ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIR, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF AND CONTROL SYSTEM THEREOF

• US 20180072161A1
• Filed: 12/22/2016
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Lin, Li-Zen, Chen, Pin-Yung, Lin, Yi-Ling, Chen, Chin-Chang
• Application Number:
  US15/388,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20180072161A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/20 Displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/30 characterised by sensor means
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2205/10 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/041 having a specific drive-type
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1051 Arrangements for steering
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1054 Large wheels, e.g. higher than the seat portion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/40 Adaptation of control equipment on vehicle for remote actuation from a stationary place devices along the route for controlling devices on rail vehicles B61L3/00; central rail-traffic control systems B61L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/34 Wheel chairs
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

An electric wheelchair, a control method thereof and a control system thereof are provided. The control method includes the following steps. Firstly, a control signal is outputted to the electric wheelchair by way of wireless according to a posture of a handheld controller. Then, the electric wheelchair performs a corresponding motion according to the control signal.

Claims

1. A control method for an electric wheelchair, comprising:

outputting a plurality of control signals to a plurality of driving devices of the electric wheelchair respectively by way of wireless technologies according to a posture of a handheld controller, wherein the number of the control signals is equal to the number of the driving devices;

controlling the electric wheelchair to perform a corresponding motion by the driving device of the electric wheelchair in accordance with the control signals;

detecting whether the handheld controller is at an abnormal state; and

if the handheld controller is at the abnormal state, temporarily stopping outputting the control signals to the electric wheelchair.

2. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the handheld controller tilts from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation; and

if the handheld controller tilts from the horizontal orientation to the vertical orientation, the smaller the angle included between the handheld controller and the vertical orientation is, the faster the speed of the corresponding motion of the electric wheelchair is.

3. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising:

when the handheld controller is at a vertical orientation, the speed of the corresponding motion of the electric wheelchair is the fastest.

4. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the handheld controller tilts from a vertical orientation to a horizontal orientation; and

if the handheld controller tilts from the vertical orientation to the horizontal orientation, the larger the angle included between the handheld controller and the vertical orientation is, the slower the speed of the corresponding motion of the electric wheelchair is.

5. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the handheld controller has an X axis, a Y axis and a Z axis which are vertical to each other, and the posture is how the handheld controller rotates around at least one of the X axis, the Y axis and the Z axis.

6. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising:

in response to a stop instruction, stopping outputting the control signals to the electric wheelchair.

7. The control method according to claim 6, wherein after the step of in response to the stop instruction, stopping outputting the control signals to the electric wheelchair, the control method further comprises:

in response to a restoration instruction, restoring outputting the control signals to the electric wheelchair.

8. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting whether the handheld controller is at the abnormal state comprises:

calculating an average value of acceleration of the handheld controller;

determining whether the average value of acceleration is equal to a predetermined value; and

if the average value of acceleration is not equal to the predetermined value, determining the handheld controller is at the abnormal state.

9. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the step of detecting whether the handheld controller is at the abnormal state comprises:

calculating a plurality of average values of accelerations of the handheld controller;

determining whether the number of the average values of accelerations which are not equal to a predetermined value is more than a designated number; and

if the number of the average values of accelerations which are not equal to the predetermined value is more than the designated number, determining the handheld controller is at a dropping state.

10. The control method according to claim 9, wherein the step of detecting whether the handheld controller is at the abnormal state further comprises:

once any of the average values of accelerations is determined not equal to the predetermined value, temporarily stopping outputting the control signals to the electric wheelchair; and

if the number of the average values of accelerations which are not equal to the predetermined value is not more than the designated number, restoring outputting the control signals to the electric wheelchair.

11. The control method according to claim 9, wherein the step of detecting whether the handheld controller is at the abnormal state further comprises:

once any of the average values of accelerations is determined not equal to the predetermined value, stopping outputting the control signals to the electric wheelchair; and

before receiving a restoration instruction, not outputting the control signals to the electric wheelchair.

12. A control system for an electric wheelchair, comprising:

a handheld controller, comprising;

an acceleration sensor configured to output a corresponding acceleration information according to a posture of the handheld controller; and

a controller configured to output a plurality of control signals according to the acceleration information; and

an electric wheelchair, comprising;

a wheelchair body comprising a plurality of wheels; and

a plurality of driving devices each configured to detachably dispose on the wheels of the wheelchair body for controlling the wheels to rotate according to the control signals respectively to perform a corresponding motion, wherein the number of the control signals, the number of the driving devices and the number of the wheels are equal;

wherein the handheld controller is further configured to;

detect whether the handheld controller is at an abnormal state according to the acceleration information; and

if the handheld controller is at the abnormal state, respectively output a plurality of stop operation signals to the driving devices and then stop outputting the control signals to the electric wheelchair.

13. An electric wheelchair, comprising:

a wheelchair body comprising a plurality of wheels; and

a plurality of driving devices each detachably disposed on the wheels of the wheelchair body,

wherein the driving devices are configured to control the wheelchair body to perform a corresponding motion according to a plurality of control signals from a handheld controller, and the control signals are determined by a posture of the handheld controller;

wherein the number of the control signals, the number of the driving devices and the number of the wheels are equal, and the driving devices are configured to, in response to a plurality of stop operation signals, stop driving the wheels.