Steering control of a personal transporter

• US 6,581,714 B1
• Filed: 10/13/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Arling, Richard William, Field, J. Douglas, Morrell, John B., Kamen, Dean L., Pompa, Jonathan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Lesley D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUBY, MATTHEW D
• Application Number:
  US09/687,789
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 180/19-- 1, 180/315, 180/78, 180/333, 338/50, 338/108, 338/113, 338/153
• US Class Current: 180/333
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/12 with driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/00 Disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel roller-skate driving mechanisms A63C17/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/16 Single-axle vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/24 Personal mobility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/20 angular
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/22 Yaw angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/24 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/463 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/465 Slip
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/22 by presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/24 by lever actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/34 Stabilising upright position of vehicles, e.g. of single axle vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0076 relating to braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/102 of individual wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/00 Motor vehicles characterised by the driver not being seated wheeled carriers for golf bags A63B55/60
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/02 the driver standing in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 57/00 Vehicles characterised by having other propulsion or other ground- engaging means than wheels or endless track, alone or in addition to wheels or endless track sledges B62B; motor sledges B62M
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/007 : Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider

Abstract

Improvements to a motorized balancing personal transporter. An intelligent battery has a battery container sealed against moisture and a plurality of battery blocks housed within the battery container. Additionally, the battery pack has a plurality of sensors, each of which is for monitoring a characteristic of a distinct battery block. The battery pack has a processor that generates a fault flag for transmission to a circuit external to the battery container on occurrence of a critical fault and that transmits an identifying characteristic such as a battery serial number. Various mechanisms are provided for receiving rider input in order to direct steering of the vehicle. These include a rotatable grip for imparting rotary motion to a rotation sensor, a thumb-activated rotation sensor and a palm-activated sensor, each disposed on the handlebar of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A steering device for a motorized vehicle having a handlebar, the steering device comprising:

(a) a rotation sensor coupled to the handlebar for generating a steering command upon rotation of the sensor about a single axis;

(b) a rotatable grip for imparting rotary motion to the rotation sensor; and

(c) a torsional spring for restoring the rotatable grip to a neutral position upon release of the grip.

2. The steering device of claim 1, wherein the rotation sensor is a potentiometer.