Method and apparatus for reprogramming a programmed controller of a power driven wheelchair

• US 8,489,251 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2008
• Issued: 07/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Inventors: Wakefield, Theodore D. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): PECHE, JORGE O
• Application Number:
  US12/169,106
• Publication Number:
  US 20080269959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,834 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/29, 701/36, 701/49, 701/29.1, 701/102, 701/115, 711/100, 711/103, 711/163, 711/170
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00

Abstract

Apparatus for reprogramming a programmed controller of a power driven wheelchair comprises: a reprogrammable, non-volatile memory programmed with a plurality of programs executable by the controller to operate the wheelchair, the non-volatile memory disposed at the wheelchair and coupled to the wheelchair controller; a general-purpose computer programmed to reprogram the non-volatile memory while disposed at the wheelchair, the programmed computer for storing main programs for use in reprogramming the non-volatile memory, the programmed computer being coupleable to the wheelchair controller for accommodating an exchange of data therebetween; and wherein the wheelchair controller being operative to communicate with the programmed computer to reprogram the non-volatile memory with the main programs while the non-volatile memory is disposed at the wheelchair. Methods for reprogramming the non-volatile memory are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of programming a wheelchair controller, said method comprising:

a) polling said wheelchair controller for at least one of a product code or a version code associated with a current main program loaded in a memory associated with said wheelchair controller, wherein said version code identifies a specific iteration of said main program, and wherein the memory is programmed with at least one boot program and at least one main program;

b) displaying information on an interactive screen image on a display of a computer coupled to said wheelchair controller, said displayed information comprising at least one of said product code or version code associated with said current main program loaded in the memory and at least one of a product code or version code associated with preprogrammed data to be loaded in at least one portion of a main program in said memory;

c) determining if said data should replace said at least one main program portion based on the displayed information; and

d) modifying said memory by loading said preprogrammed data in at least one main program portion based at least in part on a cursor position within the interactive screen image, wherein the preprogrammed data replaces the at least one main program portion.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of modifying comprises downloading main programs into the computer from a portable memory device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of modifying comprises downloading main programs into the computer from a web site over the internet.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of modifying comprises erasing portions of memory prior to the modifying thereof.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of modifying comprises downloading main programs into the computer and communicating said main programs to the controller for modifying the memory.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying further comprises:

displaying communication port options associated with the computer for communicating said data to be loaded in said at least one main program portion to said wheelchair controller.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying further comprises:

displaying a read status associated with said data to be loaded in said at least one main program portion.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying further comprises:

displaying a connection status between said wheelchair controller and the computer.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an activation device on the interactive screen image to initiate loading said data in said at least one main program portion.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said preprogrammed data is a newer version than the current program.