Motor vehicles – Steered by walking attendant – Handle movement controls vehicle drive
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-18
2001-05-29
Mai, Lanna (Department: 3619)
Motor vehicles
Steered by walking attendant
Handle movement controls vehicle drive
C378S198000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237707
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to controlling the motion of a motorized medical equipment carriage such as those typically used to transport mobile X-ray equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to a motion controlling system for controlling the motion of a motorized medical equipment carriage having at least one motor driven wheel.
2. Description of Related Art
Mobile x-ray apparatus are used to take radiographic images of a bed-ridden patient in the patient's hospital room. Such apparatus are particularly beneficial in situations where the risks of moving the patient to stationary radiography apparatus is great. Given the inherent advantages of mobile X-ray apparatus in such situations, the demand for mobile x-ray apparatus is growing and as such there are many commercially available mobile X-ray apparatus offered by a variety of manufacturers.
Commercially available apparatus generally have a large carriage that holds a significant number of heavy lead acid batteries used to power the X-ray tube. Thus, movement of the carriage tends to be awkward due to its large size and heavy weight. Controlled motor drive systems have been used to facilitate movement of the carriage both from the place where the mobile X-ray unit is stored to the location patient in need as well as fine movement often needed to position the X-ray tube over the area of the patient to be radiographed. Examples of such controlled motor drive systems may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,697,661 and 5,425,069. Whether moving the apparatus forward or backward with the motor control system, it is desirable to have a motor control system that provides the operator with a responsiveness that most nearly simulates the responsiveness of a shopping cart to the operator's touch. Some prior art apparatus may fail to provide simple, inexpensive, reliable and responsive drive systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a motion controlling system for a motorized carriage for transporting equipment, such as that used for taking X-rays, that is simple, inexpensive, reliable and responsive.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a motion controlling system of for a mobile equipment carriage that permits easy assisted movement, steering and stopping of the carriage.
These objects are accomplished, at least in part, by the provision of a motion controlling system for providing a motion control signal to a motor driving a wheel of a medical equipment carriage. The system includes a handle having an end movably supported by the carriage so as to permit movement of the handle end relative to the carriage in a direction in which movement of the apparatus is desired. The system is also provided with an optical position encoding means, coupled between the handle end and the carriage, for providing a position signal indicating the position of the handle end relative to the carriage. A motion control means, responsive to the position signal from the optical position encoding means, provides a motion control signal to the motor.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the attached drawings and claims appended hereto.
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Farbizio Thomas A.
Lyke Daniel N.
Payne Nicholas W. P.
Vartolone Joseph
Fischer Andrew J.
Hologic Inc.
Mai Lanna
Ware Fressola Van der Sluys & Adolphson LLP
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