Skateboard for Maintaining Multiple Cruising Speeds

Abstract

A method of operating an electric skateboard includes manually moving the electric skateboard forward without engaging an electric motor, then engaging a pressure sensor on the electric skateboard to output a pressure signal to a controller on the electric skateboard. The controller then generates a control signal to the electric motor corresponding to a first cruising torque. The method further includes engaging the pressure sensor on the electric skateboard a second time, to output a second pressure signal to the controller, which in turn generates a second control signal corresponding to a second cruising torque.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric skateboard, comprising:
 a footboard;   a plurality of wheels connected to the footboard and configured to rotate relative to the footboard,
 wherein the wheels rotate about an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the footboard; 
   a controller mounted to the footboard;   a motor mounted to the footboard and in signal communication with the controller;   a pressure sensor mounted to the footboard and in signal communication with the controller;
 wherein the controller is configured to receive a pressure signal from the pressure sensor, 
 wherein the controller is configured to output a first control signal to the motor corresponding to a first torque, after receiving a first pressure signal from the pressure sensor, and 
 wherein the controller is configured to output a second control signal to the motor corresponding to a second torque different from the first torque, after receiving a second pressure signal from the pressure sensor. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electric skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is contained within a wheel. 
     
     
         3 . The electric skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the first torque corresponds to a predetermined first speed. 
     
     
         4 . The electric skateboard of  claim 3 , wherein the predetermined first speed is a speed between 1 mph (1.6 km/h) and 7 mph (11.2 km/h). 
     
     
         5 . The electric skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the first torque corresponds to a measured velocity of the electric skateboard. 
     
     
         6 . The electric skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the second torque corresponds to a predetermined second speed. 
     
     
         7 . The electric skateboard of  claim 6 , wherein the predetermined second speed is a speed between 4 mph (6.4 km/h) and 10 mph (16.1 km/h). 
     
     
         8 . The electric skateboard of  claim 1 , the controller is configured to output a third control signal to the motor corresponding to a third torque different from the second torque, after receiving a third pressure signal from the pressure sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The electric skateboard of  claim 1 , wherein the controller does not output a control signal when the pressure signal is not present. 
     
     
         10 . A method for operating an electric skateboard, the method comprising:
 manually moving the electric skateboard forward without engaging an electric motor;   engaging a pressure sensor on the electric skateboard to output a pressure signal to a controller on the electric skateboard, which in turn generates a control signal to the electric motor corresponding to a first cruising torque;   engaging the pressure sensor on the electric skateboard a second time, to output a second pressure signal to the controller, which in turn generates a second control signal corresponding to a second cruising torque.   
     
     
         11 . The method of operating the electric skateboard of  claim 10 , further comprising engaging the pressure sensor on the electric skateboard a third time, to output a third pressure signal to the controller, which in turn generates a third control signal corresponding to a third cruising torque. 
     
     
         12 . The method for operating the electric skateboard of  claim 10 , wherein the controller measures a current speed of the electric skateboard using a position sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The method for operating the electric skateboard of  claim 10 , further comprising a sensor used to detect an angular velocity of a wheel of the electric skateboard. 
     
     
         14 . The method for operating the electric skateboard of  claim 10 , wherein the controller continues to output the control signal for as long as the pressure sensor is engaged. 
     
     
         15 . A skateboard comprising:
 a footboard;   a plurality of wheels connected to the footboard and configured to rotate relative to the footboard;   a controller mounted to the footboard,;   a motor mounted to the footboard and in signal communication with the controller;   a battery connected to the controller and to the motor, to provide electrical current to both the controller and the motor; and   a pressure sensor mounted to the footboard and configured to send a pressure signal to the controller,
 wherein the controller outputs a control signal to the motor corresponding to a first speed, after receiving a first pressure signal, and 
 wherein the controller outputs a control signal to the motor corresponding to a second speed different from the first speed, after receiving a second pressure signal. 
   
     
     
         16 . The skateboard of  claim 15 , wherein the control signal causes the motor to output a torque for as long as the control signal is generated. 
     
     
         17 . The skateboard of  claim 15 , wherein the pressure sensor is located on a top surface of the footboard. 
     
     
         18 . The skateboard of  claim 17 , further including an abrasive paster located on a top surface of the pressure sensor. 
     
     
         19 . The skateboard of  claim 15 , wherein the controller outputs a control signal to the motor corresponding to a third speed different from the second speed, after receiving a third pressure signal. 
     
     
         20 . The skateboard of  claim 19 , wherein the third speed is equal to the first speed.