Rate-of-change switches and controllable apparatus

A rate-of-change switch which comprises:

• a transducer that produces an output in response to an input;
• a first differentiator being operatively connected to said output;
• a second differentiator being operatively connected to said first differentiator;
• and
• means, being operatively connected to said second differentiator, for performing a first switching function.

A rate-of-change control device which comprises:

• an input terminal;
• a differentiator being operatively connected to said input terminal;
• and
• means, being operatively connected to said differentiator, for performing a first switching function.

A rate-of-change control device which comprises:

• an input terminal;
• a first differentiator being operatively connected to said input terminal;
• a second differentiator being operatively connected to said first differentiator;
• and
• means, being operatively connected to said second differentiator, for performing a first switching function.

A method which comprises:

• a) producing an output in response to a manual input;
• b) differentiating said output with respect to time;
• and
• c) performing a first switching function in response to said differentiated output.

A method which comprises:

• a) attaching a tilt-sensitive transducer to a person;
• b) body-member tilting said transducer;
• c) producing a first output proportional to said body-member tilting;
• d) differentiating said first output with respect to time;
• and
• e) performing a first switching function in response to said differentiated first output.

A method for initiating operation of a first electrical device which comprises:

• a) initiating a sequential plurality of time delays in which one is a window of opportunity;
• a) refraining from momentary-contact switching during a first time delay that follows said initiating step;
• b) momentary-contact switching within said window of opportunity that follows said first time delay;
• and
• c) refraining from momentary-contact switching during a second time delay that follows said window of opportunity.

A method for controlling selected ones of a plurality of electrically-powered functions comprises:

• a) providing an opportunity for selection from said electrically-powered functions;
• b) selecting one of said electrically-powered functions;
• c) controlling said one electrically-powered function;
• and
• d) returning to said providing step.

Apparatus which comprises:

• an electrically-powered conveyance;
• an environmental control unit that includes a plurality of accessible control functions;
• a momentary-contact switch;
• and
• means for selectively controlling said conveyance or said environmental control unit by said momentary-contact switch.

An electrically-powered conveyance having a wheel and an electric motor that is drivingly connected to said wheel, the improvement which comprises:

• a transducer that produces an output that is proportional to an input;
• means for controlling speeds of said electrically-powered conveyance proportional to said output;
• a differentiator being operatively connected to said transducer;
• and
• means, being operatively connected to said differentiator, for shutting down said conveyance whenever said differentiator produces a signal that exceeds an allowable magnitude.