Wide-band programmable tachometer and speedometer/odometer apparatus

• US 5,105,150 A
• Filed: 04/03/1991
• Issued: 04/14/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Laichang Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Paul Liu
• Inventors: Liu, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieder, Kenneth A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EDMONDS, WARREN
• Application Number:
  US07/680,067
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 324/161, 324/162, 324/163, 324/166, 324/176, 324/177, 324/115, 324/207.11, 324/207.12, 324/207.14, 324/207.23, 364/130, 364/131, 364/154, 364/514, 364/550, 364/556, 364/561, 364/565, 364/566, 364/569, 364/571.01, 340/870.16
• US Class Current: 324/160
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/489 Digital circuits therefor

Abstract

A wide-band programmable tachometer and speedometer/odometer apparatus to detect the rotational speed of an output shaft of an engine in a vehicle and calculate the corresponding speed/mileage thereof. First, a converting device converts a mechanical motion of an engine into an electrical signal. Second, the electrical signal is amplified by two amplifiers and outputted as an amplified signal. Third, the amplified signal is sent to a frequency divider and then through a multiplexer. A selecting device is incorporated with the multiplexer to send out a signal with frequency in an operable range. An F-V converter is used to convert the signal from the multiplexer and to output a first, a second, and a third DC voltage. The second and the third DC voltages are used to drive a tachometer to display the rpm of an engine. The third DC voltage is sent to a V-F converter and through a monostable circuit unit and outputted as positive pulses. The positive pulses are sent to an speedometer/odometer counter to obtain a corresponding mileage.

Claims

1. A wide-band programmable tachometer and speedometer/odometer apparatus to detect the rotational speed of an output shaft of an engine in a vehicle and to calculate the corresponding speed/mileage thereof, comprising:

a sensor means for converting a mechanical motion of said engine into an electrical signal;

a signal frequency selecting means for adjusting said tachometer and speedometer/odometer apparatus to be used for either a high frequency (1.25 kHz to 33.5 kHz) or a low frequency (133 Hz to 1,248 Hz) engine;

a first amplifier for amplifying said signal from the output of said signal frequency selecting means;

a second amplifier connected to an output terminal of said first amplifier for amplifying a second time signal from said first amplifier;

a divider means receiving said signal from said second amplifier and dividing a frequency of said signal and outputting a plurality of signals with different frequencies;

a multiplexer means for selecting one of said different frequency signals;

a selecting means with a plurality of switches incorporated with said multiplexer means to enable only one of said different frequency signals outputted from said multiplexer means;

an F-V (frequency to voltage) converter converting said signal outputted from said multiplexer to a first DC voltage, a second DC voltage, and a third DC voltage;

a gain adjust means incorporated with said F-V converter for adjusting said first, second, and third DC voltages to be in an acceptable range;

a tachometer connected to said F-V converter and driven by said first and second DC voltages therefrom;

a V-F (voltage to frequency) converter for converting said third DC voltage from said F-V converter to a pulse signal;

a frequency divider means for dividing said pulse signal from said V-F converter and outputting a low frequency pulse;

a monostable circuit means for receiving said low frequency pulse and outputting a positive pulse;

a switch means for receiving said positive pulse as a control signal to switch ON;

an speedometer/odometer converter connected to said switch means and counting once for each switch ON.

2. A wide-band programmable tachometer and speedometer/odometer apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said divider means has a plurality of dividers, each corresponding to a different respective divisor n to carry out a "divide-by-n" function of the frequency of said electrical signal.

3. A wide-band programmable tachometer and speedometer/odometer apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said multiplexer means has a plurality of inputs and one output, said inputs correspond to and are respectively connected to said dividers, with one of said inputs connected to said output of said multiplexer means by control of said selecting means.

4. A wide-band programmable tachometer and speedometer/odometer apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said selecting means has a plurality of switches, and by an ON/OFF state of said switches, generates a control code to engage a specific said input of said multiplexer means to the output thereof.

5. A wide-band programmable tachometer and speedometer/odometer apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said F-V converter means is connected to said output of said multiplexer means and drives said tachometer to show rotational speed of said engine.

6. A wide-band programmable tachometer and speedometer/odometer apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said gain adjust means is operatively connected to said F-V converter means for controlling the value of said first, second, and third DC voltages of said F-V converter.

7. A wide-band programmable tachometer and speedometer/odometer apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said gain adjust means comprises a capacitor and a variable resistor, said variable resistor comprises a plurality of resistors and switches, and by said ON/OFF state of said switches, determines the resistance of said variable resistor and further adjusts an RC constant of said gain adjust means.