Automobile speed limiter system
First Claim
1. An automobile speed limiter system comprising:
- a speed limiter module, said speed limiter module having digital electronics therein, said speed limiter module having a keypad connected to said digital electronics for permitting the owner of an automobile to enter a maximum speed therein;
a locking system in said speed limiter module for locking the maximum speed therein so that the maximum speed cannot be changed without the key to the locking mechanism, said locking system having a key held by the owner of the automobile;
an automobile speed sensor connected to said speed limiter module; and
an electro-mechanical throttle actuator connected to said module, said electro-mechanical throttle actuator being for connection between the gas pedal and the engine throttle valve of the automobile so that, when said speed sensor detects a speed greater than the maximum speed set into said speed limiter module, said electro-mechanical throttle actuator is actuated to disengage the gas pedal from the engine throttle valve so the engine cannot drive the automobile any faster.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The speed of an automobile is limited by a throttle controller between the gas pedal and the throttle valve. The controller is actuated by a digital or analog processor in a speed limiter control module. The speed limiter control module receives vehicle speed and has a maximum speed input device such as a keypad and a readout display panel which indicates the maximum speed set. When the vehicle speed exceeds the set speed, the throttle controller disengages the gas pedal from the throttle valve to prevent the gas pedal from causing further speed increase. The speed limiter control module is lockable so that only authorized persons are allowed to reset the maximum speed. This allows the owner to preset a maximum speed and loan the automobile to his offspring or others knowing that they will be speed limited. In the same manner, maximum acceleration and/or engine RPM can be preset and controlled.
36 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An automobile speed limiter system comprising:
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a speed limiter module, said speed limiter module having digital electronics therein, said speed limiter module having a keypad connected to said digital electronics for permitting the owner of an automobile to enter a maximum speed therein;
a locking system in said speed limiter module for locking the maximum speed therein so that the maximum speed cannot be changed without the key to the locking mechanism, said locking system having a key held by the owner of the automobile;
an automobile speed sensor connected to said speed limiter module; and
an electro-mechanical throttle actuator connected to said module, said electro-mechanical throttle actuator being for connection between the gas pedal and the engine throttle valve of the automobile so that, when said speed sensor detects a speed greater than the maximum speed set into said speed limiter module, said electro-mechanical throttle actuator is actuated to disengage the gas pedal from the engine throttle valve so the engine cannot drive the automobile any faster. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. The method of limiting the speed of an automobile by the owner of the automobile so that the automobile can be used only below a preset speed by a driver other than the owner with the permission of the owner comprising the steps of:
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entering into a speed limiter electronic processor module in the automobile a predetermined maximum set speed so that a user other than the owner can operate the automobile only below the predetermined maximum set speed;
engaging an electro-mechanical throttle actuator between the gas pedal and engine throttle valve of the automobile so that when signaled the electro-mechanical throttle actuator disengages the gas pedal from the engine throttle valve;
sensing the speed of the automobile so that, when the speed equals the preset maximum speed entered into the electronic processor module, the electronic processor module emits a signal which actuates said electro-mechanical throttle actuator to disengage the gas pedal from the throttle valve so as to maintain the preset maximum speed. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. The method of limiting the speed of an automobile comprising the steps of:
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installing an electronic speed limiter module on the automobile;
connecting an electro-mechanical throttle actuator between the accelerator pedal and the engine management system of the automobile;
connecting an automobile speed sensor to the automobile to emit a signal corresponding to the automobile speed and comparing the signal to the maximum speed limit entered into the electronic speed limiter module;
entering a maximum automobile speed into the electronic speed limiter module;
locking the entered speed into the electronic speed limiter module;
permitting another person to use the automobile; and
limiting the automobile speed by comparing the speed with the entered maximum automobile speed limit and actuating the electro-mechanical throttle actuator when the automobile speed exceeds the entered speed and emitting the signal to the electro-mechanical throttle actuator to disengage the throttle from the engine management system so as to limit the speed of the automobile. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification