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

• US 8,285,440 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Original Assignee: Invacare Corporation
• Inventors: Jaenke, Bruce A., Peters, Darryl, Chopcinski, Gary E., McCullar, Ricky J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US13/228,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20120016548A1
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 701/36, 701/29.1, 701/22, 701/33.1, 180/65.04, 180/65.1, 180/907, 280/250.1
• US Class Current: 701/33.1
• 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 collection of diagnostic and troubleshooting information associated with a power driven wheelchair is stored for access by a microcontroller to be displayed to a user to assist in troubleshooting the power driven wheelchair. A log of fault codes transmitted by various fault-detecting mechanisms is compiled. A user may request display of diagnostic information associated with a selected fault code. The operating instructions of a power driven wheelchair may be updated by using portable storage media onto which a latest version of operating instructions is loaded to transfer the updated operating instructions to wheelchair controller memory. The calibration of a power driven wheelchair can be simplified by providing functionality within the wheelchair controller to change calibration parameters or to transfer calibration parameters from portable storage media.

Claims

1. A method of calibrating one or more operating parameters of a power driven wheelchair comprising:

providing a first non-volatile storage storing one or more sets of calibration parameters associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair, wherein the first non-volatile storage is adapted for modification of the stored calibration parameters and is disposed within a wheelchair controller coupled to the power driven wheelchair;

displaying an interactive screen that displays calibration parameters and prompts for changing one of more of the displayed values; and

receiving signals from one or more input devices adapted for interaction with the interactive screen, adjusting the calibration parameters in response to the signals, and storing the adjusted calibration values in the first non-volatile storage.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of displaying an interactive screen is performed by displaying an interactive screen on the wheelchair controller.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals from input devices that are part of the wheelchair controller.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that assign a function to one or more external controller switches in response to signals from the one or more input devices.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that select a display view according to which operating information is configured for display on the interactive screen.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that assign a relationship between a battery discharge display and an actual battery voltage.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that select one or more wheelchair motor outputs as wheelchair drive outputs.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that assign a relationship between operative control of first and second wheelchair motors.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that select a delay between cessation of operator control input and an activation of one or more wheelchair motor brakes.

10. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that select timing related to the display view.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that select an initial operating mode in which a wheelchair commences operation upon power up.

12. A method of calibrating one or more operating parameters of a power driven wheelchair comprising:

providing a first non-volatile storage device storing one or more sets of calibration parameters associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair, wherein the first non-volatile storage device is adapted for modification of the stored calibration parameters and is disposed within a wheelchair controller coupled to the power driven wheelchair;

displaying an interactive screen that displays calibration parameters and prompts for changing one of more of the displayed values; and

receiving signals from one or more input devices adapted for interaction with the interactive screen, adjusting the calibration parameters in response to the signals, and storing the adjusted calibration values in the first non-volatile storage device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of displaying an interactive screen is performed by displaying an interactive screen on the wheelchair controller.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals from input devices that are part of the wheelchair controller.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that assign a function to one or more external controller switches in response to signals from the one or more input devices.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that select a display view according to which operating information is configured for display on the interactive screen.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that assign a relationship between a battery discharge display and an actual battery voltage.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that select one or more wheelchair motor outputs as wheelchair drive outputs.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that assign a relationship between operative control of first and second wheelchair motors.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that select a delay between cessation of operator control input and an activation of one or more wheelchair motor brakes.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that select timing related to the display view.

22. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of receiving signals from one or more input devices is performed by receiving signals that select an initial operating mode in which a wheelchair commences operation upon power up.