Method and apparatus for setting or modifying programmable parameter in power driven wheelchair

• US 8,073,588 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Inventors: Peters, Darryl, Jaenke, Bruce A., Chopcinski, Gary E., Burke, Carrie L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US11/514,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055424A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 180/907
• 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
• 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

A method and apparatus for setting or modifying a programmable operating parameter associated with a power driven wheelchair is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: a) operating a user interface device associated with a power driven wheelchair in a programming mode, b) selecting a programmable operating parameter associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair using the user interface device, c) selecting a value for the programmable operating parameter using the user interface device, and d) saving the selected value for the programmable operating parameter in a portion of a storage device associated with the power driven wheelchair using the user interface device. A method and apparatus for selecting one or more programmable parameter sets from a portable storage medium and saving the selected sets to a local storage device associated with a power driven wheelchair and vice versa is also provided.

Claims

1. A power driven wheelchair capable of setting or modifying a programmable parameter, including:

a user interface device adapted to operate in a programming mode; and

a first storage device in operative communication with the user interface device with at least a portion designated for storage of a programmable operating parameter associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair;

wherein the user interface device is used to select the programmable operating parameter, select a value for the programmable operating parameter, and save the selected value for the programmable operating parameter in the portion of the first storage device, such that when the power driven wheelchair exits the programming mode, the programmable operating parameter is set to the selected value for operation of the wheelchair.

2. The power driven wheelchair of claim 1, further including a system controller, wherein the user interface device and the first storage device form at least a portion of the system controller.

3. The power driven wheelchair of claim 2 wherein at least one of an on-board storage device and an on-chip storage device form at least a portion of the first storage device.

4. The power driven wheelchair of claim 1, further including:

a programmer, wherein the user interface device forms at least a portion of the programmer; and

a system controller, wherein the first storage device forms at least a portion of the system controller, the programmer being in operative communication with the system controller.

5. The power driven wheelchair of claim 4 wherein at least one of an on-board storage device and an on-chip storage device form at least a portion of the first storage device.

6. A method associated with a power driven wheelchair for setting or modifying a programmable parameter, including:

a) operating a user interface device in a programming mode, wherein the power driven wheelchair includes the user interface device;

b) selecting a programmable operating parameter associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair using the user interface device;

c) selecting a value for the programmable operating parameter using the user interface device; and

d) saving the selected value for the programmable operating parameter in a portion of a storage device associated with the power driven wheelchair using the user interface device, such that when the power driven wheelchair exits the programming mode, the programmable operating parameter is set to the selected value for operation of the wheelchair.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the user interface device and the storage device form at least a portion of a system controller, wherein the power driven wheelchair includes the system controller.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the user interface device forms at least a portion of a programmer, wherein the power driven wheelchair includes the programmer, and the storage device forms at least a portion of a system controller with, wherein the power driven wheelchair includes the system controller, the programmer being in operative communication with the system controller.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the programmable operating parameter is a range parameter with selectable parameter values within a range defined by a lower parameter limit and an upper parameter limit.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the selectable parameter values for the range parameter are further defined by predetermined increments between a next higher parameter value or a next lower parameter value for a currently selected parameter value.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the programmable operating parameter is a choice parameter with a plurality of selectable parameter values.

12. An apparatus associated with a power driven wheelchair for communicating a programmable parameter set, including:

a user interface device associated with a power driven wheelchair and adapted to operate in a programming mode;

a portable storage medium in operative communication with the user interface device with at least a portion designated for storage of one or more programmable parameter sets associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair; and

a local storage device in operative communication with the user interface device with at least a portion designated for storage of one or more programmable parameter sets associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair;

wherein the user interface device is used to select one or more programmable parameter sets from the portable storage medium and save the selected programmable parameter sets to the local storage device or vice versa.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the user interface device and the local storage device form at least a portion of a system controller associated with the power driven wheelchair, the system controller further including:

a storage medium interface adapted to receive the portable storage medium and facilitate operative communication between the user interface device and the portable storage medium.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the user interface device forms at least a portion of a programmer associated with the power driven wheelchair and the local storage device forms at least a portion of a system controller associated with the power driven wheelchair, the programmer being in operative communication with the system controller, the system controller further including:

a storage medium interface adapted to receive the portable storage medium and facilitate operative communication between the user interface device and the portable storage medium.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the user interface device forms at least a portion of a programmer associated with the power driven wheelchair and the local storage device forms at least a portion of a system controller associated with the power driven wheelchair, the programmer being in operative communication with the system controller, the programmer further including:

a storage medium interface adapted to receive the portable storage medium and facilitate operative communication between the user interface device and the portable storage medium.

16. A method associated with a power driven wheelchair for communicating a programmable parameter set, including:

a) operating a user interface device associated with a power driven wheelchair in a programming mode;

b) selecting at least one programmable parameter set associated with the power driven wheelchair using the user interface device; and

c) communicating each selected programmable parameter set from a portable storage medium associated with the power driven wheelchair to a local storage device associated with the power driven wheelchair or vice versa using the user interface device;

wherein the portable storage device includes at least a portion designated for storage of one or more programmable parameter sets and the local storage device includes at least a portion designated for storage of one or more programmable parameter sets.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the user interface device and the local storage device form at least a portion of a system controller associated with the power driven wheelchair, the system controller further including:

a storage medium interface adapted to receive the portable storage medium and facilitate operative communication between the user interface device and the portable storage medium.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the user interface device forms at least a portion of a programmer associated with the power driven wheelchair and the local storage device forms at least a portion of a system controller associated with the power driven wheelchair, the programmer being in operative communication with the system controller, the system controller further including:

a storage medium interface adapted to receive the portable storage medium and facilitate operative communication between the user interface device and the portable storage medium.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the user interface device forms at least a portion of a programmer associated with the power driven wheelchair and the local storage device forms at least a portion of a system controller associated with the power driven wheelchair, the programmer being in operative communication with the system controller, the programmer further including:

a storage medium interface adapted to receive the portable storage medium and facilitate operative communication between the user interface device and the portable storage medium.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the programmable parameter sets include programmable operating parameters associated with driving the power driven wheelchair.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the programmable parameter sets include programmable operating parameters associated with operating powered seating for the power driven wheelchair.

22. The method of claim 16 wherein the programmable parameter sets include programmable operating parameters associated with operating powered front rigging for the power driven wheelchair.

23. The method of claim 16, the selecting in b) including:

d) selecting all programmable parameter sets stored on the local storage device; and

the communicating in c) including;

e) communicating the selected programmable parameter sets from the local storage device to the portable storage medium.

24. The method of claim 16, the selecting in b) including:

d) selecting all programmable parameter sets stored within a select folder on the portable storage medium; and

the communicating in c) including;

e) communicating the selected programmable parameter sets from the portable storage medium to the local storage device.

25. A power driven wheelchair capable of setting or modifying a programmable parameter, including:

a user interface device adapted to operate in a programming mode, wherein the user interface includes a microcontroller that includes;

logic for displaying a drive mode programming screen, including;

display of the drive mode;

display of a speed programmable parameter and a speed programmable parameter current value for the drive mode;

display of a response programmable parameter and a response programmable parameter current value for the drive mode; and

display of an advanced menu selection;

logic for selecting one of the speed programmable parameter, response programmable parameter, and the advanced menu selection;

logic for selecting programmable parameters associated with the advanced menu selection;

logic for modifying a value for the selected programmable parameter;

logic for saving the value for the selected programmable parameter;

a first storage device in operative communication with the user interface device with at least a portion designated for storage of programmable parameter values associated with drive modes of the power driven wheelchair.

26. A power driven wheelchair capable of setting or modifying a programmable parameter, including:

a storage device with at least a portion designated for storage of programmable parameters associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair;

a system controller in operative communication with the storage device and adapted to program and drive the power driven wheelchair, wherein the system controller includes a microcontroller that includes;

logic for operating in a programming mode, including logic to;

select the programmable operating parameter;

select a value for the programmable operating parameter; and

save the selected value for the programmable operating parameter in the portion of the storage device, such that when the power driven wheelchair exits the programming mode, the programmable operating parameter is set to the selected value for operation of the wheelchair;

logic for operating in a drive mode, including logic to control drive motors.

27. A power driven wheelchair capable of setting or modifying a programmable parameter, including a system controller adapted to program and drive the power driven wheelchair, wherein the system controller includes a microcontroller that includes logic for switching between a programming mode and a drive mode, such that when the power driven wheelchair exits the programming mode, the programmable operating parameter is set to the selected value for operation of the wheelchair.