Identification module for a work machine

Abstract

A system comprising a work machine and an attachment. The work machine includes one or more machine sensors configured to obtain machine data related to one or more components of the work machine. The attachment is configured to be removably coupled to the work machine. The attachment includes an identification module configured to wirelessly transmit identification information to the work machine when the attachment is coupled to the work machine. The work machine is configured to determine one or more attachment characteristics of the attachment based on the identification information transmitted to the work machine from the identification module.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An identification module configured to provide an indication of an identity of an attachment to which the identification module is configured to be coupled, the identification module comprising:
 a motion sensor; and   a transceiver,   wherein when the attachment is not operably coupled with a work machine, the identification module is configured to periodically transmit signals, via the transceiver, at a low transmission frequency,   wherein when the attachment is operably coupled with the work machine, the identification module is configured to periodically transmit signals, via the transceiver, at a high transmission frequency.   
     
     
         2 . The identification module of  claim 1 , wherein the low transmission frequency is once every 5 to 20 seconds. 
     
     
         3 . The identification module of  claim 1 , wherein the high transmission frequency is once between every 1 and 5 seconds. 
     
     
         4 . The identification module of  claim 1 , wherein the transceiver of the identification module is configured to wirelessly transmit signals using Bluetooth. 
     
     
         5 . The identification module of  claim 1 , wherein the identification module is configured to transmit signals according to a first messaging scheme when the attachment is not operably coupled with the work machine, wherein the first messaging scheme is configured for communication with a mobile device. 
     
     
         6 . The identification module of  claim 1 , wherein the identification module is configured to transmit signals according to a second messaging scheme when the attachment is operably coupled with the work machine, wherein the second messaging scheme is configured for communication with the work machine. 
     
     
         7 . The identification module of  claim 1 , wherein the identification module is configured to determine whether the attachment is or is not connected to the work machine based on data obtained from the motion sensor of the identification module. 
     
     
         8 . The identification module of  claim 7 , wherein the angle sensor comprises an accelerometer. 
     
     
         9 . The identification module of  claim 1 , wherein when the attachment is not operably coupled with the work machine, the identification module is configured to transmit, via the signals, identification information indicative of the attachment with which the identification module is attached. 
     
     
         10 . The identification module of  claim 9 , wherein the identification module includes one or more sensors and a battery, and wherein the identification module is further configured to transmit, via the signals, data from the one or more sensors, wherein the data includes information indicative of a geographic location of the identification module or the attachment or the data includes information indicative of a battery status of the battery. 
     
     
         11 . The identification module of  claim 1 , wherein when the attachment is operably coupled with the work machine, the identification module is configured to transmit, via the signals, identification information indicative of the attachment with which the identification module is attached. 
     
     
         12 . The identification module of  claim 11 , wherein the identification module includes one or more sensors and a battery, and wherein the identification module is further configured to transmit, via the signals, data from the one or more sensors, wherein the data includes information indicative of a geographic location of the identification module or the attachment, the data includes information indicative of a battery status of the battery, or the data includes information indicative of an orientation or angle of the identification module. 
     
     
         13 . The identification module of  claim 1 , wherein upon the attachment being coupled with the work machine, the work machine is configured to generate an alert if the identification module associated with the attachment has not been programmed with identification information of the attachment. 
     
     
         14 . A method of communicating with an identification module configured to provide an indication of an identity of an attachment to which the identification module is coupled, the method comprising:
 (a) providing the identification module comprising a motion sensor and a transceiver;   (b) when the attachment is not operably coupled with a work machine, periodically transmitting signals, via the transceiver, at a low transmission frequency; and   (c) when the attachment is operably coupled with the work machine, periodically transmitting the signals, via the transceiver, at a high transmission frequency.   
     
     
         15 . An identification module configured to provide an indication of an identity of an attachment to which the identification module is configured to be coupled, the identification module comprising:
 a motion sensor configured to determine when the identification module is motion; and   a transceiver configured to transmit signals via a first messaging scheme and a second messaging scheme,   wherein when the identification module is not in motion, the identification module is configured to alternate transmitting signals between the first messaging scheme and the second messaging scheme according to a slow transition frequency,   wherein when the identification module is in motion, the identification module is configured to alternate transmitting signals between the first messaging scheme and the second messaging scheme according to a fast transition frequency.   
     
     
         16 . The identification module of  claim 15 , wherein the slow transition frequency is about every 5 seconds and the fast transition frequency is about every 1 second. 
     
     
         17 . The identification module of  claim 15 , wherein the first messaging scheme and the second messaging schemes are each Bluetooth messaging schemes. 
     
     
         18 . The identification module of  claim 15 , wherein the first messaging scheme has a message capacity from 15 to 35 bytes per message, and wherein the first messaging scheme has a transmission speed of about 1 Mbps. 
     
     
         19 . The identification module of  claim 15 , wherein the second messaging scheme has a message capacity from 225 to 275 bytes per message, and wherein the second messaging scheme has a transmission speed of about 2 Mbps. 
     
     
         20 . The identification module of  claim 15 , wherein the identification module is configured to determine whether the attachment is in motion machine based on data obtained from the motion sensor of the identification module, and wherein the motion sensor comprises an accelerometer.