Granted Patent B2

US 7,159,181 · App. 10/676,522 · Granted Jan 2, 2007

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. A wheelchair assembly comprising:

a wheelchair;

a plurality of modules provided on the wheelchair;

an input device provided on the wheelchair;

a program controller including a display having a menu that displays a plurality of menu selection items, the program controller being responsive to the input device for selectively changing the arrangement of menu selection items on the menu of the display without changing the programming of the controller and for selectively causing the controller to operate the plurality of modules.

2. A power wheelchair comprising:

a seat;

at least one output device;

at least one drive wheel supporting the seat and output device in relation to a supporting surface; and

a control system that is programmed to control the output device, the control system comprising:

an input device; and

a display upon which a menu structure is viewed, the menu structure having an arrangement of menu selection items, at least one of which controls the output device responsive to input from the input device, the control system being configured to change the arrangement of menu selection items in the menu structure without the need for programming in code.

3. The power wheelchair of claim 2 , wherein the menu selection items are arranged in a list.

4. The power wheelchair of claim 2 , wherein the menu structure has a main menu and at least one sub-menu, the control system configurable to move the menu selection item that controls the output device from the sub-menu to the main menu.

5. The power wheelchair of claim 4 , wherein the power seat system has a seat and a backrest and the actuator tilts or lifts the seat or reclines the backrest.

6. The power wheelchair of claim 4 , wherein the power seat system has a leg rest and the actuator changes the angle of the leg rest.

7. The power wheelchair of claim 2 , wherein the output device is a wheelchair accessory.

8. The power wheelchair of claim 2 , wherein the output device is an environmental device.

9. The power wheelchair of claim 2 , wherein the menu selection item is in the form of a text label, an icon or a combination thereof.

10. The power wheelchair of claim 2 , wherein the main menu has a menu selection item that when selected opens a default menu.

11. The power wheelchair of claim 2 , further comprising a connector attaching an external device to the control system, the control system configurable by the external device.

12. A power wheelchair comprising:

a power seat system comprising at least one actuator that causes the power seat system to tilt, lift or recline;

a drive wheel motor;

at least one drive wheel supporting the power seat system and the drive wheel motor in relation to a supporting surface, the drive wheel driven by the drive wheel motor; and

a control system that controls the power seat actuator and the drive wheel motor, the control system comprising:

an input device; and

a display connected in relation to the input device, a menu structure viewed on the display, the menu structure having a main menu and at least one sub-menu, the main menu having a first menu selection item controlling the drive wheel motor in response to input from the input device, the sub-menu having a second menu selection item controlling the power seat system actuator in response to input from the input device, the control system configurable to move the second menu selection item from the sub-menu to the main menu.

13. The power wheelchair of claim 12 , wherein the power seat system further comprises a leg rest and an actuator that changes the angle of the leg rest in response to input from the input device.

14. The power wheelchair of claim 12 , further comprising a wheelchair accessory, the control system further having a third menu selection item that controls the accessory in response to input from the input device.

15. The power wheelchair of claim 12 , further comprising an environmental device, the control system further having a third menu selection item that controls the environmental device in response to input from the input device.

16. The power wheelchair of claim 12 , wherein the menu selection items is in the form of a text label, an icon or a combination thereof.

17. The power wheelchair of claim 12 , wherein the main menu has a menu selection item that when selected opens a default menu.

18. The power wheelchair of claim 12 , further comprising a connector attaching an external device to the control system, the control system configurable by the external device.

Assignments (7)