Electromagnetic Interference (Emi) - Vita Mobility Werks V19 User Manual

ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE (EMI)

The r apid d evelopment o f e lectronics, e specially i n t he a rea o f c ommunications, h as s aturated o ur e nvironment w ith
electromagnetic ( EM) r adio w aves t hat a re e mitted b y t elevision, r adio a nd c ommunication s ignals. T hese E M w ave a re
invisible a nd t heir s trength i ncreases a s o ne a pproach t he s ource. A ll e lectrical c onductors a ct a s a ntennas t o t he E M
signals a nd, t o v arying d egrees, a ll p ower w heelchairs a nd s cooters a re s usceptible t o e lectromagnetic i nterference ( EMI).
The i nterference c ould r esult i n a bnormal, u nintentional m ovement a nd/or e rratic c ontrol o f t he v ehicle. T he U nited
States F ood a nd d rug A dministration ( FDA) s uggests t hat t he f ollowing s tatement b e i ncorporated t o t he u ser's m anual
for a ll p ower s cooter l ike t he V 19 a nd V 19A. P ower s cooters m ay a s s usceptible t o e lectromagnetic i nterference ( EMI),
which i s i nterfering e lectromagnetic e nergy e mitted f rom s ources s uch a s r adio s tations, T V s tations, a mateur r adio ( HAN)
transmitter, t wo-­‐way r adios, c ellular p hones a nd a larm s ystems o f s hops. T he i nterference ( from r adio w ave s ources) c an
cause t he p ower s cooter t o r elease i ts b rakes, m ove b y i tself o r m ove i n u nintended d irections. I t c an a lso p ermanently
damage t he p owered s cooter's c ontrol s ystem. T he i ntensity o f t he E M e nergy c an b e m easured i n v olts p er m eter ( V/m).
Each p owered s cooter c an r esist E MI u p t o c ertain i ntensity. T his i s c alled " immunity l evel". T he h igher t he i mmunity
level t he g reater t he p rotection. A t t his t ime, c urrent t echnology i s c apable o f p roviding a t l east 2 0 V /m o f i mmunity l evel,
which w ould p rovide u seful p rotection a gainst c ommon s ources o f r adiated E MI.
Following the warnings listed below should reduce the chance of unintended brake release or powered scooter
movement t hat c ould r esult i n s erious i njury:
Do not turn on hand-­‐held personal communication devices such as citizens band (CB) radios and cellular phones
1.
while t he p owered s cooter i s t urned o n.
Be a ware o f n earby t ransmitters s uch a s r adio o r T V s tations a nd t ry t o a void c oming c lose t o t hem.
2.
If u nintended m ovement o r b rake r elease o ccurs, t urn t he p owered s cooter o ff a s s oon a s i t i s s afe.
3.
Be a ware t hat a dding a ccessories o r c omponents, o r m odifying t he p owered s cooter, m ay m ake i t m ore s usceptible
4.
to interference from radio wave sources (Note: It is difficult to evaluate the effect on the overall immunity of the
powered s cooter).
Report all incidents of unintended movement or brake release to the powered scooter manufacturer, and note
5.
whether t here i s a r adio w ave s ource n earby.
TURN O FF Y OUR P OWERED S COOTER A S S OON A S P OSSIBLE W HEN E XPERIENCING T HE F OLLOWING:
Ø Unintentional s cooter m ovements
Ø Unintended o r u ncontrollable d irection.
Ø Unexpected b rake r elease
The F DA h as w ritten t o t he m anufacturers o f p ower s cooters a sking t hem t o t est n ew p roducts t o b e s ure t hey p rovide a
reasonable d egree o f i mmunity a gainst E MI. T he F DA r equires t hat a p owered w heelchair s hould h ave a n i mmunity l evel
at l east 2 0 V /m, w hich p rovides a r easonable d egree o f p rotection a gainst m ore c ommon s ources o f E MI. T he h igher t he
immunity level the greater the protection. Your powered scooter has an immunity level of 20 V/m which should protect
against common sources of EMI. Warning: The scooter itself can disturb the performance of the electromagnetic fields
such a s e mitted b y a larm s ystems o f s hops.
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