US 12,134,880 B2
Position detection device and method for detecting the position of a bucket of an excavator
Kasper Hartvig Andersen, Vester Skerninge (DK)
Assigned to Unicontrol ApS, Odense M (DK)
Filed by Unicontrol ApS, Odense M (DK)
Filed on Feb. 9, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/667,740.
Application 17/667,740 is a continuation of application No. PCT/DK2020/050231, filed on Aug. 11, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. PA 2019 00955 (DK), filed on Aug. 13, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0267999 A1, Aug. 25, 2022
Int. Cl. E02F 9/26 (2006.01); E02F 3/32 (2006.01); E02F 3/38 (2006.01)
CPC E02F 9/264 (2013.01) [E02F 3/325 (2013.01); E02F 3/384 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A position detection device for detecting the position of a bucket of an excavator that has a cab and an arm comprising a boom rotatably attached to the cab by a mounting structure that is rotatably attached to the cab by a shaft having a longitudinal axis extending vertically relative to ground, the position detection device comprising:
one or more 3-D positioning devices arranged and configured to receive satellite signals from one or more satellites;
a sensor assembly that measures a quantity related to rotation of the boom about the longitudinal axis of the shaft and determines an angular position of the boom with respect to rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shaft on the basis of the measured quantity, wherein the quantity is a distance between the cab and the mounting structure; and
a control unit that calibrates the sensor assembly.
 
9. A method for determining a position of a bucket of an excavator that has a cab and an arm comprising a boom rotatably attached to the cab by a mounting structure that is rotatably attached to the cab by a shaft having a longitudinal axis extending vertically relative to ground, the method comprising:
calibrating a sensor assembly by measuring an angular position of the boom with respect to rotation about the longitudinal axis of the shaft using a predefined protocol, wherein the angular position is determined by measuring a quantity related to rotation of the boom about the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the quantity is a distance between the cab and the mounting structure; and
detecting output from the sensor assembly for a plurality of configurations of the excavator corresponding to different angular positions.