Omnidirectional Electric Wheelchair Control System

• US 20080202837A1
• Filed: 09/21/2006
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Antonio Fernando Macedo Ribeiro, Ivo Mauro Correia Moutinho, Nino Sancho Sampaio Martins Pereira, Paula Alexandre Sousa Braga, Pedro Luis Da Costa E Silva
• Original Assignee: Antonio Fernando Macedo Ribeiro, Ivo Mauro Correia Moutinho, Nino Sancho Sampaio Martins Pereira, Paula Alexandre Sousa Braga, Pedro Luis Da Costa E Silva
• Inventors: Da Costa E Silva, Pedro Luis, Correia Moutinho, Ivo Mauro, Macedo Ribeiro, Antonio Fernando, Sousa Braga, Paula Alexandre, Sampaio Martins Pereira, Nino Sancho
• Application Number:
  US12/067,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20080202837A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/236
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/046 at least three driven wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 19/003 Multidirectional wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2900/131 Vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/84 Wheelchairs

Abstract

This invention refers to a wheelchair control system which enables them to move in an omnidirectional way without much effort by its user. The system is made up of a base (1) where the wheels and motors are attached (2) the batteries (3). The necessary electronics to the full functioning of the wheelchair are located on the second level (4). On the next level up, is placed the processing unit (5). Over all this structure is placed the wheelchair seat (6). On its arm is mounted a joystick (or other wheelchair controlling device) (7) as well as a digital screen (8) so that the user can write and read the all the wheelchair information. The processing unit on board can also receive information from sensors located all around the wheelchair to automatically avoid obstacles. Additionally, this wheelchair control system is electrically fed through rechargeable batteries or fuel cells (3), offering great usage autonomy.

Claims

1. Omnidirectional wheelchair control system characterized by having a base (1) with at least three omnidirectional wheels (2) attached with the same number of motors independent, being each of this associated to the referred omnidirectional wheels, a data processing unit (5), electronic devices essential to the system functioning (4), at least one movement control device, fixed (7) or wireless remote, a communication interface between the several components of the system, a set of sensors and also being fed by rechargeable batteries (3) or fuel cells.

2. Omnidirectional wheelchair control system, according to demand 1, characterized by a base which can have attached three motorized omnidirectional wheels, with an offset of 120 degrees between them, or four omnidirectional motorized wheels with an offset of 90 degrees between them.

3-8. -8. (canceled)

9. Omnidirectional wheelchair control system, according to the demand 1, characterized by the controlling device being preferably a joystick.

10. Omnidirectional wheelchair control system, according to the demand 1, characterized by having an extra wireless remote control with the same functionalities as the main command of the wheelchair.

11. Omnidirectional wheelchair control system, according to the demand 1, characterized by having as interface a tactile screen, which is used to communicate all information between the user and all the components of the system, as well as to display the recorded information made by the processing unit.

12. Omnidirectional wheelchair control system, according to the demand 1, characterized by having several sensors attached to the wheelchair which detect obstacles.

13. (canceled)