AN ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A MACHINE HAVING A

COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND WORK IMPLEMENT

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to monitor a remote machine, and more particularly, to an anti-theft system for the machine having a

communication device.

Background

In construction machine industry, renting a machine for remote performing tasks is becoming more and more popular. To communicate with and monitor the rented machine, wireless technologies and Global Position System are commonly used to communicate with a base station or a remote worksite. Not only machine work information but also its real time position could be transferred back to the base station or the remote worksite.

Even though the machine real time position/location could be tracked by the GPS implementation, in some situations the machine may be controlled in an unauthorized manner, such as unauthorized tampering or theft. Solutions may be provided to monitor the machine to determine if such scenario does happen.

A management system for construction machines is described in

U. S. Patent No. 7,019,668 (the '668 patent) issued to Hideki. The system includes an anti-theft device which transmits an operation stop signal to a hydraulic excavator when a theft occurs. However, the '668 patent does not provide a mechanism to prevent a manmade tampering from happening by removal of the anti-theft device. It's desirable to at least disable the machine implement tool to avoid allowing the machine to be operated out of the machine owner's control. The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more of the deficiencies set forth above.

Summary of the Disclosure

In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an anti-theft system for a machine having a communication device and a work implement. The system may comprise a controller configured to verify the machine status in response to a shutdown command received by the communication device and generate a shutdown signal. The system may also comprise a shutdown device in communication with the controller and configured to disable a machine start circuit in response to the shutdown signal. The controller may be

further configured to disable the work implement in response to no signal from the shutdown device.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to anti-theft method for a machine having a communication device. The method may comprise setting up a communication by the communication device. The method may also comprise verifying the machine status when a shutdown command is delivered. The method may further comprise generating a shutdown signal if a pre-set condition is satisfied. The method may also comprise disabling the machine start circuit and disabling a work implement on the machine in response to no signal being received from a shutdown device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is an exemplary block diagram according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

Figure 2 is a flowchart of an anti-theft method for a machine according to one embodiment.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure is related to an anti-theft system for a machine 100 having a communication device and a work implement. In the following description, a hydraulic excavator will be used as an example of such machine 100. The present disclosure, however, is not limited to a hydraulic excavator, but is intended to encompass any of a wide variety of machines, such as motor graders, track type tractors and other machines known to the skilled in the art.

Figure 1 shows an exemplary block diagram of anti-theft system 110 according to the present disclosure. Machine 100 may have work implement 60 to perform tasks. If machine 100 is a hydraulic excavator, work implement 60 may be a boom, stick, and bucket (not shown). Work implement 60 is driven by a power source. In one embodiment, the power source is engine (not shown), and engine ECM 50 is associated with engine to collect machine data.

In order to communicate with remote base station (not shown), communication device 30 may be coupled to machine 100. In one embodiment, communication device 30 may be a terminal for transferring voice and/or data information through wireless radio network. It should be envisioned that communication device 30 may be communicated with the base station through other kind of technology, including but not limited to satellite and micro-wave.

As figure 1 shows, anti-theft system 110 may include shutdown device 10 and controller 40. Controller 40 may be in communication with communication device 30. Commands received by communication device 30 may be sent to controller 40 to analyze or perform. In one embodiment, controller 40 may be configured to verify the status of machine 100 in response to a shutdown command. When a shutdown command is delivered, controller 40 may run a shutdown process to verify machine status. And if machine 100 is not in working status, such as operation or traveling, controller 40 may generate a shutdown signal.

Shutdown device 10 may be electrically connected to machine start circuit 20 and controller 40. Shutdown device 10 is configured to shut machine 100 down when a shutdown signal is generated. In one embodiment, shutdown device 10 may have machine start circuit 20 disconnected. In that case, machine 100 could not be turned on for next start. Alternatively, shutdown device 10 may also disable machine 100 immediately to prevent movement.

Controller 40 may be further coupled to engine ECM 50 through CAN BUS link 45, as shown in Figure 1. Since shutdown device 10 keeps communication with controller 40, controller 40 may be configured to detect signal from it. In one embodiment, controller 40 may be configured to disable work implement 60 through engine ECM 50 if there is no signal detected from shutdown device 10. In such situation, even though machine start circuit 20 may be re-connected by tampering with, removing or destroying shutdown device 10, machine 100 is unable to perform a task using work implement 60.

Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary flowchart of the anti-theft method for a machine 100 according to the present disclosure. Step S210 is setting up a communication between communication device 30 (Figure 1) and remote base station (not shown). The method may include step S220 of verifying the machine status when a shutdown command is delivered. A step S230 of determining if a pre-set condition is satisfied may be performed. In one embodiment, the pre-set condition may be targeting working status of machine 100. If machine 100 is moving or operating, then this pre-set condition is not satisfied.

Also, the pre-set condition may be set as a time interval, which could show a normal work time for machine 100, such as AM 7:00 through PM 8:00. If working time of machine 100 is beyond the defined range, the pre-set condition will be deemed as satisfied.

In yet another embodiment, geographic information may be input as the pre-set condition. In such scenario, a defined geographic area or boundary may be compared to real time position of machine 100, and the pre-set condition will be deemed as satisfied if machine 100 is out of the defined geographic area or boundary.

As shown in Figure 2, if the pre-set condition is satisfied, then step S232 of generating a shutdown signal is included. Then in step S234, disabling the machine start circuit 20 is performed. The method may further include step S236 of detecting absence of a signal from shutdown device 10 and step S238 of disabling work implement 60 of machine 100.

Otherwise, if the pre-set condition is not satisfied, the method may further include step S231 of sending out a report to notify the remote base station through communication device 30. Step S233 of storing the shutdown command is also performed. In one embodiment, step S235 of setting a periodic repeat time may be included, which may trigger the method to return to perform S230 to execute shutdown command. For instance, the periodic repeat time may be two hours, and then machine status will be checked every two hours until machine 100 is turned off successfully.

Industrial Applicability

Although the present disclosure provides embodiments which are described in relation to machines and related equipment, such disclosure may be applicable to any environment or situation where it may be advantageous to utilize local mobile communication system to process data with on-board communication device and communicate to a remote controller center.

Additionally, if a shutdown functional module is removed or destroyed, the present disclosure may also provide the system and method to avoid further business loss by disabling the machine work implement.

As illustrated above, an anti-theft system may be coupled to a machine having a communication device and a work implement, which may include a shutdown device and a controller. The anti-theft system may be electrically in communication with machine start circuit. Once a shutdown command is received, the anti-theft system may disable machine start circuit by running a shutdown strategy. However, in some situations, the machine start circuit may be re-connected by unauthorized people to try to turn on the machine. To prevent the machine from being out of control by the remote management, the anti-theft system may also be associated with engine ECM, which controls the power supply for a work implement. Therefore, the anti-theft system may further disable the work implement based on the shutdown strategy. In such situation, the machine could not perform any tasks even though it could be turned on to move.

Advantages and benefits over the prior art may be associated with the disclosed embodiments, such as a pre-set condition is considered. The pre-set condition provides some exceptional instances to make sure cutting off the machine power in a desired proper manner. And it provides the possibilities for remote management to flexibly monitor the machine.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the disclosed system and method for selective onboard processing of machine data. Other embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the present disclosure. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the present disclosure being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents.