Patent ID: 6765323
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: B60L,B62M,Y02T

Abstract:
An electrically assisted, manually powered unit, a manual drive element moveable in at least a first direction in response to receiving a manual input force from an operator, an electric motor for providing an assist force, a transmission arrangement for receiving a driving force front each of said manual drive element and said electric motor and driving said electrically assisted, manually powered unit, a force sensor, a mechanical force transmitting device for transmitting a force applied to said manual drive element to apply a force in a direction other than said first direction to said force sensor for sensing the manual force applied to said manual drive element and delivering an output signal indicative of said manual force, a control for controlling the operation of said electric motor, said control having a sensor input stage receiving the signal from said force sensor and a logic for determining the operation of said electric motor from at least said signal from said force sensor, said force sensor providing said force signal without necessitating any significant displacement of a component thereof.