초록 ▼

A lift truck control system which utilizes a distributed control network including at least a display module, a distribution module, a traction module, a brake module and a steering module. The display and steering modules each are configurable by software which controls the module and the various d

A lift truck control system which utilizes a distributed control network including at least a display module, a distribution module, a traction module, a brake module and a steering module. The display and steering modules each are configurable by software which controls the module and the various drivers in each module. In the preferred embodiment, the display module includes flash memory which stores application software and can be rewritten so that the performance characteristics of the modules are software configurable. The display module is connectable to a programmable cartridge which includes nonvolatile flash memory that carries application software for the display and steering modules. When connected, the cartridge downloads the particular application software which is written over the stored software in flash memory for the display and steering modules. The programmable cartridge also can be used to store and download boot software to the display and steering modules, so that the boot procedure performed by the display and steering modules is also software configurable. The system accepts modules which can be installed in a variety of different lift truck vehicles with minimal physical changes; the performance of the modules is configured by the application software written into the flash memory of the module.

대표청구항 ▼

A control system for a lift truck comprising: a plurality of operation modules residing on said lift truck for controlling operation of a corresponding plurality of lift truck components each of said plurality of operation modules including, (a) a random access memory for storing said corresponding

A control system for a lift truck comprising: a plurality of operation modules residing on said lift truck for controlling operation of a corresponding plurality of lift truck components each of said plurality of operation modules including, (a) a random access memory for storing said corresponding application program, and (b) a processing circuit for executing said corresponding application program stored in said random access memory and for controlling operation of said corresponding lift truck component according to said execution of said corresponding application program; a memory module residing on said lift truck, including a non-volatile memory for storing a plurality of application programs for driving said plurality of operation modules, and including means for connection to an external memory source containing said plurality of application programs; and a network for interconnecting said memory module and said plurality of operation modules and for transmitting said plurality of application programs from said non-volatile memory of said memory module to said random access memories of said plurality of operation modules, whereby functioning of said operation modules is varied by replacement of a corresponding one of said application programs in said non-volatile memory of said memory module; said memory module transmits said corresponding application program from said non-volatile memory of said memory module to said random access memories of said plurality of operation modules during a boot procedure, whereby the operation of each of said plurality of operation modules can be varied by downloading said plurality of application programs from said external memory source to said non-volatile memory of said memory module.