Power driven wheelchair
First Claim
1. A method of operating a power driven wheelchair, including:
- activating an input device associated with a system controller associated with the wheelchair;
selecting one or more operating parameters from a plurality of programmable operating parameters based at least in part on the input device activation;
transmitting at least one of the selected operating parameters from the system controller to a first local controller assembly associated with a first controllable component of the wheelchair in a first message via a bus, the first local controller assembly including a first drive motor or actuator mechanism, a first local controller having circuitry to drive the first drive motor or actuator mechanism, and a first sensor sensing a condition associated with the first drive motor or actuator mechanism and in operative communication with the first local controller; and
controlling the first drive motor or actuator mechanism via the first local controller in response to operating parameters received by the first local controller assembly and in relation to the condition sensed by the first sensor;
wherein the system controller is disposed in a first housing at a first location on the wheelchair and the first local controller is disposed in a second housing at a second location on the wheelchair.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power driven wheelchair and a method for operating same are provided. In one embodiment, the power driven wheelchair includes a system controller with a main controller, a storage device, and at least one input device, a motor assembly, and a common bus. The motor assembly may include a drive motor, a local controller, and a sensor sensing a condition associated with the drive motor and in communication with the local controller. In another embodiment, the power driven wheelchair includes the system controller, an actuator assembly, and the common bus. The actuator assembly may include an actuator mechanism, a local controller, and a sensor sensing a condition associated with the actuator mechanism and in communication with the local controller. Multiple embodiments of the method are related to controlling various arrangements of motor assemblies or actuator assemblies.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method of operating a power driven wheelchair, including:
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activating an input device associated with a system controller associated with the wheelchair; selecting one or more operating parameters from a plurality of programmable operating parameters based at least in part on the input device activation; transmitting at least one of the selected operating parameters from the system controller to a first local controller assembly associated with a first controllable component of the wheelchair in a first message via a bus, the first local controller assembly including a first drive motor or actuator mechanism, a first local controller having circuitry to drive the first drive motor or actuator mechanism, and a first sensor sensing a condition associated with the first drive motor or actuator mechanism and in operative communication with the first local controller; and controlling the first drive motor or actuator mechanism via the first local controller in response to operating parameters received by the first local controller assembly and in relation to the condition sensed by the first sensor; wherein the system controller is disposed in a first housing at a first location on the wheelchair and the first local controller is disposed in a second housing at a second location on the wheelchair. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of operating a power driven wheelchair, including:
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activating an input device associated with a system controller associated with the wheelchair; selecting one or more operating parameters from a plurality of programmable operating parameters based at least in part on the input device activation; programming at least one of the selected operating parameters when the system controller is in a support mode; and transmitting at least one of the selected operating parameters from the system controller to a first local controller assembly associated with a first controllable component of the wheelchair in a first message via a bus when the system controller is in a normal mode, the first local controller assembly including a first drive motor or actuator mechanism, a first local controller having circuitry to drive the first drive motor or actuator mechanism, and a first sensor sensing a condition associated with the first drive motor or actuator mechanism and in operative communication with the first local controller; and controlling the first drive motor or actuator mechanism via the first local controller in response to operating parameters received by the first local controller assembly and in relation to the condition sensed by the first sensor; wherein the system controller is disposed in a first housing at a first location on the wheelchair and the first local controller is disposed in a second housing at a second location on the wheelchair. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification