Sensing-enabled foldable scooter frame with seat pressure detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing folding electric scooters, both manually and automatically folding, pose challenges for users with disabilities and risk accidental folding and pinching when using the automatically folding type.
Innovation Solution
A sensing-enabled automatically foldable scooter frame equipped with a support frame, seat, electric pushrod, sensor, controller, and operation device, where sensors detect pressure on the seat to prevent accidental folding by controlling the electric pushrod's extension and retraction, ensuring the scooter remains unfolded when a user is seated and allowing folding/unfolding when the seat is empty.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automatically folding scooter is designed with button on frame, then folding operation is simple, but accidental folding occurs when user is on scooter causing pinching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using a sensor to detect whether a user is seated on the scooter and providing this information back to the control unit. The control unit then automatically enables or disables the operation device based on the sensor signal, preventing accidental folding when a user is present while maintaining ease of operation when the scooter is unoccupied.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically determining when folding should be enabled or disabled through the sensor and control unit. This eliminates the need for manual intervention to check whether a user is present, as the system autonomously makes this determination and adjusts the operation device accordingly.
2Ease of operation
If manually folding scooter uses linkage mechanisms, then folding requires user effort, but it is easy to use for able-bodied users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanical linkage system with an electromechanical system. An electric push rod driven by a motor provides the force needed for folding and unfolding, eliminating the need for users to manually apply force to the linkage mechanisms. This substitution maintains the ease of operation benefit while removing the physical effort requirement.
3Force
If electric pushrod is used for automatic folding, then no manual effort is needed, but accidental activation risks user safety
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives feedback from the sensor that detects user presence on the seat. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically disables the operation device when a user is detected, preventing accidental activation of the electric push rod. When no user is detected, the operation device is enabled for normal folding operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary between the operation device and the electric push rod. It mediates the activation by checking sensor input before allowing the operation device to control the push rod, thereby preventing direct and potentially unsafe activation while maintaining system functionality.
4Reliability
If sensor is added to detect seat pressure, then accidental folding is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor serves multiple functions: it detects user presence for safety purposes, enables automatic control of the folding mechanism, and provides feedback for the control unit to adjust system behavior. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single component.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution prevents accidental folding and pinching, making the scooter safer and easier to use for users with disabilities by ensuring the scooter remains unfolded when occupied and allowing controlled folding/unfolding when unoccupied.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor is disposed on a surface of the seat for detecting pressure on the surface of the seat
Implementation Method 2
the electric pushrod is arranged on the support frame for driving the support frame to fold or unfold
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A sensing-enabled automatically foldable vehicle frame comprises a vehicle frame, a seat, an electric pushrod, a sensor, a controller, and a manual switch. The seat is provided at the vehicle frame. The electric pushrod is provided at the vehicle frame to drive folding and unfolding of the vehicle frame. The sensor is provided at a surface of the seat. The controller is used to receive a signal from the sensor so as to control extension or retraction of the electric pushrod. The manual switch is electrically connected to the controller. The manual switch is disabled when the sensor detects existence of pressure, and the controller controls the electric pushrod to remain in a retracted state, thereby ensuring the vehicle frame to remain in an unfolded state. The manual switch is enabled when no pressure is detected by the sensor, and the controller drives the electric pushrod to extend or retract so as to drive folding or unfolding of the vehicle frame. The present invention can prevent a vehicle frame from being folded accidentally, thereby protecting a user from being hurt.