Control device and electric wheelchair equipment

Abstract

The invention provides a control device and electric wheelchair equipment, is applied to the technical field of intelligent mechanical equipment, and is used for improving the exchange efficiency of an equipment controller between left and right side armrests. The device comprises an equipment controller, a wire exchanger and two connecting interfaces, the equipment controller is used for controlling at least one sensor mounted on the intelligent walking aid; the two connecting interfaces are respectively arranged in handrails on two sides of the intelligent walking aid, and the equipment controller is connected with at least one sensor through any one of the two connecting interfaces; the wire exchanger is arranged in the intelligent walking aid, and the wire exchanger is connected with the at least one sensor and the two connecting interfaces through a universal serial bus (USB) type entity wire; and the wire exchanger is used for determining a target connection interface connected with the equipment controller from the two connection interfaces, so that the controller performs information transmission with the at least one sensor through the target connection interface.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of intelligent mechanical equipment technology, and in particular to a control device and an electric wheelchair device. Background Technology

[0002] With the continuous advancement of science and technology, more and more traditional equipment is gradually developing towards intelligentization. For example, home appliances are moving towards intelligent control, automotive equipment is moving towards intelligent driving assistance, and medical equipment is moving towards intelligent detection, etc.

[0003] Taking wheelchairs as an example, their development has followed a path from wheelchairs to electric wheelchairs to intelligent wheelchairs. The development of intelligent wheelchairs typically involves adding sensors, control devices, and processors to handle intelligent processing. Examples include microphone arrays, speakers, cameras, radar, remote controls, and central processing unit chips. The processor, through environmental information collected by sensors, can intelligently analyze this information and provide appropriate decision-making, allowing the user to operate the wheelchair accordingly via the controller. For instance, an intelligent wheelchair can warn the user of danger and suggest stopping when cameras and radar detect an obstacle ahead.

[0004] In order to provide users with ways to operate these sensors, control devices and processors, intelligent wheelchairs will be equipped with a corresponding wheelchair operation controller (hereinafter referred to as the controller). The controller can integrate functions such as wheelchair motion control and screen display, so as to realize the user's comprehensive operation of the wheelchair.

[0005] Typically, due to the individual needs of wheelchair users, the position of the controller on the wheelchair is adjusted based on the user's usage habits, either on the right armrest or the left armrest. Right-handed wheelchair users may install the controller on the right armrest, while left-handed wheelchair users may install it on the left armrest. Therefore, there is a need for wheelchair controllers that can be easily moved to a different position.

[0006] However, with current technology, wheelchairs equipped with cameras typically use Universal Serial Bus (USB) cables to connect the camera and controller. These cables have high impedance matching requirements, meaning USB cables cannot be directly branched for multi-connection. Consequently, the camera and controller can only be connected via a single USB cable. When changing the controller's position, the connecting cable between the controller and camera must also be moved to another armrest. This replacement method is very complex, preventing the controller from being quickly interchanged between the left and right armrests, and hindering wheelchair users' convenience in meeting their needs.

[0007] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new control device to improve the efficiency of switching between the left and right handrails of the equipment controller. Summary of the Invention

[0008] This application provides a control device and an electric wheelchair device to improve the interchangeability of the device controller between the left and right armrests.

[0009] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a control device, which is installed in a smart walking aid including at least one sensor, and the device includes: a device controller, a cable switch, and two connection interfaces; wherein,

[0010] The device controller is used to control at least one sensor installed on the smart walking aid;

[0011] The two connection interfaces are respectively located on the handrails on both sides of the smart walking aid, and the device controller is connected to the at least one sensor through either of the two connection interfaces.

[0012] The cable switch is installed in the smart walking aid, and the cable switch is connected to the at least one sensor and the two connection interfaces respectively via a physical cable of Universal Serial Bus (USB) type.

[0013] The cable switch is used to determine a target connection interface for connection with the device controller from the two connection interfaces, so that the controller can transmit information with the at least one sensor through the target connection interface.

[0014] Optionally, the cable switch is connected to the at least one sensor and the two connection interfaces respectively via a USB-type physical cable, including:

[0015] The wire exchange, the at least one sensor, and the two connection interfaces are connected in a star topology.

[0016] The cable switch is the central point of the star connection; each of the at least one sensor and each of the connection interfaces is individually connected to the cable switch via a physical USB cable.

[0017] Optionally, the cable switch further includes an interface extender, through which the cable switch is connected to the at least one sensor respectively.

[0018] Optionally, one of the two connection interfaces is configured with a control signal generator; the generator is used to send the control signal to the cable switch when the device controller is connected to the preset connection interface.

[0019] The cable switch is further configured to: when the control signal is detected, determine the preset connection interface as the target connection interface for connection with the device controller; when the control signal is not detected, determine the other connection interface among the two connection interfaces, excluding the preset connection interface, as the target connection interface.

[0020] Optionally, both connection interfaces are equipped with a control signal generator; the generator is used to send a control signal to the cable switch when the device controller is connected to the connection interface where the generator is located; the control signal includes the identification information of the connection interface where the generator is located;

[0021] The cable switch is also used to receive the control signal and, based on the identification information in the control signal, determine that the connection interface indicated by the identification information is the target connection interface.

[0022] Optionally, the intelligent walking aid is one or more of the following: a frame-type walking aid, a wheeled walking aid, an electric sofa, a massage chair, and a human exoskeleton.

[0023] Optionally, the sensor is one or more of a monocular camera, a binocular camera, and a lidar.

[0024] One or more of the sensors are provided on the side opposite to the preset forward direction of the intelligent walking aid; the sensors are used to collect environmental information on the side opposite to the preset forward direction of the intelligent walking aid.

[0025] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide an electric wheelchair device, which includes the control device described in any of the first aspects.

[0026] Optionally, multiple sensors are provided around the seat cushion of the electric wheelchair device, and at least one sensor is used to collect all-view environmental information about the electric wheelchair device.

[0027] Optionally, the two connection interfaces are respectively located below the front edge of the left and right armrests of the electric wheelchair device, so that the device controller and the left and right armrests are on the same horizontal line.

[0028] For the control device provided in the embodiments of this application, connection interfaces are provided on both sides of the smart walker, so that the device controller can be exchanged between the two sides, thereby providing more diverse usage methods and adapting to the usage habits of more users.

[0029] Meanwhile, the smart walker is equipped with a corresponding cable switch, which connects to two interface ports via a physical USB cable. It can determine the target interface for the device controller between the two interface ports, effectively achieving a branched connection of the physical USB cable. This ensures that each interface port can provide smooth information transmission to the target device. When the device controller swaps positions between the two interface ports, no cable adjustment is required. Instead, it can be swapped directly on the smart walker by plugging and unplugging, effectively improving the efficiency of swapping the device controller between the left and right armrests. Attached Figure Description

[0030] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0031] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a control device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 1 ;

[0032] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a control device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 ;

[0033] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a control device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 ;

[0034] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of a control device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 4 ;

[0035] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of a control device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 5 ;

[0036] Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of a control device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 6 ;

[0037] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the structure of a control device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 7 ;

[0038] Figure 8 A schematic diagram of the structure of a control device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 8 ;

[0039] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electric wheelchair device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The technical solution of this application will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the embodiments and specific features in the embodiments are detailed descriptions of the technical solution of this application, rather than limitations thereof. In the absence of conflict, the embodiments and technical features in the embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0041] It should be understood that in the description of the embodiments of this application, terms such as "first" and "second" are used only for the purpose of distinguishing descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, nor should they be construed as indicating or implying order. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" refers to two or more.

[0042] The term "and / or" in the embodiments of this application is merely a description of the association relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0043] The following explanations of some terms used in the embodiments of this application are provided to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

[0044] (1) Intelligent walking aid:

[0045] A smart walking aid is an assistive walking device that integrates modern technology. By integrating sensors, artificial intelligence algorithms, and a power system, it provides people with mobility impairments with support, balance, navigation, and health management functions far exceeding those of traditional walking aids, aiming to improve users' mobility and quality of life. In the embodiments of this application, the smart walking aid is mainly used to provide users with corresponding support and assistance for walking, as well as additional environmental awareness capabilities. Users can operate different parts of the smart walking aid through the device controller on the device.

[0046] (2) Sensors:

[0047] In the embodiments of this application, the sensors are mainly used for sensing the external environment. Sensors used for environmental sensing are devices that can detect, measure and report the physical parameters of the external environment. They are like the "eyes" and "ears" of the system and are widely used in fields such as autonomous driving, robotics, smart homes, industrial automation and environmental monitoring. Their core value lies in converting various information in the real world into processable data to provide a basis for system decision-making.

[0048] (3) USB cable:

[0049] A USB cable is a standard connection cable used to transmit data and power between a computer and external devices. It typically contains four wires: a power wire, a ground wire, a positive data wire, and a negative data wire. It is mainly used for two scenarios: data transmission between computer chips and other digital devices, and providing power to connected devices.

[0050] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "module" or "unit" refer to a computer program or part of a computer program that has a predetermined function and works with other related parts to achieve a predetermined goal, and can be implemented wholly or partially using software, hardware (e.g., processing circuitry or memory), or a combination thereof. Similarly, a processor (or multiple processors or memory) can be used to implement one or more modules or units. Furthermore, each module or unit can be part of an overall module or unit that includes the functionality of that module or unit.

[0051] The following is a brief introduction to the application fields of the control device and electric wheelchair equipment provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0052] With the continuous advancement of science and technology, more and more traditional equipment is gradually developing towards intelligentization. For example, home appliances are moving towards intelligent control, automotive equipment is moving towards intelligent driving assistance, and medical equipment is moving towards intelligent detection, etc.

[0053] Taking wheelchairs as an example, their development has followed a path from wheelchairs to electric wheelchairs to intelligent wheelchairs. The development of intelligent wheelchairs typically involves adding sensors, control devices, and processors to handle intelligent processing. Examples include microphone arrays, speakers, cameras, radar, remote controls, and central processing unit chips. The processor, through environmental information collected by sensors, can intelligently analyze this information and provide appropriate decision-making, allowing the user to operate the wheelchair accordingly via the controller. For instance, an intelligent wheelchair can warn the user of danger and suggest stopping when cameras and radar detect an obstacle ahead.

[0054] In order to provide users with ways to operate these sensors, control devices and processors, intelligent wheelchairs will be equipped with a corresponding wheelchair operation controller (hereinafter referred to as the controller). The controller can integrate functions such as wheelchair motion control and screen display, so as to realize the user's comprehensive operation of the wheelchair.

[0055] Typically, due to the individual needs of wheelchair users, the position of the controller on the wheelchair is adjusted based on the user's usage habits, either on the right armrest or the left armrest. Right-handed wheelchair users may install the controller on the right armrest, while left-handed wheelchair users may install it on the left armrest. Therefore, there is a need for wheelchair controllers that can be easily moved to a different position.

[0056] However, with current technology, wheelchairs equipped with cameras typically use USB cables to connect the camera and controller. These cables have high impedance matching requirements, meaning USB cables cannot be directly branched for multi-connection. Consequently, the camera and controller can only be connected via a single USB cable. This necessitates replacing the controller's position by moving the entire connection cable between the controller and camera to another armrest. This cumbersome process prevents quick interchange of the controller between the left and right armrests, hindering wheelchair users' convenience and accessibility.

[0057] In view of this, embodiments of this application provide a control device and an electric wheelchair device to improve the interchangeability efficiency of the device controller between the left and right armrests.

[0058] The technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0059] Please refer to Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a control device provided in an embodiment of this application, as shown below. Figure 1 As shown, the control device provided in this embodiment is installed in an intelligent walking aid that includes at least one sensor, and the control device includes a device controller, a cable switch, and two connection interfaces.

[0060] The device controller is used to control at least one sensor installed on the smart walking aid.

[0061] First, as mentioned above, a smart walking aid is a tool to assist walking. Regardless of its external form, such a tool is mainly designed to help users achieve the function of assisting walking. Therefore, a smart walking aid can be one or more of the following types: frame walking aid, wheeled walking aid, electric wheelchair, and human exoskeleton. Furthermore, some electric sofas, massage chairs, etc., which have mobility functions can also be used as smart walking aids provided in this application embodiment, as long as they have armrests on both sides.

[0062] Secondly, it should be noted that in practical applications, the device controller can also be used to control other components or functions within the smart walking aid. For example, the device controller can control the walking aid's direction, route, and speed, and can also control other components within the smart walking aid, including the sound player and other mechanical structures. Furthermore, the device controller can be implemented in various ways, such as a joystick controller, a button controller, or a control device integrated with a display screen, etc. This application does not limit its implementation in any of these ways.

[0063] The device controller is the main means for users to control the smart walking aid. Therefore, the device controller needs to be located in a position that allows users to control it easily. The main factor affecting user control is left- or right-handedness. For example, left-handed users need the device controller to be located near the left armrest, while right-handed users need the device controller to be located near the right armrest.

[0064] Therefore, as Figure 2 As shown in the embodiment of this application, a connection interface is provided on each of the two armrests of the smart walking aid. The device controller can be connected to the smart walking aid through either of these two connection interfaces, and then connected to at least one sensor through the wires therein.

[0065] In this way, different users can choose to install the device controller on the left or right armrest according to their own needs.

[0066] Thus, the physical connection between the device controller and the smart walker can be solved through the connection interface set on both sides of the handrail.

[0067] On the other hand, the smart walking aid also includes at least one sensor.

[0068] The sensors installed on smart walking aids can be of various types. For example, they can be ambient temperature and humidity sensors, used to provide the user with the current environmental status via the device controller; or they can be image-collecting sensors, such as one or more of a monocular camera, binocular camera, infrared camera, LiDAR, millimeter-wave radar, and ultrasonic radar. These sensors, when installed on smart walking aids, effectively help the device controller determine the surrounding environmental conditions and then provide corresponding behavioral suggestions based on the user's current usage, such as pausing, slowing down, or adding clothing.

[0069] In order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the current environmental state, one possible implementation method is, such as Figure 3 As shown, when setting up an image-collecting sensor for a smart walking aid, the sensor can be installed on the opposite side of the smart walking aid's preset forward direction. In this way, one or more sensors installed on the opposite side can be used to collect environmental information on the opposite side of the smart walking aid's preset forward direction.

[0070] Generally speaking, the environmental information that users can receive is only from the side of the preset direction of travel. Users usually have difficulty perceiving the environmental information behind them. Therefore, by setting up sensors on the opposite side, the system can provide users with relevant environmental information to help them make decisions, thereby improving the level of assistance that smart walking aids provide to users.

[0071] After clarifying the settings of the device controller and at least one sensor in the smart walking aid, it is necessary to understand that if the device controller wants to control at least one sensor in the smart walking aid, it needs to establish a corresponding communication connection with each sensor. Only after information exchange between the two can the sensor receive the control signal from the device controller.

[0072] Therefore, each of the connection interfaces located on both sides of the armrest requires a separate physical cable to connect to at least one sensor in order to achieve the corresponding data interaction. As mentioned earlier, USB cables cannot be simply forked; a direct point-to-point communication path is necessary for data exchange between the devices on both sides of the cable.

[0073] Therefore, embodiments of this application propose that a cable exchange be further provided in the intelligent walking aid, such as... Figure 4As shown, the cable switch is installed in the smart walking aid and connects to at least one sensor and two connection interfaces in the smart walking aid via a USB-type physical cable. The cable switch is mainly used to determine the target connection interface for connection to the device controller from the two connection interfaces, enabling the controller to transmit information with at least one sensor through the target connection interface.

[0074] In this process, the cable switch can determine the target connection interface connected to the device controller from its two connected interfaces, and then disable the transmission function of the physical cable of the other connection interface, so that the device controller and at least one sensor are essentially presented as a point-to-point cable connection, thereby ensuring that data can be transmitted between the two via a USB type physical cable.

[0075] In this way, regardless of which connection interface the device controller is connected to the smart walker through, communication with the sensors can be achieved via the cable switch without any adjustment to the wiring settings in the smart walker. Users can seamlessly switch the device controller between the two connection interfaces, effectively improving the efficiency of this switching operation.

[0076] In one possible implementation, such as Figure 5 As shown, the connection between the cable switch, at least one sensor, and two connection interfaces can be made in a star topology, where the cable switch serves as the central point of the star topology, and each of the other at least one sensor and each connection interface can be individually connected to the cable switch via a USB-type physical cable.

[0077] Thus, by using a star topology to connect the cable exchange, at least one sensor, and two connection interfaces, the stability of the control device in the smart walking aid can be effectively improved, its management and maintenance costs reduced, and fault isolation effectively achieved. At the same time, it also provides good scalability for the control device, laying the architectural foundation for future upgrades and maintenance.

[0078] For at least one sensor installed in a smart walking aid, when there is only one sensor, the sensor can be directly connected to the cable switch via a physical USB cable.

[0079] When multiple sensors are present, cable switches will also include interface expanders, such as USB hubs. It's important to note that a USB hub is an active device with a dedicated controller chip that acts as a "relay station" and "traffic controller." It presents itself as a single device to the host computer and then manages, allocates bandwidth and power to connected devices, ensuring accurate and stable data transmission.

[0080] In this way, the cable switch can be connected to multiple sensors separately through the interface expander, and can also select one connection interface from two connection interfaces and disable the other connection interface. In this way, the device controller that connects to the smart walking aid through any connection interface can smoothly achieve information exchange with multiple sensors.

[0081] It should be noted that, even when there is only one sensor, the cable switch can also include an interface extender, allowing the cable switch to connect to that single sensor via the interface extender.

[0082] The above describes the connection methods between the device controller, cable exchanger, two connection interfaces, and at least one sensor in a smart walking aid.

[0083] For cable switches, their main function is to determine which connection interface the device controller is connected to. Therefore, to achieve this function, the following possible methods can be used.

[0084] In one possible implementation, such as Figure 6 As shown, one of the two connection interfaces can be equipped with a control signal generator, which is used to send control signals to the cable switch when the device controller is connected to the preset connection interface.

[0085] In this way, the cable switch can determine the connection interface to which the device controller is connected by the presence or absence of a control signal. Specifically, the cable switch can be used to: when a control signal is detected, determine the preset connection interface as the target connection interface to the device controller; when no control signal is detected, determine the other connection interface (other than the preset connection interface) as the target connection interface.

[0086] For example, such as Figure 7As shown, a high-level active control signal (referred to as CTL_H) can be set at the corresponding connection interface on the right armrest. When this signal is high (1), the cable switch can determine that the device controller is connected to the corresponding connection interface on the right armrest, and thus identify that connection interface as the target connection interface. When this signal is low (0), the cable switch can determine that the device controller is connected to the corresponding connection interface on the left armrest, and thus identify that connection interface as the target connection interface.

[0087] In this way, by judging simple control signals, the cable switch can determine the connection position of the device controller and the target connection interface to the device controller, and then select and shield the physical cables corresponding to the two connection interfaces, so that the device controller and the sensor can directly exchange data.

[0088] In another possible implementation, such as Figure 8 As shown, a control signal generator can be installed in both connection interfaces of the smart walking aid. The generator is used to send a control signal to the cable switch when the device controller is connected to the connection interface where the generator is located; and the control signal at this time includes the identification information of the connection interface where the generator is located.

[0089] Thus, for cable switches, they can also be used to receive corresponding control signals and, based on the identification information in the control signals, determine the connection interface indicated by the identification information as the target connection interface.

[0090] In this way, the cable switch can also determine which of the two connection interfaces is the target connection interface. Furthermore, this method has strong scalability; when the smart walking aid has more connection interfaces, this method can be used to determine the target connection interface among multiple connection interfaces.

[0091] For the control device provided in the embodiments of this application, connection interfaces are provided on both sides of the smart walker, so that the device controller can be exchanged between the two sides, thereby providing more diverse usage methods and adapting to the usage habits of more users.

[0092] Meanwhile, the smart walker is equipped with a corresponding cable switch, which connects to two interface ports via a physical USB cable. It can determine the target interface for the device controller between the two interface ports, effectively achieving a branched connection of the physical USB cable. This ensures that each interface port can provide smooth information transmission to the target device. When the device controller swaps positions between the two interface ports, no cable adjustment is required. Instead, it can be swapped directly on the smart walker by plugging and unplugging, effectively improving the efficiency of swapping the device controller between the left and right armrests.

[0093] The above describes a control device and several corresponding possible embodiments provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0094] Based on the same technical concept, this application also provides an electric wheelchair device, such as... Figure 9 As shown, the electric wheelchair device includes any of the aforementioned control devices.

[0095] Optionally, multiple sensors are installed around the seat of the electric wheelchair to collect information about the all-around environment in which the electric wheelchair is located.

[0096] In this way, more comprehensive environmental information about the electric wheelchair can be collected, thus providing a data foundation for assisted decision-making for electric wheelchairs.

[0097] Optionally, in the electric wheelchair device, the two connection interfaces mentioned above can be respectively located below the front edge of the left and right armrests of the electric wheelchair device, so that after the device controller is connected to the electric wheelchair device through the connection interface, it can be at the same horizontal line as the left and right armrests.

[0098] In this way, the device controller connected to the electric wheelchair can smoothly transition from the armrest device to the device controller, allowing the user of the electric wheelchair to operate the device controller more comfortably.

[0099] Those skilled in the art will understand that embodiments of this application can be provided as methods, systems, or computer program products. Therefore, this application can take the form of a completely hardware embodiment, a completely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, this application can take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including but not limited to disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, etc.) containing computer-usable program code.

[0100] This application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to this application. It should be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, special-purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, generate instructions for implementing the flowchart illustrations. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 A device that provides the functions specified in one or more boxes.

[0101] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing device to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium produce an article of manufacture including instruction means, which are implemented in a process Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The function specified in one or more boxes.

[0102] These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing equipment to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable equipment to produce a computer-implemented process, thereby providing instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable equipment for implementing the process. Figure 1 One or more processes and / or boxes Figure 1 The steps of the function specified in one or more boxes.

[0103] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this application without departing from the spirit and scope of this application. Therefore, if such modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims of this application and their equivalents, this application also intends to include such modifications and variations.

Claims

1. A control device, said device being disposed in a smart walking aid including at least one sensor, characterized in that, The device includes: an equipment controller, a cable exchange, and two connection interfaces; wherein... The device controller is used to control at least one sensor installed on the smart walking aid; The two connection interfaces are respectively located on the handrails on both sides of the smart walking aid, and the device controller is connected to the at least one sensor through either of the two connection interfaces. The cable switch is installed in the smart walking aid, and the cable switch is connected to the at least one sensor and the two connection interfaces respectively via a physical cable of Universal Serial Bus (USB) type. The cable switch is used to determine a target connection interface for connection with the device controller from the two connection interfaces, so that the controller can transmit information with the at least one sensor through the target connection interface.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The cable switch is connected to the at least one sensor and the two connection interfaces via a USB-type physical cable, including: The wire exchange, the at least one sensor, and the two connection interfaces are connected in a star topology. The cable switch is the central point of the star connection; each of the at least one sensor and each of the connection interfaces is individually connected to the cable switch via a physical USB cable.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cable switch also includes an interface extender, through which the cable switch is connected to the at least one sensor respectively.

4. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, One of the two connection interfaces is equipped with a control signal generator; the generator is used to send the control signal to the cable switch when the device controller is connected to the preset connection interface. The cable switch is further configured to: when the control signal is detected, determine the preset connection interface as the target connection interface for connection with the device controller; when the control signal is not detected, determine the other connection interface among the two connection interfaces, excluding the preset connection interface, as the target connection interface.

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, Both connection interfaces are equipped with control signal generators; the generators are used to send control signals to the cable switch when the device controller is connected to the connection interface where the generator is located; the control signals include the identification information of the connection interface where the generator is located; The cable switch is also used to receive the control signal and, based on the identification information in the control signal, determine that the connection interface indicated by the identification information is the target connection interface.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The intelligent walking aid is one or more of the following: frame-type walking aid, wheeled walking aid, electric sofa, massage chair, and human exoskeleton.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The sensor is one or more of the following: a monocular camera, a binocular camera, and a lidar; One or more of the sensors are provided on the side opposite to the preset forward direction of the intelligent walking aid; the sensors are used to collect environmental information on the side opposite to the preset forward direction of the intelligent walking aid.

8. An electric wheelchair device, characterized in that, The electric wheelchair device includes the control device as described in any one of claims 1-7.

9. The electric wheelchair device as described in claim 8, characterized in that, Multiple sensors are installed around the seat cushion of the electric wheelchair to collect information about the all-around environment of the electric wheelchair.

10. The electric wheelchair device as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The two connection interfaces are respectively located below the front edge of the left and right armrests of the electric wheelchair, so that the device controller and the left and right armrests are on the same horizontal line.

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