Patent ID: 7810260

Claim:
A control system for a tool coupling of the type used to attach a tool to an excavator having a boom pivotally attached to a dipper stick, said boom and said dipper stick defining a common plane, the tool coupling being attached to the end of the dipper stick and the tool coupling providing for rotation of the tool with respect to the dipper stick about a rotation axis that is generally in said common plane of said boom and dipper stick, and for tilting of the tool about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the rotation axis, comprising: a rotation sensor on said coupling for determining the amount of rotation of the tool about said rotation axis with respect to the dipper stick, a tilt sensor on said coupling for determining the amount of tilt of the tool with respect to gravity, and a control, responsive to said rotation sensor and to said tilt sensor, for determining the orientation of the tool.