IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,963,145
Granted Patent B2
US 6,963,145 · App. 10/068,391 · Granted Nov 8, 2005

System and method for driving an electric vehicle

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,963,145
App. No.
10/068,391
Granted
Nov 8, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for driving an electric vehicle is provided. The system has, for example, a power source generating a voltage, a voltage converter, a control system, and one or more motors for driving or propelling the vehicle. The voltage converter is configured to accept an input voltage and generate an output voltage, which is different from the input voltage. The power source provides the input voltage to the voltage converter. A switch is further provided to switch the delivery of power to the control system between a power source voltage and an increased voltage derived from the voltage converter.

Claims (15)

1. A system for driving an electric vehicle comprising:

(a) power source;

(b) a voltage booster circuit in circuit communication with the power source, wherein the voltage booster circuit comprises a voltage converter, wherein said voltage converter comprises an input and an output and wherein the output is configured to provide a lesser voltage than the input;

(c) a control circuit in circuit communication with the power source and voltage booster circuit, the control circuit comprising: a drive circuit in circuit communication with at least one motor; and

(d) a switch in circuit communication with the power source, voltage booster circuit, and control circuit, the switch comprising a first state for connecting the power source to the control circuit and a second state for connecting the voltage booster circuit to the control circuit;

(e) wherein the power source comprises a positive terminal having a voltage and a negative terminal and wherein the voltage converter output comprises a positive terminal and a negative terminal and wherein the voltage converter's negative terminal comprises a voltage approximately equal to the voltage of the positive terminal of the power source.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the control circuit further comprises a logic for switching the switch between the first and second states.

3. A system for driving an electric vehicle comprising:

(a) a voltage booster circuit in circuit communication with a power source, said voltage booster circuit comprising a voltage converter, wherein the voltage converter comprises an input and an output and wherein the output is configured to provide a lesser voltage than the input;

(b) a control circuit in circuit communication with the power source and voltage booster circuit, the control circuit comprising: drive output signal and a drive circuit in circuit communication with at least one motor;

(c) a switch in circuit communication with the power source, voltage booster circuit, and control circuit, the switch comprising selectively activatable first and second states, the first state connecting the power source to the control circuit and the second state connecting the voltage booster circuit to the control circuit; and

(d) logic for controlling the state of the switch based on the drive output signal;

(e) wherein the power source comprises a positive terminal having a voltage and a negative terminal and wherein the voltage converter output comprises a positive terminal and a negative terminal and wherein the voltage converter's negative terminal comprises a voltage approximately equal to the voltage of the positive terminal of the power source.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the logic for controlling the state of the switch based on the drive output signal comprises logic for placing the switch in the second state when the drive signal is above a predetermined threshold level.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the logic for controlling the state of the switch based on the drive output signal comprises logic for placing the switch in the first state when the drive signal is below a predetermined threshold level.

Assignments (8)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2023
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: INVACARE CORPORATION; ADAPTIVE SWITCH LABORATORIES, INC.; THE AFTERMARKET GROUP, INC.; ALTIMATE MEDICAL, INC.; CENTRALIZED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT LLC; CHAMPION MANUFACTURING INC.; FAMILY MEDICAL SUPPLY LLC; THE HELIXX GROUP, INC.; INVACARE CANADIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; INVACARE CANADIAN HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE CONTINUING CARE, INC.; INVACARE CREDIT CORPORATION; INVACARE FLORIDA CORPORATION; INVACARE HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; INVACARE SUPPLY GROUP, INC.; INVAMEX HOLDINGS LLC; KUSCHALL, INC.; ROADRUNNER MOBILITY, INCORPORATED; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.; GARDEN CITY MEDICAL INC.; INVACARE FLORIDA HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE HCS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063662/0430 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2023
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: INVACARE CORPORATION; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.; GARDEN CITY MEDICAL INC.; THE AFTERMARKET GROUP, INC.; DYNAMIC MEDICAL SYSTEMS, LLC; INVACARE CONTINUING CARE, INC.; MEDBLOC, INC.; ADAPTIVE SWITCH LABORATORIES, INC.; CENTRALIZED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT LLC; THE HELIXX GROUP, INC.; INVACARE CANADIAN FINANCE, LLC; INVACARE CANDIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; INVACARE CREDIT CORPORATION; INVACARE FLORIDA CORPORATION; INVACARE FLORIDA HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; INVAMEX HOLDINGS LLC; INVACARE OUTCOMES MANAGEMENT LLC
Reel/Frame 063668/0639 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2023
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: ADAPTIVE SWITCH LABORATORIES, INC.; INVACARE CORPORATION; THE AFTERMARKET GROUP, INC.; ALTIMATE MEDICAL, INC.; CENTRALIZED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT LLC; CHAMPION MANUFACTURING INC.; FAMILY MEDICAL SUPPLY LLC; THE HELIXX GROUP, INC.; INVACARE CANADIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; INVACARE CANADIAN HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE CONTINUING CARE, INC.; INVACARE CREDIT CORPORATION; INVACARE FLORIDA CORPORATION; INVACARE HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; INVACARE SUPPLY GROUP, INC.; INVAMEX HOLDINGS LLC; KUSCHALL, INC.; ROADRUNNER MOBILITY, INCORPORATED; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.; GARDEN CITY MEDICAL INC.; INVACARE FLORIDA HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE HCS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063668/0679 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 15, 2023
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: INVACARE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 063638/0261 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 12, 2010
From: INVACARE CORPORATION; ADAPTIVE SWITCH LABORATORIES, INC.; THE AFTERMARKET GROUP, INC.; ALTIMATE MEDICAL, INC.; CENTRALIZED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT LLC; CHAMPION MANUFACTURING INC.; FAMILY MEDICAL SUPPLY LLC; THE HELIXX GROUP, INC.; INVACARE CANADIAN HOLDINGS, INC.; INVACARE CANDIAN HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE CONTINUING CARE, INC.; INVACARE CREDIT CORPORATION; INVACARE FLORIDA CORPORATION; INVACARE HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION; INVACARE SUPPLY GROUP, INC.; INVAMEX HOLDINGS LLC; KUSCHALL, INC.; ROADRUNNER MOBILITY, INCORPORATED; FREEDOM DESIGNS, INC.; GARDEN CITY MEDICAL INC.; INVACARE FLORIDA HOLDINGS, LLC; INVACARE HCS, LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 025473/0311 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 14, 2007
From: INVACARE CORPORATION
To: NATIONAL CITY BANK, AS MULTICURRENCY COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 019009/0134 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT APPLICATION NO. 09/974,348 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 016466 FRAME 0586. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT PATENT APPLICATION NO. IS 10/068,391. Recorded Sep 28, 2005
From: RICHEY, II, JOSEPH B
To: INVACARE CORP.
Reel/Frame 016594/0945 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2005
From: RICHEY, II, JOSEPH B.
To: INVACARE CORP.
Reel/Frame 016466/0586 →