A brake actuation mechanism for a human powered mobility device, such as a lever drive wheelchair, is described. The brake actuation mechanism may include an actuator member positioned at or near an end of a lever drive such that the actuator member may be actuated or engaged by a user's thumb when grasping a lever of the human mobility device. Since the lever may drive motion of human mobility device, the user may maintain a firm grip on the lever while also manipulating or engaging the actuator member.

A small electric vehicle includes: a vehicle body that has a forward and backward direction, and a width direction; left and right driving wheels provided apart in the width direction of the vehicle body; left and right motors connected so as to respectively transmit power to the left and right driving wheels; an operation unit that includes a joystick-type operation piece; and a control unit for controlling the left and right motors according to an amount of operation on the operation piece, wherein the control unit is configured to execute deceleration and stop control when the operation piece is returned to the neutral position during travel, and execute rapid stop control irrespective of an amount of operation in left and right directions when the operation piece is tilted backward during forward travel at a speed equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

A powered balancing mobility device that can provide the user the ability to safely navigate expected environments of daily living including the ability to maneuver in confined spaces and to climb curbs, stairs, and other obstacles, and to travel safely and comfortably in vehicles. The mobility device can provide elevated, balanced travel.

An electric wheelchair control system is adapted to control a wheelchair and comprises a sensing assembly, an inertial sensor, a controller, a motor driver, and a three-phase AC motor. The sensing assembly is configured to detect an external force applied to the wheelchair and generate a first sensed signal based thereon. The inertial sensor is configured to detect an inclination of the wheelchair and generate a second sensed signal based thereon. The controller selectively outputs a PWM braking signal to the motor driver according to the first sensed signal and the second sensed signal, and the PWM braking signal includes an upper arm braking signal and a lower arm braking signal, wherein the upper arm braking signal and the lower arm braking signal have the same duty cycle and when the upper arm braking signal is at a high level, the lower arm braking signal is at a low level.

The wheelchair includes a seating portion, body frames that support the seating portion, wheels that are rotatably supported by the body frames, an engaging portion, a left brake that brakes a left rear wheel, and a coupling portion that couples the engaging portion and the left brake to each other. The engaging portion is capable of switching between an engagement attitude for engaging a vehicle body member that forms an opening of a vehicle and a disengagement attitude for releasing the engagement with the vehicle body member. The coupling portion transmits the movement of the engaging portion to the left brake when the engaging portion makes an attitude change from the disengagement attitude to the engagement attitude. This operates the left brake when the attitude of the engaging portion switches from the disengagement attitude to the engagement attitude and brakes the left rear wheel.

A patient transport apparatus operable by a user for transporting a patient along stairs. A seat section is coupled to a support structure. A track having a belt is attached to the support structure and is arranged for selective operation between: a retracted position, and a deployed position to engage stairs. A drive system with a motor is disposed in rotational communication with the belt to control movement along stairs in the deployed position. A user interface us arranged for engagement to selectively adjust operation of the drive system between: an active state for controlling movement of the belt with the motor, and an inactive state. A braking controller is configured to sense movement of the belt in the inactive state, and to control the motor to limit movement of the belt in the inactive state to effect corresponding limited movement of the patient transport apparatus along stairs.

A patient transport apparatus operable by a user for transporting a patient along stairs. A seat section is coupled to a support structure supporting a track assembly having a belt. A motor selectively generates torque to drive the belt. A user interface is arranged for engagement by the user, and has a direction input control for selecting a drive direction of the motor, and an activation input control for operating the motor to drive the belt. A controller in communication with the motor and the user interface is configured to limit operation of the motor in response to user engagement of the activation input control preceding engagement of the direction input control to prevent driving the belt, and to permit operation of the motor in response to user engagement of the activation input control following engagement of the direction input control to drive the belt in a selected drive direction.

A method of controlling a motorized wheelchair including a seat frame supporting a seat, a back frame to which the seat frame is detachably connected, a first main wheel and a second main wheel respectively installed at both lower ends of the back frame, an inclination detecting sensor which detects an inclination, and a controller which controls the main wheel and the second main wheel, includes receiving an input for a turning operation, calculating an inclination angle of a running ground by the inclination detecting sensor, and determining whether the inclination angle is greater than a reference angle.

A wheelchair suspension comprises a frame, at least one pivot arm, at least one front caster, at least one rear caster, a stabilizing system, and a sensor. The pivot arm is coupled to the frame. The front caster is coupled to the pivot arm. The rear caster is coupled to the frame. The stabilizing system is coupled to the frame and the pivot arm. The sensor is arranged such that tipping of the frame causes actuation of the stabilizing system to at least partially resist further movement of the frame.

An electric wheelchair control system is adapted to control a wheelchair and comprises a sensing assembly, an inertial sensor, a controller, a motor driver, and a three-phase AC motor. The sensing assembly is configured to detect an external force applied to the wheelchair and generate a first sensed signal based thereon. The inertial sensor is configured to detect an inclination of the wheelchair and generate a second sensed signal based thereon. The controller selectively outputs a PWM braking signal to the motor driver according to the first sensed signal and the second sensed signal, and the PWM braking signal includes an upper arm braking signal and a lower arm braking signal, wherein the upper arm braking signal and the lower arm braking signal have the same duty cycle and when the upper arm braking signal is at a high level, the lower arm braking signal is at a low level.