Transporter oscillating alarm

• US 7,023,330 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2003
• Issued: 04/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Ambrogi, Robert R., Field, J. Douglas, Kamen, Dean L., Amsbury, Burl
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie Bichngoc
• Application Number:
  US10/668,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20040055804A1
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 340/427, 340/428, 340/429, 340/441, 180/171, 180/271, 180/282, 180/285
• US Class Current: 340/427
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/01 Skateboards A63C17/02 - A63C17/28 take precedence; rolling devices on skis A63C5/035
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/08 single-wheel type with single axis
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/12 with driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/14 Vehicles with one wheel only
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/16 Single-axle vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/22 Microcars, e.g. golf cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/20 angular
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/461 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/463 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/22 by presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 37/00 Stabilising vehicle bodies without controlling suspension arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/002 comprising safety arrangements safety devices for vehicle propulsion unit control B60K28/00
• 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: B62D 61/00 Motor vehicles or trailers, characterised by the arrangement or number of wheels, not otherwise provided for, e.g. four wheels in diamond pattern
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 1/00 Unicycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/007 : Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A vehicle capable of an extraordinary mode of motorized motion programmed to draw the attention of an operator. When one or more sensors sense a condition requiring attention of the operator, a periodic acceleration is superposed upon the motion of the ground-contacting members. The extraordinary mode of locomotion may include a mode where the vehicle alternates between braking and speeding up and braking over each period of the modulation.

Claims

1. An alarm system for alerting the operator of a vehicle having a motorized drive, the alarm system comprising:

a. a sensor for sensing a specified condition of the vehicle; and

b. a controller for causing the motorized drive, in response to the specified condition, to accelerate the vehicle with a vehicle acceleration modulated with a periodic modulation such that the vehicle acceleration alternates between braking and speeding up and braking over each period of the modulation

wherein the vehicle includes a control loop in which a motorized drive is included, for propelling the vehicle in a condition of dynamic balance with respect to tipping in the fore-aft plane.

2. An alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the controller provides an input to the control loop upon occurrence of a specified condition, the input having a periodic factor.

3. An alarm system according to claim 2, the input further having a multiplicative coefficient.

4. An alarm system according to claim 2, the input contributing differentially to a torque applied to a left wheel and a torque applied to a right wheel.

5. An alarm system according to claim 1, the specified condition including at least one of low battery power, a specified vehicle speed, and receipt by the controller of conflicting values from redundant subsystems.