Vehicle engine status detection mechanism for presenting engine status to third-party automotive accessories

• US 20040178896A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 09/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PNI Corporation (PNI Digital Media)
• Original Assignee: PNI Corporation (PNI Digital Media)
• Inventors: Miller, Joseph Frank
• Granted Patent: US 6,924,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/441
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/023 for transmission of signals between vehicle parts or subsystems

Abstract

A circuit for detecting voltage states output from a voltage generating engine has a first connection point connecting the circuit to a voltage output of the engine, a second connection point connecting the circuit to electrical ground and a digital output signal port for providing binary output values. The circuit detects voltage levels ranging above and below a nominal voltage level and assigns binary values to the detected states, the values used as instruction to a device coupled to the circuit.

Claims

1. A circuit for detecting voltage states of on and off output from a voltage generating engine, the states relating to engine running or not running comprising:

a first connection point connecting the circuit to a voltage output of the engine;

a voltage comparator; and

a digital output signal port for providing the binary output values as instruction;

characterized in that the circuit compares voltage levels ranging above and below a configured nominal voltage level and assigns the binary values to the variable states, the values used as instruction to a device coupled to the circuit.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the engine is a vehicle engine.

3. The circuit of claim 2 wherein the first connection point is made through a vehicle DC power socket using an adapter plug.

4. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the binary value of 1 output from the signal port indicates a voltage level higher than the threshold level identifying a power on state of the engine.

5. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the binary value of 0 output from the signal port indicates a voltage level lower the threshold level identifying a power off state of the engine.

6. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the coupled device is a dual mode pressure sensing device having a barometer mode and an altimeter mode.

7. The circuit of claim 6 wherein the barometer mode is active according to a binary value output indicating a power off state and the altimeter mode is active according to a binary value identifying a power on state.

8. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the coupled device has a power saving function activated according to a binary value output indicating a power off state.

9. The circuit of claim 1 wherein the coupled device incorporates the circuit within the device housing and voltage is transferred thereto by voltage line.

10. The circuit of claim 3 wherein the circuit is incorporated within the adapter plug and the output values are transferred to the coupled device through signal wire.

11. A method for alternating modes of a dual mode pressure-sensing device coupled to an engine status detection circuit, the circuit providing output signaling identifying on and off states of the engine, comprising steps of:

(a) receiving a signal identifying an engine state;

(b) taking a pressure reading and computing value according to engine state;

(c) displaying the computed pressure reading;

(d) receiving a signal identifying an alternate engine state;

(e) taking a pressure reading and computing value according to engine state; and

(f) displaying the computed pressure reading.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein in step (a) the identified engine state is off and the active mode is barometer mode, and in step (d) the identified engine state is on and the active mode is altimeter mode.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein in steps (a) and (d) the signal comprises a binary value.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein in steps (a) and (d) the engine is a vehicle engine.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein in steps (a) and (d) the signal is received from the engine status detection circuit through an adapter plug plugged into a vehicle DC power socket.

13. The method of claim 111 wherein in step (a) the identified engine state is on and the active mode is altimeter mode, and in step (d) the identified engine state is off and the active mode is barometer mode.

17. A system for sensing atmospheric pressure and computing barometric or altimeter results for a display based on engine voltage state comparison of voltage level output from a voltage generating engine, comprising:

a display mechanism for displaying computed results;

a pressure sensor for sensing atmospheric pressure; and

an engine status detection circuit having a first connection point connecting the circuit to a voltage output of the engine, a voltage comparator, and a digital output signal port for providing the binary output values as instruction;

characterized in that the system computes and displays results related to pressure readings in barometric mode when the engine is determined to be not running and in altimeter mode when the engine is determined to be running.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the engine is a vehicle engine.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the first connection point is made through a vehicle DC power socket using an adapter plug.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the binary value of 1 output from the signal port indicates a voltage level higher than the threshold level identifying a power on state of the engine.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the binary value of 0 output from the signal port indicates a voltage level lower the threshold level identifying a power off state of the engine.

22. The system of claim 17 incorporating the engine status detection circuit within a device housing of the system the voltage transferred thereto by voltage line.

23. The system of claim 18 wherein the engine status detection circuit is incorporated within an adapter plug for a vehicle DC power socket and the output values are transferred thereto through signal wire.