Assistive driving system for a wheelchair
First Claim
1. A system for providing an assistive driving force to a wheelchair comprising:
- (a) a power assist system comprisinga circuit board,a motion sensing system configured to detect the motion of the power assist system, anda power assist drive system; and
(b) a sensor configured to be worn by a user and to detect a motion of a user'"'"'s hand, the sensor being in communication with the power assist system;
wherein the circuit board is configured toi. determine when the wheelchair is being manually pushed based on a combination ofan acceleration of the power assist system detected by the motion sensing system, anda user motion detected by the sensor that indicates a manual push,and respond to the manual push by activating an assistive drive force;
ii. determine when the wheelchair is being manually braked based on a combination ofa deceleration of the power assist system detected by the motion sensing system, anda user motion detected by the sensor that indicates a manual brake,and respond to the manual brake by deactivating an assistive drive force;
oriii. both i. and ii.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure describes a system for providing an assistive driving force to a wheelchair. The system comprises a power assist system which includes a motion sensing system that is configured to detect the motion of the power assist system, and hence of the wheelchair, and a power assist drive system that is configured to provide an assistive drive force. The system also comprises a sensor, such as may be embedded in a wearable wristband, that is configured to detect the motion of a user'"'"'s hand and that is in communication with the power assist system. The system may be configured to determine whether the wheelchair is being manually pushed based at least in part on the user motion, and to activate an assistive drive force in response to a manual push. The system may also be configured to determine whether the wheelchair is being manually braked based at least in part on the user motion, and to deactivate an assistive drive force in response to a manual brake.
130 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A system for providing an assistive driving force to a wheelchair comprising:
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(a) a power assist system comprising a circuit board, a motion sensing system configured to detect the motion of the power assist system, and a power assist drive system; and (b) a sensor configured to be worn by a user and to detect a motion of a user'"'"'s hand, the sensor being in communication with the power assist system; wherein the circuit board is configured to i. determine when the wheelchair is being manually pushed based on a combination of an acceleration of the power assist system detected by the motion sensing system, and a user motion detected by the sensor that indicates a manual push, and respond to the manual push by activating an assistive drive force; ii. determine when the wheelchair is being manually braked based on a combination of a deceleration of the power assist system detected by the motion sensing system, and a user motion detected by the sensor that indicates a manual brake, and respond to the manual brake by deactivating an assistive drive force;
oriii. both i. and ii. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification