Rate-of-change switches and controllable apparatus

• US 8,502,641 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2001
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellipro LLC
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Lautzenhiser, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US09/801,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20010048291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,535 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.19, 340/3.9, 340/429, 340/431, 340/440, 340/689, 128/782, 128/774, 482/8, 482/900, 333/66, 333/56
• US Class Current: 340/3.9
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/18 by patient's head, eyes, facial muscles or voice
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/42 for inclination
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/04 motor-driven A61G5/06 takes precedence; motor-operated rests A61G5/12; for vehicles with handlebars, equipped with three or more wheels B62K5/003, B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/127 for lower legs
• 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 2200/34 Wheel chairs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 11/42 for obtaining a characteristic which is both proportional and time-dependent, e.g. P. I., P. I. D.
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A switching function is performed in response to a predetermined rate-of-change of an output signal, thereby providing rate-of-change switching. Rate-of-change switches (63 and 154) each include a user-controlled transducer (38A, 38B, or 39), a differentiator (40A, 40B, 112, or 156), and a discriminator (42, 114, 134, 160, or 162). The rate-of-change switches (63 and 154) perform at least one switching function when an output from the differentiator (40A, 40B, 112, or 156) or a second differentiator (158) exceeds an allowable magnitude. The rate-of-change switches (63 and 154) may be used to control a timed-opportunity switch (26 or 172), a conveyance, such as a wheelchair (12), and such functions as extending and retracting leg supports, and/or an environmental control unit (14 or 174). The rate-of-change switches (63 or 154) may be attached to a body member (18, 64, or 67) and be actuated by body-member gestures.

Claims

1. A switch which comprises:

a. a tilt-sensitive transducer that produces an output signal in response to a user input;

b. a first differentiator adapted to receive said output signal and adapted to determine a first derivative of said output signal;

c. a second differentiator connected to said first differentiator adapted to determine a second derivative of said output signal representing a rate-of-change of the output signal; and

d. means, connected to said second differentiator, for performing a first switching function based at least in part on the rate-of-change of the output signal.

2. A switch as claimed in claim 1 which further comprises means, connected to said first differentiator, for performing a second switching function.

3. A method which comprises:

body-member tilting a first tilt-sensitive transducer;

producing a first output signal proportional to said tilting step;

differentiating said first output signal with respect to time and determining a rate-of-change; and

performing a first switching function in response to said differentiated first output signal based on said rate-of-change;

wherein performing a switching function that includes momentary contact switching, and said method further comprises;

initiating a sequential plurality of time delays in which one is a window of opportunity;

refraining from said momentary-contact switching step during a first time delay that follows said initiating step;

performing said momentary-contact switching step within said window of opportunity that follows said first time delay;

refraining from said momentary-contact switching step during a second time delay that follows said window of opportunity; and

initiating operation of a first electrical device subsequent to successful completion of the preceding steps.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 in which said method further comprises:

a. body-member tilting a second tilt-sensitive transducer;

b. producing a second output signal proportional to said tilting of said second tilt-sensitive transducer;

c. differentiating said second output signal with respect to time; and

d. performing a logic output as a function of said first and second differentiated output signals.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3 in which said method further comprises:

a. momentary-contact switching during said second time delay; and

b. initiating operation of a second electrical device in response to said momentary-contact switching step occurring during said second time delay.

6. A method which comprises:

a. producing an output signal;

b. determining a first rate-of-change of said output signal;

c. selectively performing a switching function in response to said output signal and based at least in part on said first rate-of-change exceeding a predetermined rate-of-change threshold;

d. determining a second rate-of-change of said output signal; and

e. preventing variations in said output signal from performing said switching function based at least in part on said second rate-of-change not exceeding said predetermined rate-of-change threshold.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said method further comprises activating control of an apparatus in response to said switching function.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said method further comprises controlling an apparatus in response to said output signal.

9. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said method further comprises activating control of an apparatus in response to said switching function being performed inside a window of opportunity.

10. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said method further comprises:

a. activating control of an apparatus in response to said switching function being performed inside a window of opportunity; and

b. aborting said activating step in response to said switching function being performed outside said window of opportunity.

11. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said method further comprises activating a shut-down function of an apparatus in response to said switching function.

12. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said method further comprises activating a selected one of a first or a second apparatus in response to said switching function.

13. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said method further comprises:

a. activating a selected one of a first or a second apparatus in response to performing said switching function during a window of opportunity; and

b. proportionally controlling a function of said selected apparatus as a function of said proportional output signal.

14. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said method further comprises:

a. activating a selected one of a first or a second apparatus in response to performing said switching function during a window of opportunity;

b. selecting a function of said selected apparatus to be controlled; and

c. said selecting step comprises performing an other switching function.

15. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said method further comprises:

a. activating a selected one of a first or a second apparatus in response to performing said switching function during a window of opportunity;

b. selecting a function of said selected apparatus to be controlled;

c. said selecting step comprises performing an other switching function;

d. controlling said selected function; and

e. said controlling step comprises performing still an other switching function.

16. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said method further comprises:

a. initiating cascading a plurality of task opportunities;

b. selecting a task; and

c. said selecting step comprises performing said switching function.

17. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said method further comprises:

a. initiating cascading a plurality of task opportunities;

b. selecting a task;

c. said selecting step comprises performing said switching function;

d. selectively controlling said task; and

e. said selective controlling step comprises performing an other switching function.

18. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said method further comprises:

a. initiating cascading a plurality of task opportunities; and

b. said initiating step comprises performing said switching function.

19. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said method further comprises:

a. initiating cascading a plurality of task opportunities;

b. said initiating step comprises performing said switching function;

c. selecting a task; and

d. said selecting step comprises performing an other switching function.

20. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said method further comprises:

a. initiating cascading a plurality of task opportunities;

b. said initiating step comprises performing said switching function;

c. selecting a task;

d. said selecting step comprises performing an other switching function;

e. selectively controlling said task; and

f. said selective controlling step comprises performing still an other switching function.

21. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said producing step comprises actuating an input.

22. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said producing step comprises body-member actuating an input.

23. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which said selectively performing step further comprises selectively adjusting said predetermined rate-of-change threshold.

24. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which at least one of said determining steps comprises differentiating said output signal.