All The Claims

1. A method of transform-coding media data in two-dimensional blocks using a fast transform implementation of a block transform of 8-points in at least one of the block’s dimensions based on a transform matrix represented by
T
8

=
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
16
15
9
4
–
4
–
9
–
15
–
16
16
6
–
6
–
16
–
16
–
6
6
16
15
–
4
–
16
–
9
9
16
4
–
15
12
–
12
–
12
12
12
–
12
–
12
12
9
–
16
4
15
–
15
–
4
16
–
9
6
–
16
16
–
6
–
6
16
–
16
6
4
–
9
15
–
16
16
–
15
9
–
4
,
the method comprising:
receiving the media data;
transform-coding the media data to an output data stream for compression or decompression, comprising in part by performing multiple stages of butterfly operations converting between an 8-point set of spatial domain co-efficients and 8-point transform domain co-efficients in the at least one 8-point dimension, the multiple stages comprising for odd transform domain co-efficients, performing a matrix multiply by the matrix,
4
3
3
–
2
;
and
outputting the data stream.
2. A media system providing transform coding of a media data, comprising:
a media data input for receiving the media data;
a transform-based block coder for transform-coding the media data to an output data stream for compression or decompression, comprising in part:
a forward transform stage operating, for a two dimensional block of the media data, to perform a forward transform of the block to convert the block into a transform domain,

a quantization stage operating to quantize the transform-domain block;
a dequantization stage operating to dequantize the transform-domain block; and

an inverse transform stage for performing an inverse transform of the transform-domain block to produce a reconstructed block of the form,
R
=
(
T
n
\u2032

\xb7
D
\xb7

T
m
)

1024
,
\u2003wherein at least one dimension Tn or Tm of the inverse transform is the 8-point matrix
T
8

=
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
16
15
9
4
–
4
–
9
–
15
–
16
16
6
–
6
–
16
–
16
–
6
6
16
15
–
4
–
16
–
9
9
16
4
–
15
12
–
12
–
12
12
12
–
12
–
12
12
9
–
16
4
15
–
15
–
4
16
–
9
6
–
16
16
–
6
–
6
16
–
16
6
4
–
9
15
–
16
16
–
15
9
–
4
,
the inverse transform being implemented as a sequence of butterfly operations and a matrix multiply by the matrix,
4
3
3
–
2
;
and
an output for outputting the output data stream.
3. A computer-readable medium carrying thereon computer-executable software instructions for effecting a method of transform-coding media data in two-dimensional blocks using a fast transform implementation of a block transform of 8-points in at least one of the block’s dimensions based on a transform matrix represented by
T
8

=
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
16
15
9
4
–
4
–
9
–
15
–
16
16
6
–
6
–
16
–
16
–
6
6
16
15
–
4
–
16
–
9
9
16
4
–
15
12
–
12
–
12
12
12
–
12
–
12
12
9
–
16
4
15
–
15
–
4
16
–
9
6
–
16
16
–
6
–
6
16
–
16
6
4
–
9
15
–
16
16
–
15
9
–
4
,
the method comprising:
receiving the media data;
transform-coding the media data to an output data stream for compression or decompression, comprising in part by performing multiple stages of butterfly operations converting between an 8-point set of spatial domain co-efficients and 8-point transform domain co-efficients in the at least one 8-point dimension, the multiple stages comprising for odd transform domain co-efficients, performing a matrix multiply by the matrix,
4
3
3
–
2
;
and
outputting the data stream.
4. A method of transform coding-based compression or decompression of two-dimensional media blocks using fast transform of a two-dimensional block of image data between spatial and transform domain representations, where at least one dimension of the block is 8 points, the transform coding-based compressiondecompression method comprising;
receiving the media data;
transform-coding the media data to an output data stream for compression or decompression, comprising in part by, for a forward transform:
performing a sequence of butterfly operations of the type
\u2003
c
s
s
–
c
\u2003on a set of variables 0 through 7, including at least,
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 7, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 6, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 2 and 5, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 4, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 3, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 2, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 1, where values c and s are 1, with a scaling by 12;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 2, where values c and s are 16 and 6;
a butterfly operation of variables 4 and 7, where values c and s are 4 and 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6, where values c and s are 5 and 3, followed by negating the variable 6;
a second butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6, where values c and s are 1; and

prior to the second butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6, performing a matrix multiply of variables 4 and 5 and variables 7 and 6 by the matrix,
4
3
3
–
2
;
whereby the variables 0 through 3 produce even co-efficients and variables 4 through 7 produce odd co-efficients in the transform domain; and

outputting the data stream.
5. The transform coding-based compression or decompression method of claim 4, comprising, for an inverse transform:
performing inverses of the butterfly operations in reverse flow of the forward transform.
6. A method of transform coding-based compression or decompression of two-dimensional media blocks using fast transform of a two-dimensional block of image data between spatial and transform domain representations, where at least one dimension of the block is 8 points, the transform coding-based compressiondecompression method comprising;
receiving the media data;
transform-coding the media data to an output data stream for compression or decompression, comprising in part by, for an inverse transform:
performing a sequence of butterfly operations of the type
\u2003
c
s
s
–
c
\u2062
\u2003on a set of variables 0 through 7, where variables 0 through 3 are even transform co-efficients and variables 4 through 7 are odd transform co-efficients, including at least,
a butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6, where values c and s are 1;
a second butterfly operation of variables 6 and 5, where values c and s are 5 and 3, followed by negating the variable 5;
a butterfly operation of variables 4 and 7, where values c and s are 4 and 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 1, where values c and s are 1, with a scaling by 12;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 2, where values c and s are 16 and 6;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 2, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 3, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 4, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 2 and 5, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 6, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 7, where values c and s are 1; and

prior to the second butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6, performing a matrix multiply of variables 4 and 5 and variables 7 and 6 by the matrix,
4
3
3
–
2
;
\u2003and

outputting the data stream.
7. A method of transform coding-based compression or decompression of two-dimensional media blocks using fast transform of a two-dimensional block of image data between spatial and transform domain representations, where at least one dimension of the block is 8 points, the transform coding-based compressiondecompression method comprising;
receiving the media data;
transform-coding the media data to an output data stream for compression or decompression, comprising in part by, for an inverse transform:
performing a sequence of butterfly operations of the type
\u2003
c
s
s
–
c
\u2062
\u2003on a set of variables 0 through 7, where variables 0 through 3 are even transform co-efficients and variables 4 through 7 are odd transform co-efficients, including at least,
a butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6, where values c and s are 5 and 3, followed by negating the variable 6;
a butterfly operation of variables 4 and 7, where values c and s are 4 and 1;
a second butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 1, where values c and s are 1, with a scaling by 12;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 2, where values c and s are 16 and 6;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 2, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 3, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 4, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 2 and 5, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 6, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 7, where values c and s are 1; and

following the butterfly operation of variables 4 and 7 and prior to the second butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6, performing a matrix multiply of variables 4 and 5 and variables 7 and 6 by the matrix,
4
3
\u2062
3
–
2

\u2062
.
\u2003and

outputting the data stream.
8. The transform coding-based compressiondecompression method of claim 7, wherein said transform-coding the media data to an output data stream for compression or decompression, comprises in part by, for a forward transform:
performing inverses of the butterfly operations in reverse flow of the forward transform.
9. A method of transform coding-based compression or decompression of two-dimensional media blocks using fast transform of a two-dimensional block of image data between spatial and transform domain representations, where at least one dimension of the block is 8 points, the transform coding-based compressiondecompression method comprising;
receiving the media data;
transform-coding the media data to an output data stream for compression or decompression, comprising in part by, for a forward transform:
performing a sequence of butterfly operations of the type
c
s
\u2062
s
–
c

\u2062
\u2003
\u2003on a set of variables 0 through 7, including at least,
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 7, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 6, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 2 and 5, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 4, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 3, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 2, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 1, where values c and s are 1, with a scaling by 12;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 2, where values c and s are 16 and 6;
a first butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 4 and 7, where values c and s are 4 and 1;
a second butterfly operation of variables 6 and 5, where values c and s are 5 and 3, followed by negating the variable 5; and

following the first butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6 and prior to the butterfly operation of variables 4 and 7, performing a matrix multiply of variables 4 and 5 and variables 7 and 6 by the matrix,
4
3
\u2062
3
–
2

\u2062
;
whereby the variables 0 through 3 produce even co-efficients and variables 4 through 7 produce odd co-efficients in the transform domain; and

outputting the data stream.
10. A two-dimensional media compression processor for performing transform-based compressiondecompression of two-dimensional media blocks, wherein the transform in at least one 8-point dimension of the blocks is based on the transform matrix,
T
8

=
12
12
\u2062
12
\u2062
12
\u2062
12
\u2062
12
12
\u2062
12
\u2062
16
15
\u2062
9
\u2062
4
\u2062
–
4

\u2062
–
9
–
15

\u2062
–
16

\u2062
16
6
–
6
–
16
–
16
–
6
6
16
15
–
4
–
16
–
9
9
16
4
–
15
12
–
12
–
12
12
12
–
12
–
12
12
9
–
16
4
15
–
15
–
4
16
–
9
6
–
16
16
–
6
–
6
16
–
16
6
4
–
9
15
–
16
16
–
15
9
–
4
,
the processor comprising:
means for input of the media blocks;
means for transform-coding the media data to an output data stream for compression or decompression, comprising means for performing a sequence of butterfly operations of the type
c
s
\u2062
s
–
c

\u2062
\u2003
on a set of variables 0 through 7, where variables 0 through 3 are even transform co-efficients and variables 4 through 7 are odd transform co-efficients, including at least,

a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 7, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 6, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 2 and 5, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 4, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 3, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 2, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 1, where values c and s are 1, with a scaling by 12;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 2, where values c and s are 16 and 6;
a butterfly operation of variables 4 and 7, where values c and s are 4 and 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6, where values c and s are 5 and 3, followed by negating the variable 6;
a second butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6, where values c and s are 1; and means for performing a matrix multiply of variables 4 and 5 and variables 7 and 6 by the matrix,
4
3
\u2062
3
–
2

\u2062
\u2003
\u2003prior to the second butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6; and

means for output of the output data stream.
11. A two-dimensional media compression processor for performing transform-based compressiondecompression of two-dimensional media blocks, wherein the transform in at least one 8-point dimension of the blocks is based on the transform matrix,
T
8

=
12
12
\u2062
12
\u2062
12
\u2062
12
\u2062
12
12
\u2062
12
\u2062
16
15
\u2062
9
\u2062
4
\u2062
–
4

\u2062
–
9
–
15

\u2062
–
16

\u2062
16
6
–
6
–
16
–
16
–
6
6
16
15
–
4
–
16
–
9
9
16
4
–
15
12
–
12
–
12
12
12
–
12
–
12
12
9
–
16
4
15
–
15
–
4
16
–
9
6
–
16
16
–
6
–
6
16
–
16
6
4
–
9
15
–
16
16
–
15
9
–
4
,
the processor comprising:
means for input of the media blocks;
means for transform-coding the media data to an output data stream for compression or decompression, comprising means for performing a sequence of butterfly operations of the type
c
s
\u2062
s
–
c

\u2062
\u2003
\u2003on a set of variables 0 through 7, where variables 0 through 3 are even transform co-efficients and variables 4 through 7 are odd transform co-efficients, including at least,
a butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6, where values c and s are 1;
a second butterfly operation of variables 6 and 5, where values c and s are 5 and 3, followed by negating the variable 5;
a butterfly operation of variables 4 and 7, where values c and s are 4 and 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 1, where values c and s are 1, with a scaling by 12;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 2, where values c and s are 16 and 6;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 2, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 3, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 4, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 2 and 5, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 6, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 7, where values c and s are 1; and
means for performing a matrix multiply of variables 4 and 5 and variables 7 and 6 by the matrix,
4
3
\u2062
3
–
2

\u2062
\u2003
\u2003prior to the second butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6; and

means for output of the output data stream.
12. A two-dimensional media compression processor for performing transform-based compressiondecompression of two-dimensional media blocks, wherein the transform in at least one 8-point dimension of the blocks is based on the transform matrix,
T
8

=
12
12
\u2062
12
\u2062
12
\u2062
12
\u2062
12
12
\u2062
12
\u2062
16
15
\u2062
9
\u2062
4
\u2062
–
4

\u2062
–
9
–
15

\u2062
–
16

\u2062
16
6
–
6
–
16
–
16
–
6
6
16
15
–
4
–
16
–
9
9
16
4
–
15
12
–
12
–
12
12
12
–
12
–
12
12
9
–
16
4
15
–
15
–
4
16
–
9
6
–
16
16
–
6
–
6
16
–
16
6
4
–
9
15
–
16
16
–
15
9
–
4
,
the processor comprising:
means for input of the media blocks;
means for transform-coding the media data to an output data stream for compression or decompression, comprising means for performing a sequence of butterfly operations of the type
c
s
\u2062
s
–
c

\u2062
\u2003
\u2003on a set of variables 0 through 7, where variables 0 through 3 are even transform co-efficients and variables 4 through 7 are odd transform co-efficients, including at least,
a butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6, where values c and s are 5 and 3, followed by negating the variable 6;
a butterfly operation of variables 4 and 7, where values c and s are 4 and 1;
a second butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 1, where values c and s are 1, with a scaling by 12;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 2, where values c and s are 16 and 6;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 2, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 3, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 4, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 2 and 5, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 6, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 7, where values c and s are 1; and means for performing a matrix multiply of variables 4 and 5 and variables 7 and 6 by the matrix,
4
3
\u2062
3
–
2

\u2062
\u2003
\u2003following the butterfly operation of variables 4 and 7 and prior to the second butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6; and

means for output of the output data stream.
13. A two-dimensional media compression processor for performing transform-based compressiondecompression of two-dimensional media blocks, wherein the transform in at least one 8-point dimension of the blocks is based on the transform matrix,
T
8

=
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
12
16
15
9
4
–
4
–
9
–
15
–
16
16
6
–
6
–
16
–
16
–
6
6
16
15
–
4
–
16
–
9
9
16
4
–
15
12
–
12
–
12
12
12
–
12
–
12
12
9
–
16
4
15
–
15
–
4
16
–
9
6
–
16
16
–
6
–
6
16
–
16
6
4
–
9
15
–
16
16
–
15
9
–
4
,
the processor comprising:
means for input of the media blocks;
means for transform-coding the media data to an output data stream for compression or decompression, comprising means for performing a sequence of butterfly operations of the type
c
s
\u2062
s
–
c

\u2062
\u2003
\u2003on a set of variables 0 through 7, where variables 0 through 3 are even transform co-efficients and variables 4 through 7 are odd transform co-efficients, including at least,
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 7, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 6, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 2 and 5, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 4, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 3, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 1 and 2, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 0 and 1, where values c and s are 1, with a scaling by 12;
a butterfly operation of variables 3 and 2, where values c and s are 16 and 6;
a first butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6, where values c and s are 1;
a butterfly operation of variables 4 and 7, where values c and s are 4 and 1;
a second butterfly operation of variables 6 and 5, where values c and s are 5 and 3, followed by negating the variable 5; and
means for performing a matrix multiply of variables 4 and 5 and variables 7 and 6 by the matrix,
4
3
\u2062
3
–
2

\u2062
\u2003
\u2003following the first butterfly operation of variables 5 and 6 and prior to the butterfly operation of variables 4 and 7; and

means for output of the output data stream.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A personal cart comprising:
a carriage assembly including a base and four wheels rotatably mounted to said base so as to define a quadrilateral; said four wheels including two driving wheels and two driven wheels; said two driving wheels being distanced along a direction perpendicular to their rotational axis;
a load receiving structure mounted to said base near a side of said quadrilateral and extending towards an opposite side thereof for receiving a load over said base so that said load is substantially comprised within said quadrilateral; and
actuating means coupled to said two driving wheels for causing rotation of said two driving wheels.
2. A personal cart as recited in claim 1, wherein said two driving wheels are two motor-wheels.
3. A personal cart as recited in claim 2, wherein said actuating means includes a battery connected to said motor-wheels, and a controller connected to both said controller and said motor-wheels for selectively energizing at least one of said two motor-wheels.
4. A personal cart as recited in claim 3, wherein said battery is rechargeable.
5. A personal cart as recited in claim 3, wherein said battery is a plug-in type battery.
6. A personal cart as recited in claim 1, wherein said load receiving structure is mounted to said carriage along a side of said quadrilateral which is defined by said two driving wheels, and extending towards an opposite side thereof.
7. A personal cart comprising:
two generally aligned and parallel flat suspension members, each having proximal and distal longitudinal ends;
a passenger receiving structure secured to both suspension members near their respective proximal longitudinal ends so as to rest thereon, and extending both upwardly and longitudinally so as to generally define an angle with said suspension members;
two driving wheels, each mounted to a respective suspension member near said proximal longitudinal end thereof;
two driven wheels, each mounted to a respective suspension member near said distal longitudinal end thereof; and
actuating means coupled to both driving wheels for selectively causing rotation of at least one of said two driving wheels.
8. A personal cart as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said two suspension members is generally flat.
9. A personal cart as recited in claim 7, wherein said two suspension members are made of a composite material.
10. A personal cart as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said two suspension members includes at least one of directional and bi-directional fibers.
11. A personal cart as recited in claim 8, wherein each of said two suspension members includes a central portion between first and second longitudinal end portions; each of said first and second longitudinal end portions being raised relatively to said central portion.
12. A personal cart as recited in claim 11, wherein said passenger receiving structure is secured to said central portion of both suspension members.
13. A personal cart as recited in claim 11, wherein said first longitudinal end portions includes a rectangular opening to allow passage for a respective one of said two driving wheels.
14. A personal cart as recited in claim 13, wherein each of said two suspension members includes a transversal rod mounted to said each of said two suspension members in said rectangular opening.
15. A personal cart as recited in claim 14, said transversal rod is removably mounted to said each of said two suspension members in said rectangular opening.
16. A personal cart as recited in claim 11, wherein said suspension member includes a mudguard extending from said first longitudinal end portion adjacent said rectangular opening.
17. A personal cart as recited in claim 11, wherein said suspension member includes a mudguard extending laterally from said second longitudinal end portion.
18. A personal cart as recited in claim 11, wherein each of said two driven wheels is mounted to said second longitudinal end portion of a respective one of said two suspension members.
19. A personal cart as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said two driven wheels is selected from the group consisting of a swivel wheel and a fixed-type wheel.
20. A personal cart as recited in claim 7, wherein said passenger receiving structure and said two suspension members formed an integral frame assembly.
21. A personal cart as recited in claim 20, wherein said integral frame assembly is made of a lightweight rigid material.
22. A personal cart as recited in claim 21, wherein said lightweight rigid material is selected from the group consisting of a polymer and aluminium.
23. A personal cart as recited in claim 22, wherein said lightweight and rigid material is a polymer, and said suspension member is made using a method selected from the group of consisting of injection molding, blow molding and rotational molding.
24. A personal cart as recited in claim 22, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of cross-link polyethylene (PE), low-density PE, high-density PE, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), LLDPE, and polycarbonate.
25. A personal cart as recited in claim 7, wherein said passenger receiving structure includes a mounting structure and a base for securing the mounting structure to said two suspension members.
26. A personal cart as recited in claim 25, wherein said base includes a generally flat portion for receiving a standing passenger.
27. A personal cart as recited in claim 25, wherein said base includes at least one mounting structure receiving portions for receiving said mounting structure.
28. A personal cart as recited in claim 27, wherein said at least one mounting structure receiving portions includes two opposite lateral mounting structure receiving portions.
29. A personal cart as recited in claim 28, wherein said base includes two mudguard portions, each secured to a respective lateral mounting structure receiving portion opposite said flat portion.
30. A personal cart as recited in claim 28, wherein said mounting structure includes an inverted U-shaped tubular frame generally defining a plane and extending from the base so as to define an angle therewith.
31. A personal cart as recited in claim 30, wherein said U-shaped tubular frame includes two free ends; each of said two free ends being mounted in a respective of said two opposite lateral mounting structure receiving portions.
32. A personal cart as recited in claim 30, wherein said personal cart is a golf cart; said mounting structure including a bracket configured and sized for receiving a top portion of a golf bag, and said base including means for supporting a bottom portion of said golf bag.
33. A personal cart as recited in claim 32, wherein said means for supporting a bottom portion of said golf bag includes a semi-circular recess in said base.
34. A personal cart as recited in claim 33, wherein said base includes a generally flat portion for receiving a standing passenger; said semi-circular recess is practiced on a surface of said base angled relative to said flat portion of said base.
35. A personal cart as recited in claim 25, wherein said mounting structure includes a pole mounted to said base so as to extend therefrom with an angle relative to said two suspension members.
36. A personal cart as recited in claim 7, wherein each of said two driving wheels is a motor-wheels.
37. A personal cart as recited in claim 36, wherein said actuating means includes a battery connected to said motor-wheels, and a controller connected to both said controller and said motor-wheels for selectively energizing at least one of said two motor-wheels.
38. A personal cart as recited in claim 36, wherein said controller includes an input port for coupling said controller to a remote computer.
39. A personal cart as recited in claim 36, wherein said controller is configured to allow regenerative braking.
40. A personal cart as recited in claim 36, wherein said controller includes a remote control for remotely sending command to said controller.
41. A personal cart as recited in claim 36, wherein said controller includes a power limitator for limiting the acceleration of the cart from a neutral position.
42. A personal cart as recited in claim 36, wherein said controller includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a control panel coupled to said CPU for sending command to said CPU.
43. A personal cart as recited in claim 42, wherein said control panel includes steering means, braking means, and accelerating means.
44. A personal cart as recited in claim 42, wherein said control panel is mounted to said passenger receiving structure so as to allow pivoting movement of said control panel; said controller being configured so as to be responsive to said pivoting movement and to selectively actuate at least one of said two driving wheels accordingly with said pivoting movement.
45. A personal cart as recited in claim 44, wherein said control panel includes hand receiving openings for facilitating pivoting movement thereof.
46. A personal cart as recited in claim 42, wherein said control panel includes a touch screen for displaying and receiving information.
47. A personal cart as recited in claim 42, wherein said control panel further including at least one of a contact switch, brake and accelerator command buttons, direction commands for selecting forward, backward, and neutral movement for the cart, and a battery status indicator.
48. A personal cart as recited in claim 47, wherein said controller is configured to create a first signal responsive to said at least one of a contact switch, brake and accelerator command buttons, direction commands; said controller being configured to sends a second signal representative to said first signal to a controlling electronic circuit comprised within each of said two motor-wheels.
49. A personal cart as recited in claim 37, wherein said passenger receiving structure includes a mounting structure and a base for securing the mounting structure to said two suspension members; said battery being mounted in a battery-receiving compartment in said base.
50. A personal cart as recited in claim 37, wherein said battery is rechargeable.
51. A personal cart as recited in claim 37, wherein said battery is a plug-in type battery.
52. A personal cart as recited in claim 25, wherein said two suspension members are received in a bottom portion of said base.
53. A personal cart as recited in claim 52, wherein each of said two suspension members having a generally straight portion.
54. A personal cart as recited in claim 53, wherein said bottom portion of said base is provided with two slots, each one receiving said generally straight portion of a respective one of said two suspension members.
55. A personal cart as recited in claim 54, wherein each one of said two suspension members further includes a swatted S-portion integral and aligned with said generally straight portion; said swatted S-portion upwardly biasing said distal end from said proximal end of said suspension member.
56. A personal cart as recited in claim 55, wherein each of said two driven wheels are mounted to a respective of said two suspension members near said distal end.
57. A personal cart as recited in claim 52, wherein said base includes two lateral driving wheel receiving recesses.
58. A personal cart as recited in claim 57, wherein each of said two lateral driving wheel receiving recesses defines a mudguard.
59. A personal cart comprising:
a frame assembly including i) two longitudinal flat members generally lying in a first plane, each longitudinal member having first and second longitudinal ends, and ii) a mounting structure generally defining a second plane defining an angle with said first plane; said second plane intersecting both longitudinal members near their first longitudinal ends;
two parallel driving wheels, each rotatably mounted to said frame assembly near said first longitudinal end of a respective one of said two longitudinal members;
two driven wheels, each rotatably mounted to said second longitudinal end of a respective one of said longitudinal members; and
actuating means coupled to said two parallel driving wheels for selectively causing rotation of at least one of said two parallel driving wheels.
60. A wheelchair comprising:
a base having two generally parallel longitudinal flat suspension members, each having a distal end and a proximal end;
two generally parallel beams, each mounted to said base near said proximal end of a respective one of said two suspension members so that said two generally parallel beams are generally parallel to said two suspension members and extend from said base over said two suspension members, defining an angle therewith;
a seat secured to both said parallel beams therebetween so as to be generally parallel to said two suspension members;
a backseat secured to both said parallel beams therebetween and beyond said seat relative to said base;
two driving wheels, each one mounted to said base near a respective proximal end of one of said two suspension members;
two driven wheels, each one mounted to said base near a respective distal end of one of said two suspension members; and
actuating means secured to said cart for selectively causing the rotation of at least one of said two driving wheels.
61. A wheelchair as recited in claim 60, wherein said actuating means comprises two endless belts, each one mounted along a respective one of said two generally parallel beams through a pair of pulleys rotatably mounted to said respective one of said two generally parallel beams; each of said two endless belt being operatively coupled to a respective one of said two endless belts.
62. A wheelchair as recited in claim 61, wherein each of said two generally parallel beams being mounted to said base near said proximal end of a respective one of said two suspension members via said proximal end of said each of said two generally parallel beams; a first pulley from said pair of pulleys being mounted to one of said two generally parallel near said proximal end thereof; said first pulley being operatively coupled to a respective one of said two driving-wheels via coupling means.
63. A wheelchair as recited in claim 62, wherein said coupling means includes a pinion fixedly mounted to said first pulley so as to be coaxial therewith, a first gear rotatably mounted to said base so as to cooperate with said pinion, and a second gear coaxially mounted to said base so as to cooperate with said first gear.
64. A wheelchair as recited in claim 61, wherein the pairs of pulleys and said two endless belts being so configured and sized as to provide a gap between each said two endless belts and the corresponding beam.
65. A wheelchair as recited in claim 61, wherein each of said two endless belts being made of a resilient material.
66. A wheelchair as recited in claim 65, wherein said resilient material is rubber.
67. A wheelchair as recited in claim 60, wherein said driving wheels are motor-wheels; said actuating means including a controller coupled to said motor-wheels and a battery coupled to both said controller and said motor-wheels.
68. A wheelchair as recited in claim 67, wherein said controller comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit).
69. A wheelchair as recited in claim 68, wherein said controller comprises an input device for receiving input commands related to heading or speed of the wheelchair from a user and for sending said input commands to said CPU; said CPU processing said input commands and sending output signals to at least one of said two motor-wheels for varying said motor-wheel rotational speed.
70. A wheelchair as recited in claim 69, wherein said input device is a joystick mounted to at least one of said two generally parallel beams via a support.
71. A wheelchair as recited in claim 67, wherein said battery is a rechargeable.
72. A wheelchair as recited in claim 67, wherein said battery is housed in a battery-receiving compartment located in said base.
73. A wheelchair as recited in claim 67, wherein said battery is of the plug-in type.
74. A wheelchair as recited in claim 60, wherein said two suspension members are made of a resilient material.
75. A wheelchair as recited in claim 74, wherein said resilient material is selected from the group consisting of a polymer, aluminium and a composite material.
76. A personal cart as recited in claim 75, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of cross-link polyethylene (PE), low-density PE, high-density PE, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), LLDPE, and polycarbonate
77. A wheelchair as recited in claim 74, wherein wherein each of said two suspension members includes at least one of directional and bi-directional fibers.
78. A wheelchair as recited in claim 74, wherein said resilient material is a polymer and said suspension member is made using a method selected from the group of consisting of injection molding, blow molding and rotational molding.
79. A wheelchair as recited in claim 60, wherein said two suspension members are received in a bottom portion of said base.
80. A wheelchair as recited in claim 79, wherein said bottom portion of said base is provided with two slots, each one receiving said generally straight member of a respective one of said two suspension members.
81. A wheelchair as recited in claim 60, wherein each of said two suspension members having a generally straight portion.
82. A wheelchair as recited in claim 81, wherein each one of said two suspension members further includes a swatted S-portion integral and aligned with said generally straight portion, upwardly biasing said distal end from said proximal end of said suspension member.
83. A wheelchair as recited in claim 60, wherein each of said two driven wheels are mounted to a respective of said two suspension members near said distal end.

1. Process for monitoring the functioning andor adjustment of an optoelectronic sensor arrangement exhibiting at least two optical transmitters, to each of which an optical receiver is assigned, such that each optical receiver is designed as a laterally-resolving optical receiver and such that each of the optical transmitters and the corresponding optical receivers are so positioned relative to each other that light beams emitted from the optical transmitter can be detected by the corresponding optical receiver after being reflected by a boundary surface, which process involves the following steps:
a) storing a maximum permissible distance between the optoelectronic sensor arrangement and the boundary surface, as determined by recording an object recorded at a plurality of defined distances from the optoelectronic sensor arrangement by at least two light beams,
b) detecting current position-proportional reception values for each optical transmitter and corresponding optical receiver,
c) determining current relative positions for reception values of any two adjacent optical transmitters, and
d) comparing the current relative positions for the reception values with stored reference values for the relative positions.
2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the reference values for the relative positions are determined for the defined distance between the optical transmitters and the boundary surface in accordance with the following steps:
e) detecting the position-proportional reception values for each optical transmitter and the corresponding optical receivers for the defined distance between the optoelectronic sensor arrangement and the boundary surface,
f) storing the detected receptions values as reference reception values,
g) determining the relative positions for the reception values of any two adjacent optical transmitters, and
h) storing the determined relative positions as reference values for the relative positions.
3. Process according to claim 1, wherein the reference values for the relative positions are determined for a plurality of different distances between the optoelectronic sensor arrangement and the boundary surface.
4. Process according to claim 1, wherein a size of the object determines the maximal permissible distance between the optoelectronic sensor arrangement and the boundary surface as determined and stored.
5. Process according to claim 1, wherein steps b) through d) are performed before each startup of the optoelectronic sensor arrangement andor at regular intervals during operation.
6. Optoelectronic sensor arrangement, comprising:
at least two optical transmitters, each having an assigned optical receiver, such that assigned optical receivers are designed as laterally-resolving optical receivers and such that each of the optical transmitters and the corresponding optical receivers are so positioned relative to each other that a light beam emitted by the optical transmitter is detected by the corresponding optical receiver after being reflected by a boundary surface; and
an evaluating and control unit configured to store a maximum permissible distance between the optoelectronic sensor arrangement and the boundary surface by:
recording an object recorded at a plurality of defined distances from the optoelectronic sensor arrangement by at least two of the light beams detecting the current position-proportional reception values for each optical transmitter and corresponding optical receiver,
determining the current relative positions for the reception values of any two adjacent optical transmitters, and
comparing the current relative positions for the reception values with reference values stored in the evaluating and control unit for the relative positions.
7. Optoelectronic sensor arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the optical transmitters emit a collimated light beam.
8. Optoelectronic sensor arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the optical transmitters emit light in the visible spectrum.
9. Optoelectronic sensor arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the optical receivers take the form of a segmented diode or a pixel array.
10. Optoelectronic sensor arrangement according to claim 6, wherein a control unit is provided which is suited to control the optical transmitters in such a way that said optical transmitters, one relative to another, emit a light beam in manner that is staggered over time.

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 container driver comprising:
a generally planar chassis having a front side and a back side, and a top edge, a bottom edge, a right edge and a left edge;
hook means slidably extending from the top edge of the chassis for engaging the rim of a container to be moved;
two drive wheels rotatably secured along the bottom edge of the chassis;
two drive motors secured to the chassis, each drive motor providing motive energy a drive wheel;
one or more operator controls transforming operator input into speed and direction signals;
a control assembly receiving the speed and direction signals and providing motor control signals to the two drive motors according to the speed and direction signals;
weight transfer means secured to the chassis for transferring weight from a container to be moved to the two drive wheels through the chassis.
2. The container driver of claim 1 further comprising:
extension means for powered extension and retraction the hook means under operator control;
3. A method for moving a four wheeled refuse container comprising the steps:
orienting a container driver having two drive wheels adjacent to the approximate center of a side of a four wheeled refuse container;
extending a hook means from the top of the container driver to engage a rim of the refuse container;
engaging the rim of the refuse container with the hook means;
manipulating operator controls to drive a weight transfer paddle from a bottom edge of the container driver up under a bottom edge of the refuse container to transfer a portion of the weight of the refuse container to the container driver;
manipulating operator controls to supply motive energy to drive wheels of the container driver to move the container driver and the engaged refuse container.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of manipulating operator controls to supply motive energy further comprises:
manipulating operator controls to independently supply motive energy to each of the two drive wheels of the container driver to move the container driver and the engaged refuse container.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of extending a hook means further comprises:
manipulating operator controls to apply power to extend a hook means upwardly from the top of the container driver past a rim of the refuse container;
manipulating operator controls to apply power to retract the hook means to engage the rim of the refuse container.