1. A swivel mechanism for a vehicle seat, comprising:
a base plate configured to be fixed relative to the vehicle and to provide support to the vehicle seat;
a seat mounting plate having a first side configured to receive the vehicle seat and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the second side is configured to be adjacent to the base member, and wherein the seat mounting plate and the base plate are mechanically coupled so that when the seat mounting plate is rotated about an axis of the base plate the seat mounting plate translates in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the base plate;
a locking recess formed in one of the base plate or the seat mounting plate; and
a locking pawl pivotally mounted to the opposite one of the base plate or the seat mounting plate as the locking recess, and biased toward the locking recess such that when the locking pawl and locking recess are engaged, the seat mounting plate is inhibited from movement relative to the base plate.
2. A swivel mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the base plate further comprises a pivot guide and a cam guide formed therein, the cam guide being terminated at each end in alignment with an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pivot guide.
3. A swivel mechanism as defined in claim 2, wherein the cam guide is terminated at each end equidistant from one end of the pivot guide.
4. A swivel mechanism as defined in claim 2, wherein the cam guide is substantially symmetric about the longitudinal axis of the pivot guide.
5. A swivel mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising a release lever mechanically coupled to the locking pawl to rotate the locking pawl away from engagement with the locking recess.
6. A swivel mechanism as defined in claim 5, wherein the locking pawl is mechanically coupled to the release lever through a cable.
7. A swivel mechanism as defined in claim 5, wherein the release lever includes at least one of a first release lever extending under the base plate or a second release lever extending over the seat mounting plate.
8. A swivel mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein the locking pawl is pivotally mounted to one of the base plate or the seat mounting plate about a pivot pin, and wherein the locking pawl is springably biased toward the locking recess.
9. A swivel mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein translation of the seat mounting plate in the plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the base plate is configured to cause the vehicle seat to follow an eccentric path when the seat mounting plate is rotated.
10. A swivel mechanism as defined in claim 1, further comprising a base pedestal mechanically coupled to the base plate and configured to be mounted to a floor surface of the vehicle.
11. A swivel seat mount comprising:
a base structure having a cam guide defining a curved path and an elongated pivot guide, the cam guide being terminated at each end in alignment with an axis substantially perpendicular with an a longitudinal axis of the pivot guide; and
a seat mounting structure configured to be mechanically coupled to a rotatable seat on a first side and to the cam guide and the elongated pivot guide on a second side, wherein the cam guide and elongated pivot guide structures are configured so that when the rotatable seat is rotated the rotatable seat follows an eccentric path.
12. A swivel seat mount as defined in claim 11, further comprising a locking recess and a locking structure configured to inhibit movement of the seat mounting structure relative to the base structure.
13. A swivel seat mount as defined in claim 12, wherein the locking structure is pivotally configured to engage the locking recess.
14. A swivel seat mount as defined in claim 12, wherein the locking recess is formed in a surface of the base structure, and the locking structure is pivotally mounted to the seat mounting structure.
15. A swivel seat mount as defined in claim 12, further comprising a release lever mechanically coupled to the locking structure to rotate the locking structure away from engagement with the locking recess.
16. A swivel seat mount as defined in claim 15, wherein the locking pawl is mechanically coupled to the release lever through a cable.
17. A swivel seat mount as defined in claim 15, wherein the release lever includes at least one of a first release lever extending under the base plate or a second release lever extending over the seat mounting plate.
18. A vehicle control system for controlling a vehicle comprising:
an eccentric swivel mechanism including
a vehicle seat having a width, a length, and a turning radius,
a base plate configured to be fixed relative to the vehicle and to provide support to the vehicle seat,
a seat mounting plate having a first side configured to receive the vehicle seat and a second side opposite the first side, wherein the seat mounting plate is mechanically coupled to the base plate such that when rotated, the seat mounting plate translates in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the base plate, and
a locking mechanism to selectively inhibit the rotation of the seat mounting plate relative the base plate;
a base pedestal adopted to support the eccentric swivel mechanism and mounted to the vehicle a distance from a vehicle wall less than the turning radius of the vehicle seat, the base pedestal having a central axis;
a vehicle control panel spaced from the base pedestal and including a vehicle wheel having a central axis; and
wherein the central axis of the base pedestal is substantially co-planar with the central axis of the vehicle wheel.
19. A vehicle control system as defined in claim 18, wherein the base plate further comprises a pivot guide and a cam guide formed therein, the cam guide being terminated at each end in alignment with an axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the pivot guide.
20. A vehicle control system as defined in claim 19, wherein the cam guide is terminated at each end equidistant from one end of the pivot guide.
21. A vehicle control system as defined in claim 19, wherein the cam guide is substantially symmetric about the longitudinal axis of the pivot guide.
22. A vehicle control system as defined in claim 18, further comprising a release lever mechanically coupled to the locking mechanism to rotate the locking mechanism away from engagement with a locking recess formed in the base plate.
23. A vehicle control system as defined in claim 22, wherein the locking mechanism is pivotally mounted to one of the base plate or the seat mounting plate about a pivot pin, and wherein the locking mechanism is springably biased toward the locking recess.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of calibrating a fluid-level measurement system having fluid level sensing means that generates a response based on the portion of said fluid level sensing means that is immersed in a fluid, said method comprising the steps of:
recording a first response of said fluid level sensing means when said fluid level sensing means is not in contact with said fluid of interest;
recording a second response of said fluid level sensing means when said fluid level sensing means is fully immersed in said fluid of interest; and
generating, using said first response and said second response, a plurality of expected responses of said fluid level sensing means for a corresponding plurality of fractional levels of immersion of said fluid level sensing means in said fluid of interest.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein each of said first response, said second response, and said plurality of expected responses is frequency-based.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein each of said first response, said second response, and said plurality of expected responses is capacitance-based.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of expected responses is determined in accordance with
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where \u03c9E(L) is an expected frequency response comprising one of said plurality of expected responses associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of levels of immersion,
L is a fractional value indicative of one of said plurality of levels of immersion as compared to said fluid level sensing means being fully immersed in said fluid of interest,
\u03c91 is a frequency response comprising said first response, and
\u03c92 is a frequency response comprising said second response.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of expected responses is determined in accordance with
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where CE(L) is an expected capacitance response comprising one of said plurality of expected responses associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of levels of immersion,
L is a fractional value indicative of one of said plurality of levels of immersion as compared to the fluid level sensing means being fully immersed in said fluid of interest,
C1 is a capacitance response comprising said first response, and
C2 is a capacitance response comprising said second response.
6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said steps of recording include the step of wirelessly interrogating said fluid level sensing means to record said first response and said second response.
7. A method of calibrating a fluid-level measurement system having fluid level sensing means that generates a response based on the portion of said fluid level sensing means that is immersed in a fluid, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a receptacle with said fluid sensing means mounted therein for detecting a level of said fluid of interest in the receptacle;
recording a first response of said fluid level sensing means when said receptacle is empty;
recording a second response of said fluid level sensing means when said receptacle is filled with said fluid of interest; and
generating, using said first response and said second response, a plurality of expected responses of said fluid level sensing means for a corresponding plurality of levels of said fluid of interest in said receptacle.
8. A method according to claim 7 wherein each of said first response, said second response, and said plurality of expected responses is frequency-based.
9. A method according to claim 7 wherein each of said first response, said second response, and said plurality of expected responses is capacitance-based.
10. A method according to claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of expected responses is determined in accordance with
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where \u03c9E(L) is an expected frequency response comprising one of said plurality of expected responses associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of levels,
L is a fractional value indicative of one of said plurality of levels as compared to the receptacle being filled with said fluid of interest,
\u03c91 is a frequency response comprising said first response, and
\u03c92 is a frequency response comprising said second response.
11. A method according to claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of expected responses is determined in accordance with
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where CE(L) is an expected capacitance response comprising one of said plurality of expected responses associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of levels,
L is a fractional value indicative of one of said plurality of levels as compared to the receptacle being filled with said fluid of interest,
C1 is a capacitance response comprising said first response, and
C2 is a capacitance response comprising said second response.
12. A method according to claim 7 wherein said steps of recording include the step of wirelessly interrogating said fluid level sensing means to record said first response and said second response.
13. A method of calibrating a fluid-level measurement system having wireless fluid level sensing means that generates a response based on the portion of said wireless fluid level sensing means that is immersed in a fluid wherein said response so-generated is one of a frequency response and a capacitance response, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a receptacle with said wireless fluid sensing means mounted therein for detecting a level of a fluid of interest in said receptacle;
recording a first response of said wireless fluid level sensing means when said receptacle is empty,
recording a second response of said wireless fluid level sensing means when said receptacle is filled with said fluid of interest; and
generating, using said first response and said second response, a plurality of expected responses of said wireless fluid level sensing means for a corresponding plurality of levels of said fluid of interest in said receptacle.
14. A method according to claim 13 wherein said response so-generated by said wireless fluid level sensing means is a frequency response, and wherein each of said plurality of expected responses is determined in accordance with
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where \u03c9E(L) is an expected frequency response comprising one of said plurality of expected responses associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of levels,
L is a fractional value indicative of one of said plurality of levels as compared to said receptacle being filled with said fluid of interest,
\u03c91 is a frequency response comprising said first response, and
\u03c92 is a frequency response comprising said second response.
15. A method according to claim 13 wherein said response so-generated by said wireless fluid level sensing means is a capacitance response, and wherein each of said plurality of expected responses is determined in accordance with
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where CE(L) is an expected capacitance response comprising one of said plurality of expected responses associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of levels,
L is a fractional value indicative of one of said plurality of levels as compared to said receptacle being filled with said fluid of interest,
C1 is a capacitance response comprising said first response, and
C2 is a capacitance response comprising said second response.
16. A method of calibrating a fluid-level measurement system having fluid level sensing means that generates a response based on the portion of said fluid level sensing means that is immersed in a fluid, said method comprising the steps of:
(i) recording and storing a first response of said fluid level sensing means when said fluid level sensing means is not in contact with said fluid of interest;
(ii) recording and storing a second response of said fluid level sensing means when said fluid level sensing means is fully immersed in said fluid of interest;
(iii) recording and storing one or more additional intermediate responses of said fluid level sensing means wherein each said intermediate response corresponds to a particular additional level of immersion of said fluid level sensing means in said fluid of interest;
(iv) repeating the above steps (i), (ii) and (ii) for a range of fluid dielectric values of interest;
(v) measuring and recording an in-field first response and an in-field second response;
(vi) retrieving from said plurality of stored first and second responses and their respective fractional levels, the pair (or pairs) of said stored first and second responses that is nearest in value to said in-field first and second responses;
(vii) retrieving said stored intermediate responses and their respective fractional levels that correspond to said retrieved first and second responses;
(viii) using an interpolation means to generate in-field intermediate responses from said first retrieved response, said second retrieved response and all said intermediate retrieved responses and their corresponding fractional levels; and
(ix) generating, using said in-field first response, said second in-field second response, and said interpolated intermediate responses, a plurality of expected responses of said fluid level sensing means for a corresponding plurality of fractional levels of immersion of said fluid level sensing means in said fluid of interest.
17. A method according to claim 16 wherein each of said first response, said second response, said one or more intermediate responses, and said plurality of expected responses is frequency-based.
18. A method according to claim 16 wherein each of said first response, said second response, said one or more intermediate responses, and said plurality of expected responses is capacitance-based.
19. A method according to claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of expected responses is determined in accordance with an interpolating polynomial.
20. A method according to claim 16 wherein said steps of recording include the step of wirelessly interrogating said fluid level sensing means to record said first response, said second response, and said intermediate responses.
22. A method of calibration of a fluid-level measurement system having fluid level sensing means that generates a response based on the portion of said fluid level sensing means that is immersed in a fluid, said method comprising the steps of:
(i) recording and storing a first response of said fluid level sensing means when said fluid level sensing means is immersed in said fluid of interest at a first reference level;
(ii) recording and storing a second response of said fluid level sensing means when said fluid level sensing means is immersed in said fluid of interest at a second reference level;
(iii) recording and storing one or more additional intermediate responses of said fluid level sensing means wherein each said intermediate response corresponds to a particular level of immersion of said fluid level sensing means in said fluid of interest;
(iv) repeating the above steps (i), (ii) and (ii) for a range of fluid dielectric values of interest;
(v) generating, using said first stored response, said second stored response, and said one or more intermediate stored responses, a plurality of expected responses of said fluid level sensing means for a corresponding plurality of fractional levels of immersion of said fluid level sensing means in said fluid of interest;
(vi) generating and storing a separate calibration curve for each fluid dielectric using said first stored response, said second stored response, said one or more intermediate stored responses, and said plurality of expected responses;
(vii) measuring a first in-field response and a second in-field response; and
(viii) utilizing the stored calibration curve having a first response and a second response closest to said in-field measured first and second responses.
23. A method according to claim 22 wherein each of said first response, said second response, said one or more intermediate responses, and said plurality of expected responses is frequency-based.
24. A method according to claim 22 wherein each of said first response, said second response, said one or more intermediate responses, and said plurality of expected responses is capacitance-based.