Safety system
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a motorized device comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a motorized device comprising(i) a drive system,(ii) an activation mechanism, and(iii) a safety circuit, wherein the safety circuit is in communication with the activation mechanism, and wherein the safety circuit is in selective communication with at least a portion of the drive system;
(b) receiving an unlocking code from the activation mechanism;
(c) determining whether the received unlocking code corresponds to a predetermined unlocking code; and
(d) if it is determined that the received unlocking code corresponds to the predetermined unlocking code, transitioning the safety circuit from a locked state to a normal operation state.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of controlling a motorized device comprises the steps of providing a motorized device, receiving a code, checking that code, and changing the operational state of a portion of the motorized device in response to the code in certain circumstances. In one embodiment, the motorized device comprises a drive system, an activation mechanism, and a safety circuit that is in communication with the activation mechanism and at least a portion of the drive system. After receiving an unlocking code from the activation mechanism, the next step is to determine if the received unlocking code corresponds to a predetermined unlocking code. Subsequently, if the received unlocking code corresponds to the predetermined unlocking code, then the safety circuit is transitioned from a locked state to a normal operation state. Additional codes and corresponding operational states may also be incorporated into other embodiments of the method.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a motorized device comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a motorized device comprising (i) a drive system, (ii) an activation mechanism, and (iii) a safety circuit, wherein the safety circuit is in communication with the activation mechanism, and wherein the safety circuit is in selective communication with at least a portion of the drive system; (b) receiving an unlocking code from the activation mechanism; (c) determining whether the received unlocking code corresponds to a predetermined unlocking code; and (d) if it is determined that the received unlocking code corresponds to the predetermined unlocking code, transitioning the safety circuit from a locked state to a normal operation state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling a motorized device comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a motorized device comprising (i) a drive system, and (ii) an activation mechanism, wherein the activation mechanism is configured to produce an activation signal in response to an actuation of the activation mechanism, wherein the activation mechanism is in selective communication with at least a portion of the drive system; (b) preventing the drive system from receiving the activation signal produced by the activation mechanism; (c) receiving an unlocking code from the activation mechanism; (d) determining whether the received unlocking code corresponds to a predetermined unlocking code; and (e) if it is determined that the received unlocking code corresponds to the predetermined unlocking code, allowing the drive system to receive the activation signal produced by the activation mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of controlling a motorized device comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a motorized device comprising (i) an activation mechanism, wherein the activation mechanism is configured to produce both an activation signal and a speed control input in response to an actuation of the activation mechanism, and (ii) a drive system, wherein the drive system comprises a motor controller and a motor that are in communication with each other, wherein the motor controller comprises a CPU section and a power section, wherein the CPU section is in communication with the activation mechanism, wherein the CPU section is programmed to control the power section in response to the speed control input from the activation mechanism, and the power section is configured to provide power to the motor in response to instructions from the CPU section based on the speed control input; (b) receiving an unlocking code from the activation mechanism; (c) determining whether the received unlocking code corresponds to a predetermined unlocking code; and (d) preventing the CPU section of the motor controller from instructing the power section of the motor controller to provide power to the motor, irrespective of the speed control input from the activation mechanism, until such time as the received unlocking code is determined to correspond to the predetermined unlocking code. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method of controlling a motorized device comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a motorized device comprising (i) a drive system, (ii) an activation mechanism, and (iii) a safety circuit, wherein the safety circuit is in communication with the activation mechanism, and wherein the safety circuit is in selective communication with at least a portion of the drive system; (b) receiving a master code from the activation mechanism; (c) determining whether the received master code corresponds to a predetermined master code; (d) if it is determined that the master code does not correspond to the predetermined master code, transitioning the safety circuit from a sleep state to a lockout state; (e) if it is determined that the master code corresponds to the predetermined master code, transitioning the safety circuit from the sleep state to a responsive state; and (f) executing the following steps while the safety circuit is in the responsive state (i) receiving an unlocking code from the activation mechanism, (ii) determining whether the received unlocking code corresponds to a predetermined unlocking code, and (iii) if it is determined that the received unlocking code corresponds to the predetermined unlocking code, transitioning the safety circuit from a locked state to a normal operation state.
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19. A method of controlling a motorized device comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a motorized device comprising (i) a drive system, (ii) an activation mechanism, (iii) a safety circuit, wherein the safety circuit is in communication with the activation mechanism, and wherein the safety circuit is in selective communication with at least a portion of the drive system, and (iv) an input device, wherein the input device is in communication with the safety circuit; (b) receiving an authorization code from the input device; (c) determining whether the received authorization code corresponds to a predetermined authorization code; (d) if it is determined that the received authorization code does not correspond to the predetermined authorization code, transitioning the safety circuit from a dormant state to a lockout state; (e) if it is determined that the received authorization code corresponds to the predetermined authorization code, transitioning the safety circuit from the dormant state to a locked state; (f) executing the following steps while the safety circuit is in the locked state (i) receiving an unlocking code from the activation mechanism, (ii) determining whether the received unlocking code corresponds to a predetermined unlocking code, and (iii) if it is determined that the received unlocking code corresponds to the predetermined unlocking code, transitioning the safety circuit from a locked state to a normal operation state.
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20. A method of controlling a motorized device comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a motorized device comprising (i) a drive system, (ii) an activation mechanism, (iii) a safety circuit, wherein the safety circuit is in communication with the activation mechanism, and wherein the safety circuit is in selective communication with at least a portion of the drive system, and (iv) an input device, wherein the input device is in communication with the safety circuit; (b) receiving an authorization code from the input device; (c) determining whether the received authorization code corresponds to a predetermined authorization code; (d) if it is determined that the received authorization code does not correspond to the predetermined authorization code, transitioning the safety circuit from a dormant state to a lockout state; (e) if it is determined that the received authorization code corresponds to the predetermined authorization code, transitioning the safety circuit from the dormant state to a sleep state; (f) executing the following steps while the safety circuit is in the sleep state (i) receiving a master code from the activation mechanism, (ii) determining whether the received master code corresponds to a predetermined master code, and (iii) if it is determined that the received master code corresponds to the predetermined master code, transitioning the safety circuit from the sleep state to a responsive state; and (g) executing the following steps while the safety circuit is in the responsive state (i) receiving an unlocking code from the activation mechanism, (ii) determining whether the received unlocking code corresponds to a predetermined unlocking code, and (iii) if it is determined that the received unlocking code corresponds to the predetermined unlocking code, transitioning the safety circuit from a locked state to a normal operation state.
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Specification