Automated carrier

• US 5,363,933 A
• Filed: 08/20/1992
• Issued: 11/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Lin, Chien-Hsing, Hsu, E-Chang, Yu, Foung-Hsoung, Yaung, Huann-Jen
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M.
• Application Number:
  US07/932,589
• Time in Patent Office: 817 Days
• Field of Search: 180/6.2, 180/6.24, 180/6.32, 180/6.48, 180/6.5, 180/65.1, 180/65.8, 180/167, 180/907, 180/169, 364/424.02
• US Class Current: 180/6.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/04 motor-driven A61G5/06 takes precedence; motor-operated rests A61G5/12; for vehicles with handlebars, equipped with three or more wheels B62K5/003, B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/28 non-mechanical , e.g. following a line or other known markers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

A protecting, diversified and/or better operable automated carrier is provided. The carrier includes a carrying body mounting thereon a driving device electrically connected to a controller electrically connected to a commanding device for controlling the moving speed and direction of the carrying body, a CPU electrically connected between the controller and the commanding device, and a protecting device electrically connected to the CPU and capable of resulting in a desired response when the carrying body is within a predetermined distance from an obstacle.

Claims

1. An automated carrier comprising:

a carrying body;

two motors mounted on said carrying body for driving said carrying body;

a controller electrically connected to said two motors;

two encoders respectively electrically connected to said motors for sending speed feedback signals to said controller;

a manual commanding means electrically connected to said controller for controlling a moving speed and a moving direction of said carrying body;

a microcomputer electrically connected between said controller and said manual commanding means and being so programmed that said carrying body is immovable when said microcomputer is hanged up;

a phonetic recognition device electrically connected to said controller for controlling said moving speed and said moving direction of said carrying body and for allowing said controller to enable said carrying body to smoothly slow down an original speed thereon when said phonetic recognition device is actuated; and

a protecting means electrically connected to said microcomputer and capable of resulting in a desired response when said body is within a predetermined distance from an obstacle, said protecting means being one of an infrared detector and a supersonic detector, said infrared detector being capable of emitting therefrom a warning signal when said body is within said distance from said obstacle and said supersonic detector being capable of sending a detected result to said microcomputer capable of sending first speed control signals to said controller for allowing said controller to enable said carrying body to smoothly slow down said original speed thereof.

2. A carrier according to claim 1, wherein said carrier is a wheelchair.

3. A carrier according to claim 1, wherein said carrying body has three wheels.

4. A carrier according to claim 1, wherein said carrying body has four wheels.

5. A carrier according to claim 1, wherein said manual commanding means is a joystick for sending second speed control signals and direction control signals to said microcomputer.

6. A carrier according to claim 1, wherein said original speed is halfly slowed down when said supersonic detector detects that there exists said obstacle.

7. A carrier according to claim 1, wherein said phonetic recognition device is a voice synthesizer capable of sending a recognized signal to said microcomputer capable of sending said first speed control signals to said controller.

8. A carrier according to claim 1, wherein said phonetic recognition device includes a signal inputting medium.

9. A carrier accordign to claim 8, wherein said signal inputting medium is capable of sensing a blowing strength of a user of said carrier.

10. A carrier according to claim 8 wherein said signal inputting medium is capable of sensing a throat vibration of a user of said carrier.

11. A carrier according to claim 8 wherein said signal inputting medium is a phonetic microphone.

12. A carrier according to claim 1, wherein said phonetic recognition device and said manual commanding means can be selectively actuated by a user of said carrier.

13. A carrier according to claim 1 wherein said controller is a servo driver.