MILEAGE INFORMATION DISPLAY SYSTEM

• US 20040113811A1
• Filed: 09/08/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Original Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Estate of Heinz Hermann Thiele)
• Inventors: Waszkowski, Paul J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,227,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/06 successively, i.e. using time division

Abstract

An mileage communication system for a vehicle, such as a trailer, is disclosed. Mileage data is communicated to a processor by a sensor. The processor calculates cumulative mileage and encodes the mileage data into a code, such as an ON-OFF code, that is capable of being communicated to an output device. The vehicle operator may activate a user interface that is capable of generating a request signal to be sent to the processor. Upon receipt of the request signal, the processor communicates the code to the output device. In response to the code from the processor, the output device communicates a visual or audible signal, such as an ON-OFF signal, that is capable of being received by the vehicle operator or other user. The signal corresponds to the cumulative mileage data.

Claims

1. A mileage communication system for a vehicle comprising:

a user interface device capable of generating a request signal;

a processing unit capable of calculating cumulative mileage of the vehicle and encoding the cumulative mileage into a code in response to the request signal; and

an output device in circuit communication with the processing unit and capable of communicating the cumulative mileage in the form of a signal in response to the code.

2. The mileage communication system of claim 1, wherein the code is an ON-OFF code and the signal is an ON-OFF signal.

3. The mileage communication system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit is capable of truncating the cumulative mileage prior to generating the code.

4. The mileage communication system of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises a visual output device.

5. An mileage communication system of claim 4, wherein the visual output device comprises a trailer ABS warning light.

6. The mileage communication system of claim 1, wherein the output device comprises an audible output device.

7. An mileage system of claim 6, wherein the audible output device comprises an ABS modulator valve.

8. A method for communicating vehicle mileage information to a vehicle operator comprising:

calculating cumulative mileage of the vehicle;

generating a request signal with a user interface device;

encoding the cumulative mileage into a code by an electronic control unit; and

outputting the cumulative mileage in the form of a signal by an output device in response to the code generated by the electronic control unit.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the code is an ON-OFF code and the signal is an ON-OFF signal.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the electronic control unit truncates the cumulative mileage prior to generating the code.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the output device is a visible output device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the visible output device comprises a trailer ABS warning lamp.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the output device is an audible output device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the audible output device comprises an ABS modulator valve.

15. An mileage communication system for a vehicle comprising:

user interface means for generating a request signal;

processing means for calculating the cumulative mileage of the vehicle and encoding the cumulative mileage into a code in response to the request signal; and

output means, responsive to the code generated by the processing means, for outputting the cumulative mileage in the form of a signal.

16. The mileage communication system of claim 15, wherein the code is an ON-OFF code and the signal is an ON-OFF signal.

17. The mileage communication system of claim 16, wherein the encoded numeral zero is represented in the ON-OFF code by a strobe signal.

18. The mileage communication system of claim 15, wherein the processing means truncates the cumulative mileage prior to generating the code.

19. The mileage communication system of claim 15, wherein the output means includes a visible output device.

20. The mileage communication system of claim 19, wherein the visible output device source comprises a trailer ABS warning lamp.

21. The mileage communication system of claim 15, wherein the output means comprises an audible output device.

22. The mileage communication system of claim 21, wherein the audible output device comprises an ABS modulator valve.

23. The mileage communication system of claim 15, wherein the vehicle is a trailer.

24. The mileage communication system of claim 15, wherein the user interface means comprises a vehicle brake pedal.