This disclosure is directed toward power machines. More particularly, this disclosure is directed to excavators and display systems for excavators.
Power machines, for the purposes of this disclosure, include any type of machine that generates power to accomplish a particular task or a variety of tasks. One type of power machine is a work vehicle. Work vehicles are generally self-propelled vehicles that have a work device, such as a lift arm (although some work vehicles can have other work devices) that can be manipulated to perform a work function. Work vehicles include excavators, loaders, utility vehicles, tractors, trenchers, and telescopic handlers to name a few examples.
Excavators are a known type of power machine that have an undercarriage and a house that selectively rotates on the undercarriage. A lift arm to which an implement can be attached, is operably coupled to, and moveable under power with respect to, the house. Excavators are also typically self-propelled vehicles. Typical excavators include one or more operator input devices (e.g., joysticks or pedals) that are physically moved by an operator to directly adjust hydraulic fluid flow through a particular component of the excavator (e.g., a control valve for an actuator for a lift arm) thereby adjusting the movement of the particular component (e.g., the lift arm). For example, a joystick can be physically coupled to a hydraulic valve either through mechanical cables or linkages between the joystick and the hydraulic valve or through hydraulic signals that are controlled by the joystick (i.e., the use of what is commonly known as pilot operated joysticks), so that movement of the joystick directly changes the hydraulic valve position and thereby causes movement of an actuator and a component that is coupled to the actuator. Other examples of power machines include telescopic handlers (or telehandlers), loaders, and articulated vehicles.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Some configurations of the disclosure are directed to power machines with an integrated display that allows the display of information, such as gauges, user inputs, mapped obstacles, boundaries, etc., including as can allow the operator of the power machine to see the displayed information closer to the line of sight with the work area. The display can show augmented reality information about a worksite in some cases, including as can allow an operator to effectively see through a lift arm or work implement.
Some configurations described herein provide a power machine. The power machine may include an operator station having a plurality of sides and supported by the frame. The operator station may include an operator input device configured to receive operator inputs to control movement of the lift arm. The operator station may include a display system configured to electronically display content, the display system having a set of displays that includes a first display integrated into a first side of the operator station and a second display integrated into a second side of the operator station. The power machine also includes a control system that includes a controller in electronic communication with the display system. The controller is configured to receive, from a sensor, operational data associated with the power machine and control the display system to display, via the first display and the second display, content associated with the operational data of the power machine.
Some configurations described herein provide a method. The method may include receiving, with one or more electronic processors, from an image sensor, operational data associated with a work element of a power machine. The method may include controlling, with the one or more electronic processors, a display system of the power machine to display, via a plurality of displays integrated into sides of an operator station of the power machine, content based on the operational data, wherein the power machine includes a telescopic lift arm and the image sensor is supported on a distal end of the telescopic lift arm.
Some configurations described herein provide an operator station for a power machine. The operator station may include a display system configured to display content, the display system having a set of displays that includes a first display integrated into a first side of the operator station and a second display integrated into a second side of the operator station; and the display system being in electronic communication with a control system that includes a controller in electronic communication with the display system, to be controlled by the controller to display content based on operational data of the power machine received by the controller.
This Summary and the Abstract are provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. The Summary and the Abstract are not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor are they intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
The following drawings are provided to help illustrate various features of examples of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure or exclude alternative implementations.
The concepts disclosed in this discussion are described and illustrated by referring to exemplary configurations. These concepts, however, are not limited in their application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components in the illustrative configurations and are capable of being practiced or being carried out in various other ways. The terminology in this document is used for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Words such as “including,” “comprising,” and “having” and variations thereof as used herein are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter, equivalents thereof, as well as additional items.
As generally noted above, power machines can be configured for various work operations. For example, power systems of wheeled and tracked power machines can be configured to power tractive systems for wheeled, tracked, skid-steer, or other movement over terrain, and to power workgroup systems for various (non-tractive) workgroup operations. with articulated, extendable, or otherwise configured lift arms.
During these various operations, it may be useful to keep operators apprised of various operational conditions. For example, an operator controlling the power machine to perform work operations may be able to use information about the operational state of various actuators of the power machine (e.g., speed, extension length, etc. for workgroup or tractive actuators), or the operational state of various work elements (e.g., a position, a speed, or a loading of a lift arm or components thereof, or of an implement operationally secured to the power machine).
Accordingly, examples of the disclosed technology can provide improved presentation of operational content on displays of power machines, including as can allow operators to more effectively control workgroups for work operations. Some examples can include electronic controllers configured to control the display of content on multiple sides of an operator station for a power machine. Some examples can include electronic controllers configured to control the display of video content or other operational data, including as can allow operators to view areas of a power machine or the surrounding environment that may be obscured by a lift arm or various other work elements. Some examples can include electronic controllers configured to control the display of operational data for components of a power machine, including as can provide real-time state information for various tractive or workgroup actuators, lift arm structures, implements, or other power machine components.
A representative power machine on which the embodiments can be practiced is illustrated in diagram form in
Referring now to
Certain work vehicles have work elements that can perform a dedicated task. For example, some work vehicles have a lift arm to which an implement such as a bucket is attached such as by a pinning arrangement. The work element, e.g., the lift arm, can be manipulated to position the implement for performing the task. The implement, in some instances can be positioned relative to the work element, such as by rotating a bucket relative to a lift arm, to further position the implement. Under normal operation of such a work vehicle, the bucket is intended to be attached and under use. Such work vehicles may be able to accept other implements by disassembling the implement/work element combination and reassembling another implement in place of the original bucket. Other work vehicles, however, are intended to be used with a wide variety of implements and have an implement interface such as implement interface 170 shown in
On some power machines, implement interface 170 can include an implement carrier, which is a physical structure movably attached to a work element. The implement carrier has engagement features and locking features to accept and secure any of several implements to the work element. One characteristic of such an implement carrier is that once an implement is attached to it, it is fixed to the implement (i.e., not movable with respect to the implement) and when the implement carrier is moved with respect to the work element, the implement moves with the implement carrier. The term implement carrier is not merely a pivotal connection point, but rather a dedicated device specifically intended to accept and be secured to various different implements. The implement carrier itself is mountable to a work element 130 such as a lift arm or the frame 110. Implement interface 170 can also include one or more power sources for providing power to one or more work elements on an implement. Some power machines can have a plurality of work elements with implement interfaces, each of which may, but need not, have an implement carrier for receiving implements. Some other power machines can have a work element with a plurality of implement interfaces so that a single work element can accept a plurality of implements simultaneously. Each of these implement interfaces can, but need not, have an implement carrier.
Frame 110 includes a physical structure that can support various other components that are attached thereto or positioned thereon. The frame 110 can include any number of individual components. Some power machines have frames that are rigid. That is, no part of the frame is movable with respect to another part of the frame. Other power machines have at least one portion that can move with respect to another portion of the frame. For example, excavators can have an upper frame portion that rotates about a swivel with respect to a lower frame portion. Other work vehicles have articulated frames such that one portion of the frame pivots with respect to another portion for accomplishing steering functions. In exemplary embodiments, at least a portion of the power source is located in the upper frame or machine portion that rotates relative to the lower frame portion or undercarriage. The power source provides power to components of the undercarriage portion through the swivel.
Frame 110 supports the power source 120, which can provide power to one or more work elements 130 including the one or more tractive elements 140, as well as, in some instances, providing power for use by an attached implement via implement interface 170. Power from the power source 120 can be provided directly to any of the work elements 130, tractive elements 140, and implement interfaces 170. Alternatively, power from the power source 120 can be provided to a control system 160, which in turn selectively provides power to the elements that are capable of using it to perform a work function. Power sources for power machines typically include an engine such as an internal combustion engine and a power conversion system such as a mechanical transmission or a hydraulic system that can convert the output from an engine into a form of power that is usable by a work element. Alternatively, or in addition, other types of power sources can be incorporated into power machines, including electrical sources or a combination of power sources, known generally as hybrid power sources.
Power machine 100 includes an operator station 150, which provides a position from which an operator can control operation of the power machine. In some power machines, the operator station 150 is defined by an enclosed or partially enclosed cab. Some power machines on which the disclosed embodiments may be practiced may not have a cab or an operator compartment of the type described above. For example, a walk behind loader may not have a cab or an operator compartment, but rather an operating position that serves as an operator station from which the power machine is properly operated. More broadly, power machines other than work vehicles may have operator stations that are not necessarily similar to the operating positions and operator compartments referenced above. Further, some power machines such as power machine 100 and others, whether they have operator compartments or operator positions, may be capable of being operated remotely (i.e., from a remotely located operator station) instead of or in addition to an operator station adjacent or on the power machine. This can include applications where at least some of the operator-controlled functions of the power machine can be operated from an operating position associated with an implement that is coupled to the power machine. Alternatively, with some power machines, a remote-control device can be provided (i.e., remote from both of the power machine and any implement to which is it coupled) that can control at least some of the operator-controlled functions on the power machine.
An operator compartment 250 is defined in part by a cab 252, which is mounted on the frame 210. The cab 252 shown on excavator 200 is an enclosed structure, but other operator compartments need not be enclosed. For example, some excavators have a canopy that provides a roof but is not enclosed A control system 260, shown as a block, is provided for controlling the various work elements. Control system 260 includes operator input devices, which interact with the power system 220 to selectively provide power signals to actuators to control work functions on the excavator 200. In some embodiments, the operator input devices include at least two two-axis operator input devices to which operator functions can be mapped.
Frame 210 includes an upper frame portion or house 211 that is pivotally mounted on a lower frame portion or undercarriage 212 via a swivel joint. The swivel joint includes a bearing, a ring gear, and a slew motor with a pinion gear (not pictured) that engages the ring gear to swivel the machine. The slew motor receives a power signal from the control system 260 to rotate the house 211 with respect to the undercarriage 212. House 211 is capable of unlimited rotation about a swivel axis 214 under power with respect to the undercarriage 212 in response to manipulation of an input device by an operator. Hydraulic conduits are fed through the swivel joint via a hydraulic swivel to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to the tractive elements and one or more work elements such as lift arm structure 330 that are operably coupled to the undercarriage 212.
The first lift arm structure 230 is mounted to the house 211 via a swing mount 215. (Some excavators do not have a swing mount of the type described here.) The first lift arm structure 230 is a boom-arm lift arm of the type that is generally employed on excavators although certain features of this lift arm structure may be unique to the lift arm illustrated in
The first lift arm structure 230 includes a first portion 232, known generally as a boom 232, and a second portion 234, known as an arm or a dipper. The boom 232 is pivotally attached on a first end 232A to mount 215 at boom pivot mount 231B. A boom actuator 233B is attached to the mount 215 and the boom 232. Actuation of the boom actuator 233B causes the boom 232 to pivot about the boom pivot mount 231B, which effectively causes a second end 232B of the boom to be raised and lowered with respect to the house 211. A first end 234A of the arm 234 is pivotally attached to the second end 232B of the boom 232 at an arm mount pivot 231C. An arm actuator 233C is attached to the boom 232 and the arm 234. Actuation of the arm actuator 233C causes the arm to pivot about the arm mount pivot 231C. Each of the swing actuator 233A, the boom actuator 233B, and the arm actuator 233C can be independently controlled in response to control signals from operator input devices.
An exemplary implement interface 270 is provided at a second end 234B of the arm 234. The implement interface 270 includes an implement carrier 272 that can accept and securing a variety of different implements to the lift arm structure 230. Such implements have a machine interface that is configured to be engaged with the implement carrier 272. The implement carrier 272 is pivotally mounted to the second end 234B of the arm 234. An implement carrier actuator 233D is operably coupled to the arm 234 and a linkage assembly 276. The linkage assembly includes a first link 276A and a second link 276B. The first link 276A is pivotally mounted to the arm 234 and the implement carrier actuator 233D. The second link 276B is pivotally mounted to the implement carrier 272 and the first link 276A. The linkage assembly 276 is provided to allow the implement carrier 272 to pivot about the arm 234 when the implement carrier actuator 233D is actuated.
The implement interface 270 also includes an implement power source (not shown in
The lower frame 212 supports and has attached to it a pair of tractive elements 240, identified in
A second, or lower, lift arm structure 330 is pivotally attached to the lower frame 212. A lower lift arm actuator 332 is pivotally coupled to the lower frame 212 at a first end 332A and to the lower lift arm structure 330 at a second end 332B. The lower lift arm structure 330 is configured to carry a lower implement 334, which in one embodiment is a blade as is shown in
Upper frame portion 211 supports cab 252, which defines, at least in part, operator compartment or station 250 (e.g., the operator station 150). A seat 254 is provided within cab 252 in which an operator can be seated while operating the excavator. While sitting in the seat 254, an operator will have access to a plurality of operator input devices 256 that the operator can manipulate to control various work functions, such as manipulating the lift arm structure 230, the lower lift arm structure 330, the tractive elements 240, pivoting the house 211, the tractive elements 240, and so forth.
Excavator 200 provides a variety of different operator input devices 256 to control various functions. For example, joysticks are provided to control the lift arm structure 230 and swiveling of the house 211 of the excavator. Foot pedals with attached levers (e.g., as represented by box 213 in
Display devices are provided in the cab to give indications of information relatable to the operation of the power machines in a form that can be sensed by an operator, such as, for example audible, haptic, and/or visual indications. Audible indications can be made in the form of buzzers, bells, and the like or via verbal communication. A haptic indication can be made in the form of movement, vibration, etc. Visual indications can be made in the form of graphs, lights, icons, gauges, alphanumeric characters, and the like. Displays can provide dedicated indications, such as warning lights or gauges, or dynamic to provide programmable information, including programmable display devices such as monitors of various sizes and capabilities. Display devices can provide diagnostic information, troubleshooting information, instructional information, and various other types of information that assists an operator with operation of the power machine or an implement coupled to the power machine. Other information that may be useful for an operator can also be provided.
The description of power machine 100, excavator 200, and telescopic handler 400 above is provided for illustrative purposes, to provide illustrative environments on which the embodiments discussed below can be practiced. While the embodiments discussed can be practiced on a power machine such as is generally described by the power machine 100 shown in the block diagram of
In one example implementation of the power machine 500 of
As illustrated in
The communication interface 610 allows the controller 550 to communicate with devices external to the controller 550. As one example, as illustrated in
The communication interface 610 may include a port for receiving a wired connection to an external device (for example, a universal serial bus (“USB”) cabled and the like), a transceiver for establishing a wireless connection to an external device (for example, over one or more communication networks, such as the Internet, local area network (“LAN”), a wide area network (“WAN”), and the like), or a combination thereof In some configurations, the controller 550 can be a dedicated or stand-alone controller. In some configurations, the controller 550 can be part of a system of multiple distinct controllers (e.g., a hub controller, a drive controller, a workgroup controller, etc.) or can be formed by a system of multiple distinct controllers (e.g., also with hub, drive, and workgroup controllers, etc.).
The electronic processor 600 is configured to access and execute computer-readable instructions (“software”) stored in the memory 605. The software may include firmware, one or more applications, program data, filters, rules, one or more program modules, and other executable instructions. For example, the software may include instructions and associated data for performing a set of functions, including the methods described herein.
With further reference to
Returning to
Alternatively, or in addition, the displayed content may include operational data associated with the operation of the power machine 500, a component of the power machine 500, a work element/implement of the power machine 500, or a combination thereof. For example, the displayed content may include fuel data, an operation or work cycle status, actuator data, torque data, a timer or job clock data, site map data, geographical data, a warning, an alert, maintenance data, etc. In some cases, operational data can include speed, power, extension (e.g., cylinder extension length) or other state information regarding tractive actuators, workgroup actuators, or other powered systems (e.g., climate control and other auxiliary systems). In some cases, operational data for a workgroup can include speed, position or other state information regarding a lift arm, particular components of a lift arm, or various work implements (e.g., buckets, forks, augers, etc.).
Alternatively, or in addition, the displayed content may include augmented data or content. As one example, the displayed content may include one or more augmentations (or virtual representations) of or relating to a geographical zone or boundary (e.g., a boundary of a restricted zone, a digging zone, etc.). As another example, the displayed content may include an obstacle (e.g., a virtual obstacle, a boundary around a virtual obstacle, etc.). As another example, the displayed content may include an optimal path (e.g., an optimal swing path, an optimal digging path, an optimal travel path, etc.). As another example, the displayed content may include a recommendation (e.g., a recommended operating parameter, etc.). As another example, the displayed content may include a work element (e.g., a virtual work element such as when the actual work element is obstructed by the lift arm). As another example, the displayed content may include a work site (e.g., a virtual work site such as when at least a portion of the work site is obstructed by the lift arm, the work element, another type of obstruction, etc.).
Alternatively, or in addition, the displayed content may include virtual operator input devices. As described herein, an operator input device may include, e.g., a hydraulic joystick, a foot pedal, a switch, a button, a knob, a lever, a variable slider, etc. A virtual operator input device may be a graphical representation of an operator input device (e.g., a physical or actual operator input device). An operator of the power machine 500 may interact with the virtual operator input device to control one or more operations (or parameters) associated with the power machine 500. As one example, an operator may interact with a virtual switch (as a virtual operator input device) to control power delivery to an implement attached to an implement carrier (as opposed to interacting with a physical switch). In response to an operator interaction with the virtual switch, one or more of the sensors 520 may detect the interaction and transmit an associated signal to the controller 550. The controller 550 may associate the operator interaction with the displayed virtual switch and vary an operation of the power machine 500 in accordance with the switch function.
In the illustrated example, the HUD system 505 may include a projection device 560 and a display material 565. The HUD system 505 may include additional, fewer, or different components than those illustrated in
The projection device 560 may display content on the display material 565. The projection device 560 may be positioned within the operator station 700, as illustrated in
As noted above, the HUD system 505 may also include the display material 565. The display material 565 may be a transparent material, such as a glass or glass -like material (e.g., plexiglass). The display material 565 can be a tinted transparent material. In some configurations, the display material 565 can be a material dedicated for use as a projection screen. In other configurations, the display material 565 can be a portion of material serving other functions within the operator station 700. As one example, in some configurations, the display material 565 used to display content projected by the projection device 560 may be the glass or glass-like material of a front door (as a front side) of the operator station 700.
In some configurations, the display material 565 is integrated into one or more portions of the operator station 700 (e.g., the operator station 150, the operator compartment 250, the cab 252, the operator station 410, etc.). The operator station 700 may provide a position from which an operator can control operation of the power machine 500. In some configurations, the operator station 700 is defined by an enclosed or partially enclosed cab formed from one or more partitions, walls, or surfaces (also referred to herein as “side(s)”). In such a case, a display can be formed by, as, or in a window, door, or other viewing area of the various partitions, walls, or surfaces, or can be otherwise formed as a part of the cab structure (e.g., formed as a display panel embedded into a cab wall, rather than separately included as a stand-alone monitor or other display).
As one example, as illustrated in
As used herein in the context of a power machine, unless otherwise defined or limited, the term “lateral” refers to a direction that extends at least partly to a left or a right side of a front-to-back reference line defined by the power machine. Accordingly, for example, a lateral side wall of a cab of a power machine can be a left side wall or a right side wall of the cab, relative to a frame of reference of an operator who is within the cab and is oriented to operatively engage with controls of an operator station of the cab.
As one example,
Accordingly, in some configurations, the display material 565 may be positioned such that the display material 565 is within an operator's line of sight (e.g., during operation of the power machine 500). The display material 565, when implemented as part of the integrated display panel 562 as illustrated in
Displaying the information generally in the operator's line of sight to the work area, as can be the case with a HUD configuration, provides advantages in that the operator can maintain better situational awareness about the work area. For instance, with respect to the third display material 565C of
With respect to any of the first, second, and third displays resulting from the use of the one or more projection devices 560 with the display materials 565A-C, the displays may provide the operator with an unobstructed view from the operation station of the power machine 500 regardless of visual obstructions (e.g., work group elements, implements, tractive elements, etc.) by augmenting the operator's field of view with image data (e.g., images or videos) from the one or more sensors 520 with secondary fields-of-view that do not include the visual obstructions.
The display material 565, however, provides further advantages relative to a heads-up display. As one example, in exemplary configurations, the display material 565 may include (or be implemented with) a touch screen interface allowing the operator to control the display of content, enter data, or otherwise interact with the display material 565.
In some configurations, as illustrated in
In some configurations, as illustrated in
In other configurations, displayed content may be presented with low light to minimize obstruction of the operator's view. In response to tracking of an operator's line of sight towards one or more displayed content areas on the display material 565, the brightness of the display may be temporarily increased (until the operator's line of sight moves away from the display material 565).
In some configurations, the display material 565 may be positioned between layers of transparent material (e.g., glass, tempered glass, etc.). For instance,
In some specific applications, the display material 565 may be one or more thin-film layers (also referred to as thin laminate films) which are adhered to a window or door of the power machine 500. The one or more thin film layers may include material characteristics which are semi-transparent and semi-reflective—whereby a projected image is reflected off of the display material 565 and visible to the operator while also allowing for the transmission of light from outside the cab. In one specific experimental configuration, the display material 565 may include one or more thin laminate film layers of polyethylene terephthalate (also known as PET). PET is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family.
In some configurations, as illustrated in
Alternatively, or in addition, in some configurations, user interaction with the integrated display panel 562 may be detected based upon operator hand/finger position in proximity with the display. As one example, as illustrated in
In some specific configurations, operator gesture detection may be captured and associated with intended user inputs such as virtual buttons depicted on a display panel. For example, an operator may point to a displayed virtual button (without contacting the display). A camera or image sensor within the cab of the power machine may detect the operator gesture and an electronic processor of the controller, using image recognition, identifies a user's hand/finger in one or more images received from the camera/image sensor and determines a trajectory of the hand/finger relative to the display panel. Finally, the gesture is associated with an intended virtual button of the display panel and the controller modifies the operating characteristics of the power machine 500 in accordance with the virtual button functionality. In some specific configurations, the camera/image sensor within the cab may be used to capture and identify specific operator hand gestures associated with a specific function of the power machine 500. In one example, a clockwise rotating finger in the area may be identified by gesture detection circuitry within the electronic processor and cause the power machine 500 to increase the velocity of the power machine and/or increase motor/engine rotations per minute. The detection of a clenched fist with a forward direction by the electronic processor may cause the power machine 500 to move forward with a speed associated with how far forward the clenched fist is moved relative to a neutral position within a space defined by the cab. Similarly, moving the clenched fist left, right, or backward may cause corresponding motions of the power machine 500.
Returning to
As one example,
As illustrated in
Also as illustrated in
In some specific experimental configurations, video/image sensor data may be overlaid on an operator's external view from the cab of the power machine 500 via a display integrated into the cab door glass and/or windows. For example, a front-facing view of the operator may be partially obscured by one or more components of the power machine 500 (e.g., a work group, implement carrier, implement, tractive elements, etc.), other power machines in close proximity, other job site equipment, etc. Obstructions to the operators view from the cab may be mitigated/eliminated based upon data from video/image sensor data with different perspectives/fields-of-view than the operator; particularly, fields-of-view that exclude the one or more operator view obstructions. In some implementations, this may include positioning video/image sensors on the top of the cab and/or low on the power machine chassis. All or a portion of the unobstructed view from the provided sensor data (particularly where the obstruction lies in the operator's view) may then be overlaid on a transparent display positioned within the operator's front-facing view. The result is a seamless, augmented reality view for the operator of the power machine 500 devoid of the one or more view obstructions. Based upon the transmissive characteristics of the display (in use), the operator may only see the unobstructed displayed image or simultaneously see the obstruction and the overlaid unobstructed view.
In some embodiments, aspects of the disclosed technology, including computerized implementations of methods according to the disclosed technology, can be implemented as a system, method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof to control a processor device (e.g., a serial or parallel general purpose or specialized processor chip, a single- or multi-core chip, a microprocessor, a field programmable gate array, any variety of combinations of a control unit, arithmetic logic unit, and processor register, and so on), a computer (e.g., a processor device operatively coupled to a memory), or another electronically operated controller to implement aspects detailed herein. Accordingly, for example, embodiments of the disclosed technology can be implemented as a set of instructions, tangibly embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable media, such that a processor device can implement the instructions based upon reading the instructions from the computer-readable media. Some embodiments of the disclosed technology can include (or utilize) a control device such as an automation device, a special purpose or general purpose computer including various computer hardware, software, firmware, and so on, consistent with the discussion below. As specific examples, a control device can include a processor, a microcontroller, a field-programmable gate array, a programmable logic controller, logic gates etc., and other typical components that are known in the art for implementation of appropriate functionality (e.g., memory, communication systems, power sources, user interfaces and other inputs, etc.).
The term “article of manufacture” as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier (e.g., non-transitory signals), or media (e.g., non-transitory media). For example, computer-readable media can include but are not limited to magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strips, and so on), optical disks (e.g., compact disk (CD), digital versatile disk (DVD), and so on), smart cards, and flash memory devices (e.g., card, stick, and so on). Additionally, it should be appreciated that a carrier wave can be employed to carry computer-readable electronic data such as those used in transmitting and receiving electronic mail or in accessing a network such as the Internet or a local area network (LAN). Those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications may be made to these configurations without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimed subject matter.
Certain operations of methods according to the disclosed technology, or of systems executing those methods, may be represented schematically in the FIGs. or otherwise discussed herein. Unless otherwise specified or limited, representation in the FIGs. of particular operations in particular spatial order may not necessarily require those operations to be executed in a particular sequence corresponding to the particular spatial order. Correspondingly, certain operations represented in the FIGs., or otherwise disclosed herein, can be executed in different orders than are expressly illustrated or described, as appropriate for particular embodiments of the disclosed technology. Further, in some embodiments, certain operations can be executed in parallel, including by dedicated parallel processing devices, or separate computing devices configured to interoperate as part of a large system.
As used herein in the context of computer implementation, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms “component,” “system,” “module,” “block,” and the like are intended to encompass part or all of computer-related systems that include hardware, software, a combination of hardware and software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a processor device, a process being executed (or executable) by a processor device, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a computer program, or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a computer and the computer can be a component. One or more components (or system, module, and so on) may reside within a process or thread of execution, may be localized on one computer, may be distributed between two or more computers or other processor devices, or may be included within another component (or system, module, and so on).
Also as used herein, unless otherwise limited or defined, “or” indicates a non-exclusive list of components or operations that can be present in any variety of combinations, rather than an exclusive list of components that can be present only as alternatives to each other. For example, a list of “A, B, or C” indicates options of: A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; and A, B, and C. Correspondingly, the term “or” as used herein is intended to indicate exclusive alternatives only when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” Further, a list preceded by “one or more” (and variations thereon) and including “or” to separate listed elements indicates options of one or more of any or all of the listed elements. For example, the phrases “one or more of A, B, or C” and “at least one of A, B, or C” indicate options of: one or more A; one or more B; one or more C; one or more A and one or more B; one or more B and one or more C; one or more A and one or more C; and one or more of each of A, B, and C. Similarly, a list preceded by “a plurality of” (and variations thereon) and including “or” to separate listed elements indicates options of multiple instances of any or all of the listed elements. For example, the phrases “a plurality of A, B, or C” and “two or more of A, B, or C” indicate options of: A and B; B and C; A and C; and A, B, and C. In general, the term “or” as used herein only indicates exclusive alternatives (e.g. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.”
Also as used herein, unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms “about” and “approximately” as used herein with respect to a reference value refer to variations from the reference value of ±20% or less (e.g., ±15, ±10%, ±5%, etc.), inclusive of the endpoints of the range. Similarly, as used herein with respect to a reference value, the term “substantially equal” (and the like) refers to variations from the reference value of less than ±5% (e.g., ±2%, ±1%, ±0.5%) inclusive. Where specified in particular, “substantially” can indicate a variation in one numerical direction relative to a reference value. For example, the term “substantially less” than a reference value (and the like) indicates a value that is reduced from the reference value by 30% or more (e.g., 35%, 40%, 50%, 65%, 80%), and the term “substantially more” than a reference value (and the like) indicates a value that is increased from the reference value by 30% or more (e.g., 35%, 40%, 50%, 65%, 80%).
Although the present technology disclosed herein has been described by referring to preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the discussion.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/424,969, filed Nov. 14, 2022, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63424969 | Nov 2022 | US |