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

• US 9,084,705 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• 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:
  US13/975,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20140058582A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/36, 180/65.1, 180/907, 280/29, 280/250.1, 280/304.1, 280/304.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 associated with a power driven wheelchair, comprising:

storing a parameter set on a portable storage medium, wherein the parameter set comprises parameters associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair;

coupling the portable storage medium to a first controller associated with a first power driven wheelchair, wherein the first controller comprises a first local storage device to store parameter sets; and

selectively transferring the parameter set from the portable storage medium to the first local storage device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the parameter set on the portable storage medium comprises uploading the parameter set from a second local storage device associated with a second power driven wheelchair to the portable storage medium.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the parameter set comprises a customized parameter set for a user of the second power driven wheelchair.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable storage medium comprises a plurality of parameter sets for selective transfer to power driven wheelchairs.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the plurality of parameter sets comprises a master copy of parameter sets.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the parameter set on the portable storage medium comprises accessing the parameter set from a library of parameter sets stored in a non-volatile storage media remotely located with respect to the power driven wheelchair.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the parameter set on the portable storage medium comprises accessing the parameter set via a web page on the Internet.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling the portable storage medium to a computing device and transferring the parameter set from the computing device to the portable storage medium for transfer to the first local storage device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a version number with the parameter set and wherein selectively transferring the parameter set from the portable storage medium to the first local storage device comprises comparing the version numbers associated with the parameter set stored on the portable storage medium and a parameter set previously stored in the first local storage device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein selectively transferring the parameter set from the portable storage medium to the first local storage device only occurs if the version number of the parameter set stored on the portable storage medium indicates a more recent version than the version number associated with the parameter set previously stored in the first local storage device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a prompt that invites a user to manually initiate the transfer of the parameter set from the portable storage medium to the first local storage device.

21. The method of claim 3 wherein the customized parameter set is associated with impairments common to the user of the second power driven wheelchair and a user of the first power driven wheelchair.

12. An apparatus associated with a power driven wheelchair comprising:

a first controller associated with a first power driven wheelchair, wherein the first controller comprises a first local storage device for storing a parameter set, wherein the parameter set comprises parameters associated with operation of the power driven wheelchair; and

a first storage medium interface associated with the first controller for interfacing with a portable storage medium that can store the parameter set for transfer from the portage storage medium to the first local storage device when the portable storage medium is coupled to the storage medium interface.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:

a second controller associated with a second power driven wheelchair, wherein the second controller comprises a second local storage device for storing the parameter set; and

a second storage medium interface associated with the second controller for interfacing with the portable storage medium that can store the parameter set for transfer from the second local storage device to the portable storage medium when the portable storage medium is coupled to the second storage medium interface.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the parameter set comprises a customized parameter set for a user of the second power driven wheelchair.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the portable storage medium comprises a plurality of parameter sets for selective transfer to power driven wheelchairs.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the plurality of parameter sets comprises a master copy of parameter sets.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the portable storage medium is a secure digital card.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a computing device configured to access and store parameter sets that are stored on a web page, and wherein the computing device can be selectively placed in operative communication with the portable storage medium.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a non-volatile storage media that stores a parameter set library that includes one or more parameter sets, and wherein the portable storage medium can be selectively placed in operative communication with the parameter set library.

20. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a display, wherein the display displays a prompt that invites a user to manually initiate the transfer of the parameter set from the portable storage medium to the first local storage device.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the customized parameter set is associated with impairments common to the user of the second power driven wheelchair and a user of the first power driven wheelchair.