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

• US 7,113,854 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2003
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US10/691,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20050090954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/22, 307/9.1, 280/250.1, 280/304.1, 297/DIG.4, 323/282, 180/65.1, 180/7.1, 180/907, 180/6.5, 340/384.5, 340/407.1, 340/441, 340/459
• 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:

a switched input for controlling a personal mobility vehicle light; and

at least one output, the switched input being adapted to be programmably mapped to control the output instead of the light.

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

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

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one output controls an accessory function.

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

at least one output; and

a switched input for controlling another output that is infrequently used, the switched input being adapted to be programmably mapped to control the at least one output instead of the infrequently used output.

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

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one output is a power seat module.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one output is an environmental control module.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one 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.

10. The system of claim 2, 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 at least one output.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein a software profile is created for a particular user.

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

a processor;

at least one output;

another output that is infrequently used; and

a hand control module having a switched input thereon, the processor for controlling the infrequently used output in response to a signal from the switched input, the hand control module further comprising;

a visual graphic; and

an analog input for navigating through the visual graphic to control the at least one output, the processor being programmable to map the switched input to control the at least one output instead of the infrequently used output.

13. A personal mobility vehicle comprising:

a control system;

at least one input; and

at least one commonly used output, the input being programmably mapped to the output so that the commonly used output can be performed while minimizing the number of sequences of input commands required to perform the output.

14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the output is a control module.

15. The vehicle of claim 13, further comprising a connector for attaching an external device to the vehicle, the inputs being mapped to the outputs with the external device.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the external device is a personal computer including an application capable of mapping the inputs to the outputs.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the external device is a handheld device including an application capable of mapping the inputs to the outputs.