Direction indicator system, and electric wheelchair, walking stick, and game controller utilizing said direction indicator system

• US 20080180267A1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Kaneko, Masahiro, Segawa, Yuriko, Sakurai, Satoshi, Uchiyama, Takuya, Yatsu, Nobuo
• Granted Patent: US 8,471,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2003/063 with tactile perception
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/061 with electronic detecting or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/068 Sticks for blind persons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/24 Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1043 being characterized by constructional details

Abstract

A direction indicator system includes: an electromagnetic drive actuator that has a moving part that can slide back and forth, side to side, and diagonally; and a drive controlling unit that controls the sliding direction of the moving part, based on direction indicating information that is supplied from the outside.

Claims

1. A direction indicator system comprising:

an electromagnetic drive actuator that has a moving part that can slide back and forth, side to side, and diagonally; and

a drive controlling unit that controls a sliding direction of the moving part, based on direction indicating information that is supplied from the outside.

2. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising

a navigation unit that obtains current position information from a position information provider of the outside,

wherein the drive controlling unit controls the electromagnetic drive actuator, based on route information that is provided as the direction indicating information by the navigation unit.

3. The direction indicator system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising

an obstacle sensor that detects an obstacle existing in a traveling direction,

wherein the drive controlling unit changes the control of the electromagnetic drive actuator in accordance with obstacle information supplied from the obstacle sensor.

4. An electric wheelchair comprising

the direction indicator system as claimed in claim 2.

5. The electric wheelchair as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electromagnetic drive actuator is placed in an operation part for driving operations or in an armrest.

6. The electric wheelchair as claimed in claim 4, wherein the electromagnetic drive actuator is placed in an operation part for driving operations or in an armrest, the electromagnetic drive actuator being located in a variable position or being detachable.

7. A walking stick comprising

the direction indicator system as claimed in claim 2.

8. The walking stick as claimed in claim 7, wherein the electromagnetic drive actuator is placed on an upper portion or a side portion of a gripping part.

9. The walking stick as claimed in claim 7, wherein the electromagnetic drive actuator is located in a variable position in the gripping part or is detachable from the gripping part.

10. The walking stick as claimed in claim 7, wherein concave portions for indicating a gripping position are formed on a gripping part.

11. A game controller comprising

the direction indicator system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the drive controlling unit controls the electromagnetic drive actuator, based on the direction indicating information that is supplied from a game console.