SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING CRANE OPERATOR LIFT DEVIATION ASSESSMENT AND REACTION DURING LOAD LIFTING OPERATIONS - Patent application

Abstract

The crane operation lift deviation system facilitates operator lift deviation response during load lift using a load lift deviation sensor and a combined visual indicator showing the deviation magnitude and direction for viewing. The system has an optical-based load lift deviation sensor or an imaging sensor positioned near the lifting point. An embodiment provides a camera near the lifting point on the crane as a simple retrofit. The mount can be attached and detached in substantial time using matching clamps that attach a quick-detach unit enclosure attached by a mounting sleeve and sleeve-engageable safety catch retained by an attachment locking element. A temporary operator display mount with an in-cab display can help provide better operator control.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] (Priority Claim) This is a PCT International patent application claiming priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 448,942, filed February 28, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] (Technical field) The present disclosure relates generally to the field of lifting, positioning, and determining crane loads or other cantilevered members and methods of using the same. More specifically, the present disclosure also relates to systems and methods that facilitate crane operator lift deviation assessment and response, and to crane systems and methods that may include a monitor or primary computer, a human interface device (HID), a boom mounting bracket, and a camera enclosure. [Background technology]

[0003] (Background technology) One function of these systems and methods is to eliminate load drift caused by crane boom-block misalignment (load drift). The techniques disclosed herein can substantially reduce or eliminate boom up / down and horizontal misalignment events caused by poor boom alignment. Load drift caused by crane boom-block misalignment can be seen in Figures 1 and 2. They also serve to facilitate crane operator lifting deviation assessment and response as the operator accommodates and / or uses drift, crane deflection, and the like in achieving the desired crane operation. As should be understood from the figures and discussion, any misalignment or deflection can create problems when lifting. Such problems can be negative (undesired drift) or positive (desired drift or movement). Figure 1 illustrates one type of deviation that can occur; namely, the weight of a loaded boom can cause the boom to bend as one type of deflection. The present disclosure can dramatically reduce load drift or sway, which may be caused by lifting a load with any off-center or shifting boom angle. The system can also provide a second safety feature to prevent load sway by anyone other than a rigger or other personnel. As the crane receives weight from a lift, the boom may begin to deflect away from the rotex location, i.e., the rotation point, typically below the cab. Other boom tip or lifting point movements may also occur and are included in the broad concept of deflection. The boom tip may move as a result of any type of crane base deflection; there may be rotex movement, connection wear, loose bushings or bearings, cable stretching, structural flexing, ground shift or compaction, and the like. Therefore, it should be understood that deflection broadly encompasses any tip movement that occurs during, during, or in response to a load or lift. Importantly, operator control may need to be precise, whether desired or not.

[0004] Current methods sometimes utilize a rigger or riggers to visually align the boom with the block. This can be problematic due to the rigger's viewpoint, access to ideal viewing positions, rigger experience, and the rigging utilized. This method can also potentially expose personnel to dangerous situations and allow for potentially damaging load drift. In some situations, the more weight the crane lifts, the more the boom may deflect. Even if the rigger attaches the load to the boom and initially achieves correct boom alignment, once the crane bears the weight, the boom angle or tip location may become problematic through deflection. However, efforts to date to address this problem have been unsatisfactory. For example, U.S. Patent No. 10,519,008 involves a crane load centering assembly with a light beam and a warning when the load deflects from the sheave. This only warns of a potential problem when deflection is undesired, and therefore does not provide the ability to improve operator control, whether such deflection is desired or undesired, in the manner or to the extent of the present disclosure. A 1992 paper disclosed a "Nonlinear Digital Controller for an Off-Shore Crane" that involved control of crane movement to accommodate swing control (for offshore applications), but did not complement or enhance operator control of the crane, whether such deflection is desired or undesired, in the manner or to the extent of the present disclosure. For example, U.S. Patent No. 10,899,586 involves a crane position indicator that laser marks the center of gravity on the ground or load. This is for alignment only, and therefore does not provide the ability to enhance operator control during lifting operations, such that deflection can be accommodated by the operator, whether such deflection is desired or undesired, in the manner or to the extent of the present disclosure.The 1995 book or article generally discussed nonlinear vibrations and therefore did not provide the ability to improve aspects of crane control or operator control of a crane, whether such deflection is desired or undesired, in the manner or to the extent of the present disclosure. U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,877 involves a crane sensor for detecting an out-of-plumb lifting cable that warns of deflection, but does not provide the ability to improve operator control, whether such deflection is desired or undesired, in the manner or to the extent of the present disclosure. U.S. Pat. No. 2,916,162 involves damping of the pendulum motion of a lifting machine, which does not provide the ability to improve operator control, whether such deflection is desired or undesired, in the manner or to the extent of the present disclosure. Other items further include cameras for cranes such as U.S. Pat. No. 9,776,838, U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 20180022584, U.S. Pat. No. 1,1897,734, U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 20180022584, which do not use cameras in the manner or to the extent of the present disclosure in a manner that images load deflection in response to lifting so as to provide the ability for improved operator control, whether such deflection is desired or undesired. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 20180022584 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent No. 2,916,162 [Patent Document 3] U.S. Patent No. 4,471,877 [Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent No. 9,776,838 [Patent Document 5] U.S. Patent No. 10,519,008 [Patent Document 6] U.S. Patent No. 10,899,586 [Patent Document 7] U.S. Patent No. 11,897,734 Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure provides embodiments that may allow an operator to minimize, eliminate, maximize, or increase load drift as the operator may desire for their particular operation. The potential benefits may be enormous, as the applications are broad. The system, in embodiments, may be utilized in any field where a lifting device or boom is utilized. A function of some embodiments may be to better align or not align the boom tip with the block. The techniques of the present invention may accomplish one or more of the following: Reduce or eliminate load drift (near to far and / or left to right) Maximize or increase load drift (near to far and / or left to right) Improve lifting performance between near / maximum lift limits, where drift can overload the crane, thereby avoiding over-limit operation Prevent, control, or reduce drift in confined areas where loads are hoisted around sensitive objects or equipment Keep riggers out of harm's way while they try to align the boom in limited space situations Helps prevent, induce, control, or eliminate unwanted drift when desired, such as from small areas such as truck beds or rail cars Helps ensure that the crane operator can perform accurate vertical lifts even when the rigger cannot reach a proper viewing position for boom alignment Assisting operators with certain, often critical industry-specific tasks where maintaining boom alignment or lift movement is critical, such as performing tilt-ups and placing tanks Helps prevent or better control side loads on cranes when lifting two or more cranes

[0007] Of course, other goals and objectives of the present invention are disclosed throughout the text, appendices, and claims. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exemplary image of load deflection in a conventional load lifting system.

[0009] [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an exemplary image of load mismatch in a conventional load lifting system.

[0010] [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an exemplary image of several types of conventional load lifting systems and major components.

[0011] [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an exemplary image of a camera enclosure, according to some embodiments.

[0012] [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure including a shock absorber, IMU, gimbal, and camera enclosure such as that of FIG.

[0013] [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an exemplary alternative view of the camera enclosure shown as a cutaway view.

[0014] [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is another exemplary alternative view of FIG.

[0015] [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is an example image of an existing orifice mount for a universal crane, according to some embodiments.

[0016] [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an example image of alternating boom mounting brackets.

[0017] [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an exemplary alternative view of alternating boom mounting brackets.

[0018] [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is another exemplary alternative view of an installed boom mounting bracket.

[0019] [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an exemplary perspective view of a boom mounting bracket.

[0020] [Figure 13] FIG. 13 shows example sensor measurements for calculated boom angles.

[0021] [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an example image of a human interface device ("HID") as described in some embodiments herein.

[0022] [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is an example image of a system with transmitting and receiving points as described in some embodiments herein.

[0023] [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a bottom view of another exemplary embodiment of an attached boom assembly.

[0024] [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a side view of another exemplary embodiment of an attached boom assembly.

[0025] [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of an attached boom assembly.

[0026] [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is another bottom view of another exemplary embodiment of an attached boom assembly.

[0027] [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is another side view of another exemplary embodiment of an attached boom assembly.

[0028] [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is another perspective view of another exemplary embodiment of an attached boom assembly.

[0029] [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a gimbal system according to an embodiment.

[0030] [Figure 23] FIG. 23 is another perspective view of the gimbal system of one embodiment.

[0031] [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a bottom view of the gimbal system of one embodiment.

[0032] [Figure 25] FIG. 25 is a side view of a gimbal system according to an embodiment.

[0033] [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is another side view of the gimbal system of one embodiment.

[0034] [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is a top view of the gimbal system of one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] (Modes for carrying out the invention) It should be understood that embodiments may include various aspects that may be combined in different ways. The following description is provided to enumerate elements and describe some of the embodiments of the present application. While these elements are enumerated in an initial embodiment, it should be understood that they may be combined in any manner and in any number to create additional embodiments. The variously described examples and preferred embodiments should not be construed to limit the embodiments of the present application to only the systems, techniques, and applications explicitly described. The specific embodiment or embodiments shown are examples only. The specification should be understood as supporting broad claims and each embodiment, and even claims that may be excluded if other embodiments are desired, and is intended to be so. Importantly, the disclosure of merely an exemplary embodiment is not meant to limit the scope of other, more comprehensive claims that may be filed, when such may be merely one of several ways or embodiments that may be employed in the broader claims or equivalents. Moreover, this description should be understood to support and encompass descriptions and claims of all various embodiments, systems, techniques, methods, devices, and applications, with any number of the disclosed elements, with each element alone, and with all the various permutations and combinations of all elements in this or any subsequent application.

[0036] Figures 1 and 2 are provided to illustrate one type of problem that the present disclosure may be aimed to address. Figure 3 illustrates several embodiments of conventional load lifting systems with which the present system may be employed. The present system may be utilized on any type of crane boom configuration on many different types of cranes, including, but not limited to, AT, RT, crawler, tower, knuckle, track-mounted, lattice, etc. All of these cranes may have and may share similar components, including, but not limited to, the boom (hydraulic or lattice lifting element), operator's station, rotex, lifting hook or other device, and also the winch that controls the hook block. These illustrate how the system may be attached to any crane, and the disclosed methods may be used with any crane.

[0037] FIG. 15 diagrammatically illustrates one embodiment, depicting various elements that some embodiments may include. A crane operation lift deviation system (21) can facilitate an operator lift deviation response during the load lift or during the steps of lifting the load, and can receive operator input during a remote display for better operator control. As mentioned, the response can be for the operator to simply accept, modify, or supplement the planned action to achieve whatever the operator desires. An embodiment can include a load lift deviation sensor (22), where the lift deviation is a deflection that occurs in response to lifting the load. Such a load lift deviation sensor (22) can serve to sense the load lift deviation for operator use, if desired. As can be appreciated, the system can be configured to generate a combined visual indication and then display the visual indication, which may further display the combined visual indication. Thus, the system can be understood as having a visual indicator 23 that can serve as a combined deviation magnitude and deviation direction visual indicator 23, which is a combined indication of both magnitude and direction. This can accomplish the steps of creating a deviation magnitude and deviation direction indication. Importantly, all of this can be provided for operator viewing during load-lifting operations of the crane 24. Also, as will be discussed later, the system can receive operator input for operating the crane during the indication, and thus, operator interpretation of the indication can be an integral part of how the operator better controls the crane 24.

[0038] As should be appreciated, embodiments of the system can provide a simple retrofit item for existing cranes. The embodiments can be designed to be easily attached and detached without substantial time overhead, so that the system can be used even when different cranes are used, and can be comfortably used by a particular operator by attaching and detaching it on different cranes as desired. The embodiments effectively provide a boom mount 25, such as at the boom tip 26, as a boom tip mount 27, which can be attached to a portion of the system embodiment. A particularly convenient feature is that the embodiments can use an optical-based load lift deflection sensor 28, which can be positioned at or near the lifting point 36 of that particular crane, often the boom tip 26. The load lift deflection sensor 22, the optical-based load lift deflection sensor 28, or more generally, the imaging sensor 35, can be positioned at or near the lifting point 36. Thus, embodiments may have, achieve, or use mounting an imaging sensor (35) near a lifting point (36). Thus, embodiments may have an optical deflection sensor mount (29) adjacent the lifting point, and methods may have or achieve both steps that may be considered mounting an optical deflection sensor on a crane boom near or adjacent a lifting point for a crane (24).

[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment including a camera enclosure. The camera (38) is one type of optical-based load lifting deflection sensor (28). In such an embodiment, the camera or optical-based load lifting deflection sensor (28) can function to optically sense the load lifting deflection. In this manner, the camera can serve as a camera-based load lifting deflection sensor. The camera may have a central view area, and as will be understood later, the camera may further be a directionally constrained camera (29) to specifically accomplish the directionally constrained imaging of the central view area. The camera can be encapsulated, as can be seen in FIG. 4 and elsewhere. The camera enclosure may be weatherproof (meeting IEC protection code IP54, etc.) or an ABD thermoplastic solvent-welded enclosure, which can help protect the camera and electronics from water, dust, or other debris. The window may be made of clear PETG or other transparent material, which can provide a clear view of the camera. In some embodiments, the camera enclosure may be mounted to a jib pin or the like via a boom mount (25) or boom-mounted bracket or assembly, such as that shown in FIG. 12, which is just one option. Some embodiments may also include a camera mount. The camera mount may be custom-made to fit the camera inside the enclosure, or it may be a standard design. It may be comprised of machined plastic and / or metal sections, along with a damper, as discussed later. As shown in FIGS. 16-18 and as can be seen from FIGS. 4-12, quick-release capabilities are a possibility. Embodiments may have or provide an alignment clamp (30) that aligns and mounts the quick-release unit enclosure (31), housing or providing a mounting sleeve (32) that may be attached to the alignment clamp, and a sleeve-engageable safety catch (33) that may respond to the alignment clamp (30) by being securely held in one position for proper operation. If compatible, an attachment locking element (34) may be present to secure the enclosure in adverse conditions or to prevent tampering or theft.When disposing the section at the boom tip (26) or the like, there may be a power source (37) for the boom tip section and correspondingly supplying power to the load lift deflection sensor (22), optical-based load lift deflection sensor (28), imaging sensor (35), or camera (38). The power source (37) may be an existing power tap input (42) on the crane for supplying power from the crane's existing power tap. For example, a 5-foot 18 / 6C cord assembly with two receptacles may take power already used by the crane accessories and safety lights at the boom tip.

[0040] An aspect of the embodiments is that any of these elements can be configured to achieve imaging of a vertically downward point (39), such as in the central view area mentioned above. The vertically downward point (39) is oriented like the gravity vector (40). When the load's center of gravity is below and aligned with the gravity vector (40) from the lifting point (36), there will naturally be no drift. To ensure that the camera (38) or other such sensor points vertically downward regardless of the orientation of the boom crane, embodiments can have a substantially constant vertically downward point system (41) that can achieve maintaining a substantially constant vertically downward point aim. For embodiments involving an imaging sensor (35), such as the camera (38), a camera substantially constant vertically downward point system (43) can be present. The camera (38) can be a directionally constrained camera (45), and thus, in some embodiments, directionally constrained imaging is present, if desired. By way of example only, the camera 38 may be a Thor Fiber 1080p 3G / HD-SDI / HDMI® / IP Streaming Box Camera or other model with 20x optical zoom. The camera may be utilized to view and capture live video of the boom tip and the area surrounding the boom tip, or any other desired area. A main printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) may be mounted to the wall of the enclosure. The PCBA may control the camera and manage power and output data communication into the enclosure, such as to a remote operator display, and may display information from the camera 38 to an operator, such as via a wireless access point (WAP).

[0041] As can be appreciated, embodiments can have wireless capabilities, WiFi, or other wireless access points. A long-range WiFi access point can provide a secure WiFi connection from the camera enclosure to a tablet or other receiving device, such as in the crane cab. Thus, embodiments can have a remote data output 46 configured to provide data from the camera 38 or the like to a remote location, and possibly remotely provide data originating from the imaging sensor 35. This can be received and then displayed, such as by remotely displaying information from the data originating from the imaging sensor 35 or the like, on a remote operator display 47 or the like. In this manner, an operator can use the remote display for better control of the crane, and the crane can receive operator input during the remote display of such information.

[0042] Embodiments may also include an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) as the inertial measurement unit data system (48), so they can utilize boom tip inertial data for the crane (24) if desired. The IMU may also be mounted on the board to provide live boom tip movement or other desired data. A separate PCBA may also be mounted behind the camera. This PCBA may use a wired connection to the main PCBA and may provide power to the camera and transmit data to the main PCBA. The IMU may provide or enhance the provision of live camera movement data. For example, a three-port 10 / 100 or similar Ethernet switch may be utilized to communicate video and IMU data in parallel to a tablet or other receiving device in the cab. Figures 6 and 7 show alternative views of the enclosure with optional additional desired items, including, but not limited to, J-hooks or other mounting elements that attach to the mounting bracket for coupling to desired equipment, as well as power connections and PCB boards.

[0043] As mentioned, embodiments can have a substantially constant vertical down-point system (41) that can achieve a substantially constant vertical down-point aim. In embodiments such as that shown in FIG. 5, embodiments disclosed herein can achieve this by including a gimbal mechanism or system (49) that uses gravity to keep an imaging sensor (35), such as a camera (38), pointed substantially downward. This can allow the system to achieve gimbaling as part of maintaining a substantially constant vertical down-point aim or equivalent. Because the gimbal can pivot (and in fact is designed to achieve it), considerations regarding excessive free swing can be important. Thus, in embodiments, the substantially constant vertical down-point system (41) can include one or more dampers (50), such as those located on both the X and Y axes, which can allow the system to be steered to promote a consistent downward pointing of the camera, particularly by damping or damping movement of the gimbal system (49). Damping can be achieved mechanically or electronically, such as through the use of one or more IMUs, which can provide data related to horizontal positioning, vertical positioning, and the relationship between the two. Specific damping can be useful, including the following: i) a damping factor that results in vibrations that are less than 10% of the initial vibration after three vibrations; ii) a damping factor that results in vibrations that are less than 10% of the initial vibration after three seconds or less; and / or iii) a damping factor of 0.6 (e.g., e -0.6t ) may be used. -0.3t A decay similar to the exponential decay decay of an oscillator, such as any of the decay coefficients (negative exponents) of

[0044] Also, as mentioned, quick-attach / detach capability may be desirable for some embodiments, such as having a quick-detach unit enclosure (31). Accordingly, embodiments may have a quick-release boom mount (51) for quick-release boom mounting. In embodiments such as those shown in Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, a boom mounting bracket is disclosed. The design may provide a built-in temporary quick-release boom tip mount as shown. The mounting bracket may comprise centering or alignment clamps (30) that can be used to align clamping hardware and ensure alignment with the primary sheave or sheave pack. It may also include an adaptive cone to serve as the universal crane's existing orifice mount (52) for steps that utilize the universal crane's existing orifice mount. The adaptive cone may be an attachably securable frustoconical element (53) for steps that attachably secure the frustoconical element, as shown in Figures 10 and 12. This can fit a wide variety of existing mounting holes and may be used to align mounting hardware with sheave pins and / or jib mounts, such as for achieving a jib mount (54) adjacent to the lifting point and for mounting an optical or optical-based load lifting deflection sensor (28) on a crane boom at a jib mount adjacent to the lifting point for the crane (24). This can help ensure square alignment on various crane makes and models. An adaptive cone can allow the bracket to adjust to any size jib mounting pin. Utilizing both an alignment clamp and an adaptive or compliant cone can provide a secure and reliable fit of the mounting bracket to the crane apparatus. The mounting bracket may also include a mounting sleeve (32). The mounting sleeve or element (32) (shown in FIG. 7) may be a surface or multiple surfaces used to physically attach and lock the camera enclosure or quick-release unit enclosure (31) (shown in FIG. 4) to the mounting hardware.

[0045] FIG. 14 illustrates a controller, lifting deviation system human interface device, or human interface device (HID) (54) for receiving operator input, which may be utilized in some embodiments and may possibly include an HID control device used to manually navigate a touchscreen monitor or equivalent. A mounting kit may also be included, which may be attached to the HID and a mount, such as a ram ball and ram mount, and may be used to position the HID and mount in a desired location. Thus, an embodiment may have an operator display temporary mount (55) with an in-cab display (56) attached to the operator display temporary mount (55). This can accomplish both providing an operator display temporary mount and providing an in-cab display attached to the operator display temporary mount (55), such as for systems that may be desired to be quickly attached and detached at will. The HID (54) may connect to or control a primary computer via a wired or wireless connection. This can facilitate receiving operator input during remote display of the system's information. Some embodiments may include a monitor, possibly a touchscreen (1), connected to a processor (2), such as an ASIC, app, PC computer, desktop computer, or tablet, known as a "primary computer," which may be equipped with programming that may be needed to receive data and control elements as desired. See FIG. 15. This computer may have both an open-source sector (3) and a closed-source sector (4). The closed sector may be for secured programming and firmware updates and for storing proprietary technology. The open-source sector may adapt external sources to add custom graphics and fonts to visually match their needs. The panel may have a display screen used to navigate various menus.The panel may also utilize or provide a mounting system (5) for mounting it inside the operator's cabin. The monitor may be enclosed or otherwise secured and may be mounted via mounting hardware such as a ram mount. A quick-release plate may also be incorporated. The computer / display can be mounted to any acceptable surface inside the operator's cabin. The display may be mounted using screws, straps, magnets, suction, or various other means. The use of suction cups for glass surfaces may also be used. The primary computer may house both the receiver (11) and transmitter (12). Optionally, the primary computer may also be used as an upload point and may wirelessly transmit or utilize updates to the boom and block sensors if desired. The primary computer may communicate wirelessly or via wire. Wired communication methods may include, but are not limited to, coaxial, fiber optic, twisted pair, DSL, etc., to transmit data. The in-cab computer may have multiple methods for connection, such as directional Wi-Fi, narrowband Wi-Fi, USB, IDE, Sata, eSata, and / or Ethernet, as well as other wireless methods. Embodiments can include a wireless data output (57) and an in-cab display wireless data input (58) for wirelessly outputting and inputting data to and from the in-cab display (56), etc. These methods can also provide access to the computer for updating and troubleshooting the system if needed.

[0046] An embodiment may include a system using a 20x optical camera (9) configured and provided within a built-in temporary boom tip mount (59) or a built-in temporary quick-release boom tip mount mounted to the boom tip (26), such as on the left lower jib pin surface at the jib mount (54) adjacent the lifting point. This may serve to mount an optical deflection sensor on the crane boom at the jib mount adjacent the lifting point for the crane (24). This location may provide perfect alignment with the primary sheave pack on the crane. The system may draw power from the S930 box via a smart plug (10). This may be mounted to the boom tip by a mount adjacent the lifting point, possibly using a self-aligning clamp as mentioned above, which may be mounted to the left lower jib pin. The camera may be housed inside a camera enclosure, such as the quick-release unit enclosure (31) (shown in FIG. 4), which may be comprised of an IP54 thermoplastic enclosure. In some embodiments, the enclosure may be, by way of example only, a 1080P camera with 20x optical zoom, two custom PCBAs, and a long-range WiFi access point (WAP). The camera (38) may be a directionally constrained camera for directionally constrained imaging and may be mounted on a mechanism that utilizes gravity, a gimbal system, and possibly dampers or other operator or automatic controls or even image processing to control the substantially constant vertical down pointing. For example, an embodiment may have an image processing substantially constant vertical down point adjuster, possibly as part of hardware (possibly on the PCBA) or software (possibly on the processor (2)), for image processing to achieve the step of image processing target point adjustment, or as an image processing target point indication adjuster subroutine or equivalent. This hardware or software can ensure that the camera (38) or equivalent is always pointing downward in the area below the boom tip (26). The camera PCBA may be mounted behind the camera and may provide power to the camera and transmit camera data back to the main PCBA.The PCBA may also contain an inertial measurement unit (IMU) for tracking camera movement relative to the enclosure. The main PCBA may be mounted to the interior wall of the enclosure and connected to the camera PCBA by, for example, a flex cable. The main PCBA may manage power entering the enclosure via an S930 box (or similar) and may transmit IMU and / or video data to an Ethernet or other connection or Ethernet switch. The main PCBA may also use an IMU to track boom tip (26) movement; therefore, embodiments may have a boom tip movement data input (60) for inputting boom tip movement data. The Ethernet switch may receive data from the camera and, potentially, two IMUs, and transmit the data in parallel to the WAP. The WAP may provide a secure Wi-Fi connection to a monitor (such as a tablet), allowing for fast data transfers sufficient for HD video. In some embodiments, the signal may then be received in the cab, possibly via a computer / tablet / monitor, where it may then be processed (cropped) to represent the center of gravity directly below (vertically) the boom tip. In such an embodiment, possibly a single two-dimensional display visual indicator, such as that shown in FIG. 28 or 29, has both a deviation magnitude indication and a deviation direction indication in a single two-dimensional display that may be further adjusted to present as desired. In this display, the screen may possibly have a crosshair / reticle representing the desired target location in the center of the display as shown. In an embodiment, IMU data may be used for additional image corrections (cropping adjustments, crosshair adjustments, and the like), and there may be an optical-based load lifting deflection sensor movement data input (61) for inputting optical-based load lifting deflection sensor movement data.The data inputs may be image adjustment data inputs, image crop data inputs, and / or image line of sight adjustment data inputs for inputting image adjustment data, inputting image crop data, and / or inputting image line of sight adjustment data, if needed or desired. Embodiments may have a substantially constant vertical down point compensator that may use hardware or software to apply boom tip inertial data to correct and maintain substantially constant vertical down point aim.

[0047] To operate zoom and other functions, there may be an HID (54) for combination visual indicator zoom control (as shown in FIG. 14 and similar to a computer mouse or touchpad) that may be mounted near the operator to control various aspects, such as for receiving operator zoom control. This may include, among other aspects, cursor movement controls and program selection controls, so that the system can accomplish receiving operator cursor movement control and receiving operator program selection control. There may also be a software selectable deflection system controller in the HID (54) or elsewhere to provide software selectable deflection control, and a software reprogrammable deflection system controller to provide software reprogrammable deflection control.

[0048] The system disclosed herein may be installed by attaching a boom mount to the jib mount adjacent to the lifting point for mounting the optical deflection sensor on the crane boom, possibly at the jib mounting hole. This may be done by setting up mounting hardware on the jib mounting surface. A user may use the above alignment clamp (30) (shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12) to align the clamp with the jib mount (also shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12) and potentially align it with the adapter cone (also shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12). The alignment clamp may then be hand-tightened. A user may then thread an alignment cone from the bottom of the mount over the alignment threads, possibly using a wing nut. Once the alignment cone is tight, a user may then tighten the alignment clamp. A user may then place a safety pin in the alignment threads as one type of mounting locking element (34). Some mounting systems may be deployed by locating the side of the unit, which may include a mounting sleeve (32). From the top, a user may slide the unit over the mounting sleeve (32) until the sleeve-engageable safety catch (33) engages and the safety catch is set. They may then deploy the safety pin attachment locking element (34) as one way to attach the quick-detach unit enclosure (31), at which point a power cable plug may then be plugged into a port on the S930 or other power box or jib extension plug as the crane's existing power tap input to supply power from the crane's existing power tap as the power source (37) for the boom tip.

[0049] The step of disposing of the cab-mounted hardware may include installing a triple suction cup or other mount, which may be removable as an operator display temporary mount (55), using an included ram mount or similar, to provide an operator display temporary mount and hold an in-cab display (56) attached to the operator display temporary mount (55) to provide an in-cab display. This type of HID mount can be placed in any suitable location within the cab. Once in position, the user may then attach the monitor mounting surface to the quick-release plate. They may then plug the monitor into a 12v or other power source and power on the system. In an embodiment, once the crane is assembled and ready for use, the operator may power on the system. They may then indicate the expected working height to the system through an expected distance to work surface input in the software for inputting the expected distance to the work surface. The expected distance input may alternatively be an actual distance to work surface input for inputting the actual distance to the work surface.

[0050] For viewing, in some embodiments, the system may have a default, which may be, for example, 1x zoom. An operator may initially use the system to survey a job site from above. Once they locate their target load, they can then swing the boom directly over it. By placing a line of sight on the load, there may also be a calculated numerical distance boom tip vertical-line of sight indication to show the operator the calculated numerical boom tip vertical-line of sight distance. They may then lower the rigging, possibly until signaled to stop by the rigger. Once the rigger attaches the rigging to the load and gives the signal to hoist the load, the operator can then observe the position of the hook block in relation to the line of sight while performing the lift using a single two-dimensional display visual indicator. By having both a deflection magnitude indication and a deflection direction indication to display the information in a single two-dimensional manner, the operator can better control their operations. As can be seen from FIGS. 28 and 29, there can be an operator-selected load image-related line of sight, or the system can provide the operator with a movable operator-selected load image-related line of sight that can remain at a fixed location on the load or at a point below. Thus, embodiments can provide a load center of gravity line of sight. As the hook block can then move away from the center of the crosshairs, any deviations or misalignments can then become apparent. Thus, embodiments can have a gravity vector comparator that compares the load center of gravity to a mechanically or computationally determined point below, and thus a visual indicator (23) can accomplish the step of comparing the lifting motion with the gravity vector. Thus, embodiments can have a load lifting point-gravity vector comparator, such as a display, for comparing the load lifting point with the gravity vector. This can include a load lifting point-gravity vector projected relative displacement indicator to produce a load lifting point-gravity vector relative displacement indication, such as the displacement discussed.As can be seen from FIGS. 28 and 29, the visual indicator (23) can be configured as a radial coordinate indicator to show the operator the radial coordinate, and a radial deflection indication may be present to show the operator the radial deflection. As shown in one alternative, a Cartesian coordinate indicator may also be present to show the operator the Cartesian coordinate. These indications, or more generally, a single two-dimensional display visual indicator, may allow the operator to make on-the-fly corrections, potentially by changing boom rotation or boom angle, or offsetting the like. In embodiments where the system cannot automatically correct boom alignment, this may make otherwise misalignment or desired alignment very obvious, thus providing better operator control. Additionally, embodiments may add information to the indication. One or more numerical lifting data indications may also be present to display at least one numerical lifting data indication to the operator for precise operator control. These may include any of the following: a numerical load lift deviation sensor offset indication, a numerical distance to work surface indication, possibly a numerical boom extension indication such as the amount the boom extends, a numerical distance to work surface offset indication, all for displaying such information to the operator. There may also be a calculated numerical distance boom tip vertical-line of sight indication that shows the operator the calculated numerical boom tip vertical-line of sight distance. There may also or alternatively be a calculated numerical distance boom tip vertical-load center of gravity line of sight indication that shows the operator the calculated numerical boom tip vertical-load center of gravity line of sight distance to the operator.

[0051] Other embodiments may include programming to create software that the operator can utilize. A first example may include the camera itself, which may be “gravity” based, such as a pendulum, and which may be suspended in a vertically downward position. The camera may be suspended very close to vertical, but possibly not perfectly so. To achieve perfect vertical orientation, the program may utilize an IMU to “crop” the video to the perfect orientation. As mentioned above, embodiments may have image adjustment data inputs, image crop data inputs, and image line of sight adjustment data inputs. As just one working example, if the camera is indicated approximately 0.05 degrees from vertical, the IMU may detect the discrepancy and automatically make corrections as one way to provide the operator with a system-determined line of sight. In the exemplary case where the hook block moves or is positioned away from the line of sight in any direction, this may be a visual indication that the load is out of vertical, thus causing load drift. Different indications may be provided. There may be a boom tip vertical indication that indicates the boom tip vertical to the operator. There may also be an automatically created target point indication, an operator-set target point indication, a boom tip vertical target point indication, and a system-determined target point indication, each indicating a different target point to the operator. As can be appreciated, there may be target point indications, and thus a down point or other location may be the indicated location for the target point indication. The target point may be automatically generated, operator-created, or may be the vertical so-called boom center of gravity point. In this way, embodiments can accomplish the steps of indicating a target point for the operator and, if desired, indicating a location for the target point.

[0052] Other embodiments may include programming that can provide the computer with two operating ranges. The first range can be the amount of "boom stickout" (i.e., the distance from the boom tip to the work surface). The second range can be a camera offset, such as for a camera offset adaptation element, that accommodates the offset to properly indicate the down point even though the camera (38) may be slightly offset at the boom tip (26). The offset can be an average number, e.g., about 24 inches, that can be entered prior to the unit being shipped. There can also be a camera placement offset data input for entering actual placement offset data for a particular placement. This can be helpful for accurate display, and embodiments may provide programming or software to accurately display crosshairs (line of sight) based on the above data, possibly on a screen or in a single two-dimensional display visual indicator with both deviation magnitude and deviation direction indications, and automatically display the line of sight. The operator can also be provided with a movable line of sight for the operator to set the crosshairs or cursor representing the operator's desired or target location. The crosshairs can provide the operator with an accurate representation of where their boom center of gravity is located as an automatic or calculated item. By way of example only, the system may provide or use some or all of three sets of data. This can include a numerical load lift deflection sensor offset indication, a numerical distance to work surface indication, a numerical boom extension indication, and a numerical distance to work surface offset indication, any or all of which can be used or displayed to the operator. The three sets of data for the crosshairs to use or display can include the following: offset Distance to work surface Distance from the offset to the work surface An automatic or calculated line of sight system or display can act as a distance to work surface factored adjuster, utilizing distance to work surface or otherwise. The line of sight or display can also be an estimated load center of gravity line of sight, which provides the operator with an estimated load center of gravity at the line of sight, or an actual load center of gravity line of sight as referred to, or even an actual load center of gravity line of sight determined in a statically suspended state, such as by having the operator hoist the load and then having the system automatically or manually place a line of sight at the actual load center of gravity.

[0053] When using the HID (54), the operator may control the zoom, using the HID (54) as a combination visual indicator zoom control to receive operator zoom control. The HID (54) may also allow the operator to implement any necessary or desired system changes, such as changes to boom height or offset; thus, the HID (54) may serve as a boom height control to receive operator input for boom height control or a boom offset control to receive operator input for boom offset control. In some embodiments, programming or software may or may not align and automatically correct the load; thus, there may be an operator-overridable automatic drift correction system that allows for operator-overridable automatic drift correction. Some embodiments may indicate any discrepancies in boom alignment to the operator. This may be important because one goal is to provide a crane operation lift deviation system that facilitates operator lift deviation response during load lift and is capable of not overriding operator control when deviation may or may not be desired during load lifting operations of the crane. Of course, once the load is "floating," the need to correct for load drift may disappear. The camera may then simply be utilized to monitor the surroundings of the load. Importantly, the embodiments can enhance, not replace, operator control. Thus, there can be an operator crane control system that is independent of and unhindered by the lifting error of the crane (24), allowing the operator, at their discretion, with or without the visual display. The control system can be an operator real-time dynamic lifting error reactive control system that provides an operator real-time dynamic lifting error reactive control option during operation of the crane (24).In enabling and encouraging the use of operator judgment, embodiments may simply provide for operator deviation judgment influenced by a combined visual indicator control system that enables operator deviation judgment influenced by displaying a combined visual indication control of a crane or equivalent.

[0054] While the present invention has been described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular forms described, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the disclosed embodiments.

[0055] Examples of alternative clauses (presented as appendices) may include:

[0056] 1. A crane operation lift deflection system capable of facilitating operator lift deflection response during a load lift operation, comprising: Boom mount and a camera-based load lift deflection sensor located on the boom mount; a power source to which the camera-based load lift deflection sensor is responsive; a substantially constant vertical down point system to which the camera-based load lift deflection sensor is responsive; a remote data output configured to provide data from the camera-based load lift deflection sensor at a remote location; and a remote operator display configured to display information from the camera-based load lift deflection sensor; and a combined deflection magnitude and deflection direction visual indicator configured for operator viewing on the remote operator display during load lifting operations of the crane; A crane operating lifting deviation system comprising:

[0057] 2. The crane operating lifting deviation system of claim 1 or any other clause, wherein the substantially constant vertical down point system comprises a gimbal system.

[0058] 3. The crane operating lifting deviation system of paragraph 2 or any other appendix, wherein the substantially constant vertical down point system further comprises a shock absorber.

[0059] 4. The crane operating lift deflection system of paragraph 3 or any other clause, wherein the boom mount comprises a built-in temporary quick release boom tip mount.

[0060] 5. The crane operating lifting deviation system of claim 1 or any other clause, wherein the boom mount comprises an attachably securable frustoconical element.

[0061] 6. The quick release boom mount further comprises: a matching clamp; a quick-detach unit enclosure housing at least the camera and the substantially constant vertical down point system and having a mounting sleeve; a sleeve-engageable safety catch responsive to said alignment clamp; an attachment locking element configured to secure the mounting sleeve to the safety catch; 3. A crane operation lifting deviation system according to claim 5 or any other clause, comprising:

[0062] 7. The crane operating lift deviation system of claim 4 or any other clause, further comprising an operator display temporary mount and an in-cab display attached to the operator display temporary mount.

[0063] 8. The crane operation lifting deviation system of clause 7 or any other clause, wherein the remote data output comprises a wireless data output, and wherein the crane operation lifting deviation system further comprises an in-cab display wireless data input.

[0064] 9. The crane operation lifting deviation system of claim 1 or any other clause, further comprising a crane to which the crane operation lifting deviation system is attached.

[0065] 10. A crane operation lift deflection system capable of facilitating operator lift deflection response during a load lift operation, comprising: a camera having a central view area; Boom mount and a power source to which the camera responds; a remote data output configured to provide data from the camera at a remote location; a substantially constant vertical down point system to which the camera central view area is responsive; a remote operator display configured to display information from the camera; and A crane operating lifting deviation system comprising:

[0066] 11. The crane operating lift deflection system of claim 10 or any other clause, wherein the substantially constant vertical down point system comprises a gimbal system.

[0067] 12. The crane operating lifting deviation system of claim 11 or any other appendix, wherein the substantially constant vertical down point system further comprises a shock absorber.

[0068] 13. A crane operating lift deviation system as described in paragraph 10 or any other clause, wherein the power source comprises an existing power tap input of the crane.

[0069] 14. The crane operating lifting deviation system of paragraph 10 or any other clause, wherein the boom mount comprises a quick release boom mount.

[0070] 15. The crane operating lift deflection system of claim 14 or any other clause, wherein the quick release boom mount comprises a built-in temporary boom tip mount.

[0071] 16. The crane operating lifting deviation system of paragraph 14 or any other clause, wherein the quick release boom mount comprises an existing orifice mount of a universal crane.

[0072] 17. The crane operating lifting deviation system of claim 16 or any other clause, wherein the existing orifice mount of the universal crane comprises an attachably securable frustoconical element.

[0073] 18. The quick release boom mount further comprises: a matching clamp; a quick-detach unit enclosure housing at least the camera and the substantially constant vertical down point system and having a mounting sleeve; a sleeve-engageable safety catch responsive to said alignment clamp; an attachment locking element configured to secure the mounting sleeve to the safety catch; Item 16 or any other appendix, comprising: a crane operation lifting deviation system.

[0074] 19. The crane operating lift deviation system of claim 14 or any other clause, further comprising an operator display temporary mount and an in-cab display attached to the operator display temporary mount.

[0075] 20. The crane operation lifting deviation system of clause 10 or any other clause, wherein the remote data output comprises a wireless data output, and wherein the crane operation lifting deviation system further comprises an in-cab display wireless data input.

[0076] 21. The crane operation lifting deviation system of clause 10 or any other clause, further comprising a crane to which the crane operation lifting deviation system is attached.

[0077] 22. A crane operation lift deflection system capable of facilitating operator lift deflection response during a load lift operation, comprising: a load lifting deviation sensor; a combined deflection magnitude and deflection direction visual indicator configured for operator viewing during load lifting operations of the crane; A crane operating lifting deviation system comprising:

[0078] 23. The crane operation lift deflection system of clause 22 or any other clause, wherein the load lift deflection sensor comprises an optical-based load lift deflection sensor.

[0079] 24. A crane operation lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 23 or any other clause, wherein the optical-based load lifting deviation sensor comprises a load lifting point-gravity vector comparator.

[0080] 25. A crane operation lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 24 or any other appendix, wherein the load lifting point-gravity vector comparator comprises a load lifting point-gravity vector projection relative displacement indicator.

[0081] 26. A crane operation lifting deviation system as described in clause 23 or any other clause, further comprising an operator crane control device that is independent of and not hindered by the lifting deviation.

[0082] 27. A crane operation lift deviation system as described in paragraph 26 or any other appendix, wherein the operator crane control device, independent of and not hindered by the lift deviation, comprises an operator real-time dynamic lift deviation reactive control system.

[0083] 28. A crane operation lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 27 or any other appendix, wherein the operator real-time dynamic lifting deviation reaction control system comprises an operator deviation judgment influenced by a combined visual indicator control system.

[0084] 29. A crane operation lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 22 or any other appendix, wherein the load lifting deviation sensor comprises a gravity vector comparator.

[0085] 30. The crane operation lifting deviation system of claim 23 or any other clause, wherein the optical-based load lifting deviation sensor comprises a directionally constrained camera.

[0086] 31. The crane operation lifting deviation system of clause 30 or any other clause, further comprising a camera offset adaptation element.

[0087] 32. The crane operation lifting deviation system of clause 31 or any other clause, wherein the camera offset adaptation element comprises a camera placement offset data input.

[0088] 33. A crane operation lifting deviation system according to clause 23 or any other clause, further comprising a lifting deviation system human interface device.

[0089] 34. The crane operation lift deviation system of clause 33 or any other clause, wherein the lift deviation system human interface device comprises a boom height control device.

[0090] 35. The crane operation lift deviation system of clause 33 or any other clause, wherein the lift deviation system human interface device comprises a boom offset control device.

[0091] 36. The crane operation lift deviation system of clause 33 or any other clause, wherein the lift deviation system human interface device comprises a combination visual indicator zoom control.

[0092] 37. The crane operation lifting deviation system of clause 33 or any other clause, wherein the lifting deviation system human interface device comprises a software reprogrammable deflection system controller.

[0093] 38. The crane operation lifting deviation system of clause 33 or any other clause, wherein the lifting deviation system human interface device comprises a software selectable deflection system control.

[0094] 39. A crane operation lifting deviation system according to claim 33 or any other clause, wherein the lifting deviation system human interface device comprises a cursor movement control device and a program selection control device.

[0095] 40. A crane operating lifting deflection system as described in clause 23 or any other clause, further comprising an optical deflection sensor mount adjacent the lifting point.

[0096] 41. A crane operating lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 22 or any other clause, further comprising a jib mount adjacent the lifting point.

[0097] 42. A crane operation lifting deviation system as described in clause 22 or any other addendum, wherein the combined deviation magnitude and deviation direction visual indicator comprises a single two-dimensional display visual indicator, the single two-dimensional display visual indicator having both a deviation magnitude indication and a deviation direction indication in the single two-dimensional display.

[0098] 43. A crane operation lifting deviation system as described in clause 42 or any other appendix, wherein the single two-dimensional display visual indicator comprises a target point indication, and the deviation magnitude indication and the deviation direction indication comprise indicated locations relative to the target point indication.

[0099] 44. A crane operation lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 42 or any other clause, wherein the single two-dimensional display visual indicator comprises a radial coordinate indicator.

[0100] 45. The crane operation lift deviation system of paragraph 44 or any other clause, wherein the single two-dimensional display visual indicator further comprises a radial deflection indication.

[0101] 46. ​​A crane operation lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 421 or any other clause, wherein the single two-dimensional display visual indicator comprises a Cartesian coordinate indicator.

[0102] 47. A crane operation lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 42 or any other appendix, wherein the single two-dimensional display visual indicator comprises a movable line of sight.

[0103] 48. A crane operation lift deviation system as described in paragraph 47 or any other appendix, wherein the movable line of sight comprises an operator-selected load image-related line of sight.

[0104] 49. A crane operating lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 47 or any other appendix, wherein the movable line of sight comprises a load center of gravity line of sight.

[0105] 50. A crane operation lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 49 or any other appendix, wherein the load center of gravity line of sight comprises an estimated load center of gravity line of sight.

[0106] 51. A crane operational lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 49 or any other clause, wherein the load center of gravity line of sight comprises an actual load center of gravity line of sight.

[0107] 52. A crane operational lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 51 or any other addendum, wherein the actual load center of gravity line of sight comprises an actual load center of gravity line of sight determined in a static suspension condition.

[0108] 53. A crane operating lift deviation system as described in paragraph 42 or any other clause, wherein the single two-dimensional display visual indicator comprises a calculated numerical distance boom tip vertical-line of sight indication.

[0109] 54. A crane operating lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 42 or any other addendum, wherein the single two-dimensional display visual indicator comprises a calculated numerical distance boom tip vertical-load center of gravity line of sight indication.

[0110] 55. A crane operation lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 42 or any other appendix, wherein the single two-dimensional display visual indicator comprises a system-determined line of sight.

[0111] 56. A crane operational lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 55 or any other appendix, wherein the system determined line of sight comprises an actual load center of gravity line of sight determined in a static suspension state.

[0112] 57. A crane operation lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 42 or any other clause, wherein the single two-dimensional display visual indicator further comprises at least one numerical lifting data indication.

[0113] 58. The crane operation lift deviation system of clause 57 or any other addendum, wherein the at least one numerical lift data indication comprises a numerical lift data indication selected from a numerical load lift deviation sensor offset indication, a numerical distance to work surface indication, a numerical boom extension indication, and a numerical distance to work surface offset indication.

[0114] 59. A crane operating lift deviation system as described in paragraph 43 or any other addendum, wherein the target point indication comprises a boom tip vertical indication.

[0115] 60. A crane operation lift deviation system as described in clause 43 or any other addendum, wherein the target point indication comprises a target point indication selected from an automatically generated target point indication, an operator-set target point indication, a boom tip vertical target point indication, and a system-determined target point indication.

[0116] 61. A crane operating lifting deviation system as described in clause 23 or any other clause, further comprising an inertial measurement unit data system.

[0117] 62. A crane operational lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 61 or any other clause, wherein the inertial measurement unit data system includes a substantially constant vertical down point compensator.

[0118] 63. A crane operational lift deviation system as described in paragraph 61 or any other clause, wherein the inertial measurement unit data system comprises a boom tip movement data input.

[0119] 64. A crane operation lift deflection system as described in paragraph 61 or any other clause, wherein the inertial measurement unit data system comprises an optical-based load lift deflection sensor movement data input.

[0120] 65. A crane operation lift deviation system as described in paragraph 61 or any other clause, wherein the inertial measurement unit data system comprises an image adjustment data input selected from an image crop data input and an image line of sight adjustment data input.

[0121] 66. A crane operating lift deviation system as described in paragraph 61 or any other clause, wherein the inertial measurement unit data system includes an operator overrideable automatic drift correction system.

[0122] 67. A crane operating lift deviation system as described in paragraph 23 or any other clause, further comprising an operator overrideable automatic drift correction system.

[0123] 68. A crane operating lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 30 or any other appendix, further comprising a camera substantially constant vertical down point system.

[0124] 69. A crane operating lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 68 or any other clause, wherein the camera substantially constant vertical down point system comprises a gimbal system.

[0125] 70. A crane operation lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 69 or any other appendix, wherein the camera substantially constant vertical downward point system further comprises a shock absorber.

[0126] 71. The crane operation lift deflection system of clause 70 or any other clause, comprising a shock absorber selected from a predominantly exponentially damped shock absorber, a shock absorber that provides vibrations that are less than about 10 percent of the initial vibration after about three vibrations, a shock absorber that provides vibrations that are less than about 10 percent of the initial vibration after about three seconds, a shock absorber having an approximately exponential damping coefficient of at least about 0.25, a shock absorber having an approximately exponential damping coefficient of at least about 0.3, a shock absorber having an approximately exponential damping coefficient of at least about 0.4, and a shock absorber having an approximately exponential damping coefficient of at least about 0.5.

[0127] 72. A crane operating lifting deviation system as described in paragraph 23 or any other clause, further comprising an image processing substantially constant vertical down point adjuster.

[0128] 73. A crane operation lifting deviation system as described in clause 23 or any other clause, further comprising an image processing target point indication adjuster.

[0129] 74. A crane operating lift deviation system as described in paragraph 72 or any other clause, further comprising an adjuster with a distance factored to the work surface.

[0130] 75. A crane operating lift deviation system as described in paragraph 74 or any other clause, wherein the distance to work surface factored adjuster comprises an expected distance to work surface input.

[0131] 76. A crane operating lift deviation system as described in paragraph 74 or any other clause, wherein the distance to work surface factored adjuster comprises an actual distance to work surface input.

[0132] 77. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation, comprising: mounting an imaging sensor on a crane boom proximate a lifting point on the crane; providing power to the imaging sensor on the crane boom; maintaining a substantially constant vertical downward point aim for the imaging sensor; imaging a vertically downward point within a central view area of ​​the imaging sensor; remotely providing data generated from the imaging sensor at a remote location; remotely displaying information from the data generated from the imaging sensor to an operator; receiving operator input for operating a crane during remote display of information from the data generated from the imaging sensor to the operator; A method comprising:

[0133] 78. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 77 or any other appendix, wherein the step of maintaining the vertical downward point aim substantially constant includes the step of utilizing a gimbal system.

[0134] 79. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 78 or any other appendix, wherein the step of maintaining the vertical downward point aim substantially constant further includes the step of damping movement of the gimbal system.

[0135] 80. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 77 or any other appendix, wherein the step of supplying power to the imaging sensor on the crane boom includes the step of supplying power from an existing power strip on the crane.

[0136] 81. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 77 or any other appendix, wherein the step of mounting an imaging sensor on a crane boom near a lifting point for the crane includes the step of mounting a quick release boom.

[0137] 82. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 81 or any other addendum, wherein the step of mounting a quick-release boom includes the step of providing a built-in temporary boom tip mount.

[0138] 83. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 81 or any other addendum, wherein the step of mounting the quick-release boom includes the step of utilizing an existing orifice mount on a universal crane.

[0139] 84. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 83 or any other appendix, wherein the step of utilizing an existing orifice mount of the universal crane includes the step of attachably securing a frustum-shaped element.

[0140] 85. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 83 or any other addendum, wherein the quick release boom mounting step further includes the steps of providing an alignment clamp, providing a mounting sleeve attached to the alignment clamp, and providing a safety catch.

[0141] 86. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 81 or any other addendum, further comprising the steps of providing an operator display temporary mount and providing an in-cab display attached to the operator display temporary mount.

[0142] 87. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 77 or any other appendix, wherein the step of remotely providing data generated from the imaging sensor at the remote location includes the step of wirelessly outputting the data, and further includes the step of wirelessly inputting the data into an in-cab display.

[0143] 88. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation, comprising: hoisting the load; sensing a load lift deflection as a result of the step of lifting the load; producing a deviation magnitude and deviation direction indication from the step of sensing the load lifting deviation as a result of the step of lifting the load; generating a combined visual indication of both the magnitude of the deviation and the direction of the deviation; displaying the combined visual indication of both the magnitude of the deviation and the deviation direction indication to an operator; receiving an operator input to operate a crane during the display of the combined visual indication of both the deviation magnitude and the deviation direction indication; A method comprising:

[0144] 89. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 88 or any other appendix, wherein the step of sensing the load lifting deviation as a result of the step of lifting the load includes the step of optically sensing the load lifting deviation.

[0145] 90. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 89 or any other appendix, wherein the step of optically sensing the load lifting deviation includes the step of comparing the load lifting point with a gravity vector.

[0146] 91. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 90 or any other appendix, wherein the step of comparing the load lifting point with the gravity vector includes the step of producing a load lifting point-gravity vector relative displacement indication.

[0147] 92. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 89 or any other clause, further comprising the step of enabling operator crane control that is independent of and unimpeded by lifting deviations of the crane.

[0148] 93. A method of facilitating operator reaction to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 92 or any other appendix, wherein the step of enabling operator crane control that is independent of and unimpeded by lifting deviations of the crane includes the step of providing operator real-time dynamic lifting deviation reaction control for the crane.

[0149] 94. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 93 or any other appendix, wherein the step of providing operator real-time dynamic lifting deviation reaction control for the crane includes a step of enabling operator deviation judgments influenced by the step of displaying the combined visual indication control of the crane.

[0150] 95. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 88 or any other appendix, wherein the step of sensing the load lifting deviation as a result of the step of lifting the load includes a step of comparing the lifting operation with a gravity vector.

[0151] 96. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 89 or any other appendix, wherein the step of optically sensing the load lifting deviation includes the step of directional constraint imaging.

[0152] 97. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 96 or any other clause, further comprising the step of adapting an offset with respect to the step of optically sensing the load lifting deviation.

[0153] 98. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 97 or any other appendix, wherein the step of adapting the offset with respect to the step of optically sensing the load lifting deviation includes the step of inputting installation offset data.

[0154] 99. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 89 or any other clause, further comprising the step of receiving operator input from a lifting deviation system human interface device regarding the crane operation.

[0155] 100. A method for facilitating operator response to lift deflection during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 99 or any other clause, wherein receiving operator input from a lift deflection system human interface device regarding the crane operation includes receiving operator input for boom height control.

[0156] 101. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 99 or any other clause, wherein receiving operator input from a lifting deviation system human interface device regarding the crane operation includes receiving operator input for boom offset control.

[0157] 102. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 99 or any other addendum, wherein the step of receiving operator input from a lifting deviation system human interface device regarding the crane operation includes the step of receiving operator zoom control regarding the step of displaying the combined visual indication.

[0158] 103. A method of facilitating operator response to lift deflection during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 99 or any other clause, wherein the step of receiving operator input from a lift deflection system human interface device regarding the crane operation includes the step of providing software reprogrammable deflection control.

[0159] 104. A method of facilitating operator response to lift deflection during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 99 or any other clause, wherein the step of receiving operator input from a lift deflection system human interface device regarding the crane operation includes the step of providing software selectable deflection control.

[0160] 105. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 99 or any other addendum, wherein the step of receiving operator input from a lifting deviation system human interface device regarding the crane operation includes the steps of receiving operator cursor movement control and receiving operator program selection control.

[0161] 106. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deflections during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 89 or any other clause, further comprising the step of mounting an optical deflection sensor on a crane boom near an adjacent lifting point for the crane.

[0162] 107. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deflections during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 88 or any other clause, further comprising the step of mounting an optical deflection sensor on a crane boom at a jib mount adjacent a lifting point for the crane.

[0163] 108. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviation during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 88 or any other appendix, wherein the step of displaying the combined visual indication of both the magnitude of the deviation and the deviation directional indication to the operator includes the step of displaying both the magnitude of the deviation and the deviation directional indication to the operator independently in two dimensions.

[0164] 109. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviation during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 108 or any other appendix, wherein the step of independently two-dimensionally displaying to the operator both the magnitude of the deviation and the deviation direction indication includes a step of indicating a target point for the operator, and the step of independently two-dimensionally displaying to the operator both the magnitude of the deviation and the deviation direction indication includes a step of indicating a location relative to the target point.

[0165] 110. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 108 or any other appendix, wherein the step of displaying both the magnitude of the deviation and the deviation direction indication to the operator in a single two-dimensional manner includes the step of showing the radial coordinate to the operator.

[0166] 111. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 110 or any other appendix, wherein the step of independently two-dimensionally displaying to the operator both the magnitude of the deviation and the deviation direction indication includes the step of indicating radial deflection to the operator.

[0167] 112. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 108 or any other appendix, wherein the step of displaying both the magnitude of the deviation and the deviation direction indication to the operator in a single two-dimensional manner includes the step of showing Cartesian coordinates to the operator.

[0168] 113. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 108 or any other appendix, wherein the step of independently two-dimensionally displaying to the operator both the magnitude of the deviation and the deviation direction indication includes the step of providing the operator with a movable line of sight.

[0169] 114. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 113 or any other appendix, wherein the step of providing the operator with a movable line of sight includes the step of providing the operator with a movable operator-selected load image-related line of sight.

[0170] 115. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 108 or any other appendix, wherein the step of independently two-dimensionally displaying to the operator both the magnitude of the deviation and the deviation direction indication includes the step of providing the operator with a load center of gravity line of sight.

[0171] 116. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 115 or any other appendix, wherein the step of providing the operator with a load center of gravity line of sight includes the step of providing the operator with an estimated load center of gravity line of sight.

[0172] 117. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 115 or any other appendix, wherein the step of providing the operator with a load center of gravity line of sight includes the step of providing the operator with an actual load center of gravity line of sight.

[0173] 118. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 117 or any other appendix, wherein the step of providing the operator with an actual load center of gravity line of sight includes the step of providing the operator with an actual load center of gravity line of sight determined in a static suspension state.

[0174] 119. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 108 or any other appendix, wherein the step of independently two-dimensionally displaying to the operator both the magnitude of the deviation and the deviation direction indication includes the step of showing the calculated numerical boom tip vertical-to-line of sight distance to the operator.

[0175] 120. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 108 or any other appendix, wherein the step of independently two-dimensionally displaying to the operator both the magnitude of the deviation and the deviation direction indication includes the step of showing to the operator a calculated numerical boom tip vertical-load center of gravity line of sight distance.

[0176] 121. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 108 or any other appendix, wherein the step of independently displaying to the operator both the magnitude of the deviation and the deviation direction indication in two dimensions includes the step of providing the operator with a system-determined line of sight.

[0177] 122. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 121 or any other appendix, wherein the step of providing the operator with a system-determined line of sight includes the step of providing the operator with an actual load center of gravity line of sight determined in a static suspension state.

[0178] 123. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 108 or any other clause, wherein the step of displaying the combined visual indication further includes the step of displaying at least one numerical lifting data indication to the operator.

[0179] 124. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in clause 123 or any other addendum, wherein the step of displaying at least one numerical lifting data indication to the operator includes the step of displaying at least one numerical lifting data indication to the operator selected from the steps of displaying a numerical load lifting deviation sensor offset indication to the operator, displaying a numerical distance to work surface indication to the operator, displaying a numerical boom extension indication to the operator, and displaying a numerical distance to work surface offset indication to the operator.

[0180] 125. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 109 or any other appendix, wherein the step of indicating a target point for the operator includes the step of indicating a boom tip vertical indication to the operator.

[0181] 126. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 109 or any other appendix, wherein the step of indicating a target point for the operator includes a step of indicating a target point for the operator selected from the steps of indicating an automatically created target point to the operator, indicating an operator-set target point to the operator, indicating a boom tip vertical target point to the operator, and indicating a system-determined target point to the operator.

[0182] 127. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 89 or any other clause, further comprising utilizing boom tip inertial data for the crane.

[0183] 128. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 127 or any other appendix, wherein the step of utilizing boom tip inertial data for the crane includes the step of applying the boom tip inertial data to correct the step of maintaining a substantially constant vertical down point aim for the crane.

[0184] 129. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 127 or any other addendum, wherein the step of utilizing boom tip inertial data for the crane includes the step of inputting boom tip movement data.

[0185] 130. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deflection during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 127 or any other appendix, wherein the step of utilizing boom tip inertial data for the crane includes the step of inputting optical-based load lifting deflection sensor movement data.

[0186] 131. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 127 or any other addendum, including the step of inputting image adjustment data, wherein the step of utilizing boom tip inertial data for the crane is selected from the steps of inputting image crop data and inputting image line of sight adjustment data.

[0187] 132. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 127 or any other addendum, wherein the step of utilizing boom tip inertial data for the crane includes the step of enabling operator-overridable automatic drift correction.

[0188] 133. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 89 or any other clause, further comprising the step of enabling operator-overridable automatic drift correction.

[0189] 134. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 96 or any other clause, further comprising the step of maintaining a substantially constant vertical downward point aim.

[0190] 135. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 134 or any other appendix, wherein the step of maintaining the vertical downward point aim substantially constant includes a step of gimbaling as part of performing the step of maintaining the vertical downward point aim substantially constant.

[0191] 136. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 135 or any other appendix, wherein the step of maintaining the vertical downward point aim substantially constant includes a step of damping movement of the gimbal system.

[0192] 137. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 136 or any other addendum, including the step of damping movement of the gimbal system selected from mostly exponentially damped damping, damping that results in vibrations that are less than about 10 percent of the initial vibration after about three vibrations, damping that results in vibrations that are less than about 10 percent of the initial vibration after about three seconds, damping with an approximately exponential damping coefficient of at least about 0.25, damping with an approximately exponential damping coefficient of at least about 0.3, damping with an approximately exponential damping coefficient of at least about 0.4, and damping with an approximately exponential damping coefficient of at least about 0.5.

[0193] 138. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 23 or any other appendix, further comprising a step of image processing to achieve a step of maintaining a substantially constant vertical downward point aim.

[0194] 139. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 23 or any other appendix, further comprising the step of image processing with respect to the target point.

[0195] 140. A method of facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 138 or any other clause, further comprising the step of utilizing distance to a work surface.

[0196] 141. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 140 or any other appendix, wherein the step of utilizing the distance to the work surface includes the step of inputting an expected distance to the work surface.

[0197] 142. A method for facilitating operator response to lifting deviations during a load lifting operation as described in paragraph 140 or any other appendix, wherein the step of utilizing the distance to the work surface includes the step of inputting the actual distance to the work surface.

[0198] As can be understood from the foregoing, the basic concepts of various embodiments of the present invention can be embodied in a variety of ways. These involve both optimizing and minimizing or eliminating load drift and misalignment in load lifting operations, as well as devices for performing appropriate optimization or minimization of load drift and misalignment in load lifting operations. In this application, optimized or minimized load drift and misalignment load lifting techniques are disclosed as part of the results shown to be achieved by the various devices described, and as steps inherent in their use. They are simply a natural result of utilizing the devices as intended and described. Additionally, while several devices are disclosed, it should be understood that these not only perform certain methods but can also be varied in several ways.

[0199] Importantly, with regard to all of the foregoing, all of these aspects should be understood to be encompassed by the present disclosure. The discussion contained in this patent or application is intended to serve as a basic description. The reader should recognize that the specific discussion may not explicitly describe all possible embodiments, and many alternatives are implicit. It may also not fully describe the general nature of various embodiments of the invention, and may not explicitly indicate how each feature or element may actually represent a broader function or a wide variety of alternative or equivalent elements. As an example, terms of degree, approximation, and / or relative terms may be used. These may include terms such as the words "substantially," "about," "only," and the like. These words and word types are to be understood in their dictionary sense as terms encompassing a sufficient or substantial amount, quantity, size, etc., and terms encompassing most, but not all, of what is specified. Furthermore, when or where used in the context of this application, terms of degree, approximation, and / or relative terms should also be understood to encompass more precise and even quantitative values, including various levels of precision, and the possibility of claims addressing several quantitative options and alternatives. For example, to the extent ultimately used, the presence or absence of a substance or condition at a particular input, output, or particular stage can be defined as being substantially only x, or reduced to a value of about x, or other such similar language. As an example, when percentage values ​​are used, these types of terms should be understood to encompass percentage value options, including 99.5%, 99%, 97%, 95%, 92%, or even 90% of the specified value or relative condition (such as, potentially, the perfect load-matched distance from the initial unloaded location). For example, using percentage values ​​as an example, it should be understood that with respect to a load optimization system, embodiments of the present invention may encompass percentage value options including 99.5%, 99%, 97%, 95%, 92%, or even 90% of the perfect load position relative to the target.In context, these would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Where this application is described in device-oriented terminology, each element of the device implicitly performs a function. Not only may apparatus claims be included for the described device, but method or process claims may also be included to address the functionality of the embodiments and what each element performs. Neither the description nor the terminology is intended to limit the scope of the claims that may be included in any subsequent patent application.

[0200] It should also be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the nature of the various embodiments of the present invention. Such modifications are also implicitly included in the description and still fall within the scope of the various embodiments of the present invention. The broad disclosure, embracing the explicit embodiments shown, the wide variety of implicit alternative embodiments, and the broad range of methods or processes and equivalents, is encompassed by this disclosure and may be relied upon when drafting claims for any subsequent patent application. It should be understood that such language changes and broader or more detailed claims may be pursued at a later date (such as by any required deadline) or if the applicant subsequently seeks a patent application based on this application. With this understanding, the reader should appreciate that the present disclosure is intended to support any subsequently filed patent application that may seek examination of as broad a claim basis as is deemed within the applicant's rights and that may be designed to result in a patent that covers multiple aspects of the embodiments of the present invention, both independently and as an overall system.

[0201] Furthermore, each of the various elements of the embodiments of the invention and claims may also be achieved in various ways. In addition, when used or implied, elements are to be understood as encompassing individual as well as multiple structures that may or may not be physically connected. The present disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, whether it be a variation of any apparatus, method, or process embodiment, or even simply a variation of any of these elements. In particular, as the present disclosure relates to elements of various embodiments of the invention, it should be understood that the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus or method terms, even if only the function or result is identical. Such equivalent, broader, or even more general terms should be considered encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms may be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage enjoyed by embodiments of the invention. By way of example only, it should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for performing that action or as an element that causes that action.

[0202] Similarly, each disclosed physical element should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action that the physical element facilitates. With respect to this last aspect, as just one example, a disclosure of a "sensor," whether explicitly discussed or not, should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the act of "sensing," and conversely, if a disclosure of the act of "sensing" is in fact present, such a disclosure should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the "sensor" and even "means for sensing." Such modifications and alternative terms are to be understood as being expressly included in the description. Furthermore, each such means (whether explicitly described as such or not) should be understood to encompass all elements that can perform a given function, and all descriptions of elements that perform a described function should be understood as non-limiting examples of means for performing that function. As another non-limiting example, it should be understood that claim elements can also be expressed as any of components that are configured, or configured and arranged, to achieve a particular result, use, object, situation, function, or operation, or as components that are capable of achieving a particular result, use, object, situation, function, or operation. All are to be understood within the scope of this disclosure and the written description.

[0203] Any act of law, statute, regulation, or rule referred to in this application with respect to a patent, patent, publication, or other reference referred to in this application with respect to a patent is incorporated herein by reference. Any priority cases claimed by this application are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. Additionally, for each term used, common dictionary definitions should be understood to be incorporated for each term, unless their use in this application is inconsistent with a broadly supporting interpretation, and all definitions, alternative terms, and synonyms, such as those contained in the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, Second Edition, are understood to be incorporated herein by reference. Finally, all references listed below or statements of other information filed in this application are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference; however, with respect to each of the above, to the extent that such information or statements incorporated by reference may be deemed inconsistent with the patenting of various embodiments of this invention, such statements shall not be deemed expressly made by the applicant. [Table 1] [Table 2] [Table 3]

[0204] Accordingly, Applicant hereby declares that at least: i) each of the systems and methods for minimizing load drift and misalignment in load lifting operations as disclosed and described herein; ii) related methods as disclosed and described; iii) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these devices and methods; iv) alternative designs thereof that perform each of the functions as disclosed and described and shown; v) alternative designs and methods thereof that perform each of the functions as disclosed and described and shown implicitly to perform; vi) each feature, component, and step shown as a separate and independent invention; vii) applications and crane systems improved by the various systems or components disclosed; and viii) any other inventions that may be used in connection with such processes. Claims should be understood to support and claim all of the following: (i) any resulting products produced by any process, method, system, or component; (ii) each system, method, and element shown or described herein as applied to any specific field or device mentioned; (iii) methods and apparatus substantially as described above and with reference to any of the accompanying examples; (xi) apparatus for carrying out the methods described herein, comprising means for performing the steps; (xii) various combinations and permutations of each of the disclosed elements; (xiii) each potentially dependent claim or concept as dependent on any of the presented independent claims or concepts; and (xiv) all inventive embodiments described herein.

[0205] Additionally, with regard to computer aspects and aspects adaptable to programming or other electronic automation, in characterizing these and all other aspects of various embodiments of the present invention, whether characterized as devices, capabilities, elements, or otherwise, all of these may be implemented via software, hardware, or even firmware structures, as settings for general-purpose computers, programmed chips or chipsets, ASICs, application-specific controllers, subroutines, or other known programmable or circuit-specific structures, and therefore all such aspects are defined by structures that include, at a minimum, hardware circuitry, firmware, programmed application-specific components, and even general-purpose computers that are programmed to perform the identified aspects, as will be clearly recognized by those skilled in the art. With respect to such items implemented by programmable features, Applicant claims at least: xv) a process performed with the aid of or on a computer, machine, or computing machine as described throughout the above discussion; xvi) a programmable apparatus as described throughout the above discussion; xvii) a computer readable memory encoded with data for instructing a computer, comprising means or elements that function as described throughout the above discussion; xviii) a computer, machine, or computing machine configured as disclosed and described herein; xix) individual or combined subroutines and programs as disclosed and described herein; xx) a carrier medium carrying computer readable code for controlling a computer to perform any individual and combined method separately as described herein or in any claim; xxi) a computer program for separately performing any individual and combined method disclosed; xxii) a computer program containing all and each combination of means for performing any individual and combined steps disclosed; xxiii) a storage medium storing each disclosed computer program; xxiv) a storage medium carrying a disclosed computer program;signals, xxv) processors executing instructions that act to accomplish the recited steps and activities, xxvi) circuitry (including transistor, gate, and equivalent configurations) that act in sequence and / or cause actions as recited, xxvii) computer-readable media that store instructions for performing the recited steps and causing activities, xxviii) related methods disclosed and described, xxix) similar, equivalent, and even implicit variations of each of these systems and methods, xxx) alternative designs thereof that perform each of the functions as disclosed and described, xxxi) alternative designs and methods thereof that perform each of the functions as implicitly shown to perform those disclosed and described, xxxii) each feature, component, and step shown as a separate and independent invention, and xxxiii) in addition, various combinations of each of the above and any aspects, all without limiting any other aspect, should be understood to support claims and describe the invention.

[0206] With respect to claims, whether presented for examination now or later, it should be understood that, for practical reasons and so as to avoid significantly expanding the examination burden, applicant may, at any time, present only the first claim, or only the first claim possibly accompanied by only the first dependent claim. The Office and any third party interested in the potential scope of this or any subsequent application should understand that, regardless of any preliminary amendment, other amendment, claim language, or arguments presented, broader claims may be presented later in this case, in any case claiming the benefit of this case, or in any continuing application, and thus there is no intention to abandon or abandon any potential subject matter throughout the pendency of any case. It should be understood that if or when broader claims are presented, this is possible to the extent that any amendments, claim language, or arguments presented in this or any subsequent application are deemed to be made to avoid such prior art, and that such may require that any relevant prior art that may have been considered at any time prior thereto may need to be revisited, as such grounds may be precluded by a later-presented claim or equivalent. Both examiners and any other individuals interested in existing or later potential coverage, or considering at any time any possibility of directing a waiver or assignment of potential coverage, should recognize that no such assignment or waiver is intended or will ever be present in this or any subsequent application. Limitations such as those set forth in Hakim v. Cannon Avent Group, PLC, 479 F.3d 1313 (Fed. Cir (2007)) or equivalents are expressly not intended in this or any subsequent related matter. Additionally, support, to the extent required under new matter law (including, but not limited to, Article 123(2) of the European Patent Convention and 35 U.S.C. 132 or other such law), should be understood to permit the addition of any of various dependent claims or other elements presented under one independent claim or concept as dependent claims or elements under any other independent claim or concept.It should be understood that when drafting any claim at any time, whether in this application or any subsequent application, it is the applicant's intention to obtain as complete and broad a coverage as is legally possible. Because applicant simply may not be able to anticipate every possible eventuality, to the extent that insufficient substitution has been made, to the extent applicant has not actually drafted any claim to literally encompass any particular embodiment, and to the extent otherwise applicable, applicant should not be understood to have in any way intended or actually assigned such coverage, and one of ordinary skill in the art should not be reasonably expected to have drafted a claim that would literally encompass such alternative embodiment.

[0207] Furthermore, where or when used, the use of the transitional phrase "comprising" is used to maintain the "open-ended" claims herein in accordance with conventional claim interpretation. Accordingly, unless the context requires otherwise, it should be understood that variations such as the terms "comprise" or "comprises" or "comprising" are intended to imply the inclusion of a recited element or step or group of elements or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element or step or group of elements or steps. Such terms should be interpreted in their broadest form so as to afford applicant the broadest coverage legally permitted. The use of the phrase "or any other claim" is used to provide support for any claim that depends on any other claim, such as another dependent claim, another independent claim, a previously enumerated claim, a subsequently enumerated claim, and equivalents. As one clarifying example, if a claim depends on "claim 20 or any other claim" or equivalent, it could be rephrased as depending on claim 1, claim 15, or even claim 25, if desired (if such exist), and still fall within the present disclosure. It should be understood that this phrase also provides support for any combination of elements in the claims, and further incorporates any desired appropriate antecedent for a combination of claims, such as with combinations of method, apparatus, process, and equivalent claims.

[0208] Finally, any claim set forth at any time is incorporated herein by reference as part of this description of various embodiments of the application, and Applicant expressly reserves the right to use all or a portion of the incorporated content of such claim as additional description in support of any or all of the claim or any element or component thereof, and Applicant further expressly reserves the right, as appropriate, to move any portion or all of the incorporated content of such claim or any element or component thereof from the description to the claim (or vice versa), to define the matter sought to be protected by this application or by any subsequent continuation, divisional, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or to obtain any benefit of, or comply with, any fee reductions thereunder, of the patent laws, rules, or regulations of any country or treaty, and such incorporated-by-reference content shall survive the entire pendency of this application, including any subsequent continuation, divisional, or continuation-in-part application thereof, or any reissue or extension thereof.

Claims

1. 1. A crane operation lift deflection system capable of facilitating operator lift deflection response during a load lift operation, comprising: Boom mount and a camera-based load lift deflection sensor located on the boom mount; a power source to which the camera-based load lift deflection sensor is responsive; and a substantially constant vertical down point system to which the camera-based load lift deflection sensor is responsive; a remote data output configured to provide data from the camera-based load lift deflection sensor at a remote location; and a remote operator display configured to display information from the camera-based load lift deflection sensor; and a combined deflection magnitude and deflection direction visual indicator configured for operator viewing on the remote operator display during load lifting operations of the crane; A crane operating lifting deviation system comprising:

2. The crane operating lift deflection system of claim 1 , wherein the substantially constant vertical down point system comprises a gimbal system.

3. The crane operating lift deflection system of claim 2 , wherein the substantially constant vertical down point system further comprises a shock absorber.

4. 4. The crane operating lift deviation system of claim 3, wherein the boom mount comprises a built-in temporary quick release boom tip mount.

5. 10. The crane operating lift deviation system of claim 1, wherein the boom mount comprises an attachably securable frusto-conical element.

6. the quick release boom mount further comprises: a matching clamp; a quick-detach unit enclosure housing at least the camera and the substantially constant vertical down point system and having a mounting sleeve; a sleeve-engageable safety catch responsive to said alignment clamp; an attachment locking element configured to secure the mounting sleeve to the safety catch; 6. The crane operation lift deviation system of claim 5, comprising:

7. 5. The crane operation lift deviation system of claim 4, further comprising an operator display temporary mount; and an in-cab display attached to the operator display temporary mount.

8. 8. The crane operation lift deviation system of claim 7, wherein the remote data output comprises a wireless data output, and the crane operation lift deviation system further comprises an in-cab display wireless data input.

9. The crane operation lifting deviation system of claim 1 further comprising a crane to which the crane operation lifting deviation system is attached.

10. 1. A crane operation lift deflection system capable of facilitating operator lift deflection response during a load lift operation, comprising: a camera having a central view area; Boom mount and a power source to which the camera is responsive; a remote data output configured to provide data from the camera at a remote location; a substantially constant vertical down point system to which the camera central view area is responsive; a remote operator display configured to display information from the camera; and A crane operating lifting deviation system comprising:

11. The crane operating lift deflection system of claim 10 , wherein the substantially constant vertical down point system comprises a gimbal system.

12. The crane operating lift deflection system of claim 11 , wherein the substantially constant vertical down point system further comprises a shock absorber.

13. The crane operating lift deviation system of claim 10 , wherein the boom mount comprises a quick release boom mount.

14. 14. The crane operating lift deviation system of claim 13, wherein the quick release boom mount comprises a built-in temporary boom tip mount.

15. The crane operation lifting deviation system of claim 10 further comprising a crane to which the crane operation lifting deviation system is mounted.

16. 1. A crane operation lift deflection system capable of facilitating operator lift deflection response during a load lift operation, comprising: a load lifting deviation sensor; a combined deflection magnitude and deflection direction visual indicator configured for operator viewing during load lifting operations of the crane; A crane operating lifting deviation system comprising:

17. 17. The crane operation lift deflection system of claim 16, wherein the load lift deflection sensor comprises an optical-based load lift deflection sensor.

18. 20. The crane operation lift deflection system of claim 17, wherein the optical based load lift deflection sensor comprises a load lift point-gravity vector comparator.

19. 20. The crane operation lifting deviation system of claim 18, wherein the load lifting point-gravity vector comparator comprises a load lifting point-gravity vector projected relative displacement indicator.

20. 20. The crane operation lift deflection system of claim 17, further comprising an operator crane control device that is independent of and not hindered by the lift deflection.

21. 20. The crane operation lift deflection system of claim 17, wherein the optical-based load lift deflection sensor comprises a directionally constrained camera.

22. 22. The crane operation lift deviation system of claim 21, further comprising a camera offset adaptation element.

23. 23. The crane operation lift deviation system of claim 22, wherein the camera offset adaptation element comprises a camera placement offset data input.

24. 17. The crane operation lift deviation system of claim 16, wherein the combined deviation magnitude and deviation direction visual indicator comprises a single two dimensional display visual indicator, the single two dimensional display visual indicator having both a deviation magnitude indication and a deviation direction indication in the single two dimensional display.

25. 25. The crane operation lift deviation system of claim 24, wherein the single two-dimensional display visual indicator comprises a target point indication, and an indication of the deviation magnitude and the deviation.

26. 25. The crane operation lift deviation system of claim 24, wherein the single two-dimensional display visual indicator comprises a movable line of sight.

27. 25. The crane operation lift deviation system of claim 24, wherein the target point indication comprises a target point indication selected from an automatically generated target point indication, an operator set target point indication, a boom tip vertical target point indication, and a system determined target point indication.

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