US 11,833,985 B1
Vehicle drive and control system
Alyn G. Brown, Indianapolis, IN (US); K. Mike McCoy, Avon, IN (US); Gregory Barton Moebs, Avon, IN (US); Gregory E. Arends, Fishers, IN (US); Damon J. Hoyda, McCordsville, IN (US); Jesse L. Probst, Strasburg, IL (US); Joseph Hamilton, Ashburn, VA (US); and John Tyler Hibbard, Indianapolis, IN (US)
Assigned to Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership, Sullivan, IL (US)
Filed by Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership, Sullivan, IL (US)
Filed on Aug. 26, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/822,635.
Application 17/822,635 is a continuation of application No. 17/176,060, filed on Feb. 15, 2021, granted, now 11,427,203.
Application 17/176,060 is a continuation of application No. 16/445,089, filed on Jun. 18, 2019, granted, now 10,926,768, issued on Feb. 23, 2021.
Application 16/445,089 is a continuation of application No. 16/445,109, filed on Jun. 18, 2019, granted, now 10,919,463, issued on Feb. 26, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/686,519, filed on Jun. 18, 2018.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B60R 16/023 (2006.01); A01D 69/02 (2006.01); A01D 34/82 (2006.01); B62D 11/04 (2006.01); A01D 69/03 (2006.01); B60K 1/02 (2006.01); B60R 21/13 (2006.01); B60W 10/06 (2006.01); B60W 10/08 (2006.01); B60W 20/50 (2016.01); B60W 30/08 (2012.01); B60W 30/18 (2012.01); B60W 50/14 (2020.01); H04L 12/40 (2006.01); A01D 34/66 (2006.01); B60N 2/00 (2006.01); B60T 17/22 (2006.01); B62D 1/12 (2006.01); B60R 21/0136 (2006.01); B60R 21/0132 (2006.01); B60Q 9/00 (2006.01); B60K 28/14 (2006.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.01); B60L 15/20 (2006.01); B60L 1/00 (2006.01); A01D 101/00 (2006.01); H04W 4/80 (2018.01)
CPC B60R 16/0231 (2013.01) [A01D 34/824 (2013.01); A01D 69/02 (2013.01); A01D 69/03 (2013.01); B60K 1/02 (2013.01); B60R 21/13 (2013.01); B60W 10/06 (2013.01); B60W 10/08 (2013.01); B60W 20/50 (2013.01); B60W 30/08 (2013.01); B60W 30/1819 (2013.01); B60W 50/14 (2013.01); B62D 11/04 (2013.01); H04L 12/40013 (2013.01); A01D 34/66 (2013.01); A01D 2101/00 (2013.01); B60K 28/14 (2013.01); B60L 1/003 (2013.01); B60L 15/20 (2013.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.02); B60N 2/002 (2013.01); B60Q 9/00 (2013.01); B60R 21/0132 (2013.01); B60R 21/0136 (2013.01); B60R 21/131 (2013.01); B60R 2021/01327 (2013.01); B60T 17/22 (2013.01); B60W 2050/143 (2013.01); B60W 2050/146 (2013.01); B60W 2300/156 (2013.01); B60W 2420/50 (2013.01); B60W 2420/905 (2013.01); B60W 2520/105 (2013.01); B60W 2720/406 (2013.01); B62D 1/12 (2013.01); H04W 4/80 (2018.02)] 26 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A utility vehicle, comprising:
a CAN-Bus operable to communicate signals to and from one or more vehicle components;
a plurality of controllers coupled to the CAN-Bus, each of the plurality of controllers comprising a respective microprocessor and a respective memory;
a first traction wheel and a second traction wheel disposed on opposing sides;
a first hydrostatic transaxle comprising a first output axle connected to the first traction wheel;
a second hydrostatic transaxle comprising a second output axle connected to the second traction wheel;
a first electric actuator coupled to the first hydrostatic transaxle for controlling a first output speed and a first direction-of-rotation of the first output axle;
a second electric actuator coupled to the second hydrostatic transaxle for controlling a second output speed and a second direction-of-rotation of the second output axle;
a first steering-and-drive input device and a second steering-and-drive input device for receiving user input regarding a desired speed and a direction of motion;
a first steering-and-drive user-input sensor connected to the first steering-and-drive input device for detecting a first position and a first movement of the first steering-and-drive input device and operable to post, on the CAN-Bus, a first steering-and-drive input signal corresponding to the first position and the first movement of the first steering-and-drive input device; and
a second steering-and-drive user-input sensor connected to the second steering-and-drive input device for detecting a second position and a second movement of the second steering-and-drive input device and operable to post, on the CAN-Bus, a second steering-and-drive input signal corresponding to the second position and the second movement of the second steering-and-drive input device;
wherein the plurality of controllers are configured to collectively:
receive the first steering-and-drive input signal and the second steering-and-drive input signal on the CAN-Bus,
generate a first drive signal based on the first steering-and-drive input signal to drive the first electric actuator and a second drive signal based on the second steering-and-drive input signal to drive the second electric actuator to obtain the desired speed and direction of motion of the utility vehicle.