US4369397A — Motor control apparatus for a motorized vehicle, …

Claim 1

Independent Claim 246 words

A control arrangement for electric motors in which a mechanical controller is adapted to be manually used to control both forward and rearward speed of at least one electric motor, said control arrangement comprising: means to convert a manually determined position of a controller into an electrically useful signal to control said at least one electric motor, said means including a shift member having various positions and controlled in position by the said controller; at least two detectors and a radiant energy emitter associated with each of said detectors, said detectors each being responsive with a proportional electrical output to the level of the radiant energy from the associated emitter reflected from a reflection surface of said shift member, the position of said shift member being detected by said detectors by providing a varying effect to which said detectors are sensitive and will provide a variable output therby, the electrical output signal from each said detector being varied by reason of the varied, relative positions of said shift member with respect to said detectors; and an electrical circuit for controlling the said at least one electric motor, and said electrical circuit including means to effect a drive signal for said at least one electric motor which is varied to control the speed thereof as a factor of the combination of outputs of said detectors to control both the direction of rotation of the controlled motor in both a forward and rearward direction and the speed thereof.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 246 words

A control arrangement for electric motors in which a mechanical controller is adapted to be manually used to control both forward and rearward speed of at least one electric motor, said control arrangement comprising: means to convert a manually determined position of a controller into an electrically useful signal to control said at least one electric motor, said means including a shift member having various positions and controlled in position by the said controller; at least two detectors and a radiant energy emitter associated with each of said detectors, said detectors each being responsive with a proportional electrical output to the level of the radiant energy from the associated emitter reflected from a reflection surface of said shift member, the position of said shift member being detected by said detectors by providing a varying effect to which said detectors are sensitive and will provide a variable output therby, the electrical output signal from each said detector being varied by reason of the varied, relative positions of said shift member with respect to said detectors; and an electrical circuit for controlling the said at least one electric motor, and said electrical circuit including means to effect a drive signal for said at least one electric motor which is varied to control the speed thereof as a factor of the combination of outputs of said detectors to control both the direction of rotation of the controlled motor in both a forward and rearward direction and the speed thereof.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 103 words

A control arrangement as in claim 1 wherein said at least two detectors includes four of said detectors and wherein said at least one electric motor includes two of said electric motors, said detectors being symmetrically positioned relative to a central range of positions of said shift member, and two of said detectors being coupled in said electrical circuit for predominant control of the speed of only one of said electric motors and the direction of rotation thereof in either a forward or rearward direction so that said four detectors effectively control the forward and rearward speed of both of said electric motors.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 219 words

For an electrically driven wheelchair, a control arrangement for electric drive motors where the wheelchair is of a type including two motors, one driving independently each of two driving wheels of the wheelchair, each electric motor being controllable in speed in both forward and rearward directions whereby to control the direction and speed of the wheelchair, said control arrangement comprising: a shift member having a reflection surface; four detectors arranged in a symmetrical manner relative to a central position relative to selective range of the reflection surface of said shift member; a radiant energy emitter adjoining each said detector, said detector being responsive with a proportional electrical output to the level of radiant energy from the emitter reflected from the reflection surface, the output from each said detector being varied by reason of the varied relative positions of said shift member with respect to said detectors; and electrical circuit means, said detectors being coupled to said electrical circuit means such that each is predominantly determining a drive quadrant and speed direction, the outputs from said detectors which are oppositely located being combined so that the difference between the outputs is used to determine and control both the speed and direction of rotation of the respective drive motor depending upon the position of said shift member relative to said detectors.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 219 words

For an electrically driven wheelchair, a control arrangement for electric drive motors where the wheelchair is of a type including two motors, one driving independently each of two driving wheels of the wheelchair, each electric motor being controllable in speed in both forward and rearward directions whereby to control the direction and speed of the wheelchair, said control arrangement comprising: a shift member having a reflection surface; four detectors arranged in a symmetrical manner relative to a central position relative to selective range of the reflection surface of said shift member; a radiant energy emitter adjoining each said detector, said detector being responsive with a proportional electrical output to the level of radiant energy from the emitter reflected from the reflection surface, the output from each said detector being varied by reason of the varied relative positions of said shift member with respect to said detectors; and electrical circuit means, said detectors being coupled to said electrical circuit means such that each is predominantly determining a drive quadrant and speed direction, the outputs from said detectors which are oppositely located being combined so that the difference between the outputs is used to determine and control both the speed and direction of rotation of the respective drive motor depending upon the position of said shift member relative to said detectors.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 219 words

A motor control apparatus for controlling both the direction and speed of a motor, said control comprising: a universally mounted manual control member; a shift member connected to said control member and disposed for pivotal movement between a neutral position and a displaced position upon movement of said control member; a first detector mounted on said apparatus in a first position relative to said control member; a second detector mounted on said apparatus in a second position relative to said control member, said second position being opposite in direction to said first position; each of said first and second detectors being equally spaced from said shift member when said shift member is in its neutral position; each of said first and second detectors having detection means to determine the spacing of each associated detector from said shift member and to generate an electrical output signal representative of said spacing; and electrical circuit means responsive to the outputs of said detection means for combining said output signals and for producing a drive signal for said motor, wherein said motor is stationary when said shift member is in its neutral position and said motor is operated either in a forward or rearward direction and at a variable speed depending upon the displaced position of said shift member relative to said detectors.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 219 words

A motor control apparatus for controlling both the direction and speed of a motor, said control comprising: a universally mounted manual control member; a shift member connected to said control member and disposed for pivotal movement between a neutral position and a displaced position upon movement of said control member; a first detector mounted on said apparatus in a first position relative to said control member; a second detector mounted on said apparatus in a second position relative to said control member, said second position being opposite in direction to said first position; each of said first and second detectors being equally spaced from said shift member when said shift member is in its neutral position; each of said first and second detectors having detection means to determine the spacing of each associated detector from said shift member and to generate an electrical output signal representative of said spacing; and electrical circuit means responsive to the outputs of said detection means for combining said output signals and for producing a drive signal for said motor, wherein said motor is stationary when said shift member is in its neutral position and said motor is operated either in a forward or rearward direction and at a variable speed depending upon the displaced position of said shift member relative to said detectors.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 183 words

A motor control apparatus as claimed in claim 4 further for controlling both the direction and speed of a second motor, said control comprising a third detector and a fourth detector each mounted on said apparatus in respective positions opposite to one another relative to said control member; each of said third and fourth detectors having detection means to determine the spacing of said associated detector from said shift member and generating an electrical output signal representative of said spacing; said electrical circuit means responsive to the outputs of said detection means for combining said output signals of said third and fourth detectors and for producing a drive signal for the second motor; said first, second, third and fourth detectors being arranged symmetrically relative to a central range of positions of said shift member; said first and second detectors and said third and fourth detectors being electrically coupled in pairs in said circuit means; the output signals from the detectors in each pair being combined to provide a controlling signal both in terms of speed and direction for each of the respective motors.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 77 words

A control motor apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said shift member has a reflection surface; said control apparatus further comprising a radiant energy emitter adjoining each said detector and emitting radiant energy in the direction toward the reflection surface of said shift member; and each said detector being responsive with a proportional electrical output to the level of radiant energy emitted from its adjoining emitter and reflected from the reflection surface of said shift member.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 326 words

A motor control apparatus as claimed in claim 4 for controlling both the direction and speed of at least two motors for use in a motorized vehicle having a pair of driving wheels, each of said wheels being driven by a separate one of said motors; said control additionally comprising: a first pair of said first and second detectors adapted to generate a combined electrical output signal to control one of said motors and a second pair of said first and second detectors adapted to generate a combined electrical output signal to control another one of said motors, the detectors in each of said first and second pairs of detectors being positioned opposite to one another relative to said control member; the detectors of said pairs of detectors being arranged symmetrically relative to a central range of positions of said shift member, and being equally spaced from said shift member when said shift member is in its said neutral position; a radiant energy emitter adjoining each said detector of said pairs of detectors and emitting radiant energy in the direction toward said shift member for reflection therefrom from a reflection surface thereof; each said detector being responsive with a proportional electrical output signal to the level of radiant energy emitted from its adjoining emitter and reflected from the reflection surface of said shift member; and said electrical circuit means including means for combining the electrical output signals from the detectors in each pair of said pairs of detectors to produce said drive signal for controlling both the direction and speed of the associated one of said motors to control the resultant direction and speed of said vehicle, wherein said motors are retained stationary when said shift member is in its neutral position and said motors are operated either in a forward or rearward direction and at a variable speed depending upon the displaced position of the reflection surface of said shift member relative to said detectors.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 204 words

A motor control apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said electrical circuit means includes pulse generating means responsive to the output signal from each of said detectors to produce a train of pulses, the duration of each pulse being controlled by the level of reflected radiant energy received by the respective detector; said electrical circuit means further including means to determine the relative widths of the pulses from the detectors in each pair of said pairs of detectors and to produce said combined drive signal for controlling the direction and speed of the respective motor; and wherein the width of the pulse generated by the output signal from one of the detectors in said pair of said detectors predominantly responsible for producing a signal to drive the respective motor in a forward direction is subtracted from the width of the pulse generated by the output signal from the other detector in said pair of detectors predominantly responsible for producing a signal to drive said motor in a rearward direction, the difference in width of the two respective pulses producting a signal to selectively drive said motor in either a forward or rearward direction dependant upon which of said pulses is of greater duration.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 325 words

A method of controlling both the direction and speed of at least two motors used to drive a motorized vehicle having a pair of driving wheels, wherein each of said wheels is driven by a separate motor, and which method uses a pair of radiant energy emitters and detectors for each motor spaced from a pivotally mounted shift member operated by a universally mounted control member, and which shift member has a reflection surface disposed for movement between a neutral position and a displaced position, whereby the detectors in each of said pair of detectors generate signals which are combined to generate a drive signal to control the speed and direction of the associated motor; said method comprising: positioning said detectors, and their adjoining emitters, symmetrically relative to a central range of positions of said shift member, said detectors and emitters being equally spaced from said shift member when said shift member is in its neutral position, and the detectors in each of said pair of detectors being positioned opposite to one another relative to said control member; emitting radiant energy from said emitters in the direction toward the reflection surface of said shift member; detecting the reflected radiant energy of each emitter by its adjoining detector; generating an electrical output signal from each detector representative of the level of radiant energy emitted from its adjoining emitter and reflected from the reflection surface of said shift member; and combining the electrical output signals from the detectors in each pair of said pairs of detectors and producing a drive signal for controlling the direction and speed of the associated one of said motors to control the direction and speed of said vehicle, wherein said motors are stationary when said shift member is in its neutral position and said motors are operated either in a forward or rearward direction and at a variable speed depending upon the displaced position of said shift member relative to said detectors.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 325 words

A method of controlling both the direction and speed of at least two motors used to drive a motorized vehicle having a pair of driving wheels, wherein each of said wheels is driven by a separate motor, and which method uses a pair of radiant energy emitters and detectors for each motor spaced from a pivotally mounted shift member operated by a universally mounted control member, and which shift member has a reflection surface disposed for movement between a neutral position and a displaced position, whereby the detectors in each of said pair of detectors generate signals which are combined to generate a drive signal to control the speed and direction of the associated motor; said method comprising: positioning said detectors, and their adjoining emitters, symmetrically relative to a central range of positions of said shift member, said detectors and emitters being equally spaced from said shift member when said shift member is in its neutral position, and the detectors in each of said pair of detectors being positioned opposite to one another relative to said control member; emitting radiant energy from said emitters in the direction toward the reflection surface of said shift member; detecting the reflected radiant energy of each emitter by its adjoining detector; generating an electrical output signal from each detector representative of the level of radiant energy emitted from its adjoining emitter and reflected from the reflection surface of said shift member; and combining the electrical output signals from the detectors in each pair of said pairs of detectors and producing a drive signal for controlling the direction and speed of the associated one of said motors to control the direction and speed of said vehicle, wherein said motors are stationary when said shift member is in its neutral position and said motors are operated either in a forward or rearward direction and at a variable speed depending upon the displaced position of said shift member relative to said detectors.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 221 words

For an electrically driven wheelchair, a control arrangement for electric drive motors where the wheelchair is of a type including two motors, one driving independently each of two driving wheels of the wheelchair, each electric motor being controllable in speed in both forward and rearward directions whereby to control the direction and speed of the wheelchair, said control arrangement comprising: a shift member having a reflection surface; four detectors arranged in a symmetrical manner relative to a central position relative to selective range of the reflection surface of said shift member; a radiant energy emitter adjoining each said detector, said detector being responsive with a proportional electrical output to the level of radiant energy from the emitter reflected from the reflection surface; electrical circuit means including pulse generating means responsive to the output signal from each of said detectors to produce a train of pulses, the duration of each pulse being controlled by the level of reflected radiant energy received by the respective detector, said detectors being coupled to said electrical circuit means such that each is predominantly determining a drive quadrant and speed direction, the outputs from said detectors which are oppositely located being combined so that the difference between the outputs is used to determine and control both the speed and direction of rotation of the respective drive motor.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 221 words

For an electrically driven wheelchair, a control arrangement for electric drive motors where the wheelchair is of a type including two motors, one driving independently each of two driving wheels of the wheelchair, each electric motor being controllable in speed in both forward and rearward directions whereby to control the direction and speed of the wheelchair, said control arrangement comprising: a shift member having a reflection surface; four detectors arranged in a symmetrical manner relative to a central position relative to selective range of the reflection surface of said shift member; a radiant energy emitter adjoining each said detector, said detector being responsive with a proportional electrical output to the level of radiant energy from the emitter reflected from the reflection surface; electrical circuit means including pulse generating means responsive to the output signal from each of said detectors to produce a train of pulses, the duration of each pulse being controlled by the level of reflected radiant energy received by the respective detector, said detectors being coupled to said electrical circuit means such that each is predominantly determining a drive quadrant and speed direction, the outputs from said detectors which are oppositely located being combined so that the difference between the outputs is used to determine and control both the speed and direction of rotation of the respective drive motor.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 96 words

A control arrangement as in claim 10 in which the train of pulses emanating from the electrical circuit means responding to the detector predominantly responsible for a forward direction of one of said motors is subtracted from the length of pulse emanating from the detector predominantly responsible for the control of the speed of the same said electric motor in a rearward direction, the difference in the two respective pulses being used to drive the motor in the selected either forward or rearward drive direction dependant upon which of the pulses is of a greater time.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 51 words

A control arrangement as in claim 10, wherein said electrical circuit means includes means to determine a relative length of a pulse from said detectors for detecting a forward and a rearward movement and to effect thereby a connection to the respective motor to determine the speed of the respective motor.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-01-17	1986-07-19	1987-01-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-01-17	1990-07-19	1991-01-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-01-17	1994-07-19	1995-01-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Motor control apparatus for a motorized vehicle, and method therefor

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