Method and apparatus for setting or modifying programmable parameter in power driven wheelchair

• US 9,456,942 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2015
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Inventors: Peters, Darryl, Jaenke, Bruce A., Burke, Carrie L., Chopcinski, Gary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US14/641,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20150342807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/14 Joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/20 Displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/04 motor-driven A61G5/06 takes precedence; motor-operated rests A61G5/12; for vehicles with handlebars, equipped with three or more wheels B62K5/003, B62K5/023
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/10 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1059 adjusting the height of the seat
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1075 tilting the whole seat backwards tilting forwards for standing-up or sitting-down aids A61G5/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1089 Anti-tip devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/12 Rests specially adapted therefor, e.g. for the head or the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/128 for feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05784 with ventilating means, e.g. mattress or cushion with ventilating holes or ventilators
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/84 Wheelchairs
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/106 for selecting a programme, variable or parameter
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23128 Switch from one kind of display to other when parameter is changed
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23129 Animated display, changes as function of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23159 Display plurality of parameters simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23193 Memory stores lifetime, different settings, configurations of controlled device
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23332 Overide stored parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23388 Mixture of different means, joystick, keys, pedals, fader, potentiometer
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2637 Vehicle, car, auto, wheelchair
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 21/18 Estimation of position or speed
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A method and apparatus for setting or modifying a programmable operating parameter associated with a power driven wheelchair is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: a) operating a user interface device associated with a power driven wheelchair in a programming mode, b) selecting a programmable operating parameter associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair using the user interface device, c) selecting a value for the programmable operating parameter using the user interface device, and d) saving the selected value for the programmable operating parameter in a portion of a storage device associated with the power driven wheelchair using the user interface device. A method and apparatus for selecting one or more programmable parameter sets from a portable storage medium and saving the selected sets to a local storage device associated with a power driven wheelchair and vice versa is also provided.

Claims

1. An apparatus associated with a power driven wheelchair, comprising:

a controller of the power driven wheelchair; and

a portable storage medium interface adapted to facilitate operative communication between the controller and a portable storage medium;

wherein information from the portable storage medium is communicated to the controller or vice versa via the portable storage medium interface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a local storage device in operative communication with the controller, wherein at least a portion of the local storage device is designated for storage of information associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair;

wherein at least a portion of the portable storage medium is designated for storage of information associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair; and

wherein information associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair is communicated from the portable storage medium to the local storage device or vice versa.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a user interface device;

wherein communication of information between the portable storage medium and the local storage device is in response to a selection by a user via the user interface device.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the local storage device forms at least a portion of a system controller associated with the power driven wheelchair, the system controller comprising the portable storage medium interface.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the local storage device forms at least a portion of a programmer associated with the power driven wheelchair, the programmer comprising the portable storage medium interface.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a user interface device;

wherein communication of information between the portable storage medium and the controller is in response to a selection by a user via the user interface device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information includes at least one of a software program, a parameter set, help information, and a security key.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information includes a parameter set associated with at least one of a drive setting, a system setting, and a seating setting.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information communicated between the portable storage medium and the controller is communicated at least one of automatically, semi-automatically, and manually.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable storage medium comprises a mobile telephone.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable storage medium comprises a secure digital (SD) card.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein communication of information between the portable storage medium and the controller is via at least one of a USB interface, a Bluetooth interface, and an IEEE 802.11 standard interface.

13. A method associated with a power driven wheelchair, comprising:

providing a controller of the power driven wheelchair;

providing a portable storage medium interface adapted to facilitate operative communication between the controller and a portable storage medium; and

communicating information from the portable storage medium to the controller or vice versa via the portable storage medium interface.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a local storage device in operative communication with the controller, wherein at least a portion of the local storage device is designated for storage of information associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair, and wherein at least a portion of the portable storage medium is designated for storage of information associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair; and

communicating information associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair from the portable storage medium to the local storage device or vice versa.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

operating a user interface device associated with the power driven wheelchair;

selecting at least one programmable parameter set associated with the power driven wheelchair using the user interface device; and

communicating each selected programmable parameter set from the portable storage medium to the local storage device or vice versa.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising performing a security check before allowing selection of the at least one programmable parameter set, wherein the security check is based on a key associated with the portable storage medium.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a user interface device associated with the power driven wheelchair; and

communicating information between the portable storage medium and the controller in response to a selection by a user via the user interface device.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising establishing operative communication between the portable storage medium and the controller via a wired connection.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising establishing operative communication between the portable storage medium and the controller via a wireless connection.

20. An apparatus associated with a power driven wheelchair, comprising:

a controller means of the power driven wheelchair; and

a portable storage medium interface means adapted to facilitate operative communication between the controller means and a portable storage medium means;

means for communicating information from the portable storage medium means to the controller means or vice versa via the portable storage medium interface means.