Skateboard for Maintaining Multiple Cruising Speeds
A method of operating an electric skateboard includes manually moving the electric skateboard forward without engaging an electric motor, then engaging a pressure sensor on the electric skateboard to output a pressure signal to a controller on the electric skateboard. The controller then generates a control signal to the electric motor corresponding to a first cruising torque. The method further includes engaging the pressure sensor on the electric skateboard a second time, to output a second pressure signal to the controller, which in turn generates a second control signal corresponding to a second cruising torque.
1 . An electric skateboard, comprising:
a footboard;
a plurality of wheels connected to the footboard and configured to rotate relative to the footboard,
wherein the wheels rotate about an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the footboard;
a controller mounted to the footboard;
a motor mounted to the footboard and in signal communication with the controller;
a pressure sensor mounted to the footboard and in signal communication with the controller;
wherein the controller is configured to receive a pressure signal from the pressure sensor,
wherein the controller is configured to output a first control signal to the motor corresponding to a first torque, after receiving a first pressure signal from the pressure sensor, and
wherein the controller is configured to output a second control signal to the motor corresponding to a second torque different from the first torque, after receiving a second pressure signal from the pressure sensor.
2 . The electric skateboard of claim 1 , wherein the motor is contained within a wheel.
3 . The electric skateboard of claim 1 , wherein the first torque corresponds to a predetermined first speed.
4 . The electric skateboard of claim 3 , wherein the predetermined first speed is a speed between 1 mph (1.6 km/h) and 7 mph (11.2 km/h).
5 . The electric skateboard of claim 1 , wherein the first torque corresponds to a measured velocity of the electric skateboard.
6 . The electric skateboard of claim 1 , wherein the second torque corresponds to a predetermined second speed.
7 . The electric skateboard of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined second speed is a speed between 4 mph (6.4 km/h) and 10 mph (16.1 km/h).
8 . The electric skateboard of claim 1 , the controller is configured to output a third control signal to the motor corresponding to a third torque different from the second torque, after receiving a third pressure signal from the pressure sensor.
9 . The electric skateboard of claim 1 , wherein the controller does not output a control signal when the pressure signal is not present.
10 . A method for operating an electric skateboard, the method comprising:
manually moving the electric skateboard forward without engaging an electric motor;
engaging a pressure sensor on the electric skateboard to output a pressure signal to a controller on the electric skateboard, which in turn generates a control signal to the electric motor corresponding to a first cruising torque;
engaging the pressure sensor on the electric skateboard a second time, to output a second pressure signal to the controller, which in turn generates a second control signal corresponding to a second cruising torque.
11 . The method of operating the electric skateboard of claim 10 , further comprising engaging the pressure sensor on the electric skateboard a third time, to output a third pressure signal to the controller, which in turn generates a third control signal corresponding to a third cruising torque.
12 . The method for operating the electric skateboard of claim 10 , wherein the controller measures a current speed of the electric skateboard using a position sensor.
13 . The method for operating the electric skateboard of claim 10 , further comprising a sensor used to detect an angular velocity of a wheel of the electric skateboard.
14 . The method for operating the electric skateboard of claim 10 , wherein the controller continues to output the control signal for as long as the pressure sensor is engaged.
15 . A skateboard comprising:
a footboard;
a plurality of wheels connected to the footboard and configured to rotate relative to the footboard;
a controller mounted to the footboard,;
a motor mounted to the footboard and in signal communication with the controller;
a battery connected to the controller and to the motor, to provide electrical current to both the controller and the motor; and
a pressure sensor mounted to the footboard and configured to send a pressure signal to the controller,
wherein the controller outputs a control signal to the motor corresponding to a first speed, after receiving a first pressure signal, and
wherein the controller outputs a control signal to the motor corresponding to a second speed different from the first speed, after receiving a second pressure signal.
16 . The skateboard of claim 15 , wherein the control signal causes the motor to output a torque for as long as the control signal is generated.
17 . The skateboard of claim 15 , wherein the pressure sensor is located on a top surface of the footboard.
18 . The skateboard of claim 17 , further including an abrasive paster located on a top surface of the pressure sensor.
19 . The skateboard of claim 15 , wherein the controller outputs a control signal to the motor corresponding to a third speed different from the second speed, after receiving a third pressure signal.
20 . The skateboard of claim 19 , wherein the third speed is equal to the first speed.