Patent ID: 8712614

Claim:
A processor implemented method for using an interface for use with a pressure-based wheelchair joystick, the method comprising the steps of: (a) a microcontroller detecting a voltage signal sent from a calibration button located on a wheelchair interface and wherein the voltage signal is sent when a pressure-based wheelchair joystick is in a neutral state; (b) the microcontroller initiating an idle state for a predetermined period of time upon detection of the voltage signal sent from the calibration button; (c) the microcontroller pausing for the predetermined period of time, the microcontroller determining whether a calibration button is being pressed by determining if a voltage signal sent from the calibration button is detectable; (d) the microcontroller detecting a neutral input signal sent from the pressure-based wheelchair joystick when the wheelchair joystick is in a neutral position, wherein the microcontroller stores the neutral input signal as an initial value for each axis of the pressure-based wheelchair joystick (e) the microcontroller determining a deadband using the detected input signal, wherein the deadband is a range including a minimum value that is defined as the input signal minus 24 milliVolts and a maximum value that is defined as the input signal plus 24 milliVolts; (f) storing the deadband as a neutral range value; (g) a microcontroller detecting a first input signal, the first input signal having a corresponding value, where the first input signal is received from the pressure-based wheelchair joystick; (h) the microcontroller determining if the first input signal is outside the neutral range value; (i) the microcontroller verifying that the value of the first input signal is outside the neutral range; (j) the microcontroller transmitting an output signal to a wheelchair, the output signal corresponding to the value of the first input signal; (k) the microcontroller verifying that the value of the first input signal is within a predetermined fault range; (l) the microcontroller outputting a signal if the value of the first input signal is outside the fault range; and (m) the microcontroller deactivating the wheelchair in response to the first input signal being within the predetermined fault range.