Method and device for signaling that gear change is required
First Claim
1. A device for signaling a motor vehicle operator to change gear ratios of a gear box connected to an engine of a motor vehicle comprising:
- a tachometer for determining the engine rotational speed;
a computing unit connected to receive a measured speed of said motor vehicle and said tachometer measured engine rotational speed, and to determine said selected gear ratio, said computing unit storing a plurality of factors for each of said gear ratios representing the ratio of each gear ratio with the next highest gear ratio and multiplying one of said stored factors corresponding to said selected gear ratio with said rotational speed to determine the rotational speed of said engine if the next highest gear ratio is selected;
said computing unit generating a gear ratio change signal when said determined rotational speed at said next higher gear ratio exceeds a predetermined minimum, and a signal indicator for receiving said gear ratio change signal for identifying a gear ratio change.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Method and device for signaling to a vehicle operator that a higher gear should be selected. A microprocessor is connected so that it can sense the rotational speed of the engine and the vehicle road speed. The quotient of the road speed and the engine speed is determined and is compared with a series of predetermined quotients, one for each of the gear selector positions, and the engaged gear is thus determined. For each gear there is registered the quotient of its own gear ratio and that of the next higher gear position, the quotient being zero for the highest gear. The engine speed signal is multiplied by this gear ratio value for the gear engaged and is compared with a maximum value, and if the result exceeds the maximum value, a signal is sent to indicate that a gear change should be made. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the fact is utilized that the generator, if the generator belt slips, will produce an engine speed value which is too low, so that the first mentioned measured quotient will not agree with the predetermined quotient. An error indication is then sent indicating the need for service.
29 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A device for signaling a motor vehicle operator to change gear ratios of a gear box connected to an engine of a motor vehicle comprising:
-
a tachometer for determining the engine rotational speed; a computing unit connected to receive a measured speed of said motor vehicle and said tachometer measured engine rotational speed, and to determine said selected gear ratio, said computing unit storing a plurality of factors for each of said gear ratios representing the ratio of each gear ratio with the next highest gear ratio and multiplying one of said stored factors corresponding to said selected gear ratio with said rotational speed to determine the rotational speed of said engine if the next highest gear ratio is selected;
said computing unit generating a gear ratio change signal when said determined rotational speed at said next higher gear ratio exceeds a predetermined minimum, and a signal indicator for receiving said gear ratio change signal for identifying a gear ratio change. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for signaling a motor vehicle operator to change gear ratios comprising:
-
measuring the rotational speed of an engine of said motor vehicle engine by detecting pulses from a generator which is belt driven by said motor vehicle engine; determining which of said gear ratios is selected; multiplying the measured rotational speed of said engine with a value representing the ratio of said selected gear ratio and the next highest gear ratio, whereby a rotational speed of said engine for said next higher gear ratio is determined; comparing said next highest gear ratio rotational speed with a predetermined level; and signaling said operator to change gears when said next highest gear ratio rotational speed exceeds said predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
-
Specification