Automatic Wheelchair Locking System Using Magnetic Drivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of manual wheelchairs face inconvenience due to the need for frequent manual activation and deactivation of wheelchair locks during daily activities, requiring multiple lock/unlock cycles for simple tasks.
Innovation Solution
An automatic wheelchair locking system that uses touch sensors, motion sensors, and magnetic persistent drivers to automatically engage and disengage locks based on user input and wheelchair motion, minimizing conscious user input and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual lock activation is used, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to frequent lock/unlock cycles required for simple tasks
Solution Approach 1:
The lock system automatically detects wheel motion and hand position to engage or disengage locking without user intervention. Motion sensors detect when the wheelchair stops moving, and capacitive touch sensors detect when hands are not on the rims, triggering automatic locking. Conversely, when motion is detected or hands touch the rims, the system automatically unlocks, eliminating the need for manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical lock operation with an automated system using motion sensors, capacitive touch sensors, and motorized locking mechanisms. The mechanical lock is controlled by a motor that responds to electrical signals from sensors, substituting the purely mechanical manual operation with an electromechanical automated control system.
2Ease of operation
If automatic locking system is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but use of energy increases due to continuous sensor monitoring and motor operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic sensing and event-triggered motor operation rather than continuous operation. Motion sensors periodically detect wheelchair movement, and capacitive touch sensors periodically check hand position. The motor operates only when state changes occur (locking or unlocking), not continuously, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining automatic functionality.
3Productivity
If frequent lock/unlock cycles are required for simple tasks, then productivity is reduced, but device complexity remains low with manual operation
Solution Approach 1:
The lock system autonomously manages locking and unlocking based on detected conditions, eliminating the need for users to manually operate locks during daily activities. The system serves itself by automatically adapting to user needs without requiring conscious intervention, thereby improving productivity by removing repetitive manual operations.
4Reliability
If manual lock activation is used, then reliability is maintained with simple mechanism, but ease of operation deteriorates requiring multiple lock/unlock cycles for simple activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the simple manual mechanical lock with an electromechanical system that incorporates motion sensors, capacitive touch sensors, and a motorized locking mechanism. This substitution maintains reliability through sensor-based automatic control while dramatically improving ease of operation by eliminating the need for manual lock/unlock cycles during routine activities.
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 system provides seamless and intuitive locking and unlocking of wheelchair wheels, reducing user effort and battery consumption while ensuring secure operation, even on slopes, by using capacitive touch sensors and gyroscopic motion detection with magnetic persistent drivers.
Implementation Method 1
The at least one base magnet and the at least one pin magnet are configured to be substantially aligned in opposite polarities in the first rotational position of the base, and to be substantially aligned in same polarities in the second rotational position of the base
Implementation Method 2
a first touch sensor configured to detect a touch of a first wheel of a wheelchair
Implementation Method 3
a motion sensor configured to detect motion of the wheelchair
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic wheelchair locking system including: a first lock for a first wheel; a first persistent driver configured to engage and disengage the first lock; at least one processor configured to control the first persistent driver; and a memory having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, control the at least one processor to: in response to receiving instructions to disengage the first lock while the first lock is engaged, control the first persistent driver to disengage the first lock; and in response to receiving instructions to engage the first lock while the first lock is disengaged, control the first persistent driver to engage the first lock.