DE29516666U1 - Control unit with control panel and electronic display unit for controlling work equipment on commercial vehicles - Google Patents

Description

Applicant: Küpper-Weisser GmbH, 78199 Bräunungen

Description: Control unit with control panel and

electronic display unit for controlling work equipment on commercial vehicles

Description

The invention relates to an operating unit for controlling work equipment on commercial vehicles, consisting of an electronic display unit and a control panel which is provided with a joystick-like control lever, by means of which basic settings of the work equipment for subsequent use can be preselected or set manually or by selecting corresponding control programs from several menus displayed by the display unit.

A control unit of the generic type is known (EP 0 477 703 Bl), which has an electronic display unit and a control panel. The control unit is used to control work equipment, in particular a winter service spreader on a commercial vehicle. The control panel has a joystick-like switch lever for setting or changing certain operating parameters of a spreading process. The

The individual adjustable operating parameters are shown on the display unit, which is designed in the form of a screen, with a five-line display for display. The known bee unit can be used to set the spreading width, the spreading quantity, the road being driven on and the spreading pattern position, with the corresponding operating parameters being shown on the display as menu lines one above the other. In order to be able to see which menu line is currently selected or active, the individual lines are preceded by cursor fields with an arrow marking each. By selecting one of the menu lines, the arrow marking is changed in its display compared to the other arrow markings, so that the operating personnel can see which menu line is currently active and thus which operating parameters can be changed.

The joystick-like switch lever of the familiar control panel can be used to select the individual menu items and the operating parameters displayed can be changed. The control panel also has a menu selector switch with which the selected menu or menu item can be activated. There is also an input switch with which the operating parameters set by the switch lever can be confirmed. The control panel also has a floppy disk or cassette drive, which can be used to access floppy disks.

or cassettes can be used to read programs or operating parameters. For program evaluation, both the control panel and the display unit are connected to a corresponding electronic computing unit, which is used for data evaluation and for controlling the work equipment on the commercial vehicle.

To select the individual menu items, the gearshift lever can be moved forwards and backwards, whereby when the gearshift lever is moved forwards, the individual menu lines are activated from bottom to top, and when the gearshift lever is moved backwards, the activation takes place from line to line from top to bottom. The selection of the corresponding menu line is indicated by the arrow marking in front of this menu line in the display.

By moving the gear lever perpendicular to the forward and backward direction to the left or right, the setting parameters can be changed. If the selected operating parameter is set correctly, this value must be confirmed by pressing the input switch so that this operating parameter is passed on to the corresponding work device on the commercial vehicle via the computing unit and this device assumes a corresponding working position according to this setting.

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Working speed or another device-specific working variable. These working variables are essentially speeds, which applies in particular to the spreading width and the spreading quantity, whereby the speed of a spreading disc on a spreading device is increased to increase the spreading width and the speed of the conveyor screw on the spreading device is increased to increase the spreading quantity.

As stated above, individual operating parameters of working equipment on commercial vehicles can be changed using the known control unit, whereby the process for carrying out these changes is relatively complicated. This is particularly disadvantageous when a commercial vehicle is in use, for example a commercial vehicle equipped with a snow plow and a spreader. Changing the operating parameters while driving requires some adjustment work by the operating personnel by operating the gear lever and by constantly confirming by operating the menu selector switch or the input switch, so that the driver of a commercial vehicle is constantly distracted during the corrective adjustments and thus a danger to other road traffic cannot be ruled out. If, on the other hand, these corrective adjustment measures for the operating parameters are carried out during

If the repair is carried out while the commercial vehicle is stationary, this means a loss of time and therefore increased costs, and in unfavourable traffic conditions the commercial vehicle also represents a traffic obstruction for other vehicles, which in turn can lead to a danger to other road traffic.

Accordingly, the invention is based on the object of improving an operating unit of the generic type in such a way that the operating personnel or the driver of a commercial vehicle can easily monitor and correct at least the essential settings of the operating parameters of work equipment during use and that endangering other road users during use of the commercial vehicle should be excluded as far as possible.

The object is achieved according to the invention in that in the area of the gear lever or another support surface further pushbutton, toggle or rocker switches are provided, the arrangement of which in relation to the gear lever or the support surface is selected so that they can be reached safely with the fingers of a hand of the operating personnel or the driver of the commercial vehicle resting on the gear lever or the support surface, and that these pushbutton, toggle or rocker switches serve to activate the

to manually change the set standard or target values of the operating parameters during operation by operating the pushbutton, toggle or rocker switch in order to adapt them to changing working conditions for the individual work equipment, and that the display of these changes is activated without pre-selecting the corresponding menu items using the switch lever on the display unit by operating the pushbutton, toggle or rocker switch, so that any desired change is immediately recognizable by the operating personnel.

The design according to the invention provides the driver of a commercial vehicle with an operating unit with which the operating parameters of work equipment that is attached to a commercial vehicle, e.g. a snow plow and/or a winter service spreader, can be easily controlled and changed during use of the commercial vehicle. In particular, the operating unit according to the invention gives the driver the opportunity to monitor the operating parameters during use of the commercial vehicle with its work equipment without great effort by simply pressing the provided pushbutton, toggle or rocker switch according to the operating conditions and to correct them if necessary. It is not necessary for the driver to set the operating parameters in advance.

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using the gear lever during use to select the appropriate menu selection in order to be able to make changes. By simply pressing the pushbutton, toggle or rocker switch, the corresponding menu item, which contains the associated operating parameters, is activated and displayed on the electronic display unit, so that a change to the operating parameter can be carried out and displayed directly by pressing the pushbutton, toggle or rocker switch, without the driver of a commercial vehicle being unnecessarily distracted from the road traffic by this setting or correction activity.

Furthermore, the specially designed arrangement of the pushbutton, toggle or rocker switches within reach of the fingers of one hand of the operating personnel means that after a short period of practice, the driver of the commercial vehicle can operate the pushbutton, toggle or rocker switches without having to look at the control panel, so that visual attention can remain essentially focused on the road traffic while the commercial vehicle is in use. This means that adjustment activities during use of the commercial vehicle to adapt individual operating parameters to changing operating conditions can also be carried out safely by the driver of the commercial vehicle.

Instead of resting the driver's hand on the gear lever, a separate support surface can be provided on the control panel, within whose reach the corresponding pushbutton, toggle or rocker switches are arranged for the fingers of the driver's hand, so that the control panel or the pushbutton, toggle or rocker switches can also be operated safely.

The function of the provided pushbutton switches is selected according to claim 2 such that an operating parameter can be changed positively and negatively by means of a pushbutton pair.

If toggle or rocker switches are provided instead of the pushbutton switch pairs according to claim 3, then a toggle or rocker switch replaces a pushbutton switch pair in its function, so that only one toggle or rocker switch is available for the positive and negative change of an operating parameter. By operating the toggle or rocker switch in one actuation direction, a positive change of the respectively assigned operating parameter can be carried out and in the corresponding opposite actuation direction a negative change of the corresponding operating parameter can be carried out. This enables an extremely simple and safe

Operability is ensured for the operating personnel or the driver of the commercial vehicle.

According to claim 4, the electronic display unit is arranged in the driver's cab of the commercial vehicle, preferably in the driver's field of vision. This ensures that the driver can always safely control changes to operating parameters without losing sight of the traffic while the commercial vehicle is in use. This enables the operating parameters to be corrected or adapted to changing operating conditions during use without the driver having to divert his attention to a greater extent from the rest of the traffic, thus ensuring the highest level of safety for the rest of the traffic and also for the driver of the commercial vehicle himself.

The arrangement of the control panel in the immediate vicinity of the driver according to claim 5 also significantly increases the safety of the operability of the control panel, since the driver of the commercial vehicle does not have to change his normal sitting position to operate the control panel.

By means of an electronic data reading and writing unit provided in the control panel as well as an electronic computing unit according to claim 6, operating data can be

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the data reading and writing unit can be stored on a removable data storage device. Operating data can also be read from the data storage device via the data reading and writing unit into the computing unit of the control panel for controlling the work equipment or specifying operating parameters for specific purposes. This means that operating data can be recorded for later evaluation by the data reading and writing unit and the computing unit. Furthermore, it is possible to check at any time, for example, whether the driver of a commercial vehicle has carried out a specified operational plan as instructed or not. Operating data, which must be available for certain purposes in order to select certain operating parameters, can also be specified to the driver of the commercial vehicle via the data storage device, so that he can optimally control the work equipment.

By designing the data storage device in the form of a dummy card and/or a memory card with a key code according to claim 7, the driver of a commercial vehicle cannot operate the commercial vehicle's work equipment without inserting such a data storage device. This prevents the driver from arbitrarily making empty trips or operations that are not part of the commercial vehicle's operating plan.

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The invention is explained below with reference to the drawings
explained in more detail. It shows:

Fig. 1 a control panel of the control unit in
perspective representation;

Fig. 2 a display unit of the control unit in
perspective representation;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the control panel from Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the display unit from Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 and 2 the two main components of the
control unit according to the invention. The
The control unit consists of a control panel 1 as shown in Fig. 1 and a display unit 2 as shown in Fig. 2 and is used in the embodiment shown to control
for example, a snow plow and a
Winter service spreader or for setting the
Operating parameters of these attachments, which are connected to a
are installed on commercial vehicles.

The control panel 1 has a joystick-like gear lever
3 and three key fields 4, 5, 6, in each of which several pushbuttons 7, 8 or 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 are connected to individual pushbutton groups
are arranged together.

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The push button 7 of the keypad 4 is used to switch a rotating beacon on and off, which is arranged, for example, on the winter service spreader. Accordingly, this push button 7 is provided with a beacon symbol 19. In order to be able to recognize the activation state of the rotating beacon, the push button 7 can be provided with a lighting device which illuminates the push button 7 when the rotating beacon is active, so that the activation of the rotating beacon can be recognized by a driver of a commercial vehicle on the control panel 1 of the control unit.

In the present embodiment of the control panel 1, the push button 8 is not assigned any function. However, it is conceivable that this push button 8, which is also an on-off switch, is used, for example, to switch on and off a rear lighting unit, which the driver of a commercial vehicle activates via the push button 8, for example when driving at night, in order to be able to visually check the current spreading behavior during use of the winter service spreading device. Depending on the structure and arrangement of other additional devices, this push button 8 can of course also have other functions.

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Functions have or can be assigned to keypad 4 further push buttons.

The keypad 5 is provided with four additional push buttons 8, 9, 10 and 11, which are also assigned defined functions.

In the present embodiment of the control unit, the control panel 1 can be used for a winter service spreader with a single-chamber spreader or with a two-chamber spreader. Depending on the design of the winter service spreader, different functions are assigned to the push buttons 8, 9, 10 and 11.

The pushbutton switch 9 is designed as an on-off switch and is used to activate the conveying of solid spreading materials. By pressing this pushbutton switch 9, the spreading process, i.e. the rotary drive of the conveyor screw of a winter service spreading device, is activated according to set target values that affect the speed of this conveyor screw. If it is a single-chamber spreading machine, only one conveyor screw is present, so that by pressing the pushbutton switch 9 this one conveyor screw is put into operation.

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If the winter service spreader is a two-chamber spreader, the delivery of solid spreading materials from the left chamber is activated by pressing the push button 9. As can also be seen from Fig. 3, the push button 9 has a corresponding delivery symbol 20 and an identification number "1" so that the driver of the commercial vehicle can use this symbol to assign this push button 9 to its corresponding function for activating the spreading process.

The pushbutton switch 10 of the keypad 5 is also designed as an on-off switch and is used especially in two-chamber spreaders to activate the drive of the conveyor screw of the second or right chamber of the winter service spreader according to corresponding preset target values. When the spreading process is activated by the pushbutton switches 9, 10, the two pushbutton switches 9, 10 are illuminated so that the driver can see the corresponding operating state of the corresponding drives of the conveyor screws of the winter service spreader. The pushbutton switch 10 is also provided with a corresponding conveyor symbol 21 and an identification number "2" so that the driver of the commercial vehicle can assign this pushbutton switch 10 to the corresponding second drive of the right chamber of the winter service spreader.

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In the present embodiment, the pushbutton switch 11 is used to activate a snow plow attached to the commercial vehicle. The plow symbol 22 arranged on this pushbutton switch 11 enables the driver of the commercial vehicle to recognize the corresponding assignment of the pushbutton switch for controlling the snow plow. The operating parameters of the snow plow, which can be activated using the pushbutton switch 11, are also set in advance as target values and can be called up.

The pushbutton switch 12 has no function in the present embodiment and is also designed as an on-off switch. However, with the help of this pushbutton switch 12, for example, an additional inter-axle sweeping roller arranged on the commercial vehicle can be activated according to the corresponding setpoint specifications. It can also be provided that a specific spreading pattern, for example a city spreading pattern, in which essentially only one side is spread, is called up using this pushbutton switch 12.

The pushbuttons 13 to 18 of the keypad 6 are used to adjust individual operating parameters, for example of the above-mentioned winter service spreader, and are functionally grouped in pairs to change one operating parameter at a time.

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The pushbuttons 13 and 14 form a pushbutton pair, by means of which, in the intended embodiment, the spreading width can be changed during use of the winter service spreader. The spreading width can be increased during the spreading process by means of the pushbutton 13, which is provided with a "+" sign 23, and the spreading width can be reduced by means of the pushbutton 14, which is provided with a "-" sign. To identify the function of this pushbutton pair, consisting of the pushbuttons 13 and 14, a spreading width symbol 25 is arranged on the control panel 1 above the pushbutton 13.

The pair of pushbuttons, consisting of pushbuttons 15 and 16, is used in the present embodiment to increase the conveyance of solid spreading materials during use of the winter service spreading device. If this winter service spreading device is a two-chamber spreading machine, the conveyance of the solid spreading materials in the left chamber is changed using this pair of pushbuttons. The pushbutton 15 is provided with a "+" symbol for increasing the conveyance, as well as with the code number "1", which indicates that the pushbutton 15 is used to increase the conveyance of solid spreading materials in the left chamber in a two-chamber spreading machine. In an analogous manner, the pushbutton 16, which is used to reduce

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which serves to promote the left chamber, has a "-" symbol and also an identification number "1".

In addition to the function of increasing the target value of the spreading density of the push button 15, it is also equipped with an emergency spreading function. If the push button for the spreading density 15 is operated over a longer period of time, an increased spreading density is achieved, whereby the increase in this spreading density can be specified. Such emergency spreading may be necessary if, during use of the commercial vehicle, significantly changed spreading conditions suddenly occur. To identify the push button pair, consisting of push button 15 and 16, a spreading density symbol 28 is arranged above the push button 15 on the control panel 1, so that the driver of the commercial vehicle can recognize the functional assignment of this push button pair using the spreading density symbol 28.

The third pair of pushbuttons, consisting of pushbuttons 17 and 18, can also be used to increase or decrease the target value for the spreading density. In this case, the winter service spreader is designed as a two-chamber spreader, so that by operating pushbuttons 17 and 18, the target value for the spreading density for the right chamber of the two-chamber spreader can be changed. The

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Pushbutton switch 17 is marked with a "+" symbol to indicate its increasing switching function, while pushbutton switch 18 is marked with a "-" symbol. In addition, the number "2" is arranged on both pushbutton switches, so that the driver of the commercial vehicle can see that these pushbutton switches 17, 18 are assigned to the right, second chamber of the two-chamber automatic spreader. For this application, a spreading density symbol 28/1 is also arranged on the control panel above pushbutton switches 17, 18, so that the driver of the commercial vehicle can see the functional assignment of pushbutton switches 17, 18 to the spreading density change.

If the winter service spreader is only designed as a single-chamber spreader, the pushbutton switches 17, 18 can be used for remote-controlled spreading head adjustment of the winter service spreader, which is indicated by the arrow symbol 31 on the pushbutton switch.

17 or by the arrow symbol 32 of the push button 18. In this case, pressing the push button 17 causes the spreader head to be moved to the left and pressing the push button

18 a right-hand adjustment of the spreading head, which changes the spreading direction of the winter service spreader.

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As a further option, in a single-chamber spreading machine, the pushbutton switch 17 or 18 can be used to increase or decrease the amount of brine added when spreading wet salt.

Using the joystick-like control lever, the necessary operating parameters for the work equipment attached to the commercial vehicle, such as the winter service spreader and the snow plow in this case, can be preselected before use. The individual operating parameters are selected and adjusted by swiveling the control lever 3 in the forward direction of arrow 33, in the backward direction of arrow 34 and by swiveling the control lever to the right in the direction of arrow 35 or to the left in the direction of arrow 36.

This selection of the individual operating parameters takes place in conjunction with the display unit 2, which has a display 37 for this purpose. The display 37 has a four-line display field 38, in which twenty characters can be displayed line by line. In the display field 38, individual menu lines are displayed in the form of the individual operating parameters and are selected by moving the shift lever 3 forwards (arrow 33) or backwards (arrow 34) and by means of a

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central push button 39 of the gearshift lever 3 at its upper end.

The selectable operating parameters are displayed in various menus in the display field 3 8 and can be selected in the manner described above.

To specify these operating parameters, a read and write unit 40 is provided in the control panel, via which the required operating parameters can be transferred to a computing unit integrated in the control panel 1 by means of a card-like data carrier 41 that can be inserted into the read and write unit. From these data or operating parameters, which are shown in the display field 38 of the display unit 2, the driver can now call up the relevant data before using the commercial vehicle and adjust the specified operating parameters step by step as required, call up certain program specifications or deployment plans according to which, for example, a certain deployment should be carried out. The data carrier also contains a security code so that the control unit, consisting of the control panel 1 and the display unit 2, can only be activated when the data carrier 41, which can be a memory card or a dummy card, is inserted. Without the data carrier 41, the control unit cannot be activated, so that a driver of the commercial vehicle cannot

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can operate the work equipment and thus the commercial vehicle on his own initiative without this being controllable in any way.

Various menus are provided as individual displayable data sets, whereby in a master data menu, for example, the name of the driver, the name of the passenger, the vehicle, the spreader and the clearing device and the deployment plan can be displayed in the display field 38. This master data, arranged line by line, can be displayed by moving the switch lever 3 forwards and backwards in the direction of arrows 33 and 34 in the display field 38 by "rolling" the text in a vertical direction. The same applies to the display of texts that are longer than the twenty characters that can be displayed in the display field, whereby to display text that is outside the display field 38, this can be made visible by pressing the switch lever 3 to the right or left in the direction of arrows 35 or 36 to move the text in the display field 38.

By pressing the push button 39, a main menu is displayed, which contains, for example, the menu items spreader, operating data, emptying of the stand and other settings, which can be accessed by moving the control lever 3 forwards and backwards in the direction of the

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Arrows 33 and 34 can be selected respectively. If a menu item in the main menu is selected, it can be activated by pressing the push button 39, whereby this activation displays a submenu corresponding to the selected main menu item with the corresponding operating parameters.

By further selecting the individual operating parameters by moving the shift lever 3 in the forward and backward direction of arrows 33 and 34, the individual operating parameters can be selected, whereby their input or change can be achieved by pressing the push button again. To change the selected operating parameters, the shift lever 3 is now moved to the right or left in the direction of arrows 35 and 36, whereby, for example, a rightward movement in the direction of arrow 35 increases an operating parameter and a leftward movement in the direction of arrow 36 decreases the corresponding operating parameter. This gradual increase or decrease of the relevant operating parameter or the intersection of this change is also transferred to the computing unit via the data carrier 41. Thus, using the shift lever 3 and its functional options, the driver can enter all the necessary operating parameters before starting work according to a sequence specified by the data carrier 41.

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pre-recorded control program or by manual setting.

During use, however, it can happen more frequently that the preset operating parameters have to be changed due to different operating conditions or changing operating conditions. In the present embodiment, the pushbuttons 13 to 18 of the keypad 6 are used for this purpose. By pressing the corresponding pushbuttons 13 to 18 for the individual functions described above, the current value of the corresponding operating parameter is automatically displayed in the display field 38. In order to be able to see which operating parameter is to be changed, a toolbar 42 is provided above the display field 38 on the display 37, which contains the same symbols 25, 28 and 28/1 from left to right as the control panel 1 above the keypad 6.

The driver of the commercial vehicle can therefore identify during use by pressing the pushbuttons 13 to 18, using the symbols 25, 28 and 28/1 shown on the display 37, which operating parameters can be changed or which pushbuttons 13 to 18 he has just pressed. It is therefore not necessary for the driver to enter the individual operating parameters in a complicated manner using the gear lever 3.

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·

Way to select and change by activating it.

Thus, the control unit according to the invention, consisting of the control panel 1 and the display unit 2, provides a control unit for commercial vehicles for setting various operating parameters of attached work equipment, with which certain basic data or deployment plans can be read in and specified, whereby the corresponding data, which can be displayed in various menus, can be selected and changed for this process using the gear lever 3. Furthermore, certain operating parameters which must be changeable during use of the commercial vehicle can be changed in a simple manner by pressing the pushbuttons 13 to 18 and automatically displayed in the display field 38 of the display 37, so that the driver of the commercial vehicle always has a precise overview of the operating parameters and can change them if necessary without losing too much attention to the rest of the traffic. Furthermore, the read and write unit 40 also allows operating data to be saved at any time during operation, so that every operating trip can be evaluated at any time and can also be reworked as a program and used as a template for further purposes.

Claims (7)

Applicant: Küpper-Weisser GmbH, 78199 Bräunungen Description: Control unit with control panel and electronic display unit for controlling work equipment on commercial vehicles Protection claims 1. Control unit for controlling work equipment on commercial vehicles, consisting of an electronic display unit and a control panel, which is provided with a joystick-like control lever, by means of which basic settings of the work equipment for subsequent use can be preselected or set manually or by selecting appropriate control programs from several menus displayed by the display unit, characterized in that that in the area of the control lever (3) or another support surface, further pushbutton, toggle or rocker switches (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) are provided, the arrangement of which with respect to the control lever (3) or the support surface is selected such that they can be operated with the fingers of a hand of the operating personnel resting on the control lever or the support surface or the driver of the commercial vehicle are safely accessible, and that these pushbutton, toggle or rocker switches (13 to 18) are used to manually change the standard or setpoint values of the operating parameters set before the start of use of the implements during operation by operating the pushbutton, toggle or rocker switches (13 to 18) in order to adapt them to any changing working conditions for the individual implements, and that the display of these changes is activated without pre-selecting the related menu items using the switch lever (3) on the display unit (2) by operating the pushbutton, toggle or rocker switches (13 to 18) and thus any desired change is immediately recognizable by the operating personnel. 2. Control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the function of the provided key switches (13 to 18) is selected such that by means of a key switch pair an operating parameter can be changed positively and negatively. 3. Control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that for the positive and negative change of an operating parameter only one toggle switch or rocker switch is provided, by the By actuating in one direction of actuation, a positive change in the respective associated operating parameter can be carried out and by actuating in the corresponding opposite direction of actuation, a negative change in the operating parameter can be carried out. 4. Control unit according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electronic ■ Display unit (2) is arranged in the driver's cab of the commercial vehicle, preferably within the driver's field of vision. 5. Control unit according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control panel (1) is arranged in the driver's cab so that it can be reached in the immediate vicinity of the driver of a commercial vehicle. 6. Operating unit according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that an electronic data reading and writing unit (40) is provided in the control panel (1), by means of which operating data can be stored on an exchangeable data carrier (41) and/or read from this into an electronic computing unit of the control panel (1) for controlling the working units or specifying operating parameters. 7. Control unit according to claim 6, characterized in that a data carrier (41) in the form of a dummy card and/or a memory card is provided, which contains a key code, by means of which the control unit can be put into operation.