US 12,246,613 B2
Self-stabilizing skateboard
Julian De La Rua, Santa Cruz, CA (US); Brady Boone, Santa Cruz, CA (US); and Daniel James Wood, Camas, WA (US)
Assigned to FUTURE MOTION, INC., Santa Clara, CA (US)
Filed by Future Motion, Inc., Santa Cruz, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/718,737.
Application 17/718,737 is a continuation of application No. 17/506,564, filed on Oct. 20, 2021, granted, now 11,299,059.
Prior Publication US 2023/0120664 A1, Apr. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. A63C 17/00 (2006.01); A63C 17/01 (2006.01); A63C 17/12 (2006.01); B60L 15/20 (2006.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.01); B60L 53/16 (2019.01); B60L 53/65 (2019.01); B60L 58/10 (2019.01); B62K 11/00 (2006.01); H02J 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60L 53/65 (2019.02) [A63C 17/016 (2013.01); A63C 17/12 (2013.01); B60L 15/20 (2013.01); B60L 50/60 (2019.02); B60L 53/16 (2019.02); B60L 58/10 (2019.02); B62K 11/007 (2016.11); H02J 7/00045 (2020.01); H02J 7/0042 (2013.01); A63C 2203/12 (2013.01); B60L 2210/30 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A self-balancing electric skateboard, comprising:
a board including a frame, a first deck portion disposed at a first end portion of the frame, and a second deck portion disposed at a second end portion of the frame, the first and second deck portions each configured to receive a left or right foot of a rider oriented generally perpendicular to a direction of travel of the board;
a wheel assembly including a wheel rotatable about an axle, wherein the wheel is disposed between and extends above and below the first and second deck portions;
a motor powered by a rechargeable battery and configured to rotate the wheel about the axle to propel the skateboard; and
an electronic controller configured to:
(i) receive orientation information of the board measured by at least one sensor and to cause the motor to propel the skateboard based on the orientation information;
(ii) determine whether the skateboard is operating in an unsafe condition by performing a check for each of (a) the power supplied to the motor is about to be limited, (b) the motor is at risk of overheating, (c) the motor is at risk of overdrawing current, and (d) the battery charge is low; and
(iii) based on the controller determining that the skateboard is operating in an unsafe condition, cause feedback to be provided to the rider indicating the unsafe condition.