VEHICLE RIDER DETECTION USING STRAIN GAUGES
First Claim
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1. An electric vehicle comprising:
- a board including first and second deck portions each configured to receive a left or right foot of a rider;
a wheel assembly including a ground-contacting element;
a motor assembly mounted to the board and configured to rotate the ground-contacting element around an axle;
at least one orientation sensor configured to measure orientation information of the board;
a first strain gauge and a second strain gauge spaced apart across the longitudinal centerline of the board and configured to produce rider presence information and rider weight information; and
a motor controller in communication with the motor assembly, the motor controller configured to receive the orientation information and the rider presence information, and to cause the motor assembly to propel the electric vehicle based on the board orientation information and the rider presence information;
wherein the motor controller is configured to determine a weight category of the rider based on the rider weight information, and to respond automatically to the orientation information with a selected aggressiveness based on the rider weight category, such that a same board orientation results in a different acceleration response depending on the rider weight category.
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Abstract
An electric vehicle may include a board having two deck portions each configured to receive a foot of a rider, and a wheel assembly disposed between the deck portions. A motor assembly may drive the wheel assembly in response to board orientation and rider presence information. A rider detection mechanism may include one or more strain gauges, and may be configured to detect rider presence and rider weight information. A responsiveness of the motor may be automatically adjusted based on the rider weight information.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electric vehicle comprising:
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a board including first and second deck portions each configured to receive a left or right foot of a rider; a wheel assembly including a ground-contacting element; a motor assembly mounted to the board and configured to rotate the ground-contacting element around an axle; at least one orientation sensor configured to measure orientation information of the board; a first strain gauge and a second strain gauge spaced apart across the longitudinal centerline of the board and configured to produce rider presence information and rider weight information; and a motor controller in communication with the motor assembly, the motor controller configured to receive the orientation information and the rider presence information, and to cause the motor assembly to propel the electric vehicle based on the board orientation information and the rider presence information; wherein the motor controller is configured to determine a weight category of the rider based on the rider weight information, and to respond automatically to the orientation information with a selected aggressiveness based on the rider weight category, such that a same board orientation results in a different acceleration response depending on the rider weight category. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A self-balancing electric vehicle comprising:
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a board having a first deck portion and a second deck portion, collectively defining a plane and having a longitudinal axis, the first deck portion configured to support a first foot of a rider oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the second deck portion configured to support a second foot of the rider oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; at least one wheel mounted to the board and configured to rotate about an axle coupled to the board; an orientation sensor coupled to the board and configured to sense orientation information of the board; a first strain gauge load cell and a second strain gauge load cell spaced apart across the longitudinal axis of the board, such that the first and second strain gauge load cells sense a strain applied to the board and are configured to produce rider presence information and rider weight information based on the sensed strain; a motor controller configured to receive the orientation information and the rider presence information, and to generate a motor control signal in response; and a motor configured to receive the motor control signal from the motor controller and to rotate the at least one wheel in response, thereby propelling the electric vehicle; wherein the motor controller is further configured to determine a weight category of the rider based on the rider weight information, and to adjust the motor control signal based on the weight category, such that a same board orientation results in a different acceleration response depending on the rider weight category. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An electric vehicle comprising:
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a foot deck having first and second deck portions each configured to support a rider'"'"'s foot oriented generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the foot deck; a ground-contacting wheel configured to rotate about an axle to propel the electric skateboard; at least one orientation sensor configured to measure an orientation of the foot deck; a first strain gauge load cell and a second strain gauge load cell spaced apart across the longitudinal axis of the foot deck, such that the first and second strain gauge load cells sense a strain applied to the foot deck and are configured to produce rider presence information and rider weight information based on the sensed strain; and an electric motor configured to cause rotation of the ground contacting wheel based on the orientation of the foot deck and the rider presence information; wherein a controller is configured to determine a weight category of the rider based on the rider weight information, and to adjust a responsiveness characteristic of the electric motor based on the weight category, such that a same foot deck orientation results in a different acceleration response depending on the rider weight category. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification