Abstract: An apparatus including a first electrical connector; and a second electrical connector. The first and second electrical connectors have magnets to provide a magnetic holding force with each other and provide alignment of the electrical connectors to hold the second electrical connector against the first electrical connector at a predetermined position. Magnetic poles of the magnets are configured to limit orientation of the second electrical connector on the first electrical connector. The second electrical connector includes two power contacts and an interruption detector contact, where the power contacts are movably mounted on the second housing and configured to disconnect from electrical contacts of the first electrical connector, when the second electrical connector is being disconnected from the first electrical connector, only after the interruption detector contact of the second plurality of electrical contacts disconnects from an electrical contact of the first electrical connector.

Abstract: A method including a remote device establishing an encrypted communication link with a user equipment, where the user equipment is associated with a wheelchair, where the encrypted communication link is established based at least partially upon a wheelchair identifier transmitted by the remote device which identifies the wheelchair; transmitting an access level by the remote device to an access controller; and receiving data by the remote device from the wheelchair via the use equipment and a network, where the data received by the remote device is limited corresponding to the access level of the remote device transmitted to the access controller.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a personal mobility vehicle hand control. The personal mobility vehicle hand control includes a housing, a display, a first keypad, a second keypad, and a joystick. The display is proximate an end of the housing. The first keypad is proximate the display. The second keypad is proximate an opposite end of the housing. The joystick is between the first keypad and the second keypad. At least one key of the first keypad is configurable to correspond with a function displayed on the display. At least one key of the second keypad is configurable to correspond with the same function displayed on the display.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a sensor head section, a base section, a telescoping section, and an electronic component. The base section is connected to the sensor head section. The telescoping section includes a first end and a second end. The telescoping section is connected to the base section. The electronic component is proximate the first end of the telescoping section. The electronic component is protected from making contact with high current, electrically conductive battery elements and configured to sense battery parameters.

Abstract: An isolation monitor is disclosed in which a switchable bias voltage is imposed on a chassis ground. An isolation voltage is measured when a bias voltage is applied. When there are no electrical faults, the isolation voltage swings up and down to known values. When a fault occurs, the isolation voltage will not to swing to the known values, and thus the isolation resistance can be measured and alarm generated if the isolation resistance falls below a threshold value.

Abstract: An apparatus including a plurality of electric vehicle movement components, where a first one of the components is configurable to operate in one of a plurality of power operational modes; and a connection connecting the plurality of electric vehicle components to each other. The first component is configured to select one of the operational modes based, at least partially, upon information through the connection regarding an identification of a second different one of the components and/or an operational capability of the second component.

Abstract: Circuits, systems, and methods are disclosed to eliminate the requirement for an external electromechanical contactor. Integrating contactor circuits with a motor controller reduces cost. Additionally, the cost of the contactor circuit may be reduced by providing transistors designed to block current in only one direction in the event of an electrical fault corresponding to an electrical drive direction.

Abstract: An isolation monitor is disclosed in which a switchable bias voltage is imposed on a chassis ground. An isolation voltage is measured when a bias voltage is applied. When there are no electrical faults, the isolation voltage swings up and down to known values. When a fault occurs, the isolation voltage will not to swing to the known values, and thus the isolation resistance can be measured and alarm generated if the isolation resistance falls below a threshold value.

Abstract: Circuits, systems, and methods are disclosed to eliminate the requirement for an external electromechanical contactor. Integrating contactor circuits with a motor controller reduces cost. Additionally, the cost of the contactor circuit may be reduced by providing transistors designed to block current in only one direction in the event of an electrical fault corresponding to an electrical drive direction.

Abstract: A personal mobility vehicle, such as a wheelchair system, includes a user interface that includes a user input and a display for displaying information to the user and a control unit that includes a data processor and a memory. The data processor is responsive to the user entering information into the personal mobility vehicle, where the information indicates a user selection of a game function integrated into the personal mobility vehicle, to enable the user play a game via the user interface. The operation of playing the game includes a preliminary step of switching at least a portion of the user interface from a normal mode of controlling some function, such as mobility, of the personal mobility vehicle to a game playing function.

Abstract: Electric motor controllers that dynamically adjust a motor resistance parameter are described. In order to adjust the motor resistance parameter, power is applied the electric motor while the controlled vehicle is stopped and its brake is set so that the vehicle remains stopped while a measurement is taken that can be used to determine motor resistance. A new motor resistance value is then generated based at least in part upon the measurement(s) and the motor resistance parameter is set to the new motor resistance value. The new motor resistance parameter may then be used in the control of the electric motor. In some embodiments, the measurements are taken after the controller receives a brake release request but before actually releasing the brake. The described arrangement can be used in a wide variety of motor controllers and is especially well suited for use in low cost controllers that control motors that are susceptible to wide variations in their resistance such as brushed permanent magnet DC motors.

Abstract: Electric motor controllers that dynamically adjust a motor resistance parameter are described. In order to adjust the motor resistance parameter, power is applied the electric motor while the controlled vehicle is stopped and its brake is set so that the vehicle remains stopped while a measurement is taken that can be used to determine motor resistance. A new motor resistance value is then generated based at least in part upon the measurement(s) and the motor resistance parameter is set to the new motor resistance value. The new motor resistance parameter may then be used in the control of the electric motor. In some embodiments, the measurements are taken after the controller receives a brake release request but before actually releasing the brake. The described arrangement can be used in a wide variety of motor controllers and is especially well suited for use in low cost controllers that control motors that are susceptible to wide variations in their resistance such as brushed permanent magnet DC motors.

Abstract: A method and a system are disclosed to at least specify, document and prototype a device, such as a gauge, having specific user interface elements to meet individual customer/market needs. The method includes displaying, with a graphical user interface, an image of a customer-selected gauge type; enabling the customer to specify, with the graphical user interface, individual ones of a plurality of gauge parameters in a self-documenting fashion; in response to a selection of at least one type of gauge parameter, updating the displayed image to correspond to the selected gauge parameter; and developing at least one prototype gauge for the customer based on the selected gauge parameters and the self-documentation. In the preferred embodiment the method also includes manufacturing gauges based on the selected gauge parameters and the self-documentation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for adjusting at least one of the motors in an electrically driven vehicle having a first motor for controlling a first wheel and a second motor for controlling a second wheel are disclosed. The method is performed in response to input from a user control that enables an operator of the vehicle to steer the vehicle. It is determined from one or more conditions whether the operator of the vehicle is attempting to drive the vehicle straight on approximately level ground. When it is determined from the one or more conditions that the operator of the vehicle is attempting to drive the vehicle approximately straight on approximately level ground, it is then determined whether to adjust one of the motors based upon the input from the operator of the vehicle to the user control. When it is determined that adjustment is appropriate, the appropriate motor is adjusted.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling performance of electric motors in a system having two or more electric motors, the motors adapted for being coupled to two or more wheels of an electric vehicle, each of the electric motors having armature and field coils which are independently excited by a source of voltage to generate armature and field currents, the armatures being connected in series to the voltage source include detecting a condition in the system indicating that one of the wheels is slipping, reducing power delivered to one of the motors that is associated with the slipping wheel in response to the detection of the condition, providing power to the one or more motors that are not associated with the slipping wheel after the power delivered to the motor associated with the slipping wheel is reduced, and restoring the power delivered to the one of the motors associated with the slipping wheel in response to a recovery event.

Abstract: In one preferred embodiment of the invention, a method of restoring charge to a battery operating with a predetermined terminal voltage, including: determining an expected rate of degradation of a plate or plates of a battery in terms of decrease of capacity per unit time and temperature of operation of the battery to determine a degree of degradation of capacity of the battery; and providing sufficient charge to the battery to restore a predetermined degree of the capacity of the battery. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a method of diagnosing state of health of a battery, including: restoring a theoretical amount of charge to a partially depleted battery; and examining how the battery responded to the step of restoring a theoretical amount of charge to the partially depleted battery to determine the state of health of the battery.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a shaft sensor for a machine, the shaft sensor including: first and second disks, fixedly orthogonally attached to a portion of a shaft of the machine, the portion of the shaft being subject to torsion, and the first and second disks being operatively attached to the portion of the shaft at spaced apart locations along the portion of the shaft; and a sensor assembly, including first and second sensors, disposed in sensing relationship with the first and second disks to sense relative position of the first and second disks resulting from torsion of the portion of the shaft and to output a signal representative of at least one parameter related to torsion of the shaft. In another preferred embodiment, the shaft is discontinuous and the first and second disks are attached, respectively, to first and second portions of the shaft and have a resilient member disposed therebetween.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a method of condition monitoring of an opportunity charged battery, including: determining length of time the battery has been off-line; determining whether charging of the battery has occurred during the length of time; if step (b) results in a determination that the charging of the battery has occurred, determining degree of charging of the battery occurring during the length of time; and if step (b) results in a determination that charging of the battery has occurred, resetting a condition monitor associated with the battery to reflect the degree of charging of the battery.

Abstract: In one preferred embodiment of the invention, a method of restoring charge to a battery operating with a predetermined terminal voltage, including: determining an expected rate of degradation of a plate or plates of a battery in terms of decrease of capacity per unit time and temperature of operation of the battery to determine a degree of degradation of capacity of the battery; and providing sufficient charge to the battery to restore a predetermined degree of the capacity of the battery. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a method of diagnosing state of health of a battery, including: restoring a theoretical amount of charge to a partially depleted battery; and examining how the battery responded to the step of restoring a theoretical amount of charge to the partially depleted battery to determine the state of health of the battery.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling performance of electric motors in a system having two or more electric motors, the motors adapted for being coupled to two or more wheels of an electric vehicle, each of the electric motors having armature and field coils which are independently excited by a source of voltage to generate armature and field currents, the armatures being connected in series to the voltage source include detecting a condition in the system indicating that one of the wheels is slipping, reducing power delivered to one of the motors that is associated with the slipping wheel in response to the detection of the condition, providing power to the one or more motors that are not associated with the slipping wheel after the power delivered to the motor associated with the slipping wheel is reduced, and restoring the power delivered to the one of the motors associated with the slipping wheel in response to a recovery event.