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US 8,712,614 B2Granted
System, method, and computer readable medium for a force-based wheelchair joystick
OwnerAndrew Parkerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interface for use with a pressure-based wheelchair joystick, which enables highly sensitive calibration of the pressure-based joystick, and allows the user to control the wheelchair.
Claims3
A processor implemented method for using an interface for use with a pressure-based wheelchair joystick, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) a microcontroller detecting a voltage signal sent from a calibration button located on a wheelchair interface and wherein the voltage signal is sent when a pressure-based wheelchair joystick is in a neutral state;
- (b) the microcontroller initiating an idle state for a predetermined period of time upon detection of the voltage signal sent from the calibration button;
- (c) the microcontroller pausing for the predetermined period of time, the microcontroller determining whether a calibration button is being pressed by determining if a voltage signal sent from the calibration button is detectable;
- (d) the microcontroller detecting a neutral input signal sent from the pressure-based wheelchair joystick when the wheelchair joystick is in a neutral position, wherein the microcontroller stores the neutral input signal as an initial value for each axis of the pressure-based wheelchair joystick
- (e) the microcontroller determining a deadband using the detected input signal, wherein the deadband is a range including a minimum value that is defined as the input signal minus 24 milliVolts and a maximum value that is defined as the input signal plus 24 milliVolts;
- (f) storing the deadband as a neutral range value;
- (g) a microcontroller detecting a first input signal, the first input signal having a corresponding value, where the first input signal is received from the pressure-based wheelchair joystick;
- (h) the microcontroller determining if the first input signal is outside the neutral range value;
- (i) the microcontroller verifying that the value of the first input signal is outside the neutral range;
- (j) the microcontroller transmitting an output signal to a wheelchair, the output signal corresponding to the value of the first input signal;
- (k) the microcontroller verifying that the value of the first input signal is within a predetermined fault range;
- (l) the microcontroller outputting a signal if the value of the first input signal is outside the fault range;
- and
- (m) the microcontroller deactivating the wheelchair in response to the first input signal being within the predetermined fault range.
11 more elements
An interface for use with a pressure-based wheelchair joystick, the interface comprising:
- (a) a microcontroller to implement instructions in response to input signals received from the pressure-based wheelchair joystick, the instructions comprising the steps of:
- 1. detecting a voltage signal received when a calibration button on the pressure-based wheelchair is pressed, wherein the voltage signal is received when the pressure-based wheelchair joystick is in a neutral position;
- 2. initiating an idle state for a predetermined period of time;
- 3. determining whether the voltage signal is still being sent;
- 4. upon determining that the voltage signal is still being sent, receiving an input signal;
- 5. determining a deadband using the detected input signal;
- 6. storing the deadband as a neutral range value and wherein the neutral range includes a minimum value that is defined as the input signal minus 24 milliVolts and a maximum value that is defined as the input signal plus 24 milliVolts;
- 7. detecting a first input signal, the first input signal having a corresponding value, where the first input signal is received from the pressure-based wheelchair joystick;
- 8. determining if the first input signal is out of the neutral range value;
- 9. verifying that the value of the first input signal is outside the neutral range;
- 10. transmitting an output signal to a wheelchair, the output signal corresponding to the value of the first input signal;
- 11. verifying that the value of the first input signal is within a predetermined fault range;
- 12. outputting a signal if the value of the first input signal is outside the fault range;
- and
- 13. deactivating the wheelchair in response to a fault signal
- (b) a first filter coupled to an input of the microcontroller;
- (c) an amplifier coupled to an output of the microcontroller;
- and
- (d) a voltage divider circuit coupled to an output of the amplifier to feed an output signal back into the microcontroller.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.