Hitch Attachment Identification Using Portable NFC Signals

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems require communication modules on every attachment for automatic process execution, which is costly and may lead to incomplete functionality when modules are absent, causing inconvenience in attachment usage.

Innovation Solution

An attachment usage system with a portable device transmitting wireless signals containing attachment information, a working vehicle receiver, and a vehicle controller that selects and performs processes based on received signals, allowing for attachment identification and control without dedicated communication modules on each attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If communication modules are installed on all attachments for automatic process execution, then the system reliability and automation level improve, but the cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The portable device serves multiple functions: it stores attachment information, transmits identification signals, and works with multiple different attachments without requiring dedicated communication modules on each attachment. This universal approach allows the system to achieve reliable automatic process execution while avoiding the high cost of equipping every attachment with its own communication module.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Extent of automation

If communication modules are installed on all attachments, then the extent of automation improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation levelVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication functionality is extracted from the attachments and centralized in the portable device. Instead of having communication modules distributed across multiple attachments, the system uses a single portable device that carries the attachment information and communicates with the working vehicle's receiver, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The portable device acts as an intermediary between the attachments and the working vehicle's control system. It stores attachment information and transmits identification signals to the receiver, enabling automatic process execution without requiring direct communication modules on each attachment, thus simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If communication modules are not installed on some attachments, then the cost decreases, but the loss of information occurs when attachments without modules are used

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidattachment information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Attachment information is preliminarily stored in the portable device before the attachment is used. The portable device contains a database or storage area with attachment information that can be retrieved and transmitted to the working vehicle, ensuring that no information is lost even when attachments without communication modules are used.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring the original attachment to have a communication module, the system uses a copy of the attachment information stored in the portable device. The portable device holds duplicate attachment data that can be transmitted to identify and control attachments, eliminating the need for information to be physically present in the attachment itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

4Device complexity

If communication modules are not installed on all attachments, then the device complexity decreases, but the responsiveness of the predetermined process deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidresponsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The portable device continuously holds attachment information ready for transmission. When an attachment is mounted on the working vehicle, the receiver can immediately retrieve the attachment identification signal from the portable device without delay, maintaining rapid responsiveness while avoiding the complexity of distributed communication modules across all attachments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS20260009207A1Attachment usage system

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 KUBOTA CORP

AI summary

An attachment is operable to have therein or thereon a transmitter to periodically transmit a first wireless signal which includes a piece of first attachment information relating to the attachment and which is compliant with a near field communication standard. A portable device is operable to transmit a second wireless signal which includes a piece of second attachment information relating to the attachment to be attached to a hitch of a working vehicle and which is compliant with the near field communication standard. A vehicle controller of the working vehicle is configured or programmed to perform a selecting process to select, according to a predetermined condition, a piece of attachment information included in one of one or more of the first and/or second wireless signals received by a receiver, and perform a predetermined process based on the piece of attachment information selected in the selecting process.