Personal mobility vehicle control system with input functions programmably mapped to output functions

• US 20060247836A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunrise Medical Us LLC (Sunrise Medical Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sunrise Medical Hhg Incorporated (Sunrise Medical Incorporated)
• Inventors: Greig, Mark E., Tasker, Peter J., Mansell, Wayne T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,634 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/36
• 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

Abstract

An electronic control system has the ability to programmably assign or map various input functions to different output functions. This allows for a much greater degree of customization of the control system for an individual user and allows inputs to be matched to different outputs to suit the individual users needs more optimally.

Claims

1. An electronic control system for a personal mobility vehicle, the system comprising:

at least one input; and

at least one output, the input being adapted to be programmably mapped to the output according to a user'"'"'s preferences.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a programmable processor for controlling the output in accordance with a signal from the input, and wherein the input is a switched input on a hand control module of a personal mobility vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the output is a power seat module.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the output is an environmental control module.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the output is a motor control module and the processor controls a parameter of the motor control module in accordance with the signal from the switched input.

6. The system of claim 1, further including a plurality of switched inputs including at least one input and a plurality of outputs including at least one output, wherein different switched inputs are adapted to be programmably assigned to control different outputs.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein at least one output controls the operation of a power seat system of the personal mobility vehicle.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one output controls an accessory function.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a programmable processor and a memory with software embedded in the memory, the software being adapted to be configured so that the processor can map the input to control the output.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein a software profile is created for a particular user.

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

14. An electronic control system for a personal mobility vehicle, the system comprising:

at least one user interface object;

a plurality of targets; and

a processor that is programmable to send an action message from the input to a desired one of the targets.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the user interface object is a switched input, the processor being programmable to cause the switched input to act as either a latched input or an unlatched input.

16. (canceled)

17. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

21. A method for mapping personal mobility vehicle inputs to outputs, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a personal mobility vehicle having inputs, outputs, and a programmable processor for performing operations or control functions of the outputs in response to signals from the inputs;

b) selecting a desired input;

c) assigning an operation or control function to the desired input; and

d) associating an output with the assigned operation or control function.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein steps c) and d) are combined into a single step.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the selecting step comprises the steps of:

i) entering a programming mode; and

ii) depressing the desired input.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of providing a program editor, wherein the program editor is a software application.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the selecting step comprises the steps of:

i) providing a list of inputs; and

ii) selecting an input from the list.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the selecting step comprises the steps of:

i) providing a field; and

ii) entering an input into a field.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the assigning step comprises the steps of:

i) providing a list of operations or control functions; and

ii) selecting an operation or control function from the list.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the assigning step comprises the steps of:

i) providing a field; and

ii) entering an operation or control function into the field.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the associating step comprises the steps of:

i) providing a list of outputs; and

ii) selecting an output from the list.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the associating step comprises the steps of:

i) providing a field; and

ii) entering an output into the field.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the software application is integral with the personal mobility vehicle.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the software application is stored in an external device that is adapted to be removably connected to the personal mobility vehicle.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the external device is in the form of a handheld pendant.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the external device is in the form of a personal computer.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein the software is a user-friendly windows application software.

36. The method of claim 21, wherein the operations or control functions include action messages and parameter values.

37. The method of claim 21, wherein the outputs include one or more control modules.