Wireless Remote Dock with Magnetic Charging for Powered Chair Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless hand-held remote-control devices for powered chairs are prone to misplacement and require frequent recharging, as they lack a dedicated docking solution that integrates seamlessly with the chair's structure, leading to inconvenience and inefficiency in operation.
Innovation Solution
A wireless hand-held remote-control device with a dock that is fixedly secured within the chair's arm section, featuring a magnetic interface for secure storage and automatic charging, ensuring proper alignment and accessibility of control buttons, and a charging interface for maintaining battery power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the remote-control device is made wireless to eliminate wire entanglement, then ease of operation is improved, but the device becomes prone to misplacement and loss
Solution Approach 1:
The remote-control device is nested within a docking station that is integrated into the chair structure. The dock provides a designated storage compartment where the remote can be securely placed when not in use, preventing misplacement while maintaining wireless operation benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking station serves as an intermediary between the wireless remote and the chair. It provides both a physical home for the remote (preventing loss) and a charging interface (maintaining functionality), resolving the contradiction between wireless freedom and reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the remote-control device is made wireless to eliminate wire entanglement, then ease of operation is improved, but the device may be dislodged and fall onto the floor
Solution Approach 1:
The remote nests within a protective compartment of the docking station integrated into the chair. This prevents the remote from being dislodged and falling to the floor, while the wireless design maintains ease of operation when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking station provides a pre-prepared safe location for the remote before any potential drop or dislodgement can occur. The magnetic attachment and fitted compartment cushion the remote against accidental falls.
3Ease of operation
If the remote-control device uses battery power to eliminate electrical cord connection, then ease of operation is improved, but the battery needs periodic recharging
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station automatically recharges the remote battery whenever the remote is docked, even during brief periods when not in use. This preliminary charging action ensures the remote is always ready for use without requiring the user to actively manage charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service charging through the docking station. When the remote is placed in the dock, the charging interface automatically connects and recharges the battery without user intervention, eliminating the need for separate charging actions and reducing time loss.
4Use of energy by moving object
If a separate recharging device is used for the wireless remote, then the remote can be recharged, but the recharging device must be placed on external surfaces or adjacent tables
Solution Approach 1:
The docking station merges multiple functions into a single integrated unit: it serves as both a storage compartment for the remote and a charging device. This eliminates the need for separate external charging equipment and reduces overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking station is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a remote storage location and a charging device. This universal design eliminates the need for separate external charging equipment, simplifying the overall system while ensuring continuous battery power.
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 misplacement and ensures continuous functionality by securely storing and charging the remote-control device within the chair's structure, maintaining operational readiness and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
The wireless hand-held remote-control device is secured within the dock by a magnetic interface defined between a pair of magnets incorporated which are within or upon an interior rear wall portion of the dock, and a pair of ferromagnetic plates which are incorporated within a rear side wall portion of the wireless hand-held remote-control device
Data Source
AI summary
A new and improved dock, and a new and improved wireless hand-held remote-control device, for controlling various sections of a powered chair, is disclosed, wherein the dock is adapted to be incorporated within, for example, an arm section of the powered chair, while the wireless hand-held remote-control device is adapted to be inserted into the dock so as not to be lost or misplaced. The wireless hand-held remote-control device has a plurality of control buttons disposed upon the primary or upper face portion thereof so as to control various sections of the powered chair, such as, for example, the headrest section, the back section, a lumbar support section, and a footrest section. In addition, control buttons for the aforenoted sections of the powered chair are also disposed upon a front sidewall portion of the wireless hand-held remote-control device such that the various sections of the powered chair can be controlled both when the wireless hand-held remote-control device is disposed within the dock or when the wireless hand-held remote-control device has been removed from the dock.