Guided movement platforms

• US 9,062,986 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2014
• Issued: 06/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christ G. Ellis
• Original Assignee: Christ G. Ellis
• Inventors: Ellis, Christ G.
• Primary Examiner(s): EL CHANTI, HUSSEIN A
• Application Number:
  US14/269,161
• Time in Patent Office: 415 Days
• Field of Search: 701/469
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/22 for automatically guiding movable devices, e.g. stretchers or wheelchairs in a hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/00 Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs chairs with toilet conveniences A47K11/04; devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or device not forming part of the body A61F4/00; running gear or propulsion features B60K; bicycles specially adapted for disabled riders B62K3/16 ; Invalid chairs having removable seats specially adapted to be transferred with the invalid to a vehicle and support the invalid during use of the vehicle A61G3/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5038 freely programmable by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5064 Position sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5076 Frequency sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5092 Optical sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/04 Wheeled walking aids for disabled persons A61H3/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/061 with electronic detecting or guiding means
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/068 Sticks for blind persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles

Abstract

Wireless sensor network motes and radar & sensor-based systems receive sensed data, compare it to a predetermined standard and generate a signal to deploy a corresponding response.

Claims

1. An intelligent walking stick having a guided movement platform for guiding a pedestrian user through an environment, comprising:

a) a cell phone system, wherein the pedestrian user interacts with the cell phone system by at least one of speech, hearing, touch, and sight, wherein the cell phone system converts information received from at least one other system into a verbal communication, wherein the cell phone system converts a verbal communication into a form of communication that deploys an action with at least one other system, wherein the cell phone system is configured to automatically receive mapping information on the environment of the pedestrian user;

b) a radar system that detects objects in the environment in real time, wherein the radar system includes a transponder and a transducer, wherein radar signal data received by the radar system is compared with predetermined standards to deploy an action with at least one other system;

c) a wireless control and communication system that manages communication between at least two other systems;

d) a radio frequency identification system that reads tags in the environment, wherein the radio frequency identification system includes a reader, and wherein the environment includes a tag, and wherein the radio frequency identification system communicates information received from the tag to at least one other system;

e) a mote system, wherein the mote system includes one of a mote and network of motes; and

f) a global positioning system;

h) wherein at least one system includes a processor;

i) wherein each system is in communication with at least one other system;

j) wherein at least one of said systems is engaged on the intelligent walking stick, the intelligent walking stick further having a mote with communication, computation, and sensing elements, such that the pedestrian user is aided in navigating the environment;

wherein the intelligent walking stick comprises a distal end and a wheel engaged at the distal end, the wheel being motorized and rolling such that the wheel may pull the intelligent walking stick and pedestrian user forwardly and rearwardly, the wheel being spinnable in universal directions so as to turn the intelligent walking stick to the right and to the left such that the spin direction of the wheel is reversed so as to deliver a counter thrust to slow or thwart a fall of the pedestrian user and, optionally, including algorithms to interpret a risk of falling as the pedestrian user leans more and more away from the upright, beyond pulsation warnings, to determine when to initiate said counter thrust.

2. The intelligent walking stick of claim 1, wherein the wireless control and communication system is a Bluetooth system.

3. The intelligent walking stick of claim 1, wherein the mote system includes a sensor node, wherein the sensor node includes a microcontroller, transceiver, external memory, power source, and at least one sensor.

4. The intelligent walking stick of claim 1, and further comprising an intelligent pointer having a reader and capable of reading a tag.

5. The intelligent walking stick of claim 1, wherein the processor is one of a computer, microcontroller and microprocessor.

6. The intelligent walking stick of claim 1, wherein said one of a mote and network of motes is found in an environment through which the guided movement platform is moving.

7. The intelligent walking stick of claim 1, wherein said one of a mote and network of motes moves through the environment with the guided movement platform.

8. The intelligent walking stick of claim 4, wherein the intelligent pointer is removably attached to the intelligent walking stick, the intelligent pointer being shorter in length than the intelligent walking stick, the intelligent walking stick including one of a) said guided movement platform of said intelligent walking stick and b) features of said global positioning system, said cell phone system, and said radio frequency identification system, c) whereby said intelligent pointer facilitates identification of money, taking of medication, matching clothing, cooking, and telling time.

9. The intelligent walking stick of claim 1, wherein the radar system includes laser radar.

10. The intelligent walking stick of claim 1, wherein the radar system includes computer vision algorithms that analyze camera images.

11. The intelligent walking stick of claim 1, wherein the radar system includes intelligent video that performs video analysis.

12. The intelligent walking stick of claim 1, wherein the mote system automatically processes data and fuses information from multiple sensors.

13. The intelligent walking stick of claim 1, and further comprising an infrared technology element that includes short audio signals sent by infrared light beams that are decoded and delivered to the cell phone system.

14. The intelligent walking stick of claim 1, wherein the global positioning system communicates with the wheel to guide the pedestrian user.

15. The intelligent walking stick of claim 1, wherein the guided movement platform stops the wheel if an acceptable path is not detected.

16. An intelligent walking stick having a guided movement platform for guiding a pedestrian user through an environment, comprising:

a) a cell phone system, wherein the pedestrian user interacts with the cell phone system by at least one of speech, hearing, touch, and sight, wherein the cell phone system converts information received from at least one other system into a verbal communication, wherein the cell phone system converts a verbal communication into a form of communication that deploys an action with at least one other system, wherein the cell phone system is configured to automatically receive mapping information on the environment of the pedestrian user;

b) a radar system that detects objects in the environment in real time, wherein the radar system includes a transponder and a transducer, wherein radar signal data received by the radar system is compared with predetermined standards to deploy an action with at least one other system;

c) a wireless control and communication system that manages communication between at least two other systems;

d) a radio frequency identification system that reads tags in the environment, wherein the radio frequency identification system includes a reader, and wherein the environment includes a tag, and wherein the radio frequency identification system communicates information received from the tag to at least one other system;

e) a mote system, wherein the mote system includes one of a mote and network of motes; and

f) a global positioning system;

h) wherein at least one system includes a processor;

i) wherein each system is in communication with at least one other system;

j) wherein at least one of said systems is engaged on the intelligent walking stick, the intelligent walking stick further having a mote with communication, computation, and sensing elements, such that the pedestrian user is aided in navigating the environment;

wherein the intelligent walking stick includes a handle, the handle being a pulsating handle that pulsates as a warning and, optionally, triggering pulsation when said intelligent walking stick moves too far from upright and before reaching a sensed likelihood of falling so as to urge a move to a more upright stance.