METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED POSITIONING OF USER SUPPORT SURFACES IN POWER DRIVEN WHEELCHAIR

• US 20170252238A1
• Filed: 12/16/2016
• Published: 09/07/2017
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 10,130,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

1-20. -20. (canceled)

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

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

storing data representing a first sequence that defines a first order for moving the plurality of user support surfaces to the first set of predetermined positions in the non-volatile memory;

associating the data with a first user input, wherein activation of the first user input causes the plurality of user support surfaces to automatically move to the first set of predetermined positions according to the first order defined by the first sequence.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

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

storing data representing a second sequence that defines a second order for moving the plurality of user support surfaces to the second set of predetermined positions in the non-volatile memory;

associating the data with a second user input, wherein activation of the second user input causes the plurality of user support surfaces to automatically move to the second set of predetermined positions according to the second order defined by the second sequence.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the first user input comprises a left command and the second user input comprises a right command within the same drive setting.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the first order is different than the second order.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

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

storing data representing a second sequence that defines a second order for moving the plurality of user support surfaces to the second set of predetermined positions in the non-volatile memory;

associating the first sequence and the second sequence with a series, wherein activation of the first user input causes the plurality of user support surfaces to automatically move to the first set of predetermined positions according to the first order defined by the first sequence, then move to the second set of predetermined positions according to the second order defined by the second sequence.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising waiting a predetermined period of time between moving the plurality of user support surfaces to the first set of predetermined positions according to the first order defined by the first sequence and moving the plurality of user support surfaces to the second set of predetermined positions according to the second order defined by the second sequence.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising waiting for a user input between moving the plurality of user support surfaces to the first set of predetermined positions according to the first order defined by the first sequence and moving the plurality of user support surfaces to the second set of predetermined positions according to the second order defined by the second sequence.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the power driven wheelchair stores a plurality of series, and wherein a plurality of series are associated with at least one of the plurality of drive settings.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising associating the first sequence data with a drive setting of the power driven wheelchair.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the power driven wheelchair comprises a plurality of drive settings, and wherein a plurality of sequences are associated with each of the plurality of drive settings.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of sequences associated with one of the drive settings is associated with a different command for the user input.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the first user input and the second user input are associated with an input device, and wherein successive activations of the input device initiate alternating activations of the first sequence and the second sequence.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined position data and sequence data are input using a programming device which interfaces with a control system of the power driven wheelchair.

34. The method of claim 21, wherein the first user input is a drive command.

35. The method of claim 21, wherein the first user input is a remote input device.

36. A power driven wheelchair, comprising:

a controller configured to automate movement of user support surfaces of the power driven wheelchair to predefined positions according to the method of claim 21;

the plurality of user support surfaces; and

the non-volatile memory.

37. A programmer for programming automated movement of user support surfaces of the power driven wheelchair to predefined positions according to the method of claim 21, comprising:

a display screen; and

inputs for selecting parameters associated with the predefined positions and sequence;

wherein the programmer is coupled to a controller of the power driven wheelchair during programming.

38. A method of programming automated movement of user support surfaces of a power driven wheelchair to predefined positions, the method comprising:

selecting each of a plurality of user support surfaces of the power driven wheelchair associated with a first position;

inputting a first position parameter for each of the plurality of user support surfaces in a first order;

saving the first position parameter for each of the plurality of user support surfaces;

saving the first order; and

associating the first position data and first order data with a first sequence, wherein execution of the first sequence causes the plurality of user support surfaces to automatically move to the first position according to the first order.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

selecting each of a plurality of user support surfaces of the power driven wheelchair associated with a second position;

inputting a second position parameter for each of the plurality of user support surfaces in a second order;

saving the second position parameter for each of the plurality of user support surfaces;

saving the second order;

associating the second position data and second order data with a second sequence; and

associating the first sequence and the second sequence with a series, wherein execution of the series causes the plurality of user support surfaces to automatically move to the first position according to the first order, then move to the second position according to the second order.