Self-contained motor vehicle maintenance interval monitor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle maintenance interval monitor, comprising:
- means for storing a plurality of maintenance intervals for the vehicle;
means for setting each of the plurality of maintenance intervals for the vehicle;
means for storing an estimated vehicle speed value;
means for setting the estimated vehicle speed value;
means for determining the actual date and time;
means for storing an actual date and time as a stored date and time;
means for retrieving the stored date and time, for obtaining an actual date and time from the date and time determining means, and for determining a change in the actual date and time by subtracting the retrieved stored date and time from the obtained actual date and time;
means for retrieving the stored estimated vehicle speed value, for obtaining the determined change in the actual date and time, and for calculating an estimated distance traveled by multiplying the determined change in the actual date and time by the stored estimated vehicle speed value;
means for retrieving each of the maintenance intervals, for obtaining the estimated distance traveled, and for comparing the estimated distance traveled with each of the maintenance intervals; and
means responsive to the maintenance interval comparison means for indicating when the estimated distance traveled has exceeded one of the maintenance intervals,wherein the date and time determining means, the date and time storing means, the date and time change determining means, the estimated distance traveled means, the comparing means and the indicating means are active independent of the vehicle running or moving status.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle maintenance interval monitor allows selection of mileage intervals between servicing for a number of individual maintenance requirements. The monitor is computerized and battery powered. The monitor keeps track of the actual date and time. The miles traveled are computed by determining a change in the actual date and time and multiplying this time by a speed factor. When a service interval has been completed the monitor provides a suitable warning indication.
51 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A vehicle maintenance interval monitor, comprising:
-
means for storing a plurality of maintenance intervals for the vehicle; means for setting each of the plurality of maintenance intervals for the vehicle; means for storing an estimated vehicle speed value; means for setting the estimated vehicle speed value; means for determining the actual date and time; means for storing an actual date and time as a stored date and time; means for retrieving the stored date and time, for obtaining an actual date and time from the date and time determining means, and for determining a change in the actual date and time by subtracting the retrieved stored date and time from the obtained actual date and time; means for retrieving the stored estimated vehicle speed value, for obtaining the determined change in the actual date and time, and for calculating an estimated distance traveled by multiplying the determined change in the actual date and time by the stored estimated vehicle speed value; means for retrieving each of the maintenance intervals, for obtaining the estimated distance traveled, and for comparing the estimated distance traveled with each of the maintenance intervals; and means responsive to the maintenance interval comparison means for indicating when the estimated distance traveled has exceeded one of the maintenance intervals, wherein the date and time determining means, the date and time storing means, the date and time change determining means, the estimated distance traveled means, the comparing means and the indicating means are active independent of the vehicle running or moving status. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of monitoring motor vehicle maintenance intervals using a computer system having a plurality of data storage locations, capable of performing arithmetic and logical operations, having an indication of the actual date and time, and having an indication to alert the user, the method comprising the steps of:
-
establishing and setting a plurality of maintenance intervals in the data storage locations; establishing and setting an estimated vehicle speed value in the data storage locations; determining an actual date and time; storing an actual date and time as a stored date and time in the data storage locations; determining a change in the actual date and time by subtracting the stored date and time from the actual date and time; calculating an estimated distance traveled by multiplying the determined change in the actual date and time by the estimated vehicle speed value; comparing the calculated estimated distance with each of the established maintenance intervals; and indicating when the calculated estimated distance traveled has exceeded one of the established maintenance intervals, the steps of the method including and following the determining an actual date and time being performed independent of the vehicle running or moving status. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification