Vehicle steerable by movement of center of gravity

• US 20060260862A1
• Filed: 06/01/2004
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nishikawa, Gousuke
• Granted Patent: US 7,481,291 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/315
• 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 17/00 Cycles not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor for driving electrically assisted bicycles B62M6/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle which can travel in the front and back direction and which can turn by right and left wheels rotated when a rider riding on a step-board moves the position of rider'"'"'s balance from the center of a vehicle base.

A vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance according to the present invention includes left and right wheels 4L and 4R located at least on the same axis, first and second drive motors 5L and 5R for rotating the left and right wheels 4L, 4R, a vehicle base 2 having the left and right wheels located at its left and right sides and which has the first and second drive motors mounted thereon, a step-board 3 located above the vehicle base 2 and on which a rider rides, pressure sensors 6L, 6R, 7L, 7R interposed between the vehicle base and the step-board to detect movement of rider'"'"'s balance and a drive control means 10 for controlling driving of the first and second drive motors based on detected signals from the pressure sensors to enable the vehicle to travel straight and/or turn. According to the present invention, it is possible for the rider to run the vehicle in the front and back direction and to turn the vehicle in the left and right direction by only moving rider'"'"'s weight.

Claims

1. A vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance comprising:

first and second wheels located at least on the same axis;

first rotary drive means for rotating said first wheel and second rotary drive means for rotating said second wheel;

a vehicle base having said first and second wheels located at its right and left sides and which has said first and second rotary drive means mounted thereon;

a step-board located above said vehicle base and on which a rider rides;

balance movement detecting means interposed between said vehicle base and said step-board to detect movement of rider'"'"'s balance; and

drive control means for controlling driving of said first and second rotary drive means based on a detected signal from said balance movement detecting means to enable said vehicle to travel straight and/or turn.

2. In a vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance according to claim 1, a vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance is characterized in that said balance movement detecting means is composed of a front-side detecting means located ahead of the position at which someone rides on said vehicle base and a back-side detecting means located behind the position at which a rider rides on said vehicle base.

3. In a vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance according to claim 1, a vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance is characterized in that said balance movement detecting means is composed of two front-side detecting means located at right and left sides ahead of the position at which a rider rides on said vehicle base and two back-side detecting means located at right and left sides behind the position at which the rider rides on said vehicle base.

4. In a vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance according to claim 2, a vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance is characterized in that said front-side detecting means and said back-side detecting means are both pressure sensors.

5. In a vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance according to claim 1, a vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance is characterized in that a third wheel is provided in addition to said first and second wheels and said third wheel is located with a displacement ahead of or behind an axial line connecting said first and second wheels.

6. In a vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance according to claim 1, a vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance is characterized in that third and fourth wheels located on the same axis are provided in addition to said first and second wheels and said third and fourth wheels are located with a displacement ahead of or behind the axial line connecting said first and second wheels.

7. In a vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance according to claim 1, a vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance is characterized in that said vehicle base includes a support shaft to rotatably support said step-board at one place in substantially a point-contact fashion.

8. In a vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance according to claim 7, a vehicle which can be steered based on movement of balance is characterized in that said support shaft is provided on said vehicle base so as to rise at the position of balance of said vehicle base.