Patent ID: 6354390
Filing Date: 2002-03-12
Classification: A61G,B60K,B60W,B60Y,Y10S

Abstract:
An electric motor, power assisted wheelchair having a frame assembly providing a seat for accommodating a single rider, a pair of drive wheels disposed on opposite sides of said seat and having hand wheel portions for application of a manual force by a rider for turning said drive wheels, an electric motor for providing a diving assist force to at least one of said drive wheels for assisting manual force input, a source of electrical power for said electric motor, a force sensor for sensing manual force input from the rider to said hand wheel, a control for receiving an output from said force sensor and controlling the amount of electric power transmitted from said source of electrical power to control the amount of power-assist from said electric motor in relation to the sensed manual force input, means for sensing a wheelchair running condition and means in said control for varying the amount of electric power transmitted from said source of electrical power to control the amount of power assist provided by said electric motor in response to the sensed wheelchair running condition.