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 Title: |
US20030183435A1:
Balancing personal vehicle
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Kamen, Dean L.; Bedford, NH, United States of America
Field, J. Douglas; Bedford, NH, United States of America
Heinzmann, Richard Kurt; Francestown, NH, United States of America
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| Assignee: |
None
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| Published / Filed: |
2003-10-02
/ 2003-02-26
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| Application Number: |
US2003000374689
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
A61G 5/04;
A61G 5/06;
A61G 5/10;
A61G 5/14;
B62D 39/00;
B62D 57/00;
B62D 61/00;
B62K 5/04;
B62M 1/00;
B62M 7/12;
A61G 5/12;
B60K 7/00;
IPC-7:
B62D 33/06;
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| ECLA Code: |
A61G5/06; A61G5/04; A61G5/10S10; A61G5/14; B62D39/00; B62D57/00; B62D61/00; B62K3/00D; K61G5/10S10; K61G5/12E; K61G5/12H; L60K7/00; L62K204/00;
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| U.S. Class: |
180/089.14;
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| Priority Number: |
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| Abstract: |
A transportation vehicle for transporting an individual over ground having a surface that may be irregular. The vehicle has a support platform for supporting the subject and the support platform is coupled to a ground-contacting module at a pivot. While the ground-contacting module may be statically stable, balance of the support platform with respect to the ground-contacting module is maintained by motion of the ground-contacting module in response to leaning of the support platform. A motorized drive coupled to the ground-contacting module causes locomotion of the vehicle and the subject therewith over the surface, while a control loop, in which the motorized drive is included, dynamically enhances stability in the fore-aft plane by operation of the motorized drive in connection with the ground-contacting module. In the event of failure of the control loop, the pivot connection of the support platform to the ground-contacting module may be locked, thereby ensuring stability of the static assembly.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
BROMBERG & SUNSTEIN LLP ; 125 SUMMER STREET
, BOSTON
, MA
02110-1618 United States of America
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
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Family Legal Status Report
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| Parent Case: |
This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 09/456,347, filed Dec. 8, 1999, now allowed, atty. docket 1062/B88, which is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/325,976, filed Jun. 4, 1999, which is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/479,901, filed Jun. 7, 1995, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,225, which is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/384,705, filed Feb. 3, 1995, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,971,091, which is a continuation in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/250,693, filed May 27, 1994, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,701,965. All of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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| Family: |
Show 348 known family members
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First Claim:
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What is claimed is:
1. A method for controlling a vehicle having a support platform and a ground-contacting module pivotably coupled to the support platform, the vehicle further having a motorized drive assembly for causing locomotion of the vehicle, the support platform having an operating position that is unstable with respect to tipping in a fore-aft plane while the ground-contacting module is stationary, the method comprising. a. measuring a pivot angle of the support platform with respect to the ground-contacting module; and b. governing the motorized drive arrangement on the basis at least of the pivot angle of the support platform in such a manner as to cause a specified acceleration of the vehicle.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 1 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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