Cruise control indicator

• US 20040216937A1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sena, Carlos
• Granted Patent: US 7,159,679 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/170
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/04 and means for comparing one electrical quantity, e.g. voltage, pulse, waveform, flux, or the like, with another quantity of a like kind, which comparison means is involved in the development of an electrical signal which is fed into the controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/042 where at least one electrical quantity is set by the vehicle operator
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/14 Handlebar constructions, or arrangements of controls thereon, specially adapted thereto hand controls per se B62K23/02

Abstract

A motorcycle comprising a frame, a front wheel coupled to the frame, a rear wheel coupled to the frame and an engine adapted to propel the motorcycle. The motorcycle also includes a cruise control system including an off condition, an on condition, and a set condition operable to maintain the motorcycle at a desired speed. A cruise control indicator is electrically connected to the cruise control system and is operable to emit light of a first color when the cruise control is in the on condition and light of a second color when the cruise control is in the set condition.

Claims

1. A motorcycle comprising:

a frame;

a front wheel coupled to the frame;

a rear wheel coupled to the frame;

an engine adapted to propel the motorcycle;

a cruise control system including an off condition, an on condition, and a set condition operable to maintain the motorcycle at a desired speed; and

a cruise control indicator electrically connected to the cruise control system and operable to emit light of a first color when the cruise control is in the on condition and light of a second color when the cruise control is in the set condition.

2. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein the cruise control indicator includes a first LED operable to emit light of the first color and a second LED operable to emit light of the second color.

3. The motorcycle of claim 2, wherein the cruise control system includes a selector operable to configure the cruise control system in one of the off condition, the on condition, and the set condition, and wherein the first LED and the second LED emit no light when in the off condition, the first LED emits light of the first color and the second LED emits no light when in the on condition, and the first LED emits no light and the second LED emits light of the second color when in the set condition.

4. The motorcycle of claim 1, wherein one of the first color and the second color is green and the other of the first color and the second color is red.

5. The motorcycle of claim 1, further comprising a panel positioned to at least partially cover the indicator, the panel including a window positioned to allow the emission of light from the indicator.

6. The motorcycle of claim 5, wherein the window is shaped to resemble the proposed ISO cruise control symbol.

7. The motorcycle of claim 1, further comprising at least one switch, the switch adjustable to configure the cruise control system in one of the off condition, the on condition, and the set condition.

8. The motorcycle of claim 7, wherein the switch is a solid state switch.

9. A cruise control system including an off condition, an on condition, and a set condition, the cruise control system comprising:

an indicator selectively operable to emit light having one of a first color and a second color; and

a user-operable control movable to configure the cruise control system in one of an off condition, an on condition, and a set condition, the indicator emitting light of the first color when the cruise control system is in the on condition and emitting light of the second color when the cruise control system is in the set condition.

10. The cruise control system of claim 9, wherein the indicator includes a first light-emitting device operable to emit light of the first color and a second light-emitting device operable to emit light of the second color.

11. The cruise control system of claim 10, wherein the first light-emitting device is an LED and the second light-emitting device is an LED.

12. The cruise control system of claim 9, further comprising a panel including a display window positioned to at least partially cover the indicator such that the light emitted by the indicator is visible through the display window.

13. The cruise control system of claim 12, wherein the display window is shaped to resemble the proposed ISO symbol for a cruise control indicator.

14. The cruise control system of claim 9, wherein one of the first color and the second color is green and the other of the first color and the second color is red.

15. The cruise control system of claim 9, further comprising a selector operable to configure the cruise control system in one of the off condition, the on condition, and the set condition, and wherein the indicator emits no light when configured in the off condition.

16. The motorcycle of claim 9, further comprising at least one switch, the switch adjustable to configure the cruise control system in one of the off condition, the on condition, and the set condition.

17. The motorcycle of claim 16, wherein the switch is a solid state switch.

18. A method of indicating the status of a cruise control system comprising:

emitting light of a first color from an indicator when the cruise control system is in an on condition;

changing the configuration of the cruise control system from the on condition to a set condition; and

emitting light of a second color from the indicator when the cruise control system is in the set condition.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising turning off the light of a first color from the indicator after changing the configuration of the cruise control from the on condition to the set condition.