Method and apparatus for receiving data

• US 5,347,260 A
• Filed: 12/06/1993
• Issued: 09/13/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Ginzel, Geoffrey D., Vance, Ricky D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/161,431
• Time in Patent Office: 281 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/459, 340/461, 340/517, 340/525, 340/520, 340/521, 364/141, 364/146, 364/188
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

Instruments, for example diagnostic and monitoring systems, are often used in connection with electronic controls having a limited number of inputs. Advantageously, data from a plurality of sensors is received by the instrument and transferred to the electronic control via a communication link. In accordance with the invention, a plurality of sensors produce signals in response to sensed parameters. The instrument, having one or more displays, receives the sensor signals and responsively produces an instrument signal. A control receives the instrument signal and responsively produces a control signal. The displays indicate parameter values in response to the control signal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for receiving data and displaying a plurality of parameters, comprising:

a plurality of sensor means for producing sensor signals in response to sensed parameters;

an instrument means for receiving said sensor signals and responsively producing an instrument signal, said instrument means including one or more display means for indicating sensed parameter values; and

a communication link connected to and between said instrument means and a control means for receiving said instrument signal via said communication link and responsively producing a control signal in response to said instrument signal;

said instrument means receives said control signal and responsively indicates parameter values on said one or more display means.

2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sensor signals are greater in number than said one or more display means and including a warning indicator light and a gauge switching means for selectively indicating parameter values corresponding to each of said sensor signals on said one or more display means, said control means causing said warning indicator light to be illuminated in response to a warning condition existing for a parameter value not being indicated by one of said display means.

3. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said communication link is a two way communication link and carries said instrument signal from said instrument means to said control means and carries said control signal from said control means to said instrument means.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said display means includes a plurality of gauges and including means for displaying in a digital format a level of the sensed parameter being indicated by said gauge and data switch means for selecting the gauge for which said level is displayed in digital format.

5. An apparatus for receiving data and displaying a plurality of parameters, comprising:

a plurality of sensor means for producing sensor signals in response to sensed parameters;

an instrument means for receiving said sensor signals and responsively producing an instrument signal, said instrument means including one or more display means for indicating the level of sensed parameters and said sensor signals being greater in number than said one or more display means;

a control means for receiving said instrument signal and responsively producing a control signal;

a communication link connected to and between said instrument means and control means;

means for receiving said control signal and responsively indicating the level of the sensed parameters on said one or more display means; and

gauge switching means for selecting a first group and a second group of parameter values to be indicated by said one or more display means.

6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said display means includes a gauge and including means for displaying in a digital format a level of the sensed parameter being indicated by said gauge and data switch means for selecting the sensed parameter for which said level is displayed in digital format.

7. A method for receiving data and displaying a plurality of parameters, comprising the steps of:

producing sensor signals in response to a plurality of sensed parameters;

delivering the sensor signals to an instrument having one or more displays and responsively producing an instrument signal;

delivering said instrument signal to a control via a communication link;

producing a control signal in response to the instrument signal; and

displaying a level of each of the plurality of sensed parameters in response to the control signal.

8. A method, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the sensor signals are greater in number than the displays and including the steps of selectively indicating parameter values of a first group and a second group of parameters and causing said warning indicator light to be illuminated in response to a warning condition existing for a parameter value not being indicated by one of said display means.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the displays include a plurality of gauges and including the steps of displaying in a digital format a level of the sensed parameter being indicated by one of the gauges and selecting the gauge for which said level is displayed in digital format.