Foldable Personal Transport Sequence Indication for Easier Setup
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Solution Overview
Problem
The difficulty in setting up and collapsing compact personal transport devices, such as electric scooters, bicycles, and scooters, due to the lack of clear operational guidance, hinders their widespread use.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle operational sequence indication system with indicators and a controller that guide users through the correct sequence of moving vehicle components from a riding configuration to a stowed configuration, using sensors and actuatable indicators to ensure proper folding and unfolding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If compact personal transport devices are designed to be foldable and portable, then their portability and ease of storage are improved, but the difficulty of setting up and collapsing them increases due to lack of operational guidance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism through sequential indicators that provide real-time guidance to users during the folding and unfolding process. Sensors detect the configuration state of members (folded/unfolded) and trigger corresponding indicators to light up, guiding users through the correct sequence of operations. This feedback system resolves the contradiction by making the complex folding operations intuitive and error-free.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation by automatically detecting the state of vehicle members through sensors and providing guidance without requiring external instruction manuals or expert knowledge. The indicators autonomously guide users through the setup and collapse sequences, making the device easy to operate despite its complex foldable structure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple members are added to enable folding and configuration changes, then the device's adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the folding operation into discrete segments corresponding to individual members (first member, second member, etc.). Each member has its own sensor and indicator, allowing the system to manage complexity by breaking down the overall folding process into manageable, independently controllable segments. This segmentation makes the complex multi-member system easier to control and guide.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces indicators as intermediary elements between the sensors detecting member positions and the user performing operations. These indicators serve as mediators that translate complex sensor data about multiple member states into simple, intuitive visual guidance, reducing the perceived complexity for the user while enabling full utilization of the multi-member foldable structure.
3Ease of operation
If sequential indicators are implemented to guide operation, then ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity and number of components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a standardized indicator component design that can be replicated across multiple members. Each indicator serves the same function (providing visual guidance) but corresponds to a specific member state. This multi-functional approach allows the system to provide comprehensive guidance without requiring fundamentally different components for each member, managing complexity through standardization.
Data Source
AI summary
A compact personal transport vehicle is convertible between a use or riding configuration and a stowed configuration. An indication system is provided that indicates the sequence of the steps to be taken to transform the vehicle between the use configuration and the stowed configuration. The indication system may include a plurality of indicators corresponding to components of the vehicle to be moved to transform the vehicle, and a controller that activates the indicators in the sequence that the components are to be moved.