Fuel Usage Meter
First Claim
1. A method for displaying an accumulated fuel usage to a driver of a rental vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a rental vehicle including a fuel usage meter, wherein the fuel usage meter comprises;
a digital display for displaying fuel consumption of a rental vehicle;
input circuitry coupled to a data bus of the vehicle for receiving on-board diagnostic data from an engine computer;
a processor coupled to the input circuitry and configured to calculate an accumulated fuel consumption using the on-board diagnostic data received from the engine computer;
a memory device coupled to the processor for storing data;
output circuitry coupled to the processor for outputting the accumulated fuel consumption to the digital display; and
a reset input coupled to the processor for resetting the accumulated fuel consumption display to zero;
wherein the processor and memory are configured to retain the accumulated fuel consumption until the reset input is manually activated;
displaying the fuel consumption of the rental vehicle to the customer with the fuel consumption meter;
instructing a rental customer to reset the accumulated fuel consumption display to zero when the customer takes possession of the vehicle; and
instructing the customer to read the accumulated fuel consumption display before returning the vehicle to determine an amount of fuel consumed during the rental of the vehicle.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for displaying an accumulated fuel usage to a driver of a rental vehicle, such as a rental truck. The rental vehicle has a fuel usage meter that incudes a digital display for displaying fuel consumption of a rental vehicle to a rental customer. The customer is instructed to reset the accumulated fuel consumption display to zero when the customer takes possession of the vehicle and is instructed to read the accumulated fuel consumption display before returning the vehicle to determine an amount of fuel consumed during the rental of the vehicle. The meter retains the accumulated fuel consumption when the engine is turned off, when the meter is uncoupled from the data bus of the vehicle, and when vehicle power is disconnected from meter.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for displaying an accumulated fuel usage to a driver of a rental vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing a rental vehicle including a fuel usage meter, wherein the fuel usage meter comprises; a digital display for displaying fuel consumption of a rental vehicle; input circuitry coupled to a data bus of the vehicle for receiving on-board diagnostic data from an engine computer; a processor coupled to the input circuitry and configured to calculate an accumulated fuel consumption using the on-board diagnostic data received from the engine computer; a memory device coupled to the processor for storing data; output circuitry coupled to the processor for outputting the accumulated fuel consumption to the digital display; and a reset input coupled to the processor for resetting the accumulated fuel consumption display to zero; wherein the processor and memory are configured to retain the accumulated fuel consumption until the reset input is manually activated; displaying the fuel consumption of the rental vehicle to the customer with the fuel consumption meter; instructing a rental customer to reset the accumulated fuel consumption display to zero when the customer takes possession of the vehicle; and instructing the customer to read the accumulated fuel consumption display before returning the vehicle to determine an amount of fuel consumed during the rental of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for modifying a rental vehicle to be rented to a customer, the method comprising:
installing in the rental vehicle a fuel usage meter, wherein the fuel usage meter comprises; a digital display for displaying fuel consumption of a rental vehicle; input circuitry coupled to a data bus of the vehicle for receiving on-board diagnostic data from an engine computer; a processor coupled to the input circuitry and configured to calculate an accumulated fuel consumption using the on-board diagnostic data received from the engine computer; a memory device coupled to the processor for storing data; output circuitry coupled to the processor for outputting the accumulated fuel consumption to the digital display; and a reset input coupled to the processor for resetting the accumulated fuel consumption display to zero; wherein the processor and memory are configured to retain the accumulated fuel consumption until the reset input is manually activated. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A fuel usage meter for displaying accumulated fuel usage to a driver of a rental vehicle, the fuel usage meter comprising:
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a digital display for displaying fuel consumption of a rental vehicle; input circuitry coupled to a data bus of the vehicle for receiving on-board. diagnostic data from an engine computer; a processor coupled to the input circuitry and configured to calculate accumulated fuel consumption using the on-board diagnostic data received from the engine computer; a memory device coupled to the processor for storing data; output circuitry coupled to the processor for outputting the accumulated fuel consumption to the digital display; and a reset input coupled to the processor for resetting the accumulated fuel consumption to zero; wherein the processor and memory are configured to retain the accumulated fuel consumption until the reset input is manually activated; and wherein the processor and memory are configured to retain the accumulated fuel consumption when vehicle power is disconnected from the fuel usage meter. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification