Electromyographic Controlled Vehicles and Chairs

Abstract

The present invention is intended to provide an EMG signal controller or a wheelchair using an EMG signal controller to allow full vehicular direct drive control, and wheelchair accessory control, by using one or more EMG sensors applied to certain muscles of a subject, and translating the movement of the muscles of the subject that the EMG sensors are connected, to electrical signals causing for the operation of a motorized wheelchair. The controller and wheelchair are designed specifically for paralyzed individuals with limited motion, but may be used by any subject with or without any physical or nervous system disabilities. The present invention further provides an emergency stop which is activated in the event that the subject using the wheelchair experiences a seizure or other neurological shock.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for using a motorized wheelchair having an electro-myographic (EMG) signal controller for receiving and translating one or more signals from one or more EMG sensors to an electrical signal to control a speed and direction of the motorized wheelchair based on the signals received by the EMG sensors, the method comprising:
 providing a motorized wheelchair having an EMG signal controller for receiving and translating one or more signals from one or more EMG sensors to an electrical signal to control a speed and direction of the motorized wheelchair based on the signals received by the EMG sensors;   attaching one or more EMG sensors to the face of the wheelchair occupant, wherein said EMG sensors are providing an input to said EMG signal controller from facial muscle input of the wheelchair occupant; and   controlling speed and direction of the motorized wheelchair based on the signals received by the EMG sensors from the one or more facial muscles of the wheelchair occupant.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising programming EMG controller to control said motorized wheelchair based on the facial muscle input preferences of the subject using the wheelchair. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising controlling other operations of the motorized wheelchair based on the signals received by the EMG sensor, wherein said signals received are used to activate the horn, adjust leg rests, adjust of the height of the wheelchair, adjust the angle of the wheelchair, or combinations thereof 
     
     
         4 . An electro-myographic (EMG) controlled electronic wheelchair controlled by the facial muscle inputs from one or more EMG sensors being attached to the face of a wheelchair occupant, the EMG wheelchair comprising:
 at least one EMG sensor attached to the face of a wheelchair occupant;   a motor controlled wheelchair having one or more motors which control a direction and speed that the wheelchair will travel; and   at least one EMG signal controller programmed to receive facial muscle input of the wheelchair occupant as a result of the one or more EMG signals from said one or more EMG sensors attached to the face of the wheelchair occupant and translating said EMG signals to a directional input which is communicated to the wheelchair to control the direction and speed of the wheelchair based on said EMG signals.   
     
     
         5 . The EMG wheelchair of  claim 5  wherein said EMG signal controller further comprises a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer-readably instructions which, when executed, cause a computer to perform the process of interpreting EMG signals received by one or more EMG sensors and communicating the interpreted signals to a motion controlling circuit. 
     
     
         6 . The EMG wheelchair of  claim 5  further comprising controlling other operations of the motorized wheelchair based on the signals received by the EMG sensor, wherein said signals received are used to activate the horn, adjust leg rests, adjust of the height of the wheelchair, adjust the angle of the wheelchair, or combinations thereof.