Wheelchair lift with a rotary sensor used to determine lift position

A method of controlling an operation of a wheelchair lift, the method comprising:

• generating a signal indicative of a position of a platform of the wheelchair lift using a rotary sensor;
• storing a set of conditions in a controller, the conditions related to the position of the platform of the lift;
• comparing the position signal to the conditions stored in the controller, and generating an output signal based on the comparison of the position signal and the conditions stored in the controller;
• and
• controlling an operation of the lift based on the output signal.

A vehicle having a wheelchair lift, the wheelchair lift comprising:

• a lift having a pivot and a platform;
• a rotary position sensor mounted at the pivot and configured to generate an output signal;
• at least one sensor configured to generate a signal indicative of whether the platform is in contact with a ground surface;
• an interlock system configured to generate a signal indicative of a condition of the vehicle;
• and
• a controller configured to receive the output signal of the rotary position sensor, the signal indicative of whether the platform is in contact with a ground surface, and the signal indicative of a condition of the vehicle, the controller configured to determine the position of the platform based on the output of the rotary position sensor and to control motion of the platform.

A wheelchair lift comprising:

• a lift having a pivot and a platform, the platform movable through a range of motion from a ground position to a floor position and a stowed position;
• at least one position sensor mounted at the pivot and configured to generate an output signal indicative of the position of the platform through the range of motion;
• and
• a controller configured to receive the output signal of the position sensor and determine the position of the platform based on the output of the position sensor.