Circuitry within handlebar -- any theories?

[ronzul]

Hello hello

Being a techo as yet without my Segway, I am wondering if people have theories regarding the presence of any circuitry within the handlebar itself.

Thanks to photos on http://www.pasadenasegway.org, for example http://www.pasadenasegway.org/images/segway-dissection/segway-dissection-014.jpg, we can see that the "user interface connector" has 10 connections.

I assume that the plug/socket than one connects together when attaching the control shaft to the base also has the same number of connections (can anyone verify this)?

What I am curious about is if anyone has any theories about the presence or lack thereof of circuitry within the actual handlebar.

The handlebar would contain the following user interface components:
1. The hall effect sensors for detecting the position of the steering control
2. The Segway mode switch (or is this another hall effect sensor)?
3. The iButton
4. The display

Does anyone know how many hall effect sensors there are for detecting the steering control position? if there were many sensors, there would need to be some sort of multiplexing circuitry to send the position information back to the base.

Ronny

[beckpm]

quote:Originally posted by ronzul



....Thanks to photos on http://www.pasadenasegway.org, for example http://www.pasadenasegway.org/images/segway-dissection/segway-dissection-014.jpg, we can see that the "user interface connector" has 10 connections.....

Ronny


Hi Ronny,
What is a "hall effect sensor"? I have noticed another "hall effect" with my HT: Whenever I go down an indoor hall too fast someone ivariably comes out of a doorway and is shocked to see me glide by on the Segway - I have to keep reminding myself to watch for traffic approaching from the sides in a hall and to go slower. For some reason, I think you are talking about some other "hall effect"?
By the way, when you post url's to this system you need to be careful to not include stuff like a comma with them - they won't work if you do. The two links in your post have these issues - but they work without the extra symbols:

http://www.pasadenasegway.org
and
http://www.pasadenasegway.org/images/segway-dissection/segway-dissection-014.jpg




Peter Beck
Arlington, Virginia

[Balance]

A hall effect sensor is an electronic device used to detect a magnetic field. The Segway uses such a sensor to detect the rotation of the steering grip. There is a permanent magnet embedded in the grip. As the user rotates the grip, the hall effect sensor detects this movement.

The following website gives a bit more explanation of hall effect sensors:
http://www.micronas.com/products/overview/sensors/index.php

[DA6030]

quote:
What is a "hall effect sensor"?



Hahaha, I suppose that would qualify as well.
The hall effect sensors ronzul's referring to are the steering grip.

Hall effect sensors are electronic components with the ability to detect/measure magnetic fields. The way the Segway steering grip operates is just by rotating an array (don't know how many, it may just be a pair) of magnets around an axis which are picked up by the hall sensors. This allows for a completely sealed (and consequently water-proof?) steering grip, as there is no need for any phsyical connections between the grip and the insides.

If you're looking for a technical explaination, just do a google search for "hall effect", or here's one for you:
http://www.micronas.com/products/overview/sensors/index.php

But for the intents and purposes here I think he's just asking how many wires are there coming from the steering grip.


As far as the technology used in the mode button, I do not own a Seg myself but have borrowed some i-series units for several days, one of which had the red rubber part of the mode button torn off (the Seg was several years old. I am told it was formerly a demo unit from the Bedford site and it had more than enough wear and tear to corroborate that claim. In fact, I question whether demo stood for demonstration or demolition [:P]). Anyways, going just from memory, I do remember commenting to myself that under the rubber bit was a keyboard-key looking thing sticking up, with similar tactile feel to a computer keyboard. I hope that helps you deduce what technology is being used (whether it's a membrane technology or metal contact switch or whatever, I'm fairly confident it would not be affected by magnets, which I'm guessing is what you're trying to deduce). Hope that helps!

[ronzul]

quote:I have noticed another "hall effect" with my HT: Whenever I go down an indoor hall too fast someone ivariably comes out of a doorway and is shocked to see me glide by on the Segway - I have to keep reminding myself to watch for traffic approaching from the sides in a hall and to go slower.

LOL

quote:By the way, when you post url's to this system you need to be careful to not include stuff like a comma with them - they won't work if you do

Thanks for the tip

quote:The way the Segway steering grip operates is just by rotating an array (don't know how many, it may just be a pair) of magnets around an axis which are picked up by the hall sensors.

Apparently there are two magnets... http://www.segwaychat.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3412

Any theories on the number of hall effect sensors? I assume that there would be multiple sensors, and "something" would interpolate the relative magnetic field strength to determine an in between position.

quote:http://www.micronas.com/products/overview/sensors/index.php

Thanks for the informative link.

Cheers
Ronny

[SegwayLongIsland]

My understanding is that 2 of the 10 computer chips in the Segway are in the handlebars, with 4 on each of the circuit boards. So I've been told by onew of the techs at Segway.

Wayne

[Murray Fisher]

I am interested in something very plain and simple re opening up the handlebars/shaft. To conceal the speedo/odo wire better. Not really very important, but I like neat installations. Would it be practical at all (working very carefully of course) to route a wire so it would exit in the center of the handlebars or top of the shaft? It would require drilling a single small hole. In my case it would then entire my carrying bag to the speedo/odo where I have mounted it under the clear plastic cover.

Murray Fisher

[ronzul]

Hi Murray,

I was reading the book "Code Name Ginger" and I just came across a section that indicated that there is a circuit board in the handlebar.

Any ideas how you will work out where it is safe to drill?

Ronny

[gotseg]

Here is the Image I think you are looking for...
http://www.updesigns.com/images/User_Interface.jpg

gotseg?

[ronzul]

Is that really the circuit board with LCD display from the Segway handlebar? I really wouldn't have guessed that shape!

Are the coloured wires on the left-hand side the 10 wires that connects of the Segway base unit?

[gotseg]

I think so. Only when they enter the CS they are inside a rubber tubing.

gotseg?

[Murray Fisher]

HI Ronnie. I am afraid I have no idea so far. I was hoping to see a pix or diagram somewhere that would give me some ideas.... Earlier, I concealed a wire in the power shaft and to do this, after looking up there with a trouble light, I stuck a wooden yard stick up there in a position so I would not drill into the cables and limited my drill bit with a stop, so it barely went thru. I for sure didn't want to drill into those cables. It has worked fine that far. I sure would have appreciated it if Segway LLC had included a wire for this purpose. Murray


quote:Originally posted by ronzul

Hi Murray,

I was reading the book "Code Name Ginger" and I just came across a section that indicated that there is a circuit board in the handlebar.

Any ideas how you will work out where it is safe to drill?

Ronny


Murray Fisher