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 Title: |
US8490723:
Apparatus and methods for control of a vehicle
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Heinzmann, John David; Manchester, NH, United States of America
Stevens, Jon M.; Manchester, NH, United States of America
Debruin, Raymond; Merrimack, NH, United States of America
Foale, Anthony; Alicante, Spain
Hoell, Jr., Joseph; Dunbarton, NH, United States of America
Hussey, Patrick A.; Hollis, NH, United States of America
Muller, Alexander; Manchester, NH, United States of America
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| Assignee: |
Segway, Inc., Bedford, NH, United States of America
other patents from SEGWAY INC. (902064) (approx. 1)
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| Published / Filed: |
2013-07-23
/ 2011-02-28
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| Application Number: |
US2011013036354
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
B25J 11/00;
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| U.S. Class: |
180/007.1;
180/218;
180/065.1;
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| Field of Search: |
180/7.1,218,65.1
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| Priority Number: |
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| Abstract: |
Method for controlling a vehicle that includes a support, at least one wheel, a platform coupled to the at least one wheel, a coupling structure having a support portion coupled to the support and a platform portion coupled to the platform that allows the support portion to move or slide fore and aft with respect to the platform portion, an actuator coupled to the coupling structure to control the position of the support portion relative to the platform portion, a drive coupled to the at least one wheel to deliver power to the at least one wheel to propel the vehicle and maintain the platform level, and a controller coupled to the drive to control the drive and coupled to the actuator to control the actuator.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Pierce Atwood LLP ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Winner, Tony;
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
None
Family Legal Status Report
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| Parent Case: |
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/308,659, filed Feb. 26, 2010, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
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| Family: |
Show 13 known family members
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First Claim:
Show all 45 claims |
1. A method for transitioning a vehicle from a statically-stable state to a dynamically-balanced state, the vehicle comprising a support, at least one wheel, a coupling structure having a support portion coupled to the support and a ground portion coupled to the at least one wheel that allows the support portion to move or slide fore and aft with respect to the platform portion, a drive coupled to the at least one wheel to dynamically balance the vehicle and provide power to the at least one wheel to propel the vehicle, an actuator coupled to the coupling structure to control a position of the support portion relative to the platform portion, a controller coupled to the drive to control the drive and coupled to the actuator to control the actuator, and a landing gear coupled to the vehicle, wherein the combination of the landing gear and the at least one wheel maintain the vehicle in the statically-stable state when the vehicle is operating in the statically-stable state, the method comprising: controlling the drive to command the at least one wheel to hold a zero speed condition and to hold the vehicle in a stationary position with respect to an underlying surface; controlling the actuator to move or slide the position of the support portion relative to the platform portion to alter the vehicle center of gravity position toward a location where the vehicle is capable of balancing with the at least one wheel; and initiating dynamic balancing of the vehicle with the at least one wheel when the location of the vehicle center of gravity satisfies a predetermined condition.
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| Background / Summary: |
Show background / summary
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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