Single-wire engine indicator device
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use in alerting an operator of an internal combustion engine, such as a marine engine of a boat, of operating conditions of the engine, wherein the operator is normally positioned at a location remote from the engine, comprising:
- means for sensing at least two operating conditions of the engine and for providing a unique output signal for each of said sensed operating conditions, each of the unique output signals for each operating condition having a predetermined duty cycle different from the others and therefore being capable of distinguishing each operating condition from the others;
means for identifying each of said unique output signals that are applied thereto;
a single electrically conducting wire interconnecting said sensing means and said identifying means;
means connected to said identifying means for producing an alerting indication in response to said identifying means, said alerting indication providing information that identifies the status of at least one of the operating conditions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An indicator of operating conditions in an internal combustion marine engine displays information about a plurality of engine conditions in response to signals communicated from a remote location over a single wire. Different engines troubles are identified by rectangular voltage wave forms of different duty cycles on the single wire. A logic circuit detects a particular duty cycle and actuates an alarm in response to the detected signal. It is thus possible to alert an operator at a remote location to conditions such as low oil pressure, zero oil pressure or overtemperature by use of a single wire connected to the engine.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use in alerting an operator of an internal combustion engine, such as a marine engine of a boat, of operating conditions of the engine, wherein the operator is normally positioned at a location remote from the engine, comprising:
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means for sensing at least two operating conditions of the engine and for providing a unique output signal for each of said sensed operating conditions, each of the unique output signals for each operating condition having a predetermined duty cycle different from the others and therefore being capable of distinguishing each operating condition from the others; means for identifying each of said unique output signals that are applied thereto; a single electrically conducting wire interconnecting said sensing means and said identifying means; means connected to said identifying means for producing an alerting indication in response to said identifying means, said alerting indication providing information that identifies the status of at least one of the operating conditions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. Apparatus for use in alerting an operator of an internal combustion engine, such as a marine engine of a boat, of operating conditions of the engine, wherein the operator is normally positioned at a location remote from the engine, said apparatus comprising:
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means for sensing at least two operating conditions of the engine and for providing a switched output signal for each of said sensed operating conditions, the switched output signal for each operating condition comprising a unique and predetermined duty cycle so as to distinguish each operating condition from the others; means for identifying each of said switched output signals that are applied thereto; a single electrically conducting wire interconnecting said sensing means and said identifying means; and
,means connected to said identifying means for producing an alerting indication in response to said identifying means, said alerting indication providing information that includes the status of at least one of the operating conditions. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Apparatus for use in alerting an operator of an internal combustion engine, such as a marine engine of a boat, of operating conditions of the engine, wherein the operator is normally positioned at a location remote from the engine, comprising:
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a plurality of switches located at the internal combustion engine, each of the switches being adapted to alternately open and close responsive to an operating condition exceeding a predetermined status limit and provide an electrical signal at a unique and predetermined duty cycle relative to the signal provided by the other switches, each of the signals being a function of a particular operating condition of the engine; an electrically insulated, electrically conducting wire connecting the switches at the engine to the remote location; an enabling means connected to the wire to interrupt current through a closed one of said switches; a buffer connected to the enabling means and adapted to receive said electrical signal produced by operation of one of said switches; a horn oscillator; a piezoelectric horn connected to the horn oscillator and adapted to produce an audible alarm when said horn oscillator is operating; a decoder means connected to the buffer and receiving the enabling signal from the buffer, the decoding means producing a first output in response to an enabling signal having a low duty cycle, a second output in response to an enabling signal having an intermediate duty cycle, and a third output in response to an enabling signal having a high duty cycle. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification