Wireless remote control method for a vacuum material handler

Abstract

A method for controlling the operation of a vacuum material handler providing secure communication between the wireless remote control and the receiver of a controller on the vacuum material handler. The method providing a haptic confirmation of a valid command. The method also providing a battery life extending sleep mode when left inactive for a predetermined length of time. The method further including a pendant remote in communication with the wireless remote control. The pendant remote being operable to command the vacuum material handler.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Method of operating a vacuum material handler, the method comprising:
 providing a wireless remote control;   establishing wireless communication between the wireless remote control and a receiver of a control module on the vacuum material handler.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 communicating between the wireless remote control and the control module in a 64-bit format. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 communicating between the wireless remote control and the receiver of the control module on a plurality of frequencies in a frequency hopping spread spectrum format. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein establishing communications is comprising:
 initiating communications with a digital handshake.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising:
 sending communications between the wireless remote and the control module in a serial communications format data packet having a preamble; 
 wherein the preamble must be properly received to be validated and executed by the controller. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , the digital handshake comprising:
 the remote control sending a left bracket to the receiver of the controller, the receiver responding to the receipt of the left bracket by sending a right bracket to the remote control;   the remote control responding to the receipt of the right bracket by sending a command string to the receiver of the controller and generating a haptic signal.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 the remote control entering a sleep mode after being inactive for a predetermined amount of time. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing a pendant remote in communication with the remote control; 
 entering a command on the pendant remote and transmitting the command to the remote control; and 
 the remote control transmitting the command to the receiver of the controller. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 securing the pendant remote to an operator's wrist. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 operating the vacuum material handler through a plurality of lift cycles; 
 the controller counting the number of lift cycles; 
 an operator pressing a predetermined sequence of buttons on the remote control; and 
 the number of lift cycles performed being indicated through a plurality of flashes by an LED on the remote control. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , the controller counting the number of lift cycles further comprising:
 when a release button on the remote control is released by an operator, the remote control sends an exclamation point to a receiver of the controller; and   the controller counting the number of exclamation points received.