Battery powered lawn care vehicle with drive efficiency indicator
First Claim
1. A riding lawn care vehicle comprising:
- a battery power source;
an electric drive motor powered by the battery power source, the electric drive motor being operably coupled to wheels of the riding lawn care vehicle to provide drive power for the riding lawn care vehicle;
at least one blade drive motor powered by the battery power source, the at least one blade drive motor being operably coupled to at least one cutting blade of the riding lawn care vehicle;
a current sensor disposed to monitor total current drawn from the battery power source, wherein the battery power source is configured to provide power for all electrical components of the riding lawn care vehicle; and
a controller configured to;
receive total current data from the current sensor;
compare the total current data to a predefined operational range for the riding lawn care vehicle, andprovide feedback to an operator of the riding lawn care vehicle based on the total current data relative to the predefined operational range to enable the operator to control a speed of the electric drive motor or the at least one blade drive motor to maintain the total current in the predefined operational range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A riding lawn care vehicle may include a battery power source, an electric drive motor, at least one blade drive motor, a current sensor, and a controller. The electric drive motor may be powered by the battery power source. The electric drive motor may be operably coupled to wheels of the riding lawn care vehicle to provide drive power for the riding lawn care vehicle. The at least one blade drive motor may be powered by the battery power source. The at least one blade drive motor may be operably coupled to at least one cutting blade of the riding lawn care vehicle. The current sensor may be disposed to monitor total current drawn from the battery power source. The controller may receive total current data from the current sensor and provide feedback to an operator of the riding lawn care vehicle based on the total current data.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A riding lawn care vehicle comprising:
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a battery power source; an electric drive motor powered by the battery power source, the electric drive motor being operably coupled to wheels of the riding lawn care vehicle to provide drive power for the riding lawn care vehicle; at least one blade drive motor powered by the battery power source, the at least one blade drive motor being operably coupled to at least one cutting blade of the riding lawn care vehicle; a current sensor disposed to monitor total current drawn from the battery power source, wherein the battery power source is configured to provide power for all electrical components of the riding lawn care vehicle; and a controller configured to; receive total current data from the current sensor; compare the total current data to a predefined operational range for the riding lawn care vehicle, and provide feedback to an operator of the riding lawn care vehicle based on the total current data relative to the predefined operational range to enable the operator to control a speed of the electric drive motor or the at least one blade drive motor to maintain the total current in the predefined operational range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 17, 18)
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8. A controller for a riding lawn care vehicle comprising a battery power source, an electric drive motor, and at least one blade drive motor powered by the battery power source, wherein the electric drive motor is operably coupled to wheels of the riding lawn care vehicle to provide drive power for the riding lawn care vehicle, and the at least one blade drive motor is operably coupled to at least one cutting blade of the riding lawn care vehicle, the controller comprising:
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a device interface configured to receive total current data from a current sensor disposed to monitor total current drawn from the battery power source, wherein the battery power source is configured to provide power for all electrical components of the riding lawn care vehicle; and processing circuitry configured to receive total current data from the current sensor; compare the total current data to a predefined operational range for the riding lawn care vehicle, and provide feedback to an operator of the riding lawn care vehicle based on the total current data relative to the predefined operational range to enable the operator to control a speed of the electric drive motor or the at least one blade drive motor to maintain the total current in a predefined operational range. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20)
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15. A method of providing operator feedback for a riding lawn care vehicle, the riding lawn care vehicle comprising a battery power source, an electric drive motor, and at least one blade drive motor powered by the battery power source, wherein the electric drive motor is operably coupled to wheels of the riding lawn care vehicle to provide drive power for the riding lawn care vehicle, and the at least one blade drive motor is operably coupled to at least one cutting blade of the riding lawn care vehicle, the method comprising:
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receiving total current data from a current sensor disposed to monitor total current drawn from the battery power source, wherein the battery power source is configured to provide power for all electrical components of the riding lawn care vehicle; comparing the total current data to the predefined operational range for the riding lawn care vehicle; and providing feedback to an operator of the riding lawn care vehicle based on the total current data relative to the predefined operational range to enable the operator to control the speed of the electric drive motor or the at least one blade drive motor to maintain the total current in a predefined operational range. - View Dependent Claims (16, 21, 22)
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Specification