Wheelchair, wheelchair apparatus and wheelchair care service network system

• US 8,459,677 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2012
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Li, Jeng Han, Chiu, Yu Hsien, Hung, Yu Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): Adams, Tashiana
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARCE, MARLON ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US13/453,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20120203139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 280/304.1, 280/250.1
• US Class Current: 280/250.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/34 for pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/02 propelled by the patient or disabled person
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/122 for the back
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/125 for arms

Abstract

A wheelchair includes a seat, one or more wheels and a seat weight sensing mechanism. The wheel includes a brake for stopping the wheel. The seat weight sensing mechanism is placed below the seat and is connected to the brake. When the seat is loaded by a weight more than a predetermined value, the seat weight sensing mechanism releases the brake to free the wheel. When the seat is not loaded by a weight more than a predetermined value, the brake stops the wheel.

Claims

1. A wheelchair apparatus, comprising:

a wheelchair comprising a seat, a seat back and an armrest, and at least one of the seat, the seat back and the armrest is provided with a plurality of sensors;

a data processing unit configured to process data of the plurality of sensors to analyze a user'"'"'s posture and action;

the data processing unit comprising;

a data input interface configured to receive sensed data of the plurality of sensors;

a microprocessor configured to analyze the sensed data to estimate the user'"'"'s posture and action; and

a wireless transmission module configured to transmit the user'"'"'s posture and action to a remote server;

wherein the relationship of the user'"'"'s posture and action and the sensed data comprises at least one of the following;

nobody is using the wheelchair when there is no pressure on the seat, the seat back and the armrest;

the user intends to be seated when pressure is sensed on the front of the armrest and the front of the seat;

the user is seated when pressure is sensed on the rear of the seat and the seat back; and

the user intends to stand up when pressure sensed on the seat back and the rear of the seat disappear and pressure is sensed on the armrest.

2. The wheelchair apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors comprise pressure sensors, switch sensors or a combination of pressure sensor and switch sensor.

3. The wheelchair apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors are evenly distributed or locally concentrated in an array or non-array manner.

4. The wheelchair apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a manual brake sensor to sense manual brake status.

5. The wheelchair apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the data processing unit further comprises a warning module, and the warning module sends a warning to the user if an estimation indicates the user'"'"'s posture or action is dangerous.

6. The wheelchair apparatus in accordance with claim 5, wherein the warning comprises sound, light or vibration.

9. The wheelchair care service network system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the wheelchair is in accordance with claim 1.

14. The wheelchair apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the data input interface comprises an analog-to-digital conversion interface to convert the sensed data of analog signals into digital signals if the sensors are pressure sensors.

7. A wheelchair care service network system, comprising:

a wheelchair comprising a seat, a seat back, an armrest and a data processing unit, wherein the seat, the seat back and the armrest is provided with a plurality of sensors and the data processing unit processes data obtained by the plurality of sensors to analyze a user'"'"'s posture and action;

wherein the data processing unit comprises;

a data input interface configured to receive sensed data of the plurality of sensors;

a microprocessor configured to analyze the sensed data to estimate the user'"'"'s posture and action; and

a wireless transmission module configured to transmit the user'"'"'s posture and action to a remote server;

a server configured to store and process the sensed data from the wheelchair; and

at least one user interface connected to the server and being configured to allow a care provider to access the sensed data in the server;

wherein the relationship of the user'"'"'s posture and action and the sensed data comprises at least one of the following;

nobody is using the wheelchair when there is no pressure on the seat, the seat back and the armrest;

the user intends to be seated when pressure is sensed on the front of the armrest and the front of the seat;

the user is seated when pressure is sensed on the rear of the seat and the seat back; and

the user intends to stand up when pressure sensed on the seat back and the rear of the seat disappear and pressure is sensed on the armrest.

8. The wheelchair care service network system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the data obtained by the plurality of sensors of the wheelchair are transmitted to the server in a wireless manner.

10. The wheelchair care service network system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the data obtained by the plurality of sensors comprises the user'"'"'s posture and action or a warning.

11. The wheelchair care service network system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the at least one user interface comprises a computer.

12. The wheelchair care service network system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the at least one user interface comprises a portable device.

13. The wheelchair care service network system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the at least one user interface comprises a notebook computer, a personal digital assistant or a pager.