Context-sensitive help for display associate with power driven wheelchair

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing help information on a display device associated with a power driven wheelchair is provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: a) displaying screen content displayed on the display device during operation or support of the power driven wheelchair, b) detecting selective activation of a first input device, c) in response to detection of the first input device activation, selecting help information content from a collection of help information, the selected help information content being contextually related to the screen content displayed on the display device, and d) displaying the contextually-related help information content on the display device. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: a display device, a first input device, and a microcontroller in operative communication with the display device and the first input device.

1 . An apparatus associated with a power driven wheelchair, including:
 a display device to selectively display screen content during operation or support of the power driven wheelchair;   a first input device for selective activation; and   a microcontroller in operative communication with the display device and the first input device;   wherein the microcontroller controls the content displayed on the display device during the operation or support and detects activation of the first input device;   wherein, in response to detection of the first input device activation, the microcontroller displays help information contextually related to the screen content displayed on the display device; and   wherein the help information includes information associated with a potential action by a user.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the help information includes information associated with a current state of the screen content. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the information associated with the potential action includes an expected result of the potential action. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including:
 a second input device for selective activation in communication with the microcontroller;   wherein, in response to detection of the second input device activation, the microcontroller controls designation of a first screen object as active within the screen content; and   wherein the help information includes information associated with a potential action by the user associated with the first screen object.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the help information includes information associated with a current state of the first screen object. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the information associated with the potential action associated with the first screen object includes an expected result of the potential action. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein support of the power driven wheelchair includes a programming mode, wherein the screen content is programming screen content, and wherein the information associated with the potential action includes the expected result of a programming option associated with the first screen object. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the first screen object is a programmable parameter. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the programmable parameter is a range parameter and the expected result of the programming option associated with the range parameter includes an increase or decrease in the programmable parameter value. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the programmable parameter is a choice parameter and the expected result of the programming option associated with the choice parameter includes a selection from a list of choices for the programmable parameter value. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing help information on a display device associated with a power driven wheelchair, including:
 displaying screen content on the display device during operation or support of the power driven wheelchair;   detecting selective activation of a first input device;   in response to detection of the first input device activation, the microcontroller displays help information contextually related to the screen content displayed on the display device; and   wherein the help information includes information associated with a potential action by a user.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the help information includes information associated with a current state of the screen content. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the information associated with the potential action includes an expected result of the potential action. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further including:
 detecting selective activation of a second input device;   in response to detection of the second input device activation, designating a first screen object as active within the screen content; and   wherein the help information includes information associated with a potential action by the user associated with the first screen object.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the help information includes information associated with a current state of the first screen object. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the information associated with the potential action associated with the first screen object includes an expected result of the potential action. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein support of the power driven wheelchair includes a programming mode, wherein the screen content is programming screen content, and wherein the information associated with the potential action includes the expected result of a programming option associated with the first screen object. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the first screen object is a programmable parameter. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the programmable parameter is a range parameter and the expected result of the programming option associated with the range parameter includes an increase or decrease in the programmable parameter value. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the programmable parameter is a choice parameter and the expected result of the programming option associated with the choice parameter includes a selection from a list of choices for the programmable parameter value.