Method and apparatus for modifying the functionality of a gauge

• US 5,361,059 A
• Filed: 11/12/1993
• Issued: 11/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Barney, Dennis A., Vance, Ricky D., Hoffman, John P., Kozlevcar, Joseph G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/150,754
• Time in Patent Office: 354 Days
• Field of Search: 340/459, 340/461, 340/462, 340/525, 340/508, 340/450, 340/450.2, 340/450.3, 340/612, 364/146, 364/424.03, 364/424.04, 364/424.06, 364/424.07, 364/431.01, 73/290 R, 73/293, 73/291, 73/307, 73/866.3
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

Gauges for indicating the level of sensed parameters are often provided in connection with a variety of machines. Advantageously, such gauges are sufficiently flexible to indicate the level of a parameter having a warning level that is dependent upon the level of a second sensed parameter. In the subject invention, a gauge indicates the level of a primary sensed parameter having a normal operating range. A sensor produces a signal indicative of the level of a secondary sensed parameter and the levels of the primary sensed parameter associated with the normal operating range are modified in response to the level of the secondary sensed parameter.

Claims

1. An apparatus for indicating a warning level on a machine having an instrument panel, comprising:

gauge means for indicating levels of a primary sensed parameter, said primary sensed parameter having a normal operating range;

means for sensing a level of a secondary sensed parameter; and

means for modifying the levels of the primary sensed parameter associated with the normal operating range in response to the level of said secondary sensed parameter.

2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said gauge means includes a normal region for indicating the level of said primary sensed parameter in a normal operating range and a warning region for indicating the level of said primary sensed parameter outside said normal operating range, and said means for modifying the levels encompassed by the normal operating range modifies the range of sensed parameter levels associated with each of said normal and warning regions.

3. An apparatus for indicating a warning level on a vehicle having an instrument panel including a gauge for indicating levels of a primary sensed parameter, said primary sensed parameter having a normal operating range and one of a high or low warning value, comprising:

a plurality of indicating segment means being selectively illuminable for indicating the levels of the primary sensed parameter in the normal operating range;

one or more warning segment means being selectively illuminable for indicating the level of the primary sensed parameter being outside the normal operating range;

means for sensing a level of a secondary sensed parameter;

means for modifying the level of the primary sensed parameter corresponding to one of the high or low warning values in response to said level of said secondary sensed parameter.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, including warning means for flashing one or more of said warning segment means and less than all of said plurality of indicating segment means in response to the level of the primary sensed parameter being outside the normal operating range.

5. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the gauge includes an outline segment and a symbol and said warning means flashes said outline segment and symbol in response to the level of the primary sensed parameter being outside the normal operating range.

6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of said plurality of indicating segment means are associated with a range of primary sensed parameter levels and said means for modifying the levels encompassed by the normal operating range modifies the range of sensed parameter levels associated with each of said plurality of indicating segment means.

7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the gauge includes an outline segment and a symbol and said warning means flashes said outline segment and symbol in response to the level of the primary sensed parameter being outside the normal operating range.

8. A method for indicating a warning level on a vehicle having an instrument panel, comprising the steps of:

indicating levels of a primary sensed parameter on a gauge having a normal operating range;

sensing a level of a secondary sensed parameter; and

modifying the levels of the primary sensed parameter associated with the normal operating range of the gauge in response to the level of the secondary sensed parameter.

9. A method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the level of said primary sensed parameter is indicated on the gauge in one of a normal region and a warning region and wherein said step of modifying the levels encompassed by the normal operating range includes the step of modifying the range of sensed parameter levels associated with each of said normal and warning regions of the gauge.

10. A method, as set forth in claim 8, including the step of flashing one or more warning segments and less than all of a plurality of indicating segments in response to the level of the primary sensed parameter being outside the normal operating range.