Modular vehicular monitoring system
First Claim
1. A monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of functions and conditions of a vehicle, said vehicle including a plurality of sensors for producing sensor signals in response to said plurality of functions and conditions, said monitoring system comprising:
- a plurality of identical monitoring modules, each comprising a plurality of input means each for receiving a selected one of said sensor signals, said plurality of input means being fewer in number than said plurality of sensors, processing means responsive to said sensor signals at said input means for producing display signals corresponding to the associated functions and conditions in accordance with said sensor signals, and memory means for storing data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to the sensor signals from any of said sensor means for monitoring any of said corresponding functions and conditions; and
sensor identifying means associated with each of said modules for producing sensor identifying signals to identify the particular sensors coupled to said input means;
said processing means being coupled to receive said sensor identifying signals from the associated sensor identifying means and responsive thereto for selecting from said memory means only those data and instructions for monitoring said corresponding functions and conditions, whereby said plurality of said monitoring modules are capable of monitoring all of said plurality of vehicle functions and conditions.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A monitoring module is provided for monitoring a plurality of functions and conditions of a vehicle including a plurality of sensors for producing sensor signals in response to a plurality of vehicle functions and conditions. The monitoring module comprises a plurality of inputs each for receiving one of the sensor signals, the inputs being fewer in number than the vehicle functions and conditions to be monitored. The monitoring module also includes a processor responsive to the sensor signals from the inputs for producing display signals corresponding to the values of the respective functions and conditions. The monitoring module further includes a memory for storing data and instructions for enabling the processor to respond to any of the sensors for monitoring any of the vehicle functions and conditions. The monitoring module further includes a sensor identifying arrangement for producing signals to identify the particular sensors coupled to the inputs. The processor is responsive to these sensor identifying signals for selecting from the memory data and instructions for response to the particular sensors coupled to the inputs. Hence, one or more substantially identical monitoring modules may be utilized to monitor all of the vehicle functions and conditions for which corresponding sensors have been provided on a particular vehicle.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. A monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of functions and conditions of a vehicle, said vehicle including a plurality of sensors for producing sensor signals in response to said plurality of functions and conditions, said monitoring system comprising:
- a plurality of identical monitoring modules, each comprising a plurality of input means each for receiving a selected one of said sensor signals, said plurality of input means being fewer in number than said plurality of sensors, processing means responsive to said sensor signals at said input means for producing display signals corresponding to the associated functions and conditions in accordance with said sensor signals, and memory means for storing data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to the sensor signals from any of said sensor means for monitoring any of said corresponding functions and conditions; and
sensor identifying means associated with each of said modules for producing sensor identifying signals to identify the particular sensors coupled to said input means;
said processing means being coupled to receive said sensor identifying signals from the associated sensor identifying means and responsive thereto for selecting from said memory means only those data and instructions for monitoring said corresponding functions and conditions, whereby said plurality of said monitoring modules are capable of monitoring all of said plurality of vehicle functions and conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- a plurality of identical monitoring modules, each comprising a plurality of input means each for receiving a selected one of said sensor signals, said plurality of input means being fewer in number than said plurality of sensors, processing means responsive to said sensor signals at said input means for producing display signals corresponding to the associated functions and conditions in accordance with said sensor signals, and memory means for storing data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to the sensor signals from any of said sensor means for monitoring any of said corresponding functions and conditions; and
-
16. A monitoring module for monitoring a plurality of functions and conditions of a vehicle, said vehicle including a plurality of sensors for producing sensor signals in response to said plurality of functions and conditions, said monitoring module comprising:
- a plurality of input means each for receiving a selected one of said sensor signals, said plurality of input means being fewer in number than said plurality of sensors;
processing means responsive to said sensor signals at said input means for producing display signals corresponding to the associated functions and conditions in accordance with said sensor signals;
memory means for storing data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to the sensor signals from any of said sensor means for monitoring any of said corresponding functions and conditions;
sensor identifying means for delivering sensor identifying signals to said processing means to identify the particular sensors coupled to said input means;
said processing means being responsive to said sensor identifying signals for selecting from said memory means only those data and instructions for monitoring said corresponding functions and conditions; and
additional, code input means on said module coupled to said processing means for receiving encoded signals corresponding to the identities of said sensors and comprising said sensor identifying signals. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
- a plurality of input means each for receiving a selected one of said sensor signals, said plurality of input means being fewer in number than said plurality of sensors;
-
23. A method for monitoring a plurality of functions and conditions of a vehicle, said vehicle including a plurality of sensors for producing sensor signals in response to said plurality of functions and conditions, said monitoring method comprising:
- providing a plurality of identical monitoring modules, each comprising a plurality of input means each for receiving a selected one of said sensor signals, said plurality of input means being fewer in number than said plurality of sensors, each module further comprising processing means responsive to said sensor signals at said input means for producing display signals corresponding to the associated functions and conditions in accordance with said sensor signals, display means responsive to the display signals for producing observable indications of the corresponding functions and conditions, and memory means for storing data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to the sensor signals from any of said sensor means for monitoring any of said corresponding functions and conditions;
coupling selected ones of said sensor means to each of said input means;
providing sensor identifying means associated with each of said modules for producing sensor identifying signals to identify the particular sensors coupled to said input means;
coupling the processing means of each module to receive said sensor identifying signals from the associated sensor identifying means for selecting from said memory means only those data and instructions for monitoring said corresponding functions and conditions, whereby said plurality of monitoring modules are capable of monitoring all of said plurality of vehicle functions and conditions. - View Dependent Claims (24)
- providing a plurality of identical monitoring modules, each comprising a plurality of input means each for receiving a selected one of said sensor signals, said plurality of input means being fewer in number than said plurality of sensors, each module further comprising processing means responsive to said sensor signals at said input means for producing display signals corresponding to the associated functions and conditions in accordance with said sensor signals, display means responsive to the display signals for producing observable indications of the corresponding functions and conditions, and memory means for storing data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to the sensor signals from any of said sensor means for monitoring any of said corresponding functions and conditions;
Specification