Claims:1. A self-adjusting canopy system 100 in a vehicle, comprising:
a seat 104 comprising at least one sensor 102 for detecting a displacement of said seat 104 from a first position;
a transducer 106 electronically coupled to said canopy 112 and adapted to receive a measure of said displacement of said seat 104 from said first position; and
an actuating mechanism 114 adapted to control a movement of said canopy 112 based on a comparison of said measure of said displacement with a preset value of said canopy 112.

2. The self-adjusting canopy system 100 of claim 1, wherein said actuating mechanism 114 is one of a geared mechanism, a hydraulic mechanism, or rack and pinion mechanism.

3. The self-adjusting canopy system 100 of claim 1, wherein said sensor 102 is one of an infrared sensor, a laser sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and an obstacle detection sensor.

4. The self-adjusting canopy system 100 of claim 1, wherein said vehicle is an agricultural vehicle.

5. A method of self-adjusting a canopy 112 in a vehicle, said vehicle comprising a seat 104, a sensor 102 electronically coupled to said seat 104, and a transducer 106 electronically coupled to said canopy 112, said canopy 112 coupled to said vehicle via a structural member 108, said method comprising:
detecting 202, by said sensor 102, a displacement of said seat 104 from a first position;
receiving 204, by said transducer 106, a measure of said displacement of said seat 104 from said first position;
communicating 206, said measure of said displacement of said seat 104 from said first position to a controller 110 by said transducer 106;
comparing 208, by said controller 110, said measure of said displacement with a preset value of said canopy 112; and
actuating 210, by said controller 110, an actuating mechanism 114, to control movement of said canopy 112.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said movement of said canopy 112 is in a direction in relation to said displacement of said seat 104.

, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The present invention relates to the field of self-adjustment of a canopy in a vehicle in general and more particularity to a self-adjusting canopy in an agricultural vehicle.

BACKGROUND
[002] A canopy or a sunshade in a vehicle is used to protect an operator of the vehicle from the effects of external environment like sunlight. In the case of vehicles such as agricultural vehicles, the use of canopy reduces operator fatigue that would arise as a result of usage of the agricultural vehicle in the farm. The canopy is positioned at a height to enable easy ingress and egress of the operator in the vehicle. The vehicle may be used by more than one operator, and the position of the canopy may differ in order to provide comfort to different operators of the vehicle. Typically, the canopy in the vehicle is adjusted manually by the operator of the vehicle. For manual adjustment of the canopy, an operator needs to adjust the vertical position of the canopy with respect to the seat.
[003] For example, if we consider two operators A and B using the agricultural vehicle at different periods of time, and it is assumed that operator A is taller than operator B, then the settings in the canopy that operator A would make would be different from that of operator B.
[004] Prior art patent application CN204897233 discloses a canopy that is driven with automatic rising to loader, including a ceiling, but each perpendicular fixed mounting of ceiling bottom surface four corners has a telescopic leg, and distance measuring sensor is installed to the ceiling top surface, but telescopic leg and distance measuring sensor still be connected with the controller, the controller be connected with power module.
[005] The patent application discloses a simple structure and makes it convenient and practical through using sensor and controller. The loader of operation in the tunnel can be according to the real time environment, and the canopy height is driven to the automatic adjustment.
[006] Hence there is a need for an intelligent sensing system in which the adjustment of canopy does not require manual intervention.

OBJECTS
[007] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment of the invention herein satisfies, are as follows:
[008] An object of the present invention is to provide for a canopy with a self-adjusting mechanism.
[009] Another object of the present invention is to provide for a method that controls the movement of the canopy in a vehicle- with respect to a seat.
[0010] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, when read with the accompanying figures of drawing, which are however not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, a self-adjusting canopy system 100 in a vehicle is described. The system 100 includes a seat 104 that has a sensor 102 for detecting a displacement of the seat 104 from a first position. A transducer 106 is electronically coupled to the canopy 112 and is adapted to receive a measure of displacement of the seat 104 from the first position. The system also includes an actuating mechanism 114 that is adapted to control movement of the canopy 112 based on a comparison of the measure of the displacement with a preset value of the canopy 112.
[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, a method of self-adjusting a canopy 112 in a vehicle is described. The vehicle includes at least a seat 104, a sensor 102 electronically coupled to the seat 104, and a transducer 106 electronically coupled to the canopy 112, the canopy 112 is coupled to the vehicle via a structural member 108. The method includes a step 202, of detecting a displacement of the seat 104 from a first position by the sensor 102, receiving at step 204 by the transducer 106, a measure of displacement of seat 104 from the first position, communicating at step 206 the measure of the displacement of the seat 104 from the first position to a controller 210 by the transducer 106. The method further includes a step 208, of comparing by the controller 210 the measure of the displacement of seat 104 with a preset value of the canopy 112, and actuating 210 by the controller 110 an actuating mechanism 114, to control movement of the canopy 112.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] The foregoing and other features of embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements.
[0014] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these embodiments.

[0015] Figure 1 illustrates a front view of the self-adjusting canopy system in a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 illustrates a method of self-adjusting canopy in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which shown by way of illustration specific embodiments that may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable a person skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical, and other changes may be made within the scope of the embodiments. Also, the words “comprising,” “having,” “containing,” and “including,” and other similar forms are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The following detailed description is, therefore, not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, but instead the invention is to be defined by the appended claims The terms “first position” and “second position” used herein in the specification is to be understood with respect to a reference object, for example the seat 104 of the vehicle.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, a self-adjusting canopy system 100 in a vehicle is described. The system 100 includes a seat 104 that has at least one sensor 102 for detecting a displacement of the seat 104 from a first position. A transducer 106 is electronically coupled to the canopy 112 and is adapted to receive a measure of the displacement of the seat 104 from the first position. The system also includes an actuating mechanism 114 that is adapted to control movement of the canopy 112 based on a comparison of the measure of displacement with a preset value of the canopy 112.

[0019] Figure 1 illustrates a front view of self-adjusting canopy system 100 for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle may be selected from an agricultural vehicle, off-road vehicle, recreational vehicle, or any other type of vehicle that uses a canopy. In another embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle is an agriculture vehicle. According to an embodiment referring to Figure 1, the system 100 includes a seat 104 having at least one sensor 102 for detecting a displacement of the seat 104 from a first position. The system 100 includes a transducer 106 which is electronically coupled to the canopy 112. The transducer 106 is adapted to receive a measure of displacement of the seat 104 from the first position. The system 100 also has an actuating mechanism 114 which is adapted to control movement of the canopy 112 based on a comparison of the measure of displacement with a preset value of the canopy 112.

[0020] In an embodiment of the present invention, the actuating mechanism 114 may be selected from a geared mechanism, a hydraulic mechanism, or a rack and pinion mechanism, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment of the present invention, the actuating mechanism may be a rack and pinion mechanism.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, the sensor 102 may be an infrared sensor, a laser sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, and an obstacle detection. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor 102 may be an infrared sensor.

[0022] In one embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle is a tractor as illustrated in Figure 1. The self-adjusting canopy system 100 in the vehicle herein, for example, a tractor, includes a seat 104 for enabling a user to operate the tractor. In one embodiment of the present invention the canopy 112 may be mounted on a structural member 108. In another embodiment of the present invention, the function of the structural member 108 is to provide a positional orientation of the canopy 112 with respect to the seat 104. In another embodiment of the present invention, the function of the structural member 108 is to enable the canopy 112 to move in a direction of movement of the seat 104 in order to provide protection to the user of the vehicle from external environment.

[0023] In another embodiment of the present invention, the structural member 108 also provides stability to the vehicle. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the structural member 108 may be a roll over protection system. The transducer 106 is electronically coupled to the canopy 112 and is adapted to receive a measure of displacement of the seat 104 from a first position. As used herein, the first position refers to an initial reference point with respect to which the seat 104 gets displaced. For example, the first position may be measured with respect to the center of rear wheel of the vehicle. In one embodiment of the present invention, the initial reference point may be set during calibration of the vehicle. In another embodiment of the present invention, the movement of the seat 104 is measured with respect to the initial reference point. In another embodiment of the present invention, a structure in the vehicle may be considered as a reference point while calculating the first position, the structure may be, for example, the structural member 108 or any other component in tractor that is stationary. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the movement of the seat 104 from the first position to the displaced position is measured with respect to the reference point. In another embodiment of the present invention, the reference point may be electronically paired to the sensor 102 that is located on the seat 104. In an example embodiment of the present invention, the electronically pairing of the reference point with the sensor 102, helps to record or capture the movement of the seat 104 from the first position to the displaced position as a signal by the sensor 102. Typically, this signal is transmitted to the transducer 106 that is electronically coupled to the canopy 112. In another embodiment of the present invention, the actuating mechanism 114 is adapted to control movement of the canopy 112 based on a comparison of the measure of the displacement with a preset value of the canopy 112. In one embodiment of the present invention, the preset value may be stored in the controller 110 of the vehicle. In another embodiment of the present invention, the preset value is a quantitative property of the canopy 112. For example, it may be mass, dimensions, or center of gravity of the canopy 112. In an embodiment of the present invention, the preset value is a center of gravity of the canopy 112.

[0024] In one embodiment of the present invention, the comparison of the displacement of the seat 104 and the center of gravity of the canopy 112 is done in order to ensure that a seat index point of the seat 104 and the center of gravity are aligned with respect to one another. As used herein the “seat index point” is defined as a point in the seat 104 with respect to the rear wheel center of the vehicle. In another embodiment of the present invention, the “seat index point” enables the identification of a positional orientation of the seat 104. The positional orientation defined herein refers to the location of seat in the vehicle. In one embodiment of the present invention, positional orientation of the seat 104, may also include the angular tilt of the seat as required by the user of the vehicle.

[0025] The working of self-adjusting a canopy 112 will be explained in further detail with respect to Figure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As an example embodiment, the vehicle is an agricultural vehicle, for example, a tractor. In one embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle uses a canopy 112 to provide protection to a user and/ or a driver. The position of the seat 104 before the user adjusts, is considered as the first position. In order to provide ease of driving and to improve visibility, the user moves the seat 104 to a position (also called as a displaced position) that is different from first position leading to displacement of seat 104. The displacement of the seat 104 is defined as the magnitude of difference in movement of the seat 104 between the first position and the displaced position. In one embodiment of the present invention, the transducer 106 is adapted to receive a measure of the displacement of the seat 104 from the first position to the displaced position. In another embodiment of the present invention, an actuating mechanism 114 is adapted to control movement of the canopy 112 based on a comparison of the measure of the displacement with the preset value of said canopy 112. In another embodiment of the present invention, the comparison of the measure of displacement with preset value may happen in the electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle. In another embodiment of the present invention, the comparison of the measure of displacement with preset value may happen remotely for example on a server or on a cloud storage. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the compared data is transmitted to the vehicle for enabling the actuating mechanism 114 to control movement of the canopy 112.

[0026] Figure. 2 illustrates a method of self-adjusting a canopy 112 in the vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, the canopy 112 is connected to the vehicle via a structural member 108. In another embodiment of the present invention, the method includes, at step 202, detecting a displacement of the seat 104 from the first position by the sensor 102, receiving (step 204) by the transducer 106 a measure of the displacement of the seat 104 from the first position. The method includes communicating at step 206 to the controller 110, the measure of the displacement of the seat 104 from the first position by said transducer 106, comparing by the controller 110 (step 208), the measure of the displacement with a preset value of the canopy 112, and actuating (step 210), by the controller 110 an actuating mechanism 114 to control movement of the canopy 112. In one embodiment of the present invention, the movement of the canopy 112 is in a direction in relation to the displacement of the seat 104.

[0027] In one embodiment of the present invention, the above mentioned self-adjusting canopy system 100 and a method of self-adjusting a canopy 112, provides the user, as an advantage, the flexibility to move the seat 104 without having any need to alter the position of the canopy 112.
[0028] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt, for various applications, such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments.
[0029] It is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, of the invention and not as a limitation. The exemplary embodiments described in this specification are intended merely to provide an understanding of various manners in which these embodiments may be used and to further enable the skilled person in the relevant art to practice the invention.
[0030] Although, the embodiments presented in this disclosure have been described in terms of its preferred embodiments, the skilled person in the art would readily recognize that these embodiments can be applied with modifications possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in this specification by making innumerable changes, variations, modifications, alterations and/or integrations in terms of materials and method used to configure, manufacture and assemble various constituents, components, subassemblies and assemblies, in terms of their size, shapes, orientations and interrelationships without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.
[0031] The numerical values given of various physical parameters, dimensions and quantities are only approximate values and it is envisaged that the values higher or lower than the numerical value assigned to the physical parameters, dimensions and quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure unless there is a statement in the specification to the contrary.
[0032] Throughout this specification, the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, shall be understood to imply including a described element, integer or method step, or group of elements, integers or method steps, however, does not imply excluding any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or method steps.
[0033] The use of the expression “a”, “at least” or “at least one” shall imply using one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as used in the embodiment of the disclosure in order to achieve one or more of the intended objects or results of the present invention.
[0034] These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the corresponding apparatus or device be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected”, refer to a relationship, wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.