Systems and methods for configuring a wheelchair

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10932965-B2
Application number	US-201815885181-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 31, 2018
Priority date	Jan 31, 2018
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

Systems and methods for configuring a wheelchair are provided. One embodiment of a method includes receiving a passenger-specific setting for the wheelchair, determining that a chair component of the wheelchair is removably coupled to a power base component, and in response to determining that the chair component and the power base component are coupled, communicating the passenger-specific setting to the chair component. In some embodiments, in response to receiving the passenger-specific setting, implementing the passenger-specific setting, where implementing the passenger-specific setting includes altering a physical property of the wheelchair.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for configuring a wheelchair, comprising:
receiving, by a computing device, a passenger-specific setting for a passenger of the wheelchair;
determining, by the computing device, that a chair component of the wheelchair is removably coupled to a power base component;
in response to determining that the chair component and the power base component are coupled, communicating, by the computing device, the passenger-specific setting to the chair component;
in response to receiving the passenger-specific setting, implementing, via the chair component, the passenger-specific setting, wherein implementing the passenger-specific setting includes altering a physical property of the wheelchair.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a current state of the physical property of the wheelchair to determine whether to implement the passenger- specific setting.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the passenger-specific setting includes at least one of the following: balancing, geo-fencing, speed limitations, height, weight distribution, age, skill level, or prescriptions.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a prescription from a healthcare provider and implement the prescription on the chair component.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a physiological state of the passenger is utilized to determine whether to alter operation of the wheelchair.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the passenger-specific setting is received from a mobile device of the passenger.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the passenger- specific setting.

8. A modular powered wheelchair system comprising:
a chair component that includes a base-receiving interface, wherein the chair component receives a passenger and a passenger-specific setting;
a power base component that includes a chair-receiving interface that removably receives the base-receiving interface of the chair component, wherein the power base component further includes a plurality of wheels for causing the modular powered wheelchair system to traverse an environment; and
a computing device that stores logic that causes the modular powered wheelchair system to perform at least the following:
determine that the chair component and the power base component are coupled; and
in response to determining that the chair component and the power base component are coupled, communicate the passenger-specific setting to the chair component, wherein in response to receiving the passenger-specific setting, the chair component implements the passenger-specific setting.

9. The modular powered wheelchair system of claim 8 , wherein the passenger-specific setting includes at least one of the following: balancing, geo-fencing, speed limitations, height, weight distribution, age, skill level, or prescriptions.

10. The modular powered wheelchair system of claim 8 , wherein the logic further causes the modular powered wheelchair system to receive a prescription from a healthcare provider and implement the prescription on the chair component.

11. The modular powered wheelchair system of claim 8 , wherein the logic further causes the modular powered wheelchair system to authenticate the power base component.

12. The modular powered wheelchair system of claim 8 , wherein the passenger-specific setting is received from a mobile device of the passenger.

13. The modular powered wheelchair system of claim 8 , wherein the logic further causes the modular powered wheelchair system to communicate authenticating information to the power base component prior to receiving the power base component.

14. The modular powered wheelchair system of claim 8 , further comprising a sensor coupled to the chair component to determine the passenger-specific setting.

15. A modular powered wheelchair system comprising:
a chair component that includes a base-receiving interface, wherein the chair component receives a passenger and a passenger-specific setting; and
a computing device that is coupled to the chair component and stores logic that causes the modular powered wheelchair system to perform at least the following:
determine that the chair component and a power base component are coupled; and
in response to determining that the chair component and the power base component are coupled, communicate the passenger-specific setting to the chair component, wherein in response to receiving the passenger-specific setting, the chair component implements the passenger-specific setting.

16. The modular powered wheelchair system of claim 15 , further comprising:
the power base component that includes a chair-receiving interface that removably receives the base-receiving interface of the chair component, wherein the power base component further includes a plurality of wheels for causing the modular powered wheelchair system to traverse an environment.

17. The modular powered wheelchair system of claim 15 , wherein the passenger-specific setting includes at least one of the following: balancing, geo-fencing, speed limitations, height, weight distribution, age, skill level, or prescriptions.

18. The modular powered wheelchair system of claim 15 , wherein the logic further causes the modular powered wheelchair system to receive a prescription from a healthcare provider and implement the prescription on the chair component.

19. The modular powered wheelchair system of claim 15 , wherein the logic further causes the modular powered wheelchair system to authenticate the power base component.

20. The modular powered wheelchair system of claim 15 , wherein the passenger-specific setting is received from a mobile device of the passenger.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Moore Douglas A

Classifications

• A61G2203/10

  characterised by specific control means, e.g. for adjustment or steering · CPC title

• B60L2200/34

  Wheel chairs · CPC title

• A61G5/047

  by a modular detachable drive system · CPC title

• B60L15/20

  for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed · CPC title

• Y02T10/72

  Electric energy management in electromobility · CPC title