Patent ID: 7981061
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: A61H

Abstract:
1. A power apparatus comprising: a moving device configured to move in accordance with an action of a body part; a motor that outputs, during an action of the body part in a first action direction, power to the moving device so as to cause the moving device to move in the first action direction and that recovers, during an action of the body part in a second action direction, power generated by the movement of the moving device in the second action direction; a capacitor that stores regenerative electric power generated by the recovery of the power and that supplies the stored regenerative electric power to the motor when the motor outputs the power to the moving device; a battery that supplies battery electric power to the motor when the motor outputs the power to the moving device; and a controlling device configured to control switching between a first mode in which the motor outputs the power to the moving device and a second mode in which the power of the motor is recovered; wherein, in the first mode, when the regenerative electric power stored in the capacitor is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the controlling device performs control so as to block supply of the battery electric power from the battery to the motor and so as to supply the regenerative electric power from the capacitor to the motor, and when the regenerative electric power stored in the capacitor is smaller than the predetermined value, the controlling device performs control so as to supply the battery electric power from the battery to the motor, and wherein, when the moving device is not moving and the regenerative electric power is stored in the capacitor, the controlling device performs control so as to supply the regenerative electric power from the capacitor to the battery.