# US 11,993,300 B2 · Assist control device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,300 B2 - Document ID: US11993300B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/877,656 - Filed: 2022-07-29 - Published: 2023-03-02 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-08-30 - Assignees: Exedy Corporation - Applicants: EXEDY Corporation - Inventors: Yusuke Ohashi; Taichi Kitamura; Hitoshi Katsura - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993300B2 ## CPC - B62B 5/0069: {Control} - B62B 5/0033: {Electric motors} - B62B 5/04: Braking mechanisms; Locking devices against movement - B62B 5/0447: {using elements cooperating with a handle bar} - B62B 5/06: Hand moving equipment, e.g. handle bars (for cycles B62K11/14, B62K21/12) - B62B 5/063: {for low-lift hand trucks} - B66F 9/065: non-masted (mobile jacks of the garage type mounted on wheels or rollers B66F5/00) - B66F 9/07509: {Braking} - B66F 9/0755: {Position control; Position detectors} - B66F 9/07572: {Propulsion arrangements} - B66F 9/20: Means for actuating or controlling masts, platforms, or forks (power take-off from vehicle transmissions, combined with vehicle propulsion systems B60K) - Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility - B62B: HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES (characterised by animal propulsion B62C; propulsion of sledges by driver or engine B62M) - B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract An assist control device controls an electric motor assisting traveling of a mobile object. The assist control device includes an operating switch and a control part. The operating switch is configured to be turned on when operated by a user. The operating switch is configured to be turned off when released from being operated by the user. The control part controls the electric motor to output an assist force when the operating switch is turned on. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assist control device controlling an electric motor assisting traveling of a mobile object, the assist control device comprising: an operating switch configured to be turned on when operated by a user, the operating switch configured to be turned off when released from being operated by the user; and a control part configured to control the electric motor to output an assist force when the operating switch is turned on; wherein the control part is further configured to calculate the assist force based on mobile object information regarding the mobile object. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assist control device according to claim 1, wherein the operating switch includes a forward movement switch and a reverse movement switch, and the control part is further configured to control the electric motor to output the assist force for forward movement when the forward movement switch is turned on, the control part being further configured to control the electric motor to output the assist force for reverse movement when the reverse movement switch is turned on. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assist control device according to claim 2, wherein the control part is further configured to execute second brake processing to stop the mobile object when determining that both the forward movement switch and the reverse movement switch are turned on during traveling of the mobile object. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The assist control device according to claim 2, wherein the control part is further configured to execute third brake processing to stop the mobile object when determining either that the reverse movement switch is turned on during forward movement of the mobile object or that the forward movement switch is turned on during reverse movement of the mobile object. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assist control device according to claim 1, wherein the operating switch is configured to be turned on as either a first on state or a second on state when operated by the user, the operating switch being further configured to be turned off when released from being operated by the user, and the control part is further configured to control the electric motor to output the assist force for forward movement when the operating switch is turned on as the first on state, the control part being further configured to control the electric motor to output the assist force for reverse movement when the operating switch is turned on as the second on state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The assist control device according to claim 5, wherein the control part is further configured to execute third brake processing to stop the mobile object when determining that the operating switch is switched between the first on state and the second on state during traveling of the mobile object. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The assist control device according to claim 1, further comprising: an angle detection part configured to detect an angle, wherein the mobile object includes an operating handle extending upward, the operating handle configured to be pivotable, the angle detection part is further configured to detect a tilt angle of the operating handle relative to a vertical axis, and the control part is further configured to control the electric motor based on the tilt angle detected by the angle detection part. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The assist control device according to claim 7, wherein the control part is configured to determine whether the tilt angle is in a first range, a second range, or a third range, the second range being greater in the tilt angle than the first range, the third range being greater in the tilt angle than the second range, the control part being configured to stop the electric motor from assisting when determining that the tilt angle is in the third range. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The assist control device according to claim 7, wherein the angle detection part is formed by at least one of an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, or a limit switch. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assist control device according to claim 1, wherein the control part is configured to execute first brake processing to stop the mobile object when determining that the operating switch is switched off from on during traveling of the mobile object. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The assist control device according to claim 10, wherein the control part is further configured to execute the first brake processing after elapse of a predetermined waiting time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The assist control device according to claim 10, wherein the control part is further configured to execute the first brake processing with a brake force depending on the assist force of the electric motor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The assist control device according to claim 1, wherein the control part is configured to stop calculation of the assist force and set the assist force to a preliminarily set value until the mobile object reaches a preliminarily set vehicle velocity from starting of assist control. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The assist control device according to claim 13, wherein the control part is configured to set the assist force to zero when the mobile object stands still after elapse of a preliminarily set time. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The assist control device according to claim 1, wherein the control part is configured to stop calculation of the assist force and set the assist force to a preliminarily set value until a preliminarily set time elapses from starting of assist control. ### Claim 16 An assist control device controlling an electric motor assisting traveling of a mobile object, the assist control device comprising: an operating switch configured to be turned on when operated by a user, the operating switch configured to be turned off when released from being operated by the user; and a control part configured to control the electric motor to output an assist force when the operating switch is turned on; wherein the operating switch includes a forward movement switch and a reverse movement switch, and the control part is further configured to control the electric motor to output the assist force for forward movement when the forward movement switch is turned on, the control part being further configured to control the electric motor to output the assist force for reverse movement when the reverse movement switch is turned on. ### Claim 17 An assist control device controlling an electric motor assisting traveling of a mobile object, the assist control device comprising: an operating switch configured to be turned on when operated by a user, the operating switch configured to be turned off when released from being operated by the user; and a control part configured to control the electric motor to output an assist force when the operating switch is turned on; and an angle detection part configured to detect an angle; wherein the mobile object includes an operating handle extending upward, the operating handle configured to be pivotable, the angle detection part is further configured to detect a tilt angle of the operating handle relative to a vertical axis, and the control part is further configured to control the electric motor based on the tilt angle detected by the angle detection part. ### Claim 18 An assist control device controlling an electric motor assisting traveling of a mobile object, the assist control device comprising: an operating switch configured to be turned on when operated by a user, the operating switch configured to be turned off when released from being operated by the user; and a control part configured to control the electric motor to output an assist force when the operating switch is turned on; wherein the control part is configured to execute first brake processing to stop the mobile object when determining that the operating switch is switched off from on during traveling of the mobile object; and wherein the control part is further configured to execute the first brake processing after elapse of a predetermined waiting time. ### Claim 19 An assist control device controlling an electric motor assisting traveling of a mobile object, the assist control device comprising: an operating switch configured to be turned on when operated by a user, the operating switch configured to be turned off when released from being operated by the user; and a control part configured to control the electric motor to output an assist force when the operating switch is turned on; wherein the operating switch is configured to be turned on as either a first on state or a second on state when operated by the user, the operating switch being further configured to be turned off when released from being operated by the user, and the control part is further configured to control the electric motor to output the assist force for forward movement when the operating switch is turned on as the first on state, the control part being further configured to control the electric motor to output the assist force for reverse movement when the operating switch is turned on as the second on state; and wherein the control part is further configured to execute third brake processing to stop the mobile object when determining that the operating switch is switched between the first on state and the second on state during traveling of the mobile object.