Apparatus and metod for producing vehicle operating snapshot in response to acceleration change
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for recording a snapshot of vehicle operating characteristics, said apparatus comprising:
- an electronic controller;
a vehicle speed sensor electrically connected to said electronic controller, said vehicle speed sensor producing a vehicle speed signal;
an operating characteristic sensor electrically connected to said electronic controller, said operating characteristic sensor producing an operating characteristic signal;
an acceleration limit stored in said electronic controller; and
wherein said electronic controller monitors said vehicle speed sensor, calculates a vehicle acceleration, compares said vehicle acceleration to said acceleration limit and stores a snapshot of the operating characteristic signal in response to the magnitude of said vehicle acceleration exceeding said acceleration limit.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for storing various vehicle operating characteristics upon sensing a vehicle acceleration having a magnitude that exceeds a predetermined limit. In this manner, the vehicle owner or fleet manager can determine whether the vehicle operator uses the service brakes excessively.
16 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for recording a snapshot of vehicle operating characteristics, said apparatus comprising:
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an electronic controller; a vehicle speed sensor electrically connected to said electronic controller, said vehicle speed sensor producing a vehicle speed signal; an operating characteristic sensor electrically connected to said electronic controller, said operating characteristic sensor producing an operating characteristic signal; an acceleration limit stored in said electronic controller; and wherein said electronic controller monitors said vehicle speed sensor, calculates a vehicle acceleration, compares said vehicle acceleration to said acceleration limit and stores a snapshot of the operating characteristic signal in response to the magnitude of said vehicle acceleration exceeding said acceleration limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for recording a snapshot of vehicle operating characteristics, said apparatus comprising:
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an electronic controller; a vehicle speed sensor electrically connected to said electronic controller, said vehicle speed sensor producing a vehicle speed signal; an operating characteristic sensor electrically connected to said electronic controller, said operating characteristic sensor producing an operating characteristic signal; a deceleration limit stored in said electronic controller; and wherein said electronic controller monitors said vehicle speed sensor, calculates a vehicle deceleration, compares said vehicle deceleration to said deceleration limit and stores a snapshot of the operating characteristic signal in response to said vehicle deceleration being less than said deceleration limit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25)
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24. A method comprising the steps of:
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measuring an acceleration rate of a vehicle; comparing the acceleration rate to a predetermined acceleration rate; and recording a vehicle operating characteristic in response to the magnitude of said acceleration rate being greater than a predetermined acceleration rate.
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Specification