Travel detecting apparatus

• US 5,103,413 A
• Filed: 07/19/1990
• Issued: 04/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Ohata, Hiroaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRANS, VINCENT N
• Application Number:
  US07/554,156
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 364/565, 364/561, 324/160, 324/166, 73/490, 73/527, 235/95 R, 235/95 B, 235/95 C, 377/24, 377/24.1
• US Class Current: 702/96
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/04 Special adaptations of driving means
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/489 Digital circuits therefor

Abstract

A travel detecting apparatus is disclosed which generates a pulse signal in response to vehicle motion and detects the actual rate of vehicle travel in accordance with the pulse signal. The apparatus comprises a speed or RPM sensor coupled to an automotive transmission for generating a first pulse signal representative of the vehicle speed or RPM, a tire-size setting switch for setting tire information relating to the dimensions of the tires of the vehicle, and a CPU for frequency converting the first pulse signal in response to the tire information to generate a second pulse and for detecting the rate of vehicle travel in accordance with the second pulse signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for periodically detecting and indicating the rate of motion of a vehicle, comprising:

means for generating a first pulse signal in response to motion of a vehicle;

means for measuring a single cycle of the first pulse signal and determining whether the measurement of the single cycle is complete;

memory means for storing a variety of data relating to tire diameter;

means for selecting and outputting correction data in accordance with a diameter of a tire of the vehicle from said memory means after a single cycle of the first pulse signal has been measured;

means for calculating a second pulse signal by calculating a single cycle of the second pulse signal based on a corresponding single cycle of the first pulse signal and the outputted correction data;

means for determining whether a single cycle of the second pulse signal has been outputted;

means for checking a single cycle of the second pulse signal to determine whether the single cycle is full;

means for outputting a single cycle of the second pulse signal after the single cycle has been checked and determined to be full; and

means for indicating a new rate of vehicle motion in accordance with the outputted single cycle of the second pulse signal.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said new rate of vehicle is a vehicle speed.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said new rate of vehicle is a traveled distance.

4. An apparatus for periodically detecting and indicating the rate of motion of a vehicle, comprising:

means for generating a first pulse signal in response to motion of a vehicle;

means for measuring a single cycle of the first pulse signal and determining whether the measurement of the single cycle is complete;

memory means for storing a variety of data relating to tire diameter;

means for selecting and outputting correction data in accordance with a diameter of a tire of the vehicle from said memory means after a single cycle of the first pulse signal has been measured;

means for calculating a second pulse signal by calculating a single cycle of the second pulse signal based on a corresponding single cycle of the first pulse signal and the outputted correction data;

means for determining whether a single cycle of the second pulse signal has been outputted;

means for checking a single cycle of the second pulse signal to determine whether the single cycle is full;

means for outputting a single cycle of the second pulse signal after the single cycle has been checked and determined to be full;

means for outputting a previously-outputted single cycle of the second pulse signal after a single cycle of the second pulse signal has been checked and determined not to be full; and

means for indicating an old rate of vehicle motion in accordance with the outputted previously-outputted single cycle of the second pulse signal.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said old data of vehicle is a vehicle speed.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said old data is a traveled distance.

7. An apparatus for periodically detecting and indicating the rate of motion of a vehicle, comprising:

means for generating a first pulse signal in response to motion of a vehicle;

means for measuring a single cycle of the first pulse signal and determining whether the measurement of the single cycle is complete;

means for calculating a second pulse signal by calculating a single cycle of the second pulse signal based on a corresponding single cycle of the first pulse signal;

means for determining whether a single cycle of the second pulse signal has been outputted;

means for checking a single cycle of the second pulse signal to determine whether the single cycle is full;

means for outputting a previously-outputted single cycle of the second pulse signal after a single cycle of the second pulse signal has been checked and determined not to be full; and

means for indicating an old rate of vehicle motion in accordance with the outputted previously-outputted single cycle of the second pulse signal.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said old rate of vehicle is vehicle speed.

9. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said old date is a traveled distance.