Transporter oscillating alarm

• US 7,479,872 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2005
• Issued: 01/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Kamen, Dean, Ambrogi, Robert R., Field, J. Douglas, Amsbury, Burl
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu; Julie
• Application Number:
  US11/263,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20060061460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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. an alarm comprising a shaker for periodically modulating acceleration of the vehicle;

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

c. a controller for causing the motorized drive, in response to the specified condition, to operate as the shaker of the alarm for alerting the operator.

2. The alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the controller provides an input to the control loop upon occurrence of the 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.

6. An alarm system according to claim 5, wherein the specified vehicle speed is a limiting speed determined on the basis of vehicle operating parameters.

7. The alarm system according to claim 6, wherein limiting speed is a maximum allowed speed of the vehicle.

8. The alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the specified condition includes a battery temperature.

9. The alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the specified condition includes a motor temperature.

10. The alarm system according to claim 1, wherein the specified condition includes a battery voltage.

11. A method for alerting a rider of a vehicle to a condition requiring attention, the method comprising:

a. sensing a specified condition of the vehicle; and

b. using a motorized drive to shake the rider with a periodically modulated acceleration of the vehicle, in response to the specified condition.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the specified condition includes at least one of low battery power, a specified vehicle speed, and receipt by the controller of conflicting values from redundant subsystems.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the specified vehicle speed is a limiting speed determined on the basis of vehicle operating parameters.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the limiting speed is a maximum allowed speed of the vehicle.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the specified condition includes a battery temperature.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the specified condition includes a motor temperature.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the specified condition includes a battery voltage.