Vehicle lift and storage system utilizing a multi-axis accelerometer

Abstract

A vehicle lift and storage system (VLSS) can comprise a platform that can be moved between a plurality of positions by one or more moving mechanisms. The platform can be equipped with a wireless, multi-axis accelerometer that transmits data regarding the platform to a control system of the VLSS via a wireless sensor link. Using the data from the multi-axis accelerometer, the control system can generate control signals to control the one or more moving mechanisms. The control system can also detect the occurrence of a safety event based on the data received from the multi-axis accelerometer. In response to detecting a safety event, the control system can cause the one or more moving mechanisms to enter a safety mode to alleviate or respond to the detected safety event.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle lift and storage system comprising:
 a platform for supporting a motor vehicle, the platform being movable between a lower position and an upper position;   a moving mechanism operatively connected to the platform to cause the platform to move between the lower and upper positions;   a multi-axis accelerometer positioned on the platform;   a control sub-system, operatively coupled to the multi-axis accelerometer and the moving mechanism, for controlling the moving mechanism, the control sub-system being configured to:
 generate a control signal to cause the moving mechanism to operate in a first mode to cause the platform to move from an initial position to a desired position, the initial position being one of the upper and lower positions and the desired position being the other one of the upper and lower positions; 
 while the moving mechanism is operating in the first mode, monitor an output from the multi-axis accelerometer; and 
 determine, based on the monitored output from the multi-axis accelerometer, that a safety event has occurred and, in response to the determination, generate a safety signal to cause the moving mechanism to halt operating in the first mode.