adjustment information provided by the evaluation unit. The evaluation unit serves as an intermediary between the operating elements and the central machine control, in that the output signals of the operating elements are converted into adjustment information that can be used by the machine control and pre-sorted, i.e. assigned to individual machine functions. As already described above, the controls are merely sensors of their own position (relative or absolute), in particular encoders. There is therefore basically no information on the operating elements themselves as to which machine function or which state of a machine function is currently selected via the respective operating element. It is therefore not possible, as is usual in the prior art, based on an existing switching position of the operating elements, for example due to the stop at a mechanical travel limit, to conclude per se that the machine function whose switching position is at this stop should be activated. Nevertheless, the operator of the construction machine must of course be given feedback as to which switching position the control element is currently in from the point of view of the evaluation unit or the central machine control or which machine function or its status is currently selected/assigned. For this purpose, it is preferably provided that display devices, in particular comprising LEDs, are provided, which are assigned by the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control to machine functions and/or their states, which can be set by the at least two operating elements. Since, according to the invention, the operator's control commands are obtained from the adjustment information of the operating elements only in the central machine control, the information about a currently set machine function or its status is only available in the evaluation unit and the central machine control. It is therefore preferably provided that the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control control the display devices provided for visualizing the current operating situation. If the display devices are controlled by the central machine control, then this generates a display command for the corresponding display devices based on the set machine function. The display command is then transmitted from the central machine control to the evaluation unit, which in turn activates the corresponding display device. In order to control the display devices, the evaluation unit is interposed between the central machine control and the display devices. For this purpose, it is first provided that the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control assigns the machine functions to be visualized and/or their states to the respective display devices. The corresponding assignment is made in the software and can therefore be changed or adapted quickly and easily. For example, a machine function can be assigned to a different display device by changing the software. It is not necessary to change the hardware for this. The display devices are preferably visually perceptible display devices, such as one or more displays, one or more switchable lamps, etc. LEDs are particularly preferred here.

[0023] In principle, the display devices can be arranged independently of the operating elements and can be mounted, for example, at any point on the operating unit or the construction machine. For example, the display devices can also be arranged together with the operating elements on the operating element support plate. However, since the display devices should be able to be controlled by the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control, this results in a comparatively high connection effort. It is therefore preferred if the display devices are designed as a modular unit together with the operating elements. In particular, the display devices are therefore preferably arranged in a housing of the control element, with this housing preferably exclusively comprising a control element and the display devices as well as the necessary connections for the evaluation unit. In addition, it is preferred that the at least two operating elements are equipped with a number of display devices, in particular LEDs, with the number of display devices preferably being equal to or greater than the number of machine functions and/or their states that can be set using the respective operating element . In other words, each control element is equipped with a set of display devices assigned to this control element. The number of display devices is independent of the machine function to be controlled by the respective operating element. The number of display devices can therefore particularly preferably be the same for each of the at least two operating elements, regardless of which machine function is to be controlled by the operating element. If the machine function to be controlled requires only a few switch positions, then the number of display devices on the operating element exceeds the number of switch positions. It can therefore happen that not all display devices of the operating element are necessary for a display of the respectively currently selected switch position. Some of these display devices are therefore not used during operation. However, this disadvantage is compensated for by the fact that no different operating elements, each specifically designed for a machine function, have to be manufactured and stored. In the case of a rotary encoder, for example, it is preferably provided that this is equipped with, for example, twelve LEDs. These can, for example, be arranged in a ring around the rotary knob. The rotary encoder is particularly preferably designed with two such rings of display devices, that is to say with a total of 24 LEDs, for example. It is optimal if the display devices are controlled exclusively via the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control and in particular not directly by the at least two operating elements, for example by direct signal transmission from the operating control element to the display device, for example mechanically. It is therefore preferred if the at least two operating elements transmit a change in position to the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control and the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control then uses this information to control the display devices.

As already indicated, it is preferably provided that the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control activates a selection of the display devices of an operating element that corresponds to the machine functions currently set by the operator and/or their states. A direct transfer of information or control between the display devices and the operating element is not provided. At least the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control is always provided between the display device and the operating element. The display devices are therefore controlled by the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control. The flow of information for a currently set machine function or its status runs from the operator, who selects the desired function via the operating elements, to the evaluation unit, which converts the output signals of the operating element into corresponding adjustment information and forwards this to the machine control, where the adjustment information is then used the control commands are obtained. The information about the currently set machine function or its status then runs from the central machine control and/or the evaluation unit back to the display devices, which are activated or not depending on the current operating status. The activated display devices inform the operator about the operating status of the construction machine. The display devices are also controlled via the signal transmission connection, in particular the serial interface. A separate connection of the display devices to the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control is therefore not necessary. Provision is particularly preferably made for each operating state or each activated machine function or its state to be visualized via at least two display devices. In other words, the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control always activate at least two display devices in order to display an operating state. This measure also serves to ensure functional safety, since even if one of the two activated display devices fails, visualization of the current operating status of the construction machine is guaranteed for the operator. This is in particular a measure according to PL c (Performance Level c). the standard EN ISO 13849. In addition or as an alternative, the display devices can also be controlled directly by the evaluation unit after receipt of the position and/or position change signals of the at least two control elements.

The controls typically have mechanical components or input elements that are moved by the operator to set a desired machine function. Examples are toggle, rotary, push and/or slide switches, preferably as encoders. With conventional controls, which derive the control command desired by the operator directly from their position, for example because they ben a specific rotating or tilting position, there is the problem that the operator actually has to move them back to a starting position in order to terminate or switch off the respective machine function. This can be a problem when restarting the construction machine, for example, if the construction machine has been switched off with activated working units, but these working units should not be activated again immediately after the restart. This can be the case, for example, for safety reasons. In the case of conventional control elements, it can happen that they retain their previous switching position even after the machine has been restarted and immediately activate the machine function selected thereby. This problem can now be circumvented with the control unit according to the invention, since only the central machine control derives the control commands desired by the operator from the adjustment information obtained by the evaluation unit from the output signals of the control elements. Accordingly, in certain situations, the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control can reset the last set control commands or activated machine functions. For example, it is preferable for the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control to set specific machine functions and/or their states after a restart of the operating unit, independently of a current setting of the operating elements assigned to these machine functions. Even if, for example, after restarting the machine, an operating element reports via its output signal that it is in an absolute position in which a specific working unit should actually be activated, the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control can provide that this working unit is switched off after a restart. The switching position of the operating element would therefore be ignored by the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control. In the case of a rotary encoder in particular, this can be done in a simple manner by defining the current rotary position of the rotary encoder as the new neutral position in which the working unit is switched off. The respective Working unit activated again. Also in this way can be increased with the control unit according to the invention, the work safety.

In order to make the operating unit according to the invention as flexible as possible and in particular to make the operating elements mountable at as many locations as possible, it is preferably provided that the operating elements and/or the evaluation unit are of modular design. For this purpose it is preferred, for example, that the at least two operating elements each have a housing and the evaluation unit is arranged in a separate housing. Each operating element is therefore equipped with its own housing as a self-contained module or as a self-contained unit. In particular, this housing also includes the display devices assigned to the operating element, in particular LEDs. The evaluation unit, in turn, is arranged in its own separate housing. The housing of the operating elements and the housing of the evaluation unit are connected exclusively via the signal transmission connection, in particular a data connection and a connection for electrical energy. As already explained, this connection takes place in particular via a flexible cable connection or a wireless connection, so that the control elements can be mounted in any spatial arrangement relative to the evaluation unit.

In addition, it can be provided that mechanical input elements on the operating elements, for example in the case of rotary encoders the rotary knob and the rotary shaft, are designed to be demountable or mountable. If, for example, the rotary knob and the rotary shaft are removed from the rotary encoder, the sensor for the rotary position of the shaft remains on the control element, but cannot currently be used without the shaft. However, the display devices arranged on the control element, for example LEDs, can still be used. A correspondingly partially dismantled control element can therefore be used as a display device, for example for signal lights on the control element support plate. At the same time, the control element can be quickly and easily converted into a fully functional control element by installing the shaft and the rotary knob, to which a function can then also be easily assigned on the software side with the architecture described above. In this way, a simple and quick expansion or modification of the scope of functions of the control unit according to the invention is achieved. This method thus makes it possible to provide a basic control unit with one or more, in particular at least five, preferably identical, control element subassemblies. A control element subassembly is characterized in that it already has everything that is required to complete the respective control element, such as one or more display devices, preferably a housing element. ment, a connection to the evaluation unit and an operating element holder. What is missing is the actual actuating element, such as a rotary knob, and optionally one or more connecting parts that interact mechanically with the rotary knob, such as a rotary axis. The operating element subassembly is also preferably designed in such a way that it has an essentially planar end towards the operating side, in order to be completely covered, for example, with a cover plate and/or a film. If one or more control element subassemblies are later to be upgraded/converted to a complete control element by connecting an actual actuating element, for example, the cover plate and/or film can be replaced, in which the corresponding recesses are then made above the control element subassembly are provided, can be passed through the way through the respective connection part of the actuating element or to the actuating element, such as in particular a special axis of rotation. This approach enables a high degree of flexibility while at the same time requiring a small number of mutually different components when manufacturing and/or converting/upgrading an operating unit. This can be of particular advantage in the field with construction machines, as these are often serviced and/or converted on site.

As explained above, the controls are preferably arranged on a control element support plate. The control element support plate serves as a front panel for the control unit, for example. The control element support plate preferably has markings that correspond to the machine functions that are associated with the control commands that can be entered. The markings do not have to be arranged directly on the operating element support plate itself. For example, it is also possible that the control element support plate is provided with a film on which the markings are arranged. The markings preferably include symbols and/or characters assigned to the operating elements, for example pictograms, which indicate active and/or available machine functions and/or their states. Different switching positions of the controls, which correspond to different machine functions and/or their states, are displayed on the control element support plate for the operator via the markings. In order to also inform the operator which of these machine functions and/or their states are currently active, it is preferably provided that the control element support plate covers the display devices of the control elements and comprises at least partially transparent areas that are assigned to at least some of the display devices and through which the display devices and/or the light emitted by them can be seen by the operator. The control element support plate is therefore together with the display devices in such a way that some of the markings arranged on the control element support plate of the Display devices highlighted for the operator, for example illuminated, can be. To display a specific machine function and/or its status, the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control activates those display devices that highlight the corresponding marking on the operating element support plate or those display devices that are visible through the at least partially transparent areas or through these light send out visible to the operator. Due to the fact that all operating elements are designed identically with the display devices assigned to them, it is provided according to the invention that only some of the display devices are assigned markings and/or at least partially transparent areas of the operating element support plate. Other display devices, on the other hand, are covered by the operating element support plate, so that neither they nor the light they emit can be perceived by the operator. Due to the modular design of the operating unit, there are therefore superfluous display devices here, which, however, is more than compensated for overall by the advantages of modularity. A support plate for the evaluation unit can be provided separately from the control element support plate.

Due to the structure of the operating unit, a large number of adjustments to the machine control, for example a new assignment of machine functions to operating elements, a new classification of machine functions into different states or the like, can be made simply by changing the software and the assignment of the operating elements or of the display devices for the machine functions and/or their states. In the event that changes are planned that also make it necessary to change the markings on the operating element support plate, it is preferably provided that the operating element support plate is detachably attached to the operating unit, in particular detachably in one piece. In this way, the control element support plate can be easily dismantled from the control unit and replaced with a new control element support plate, for example, which has the changed markings.

[0031] The solution to the task mentioned above is also achieved with a construction machine, in particular a soil compactor, a road finisher or a ground milling machine, with a control unit as described above. In addition, the solution is also achieved with a method for operating a construction machine, in particular such a construction machine. The invention therefore also extends to such a construction machine and such a method. The features, advantages and effects explained above for the operating unit also apply in a figurative sense to the construction machine and the method, and vice versa. That- the same applies to the construction machine and the procedure among each other. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the present explanations as a whole.

[0032] With regard to the construction machine, it is preferred that this has two control units according to the above statements, both of which are connected to the same central machine control system. For example, this can be a control unit on the left armrest of the driver's seat and a control unit on the right armrest of the driver's seat. In particular, with this arrangement of the control units, the small space requirement of the control unit according to the invention has a particularly strong effect.

The method according to the invention for operating a construction machine, in particular a construction machine according to the above explanations, i.e. in particular with an operating unit according to the above explanations, comprises the steps carried out by the evaluation unit: detecting a unique identification of an operating element; Assigning the operating element to a machine function; receiving output signals from the operating element which describe a relative movement and/or an absolute position of the respective operating element; and deriving adjustment information assigned to the machine function from the output signals of the operating element. In addition, the method also includes the steps: Forwarding the adjustment information from the evaluation unit to a central machine control; and activation of display devices, which are assigned to the machine functions set by the operator and/or their states, by the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control. It is important here that, as already described above, the control of the display devices emanates from the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control depending on the currently activated machine functions and/or their states. The switching positions of the controls, on the other hand, have no direct influence on the operation of the display devices. It is also important that the signals coming from the operating units and received by the evaluation unit are assigned to the adjustment path and/or adjustment movements or to these output signals of the operating units, which describe a relative movement and/or an absolute position of the respective operating element, only in the evaluation unit based on the one-to-one identification that is also transmitted and not based on, for example, mechanically fixed connections/slots on the evaluation unit for a specific operating element in a specific position.

The modular design of the controls makes them particularly suitable for retrofitting. For example, it can be provided that on the control unit according to the invention a control element is only incompletely pre-installed, for example in the case of a rotary encoder without the rotary knob and the shaft. In this case, the display devices of the operating element can already be used on the operating unit, for example to operate warning lights or the like. The slot for the shaft can be covered with a design film, for example. If, for example, a new machine function is then enabled later, for example when a new working unit of the machine was purchased, the operating element can be completed by simply retrofitting the mechanical input elements. For the method according to the invention, it is therefore preferred, for example, that at least one operating element comprises at least one display device and at least one mechanical input element, for example a rotary knob and/or a shaft. The operating element is only operated exclusively using the display device in the absence of the mechanical input element. The mechanical input element, specifically the rotary knob and the shaft, is then retrofitted as soon as there is a need for a new input element. The corresponding function can then be assigned to the fully-fledged input element by software, for example by the evaluation unit and/or the central machine control.

This results in a further advantage of the control unit according to the invention: It is possible to use one and the same control unit in different machines, regardless of how many controls are necessary for this type of machine. For example, a control unit is produced that includes a certain number of control elements, with all control elements initially being assembled without mechanical input elements. The number of partially mounted input elements on the operating unit is at least as large as the maximum number of necessary operating elements for the type of machine that requires the most operating elements. If this control unit is then to be used in a specific machine, the mechanical input elements only have to be mounted on the control unit for that subset of the control elements that are necessary for the operation of the machine. On the other hand, in the absence of their mechanical input elements, the superfluous operating elements are only operated as display devices. In this way, the same operating unit can be stored for assembly for a large number of different machines. In addition, the range of functions of the corresponding control units can be expanded quickly and easily by retrofitting or retrofitting additional mechanical input elements on other control elements.

[0036] The method is preferably carried out using an operating unit according to the invention. The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. They show schematically:

FIG. 1: a side view of a tandem roller;

FIG. 2: a side view of a compactor;

FIG. 3: a side view of a rubber wheel roller;

FIG. 4: a side view of a refuse compactor;

FIG. 5: a side view of a road finisher;

FIG. 6: a side view of a road milling machine;

FIG. 7: an operating unit and its connection to a central machine control;

FIG. 8: another view of an operating unit;

FIG. 9: two operating units on a central machine control; and FIG. 10: a flow chart of the method.

Components that are the same or have the same effect are denoted in the figures with the same reference symbols. Repeating components are not separately identified in each figure.

Figures 1-6 show generic construction machines 1. All generic construction machines 1 are self-propelled and include a machine frame 3, a driver's cab 2 and a drive motor 4, typically a diesel engine or an electric motor. During work, they typically move in the working direction a on a floor 8. For this purpose, they have different driving devices that are related to the respective function or area of use. FIG. 1 shows a tandem roller, for example, which has a roller bandage 5 both at the front and at the rear, with which it compacts the soil 8 . In addition, for example, a vibration exciter can be provided in the rolled drums 5, via which the rolled drum 5 can be made to oscillate in order to increase the compaction performance of the construction machine 1. FIG. 2 shows a compactor which also has a rolled bandage 5 at the front in the working direction a. In contrast, the compactor has wheels 6 at the rear. The rubber-wheeled roller shown in FIG. 3 has rubber wheels 6 both at the front and at the rear. In Figure 4, in turn, a garbage compactor is shown. This has a front end in the working direction a Clearing blade 15, which can be used to distribute garbage to landfills. FIG. 5 shows a road paver for laying asphalt layers. For this purpose, it has a material bunker 16 and a building plank 7 . The road finisher shown includes chain drives 9, but could also have 6 wheels. Finally, FIG. 6 shows a road milling machine. The road milling machine comprises a milling drum 11 which is mounted in a milling drum box 10 so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation 12 and is used, for example, to mill off damaged roads. The removed milled material is loaded onto a transport vehicle via a conveyor 13 and transported away. These types of machines are familiar to those skilled in the art, so that their structure and function will not be discussed in detail. All of the construction machines 1 have a central machine control unit 14 (ECU), which is the on-board computer of the construction machine 1, for example. The machine controller 14 is designed to control all machine functions, the working units, for example also the driving devices, of the construction machine 1 .

FIG. 7 shows an operating unit 17 as can be arranged, for example, in the driver's cab 2 of the construction machine 1 . The control unit 17 includes a control element support plate 18 on which a plurality of control elements 19 are arranged. The control element support plate 18 can be made of glass, plastic or metal for example. In the embodiment shown, rotary encoders, toggle switches, pushbutton switches and slide switches are shown from left to right, with each Weil showing a pair of identical operating elements 19 of the respective species. However, it is initially only essential for the invention that at least two operating elements 19, which are ideally structurally identical to one another, are present. Markings 21 can be arranged on the operating element support plate 18 in the vicinity of the respective operating elements 19, which symbolize the machine functions that can be controlled via the operating element 19 and/or their states. Depending on the machine function, a different number of markings 21 can be assigned to the respective operating elements 19, even if the operating elements 19 are otherwise identical. For example, on the left in FIG. 7, two identical operating elements 19, each designed as a rotary encoder, are shown. A total of three markings for different switching or operating positions of this operating element 19 are assigned to the operating element 19 shown above. In contrast, a total of four markings for different switching or operating positions of this operating element 19 are assigned to the operating element 19 shown below.

The control unit 17 also includes an evaluation unit 20, which includes a microcontroller or a microprocessor, for example. The evaluation unit 20 is designed to receive the output signals of the operating elements 19 . For this purpose, the evaluation Unit 20 is connected to each of the operating elements 19 via a signal transmission connection 22 . In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the signal transmission connections 22 are in the form of flexible cable connections, with a separate slot 23 being provided on the evaluation unit 20 for each operating element 19 . Alternatively, the signal transmission connections 22 could also be in the form of radio connections. In a preferred embodiment, the signal transmission connections 20 are in the form of serial interfaces which also supply the operating elements 19 with electrical energy via the evaluation unit 20 . The evaluation unit 20 itself, in turn, can be connected to the central machine control 14 via a main connection 24, for example a CAN bus, and can also be supplied with electrical energy from the on-board network of the construction machine 1. The evaluation unit 20 can also have a data connection with the machine control 14 via the main connection 24 and this can in particular forward the adjustment information obtained from the output signals of the operating elements 19, from which the machine control 14 then determines the control commands entered by the operator. The central machine control 14 in turn is connected to actuators 25 of the construction machine 1 via control lines 26 and controls them according to the control commands.

The exemplary basic principle of the operating unit 17 is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. This shows two identical operating elements 19, each designed as a rotary encoder, which are shown in a lateral sectional view, transverse to the operating element support plate 18. The operating elements 19 include a rotary knob 29 which can be connected to a shaft 34 so that the shaft 34 rotates with the rotary knob 29 when an operator rotates the rotary head 29 . The shaft 34 can reach into a rotary sensor 33, from which the absolute rotary position and/or the relative rotary position of the shaft 34 and thus of the rotary knob 29 is determined. In addition, the operating element 19 has display devices 30 which, as shown by way of example, can be embodied as LEDs. Finally, the control element 19 can have a housing 31 on or in which the components of the control element 19, in particular the rotary knob 29, the shaft 34, the rotary sensor 33 and the display devices 30 are arranged. The operating elements 19 are arranged on the operating element support plate 18 , for example in such a way that the operating element support plate 18 is penetrated by the shaft 34 . The rotary knob 29 is therefore arranged on the side of the control element support plate 18 facing an operator, while the rest of the control element 19 and partly also the shaft 34 can lie behind the control element support plate 18 as seen by the operator. In particular, the display devices 30 can be covered by the operating element support panel 18 and/or a design film. A part the display devices 30 can be visible through the markings 21 and/or through at least partially transparent areas of the operating element support plate 18 and/or the design film.

The evaluation unit 20 can be arranged with its own housing 32 separately from the operating elements 19 and separately from their housing 31 . In addition, the evaluation unit 20 can also not be arranged on the operating element support plate 18 . In principle, the evaluation unit 20 can be arranged at any point on the construction machine 1, for example inside the driver's stand 2. As indicated by the arrows, the signal transmission connections 22 between the evaluation unit 20 and the operating elements 19 include different portions, in which data are each transmitted in different directions. In this way, the position data of the shaft 34 recorded by the rotary sensor 33 can be transmitted to the evaluation unit 20 . At the same time, the display devices 30 can be controlled by the evaluation unit 20 and/or the machine controller 14 via the signal transmission connection 22 . In particular, those display devices 30 are selectively actuated that correspond to or are assigned by evaluation unit 20 and/or machine controller 14 to the currently set or activated machine function and/or its status, and for this purpose, for example, on control element support plate 18 also with a corresponding, preferably backlit th, marking 21 are provided.

In Figure 9, a situation is shown as an example in which two operating units 17 are provided, which are each connected to the central machine control 14. For the sake of clarity, only one control element 19, specifically designed as a rotary encoder, is shown per control unit 17. In addition, for reasons of clarity, the operating element support plate 18 is not provided. FIG. 9 therefore shows a perspective view of the housing 31 of the operating elements 19 from the perspective of the operator. Each of the controls 19 is equipped with a variety of display devices 30, which are arranged around the knob 29 in two concentric rings. Due to the large number of display devices 30, any position around the rotary knob 29 can be highlighted by activating the respective display devices 30. The selection of display devices 30 required for the activated setting is controlled by the evaluation unit 20 and/or the machine controller 14 via the signal transmission connection 22 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the signal transmission connections 22 are designed to be redundant. Each operating element 19 is connected to the evaluation unit 20 via two signal transmission connections 22 . In addition, each signal transmission link 22 includes, in particular, a serial data link 27 and a power line 28 for supplying electrical energy. Due to the redundant connection of the operating elements 19 to the evaluation unit 20 the functional safety can be improved. In addition, a large number, in particular at least two, of the display devices 30 of a control element 19 can be activated for each setting to be displayed. This is also a redundancy in terms of functional safety.

Figure 10 shows a flowchart of the method 35. The method 35 begins with the recognition 36 of an identification of an ideally clearly defined control element 19 by the evaluation unit 20. This can be done, for example, by reading out an EEPROM in which a, in particular a unique identification number is stored. Next, the operating element 19 is assigned 37 to a machine function by the evaluation unit 20. The evaluation unit 20 can, for example, identify the operating element 19 and/or the arrangement of the signal transmission connections 22 coming from the operating element 19 at a special slot 23 of the evaluation unit for the assignment of the machine functions. Output signals of the operating element 19 are received 38 at the evaluation unit 20. The output signals of the operating element 19 describe in particular a relative movement and/or an absolute position of the operating element 19. In relation to a rotary encoder, the output signals therefore include, for example, an angle by which the rotary encoder was turned by an operator, or the absolute position of a shaft 34 of the rotary encoder measured by a rotary sensor 33. These output signals are used by the evaluation unit 20 to derive 39 adjustment information associated with the machine function. According to the invention, it is therefore only the evaluation unit 20 that assigns an information content that goes beyond this to the pure sensor data of the operating elements 19, which exclusively describe the position of the operating elements 19, for example by storing the corresponding signals in the memory positions assigned to the respective machine functions or at corresponding ones Places of the CAN message are stored and pre-sorted in this way to the central machine control 14 forwarding tet. The adjustment information obtained from the evaluation unit 20 is transferred to a central machine control 14 by a forwarding 40 . The central machine control 14 uses the adjustment information in order to derive from them the control commands entered by the operator for the corresponding machine functions. The control commands, in turn, are used by the central machine controller 14 to control actuators of the construction machine 1, which convert the control commands during operation. In order to provide the operator with appropriate feedback on the operating state of the construction machine 1, display devices 30 are activated 41 at the same time are assigned to the machine functions set by the operator and/or their states by the evaluation unit 20 and/or the central machine control 14. Overall, the invention therefore enables a particularly flexible and cost-effective To provide an operating concept for a construction machine 1, which is easily adaptable and at the same time is able to meet increasing demands on functional safety.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Operating unit (17) for construction machines (1), in particular soil compactors, road finishers or ground milling machines, comprising

- at least two operating elements (19) which are designed for the input of control commands by an operator,

- A control element support plate (18) on which the control elements (19) are arranged, and

- an evaluation unit (20) connected to the operating elements (19) via a respective signal transmission connection (22), which is designed to receive and process output signals from the operating elements (19), characterized in that the evaluation unit (20) is separate from the operating element support plate (18), and the signal transmission connection (22) is a flexible cable connection or a wireless connection, and that the at least two operating elements (19) are equipped with a unique identification recognizable by the evaluation unit (20).

2. Operating unit (17) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two operating elements (19)

- Are constructed identical to each other and / or

- Are designed as a rotary encoder, in particular as a rotary push encoder, toggle switch, push button switch or slide switch and / or

- are designed in such a way that they generate output signals that describe a relative movement and/or an absolute position of the respective operating element (19) and forward them to the evaluation unit (20) via the signal transmission connection (22), and that the evaluation unit (20) transmits the output signals Assigns adjustment information of the controls (19).

3. Operating unit (17) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the evaluation unit (20)

- assigns different machine functions of the construction machine (1) to the output signals of the at least two operating elements (19), and that the evaluation unit (20) derives adjustment information assigned to these machine functions from the output signals of the two operating elements (19) and/or

- recognizes and/or an exchange of an operating element (19) based on a changed identification

- is connected via a main connection (24), in particular a CAN bus, to a central machine control (14) of the construction machine (1), the central machine control (14) being designed to control actuators (25) of the construction machine (1st ) on the basis of the adjustment information provided by the evaluation unit (20).

4. Operating unit (17) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that only a single evaluation unit (20) is present, which receives and processes the output signals of all operating elements (19).

5. Operating unit (17) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two operating elements (19) are each connected to the evaluation unit (20) via a serial interface and/or are supplied with electrical energy via the evaluation unit (20). will.

6. Control unit (17) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connections of the at least two control elements (19) with the evaluation unit (20) are redundant.

7. Operating unit (17) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that display devices (30), in particular LEDs, are provided which are controlled by the evaluation unit (20) and/or the central machine control (14) machine functions and/or their States are assigned, which are adjustable by the at least two operating elements (19).

8. Operating unit (17) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two operating elements (19) are equipped with a number of display devices (30), in particular LEDs, the number of display devices (30) being greater is the number of machine functions and/or their states that can be set by the respective operating element (19), and the display devices (30) are arranged in particular in a housing (31) of the operating element (19).

9. Operating unit (17) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the evaluation unit (20) and/or the central machine control (14)

- A selection of the display devices (30) corresponding to the machine functions currently set by the operator and/or their states is activated and/or

- After restarting the control unit (17), certain machine functions and/or their states are set independently of a current setting of the control elements (19) assigned to these machine functions.

10. Operating unit (17) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least two operating elements (19)

- Each have a housing (31) and the evaluation unit (20) in a separate hous se (32) is arranged and / or

- Are designed without microcontrollers and in particular are not on a common Pla tine.

11. Operating unit (17) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the operating element support plate (18) has at least one of the following features:

- it has markings (21) which correspond to machine functions which are assigned to the control commands which can be entered;

- The markings (21) include symbols and/or characters assigned to the operating elements (19) which indicate active and/or available machine functions and/or their states;

- It covers the display devices (30) of the operating elements (19) and comprises at least partially transparent areas that are assigned to at least some of the display devices (30) and through which the display devices (30) and/or the light emitted by them is visible to the operator;

- It is detachable, in particular detachable in one piece, attached to the operating unit (17).

12. Construction machine (1), in particular soil compactor, road finisher or ground milling machine, with an operating unit (17) according to one of the preceding claims.

13. Construction machine (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it has two operating units (17), both of which are connected to the same central machine control (14).

14. Method (35) for operating a construction machine (1) according to claims 12-13, comprising the steps carried out by an evaluation unit (20):

- Recognizing (36) an identification of an operating element (19);

- Assigning (37) the operating element (19) to a machine function; - Receiving (38) of output signals of the operating element (19) that describe a relative movement and/or an absolute position of the respective operating element (19); and

- Deriving (39) the adjustment information associated with the machine function from the output signals of the operating element (19), and further comprising the steps:

- Forwarding (40) of the adjustment information from the evaluation unit (20) to a central machine control (14); and

- Activation (41) of display devices (30), which are assigned to the machine functions set by the operator and/or their states, by the evaluation unit (20) and/or the central machine control (14).

15. The method (35) according to claim 14, characterized in that at least one operating element (19) comprises at least one display device (30) and at least one mechanical input element, for example a rotary knob (29) and/or a shaft (34), wherein the operating element (19) is only operated exclusively using the display device (30) in the absence of the mechanical input element and the mechanical input element is subsequently retrofitted.