Context-sensitive help for display device associated with power driven wheelchair

• US 20070056782A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Inventors: Chopcinski, Gary, Drobnak, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,065,051 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.100
• 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

An apparatus and method for providing help information on a display device associated with a power driven wheelchair is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: a) displaying screen content displayed on the display device during operation or support of the power driven wheelchair, b) detecting selective activation of a first input device, c) in response to detection of the first input device activation, selecting help information content from a collection of help information, the selected help information content being contextually related to the screen content displayed on the display device, and d) displaying the contextually-related help information content on the display device. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: a display device, a first input device, and a microcontroller in operative communication with the display device and the first input device.

Claims

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

a display device to selectively display screen content during operation or support of the power driven wheelchair;

a first input device for selective activation; and

a microcontroller in operative communication with the display device and the first input device;

wherein the microcontroller controls the content displayed on the display device during the operation or support and detects activation of the first input device; and

wherein, in response to detection of the first input device activation, the microcontroller selects help information content from a collection of help information, the selected help information content being contextually related to the screen content displayed on the display device, and controls display of the contextually-related help information content on the display device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the screen content during at least a portion of the operation or support includes one or more screen objects, the apparatus further including:

a second input device for selective activation in communication with the microcontroller;

wherein the microcontroller detects selective activation of the second input device and, in response to detection of the second input device activation, controls designation of a first screen object from the one or more screen objects as active within the screen content; and

wherein the selected help information content is contextually related to the first screen object within the screen content displayed on the display device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the one or more screen objects include one or more of a menu item, an active text object, a check box, an icon, a control button, or a radio button.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the contextually-related help information content is displayed on the display device in a full screen view, a window, or a dialog box.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:

a storage medium interface in operative communication with the microcontroller; and

a portable storage medium in operative communication with the storage medium interface and storing the collection of help information.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the portable storage medium includes a removable memory device that is releasably received by the storage medium interface, the removable memory device storing the collection of help information.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the removable memory device includes a secure digital card, a compact flash card, a flash memory pen drive, a memory stick, a microdrive, a multimedia memory card, a smart media card, an xD picture card, or a subscriber identity module card.

8. A method for providing help information on a display device associated with a power driven wheelchair, including:

a) displaying content on the display device during operation or support of the power driven wheelchair;

b) detecting selective activation of a first input device;

c) in response to detection of the first input device activation, selecting help information content from a collection of help information, the selected help information content being contextually related to the content displayed on the display device; and

d) displaying the contextually-related help information content on the display device.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the screen content during at least a portion of the operation or support includes one or more screen objects, the method further including:

e) detecting selective activation of a second input device; and

f) in response to detection of the second input device activation, designating a first screen object from the one or more screen objects as active within the screen content;

wherein the selected help information content is contextually related to the first screen object within the screen content displayed on the display device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the one or more screen objects include one or more of a menu item, an active text object, a check box, an icon, a control button, or a radio button.

11. The method of claim 8, further including:

e) displaying the contextually-related help information content on the display device in a full screen view, a window, or a dialog box.

12. The method of claim 8, further including:

f) retrieving the contextually-related help information content from a portable storage medium via a storage medium interface associated with the power driven wheelchair.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the portable storage medium includes a removable memory device that is releasably received by the storage medium interface, the removable memory device storing the collection of help information.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the removable memory device includes a secure digital card, a compact flash card, a flash memory pen drive, a memory stick, a microdrive, a multimedia memory card, a smart media card, an xD picture card, or a subscriber identity module card.

15. A method for providing help information on a display device associated with a power driven wheelchair, including:

a) displaying content on the display device during operation or support of the power driven wheelchair, the content during at least a portion of the operation or support including one or more screen objects;

b) detecting activation of a screen navigation control;

c) in response to detection of the screen navigation control activation, designating a first screen object from the one or more screen objects as active within the content;

d) detecting selective activation of a help switch;

e) in response to detection of the help switch activation, selecting help information content from a collection of help information, the selected help information content being contextually related to the active screen object within the content displayed on the display device; and

f) displaying the contextually-related help information content on the display device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the screen navigation control includes at least one of a right activation, a down activation, an up activation, or a left activation.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the one or more screen objects include one or more of a menu item, an active text object, a check box, an icon, a control button, or a radio button.

18. The method of claim 15, further including:

g) displaying the contextually-related help information content on the display device in a full screen view, a window, or a dialog box.

19. The method of claim 15, further including:

g) retrieving the contextually-related help information content from a removable memory device via a storage medium interface associated with the power driven wheelchair, the removable memory device being releasably received by the storage medium interface and storing the collection of help information.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the removable memory device includes a secure digital card, a compact flash card, a flash memory pen drive, a memory stick, a microdrive, a multimedia memory card, a smart media card, an xD picture card, or a subscriber identity module card.