Quest Technologies, Inc.

Natco

Havard L Staggs

Douglas J Littlejohn

Baxter R Watkins

John H Hessler

Chi-Foun Kuen

An electronic control system for a stair climbing vehicle, such as a wheelchair is disclosed. Front and back sensors are provided for detecting a stairway or slope. The electronic control system determines from the sensor data whether the slope has an acceptable incline for traversing. If it is not acceptable, the vehicle will be prevented from entering onto the stairway or slope. A seat for a user is tilted in accordance with electronic controls to keep the user approximately vertical with respect to gravity as the vehicle traverses the stairs. The allowed operation of the vehicle is controlled via parameters which can be changed by removable memory which configures the vehicle for a particular user or group of users.

Electronic control system for stair climbing vehicle

A motorized personal transport vehicle (PTV) with a removable, programmable memory which contains both a key code to enable only an authorized user to operate the PTV and contains constants for use in an algorithm which operates the PTV in accordance with a prescription for that particular user's needs. Control signals from an input, such as a joystick, are modified by the algorithm in accordance with the prescription for a particular user. This prescription is stored in the programmable memory and loaded into the computer when the memory is inserted. The key code in the memory can allow various levels of access, with access for a particular user, a particular group, physician access and technician access. In a preferred embodiment, an electrically erasable programamble read only memory (EEPROM) is used as the memory key. Two processors are used, a first control processor for operating the algorithm and controlling the PTV motors and a second command processor for controlling a display panel, receiving the inputs and modifying the inputs in accordance with a prescription. The modifications performed in the command processor are the filtering of the input signals and the control of acceleration and deceleration. A display has an icon in the shape of a wheelchair. The status of the PTV for its operating modes is indicated by different elements of the icon which light up to indicate a particular status. For instance, a pair of downward directed eyes indicate that the ultrasonic drop off sensors are active.

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Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Havard L Staggs