User interface functionality for power machine control system

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a user interface to a computer-based control system for controlling hydraulic and/or electromechanical actuators, or electrical actuators on a power machine. The user interface provides one or more features to increase functionality or usefulness in the user interface.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . In a skid steer loader, a user interface system providing a user interface to a control system on the skid steer loader, the control system sensing operating conditions and providing sensed condition signals indicative of the sensed operating conditions, the user interface system comprising: 
 a controller configured to receive the sensed condition signals and to provide display instructions based on the sensed condition signals received from the control system; and    a display device, coupled to the controller, providing a bit mapped operating condition display of the sensed operating conditions based on the display instructions.    
     
     
         2 . The user interface system of  claim 1  wherein the controller updates the display instructions, based on the sensed condition signals, at an update rate sufficient to provide substantially real time display of the sensed operating conditions.  
     
     
         3 . The user interface system of  claim 1  wherein the bit mapped operating condition display illustrates a gauge indicative of each of a plurality of the sensed operating conditions.  
     
     
         4 . The user interface system of  claim 3  wherein the sensed operating conditions include a plurality of engine speed, oil pressure, oil temperature, and system voltage.  
     
     
         5 . The user interface system of  claim 1  wherein the display device comprises: 
 a liquid crystal display device.  
 
     
     
         6 . The user interface system of  claim 1  wherein the display device comprises: 
 a touch sensitive display device.  
 
     
     
         7 . The user interface system of  claim 1  wherein the display device comprises: 
 a cathode ray tube display device.  
 
     
     
         8 . The user interface system of  claim 1  and further comprising a user input device coupled to the controller for receiving a user input and providing a user input signal based on the user input received.  
     
     
         9 . The user interface system of  claim 8  wherein the control system is configured to sense shutdown conditions and provide a shutdown signal indicative of the shutdown condition and wherein the controller receives the shutdown signal and provides a bit mapped shutdown display indicative of the shutdown condition.  
     
     
         10 . The user interface system of  claim 9  wherein the shutdown display includes a diagnostic prompt indicating a user input required to view a diagnostic display which illustrates diagnostic information related to the shutdown condition.  
     
     
         11 . The user interface system of  claim 9  wherein the shutdown display includes an indication of a specific function or piece of equipment which has failed and a nature of the failure.  
     
     
         12 . The user interface system of  claim 8  wherein the control system is configured to sense warning conditions and provide a bit mapped warning display illustrating information indicative of a sensed warning condition.  
     
     
         13 . The user interface system of  claim 12  wherein the warning display includes a scroll prompt indicating a user input necessary to scroll through warning displays corresponding to current sensed warning conditions.  
     
     
         14 . The user interface system of  claim 12  wherein the warning display includes a diagnostic prompt indicating a user input necessary to view a corresponding diagnostic display illustrating diagnostic information related to the warning condition.  
     
     
         15 . The user interface system of  claim 14  wherein the diagnostic information includes troubleshooting information.  
     
     
         16 . The user interface system of  claim 13  wherein the warning display includes an indication of a specific function or piece of equipment causing the warning condition and a nature of the cause of the warning condition.  
     
     
         17 . The user interface system of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 a bit map memory coupled to the controller, storing display information indicative of a plurality of the bit mapped displays provided by the controller.  
 
     
     
         18 . The user interface system of  claim 17  wherein the controller accesses at least a portion of the display information indicative of the bit mapped displays based on the sensed condition signals.  
     
     
         19 . The user interface system of  claim 18  wherein the user interface system further comprises: 
 a user input device for receiving a user input and providing a user input signal indicative of the user input, wherein a plurality of the bit mapped displays are linked such that the controller accesses the display information and displays subsequent bit mapped displays based on the user input signal.  
 
     
     
         20 . The user interface system of  claim 19  wherein the subsequent bit mapped displays include help screens providing user help information.  
     
     
         21 . The user interface system of  claim 19  wherein the subsequent bit mapped displays include diagnostic screens providing diagnostic information.  
     
     
         22 . The user interface system of  claim 19  wherein the subsequent bit mapped displays include tutorial screens providing tutorial information regarding operation of the skid steer loader.  
     
     
         23 . In a power machine having operator actuable inputs, a user interface system providing a user interface to a control system on the power machine, the user interface system comprising: 
 an operator input device receiving an operator input and providing an operator input signal indicative of the operator input received, the input signal being indicative of a tutorial request;    a controller configured to receive the operator input signal and to provide a tutorial signal indicative of tutorial information based on the tutorial request; and    a display device, coupled to the controller, providing a bit mapped tutorial display based on the tutorial signal and indicative of a feature corresponding to the tutorial information and the tutorial information related to the feature.    
     
     
         24 . The user interface system of  claim 23  wherein the bit mapped tutorial display includes an illustration of the operator actuable inputs and a selection prompt corresponding to each of the operator actuable inputs illustrated.  
     
     
         25 . The user interface system of  claim 24  wherein the operator input device is configured to provide the operator input signal as being indicative of an operator selection of an illustrated operator actuable input and wherein the controller provides the tutorial signal to the display device such that the display device displays a tutorial display indicative of operation resulting from operator actuation of the selected operator actuable input.  
     
     
         26 . The user interface system of  claim 25  wherein the tutorial request requests information related to an attachment attached to the power machine.  
     
     
         27 . The user interface system of  claim 26  wherein the display device displays a series of displays for operator selection of a specific attachment.  
     
     
         28 . The user interface system of  claim 26  wherein the operator actuable inputs are located on hand grips on the power machine and wherein the bit mapped tutorial display includes a pictorial illustration of the hand grips and operator actuable inputs located thereon.  
     
     
         29 . In a power machine, a user interface system providing a user interface to a control system on the power machine, the control system sensing operating conditions and providing sensed condition signals indicative of the sensed operating conditions, the user interface system comprising: 
 a controller configured to receive the sensed condition signals and to provide display instructions based on the sensed condition signals received from the control system; and    a display device, coupled to the controller, providing a bit mapped operating condition display of the sensed operating conditions based on the display instructions.    
     
     
         30 . In a power machine, a control system controlling functions of the power machine, comprising: 
 user interface system including a user input device receiving a user input and providing a user input signal indicative of the user input; and    a controller coupled to the user interface system and configured to lock predetermined functions of the power machine in response to a user input lock signal.    
     
     
         31 . The control system of  claim 30  wherein the loader is operable in a plurality of speeds and wherein the controller locks operation of the loader in one of the plurality of speeds in response to the user input lock signal.  
     
     
         32 . The control system of  claim 31  wherein when the controller has locked operation of the loader in one of the plurality of speeds, the controller requires entry of a predetermined password in order to allow operator selection of a speed of operation.  
     
     
         33 . The control system of  claim 30  wherein the controller maintained a job clock and in response to the user input lock signal, precludes operator modification of the job clock without entry of a predetermined password.  
     
     
         34 . The control system of  claim 30  wherein the loader is operable in a high flow mode and wherein the controller, in response to the user input lock signal, precludes operator activation of the high flow mode without entry of a predetermined password.