Managing recreational vehicles and accessories
Inventors
Krosschell, Brian D. • Shaughnessy, Aidan B. • Weed, Joshua T. • Fuchs, Benjamin S. • Koosmann, Adam C. • Holt, Austin A. • Taylor, Scott • Reay, Aaron T.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11787354-B2
Publication Date
2023-10-17
Expiration Date
Abstract
A vehicle is electrically connected to one or more accessories. The vehicle includes at least one controller that may be configured to identify the accessory based on accessory identification information. The controller may also be configured to provide one or more commands to control an operation of the accessory.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a recreational vehicle operatively coupled to a user interface that manages at least one removable accessory. The vehicle includes a frame supported by a plurality of ground engaging members and at least one sensor providing sensor information indicating one or more vehicle parameters. A controller is operatively coupled to the user interface to receive and process both the sensor information and user input for accessory customization.
The controller identifies an accessory type corresponding to the removable accessory and receives user input indicating a customization of one or more vehicle parameters for the removable accessory from the user interface. The controller also receives the sensor information indicating the vehicle parameters from the sensors. Based on the accessory type and the comparison of the sensor information with the user input indicating the customization associated with the removable accessory, the controller generates one or more instructions to control the removable accessory.
The generated instructions are provided to the removable accessory to control the accessory behavior in accordance with the identified accessory type and the comparison between sensor information and the user-selected customization. The refinements include using vehicle sensors such as GPS location, ambient light, inertial measurement unit measurements, vehicle speed, and steering information to support accessory control.
Claims Coverage
The document includes one independent claim and a set of dependent claims. The independent claim covers sensor-driven, user-customizable control of removable accessory behavior based on accessory type and a comparison between sensor information and user input, with dependent claims refining the accessory category and which sensors or conditions are used.
Accessory type identification and sensor-comparison instruction generation
The controller identifies an accessory type corresponding to at least one removable accessory, receives user input indicating a customization of one or more vehicle parameters from the user interface, receives sensor information indicating the one or more vehicle parameters from at least one sensor, generates one or more instructions to control the removable accessory based on the accessory type and by comparing the sensor information with the user input indicating the customization, and provides the one or more instructions to the removable accessory.
Light accessory control based on GPS location
A recreational vehicle includes at least one sensor comprising a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, where the sensor information indicates the vehicle’s geographical location, and the controller generates instructions to control a light accessory based on that location.
Light accessory control using vehicle speed thresholds
A recreational vehicle includes a vehicle speed sensor providing vehicle-speed information, and a controller generates instructions to control a light accessory when the vehicle speed meets one or more speed thresholds.
Orientation-based activating and de-activating of a light accessory
A recreational vehicle controller generates instructions based on the vehicle’s orientation to activate or de-activate a light accessory.
Event-based removable accessory control
A recreational vehicle includes a controller that uses sensor information to determine whether the vehicle is encountering an event and then generates instructions to control a removable accessory based on that event.
Across the independent claim and refinements, the core inventive concept is the combination of accessory type identification with a controller that receives user customization and sensor information, compares them, and generates instructions to control the removable accessory, with dependent claims narrowing the accessory to light accessories and tying control to specific sensors or conditions such as GPS location, vehicle speed thresholds, orientation, and detected events.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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