Patent Description:
Construction sites where construction works are carried out using construction machines are increasingly requiring precision work in addition to basic work such as conventional loading, excavation, etc. The precision work may mean work that requires precision within an error range of <NUM> to <NUM> based on the design drawing of the construction site.

In addition, skilled workers with long experience in the construction sites are gradually aging, and research is being conducted to make it easier for unskilled workers to perform work which requires precision.

In accordance with such a trend, construction machine is equipped with a new system or program that can assist unskilled persons, which is called machine guidance (MG), machine control (MC), etc. Various attachments (e.g., a tilt rotator) capable of improving precision are being applied to the construction machine.

There is a variety of important information on precision work, and one of pieces of information on the excavator may be horizontal alignment information between a target surface of a design drawing and a bucket surface. In addition, a machine guidance program provides a guidance to an excavator operator by displaying, on a display device of the construction machine, information on whether the target surface of a design drawing and the bucket surface are horizontally aligned or not. For example, <CIT> proposes a facing compass which is a guidance mark for aligning the line of the blade tip LBT of the bucket and a target surface Fm of a target excavation landform. The <CIT> proposes that the degree of the inclination and the inclination distance are represented in text.

However, these conventional technologies have a problem that they cannot clearly show what the operator should do for the alignment due to the lack of visibility for the operator.

<CIT>discloses a shovel including a lower traveling body, an upper turning body turnably mounted on the lower traveling body, an attachment attached to the upper turning body, and a display device provided in a cab mounted on the upper turning body. The display device is configured to display a first image and a second image. The first image includes a first graphic representing the position of a preset target work surface and a second graphic vertically arranged relative to the first graphic. The second graphic represents a change in the size of the distance between a working part of the attachment and the target work surface by changing an indicator position. The second image represents the change in the size of the distance by changing a display format in the same part. The first graphic is displayed at the same height as the second image.

<CIT> discloses a shovel having a machine guidance function or a machine control function including a lower traveling body, an upper turning body turnably mounted on the lower traveling body, a cabin mounted on the upper turning body, an excavation attachment attached to the upper turning body, a display device provided in the cabin, and a machine guidance device configured to guide or automatically assist an operation of the shovel according to a preset target value. The machine guidance device is configured to display a provisional angle on the display device using the coordinates of the end position of a bucket at two points of time, and to set a target slope angle based on the two coordinates of the end position.

The present disclosure is intended to provide a display method for intuitively presenting information on the horizontal alignment between a bucket surface of an excavator and a target surface, when performing, by using a machine guidance program in the excavator, work such as a leveling work that requires precision work.

The technical problem to be overcome in the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems. Other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood from those described below by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

One embodiment is a machine guidance apparatus or a machine guidance program which assists an operator of an excavator including a bucket to operate. The machine guidance apparatus or the machine guidance program is configured to display a guidance screen on a display device. The guidance screen includes: a front view which includes a first icon indicating a front shape of the bucket and a first line indicating a target surface of a design drawing, and visually indicates a degree of alignment between an end section of the bucket and the target surface; a first guide indicator which guides in which tilting direction the operator should operate; a side view which includes a second icon indicating a side shape including a back face of the bucket and a second line indicating a side target surface of the design drawing, and visually indicates a degree of alignment between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface; and a second guide indicator which guides whether the operator should operate in a dump direction or in a crowd direction.

Another embodiment is an excavator including: a sensor device including an angle sensor of a pivot portion which connects a bucket and an upper body; a storage device in which a machine guidance program assisting an operator of the excavator when the operator controls a position of the bucket has been recorded; a display device; and a processor which executes the machine guidance program and displays a guidance screen on the display device.

The guidance screen includes: a front view which includes a first icon indicating a front shape of the bucket and a first line indicating a target surface of a design drawing, and visually indicates a degree of alignment between an end section of the bucket and the target surface; a first guide indicator which guides in which tilting direction the operator should operate; a side view which includes a second icon indicating a side shape including a back face of the bucket and a second line indicating a side target surface of the design drawing, and visually indicates a degree of alignment between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface; and a second guide indicator which guides whether the operator should operate in a dump direction or in a crowd direction.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, when performing, by using a machine guidance program in a construction machine, work such as a leveling work that requires precision work, information on the horizontal alignment between a bucket surface of an excavator and a target surface is intuitively presented, so that the work efficiency of the construction machine can be increased.

In addition, the information on the horizontal alignment between the bucket surface of the excavator and the target surface is intuitively presented to the operator, so that even an unskilled operator can easily align the target surface and the bucket surface.

Advantageous effects that can be obtained from the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned effects. Further, other unmentioned effects can be clearly understood from the following descriptions by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure belongs.

The features, advantages and method for accomplishment of the present invention will be more apparent from referring to the following detailed embodiments described as well as the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment to be disclosed below and is implemented in different and various forms. The embodiments bring about the complete disclosure of the present invention and are provided to make those skilled in the art fully understand the scope of the present invention. The present invention is just defined by the scope of the appended claims. The same reference numerals throughout the disclosure correspond to the same elements.

What one component is referred to as being "connected to" or "coupled to" another component includes both a case where one component is directly connected or coupled to another component and a case where a further another component is interposed between them. Meanwhile, what one component is referred to as being "directly connected to" or "directly coupled to" another component indicates that a further another component is not interposed between them. The term "and/or" includes each of the mentioned items and one or more all of combinations thereof.

Terms used in the present specification are provided for description of only specific embodiments of the present invention, and not intended to be limiting. In the present specification, an expression of a singular form includes the expression of plural form thereof if not specifically stated. The terms "comprises" and/or "comprising" used in the specification is intended to specify characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or any combination thereof which are mentioned in the specification, and intended not to exclude the existence or addition of at least one another characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or any combination thereof.

While terms such as the first and the second, etc., can be used to describe various components, the components are not limited by the terms mentioned above. The terms are used only for distinguishing between one component and other components.

Therefore, the first component to be described below may be the second component within the scope of the present invention. Unless differently defined, all terms used herein including technical and scientific terms have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Also, commonly used terms defined in the dictionary should not be ideally or excessively construed as long as the terms are not clearly and specifically defined in the present application.

A term "part" or "module" used in the embodiments may mean software components or hardware components such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The "part" or "module" performs certain functions. However, the "part" or "module" is not meant to be limited to software or hardware. The "part" or "module" may be configured to be placed in an addressable storage medium or to restore one or more processors. Thus, for one example, the "part" or "module" may include components such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components, and task components, and may include processes, functions, attributes, procedures, subroutines, segments of a program code, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuits, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, and variables. Components and functions provided in the "part" or "module" may be combined with a smaller number of components and "parts" or "modules" or may be further divided into additional components and "parts" or "modules".

Methods or algorithm steps described relative to some embodiments of the present invention may be directly implemented by hardware and software modules that are executed by a processor or may be directly implemented by a combination thereof. The software module may be resident on a RAM, a flash memory, a ROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a resistor, a hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other type of record medium known to those skilled in the art. An exemplary record medium is coupled to a processor and the processor can read information from the record medium and can record the information in a storage medium. In another way, the record medium may be integrally formed with the processor. The processor and the record medium may be resident within an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

<FIG> is a view showing an autonomous working system <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the autonomous working system <NUM> according to various embodiments may include a control center <NUM> and at least one construction machine (or autonomous working construction machine) <NUM> to <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the construction machines <NUM> to <NUM> refer to machines that perform work at civil engineering sites or construction sites, and may include, as shown in <FIG>, a mixer truck <NUM>, a dump truck <NUM>, a dozer <NUM>, and an excavator <NUM>. However, this is only illustrative, and the construction machine may include various machines such as a drilling machine, a crane, a wheel loader, a scraper, and the like.

According to the embodiment, an operator may perform work with the construction machines <NUM> to <NUM> in accordance with work instructions received from the control center <NUM>. According to another embodiment, the construction machines <NUM> to <NUM> may autonomously perform work without the operator. The work instruction may include information related to a work area in which the construction machine has to perform the work, the work to be performed in the work area, and the like. For example, in accordance with the work instruction, the construction machines <NUM> to <NUM> may move to the work area without a user's operation or based on the user's operation and perform work.

The construction machines <NUM> to <NUM> may be provided with various sensors. Based on information obtained by the sensors, the construction machines <NUM> to <NUM> may sense the state of the construction machine and/or the surrounding environment of the construction machine, and may consider a result of the sensing in performing the work.

In addition, the construction machines <NUM> to <NUM> may be equipped with an instrument panel that can display information on the construction machines <NUM> to <NUM> or set control of the construction machines <NUM> to <NUM>. According to the embodiment, since the instrument panel includes a touch sensor capable of receiving a user's touch input, it is possible to obtain information on which image in the instrument panel the user touches and executes. The construction machines <NUM> to <NUM> may collect the instrument panel touch information of the user and transmit it to the control center <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the control center <NUM> may manage the at least one construction machine <NUM> to <NUM> which is input to the work site. According to the embodiment, the control center <NUM> may give work instructions to the at least one construction machine <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the control center <NUM> may generate a work instruction defining a work area and a work to be performed in the work area, and may transmit them to the at least one construction machine <NUM> to <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view for describing the excavator according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a view for describing a sensor provided in the excavator. In the following description, the excavator is described as an example of a construction machine, and the present disclosure is not limited to the excavator.

Referring to <FIG>, the excavator <NUM> includes a moving lower body <NUM>, an upper body <NUM> which is mounted on the lower body <NUM> and rotates <NUM> degrees, and a front work part <NUM> coupled to the front of the upper body <NUM>. However, this is only an example, and the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, in addition to the components of the excavator <NUM> described above, one or more other components (e.g., a plate coupled to the rear of the lower body <NUM>) may be added.

According to various embodiments, the upper body <NUM> may include an operation cab <NUM> in which an operator boards and operates and may include an internal space (not shown) where a power generator (e.g., an engine) can be mounted. The operation cab <NUM> may be provided on a portion close to the work area. The work area is a space in which the excavator <NUM> works. The work area is located in front of the excavator <NUM>. For example, the on-board operator may perform work under the obtained visual field, and the operation cab <NUM> may be, as shown in <FIG>, close to the work area and be located at a position biased to one side of the upper body <NUM>, in consideration of the position where the front work part <NUM> is mounted.

According to various embodiments, the front work part <NUM> may be mounted on the top surface of the upper body <NUM> and may perform work such as land excavation, transportation of a heavy object, etc. According to the embodiment, the front work part <NUM> may include a boom <NUM> rotatably coupled to the upper body <NUM>, a boom cylinder <NUM> which rotates the boom <NUM>, an arm <NUM> rotatably coupled to the front end of the boom <NUM>, an arm cylinder <NUM> which rotates the arm <NUM>, a bucket <NUM> rotatably coupled to the front end of the arm <NUM>, and a bucket cylinder <NUM> which rotates the bucket <NUM>. During the operation of the excavator <NUM>, one end of the boom <NUM>, one end of the arm <NUM>, and one end of the bucket <NUM> perform a rotational motion individually to maximize an area that the bucket <NUM> can reach. Since the aforementioned front work part <NUM> has been publicly known in many documents, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

According to various embodiments, the lower body <NUM> may be coupled to the bottom surface of the upper body <NUM>. The lower body <NUM> may include a carriage formed in a wheel type using wheels or in a crawler type using a caterpillar. The carriage may implement forward, backward, right, and left movements of the excavator <NUM> by using the power generated by the power generator as a driving force. According to the embodiment, the lower body <NUM> and the upper body <NUM> may be rotatably coupled by a center joint.

According to various embodiments, the excavator <NUM> may include a plurality of sensors for collecting information related to the state of the excavator and/or information related to the surrounding environment.

According to the embodiment, the plurality of sensors may include a first sensor for detecting the state of the excavator <NUM>. For example, the state of the excavator <NUM> may include the rotational state of the upper body <NUM> (or the lower body <NUM>). The first sensor may be disposed on the center joint and may detect the rotational state of the upper body <NUM>. Also, the state of the excavator <NUM> may include the rotational state of the front work part <NUM>. The first sensor may be disposed on the boom <NUM>, the arm <NUM>, and the bucket <NUM>, respectively, or may be disposed on the joints (e.g., a hinge connection portion) of the boom <NUM>, the arm <NUM>, and the bucket <NUM>, thereby at least detecting the rotational states of the boom <NUM>, the arm <NUM>, and the bucket <NUM>, respectively. The location of the above-described first sensor is an example, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The first sensor may be disposed at various locations capable of detecting the state of the excavator <NUM>.

According to the embodiment, the plurality of sensors may include a second sensor for detecting the work area in which the excavator <NUM> performs work. As described above, the work area is a space in which the excavator <NUM> works and may be located in front of the excavator <NUM>. The second sensor may be disposed on a portion of the upper body <NUM>, which is close to the work area, for example, on one side close to the front work part <NUM> on the top surface of the operation cab <NUM>, and may detect the work area. However, this is only an example, and the location of the second sensor is not limited thereto. For example, the second sensor may be additionally or selectively disposed on the front work part <NUM>, for example, on the arm <NUM> or the bucket <NUM> in order to detect the work area.

According to the embodiment, the plurality of sensors may include a third sensor for detecting obstacles around the excavator <NUM>. The third sensor may be disposed in the front, side and rear of the upper body <NUM> and may detect obstacles around the excavator <NUM>. The location of the above-described third sensor is an example, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The third sensor may be disposed at various locations capable of detecting obstacles around the excavator <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the various sensors described above may include an angle sensor, an inertial sensor, a rotation sensor, an electromagnetic wave sensor, a camera sensor, a radar, a lidar, an ultrasonic sensor, etc. For example, the first sensor may include at least one of the angle sensor, the inertial sensor, or the rotation sensor, and the second sensor and the third sensor may include at least one of the electromagnetic wave sensor, the camera sensor, the radar, the lidar, or the ultrasonic sensor. For example, as indicated by a reference numeral <NUM> of <FIG>, the camera sensor disposed on the top surface of the operation cab <NUM> and the arm <NUM> of the excavator <NUM> may be used as the second sensor. In addition, the lidar disposed on the front of the excavator <NUM> indicated by a reference numeral <NUM> of <FIG>, the ultrasonic sensor disposed on the side and rear of the excavator <NUM> indicated by a reference numeral <NUM> of <FIG>, or the camera sensor disposed on the front, side, and rear of the excavator <NUM> indicated by a reference numeral <NUM> of <FIG> may be used as the third sensor. Additionally or alternatively, when an image sensor is used as the second sensor and the third sensor, the image sensor may be composed of a stereo vision system capable of obtaining an image showing the distance information of an object.

In addition, the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor may perform the same or similar operation to each other. For example, by using the third sensor for detecting obstacles around the excavator <NUM>, the operation of the second sensor for detecting the work area in which the excavator <NUM> performs work may be performed.

According to various embodiments, the excavator <NUM> may include at least one positioning device.

According to the embodiment, a global navigation satellite system (GNNS) module capable of receiving a satellite signal may be used as the positioning device, and a real time kinematic (RTK) GNSS module may be used for precise measurement. For example, at least one positioning device may be disposed on the upper body <NUM> of the excavator <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view for describing the rotational motion of the bucket <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the bucket <NUM> may rotate along the YZ plane in the +Z direction and the -Z direction by the bucket cylinder <NUM>. Also, the bucket <NUM> may be tilted in the XZ plane in the +Z direction and the -Z direction by a tilting device.

Front views of the bucket <NUM> are shown in (a) and (b) of <FIG>. An example in which the bucket rotates as much as possible in the -Z direction is shown in (a). This can be called a dump state. An example in which the bucket rotates as much as possible in the +Z direction is shown in (b). This can be called a crowd state. Side views of the bucket are shown in (c) and (d). Rear views of the bucket are shown in (e) and (f).

In the following description, a dump direction may mean a -Z direction for becoming the dump state, and a crowd direction may mean a +Z direction for becoming the crowd state.

In <FIG>, an end section <NUM> of the bucket may be a line connecting end points of teeth <NUM> of the bucket. In addition, a portion extending from the teeth <NUM> of the bucket to the rear surface of the bucket in an almost straight line may be a back face <NUM> of the bucket.

When a dumping rotation is performed by the bucket cylinder <NUM>, the entire end section of the bucket may move in the +Z direction or in the -Z direction.

When tilting is performed by the tilting device (not shown), one end of the end section of the bucket <NUM> may go up in the +Z direction or go down in the -Z direction, and contrary to this, the other opposite end of the end section of the bucket <NUM> may go down in the -Z direction or go up in the +Z direction. According to the embodiment, in the front view shown in (a) of <FIG>, the direction in which the left end of the end section goes up may be set to a (+) tilting direction, and the direction in which the left end of the end section goes down may be set to a (-) tilting direction.

<FIG> is a view conceptually showing an excavator <NUM> according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the excavator <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, a communication device <NUM>, a storage device <NUM>, an operating device <NUM>, an output device <NUM>, and a sensor device <NUM>. However, this is only an example, and the embodiment of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, at least one of the above-described components of the excavator <NUM> may be omitted or one or more other components may be added to the configuration of the excavator <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the communication device <NUM> may transmit/receive data to and from an external device by using a wireless communication technology. The external device may include a control center <NUM>, other display devices (e.g., a smartphone, a laptop, a tablet PC, etc.) and/or other construction machines. Here, communication technologies used by the communication device <NUM> include global system for mobile communication (GSM), code division multi access (CDMA), long term evolution (LTE), <NUM>, wireless LAN (WLAN), wireless-fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), ZigBee, near field communication (NFC), and the like. Also, as described above with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, the communication device <NUM> may include at least one positioning device.

According to various embodiments, the storage device <NUM> may store a variety of data used by at least one component of the excavator <NUM> (e.g., the processor <NUM>, the communication device <NUM>, the operating device <NUM>, the output device <NUM>, or the sensor device <NUM>). According to the embodiment, the storage device <NUM> may store specifications (e.g., a model name, a serial number, and basic specifications) of the excavator <NUM>, map data, and the like. According to the embodiment, the storage device <NUM> may store a design drawing to be worked by the excavator <NUM>. The design drawing may be directly stored in the storage device <NUM> by the user, or the excavator <NUM> is connected to the control center <NUM> through the communication device <NUM>, thereby obtaining the design drawing and storing in the storage device <NUM>. Some information of the design drawing may be displayed on a guidance screen to be described later. For example, the storage device <NUM> may include at least one of a nonvolatile memory device and a volatile memory device.

According to various embodiments, the operating device <NUM> may receive a command or data to be used for operation control of the excavator <NUM>. The operating device <NUM> includes an operating lever for operating at least a portion of the front work part <NUM> (e.g., the boom <NUM>, the arm <NUM>, and the bucket <NUM>), a handle for operating the steering of the lower body <NUM>, and a shift lever for operating the moving speed of the excavator <NUM> or forward and backward traveling, and the like. According to the embodiment, the operating device <NUM> may be provided in the operation cab <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>.

According to various embodiments, the output device <NUM> may generate an output related to the operation of the excavator <NUM>. According to the embodiment, the output device <NUM> may include a display device which outputs visual information, an audio data output device which outputs auditory information, and a haptic module which outputs tactile information. For example, the display device may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, or a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) display, or electronic paper or the like. Also, the audio data output device may include at least one of a speaker, an earphone, an earset, and a headset which are included in the excavator <NUM> or connected to the excavator <NUM> in a wired or wireless manner.

According to various embodiments, as shown in <FIG>, the sensor device <NUM> may include the first sensor for detecting the state of the excavator <NUM>, the second sensor for detecting the work area in which the excavator <NUM> performs work, and/or the third sensor for detecting obstacles around the excavator <NUM>. In addition to this, sensors required for the operation of the excavator <NUM> may be added.

According to various embodiments, the processor <NUM> may be configured to control the overall operation of the excavator <NUM>. According to the embodiment, the processor <NUM> executes software (e.g., a program) stored in the storage device <NUM>, thereby controlling at least one of the components connected to the processor <NUM> (e.g., the communication device <NUM>, the storage device <NUM>, the operating device <NUM>, the output device <NUM>, or the sensor device <NUM>). The processor <NUM> may perform various data processing or operations. For example, as at least a part of data processing or operation, the processor <NUM> may store instructions or data received from other components in the storage device <NUM>, process the instructions or data stored in the storage device <NUM>, and store the result data in the storage device <NUM>. The processor <NUM> may include a main processor and an auxiliary processor which can be operated independently of or together with the main processor. According to the embodiment, the processor <NUM> may perform a controller area network (CAN) communication with the aforementioned components (e.g., the communication device <NUM>, the storage device <NUM>, the operating device <NUM>, the output device <NUM> or the sensor device <NUM>), and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The operator may perform work transmitted from the control center <NUM>, by operating the excavator configured as shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, and/or <FIG>. According to the embodiment, the work may be a precise leveling work. When the operator performs the leveling work, the correct and efficient work can be performed only by making a horizontal alignment between a bucket surface of the excavator <NUM> and a target surface on which the leveling work has to be performed.

When the operator intends to make the horizontal alignment between the target surface and the bucket surface of the excavator <NUM>, a machine guidance apparatus or a machine guidance program built in the excavator <NUM> may assist the operator to operate. According to the embodiment, the excavator <NUM> may obtain position information of the bucket <NUM> by using the angle sensor of a pivot portion which connects the upper body <NUM> and the bucket of the sensor device <NUM>. According to another embodiment, the excavator <NUM> may obtain an image of the work area including the bucket by using the camera sensor of the sensor device <NUM>, and may obtain the position information of the bucket from the image. The processor <NUM> executing the machine guidance program may determine the degree of alignment between the bucket surface and the target surface on the basis of the position information of the bucket, and may display, on the display device of the output device <NUM>, an indicator indicating the degree of alignment between the bucket surface and the target surface. This indicator should be intuitively represented such that the operator can immediately recognize how to operate the excavator <NUM> in order to make the alignment between the target surface and the bucket surface. In this case, the efficiency of work can be increased.

<FIG> is a view showing a guidance screen according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

For description of <FIG> and the following figures, while the guidance screen is described as including a front view showing the front of the bucket shown in (a) of <FIG>, the guidance screen is not limited thereto. The guidance screen may include a rear view including the back face of the bucket shown in (e) of <FIG> instead of the front view. The rear view also shows visually the end section of the bucket for alignment. The rear view may perform the same function as that of the front view in providing alignment information to be described below.

Referring to <FIG>, the guidance screen may include a bucket-shaped icon <NUM> and a line <NUM> indicating the target surface of the design drawing. The guidance screen may include a front view <NUM> which visually indicates the degree of alignment between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing, a guide indicator <NUM> which is located in the lower portion of the front view <NUM> and guides in which tilting direction the operator should operate, an icon <NUM> which indicates the side shape of the bucket including the back face of the bucket, and a line <NUM> which indicates a side target surface of the design drawing. The guidance screen may include a side view <NUM> which visually indicates the degree of alignment between the back face of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing, and a guide indicator <NUM> which is located in the lower portion of the side view <NUM> and guides which direction among the dump direction and the crowd direction the operator should operate in.

In the front view <NUM>, the bucket-shaped icon <NUM> may be, as shown in (a), (b), and (c) of <FIG>, displayed aligned or tilted according to the degree of alignment between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing.

The guide indicator <NUM> in the lower portion of the front view may include a ball shape and a series of bars supporting the ball. The length of the series of bars may increase toward the left and right from the center. However, this is only an example and the series of bars may be displayed in another shape, and as another shape, one bar may be displayed from the left end to the right end. In addition, unlike what is shown in <FIG>, the guide indicator <NUM> may also be located in the upper portion of the front view <NUM>.

The ball shape of the guide indicator <NUM> can move left and right depending on the degree of alignment on the series of bars. Also, a (-) indicator is placed near the left end of the area marked with the series of bars, and this may represent that the operator should operate in the (-) tilting direction on the basis of an angle between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing. Also, a (+) indicator is placed near the right end, and this may represent that the operator should operate in the (+) tilting direction.

When the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing are exactly aligned, the ball shape of the guide indicator <NUM> may be, as shown in (a) of <FIG>, positioned at the center of the series of bars. When the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing are not aligned and thus the operator is guided in the (-) tilting direction, the ball shape may move, as shown in (b) of <FIG>, toward the left end of the guide indicator <NUM>. When the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing are not aligned and thus the operator is guided in the (+) tilting direction, the ball shape may move, as shown in (c) of <FIG>, toward the right end of the guide indicator <NUM>. Here, if the size of an angle between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing is greater than a predetermined angle, the ball shape is positioned at the left or right end, and if the size of the angle between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing is greater than <NUM> and smaller than the predetermined angle, the ball shape is positioned between the center and the left end or between the center and the right end depending on the size of the angle, thereby guiding the operator to the degree of tilting. Here, as an embodiment, the angle formed by the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing may be displayed in the form of text under the line <NUM> indicating the central target surface of the front view <NUM>.

According to the embodiment, a color of the series of bars may be changed according to the position change of the ball shape of the guide indicator <NUM>. Referring to the example of <FIG>, if the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing are aligned, the series of bars may be, as shown in (a) of <FIG>, represented by a first color (e.g., green), and if not aligned, the series of bars may be, as shown in (b) or (c) of <FIG>, represented by a second color (e.g., gray) regardless of the degree of non-alignment.

According to another embodiment, if the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing are aligned, the series of bars may be, as shown in (a) of <FIG>, represented by the first color (e.g., green). If the size of the angle between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing is greater than a predetermined angle and thus the ball shape is positioned at the left or right end, all of the series of bars may be represented by the second color (e.g., gray). On the other hand, if the size of the angle between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing is greater than <NUM> and smaller than the predetermined angle, the ball shape may be positioned at a point between the center and the left end or at a point between the center and the right end. When the ball shape is on the left side, the series of bars from the left end to the position of the ball shape may be represented by the first color, and the others may be represented by the second color. Also, when the ball shape is on the right side, the series of bars from the right end to the position of the ball shape may be represented by the first color, and the others may be represented by the second color. In this case, the ball shape may have a third color different from the first color and the second color.

The guidance screen shown in <FIG> includes the bucket-shaped icon <NUM> and the line <NUM> indicating the target surface of the design drawing, and displays both the front view <NUM> showing the alignment relationship between them, and the guide indicator <NUM> including the ball shape and the series of bars. As a result, the operator is able to intuitively recognize in which direction (left direction or right direction) to perform the tilting operation with respect to the current bucket.

In the side view <NUM>, the icon <NUM> indicating the side shape of the bucket including the back face of the bucket may be, as shown in (a), (b), and (c) of <FIG>, displayed aligned or tilted in accordance with the degree of alignment between the back face of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing.

As with the guide indicator <NUM> of the front view <NUM>, the guide indicator <NUM> of the side view <NUM> may include a ball shape and a series of bars supporting the ball. The length of the series of bars may increase toward the left and right from the center. However, this is only an example and the series of bars may be displayed in another shape, and as another shape, one bar may be displayed from the left end to the right end. In addition, unlike what is shown in <FIG>, the guide indicator <NUM> may also be located in the upper portion of the side view <NUM>.

The ball shape of the guide indicator <NUM> can move left and right depending on the degree of alignment on the series of bars. Also, a (-) indicator is placed near the left end of the area marked with the series of bars, and this may represent that the operator should operate in the crowd direction on the basis of an angle between the back face of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing. Also, a (+) indicator is placed near the right end, and this may represent that the operator should operate in the dump direction.

When the back face of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing are exactly aligned, the ball shape of the guide indicator <NUM> may be, as shown in (a) of <FIG>, positioned at the center of the series of bars. When the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing are not aligned and thus the operator is guided to the operation in the crowd direction, the ball shape may move, as shown in (b) of <FIG>, toward the left end of the guide indicator <NUM>. When the back face of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing are not aligned and thus the operator is guided to the operation in the dump direction, the ball shape may move, as shown in (c) of <FIG>, toward the right end of the guide indicator <NUM>. Here, if the size of an angle between the back face of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing is greater than a predetermined angle, the ball shape is positioned at the left or right end, and if the size of the angle between the back face of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing is greater than <NUM> and smaller than the predetermined angle, the ball shape is positioned between the center and the left end or between the center and the right end depending on the size of the angle, thereby guiding the operator to the degree of operation. Here, as an embodiment, the angle formed by the back face of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing may be displayed in the form of text under the line <NUM> indicating the side target surface of the front view <NUM> in the center of the side view <NUM>.

According to the embodiment, a color of the series of bars may be changed according to the position change of the ball shape of the guide indicator <NUM>. Referring to the example of <FIG>, if the back face of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing are aligned, the series of bars may be, as shown in (a) of <FIG>, represented by a first color (e.g., green), and if not aligned, the series of bars may be, as shown in (b) or (c) of <FIG>, represented by a second color (e.g., gray) regardless of the degree of non-alignment.

According to another embodiment, if the back face of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing are aligned, the series of bars may be, as shown in (a) of <FIG>, represented by the first color (e.g., green). If the size of the angle between the back face of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing is greater than a predetermined angle and thus the ball shape is positioned at the left or right end, all of the series of bars may be represented by the second color (e.g., gray). On the other hand, if the size of the angle between the back face of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing is greater than <NUM> and smaller than the predetermined angle, the ball shape may be positioned at a point between the center and the left end or at a point between the center and the right end. When the ball shape is on the left side, the series of bars from the left end to the position of the ball shape may be represented by the first color, and the others may be represented by the second color. Also, when the ball shape is on the right side, the series of bars from the right end to the position of the ball shape may be represented by the first color, and the others may be represented by the second color. In this case, the ball shape may have a third color different from the first color and the second color.

The guidance screen shown in <FIG> includes the icon <NUM> indicating the side shape of the bucket, and the line <NUM> indicating the side target surface of the design drawing, and displays both the front view <NUM> showing the alignment relationship between them, and the guide indicator <NUM> including the ball shape and the series of bars. As a result, the operator is able to intuitively recognize in which direction (dump direction or crowd direction) to operate with respect to the current bucket.

<FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> are views showing another guidance screen according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

<FIG> may show the guidance screen of <FIG> to which a configuration for providing additional information is added according to the embodiment.

According to the embodiment, <FIG> shows the guidance screen when the horizontal alignment is made between the target line and the bucket surface. <FIG> shows that the guidance screen guides the right tilting direction and the bucket crowd direction when the horizontal alignment is not made between the target line and the bucket surface. <FIG> shows the guidance screen guides the left tilting direction and the bucket dump direction when the horizontal alignment is not made between the target line and the bucket surface.

The guidance screen configuration shown in <FIG> is one embodiment and may be made in another form. Also, an additional component (e.g., a channel view displaying a camera image showing the work area) is further included or some components may be removed.

Referring to the guidance screens of <FIG>, the guidance screen may include a front view <NUM> including the bucket-shaped icon viewed from the front and the line indicating the target surface in the design, a side view <NUM> including the bucket-shaped icon including the back face of the bucket viewed from the side and the line indicating the target surface in the design, and guide indicators <NUM> and <NUM> which guide the operator to the operations for the horizontal alignment. According to the embodiment, the guide indicator <NUM> may guide the operator in the tilting direction on the basis of the angle between the end section of the bucket and the target surface shown in the front view <NUM>. The guide indicator <NUM> may guide the operator in the dump direction or the crowd direction on the basis of the angle between the back face of the bucket and the target surface shown in the side view <NUM>.

Additionally, the guidance screen may show a vertical distance <NUM> between the end of the bucket and the target surface, and may include an angle <NUM> between the end of the bucket and the target surface, an angle <NUM> between the back face of the bucket and the target surface, a horizontal travel distance <NUM> from a reference point position to a current bucket position, a target depth value <NUM>, a target tilt value <NUM> viewed from the side, and a target tilt value <NUM> viewed from the front.

Besides, the guidance screen may further show a reference point set button <NUM>, a reference point set method button <NUM>, and a machine guidance related set enter button <NUM>.

According to the embodiment, the end of the bucket of the excavator is placed at an actual reference position and the reference point set button <NUM> is pressed or touched, the corresponding position may be set as a reference point. Also, target depth value <NUM>, the target tilt value <NUM> viewed from the side, and the target tilt value <NUM> viewed from the front through a separate menu on the basis of the reference point or may be set by receiving the design drawing from the control center <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> or <FIG>, the guidance screen which is supplied with information by the machine guidance program may display horizontal alignment information of the target line and the bucket.

The guidance screen may use the front view <NUM> and the guide indicator <NUM> to visually provide the operator with whether the target line and the end of the bucket are horizontal, and may also show the tilting directional operation that has to be performed by the operator in order to perform to make the horizontal alignment between the target line and the end of the bucket. The guidance screen may use the side view <NUM> and the guide indicator <NUM> to visually provide the operator with whether the target line and the back face of the bucket are horizontal, and may also show the dump/crowd directional operation that has to be performed by the operator in order to perform to make the horizontal alignment between the target line and the back face of the bucket.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the machine guidance program that assists the operator to operate the excavator including the bucket may be configured to display the guidance screen on the display device. The guidance screen includes the front view which includes a first icon indicating the front shape of the bucket and a first line indicating the target surface of the design drawing, and visually indicates the degree of alignment between the end section of the bucket and the target surface, a first guide indicator which guides in which tilting direction the operator should operate, a side view which includes a second icon indicating the side shape including the back face of the bucket and a second line indicating the side target surface of the design drawing, and visually indicates the degree of alignment between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface, and a second guide indicator which guides whether the operator should operate in the dump direction or in the crowd direction.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, each of the first guide indicator and the second guide indicator may include a series of bars and a ball shape which can move left and right on the series of bars. The length of the series of bars may gradually increase toward the left or right from the center.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, when the horizontal alignment is made between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing, the ball shape of the first guide indicator is displayed positioned at the center of the series of bars. When the horizontal alignment is not made between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing and the bucket needs to be tilted to the left for the horizontal alignment, the ball shape is displayed positioned on the left from the center of the series of bars, and when the horizontal alignment is not made between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing and the bucket needs to be tilted to the right for the horizontal alignment, the ball shape is displayed positioned on the right from the center of the series of bars.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, when the horizontal alignment is made between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface of the design drawing, the ball shape of the second guide indicator is displayed positioned at the center of the series of bars. When the horizontal alignment is not made between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface of the design drawing and the bucket needs to be tilted in the crowd direction for the horizontal alignment, the ball shape is displayed positioned on the left from the center of the series of bars, and when the horizontal alignment is not made between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface of the design drawing and the bucket needs to be tilted in the dump direction for the horizontal alignment, the ball shape is displayed positioned on the right from the center of the series of bars.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, when the horizontal alignment is made between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing, the series of bars of the first guide indicator may be represented in a first color. When the horizontal alignment is not made between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing, the series of bars may be represented in a second color different from the first color.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, when the horizontal alignment is made between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface of the design drawing, the series of bars of the second guide indicator may be represented in a first color. When the horizontal alignment is not made between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface of the design drawing, the series of bars of the second guide indicator may be represented in a second color different from the first color.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, in each of the first guide indicator and the second guide indicator, a (-) indicator may be displayed at the left end of the area composed of the series of bars, and a (+) indicator may be displayed at the right end of the area composed of the series of bars.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the front view may additionally show, below the first line, the angle between the end section of the bucket and the target surface, and the side view may additionally show, below the second line, the angle between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the guidance screen may additionally include the angle between the end section of the bucket and the target surface, the angle between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface, the horizontal travel distance from the reference point position to the current bucket position, the target depth value set based on the reference point position, the target tilt value viewed from the front, and the target tilt value viewed from the side.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the guidance screen may additionally include the reference point set button for setting the current bucket position as the reference point position, and the reference point set method button for setting the reference point set method.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the excavator may include the sensor device including the angle sensor of the pivot portion which connects the bucket and the upper body, the storage device in which the machine guidance program assisting the operator of the excavator when the operator controls the position of the bucket has been recorded, the display device, and the processor which executes the machine guidance program and displays the guidance screen on the display device. The processor may display the guidance screen on the display device. The guidance screen includes the front view which includes a first icon indicating the front shape of the bucket and a first line indicating the target surface of the design drawing, and visually indicates the degree of alignment between the end section of the bucket and the target surface, a first guide indicator which guides in which tilting direction the operator should operate, a side view which includes a second icon indicating the side shape including the back face of the bucket and a second line indicating the side target surface of the design drawing, and visually indicates the degree of alignment between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface, and a second guide indicator which guides whether the operator should operate in the dump direction or in the crowd direction.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, in the processor, each of the first guide indicator and the second guide indicator may include the series of bars and the ball shape which can move left and right on the series of bars. The length of the series of bars may gradually increase toward the left or right from the center.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, in the processor, when the horizontal alignment is made between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing, the ball shape of the first guide indicator is displayed positioned at the center of the series of bars. When the horizontal alignment is not made between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing and the bucket needs to be tilted to the left for the horizontal alignment, the ball shape is displayed positioned on the left from the center of the series of bars, and when the horizontal alignment is not made between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing and the bucket needs to be tilted to the right for the horizontal alignment, the ball shape is displayed positioned on the right from the center of the series of bars.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, in the processor, when the horizontal alignment is made between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface of the design drawing, the ball shape of the second guide indicator is displayed positioned at the center of the series of bars. When the horizontal alignment is not made between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface of the design drawing and the bucket needs to be tilted in the crowd direction for the horizontal alignment, the ball shape is displayed positioned on the left from the center of the series of bars, and when the horizontal alignment is not made between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface of the design drawing and the bucket needs to be tilted in the dump direction for the horizontal alignment, the ball shape is displayed positioned on the right from the center of the series of bars.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, in the processor, when the horizontal alignment is made between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing, the series of bars of the first guide indicator may be represented in a first color. When the horizontal alignment is not made between the end section of the bucket and the target surface of the design drawing, the series of bars may be represented in a second color different from the first color.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, in the processor, when the horizontal alignment is made between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface of the design drawing, the series of bars of the second guide indicator may be represented in a first color. When the horizontal alignment is not made between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface of the design drawing, the series of bars may be represented in a second color different from the first color.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, in the processor, in each of the first guide indicator and the second guide indicator, a (-) indicator may be displayed at the left end of the area composed of the series of bars, and a (+) indicator may be displayed at the right end of the area composed of the series of bars.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, in the processor, the front view may additionally show, below the first line, the angle between the end section of the bucket and the target surface, and the side view may additionally show, below the second line, the angle between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor may additionally include, in the guidance screen, areas displaying the angle between the end section of the bucket and the target surface, the angle between the back face of the bucket and the side target surface, the horizontal travel distance from the reference point position to the current bucket position, the target depth value set based on the reference point position, the target tilt value viewed from the front, and the target tilt value viewed from the side. The processor may display the areas on the display device.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, the processor may additionally include, in the guidance screen, areas displaying the reference point set button for setting the current bucket position as the reference point position, and the reference point set method button for setting the reference point set method. The processor may display the areas on the display device.

As described above, the machine guidance program provided in the excavator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure intuitively present the operator with the operation directions required for the end horizontal alignment and back face horizontal alignment between the bucket and the target surface, so that even unskilled workers can easily perform the horizontal alignment, and thus, the work efficiency of the construction machine can be increased.

The machine guidance program, the guidance screen or user interface (UI) of the excavator <NUM> according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented with instructions that can be executed by a processor (e.g., the processor <NUM>), and may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The processor reads and executes the corresponding instructions from the storage medium, so that the UI or the guidance screen can display on the display device.

Directly and/or indirectly and regardless of whether the storage media is in a raw state, in a formatted state, an organized state, or in any other accessible state, the storage media may include a relational database, a non-relational database, an in-memory database, and a database which can store a data and include a distributed type database, such as other suitable databases that allows access to the data through a storage controller. In addition, the storage medium includes a primary storage device, a secondary storage device, a tertiary storage device, an offline storage device, a volatile storage device, a nonvolatile storage device, a semiconductor storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, and a flash storage device, a hard disk drive storage device, a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape, or any type of storage device such as other suitable data storage medium.

Claim 1:
A machine guidance apparatus which assists an operator of an excavator (<NUM>) comprising a bucket (<NUM>) to operate, the machine guidance apparatus configured to display a guidance screen on a display device, wherein the guidance screen comprises:
a front view (<NUM>, <NUM>) which comprises a first icon (<NUM>) indicating a front shape of the bucket (<NUM>) and a first line (<NUM>) indicating a target surface of a design drawing, and visually indicates a degree of alignment between an end section of the bucket (<NUM>) and the target surface;
a first guide indicator (<NUM>) which guides in which tilting direction the operator should operate;
a side view (<NUM>, <NUM>) which comprises a second icon (<NUM>) indicating a side shape comprising a back face (<NUM>) of the bucket (<NUM>) and a second line (<NUM>) indicating a side target surface of the design drawing, and visually indicates a degree of alignment between the back face (<NUM>) of the bucket (<NUM>) and the side target surface; and
a second guide indicator (<NUM>) which guides whether the operator should operate in a dump direction or in a crowd direction.