Motorized vehicle with fiber-optic joystick controller

US5409074A · kind A · utility

Assignees

• Haworth, Inc. · US
• Litton Systems, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Harold R. Wilson · Holland, US
• Michael B. Miller · Christiansburg, US
• John E. Eide · Fincastle, US
• Anthony L. Bowman · Pembroke, US
• Robert T. Rogers · Blacksburg, US
• David R. Hawks · Christiansburg, US
• Philip J. Bakker · Holland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 16, 1993
• Grant date: Apr 25, 1995
• Expiry date: Nov 16, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S180/907
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A motorized vehicle, particularly a wheelchair, having a joystick controller for controlling energization of driving motors which in turn drive vehicle wheels and control steering of the vehicle. The joystick controller includes fiber-optic arrangements which sense tilting movement of the joystick in forward, rearward, rightward or leftward directions, or a combination thereof. Light signals are generated of an intensity corresponding to the position of the joystick, which signals are converted into electric signals and supplied to a controller which in turn controls energization of the drive motors to control driving and steering of the vehicle.