Stroller Force Sensor Calibration and Motor Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing strollers require excessive force to navigate uphill or bumpy surfaces due to inadequate motor wheel control, posing safety risks and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

A stroller equipped with a sensor unit comprising force detection, touch, and wheel sensors, calibrated by a controller to accurately manage force application and reduce power consumption, enabling precise motor control for reduced user effort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If the stroller is equipped with a motor to rotate wheels, then the force required to push the stroller is reduced, but the risk of accidents increases if motor and wheel rotation is not controlled accurately

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce required to push strollerVSAvoidsafety control accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback control by using sensors to detect wheel rotation status and motor operation states, then feeding this information back to the controller to adjust motor control accordingly. This ensures accurate control of wheel rotation while maintaining safety, resolving the contradiction between reduced pushing force and increased safety risk.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical control with an automated motor control system that uses electronic sensors and controllers to manage wheel rotation. This substitution allows for more precise and reliable control compared to purely mechanical systems, enabling reduced pushing force while maintaining safety through electronic control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If a force detection sensor is provided at the handle to detect user force, then accurate control is enabled, but sensor errors may occur requiring calibration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor error management
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary calibration of the force detection sensor during the charging period before actual use. By performing calibration in advance when the stroller is stationary and not bearing load, the sensor achieves accurate measurement capability before being put into service, preventing measurement errors during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-calibration of the force detection sensor automatically during the charging period without requiring external intervention. The controller detects the charging state and autonomously initiates calibration routines, allowing the system to maintain its own measurement accuracy without manual calibration procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the sensor sensing period is extended to improve detection accuracy, then measurement reliability increases, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor detection reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic sensing where the sensor operates at different intervals based on the operational state. During charging periods, sensing occurs at longer intervals or is suspended, while during active use periods, sensing frequency increases. This periodic action maintains detection reliability when needed while reducing power consumption during idle charging periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3858706B1Stroller and operation method thereof
Publication Date: 2022.12.14 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3858706B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3858706B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3858706B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a stroller and an operation method thereof. The stroller includes a sensor unit, including a plurality of sensors, and a controller, configured to perform control such that a force detection sensor, which detects force applied to a handle, is calibrated based on data detected by the sensor unit, thereby minimizing an error in the force detection sensor and enabling accurate control.