Motor vehicles – Power – Electric
Patent
1997-11-13
2000-04-18
Johnson, Brian L.
Motor vehicles
Power
Electric
180181, 280 87042, A63C 300
Patent
active
060503572
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to powered, lightweight, individualized personal transport methods and apparatus, and more particularly, to powered skateboards.
Power has been applied to the wheels of skateboards in many different ways. Often, a motor is worn on the user's back and connected to the skateboard's wheels through a flexible drive. Alternatively, the motor is mounted to the skateboard and directly connected to the skateboard's wheels. Where the motor is an internal combustion engine, a fuel tank is required, and the fuel tank is either worn by the user or mounted to the skateboard.
Generally, speed control is provided by a hand- or foot-controlled mechanical device, for instance, hip handles, a tiltable foot support or an attached handlebar with control. The hand controlled devices may be electrically connected to the motor for direct control or may include a wireless transmitter for remote control. Hand controls can be awkward, unnatural, and possibly dangerous when sudden changes occur. A user can initiate braking or motor-starting through a tiltable foot support by depressing or tilting the forward or rear portions of the foot support platform. The skateboard's foot support has also included devices to assist in steering, for example, a pivoted sole piece. These foot-controlled devices often require significant foot motion, and as a result, they can be difficult to operate.
SUMMARY
In one aspect, the invention relates to a powered skateboard having a foot support, multiple wheels mounted to the foot support, and a motor coupled to at least one of the wheels. The invention features an active control system having at least one sensor located on the skateboard and a controller. The controller receives electrical signals from the sensors and further, electrical signals from the motor which indicate the state of the motor. In response to those signals and, in accordance with a control mechanism, the controller sends electrical signals to the motor to control the operation of the motor.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a powered skateboard having a foot support, multiple wheels mounted to the foot support, and a motor coupled to at least one of the wheels. The invention features an active control system having at least one sensor, at least one detector for detecting an operational mode of the skateboard, and a controller. The controller receives electrical signals from the sensors and further electrical signals from the detectors which indicate the operational mode of the skateboard and electrical signals from the motor which indicate the state of the motor. In response to those signals and, in accordance with the selected operational mode and a control mechanism, the controller sends electrical signals to the motor to control the operation of the motor.
In another aspect, the invention relates to an automatic braking system for use with a powered skateboard having multiple wheels. The invention features determining means which determine when the skateboard has been stationary for a predetermined amount of time and which send an electrical signal indicating such determination to preventing means which respond to the electrical signal by preventing at least one of the wheels from turning. The invention also features detecting means which detect a restart trigger and which send an electrical signal indicating such detection to the preventing means which allows the wheels to turn.
In another aspect, the invention relates to an automatic acceleration system for use with a powered skateboard having multiple wheels and a motor coupled to at least one of the wheels. The invention features detecting means which detect a start trigger and which send an electrical signal that indicates such detection to a causing means which accelerates the skateboard.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a powered skateboard having a foot support, multiple wheels mounted to the foot support, and a motor coupled to at least one of the wheels. The invention features an active control system having a c
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patent: 4984648 (1991-01-01), Strzok
patent: 5020621 (1991-06-01), Martin
patent: 5381870 (1995-01-01), Kaufman
patent: 5487441 (1996-01-01), Endo et al.
Lang Jeffrey H.
Staelin David H.
Avery Bridget
EMPower Corporation
Johnson Brian L.
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