Vehicle interface based on the weight distribution of a user

• US 20070078577A1
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Published: 04/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joshua Coombs
• Original Assignee: Joshua Coombs
• Inventors: Coombs, Joshua
• Granted Patent: US 8,099,200 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/00 Rider-operated controls specially adapted for cycles, i.e. means for initiating control operations, e.g. levers, grips specially adapted to cycle brake mechanisms B62L3/00

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention is an interface for communicating a vehicle command from a user to a vehicle. The interface preferably includes a support system to support at least a portion of the weight of a user, a sensor system to sense the weight distribution of the user, and a processor to interpret a vehicle command based on the weight distribution of the user and to communicate the vehicle command to a vehicle.

Claims

1. An interface for communicating a vehicle command from a user to a vehicle, comprising:

a support system adapted to support at least a portion of the weight of a user;

a sensor system coupled to the support system and adapted to sense the weight distribution of the user; and

a processor coupled to the sensor system and adapted to interpret a vehicle command based on the weight distribution of the user and to communicate the vehicle command to a vehicle.

2. The interface of claim 1, wherein the support system includes a first support portion adapted to support a first weight portion of the user and includes a second support portion adapted to support a second weight portion of the user, and wherein the sensor system is adapted to sense a shift of the weight distribution of the user at the first support portion and the second support portion

3. The interface of claim 2, wherein the first support portion includes a handbase and the second support portion includes a footbase, and wherein the sensor system is adapted to sense the weight distribution of the user at the handbase and the footbase.

4. The interface of claim 3, wherein the processor is further adapted to interpret a vehicle pitch command based on a shift of the weight distribution of the user at the handbase and the footbase, and to communicate the vehicle pitch command to the vehicle.

5. The interface of claim 2, wherein the first support portion includes a seat and the second support portion includes a footbase, and wherein the sensor system is adapted to sense the weight distribution of the user at the seat and the footbase.

6. The interface of claim 5, wherein the processor is further adapted to interpret a vehicle height command based on a shift of the weight distribution of the user at the seat and the footbase, and to communicate the vehicle height command to the vehicle.

7. The interface of claim 5, wherein the processor is further adapted to interpret a vehicle suspension command based on a shift of the weight distribution of the user at the seat and the footbase, and to communicate the vehicle suspension command to the vehicle.

8. The interface of claim 2, wherein the first support portion includes a left handgrip and the second support portion includes a right handgrip, and wherein the sensor system is adapted to sense the weight distribution of the user at the left handgrip and the right handgrip.

9. The interface of claim 8, wherein the processor is further adapted to interpret a vehicle roll command based on a shift of the weight distribution of the user at the left handgrip and the right handgrip, and to communicate the vehicle roll command to the vehicle.

10. The interface of claim 2, wherein the first support portion includes a left footrest and the second support portion includes a right footrest, and wherein the sensor system is adapted to sense the weight distribution of the user at the left footrest and the right footrest.

11. The interface of claim 10, wherein the processor is further adapted to interpret a vehicle roll command based on a shift of the weight distribution of the user at the left footrest and the right footrest, and to communicate the vehicle roll command to the vehicle.

12. The interface of claim 1, wherein the support system includes a handbase having a left handgrip and a right handgrip, a footbase having a left footrest and a right footrest, wherein the sensor system is adapted to sense a shift of the weight distribution of the user at the left handgrip, the right handgrip, the left footrest, and the right footrest, and wherein the processor is further adapted to interpret a vehicle pitch command and a vehicle roll command based on the shift of the weight distribution of the user.

13. The interface of claim 12, wherein the sensor system includes an upper load cell coupled to the handbase and a lower load cell coupled to the footbase.

14. The interface of claim 13, wherein the processor is further adapted to set the vehicle pitch command to a forward pitch command upon a shift of the weight distribution of the user from the footbase to the handbase, and wherein the processor is further adapted to set the vehicle roll command to a left roll command upon a shift of the weight distribution of the user to at least one of the left handgrip and left footrest.

15. The interface of claim 14, wherein the support system further includes a seat, wherein the sensor system is adapted to sense the weight distribution of the user at left handgrip, the right handgrip, the left footrest, the right footrest, and the seat, and wherein the processor is further adapted to interpret a vehicle height command based on a shift of the weight distribution of the user.

16. The interface of claim 15, wherein the sensor system includes a load cell coupled to the seat.

17. The interface of claim 16, wherein the processor is further adapted to set the vehicle height command to an upward height command upon a shift of the weight distribution of the user from the seat to the footbase.