Transporter motor alarm

• US 7,592,900 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2006
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Kamen, Dean, Field, J. Douglas, Morrell, John B., Sachs, Jason M., Heinzmann, John David, Amsbury, Burl, Arling, Richard W., LeMay, Philip, Langenfeld, Christopher, Finkelstein, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob; Sisay
• Application Number:
  US11/552,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20070252683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,063 Days
• Field of Search: 340/384.7, 340/425.5, 340/427, 340/428, 340/435, 340/460, 340/467, 340/429, 340/436, 340/441, 180/274, 180/279, 180/285, 180/6.28, 180/7.1, 180/8.1, 180/21, 180/60, 180/65.1, 180/171, 180/179, 180/204, 180/218, 180/271, 180/281, 180/907, 342/72, 701/45, 701/48, 367/139, 367/21, 367/25, 367/35, 367/38, 367/83, 367/88, 367/89, 367/140, 367/144, 324/546, 318/1, 318/5, 318/53, 318/58, 318/114, 318/119, 318/121, 318/126, 318/139, 280/11, 280/47.18, 280/47.131, 323/214, 323/222, 323/273, 323/282
• US Class Current: 340/384.7
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/16 Single-axle vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/36 of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/00 Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells B60L58/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/007 Automatic balancing machines with single main ground engaging wheel or coaxial wheels supporting a rider

Abstract

An audio alarm for a transporter having an electric motor. The alarm has a signal generator for generating a signal within the audible frequency range and a modulator for modulating a current that is applied to the electric motor in accordance with the signal generated by the signal generator.

Claims

1. An audio alarm for a transporter of the type having an electric motor for driving the transporter by supplying a torque to a drive arrangement, the alarm comprising:

a. a signal generator for generating a signal within the frequency range of hearing of a person; and

b. a modulator for modulating a current applied to the electric motor in accordance with the signal generated by the signal generator to produce an audible alarm.

2. A method for alerting a user of a transporter of the type having an electric motor for driving the transporter by supplying a torque to a drive arrangement to the occurrence of a specified condition, the method comprising:

a. generating a signal within the frequency range of hearing of a person; and

b. modulating a current applied to the electric motor in accordance with the signal generated by the signal generator to produce an audible alarm.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the specified condition includes a requirement that the transporter decelerate to zero velocity.

4. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the step of modulating a current includes modulating current applied to a plurality of electric motors.