Wheelchair having speed and direction control touchpad

• US 6,926,106 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2003
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Inventors: Jaenke, Bruce A., Richey, Joseph B. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Campbell, Kelly E
• Application Number:
  US10/429,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20030192728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 280/250.1, 180/907, 180/65.1, 297/DIG.4, 200/86.R, 200/46, 200/572, 200/512, 345/173, 178 1801- 1805
• US Class Current: 180/65.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/045 Rear wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 180/907 Motorized wheelchairs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 297/04 Wheelchair

Abstract

A wheelchair having a speed and direction control touchpad. The touchpad comprises two separated semi-conductive film layers, one measuring an X coordinate and one measuring a Y coordinate. When pressure is applied to the layers bringing them into contact with each other, an X, Y coordinate location is produced and the wheelchair is moved in a direction and speed analagous to the location of the pressure applied to the touchpad. A change in location of the pressure will result in a corresponding change in direction and speed. The touchpad also has a neutral or no movement activation point.

Claims

1. A wheelchair comprising:

a frame supporting a drive wheel;

at least one motor supported on said frame for driving said drive wheel;

a controller operatively connected with said motor; and

a programmable touchpad supported on said frame and operatively connected with said controller, said touchpad having adjacent first and second semi-conductive layers and having an output that is indicative of desired speed and direction of movement of said wheelchair;

said touchpad having a first programmable state in which said motor can be activated only after contact of said semi-conductive layers at a neutral point;

said touchpad having a second programmable state in which said motor can be activated without initial contact of said semi-conductive layers at a neutral point.

2. A wheelchair as set forth in claim 1 wherein said touchpad has a third programmable state upon absence of pressure contact for a period of time greater than a predetermined period of time, in which said motor can be activated only after contact of said semi-conductive layers at a neutral point.

3. A wheelchair as set forth in claim 1 wherein said touchpad has a third programmable state upon absence of pressure contact for a period of time greater than a predetermined period of time, in which said motor can be activated only after contact of said semi-conductive layers at a neutral point.

4. A wheelchair as set forth in claim 3 wherein said predetermined period of time is in the range of up to one second.

5. A wheelchair comprising:

a frame supporting a drive wheel;

at least one motor supported on said frame for driving said drive wheel;

a controller operatively connected with said motor; and

a programmable touchpad supported on said frame and operatively connected with said controller, said touchpad having an output that is indicative of desired speed and direction of movement of said wheelchair;

said touchpad having a central area for controller activation and a surrounding area for wheelchair speed and direction control;

wherein said touchpad has a programmable state in which, after absence of pressure contact on said touchpad for a period of time greater than a predetermined period of time, said motor can be activated only by contact in said central area.

6. A wheelchair as set forth in claim 5 wherein said predetermined period of time is in the range of up to one second.

7. A wheelchair comprising:

a frame supporting a drive wheel;

at least one motor supported on said frame for driving said drive wheel;

a controller operatively connected with said motor; and

a programmable touchpad supported on said frame and operatively connected with said controller, said touchpad having an output that is indicative of desired speed and direction of movement of said wheelchair;

said touchpad having a central area for controller activation and a surrounding area for wheelchair speed and direction control;

wherein said touchpad has a programmable state in which, after absence of pressure contact on said touchpad for a period of time greater than a predetermined period of time, a user must reactivate the touch pad and wheelchair.

8. A wheelchair as set forth in claim 7 wherein reactivation of the touchpad occurs by contact with said touchpad.

9. A wheelchair as set forth in claim 8 wherein reactivation of the touchpad occurs by contact in said central area of said touchpad.

10. A wheelchair as set forth in claim 7 wherein said predetermined period of time is in the range of up to one second.