Method and apparatus for automated positioning of user support surfaces in power driven wheelchair

• US 9,522,091 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2015
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Inventors: Mattes, John, Jaenke, Bruce A., Chopcinski, Gary E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US14/802,221
• Publication Number:
  US 20160015581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• 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

By programming position parameters corresponding to user support surfaces of a power driven wheelchair, movement of the user support surfaces is automated. The user support surfaces can be positioned individually, as part of a sequence or as part of a series of sequences. Accordingly, with little effort, a user can position the user support surfaces of the wheelchair to a predefined position.

Claims

1. A method of automating movement of a plurality of user support surfaces of a power driven wheelchair to predefined positions, the method comprising:

storing first data representing predetermined positions of each of a first plurality of the user support surfaces of the power driven wheelchair in a non-volatile memory;

storing second data representing predetermined positions of each of a second plurality of the user support surfaces of the power driven wheelchair in the non-volatile memory;

associating the first data and the second data with a first positioning series, and

associating the first positioning series with a user input for causing the first plurality of the user support surfaces to automatically move to the corresponding predetermined positions and the second plurality of the user support surfaces to automatically move to the corresponding predetermined positions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing third data representing predetermined positions of each of a third plurality of the user support surfaces of the power driven wheelchair in the non-volatile memory;

storing fourth data representing predetermined positions of each of a fourth plurality of the user support surfaces of the power driven wheelchair in the non-volatile memory;

associating the third data and the fourth data with a second positioning series, and

associating the second positioning series with another user input for causing the third plurality of the user support surfaces to automatically move to the corresponding predetermined positions and the fourth plurality of the user support surfaces to automatically move to the corresponding predetermined positions.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising, if the user input is detected:

automatically moving each of the first plurality of the user support surfaces to the corresponding predetermined positions based on the first data; and

automatically moving each of the second plurality of the user support surfaces to the corresponding predetermined positions based on the second data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

defining a first order in which the first plurality of the user support surfaces are to be moved; and

defining a second order in which the second plurality of the user support surfaces are to be moved.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first data includes the first order and the second data includes the second order.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising, if the user input is detected:

automatically moving each of the first plurality of the user support surfaces, according to the first order, to the corresponding predetermined positions, based on the first data; and

automatically moving each of the second plurality of the user support surfaces, according to the second order, to the corresponding predetermined positions, based on the second data.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining an order in which the first data and the second data will be processed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of the user support surfaces and the second plurality of the user support surfaces are the same user support surfaces.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising the ordered steps of:

automatically moving each of the first plurality of the user support surfaces, according to the first order, to the corresponding predetermined positions, based on the first data;

waiting a predetermined period of time; and

automatically moving each of the second plurality of the user support surfaces, according to the second order, to the corresponding predetermined positions, based on the second data.

10. The method of claim 4, further comprising the ordered steps of:

automatically moving each of the first plurality of the user support surfaces, according to the first order, to the corresponding predetermined positions, based on the first data;

waiting a predetermined period of time;

determining if the user wants to continue; and

if the user wants to continue, automatically moving each of the second plurality of the user support surfaces, according to the second order, to the corresponding predetermined positions, based on the second data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data and the second data are input using a programming device which interfaces with a control system of the power driven wheelchair.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input is associated with a drive command.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory is mounted on the power driven wheelchair.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first data comprises a first sequence defining a first order for sequentially moving each of the first plurality of the user support surfaces to the corresponding predetermined positions, and wherein the second data comprises a second sequence defining a second order for sequentially moving each of the second plurality of the user support surfaces to the corresponding predetermined positions.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising, if the user input is detected:

automatically moving each of the first plurality of the user support surfaces according to the first sequence; and

thereafter

automatically moving each of the second plurality of the user support surfaces according to the second sequence.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

associating the first data and the second data with a drive control mode of the power driven wheelchair.

17. A wheelchair comprising:

user support surfaces connected to a frame of the wheelchair;

actuators for moving the user support surfaces;

a controller;

a memory; and

a communication connection between the controller and the actuators; and

wherein data representing a series of sequences of predetermined positions of actuators corresponding to positions of the user support surfaces is associated with a user input and stored in the memory; and

wherein if the controller receives the user input, the controller uses the communication connection to cause the actuators automatically to move to the predetermined positions stored in the memory to move the user support surfaces to the corresponding positions according to the series of sequences.

18. A controller for controlling movement of actuators to move user support surfaces of a wheelchair, the controller comprising:

a processor; and

a memory; and

wherein the memory stores data representing a series of sequences of predetermined positions of actuators corresponding to positions of the user support surfaces and a user input associated with the series; and

wherein the processor generates a signal for causing the actuators automatically to move to the predetermined positions to move the user support surfaces to the corresponding positions according to the series of sequences, in response to detecting the user input.