Abstract: A powered system has a charging system and a controller arrangement. The charging system is capable of recharging the multi-cell power supply for the system and the controller arrangement enables selection between alternative modes of operation of the system. The charging system is arranged to operate in different regimes in which a target charging voltage across one or more cells or batteries is set to a different level dependent upon the selected mode of operation. There is provided a mode for optimizing the battery management for maximum range or, alternatively, a mode for extending charge and discharge cycle life of the multi-cell power supply. There is also a storage mode where the target voltage is set to a minimum value.

Abstract: A controller for a motorized vehicle having at least a left wheel and a right wheel is provided, where the left wheel and the right wheel are driven independently by a motor arrangement. The controller is arranged to receive control signals from a user input device of the motorized vehicle, the control signals determining a requested left wheel velocity and a requested right wheel velocity. A requested speed of the motorized vehicle is given by a mean of the requested left wheel velocity and the requested right wheel velocity and a requested spin of the motorized vehicle is given by a mean difference of the requested left wheel velocity and the requested right wheel velocity. A scaling unit determines a scaling factor in dependence on the requested speed and the requested spin and scales both the requested speed and the requested spin by the scaling factor to generate a target speed and a target spin.

Abstract: A controller and control method for a motorized vehicle such a wheelchair are provided. The motorized vehicle has at least two driven wheels driven independently by a motor arrangement, and the controller receives a number of input signals from a user input device of the motorized vehicle. The controller comprises drive control circuitry for generating control signals for controlling the driving of the driven wheels by the motor arrangement, the control signals being dependent on the input signals. Speed assist circuitry is responsive to an indication of current consumed in driving the driven wheels to detect occurrence of a loading condition. On detection of occurrence of a loading condition, the speed assist circuitry is then arranged to boost at least one of the input signals in order to boost top speed in the presence of the loading condition.

Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to a controller and a control method for a motorized vehicle, and in particular to the control of a motorized vehicle having at least a left wheel and a right wheel, the left wheel being driven by a left motor and the right wheel being driven by a right motor. In accordance with such motorized vehicles, linear motion of the vehicle is typically effected by driving the left motor and the right motor in the same direction, while spinning of the vehicle is typically effected by driving the left motor and the right motor in opposite directions. A typical example of such a motorized vehicle is an electric wheelchair.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the functionality of an electrically powered vehicle is described. The control system comprises a plurality of control modules in electronic communication with each of the control modules being programmed to implement a specific control function for the vehicle. The control modules comprise a first memory for storing data for implementing the control function, and the system further comprises at least one second memory for storing data for implementing each control function of the separate modules, wherein the data can be recorded to the second memory from the control modules.

Abstract: A front wheel drive motorized vehicle controller comprises: a control signal interface receiving control signals from a user control device indicating at least a demanded forward speed; an acceleration measurement interface, receiving acceleration measurements from at least one vehicle-mounted acceleration sensor, providing a first and second acceleration measurements with respect to first and second axes, the motorized vehicle being configured to be driven in a plane defined by the first and second axes; an acceleration magnitude calculation unit calculating an acceleration magnitude in dependence on the first and second acceleration measurements; a speed modification unit calculating a forward speed reduction factor in dependence on the acceleration magnitude and applying the forward speed reduction factor to the demanded forward speed to produce an applied forward speed; and a motor control unit controlling the speed of the left and right drive wheels in dependence on the applied forward speed.

Abstract: A control device is provided configured to provide user control signals. The control device comprises a magnetic flux sensing unit configured to provide two-dimensional angular orientation information with respect to a magnetic field acting on the magnetic flux sensing unit, and the user control signals are dependent on the two-dimensional angular orientation information. The control device further comprises a magnet arrangement comprising at least two permanent magnets configured to generate the magnetic field. The magnet arrangement and the magnetic flux sensing unit are arranged to be reoriented relative to one another within a predetermined range of movement, and the at least two permanent magnets are arranged relative to the magnetic flux sensing unit such that the magnetic field experienced by the magnetic flux sensing unit is substantially uniform throughout the predetermined range of movement.

Abstract: A controller for a motorised vehicle is provided which is arranged to receive control signals from a user input device and the controller is configured to control a motor arrangement of the motorised vehicle in dependence on the control signals. The controller comprises an acceleration control unit configured to determine a centripetal force factor corresponding to a centripetal force which is currently acting on said motorised vehicle as a result of the control signals and is configured to calculate an acceleration limit for the motorised vehicle in dependence on the centripetal force factor. The acceleration control unit is configured to apply the acceleration limit by modifying a response of the controller to the control signals, such that the motorised vehicle does not exceed the acceleration limit.

Abstract: A control module for an electrically powered wheelchair is configured to generate control signals for the electrically powered wheelchair in response to user input. The control module comprises: a base portion; a joystick configured to generate the control signals corresponding to user movement of the joystick relative to the base portion; and a pivotable screen mount configured to provide a mount on the base portion for a display screen on which information relating to operation of the electrically powered wheelchair can be displayed to a user.

Abstract: An access control device and access control method for an electrically powered vehicle such as an electric wheelchair are disclosed. The access control device comprises a data interface configured to exchange data with at least one component of the electrically powered vehicle and a webserver configured to generate a webpage incorporating that data, wherein the webpage is formatted for viewing on a web browser. The access control device also comprises a communication interface configured to provide the webpage to a web browser external to the electrically powered vehicle.

Abstract: There is described a method for determining a value of a zero point offset of a yaw rate sensor. The method comprises measuring over time the output of the yaw rate sensor, determining whether the measured output has remained within a set of limits for a pre-determined period and if it is determined that the measured output has remained within the limits for the pre-determined period, using at least one measured value of the output to determine the value of the zero point offset.

Abstract: A control system for use in safety critical human/machine control interfaces is described, more particularly a joystick type control system and particularly a joystick type control system utilizing magnetic positional sensing. The control system provides a control input device having a movable magnet, a pole-piece frame arrangement positioned about the magnet, at least three magnetic flux sensors being positioned in said pole-piece frame arrangement and a monitoring arrangement for monitoring the output signal of each of said at least three sensors.

Abstract: A joystick controller comprises an operating rod (12) mounted for pivotal movement relative to a housing (14) so as to effect movement of a sensor element for providing an output signal indicative of a degree of pivotal movement of the operating rod (12). The joystick also includes at least one friction pad (20a, 20b) mounted to the operating rod (12) for providing a fictional resistance to movement of the operating rod (12) relative to the housing (14).

Abstract: A joystick controller comprises a housing (10) and a joystick (12) mounted for pivotal movement relative to the housing (10) by means of a ball (14) and socket joint (18,20). A yoke (18) resolves directional movement of the joystick (12) into a component direction. A sensor senses movement of the yoke (18) and generates an output indicative of movement of the joystick in the component direction. The socket (18,20) of the ball (14) and socket joint (18,20) is formed by the yoke (18).

Abstract: A transducer in the form of a potentiometer provides an output signal indicative of a position of a component. The potentiometer comprises a body, a member moveable relative to the body and having an end portion for coupling to the component, and a resistor mounted to the body. A wiper is coupled to the member and forms a slidable electrical contact to the resistor. The potentiometer also comprises a contactor means for providing selectable contact positions to the resistor of respective first and second electrical conductors, so as to provide a selected operating section of said resistor.

Abstract: A joystick controller has a lever mounted for pivotal movement relative to a housing, a seat member affixed to the housing, and a slider member biased towards the seat member. The seat member has a profiled surface that cooperates with a corresponding surface of the slider member. In one aspect, the profiled surface includes at least one lock position for engaging the slider member at a predetermined angle of pivotal displacement of the lever about a first axis. The slider member is shaped to allow pivotal movement of the lever about a second axis, without movement of the slider member, but to prevent movement of the lever about the first axis when engaged in the lock position.

Abstract: A transducer in the form of a potentiometer provides an output signal indicative of a position of a component. The potentiometer comprises a body, a member moveable relative to the body and having an end portion for coupling to the component, and a resistor mounted to the body. A wiper is coupled to the member and forms a slidable electrical contact to the resistor. The potentiometer also comprises a contactor means for providing selectable contact positions to the resistor of respective first and second electrical conductors, so as to provide a selected operating section of said resistor.

Abstract: A joystick controller has a body (10), an operating shaft (12) and a ball-and-socket joint (14) mounting the operating shaft for universal pivotal movement relative to the body (10) about a pivot center. First and second and third carrier members (16, 17, 19) are movable relative to the body (10) about respective first, second and third, mutually perpendicular axes which pass through the pivot center of the ball-and-socket joint (14), and carry respective magnets (24, 26, 29). Rotary movement of the operating shaft (12) about its longitudinal axis causes movement of the third carrier member (19) about the third axis. Hall-effect devices (52, 54, 56) are mounted on a common planar circuit board (48) at the base of the body (10) and producing respective output signals indicative of the positions of the magnets (24, 26, 29) carried on the first, second and third carrier members (16), respectively.

Abstract: A compact low profile fader has an elongate support and a manually settable slider mounted for linearly slidable relative to the elongate support. A drive transmission operably interconnecting the slider and a digital encoder so that movement of the slider produces a digital output signal from the digital encoder. The digital encoder has a rotatable encoder disk and is mounted so that its longitudinal direction of extent is in alignment with that of the elongate support. The drive transmission includes a drive pulley and a loop of cord which is wound around the pulley. The pulley drives the rotatable encoder and has a helical groove in its peripheral surface. The cord is engaged in the helical groove and with the slider so that movement of the latter causes the pulley, and thereby the rotatable encoder disk, to be rotated.