Safety system

• US 9,261,234 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2013
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Industries, Inc. (Uni-Sélect, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Industries, Inc. (Uni-Sélect, Inc.)
• Inventors: DiLuciano, Mark A., Thacker, Jerry O., Johnson, George F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEBERADINIS, ROBERT L
• Application Number:
  US14/055,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20140042831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 307/328
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/22 by presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/26 by pedal actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0092 with use of redundant elements for safety purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/08 Means for preventing excessive speed of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/00 Safety devices acting in conjunction with the control or operation of a machine; Control arrangements requiring the simultaneous use of two or more parts of the body F16P5/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(a) after transitioning the safety circuit to the normal operation state, determining whether a follow-up signal has been entered via the activation mechanism within a predetermined amount of time; and

(b) if it is determined that the follow-up signal has not been entered via the activation mechanism within the predetermined amount of time, transitioning the safety circuit from the normal operation state to the locked state.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(a) after determining whether the received unlocking code corresponds to a predetermined unlocking code, if it is determined that the received unlocking code does not correspond to the predetermined unlocking code, transitioning the safety circuit from the locked state to a lockout state.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the following steps after step (a) in claim 1 and prior to step (b) in claim 1:

(a) receiving a master code from the activation mechanism;

(b) determining whether the received master code corresponds to a predetermined master code; and

(c) if it is determined that the received master code corresponds to the predetermined master code, transitioning the safety circuit from a sleep state to a responsive state.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the following steps after step (a) in claim 1 and prior to step (b) in claim 1:

(a) receiving an authorization code from an input device, wherein the input device is in communication with the safety circuit;

(b) determining whether the received authorization code corresponds to a predetermined authorization code;

(c) if it is determined that the received authorization code corresponds to the predetermined authorization code, transitioning the safety circuit from a dormant state to a sleep state;

(d) 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.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the following steps after step (a) in claim 1 and prior to step (b) in claim 1:

(a) receiving an authorization code from an input device, wherein the input device is in communication with the safety circuit;

(b) determining whether the received authorization code corresponds to a predetermined authorization code; and

(c) if it is determined that the received authorization code corresponds to the predetermined authorization code, transitioning the safety circuit from a dormant state to a locked state.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the motorized device comprises an electric vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the motorized device comprises a piece of industrial equipment.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation mechanism is configured to allow a user to

(a) enter the unlocking code;

and

(b) operate the drive system when the safety circuit is in the normal operation state.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the activation mechanism comprises a pedal.

11. A method of controlling a motorized device comprising the steps of:

(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.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

(a) after determining whether the received unlocking code corresponds to a predetermined unlocking code, if it is determined that the received unlocking code does not correspond to the predetermined unlocking code, continuing to prevent the drive system from receiving the activation signal produced by the activation mechanism; and

(b) ignoring any subsequently entered unlocking codes until the motorized device is turned off and re-started.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the following steps after step (b) in claim 11 and prior to step (c) in claim 11:

(a) receiving a master code from the activation mechanism;

(b) determining whether the received master code corresponds to a predetermined master code; and

(c) ignoring any received unlocking codes entered via the activation mechanism until such time as the received master code is determined to correspond to the predetermined master code.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the following steps after step (b) in claim 11 and prior to step (c) in claim 11:

(a) receiving an authorization code from an input device, wherein the input device is incorporated within the motorized device;

(b) determining whether the received authorization code corresponds to a predetermined authorization code; and

(c) ignoring any received unlocking codes entered via the activation mechanism until such time as the received authorization code is determined to correspond to the predetermined authorization code.

15. A method of controlling a motorized device comprising the steps of:

(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.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the following steps after step (b) in claim 15 and prior to step (c) in claim 15:

(a) receiving a master code from the activation mechanism;

(b) determining whether the received master code corresponds to a predetermined master code; and

(c) ignoring any received unlocking codes entered via the activation mechanism until such time as the received master code is determined to correspond to the predetermined master code.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the following steps after step (b) in claim 15 and prior to step (c) in claim 15:

(a) receiving an authorization code from an input device, wherein the input device is in communication with the CPU section of the motor controller;

(b) determining whether the received authorization code corresponds to a predetermined authorization code; and

(c) ignoring any received unlocking codes entered via the activation mechanism until such time as the received authorization code is determined to correspond to the predetermined authorization code.

18. 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 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.

19. 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,

(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.

20. 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,

(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.