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

• US 7,668,634 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• 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: Tasker, Peter J., Mansell, Wayne T., Greig, Mark E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US11/417,459
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 701/22, 701/36, 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. A personal mobility vehicle electronic control system comprising:

a plurality of inputs; and

at least two outputs, the control system being configured so that one of the plurality of inputs is programmably mapped to one of the outputs so that mapping of the input to control one of the outputs can be changed to control a different output, the control system further configured to recall the changed mapping of the input to the different output.

2. The electronic control system of claim 1, in combination with a wheelchair, the wheelchair comprising:

one or more drive wheels supporting the wheelchair for movement in relation to a supporting surface; and

a seat supported in relation to the one or more drive wheels.

3. The electronic control system of claim 1 wherein a microprocessor is in communication with the at least one input and the at least two outputs, the microprocessor being programmable to map a signal from the at least one input to one of the at least two outputs according to a user'"'"'s preferences.

4. The electronic control system of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor is programmable for controlling one of the at least two outputs in accordance with a signal from the input, and wherein the input is a switched input on a hand control module of the personal mobility vehicle.

5. The electronic control system of claim 4 wherein one of the outputs is a motor control module and the microprocessor controls a parameter of the motor control module in accordance with the input signal from the switched input.

6. The electronic control system of claim 4 wherein the microprocessor is programmable to cause the switched input to act as either a latched input or an unlatched input.

7. The electronic control system of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor includes a memory with software embedded in the memory for controlling the microprocessor, the software being configured so that the microprocessor can map the input to control one of the at least two outputs.

8. The electronic control system of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor includes a memory with imbedded software to programmably control the operation of the vehicle.

9. The electronic control system of claim 8 wherein a software profile is created for a particular user.

10. The electronic control system of claim 1 wherein one of the outputs is a power seat module.

11. The electronic control system of claim 1 wherein one of the outputs is an environmental control module.

12. The electronic control system of claim 1 wherein one of the outputs controls an accessory function.

13. The electronic control system of claim 1 wherein the at least one input is a plurality of switched inputs and the at least two outputs are a plurality of outputs, the control system being configured so that different switched inputs are programmably assigned to control different outputs.

14. The electronic control system of claim 13 wherein at least one of the plurality of outputs controls the operation of a power seat system of the personal mobility vehicle.

15. The electronic control system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of outputs are operative to control a plurality of output devices and wherein the plurality of output devices include a motor control module and at least one of a power seat control module, a light control module, and an environmental control module.

16. The electronic control system of claim 15 wherein a digital communications bus is connected between a hand control module and the plurality of output devices.

17. The electronic control system of claim 15 wherein a digital communications bus provides communication between the at least two of the output devices.

18. The electronic control system of claim 1 wherein the at least one input is a hand control module.

19. The electronic control system of claim 18 wherein the hand control module includes a joystick and at least one switch.

20. The electronic control system of claim 1 wherein a display module is in communication with the at least one input.