Device and system for controlling a transport vehicle

1. A controller adapted to enable control of a drive mechanism for a power assisted transport vehicle that is at least partially directed by a human operator in physical contact with the vehicle, the controller including:

at least one contact surface associated with the transport vehicle, and having a switch associated with the contact surface;

a first sensor and a second sensor each responsive to actuation of at least one contact surface, each sensor having a respective first sensor output signal and a second sensor output signal; and

a signal processor adapted to process the first and second output signals, and impart corresponding drive control signals to the drive mechanism,

wherein the signal processor provides a selection of predetermined modes of operation of the controller in response to the switch being activated or not activated, and wherein there are four modes of operation.

2. A controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the switch is a deadman switch.

3. A controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the controller controls acceleration of the drive mechanism.

4. A controller as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the amount of acceleration is determined by the force sensed.

5. A controller as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the amount of turn speed is determined by the lateral force sensed.

6. A controller as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined modes of operation are, any one of:

Mode 1—STANDBY mode no sensor(s) are activated;

Mode 2—LEFT HAND mode—the sensor on a left hand contact surface for left handed operation is activated;

Mode 3—DUAL mode—a left hand sensor on a left hand contact surface and a right hand sensor on a right hand surface are both activated; and

Mode 4—RIGHT HAND mode—the sensor on a right hand contact surface for right handed operation is activated.

7. A controller according to claim 6 , wherein the human operator may alternate between any one of the modes while the vehicle is in operation.

8. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one contact surface is chosen from the group comprising a handle, joystick, contact pad or headrest.

9. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation comprises physical force imparted by a body part of the operator.

10. A controller according to claim 9 , wherein the switch activation is continuously applied.

11. A controller according to claim 1 , wherein the actuation of the contact surface occurs when physical force is imparted by a body part.

12. A controller according to claim 11 , wherein the body part is chosen from the hand, head, arm, shoulder, finger or leg of the operator.

13. A controller according to claim 1 , the controller having a third sensor and a fourth sensor each responsive to actuation of the contact surface, and having a respective third sensor output signal and fourth sensor output signal, the signal processor being adapted to process output signals of all of the sensors.

14. A controller according to claim 1 , comprising a further sensor(s), wherein force imparted to the contact surface in the Y-axis is adapted to provide a further sensor output signal to enable a further predetermined function of operation.

15. A controller as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the further sensor(s) respond to movement and/or force in a third and/or fourth axis.

16. A controller according to claim 1 , comprising a further sensor, wherein force imparted to the contact surface in the Y-axis is adapted to provide a further sensor output signal to enable Y-axis movement of at least part of the vehicle.

17. A method of controlling a power assisted transport vehicle that is at least partially directed by a human operator in physical contact with the vehicle using the controller of claim 1 to enable control of a drive mechanism for the power assisted transport vehicle, the method including the steps of:

providing the at least one contact surface associated with the transport vehicle, and having the switch associated with the contact surface;

providing the first sensor and the second sensor each responsive to actuation of at least one contact surface, each sensor having the respective first sensor output signal and the second sensor output signal; and

providing the signal processor adapted to process the first and second output signals, and impart corresponding drive control signals to the drive mechanism in response to the human operator applying force to the contact surface to control the direction and speed of the vehicle, wherein the signal processor provides the selection of the four predetermined modes of operation of the controller in response to the switch being activated or not activated.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the predetermined modes of operation are, any one of:

Mode 1—STANDBY mode—no sensor(s) are activated;

Mode 2—LEFT HAND mode—the sensor on a left hand contact surface for left handed operation is activated;

Mode 3—DUAL mode—a left hand sensor on a left hand contact surface and a right hand sensor on a right hand surface are both activated; and

Mode 4—RIGHT HAND mode—the sensor on a right hand contact surface for right handed operation is activated.

19. A controller according to claim 1 when used for a vehicle chosen from the group comprising electric wheelchairs, forklifts, luggage trolleys, goods trolleys and golf bag buggies.

20. A power assisted transport vehicle comprising the controller of claim 1 , wherein the controller is in operative connection with the transport vehicle being at least partially directed by a human operator in physical contact with the vehicle.

21. A controller adapted to enable control of a drive mechanism for a power assisted transport vehicle that is at least partially directed by a human operator in physical contact with the vehicle, the controller including:

at least one contact surface associated with the transport vehicle, and having a switch associated with the contact surface;

a first sensor and a second sensor each responsive to actuation of at least one contact surface, each sensor having a respective first sensor output signal and a second sensor output signal; and

a signal processor adapted to process the first and second output signals, and impart corresponding drive control signals to the drive mechanism,

wherein the signal processor provides a selection of predetermined modes of operation of the controller in response to the switch being activated or not activated, and wherein the switch is a deadman switch.

22. A controller according to claim 21 , wherein there are four modes of operation.

23. A controller as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the controller controls acceleration of the drive mechanism.

24. A controller as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the amount of acceleration is determined by the force sensed.

25. A controller as claimed in claim 23 , wherein the amount of turn speed is determined by the lateral force sensed.

26. A controller as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the predetermined modes of operation are, any one of:

Mode 1—STANDBY mode—no sensor(s) are activated;

Mode 2—LEFT HAND mode—the sensor on a left hand contact surface for left handed operation is activated;

Mode 3—DUAL mode—a left hand sensor on a left hand contact surface and a right hand sensor on a right hand surface are both activated; and

Mode 4—RIGHT HAND mode—the sensor on a right hand contact surface for right handed operation is activated.

27. A controller according to claim 26 , wherein the human operator may alternate between any one of the modes while the vehicle is in operation.

28. A controller according to claim 21 , wherein the at least one contact surface is chosen from the group comprising a handle, joystick, contact pad or headrest.

29. A controller according to claim 21 , wherein the actuation comprises physical force imparted by a body part of the operator.

30. A controller according to claim 21 , wherein the deadman switch activation is continuously applied to enable control of the drive mechanism.

31. A controller according to claim 21 , wherein the actuation of the contact surface occurs when physical force is imparted by a body part.

32. A controller according to claim 31 , wherein the body part is chosen from the hand, head, arm, shoulder, finger or leg of the operator.

33. A controller according to claim 21 , the controller having a third sensor and a fourth sensor each responsive to actuation of the contact surface, and having a respective third sensor output signal and fourth sensor output signal, the signal processor being adapted to process output signals of all of the sensors.

34. A controller according to claim 21 , comprising a further sensor(s), wherein force imparted to the contact surface in the Y-axis is adapted to provide a further sensor output signal to enable a further predetermined function of operation.

35. A controller as claimed in claim 34 , wherein the further sensor(s) respond to movement and/or force in a third and/or fourth axis.

36. A controller according to claim 21 , comprising a further sensor, wherein force imparted to the contact surface in the Y-axis is adapted to provide a further sensor output signal to enable Y-axis movement of at least part of the vehicle.

37. A method of controlling a power assisted transport vehicle that is at least partially directed by a human operator in physical contact with the vehicle using the controller of claim 21 to enable control of a drive mechanism for the power assisted transport vehicle, the method including the steps of:

providing the at least one contact surface associated with the transport vehicle;

providing the deadman switch associated with at least one of the contact surface(s);

providing the first sensor and the second sensor each responsive to actuation of at least one contact surface, each sensor having a respective first sensor output signal and a second sensor output signal; and

providing the signal processor adapted to process the first and second output signals, and impart corresponding drive control signals to the drive mechanism in response to the human operator applying force to the contact surface to control the direction and speed of the vehicle, wherein the signal processor provides the selection of predetermined modes of operation of the controller in response to the deadman switch being activated or not activated.

38. A method as claimed in claim 37 , wherein the predetermined modes of operation are, any one of:

Mode 1—STANDBY mode—no sensor(s) are activated;

Mode 2—LEFT HAND mode—the sensor on a left hand contact surface for left handed operation is activated;

Mode 3—DUAL mode—a left hand sensor on a left hand contact surface and a right hand sensor on a right hand surface are both activated; and

Mode 4—RIGHT HAND mode—the sensor on a right hand contact surface for right handed operation is activated.

39. A controller according to claim 21 when used for a vehicle chosen from the group comprising electric wheelchairs, forklifts, luggage trolleys, goods trolleys and golf bag buggies.

40. A power assisted transport vehicle comprising the controller of claim 21 , wherein the controller is in operative connection with the transport vehicle being at least partially directed by the human operator in physical contact with the vehicle.