Shovel Operator Display Screen Switching Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Operators of shovels, particularly those with little experience, face difficulties in efficiently accessing and navigating the setting screens for construction support systems using information and communication technology, as current systems require manual interaction with hardware switches, which can be cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a user-friendly input device within the operator's compartment of the shovel, allowing for easy switching between screens, including the ICT setting screen, using a combination of buttons and directional controls, and assigning specific functions to these controls to streamline the process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual interaction with hardware switches is used to access setting screens, then the machine guidance system can be operated, but the operational complexity increases and efficiency decreases for operators with little experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of accessing setting screensVSAvoidoperational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual hardware switch interaction with an automated voice recognition system. The voice recognition device detects spoken commands from the operator and automatically navigates to the desired setting screens, eliminating the need for manual switching operations and reducing operational complexity while improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If multiple screens need to be switched to access ICT setting screen, then comprehensive settings can be accessed, but the time required increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to comprehensive settingsVSAvoidtime to access setting screen

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The voice recognition system is pre-programmed with knowledge of the navigation path to ICT setting screens. When the operator speaks the desired destination, the system has already prepared the navigation sequence, allowing it to quickly switch through necessary screens without requiring the operator to manually navigate each step, thus reducing time loss while maintaining access to comprehensive settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The voice recognition device acts as an intermediary between the operator and the multi-screen system. It translates the operator's single voice command into a sequence of screen switching actions, mediating the interaction and eliminating the need for the operator to perform multiple manual switching operations, thereby reducing time consumption while preserving access to all necessary settings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11519158B2Shovel

Publication Date: 2022.12.06 SUMITOMO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY

AI summary

A shovel according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lower traveling body, an upper turning body rotatably mounted on the lower traveling body, an operator's compartment provided to the upper turning body, a display device provided in the operator's compartment, and an input device provided in the operator's compartment. The display device is capable of displaying a setting screen for a construction support system using information and communication technology, and a function to switch a screen displayed on the display device to the setting screen is assigned to the input device.