WHEELCHAIR GUIDING

摘要

Among other things, an apparatus includes a wheelchair control device sensitive to motion and adapted to attach to a user's head, and includes a wheelchair interface device in communication with the wheelchair control device and adapted to manipulate a control system of a motorized wheelchair in response to communication from the wheelchair control device. Among other things, a method includes causing a motorized wheelchair to change velocity in response to changing a position of a head-mounted wheelchair control device.

主权项

1. A head-mounted device for operation of a powered-wheelchair controller in response to movement of the wheelchair occupant's head, comprising:
a head mount in communication with a mechanical manipulator apparatus mounted to the powered-wheelchair controller, the mechanical manipulator apparatus comprising:
a first, upper plate mounted for axial translation along a first orthogonal axis, anda second, lower plate mounted for axial translation along a second orthogonal axis perpendicular to the first orthogonal axis,
the first, upper plate defining a first slot having a first elongated portion extending along the first orthogonal axis and a second elongated portion intersecting the first, elongated portion and extending along the second orthogonal axis,
the first elongated portion of the first slot having a predetermined first width dimension measured along the second orthogonal axis and the second elongated portion of the first slot having a second width dimension measured along the first orthogonal axis, the first width dimension being relatively more narrow than the second width dimension, andthe second, lower plate defining a second slot having a first elongated portion extending along the second orthogonal axis and a second elongated portion intersecting the first elongated portion and extending along the first orthogonal axis,
the first elongated portion of the second slot having a predetermined first width dimension measured along the first orthogonal axis and the second elongated portion of the second slot having a width dimension measures along the second orthogonal axis, the width dimension of the first elongated portion being relatively more narrow than the second width dimension, the mechanical manipulator further comprising a control member engaged in said first slot and said second slot, the control member having a width dimension corresponding to the predetermined first width dimension of the first elongated portion of the first slot and corresponding to the predetermined first width dimension of the first elongated portion of the second slot.