Back to results
US 12,422,852 B2Granted
Wheelchair system and method of use
AssigneeBraun GmbH
InventorsAndrew Henseleit, John Hayes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wheelchair system may include vehicles including docking systems for a wheelchair. The wheelchair and the docking system may be coupled to controllers in communication with one another via a secure communication channel. A user may use a computing device to send signals to and receive signals from the controllers and a data processing system to select the docking system to which the wheelchair may be secured.
Claims23
A wheelchair system comprising:
- a coupling device for a wheelchair;
- a docking system configured to be mounted to a vehicle, wherein the docking system includes a coupler mechanism configured to engage with the coupling device and an actuator configured to adjust a height of the coupler mechanism;
- a dock controller configured to be operatively coupled to the docking system;
- and
- wherein the dock controller is configured to:
- (a) receive a signal indicative of a distance between the coupling device and a floor of the vehicle, and (b) send a signal to the actuator of the docking system to adjust the height of the coupler mechanism based on the signal indicative of the distance prior to the wheelchair being disposed in a securement location whereby the coupler mechanism may engage with the coupling device simultaneously with the wheelchair entering the securement location.
3 more elements
A method of operation for a wheelchair system comprising:
- receiving, with a dock controller that is operatively coupled to a docking system for a wheelchair, a signal indicative of a distance between a coupling device on the wheelchair and a floor of a securement location;
- and
- adjusting a height of a coupler mechanism on the docking system prior to the wheelchair being disposed in the securement location based on the signal indicative of the distance whereby the coupler mechanism may engage with the coupling device simultaneously with the wheelchair entering the securement location.
A method of operation of a docking system for a wheelchair comprising:
- receiving, with a dock controller operatively coupled to the docking system, a unique identifier associated with the wheelchair;
- sending an encryption key to a wheelchair controller operatively coupled to the wheelchair, wherein the encryption key is associated with a secure communication channel between the wheelchair controller and the dock controller;
- adjusting a height of a coupler mechanism on the docking system based on a signal received from the wheelchair controller through the secure communication channel prior to the wheelchair being disposed in a securement location, the signal being indicative of a distance between a coupling device on the wheelchair and a floor of the securement location, whereby the coupler mechanism may engage with the coupling device simultaneously with the wheelchair entering the securement location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.