Exercise mode for a personal transporter device

• US 20040005958A1
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Sachs, Jason M., Heinzmann, John David, Kamen, Dean L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,920,947 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/04 motor-driven A61G5/06 takes precedence; motor-operated rests A61G5/12; for vehicles with handlebars, equipped with three or more wheels B62K5/003, B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/01 Skateboards A63C17/02 - A63C17/28 take precedence; rolling devices on skis A63C5/035
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/04 with wheels arranged otherwise than in two pairs A63C17/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/08 single-wheel type with single axis
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/12 with driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 5/04 Structure of the surface thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/007 Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 13/00 Cycles convertible to, or transformable into, other types of cycles or land vehicle cycle supports or stands equipped with additional wheels for ride stabilisation B62H1/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A personal transporter device and corresponding method of operation are given that utilize an exercise mode. A transporter assembly includes a platform, a ground-contacting module, and a motorized drive. The platform supports a user. The ground-contacting module is connected to the platform. The motorized drive powers the ground-contacting module to drive the assembly in a selected direction over an underlying surface. A controller is coupled to and controlling the motorized drive, and also has an exercise mode for opposing a user-provided human power input with a selected level of resistance. When the device is a dynamically stabilized transporter, the controller also controls the motorized drive so as to dynamically stabilize the transporter assembly.

Claims

1. A personal transporter device comprising:

a transporter assembly including;

(i) a platform for supporting a user;

(ii) a ground-contacting module connected to the platform; and

(iii) a motorized drive for powering the ground-contacting module to drive the assembly in a selected direction over an underlying surface; and

a controller coupled to and controlling the motorized drive, and having an exercise mode for opposing a user-provided human power input with a selected level of resistance.

2. A personal transporter device according to claim 1, wherein the personal transporter device is a dynamically stabilized transporter, and the controller further controls the motorized drive so as to dynamically stabilize the transporter assembly.

3. A personal transporter device according to claim 1, wherein the exercise mode allows the user to provide the human power input by causing movement of the transporter assembly relative to the underlying surface.

4. A personal transporter device according to claim 3, wherein the exercise mode allows the user to push from the underlying surface against the transporter assembly.

5. A personal transporter device according to claim 3, wherein the exercise mode allows the user to pull from the underlying surface against the transporter assembly.

6. A personal transporter device according to claim 3, wherein the exercise mode allows the user on the platform to move the transporter assembly alternately in opposing directions so that the transporter assembly maintains a relatively fixed position on the underlying surface.

7. A personal transporter device according to claim 6, wherein the controller uses a position term variable to maintain the relatively fixed position.

8. A personal transporter device according to claim 1, wherein a constant current is maintained to the motorized drive.

9. A personal transporter device according to claim 1, wherein a constant voltage is maintained to the motorized drive.

10. A personal transporter device according to claim 1, wherein the controller provides a resistance such that the human power input is required to be a specified function of the speed of the assembly over the underlying surface.

11. A personal transporter device according to claim 1, wherein the controller provides a resistance such that the human power input is required to be a specified function of the square of the speed of the assembly over the underlying surface.

12. A personal transporter device according to claim 1, wherein the human power input acts to recharge a personal transporter device power source.

13. A personal transporter device according to claim 1, wherein the human power input is converted into heat.

14. A personal transporter device according to claim 13, wherein the motorized drive opposes the human power input.

15. A personal transporter device according to claim 13, wherein a component dissipates the heat.

16. A personal transporter device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a user seat connected to the platform; and

a pedal arrangement for a seated user to provide the human power input.

17. A personal transporter device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a user display for providing to the user an indication of at least one of a present state of a transporter device power source, a rate of change of the present state of the power source, a total amount of calories expended by the user, and a present rate of calories being expended by the user.

18. A personal transporter device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a coupling mechanism for coupling the transporter assembly to a separate exercise device,

wherein operation of the controller in exercise mode involves opposing a user-provided human power input to the separate exercise device with a selected level of resistance provided by the motorized drive of the personal transporter.

19. A method of using a personal transporter device comprising:

providing a transporter assembly including;

(i) a platform for supporting a user,

(ii) a ground-contacting module connected to the platform, and

(iii) a motorized drive for powering the ground-contacting module to drive the assembly in a selected direction over an underlying surface;

controlling the motorized drive with a controller having an exercise mode for opposing a user-provided human power input with a selected level of resistance.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the personal transporter device is a dynamically stabilized transporter, and the controller further controls the motorized drive so as to dynamically stabilize the transporter assembly.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the exercise mode allows the user to provide the human power input by causing movement of the transporter assembly relative to the underlying surface.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the exercise mode allows the user to push from the underlying surface against the transporter assembly.

23. A method according to claim 21, wherein the exercise mode allows the user to pull from the underlying surface against the transporter assembly.

24. A method according to claim 21, wherein the exercise mode allows the user on the platform to move the transporter assembly alternately in opposing directions so that the transporter assembly maintains a relatively fixed position on the underlying surface.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the controller uses a position term variable to maintain the relatively fixed position.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein the controller uses a pitch damping term variable to maintain the relatively fixed position.

27. A method according to claim 24, wherein the controller uses a wheel damping term variable to maintain the relatively fixed position.

28. A method according to claim 19, wherein powering the ground-contacting module includes maintaining a constant current from a transporter power source.

29. A method according to claim 19, wherein powering the ground-contacting module includes maintaining a constant voltage from a transporter power source.

30. A method according to claim 19, wherein the human power input is required to be a specified function of the speed of the assembly over the underlying surface.

31. A method according to claim 19, wherein the human power input is required to be a specified function of the square of the speed of the assembly over the underlying surface.

32. A method according to claim 19, wherein the human power input acts to recharge a transporter device power source.

33. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

converting the human power input into heat.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the motorized drive opposes the human power input.

35. A method according to claim 33, wherein a resistor dissipates the heat.

36. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

providing a user seat connected to the platform; and

providing the human power input from a seated user operating a pedal arrangement.

37. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

providing to the user an indication of at least one of a present state of a transporter device power source, a rate of change of the present state of the power source, a total amount of calories expended by the user, and a present rate of calories being expended by the user.

38. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

coupling the transporter assembly to a separate exercise device, and

wherein controlling the motorized drive in exercise mode involves opposing a user-provided human power input to the separate exercise device with a selected level of resistance provided by the motorized drive of the personal transporter.