Electronic odometer in particular for a cycle

• US 4,638,448 A
• Filed: 09/12/1983
• Issued: 01/20/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Huret et SES FILS
• Original Assignee: Huret et SES FILS
• Inventors: Boucher, Guy M. G., Cuvelier, Antoine L.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/531,754
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 364/561, 364/424, 364/705, 364/565, 361/390-396, 73/273, 73/738, 73/490, 73/493, 73/510, 377/24, 377/49, 235/95 B, 434/61, 272/DIG. 5, 116/62
• US Class Current: 702/165
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/002 for cycles

Abstract

The odometer in particular for a cycle comprises a case 1 containing a micro-processor connected to a movement sensor associated with a wheel of the cycle, a display for the items of information and at least one control key relating to the display of the items of information processed by the micro-processor. The control key is constituted by at least one part of the upper side of the cover 3 of the case 1, which cover is pivotally mounted on the bottom 2 of the case and it includes devices for emitting sound signals respectively corresponding to the nature of the magnitudes appearing in the display devices and seen through a window 12 of the case.

Claims

1. An electronic odometer in particular for a cycle, comprising a case having a bottom and a cover pivotally mounted on said bottom, a micro-processor in the case, a sensor of movements for associating with a wheel of the cycle and connected to the micro-processor, display means connected to said micro-processor for displaying items of information, such as distance, speed of time information, a signal generator connected to said micro-processor and adapted for identifying under the control of said micro-processor the nature of said items of information displayed on said display means, and at least a first control key relating to the display of items of information processed in the micro-processor, said first control key being constituted by said cover of the case, said signal generator emitting signals respectively corresponding to the nature of the items of information displayed on said display means, a switch adapted to control through said micro-processor main functions of the odometer, said switch being associated with said first control key and connected to the micro-processor, the actuation of said switch resulting in the display of items of information processed by said micro-processor and the emission by the signal generator of signals characterizing the displayed items of information.

2. An odometer according to claim 1, wherein said first control key constituted by a capcitive sensor disposed in the cover of the case.

3. An odometer according to claim 1, wherein said signal generator is a sound signal generator.

4. An odometer according to claim 3, wherein the sound signals emitted by said generator are brief sounds the number of which sounds respectively characterises the items of information displayed when the micro-processor carries out main functions.

5. An odometer according to claim 4, wherein said main functions are three in number, the first main function being the distance which is identified by a brief sound, the second main function being the time identified by two brief sounds and the third main function being the instantaneous speed identified by three brief sounds.

6. An odometer according to claim 3, wherein the sound signal generator is an electronic synthetizer of the voice connected to the micro-processor and associated with a loudspeaker and adapted to synthesize words designating the nature and/or the units of the displayed items of information.

7. An odometer according to claim 1, further comprising a second control key relating to secondary functions associated with a second switch relating to secondary functions connected to the micro-processor.

8. An odometer according to claim 7, wherein the case comprises a bottom and a cover and said first control key is constituted by the cover of the case which cover is pivotally mounted on said bottom and said control key of the secondary functions extends through a wall of the cover by way of an orifice in said wall.

9. An odometer according to claim 7, wherein the display of a given magnitude brought about selectively by said first control key and said second control key, erases any indication relating to a previously displayed item of information from the display means.

10. An odometer according to claim 7, wherein said secondary functions are in particular, the timing by means of a chronometer, the average speed, the total distance travelled through, the hour of the day, the objects of distance, speed and time.

11. An odometer according to claim 1, wherein the case has an upper side which defines a window allowing the observation of items of information relating to the display means.

12. An odometer according to claim 11, wherein the window is formed in a cover which is part of said case.

13. An odometer according to claim 1, further compris-ng a sheath covering the cover, the sheath having an edge portion which constitutes a sealing element in the region of a junction between the bottom and the cover of the case.