Motorized vehicle with fiber-optic joystick controller
First Claim
1. In a motorized wheelchair having a frame, an occupant seat mounted on said frame, a plurality of ground-engaging wheels mounted on the frame, a first direct current motor mounted on the frame for rotatably driving a first said wheel, a second direct current motor mounted on the frame for rotatably driving a second said wheel, control means for controlling energization of said first and second motors to permit driving of said wheelchair both forwardly and rearwardly as well as steering of the wheelchair rightwardly and leftwardly, and a joystick controller for supplying signals to the control means for controlling the energizing of the first and second motors, said joystick controller including a manually-movable joystick which is movable in a first forward-rearward direction and in a second right-left direction for sending signals to said control means for controlling driving and steering of said wheelchair, the improvement wherein said joystick controller includes fiber-optic sensing and signaling means which senses movement of the joystick in the first and/or second directions by variations in light intensity for generating a signal to said control means to control driving and steering of the wheelchair.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A motorized vehicle, particularly a wheelchair, having a joystick controller for controlling energization of driving motors which in turn drive vehicle wheels and control steering of the vehicle. The joystick controller includes fiber-optic arrangements which sense tilting movement of the joystick in forward, rearward, rightward or leftward directions, or a combination thereof. Light signals are generated of an intensity corresponding to the position of the joystick, which signals are converted into electric signals and supplied to a controller which in turn controls energization of the drive motors to control driving and steering of the vehicle.
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Citations
19 Claims
- 1. In a motorized wheelchair having a frame, an occupant seat mounted on said frame, a plurality of ground-engaging wheels mounted on the frame, a first direct current motor mounted on the frame for rotatably driving a first said wheel, a second direct current motor mounted on the frame for rotatably driving a second said wheel, control means for controlling energization of said first and second motors to permit driving of said wheelchair both forwardly and rearwardly as well as steering of the wheelchair rightwardly and leftwardly, and a joystick controller for supplying signals to the control means for controlling the energizing of the first and second motors, said joystick controller including a manually-movable joystick which is movable in a first forward-rearward direction and in a second right-left direction for sending signals to said control means for controlling driving and steering of said wheelchair, the improvement wherein said joystick controller includes fiber-optic sensing and signaling means which senses movement of the joystick in the first and/or second directions by variations in light intensity for generating a signal to said control means to control driving and steering of the wheelchair.
- 9. In a motorized vehicle, such as for a handicapped person, said vehicle having a frame, an occupant seat mounted on said frame, a plurality of ground-engaging wheels mounted on the frame, first and second direct current motors mounted on the frame and cooperating with the wheels for effecting driving and steering of the vehicle, control means for controlling energization of said first and second motors to permit driving of said vehicle both forwardly and rearwardly as well as steering of the vehicle rightwardly and leftwardly, and a joystick controller for supplying signals to the control means for controlling the energizing of the first and second motors, said joystick controller including a manually-movable joystick which is movable in a first forward-rearward direction and in a second right-left direction for sending signals to said control means for controlling driving and steering of said vehicle, the improvement wherein said joystick controller includes first fiber-optic means which senses movement of the joystick in the first direction for generating a first signal to said control means to control driving of the vehicle in said first direction, and second fiber-optic means which senses movement of the joystick in said second direction for generating a second signal to the control means to control steering of the vehicle, each of said first and second fiber optic means including a light receiver, and said first and second fiber optic means including a light emitter transmitting light to said receivers over variable length paths which vary in response to movement of said joystick.
- 17. In a motorized vehicle having a frame, an occupant seat mounted on said frame, a plurality of ground-engaging wheels mounted on the frame, a first direct current motor mounted on the frame for rotatably driving a first said wheel, a second direct current motor mounted on the frame for rotatably driving a second said wheel, control means for controlling energization of said first and second motors to permit driving of said vehicle both forwardly and rearwardly as well as steering of the vehicle rightwardly and leftwardly, and a joystick controller for supplying signals to the control means for controlling the energizing of the first and second motors, said joystick controller including a manually-movable joystick which is movable in a first forward-rearward direction and in a second right-left direction for sending signals to said control means for controlling driving and steering of said vehicle, the improvement wherein said joystick controller includes fiber-optic sensing and signaling means which senses movement of the joystick in the first and/or second directions for generating a signal to said control means to control driving and steering of the vehicle, said fiber-optic sensing and signaling means including (1) a light emitter transmitting light to be sensed, (2) a light receiver for receiving said transmitted light, and (3) a member which senses and responds to movement of the joystick for varying the intensity of the light received by the receiver.
Specification