Vehicle interface based on the weight distribution of a user

• US 8,099,200 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2005
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joshua D. Coombs
• Original Assignee: Joshua D. Coombs
• Inventors: Coombs, Joshua D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, Shelley
• Application Number:
  US11/239,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20070078577A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,300 Days
• Field of Search: 701/4
• US Class Current: 701/4
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 23/00 Rider-operated controls specially adapted for cycles, i.e. means for initiating control operations, e.g. levers, grips specially adapted to cycle brake mechanisms B62L3/00

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention is an interface for communicating a vehicle command from a user to a vehicle. The interface preferably includes a support system to support at least a portion of the weight of a user, a sensor system to sense the weight distribution of the user, and a processor to interpret a vehicle command based on the weight distribution of the user and to communicate the vehicle command to a vehicle.

Claims

1. An interface for communicating a vehicle attitude command from a user to a wheeled vehicle that includes a steering system capable receiving a steering command and turning at least one of the wheels of the vehicle and an attitude adjustment system capable of actively changing the roll of the vehicle, comprising:

a support system adapted to support at least a portion of the weight of a user;

wherein the support system includes a left support adapted to support the left weight of the user and a right support adapted to support the right weight of the user,

a sensor system coupled to the support system, wherein the sensor system includes a left sensor coupled to the left support and a right sensor coupled to the right support, wherein the sensor system is adapted to sense a shift in the weight distribution of the user between the left support and the right support, and

a processor coupled to the sensor system, wherein the processor interprets a vehicle roll command based on the shift in weight distribution between the left and right supports and communicates the vehicle roll command to the attitude adjustment system of the vehicle, and wherein the vehicle attitude command is distinct from the steering command and disconnected from the steering system.

2. An interface for communicating a vehicle attitude command from a user to a wheeled vehicle that includes a steering system capable receiving a steering command and turning at least one of the wheels of the vehicle and an attitude adjustment system capable of actively changing the pitch of the vehicle, comprising:

a support system adapted to support at least a portion of the weight of a user, wherein the support system includes a foot base, and a seat, a handbase,

a sensor system coupled to the support system, wherein the sensor system includes a foot sensor coupled to the foot base, a seat sensor coupled to the seat, and a handbase sensor coupled to the handbase, wherein the sensor system is adapted to sense a shift in the weight distribution of the user between the foot base, the seat, and the hand base, and

a processor coupled to the sensor system, wherein the processor interprets a vehicle pitch command based on the shift in weight distribution between the foot base, the seat, and the hand base and communicates the vehicle pitch command to the attitude adjustment system of the vehicle, and wherein the vehicle attitude command is distinct from the steering command and disconnected from the steering system.