Safety system
First Claim
1. A safety system comprising:
- an activation mechanism, wherein the activation mechanism is configured to produce an activation signal in response to an actuation of the activation mechanism;
a drive system;
a safety circuit, wherein the safety circuit is in communication with the activation mechanism such that the activation signal is received by the safety circuit, wherein the safety circuit is in selective communication with at least a portion of the drive system, wherein the safety circuit is programmed to transition from a locked state to a normal operation state in response to receiving an unlocking code, wherein the unlocking code comprises at least one unlocking pulse which comprises at least one activation signal produced when the activation mechanism is actuated and released in accordance with a predetermined amount of time, wherein the locked state comprises an operation state wherein the safety circuit renders the drive system inoperable, wherein the circuit is further programmed to transition from the normal operation state back to the locked state unless the circuit receives a follow-up signal within a predetermined amount of time after receiving the unlocking code.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A safety system comprises an activation mechanism, a safety circuit, and a drive system in communication with each other. In one embodiment, the activation mechanism produces an activation signal in response to an actuation of the activation mechanism. The safety circuit operates in either a locked state or a normal operation state. In this embodiment, the safety circuit is programmed to prevent the activation signal from being communicated to the drive system when the safety circuit is operating in the locked state and to allow the activation signal to be communicated to the drive system when the safety circuit is operating in the normal operation state. The safety circuit is programmed to transition from the locked state to the normal operation state in response to receiving both an unlocking code and a follow-up signal that is received by the safety circuit within a predetermined amount of time. The safety circuit may be further programmed to transition from the normal operation state to the locked state in response to the safety circuit failing to receive an activation signal within a second predetermined amount of time.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A safety system comprising:
-
an activation mechanism, wherein the activation mechanism is configured to produce an activation signal in response to an actuation of the activation mechanism; a drive system; a safety circuit, wherein the safety circuit is in communication with the activation mechanism such that the activation signal is received by the safety circuit, wherein the safety circuit is in selective communication with at least a portion of the drive system, wherein the safety circuit is programmed to transition from a locked state to a normal operation state in response to receiving an unlocking code, wherein the unlocking code comprises at least one unlocking pulse which comprises at least one activation signal produced when the activation mechanism is actuated and released in accordance with a predetermined amount of time, wherein the locked state comprises an operation state wherein the safety circuit renders the drive system inoperable, wherein the circuit is further programmed to transition from the normal operation state back to the locked state unless the circuit receives a follow-up signal within a predetermined amount of time after receiving the unlocking code. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A safety system comprising:
-
an activation mechanism, wherein the activation mechanism is configured to produce an activation signal in response to an actuation of the activation mechanism; a safety circuit, wherein the safety circuit is in communication with the activation mechanism such that the activation signal is received by the safety circuit; and a drive system, wherein the safety circuit is in selective communication with at least a portion of the drive system; wherein the safety circuit is programmed to transition from a locked state to a normal operation state in response to receiving an unlocking code, wherein the locked state comprises an operation state wherein the safety circuit renders the drive system inoperable, wherein the safety circuit is further programmed to transition from the normal operation state back to the locked state unless the circuit receives a follow-up signal within a predetermined amount of time after receiving the unlocking code, wherein the follow-up signal comprises an activation signal produced in response to actuation of the activation mechanism subsequent to the actuation that produced the unlocking code. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An electric vehicle comprising:
-
an accelerator pedal, wherein the accelerator pedal is configured to produce an activation signal in response to a depression of the accelerator pedal; a safety circuit, wherein the safety circuit is in communication with the accelerator pedal such that the activation signal is received by the safety circuit, wherein the safety circuit is programmed to operate in either a locked state or a normal operation state; a motor controller, wherein the motor controller is in selective communication with the safety circuit; and an electric motor, wherein the electric motor is in communication with the motor controller; wherein the safety circuit is programmed to prevent the activation signal from being communicated to the motor controller when the safety circuit is operating in the locked state; wherein the safety circuit is programmed to allow the activation signal to be communicated to the motor controller when the safety circuit is operating in the normal operation state; wherein the safety circuit is programmed to transition from the locked state to the normal operation state in response to receiving an unlocking code, wherein the safety circuit is further programmed to transition from the normal operation state back to the locked state unless the circuit receives a follow-up signal within a predetermined amount of time after receiving the unlocking code.
-
-
21. An electric power tool comprising:
-
an activation mechanism, wherein the activation mechanism is configured to produce an activation signal in response to an actuation of the activation mechanism; a safety circuit, wherein the safety circuit is in communication with the activation mechanism such that the activation signal is received by the safety circuit, wherein the safety circuit is programmed to operate in one of a first operation state and a second operation state; a motor controller, wherein the motor controller is in selective communication with the safety circuit; a motor, wherein the motor is in communication with the motor controller; wherein the safety circuit is programmed to prevent the activation signal from being communicated to the motor controller when the safety circuit is operating in the first operation state; wherein the safety circuit is programmed to allow the activation signal to be communicated to the motor controller when the safety circuit is operating in the second operation state; wherein the safety circuit is programmed to transition from the first operation state to the second operation state in response to receiving an unlocking code, wherein the safety circuit is further programmed to transition from the second operation state back to the first operation state unless the circuit receives a follow-up signal within a predetermined amount of time after receiving the unlocking code.
-
Specification