Data recording and display system

• US 5,857,159 A
• Filed: 08/12/1994
• Issued: 01/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Schumacher, Greg A., Dickrell, David L., Keene, Robert W., Verheyen, Michael R., Gauger, Gregory S., Rathe, Richard D., Mearek, Ronald J., Rolli, Brian T., Sandborg, Thomas R., Sinn, Scott G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Louis-Jacques, Jacques H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US08/289,593
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/30, 701/31, 701/33, 701/34, 701/35, 340/438, 340/439, 364/550, 364/551.01
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A system is disclosed for sensing, recording, and selectively displaying data associated with operational characteristics of a vehicle and associated engine. The system includes a plurality of transducers delivering signals corresponding to such operational characteristics to a programmable logic device. These signals are converted to appropriate information signals which are stored in an associated storage device and can be selectively displayed on a suitable display device.

Claims

1. An apparatus to controllably sense, record, and selectively display data associated with operational characteristics of a vehicle and associated engine, comprising:

a programmable logic device;

a plurality of transducers respectively connectable to said programmable logic device and each adapted to produce parameter signals responsive to respective preselected engine and vehicle parameters;

a storage device connected to said programmable logic device;

a local display device connectable to said programmable logic device; and

,

wherein said parameter signals are received by said programmable logic device and controllably manipulated by said programmable logic device to produce first and second predetermined sets of information signals, said first predetermined set of information signals being delivered to said storage device and individually accumulated in said storage device during a first predetermined period, and preselected ones of said second predetermined set of information signals being controllably delivered to said local display device; and

,

wherein said parameter signals and said first predetermined set of information signals are optionally further selectively and controllably manipulated by said programmable logic device to produce a third predetermined set of information signals, said third predetermined set of information signals being delivered to said storage device and individually accumulated in said storage device during a second predetermined period, said second predetermined period being a subset of said first predetermined period.

2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said storage device includes both volatile and non-volatile dynamic memory.

3. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said local display device includes a control portion having at least one manually operable control switch connected to said programmable logic device in a manner sufficient to select which of said information signals is displayed on said local display device.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said programmable logic device includes a communication port and including a data transmission device connected to said communication port, said data transmission device being sufficient to deliver selected ones of said information signals to a remote location.

5. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, wherein access to and removal of the accumulated information signals stored in said storage device is controllably restricted using one or more levels of password protection.

6. An apparatus to controllably sense, record, and selectively display data associated with operational characteristics of a vehicle and associated engine in accordance with a plurality of selectable operating modes, comprising:

a programmable logic device;

a plurality of transducers respectively connectable to said programmable logic device and each adapted to produce parameter signals responsive to respective preselected engine and vehicle parameters;

a storage device connected to said programmable logic device;

a local display device connectable to said programmable logic device; and

,

wherein said plurality of selectable operating modes include;

a cumulative mode wherein said parameter signals are received by said programmable logic device and are controllably manipulated by said programmable logic device to produce first information signals that are delivered to said storage device and individually accumulated in said storage device during a first predetermined period;

an instantaneous mode wherein said parameter signals are received by said programmable logic device and are controllably manipulated by said programmable logic device to produce second information signals that are controllably delivered to said local display device; and

,

an intermittent mode wherein said parameter signals and said first predetermined set of information signals are optionally further selectively and controllably manipulated by said programmable logic device to produce a third predetermined set of information signals that are delivered to said storage device and individually accumulated in said storage device during a second predetermined period, said second predetermined period being a subset of said first predetermined period.

7. A method for controllably sensing, recording, and selectively displaying data associated with operational characteristics of a vehicle and associated engine having a plurality of transducers respectively connectable to a programmable logic device and adapted to produce parameter signals in response to respective preselected engine and vehicle parameters, and having a storage device connected to said programmable logic device and a local display device connectable to said programmable logic device, comprising the steps of:

controllably manipulating said parameter signals to produce first and second predetermined sets of information signals;

delivering said first predetermined set of information signals to said storage device and individually accumulating said first predetermined set of information signals in said storage device during a first predetermined period;

controllably delivering preselected ones of said second predetermined set of information signals to said local display device;

selectively and controllably manipulating said parameter signals and said first predetermined set of information signals to produce a third predetermined set of information signals; and

,

delivering said third predetermined set of information signals to said storage device and individually accumulating said third predetermined set of information signals in said storage device during a second predetermined period, said second predetermined period being a subset of said first predetermined period.