Integral joystick display for a powder driven wheelchair

• US 20050080518A1
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Inventors: Wakefield, Theodore D. II
• Granted Patent: US 7,003,381 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/20 Displays or monitors
• 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: G05G 9/047 the controlling member being movable by hand about orthogonal axes, e.g. joysticks for switches H01H25/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 Motorized wheelchairs

Abstract

Apparatus of a power driven wheelchair for displaying operational parameters thereof comprises: a programmed controller operative to monitor a plurality of operational parameters of the wheelchair; a joystick unit coupled to the programmed controller; and a display screen integral to the joystick unit. The programmed controller is operative to interact with the joystick unit to display a user selected operational parameter of the plurality on the display screen of the joystick unit. In addition, a method of displaying operational parameters of a power driven wheelchair on a display screen integral to a joystick unit of the wheelchair comprises the steps of: monitoring a plurality of operational parameters of the wheelchair by a programmed controller; coupling the joystick unit to the programmed controller; utilizing the joystick unit to select an operational parameter of the plurality; and operating the programmed controller to interact with the joystick unit to display the selected operational parameter of the plurality on the display screen of the joystick unit.

Claims