High performance tachometer with automatic triggering

• US 5,982,168 A
• Filed: 02/13/1998
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Auto Meter Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Auto Meter Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Westberg, John V., Joyce, Timothy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATIDAR, JAY M
• Application Number:
  US09/023,622
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 324/143, 324/1-146, 324/160, 324/166, 324/170, 324/161, 324/163, 324/168, 324/169, 324/178, 364/424.01, 364/424.04, 364/560, 364/565, 364/566, 340/992, 340/441, 340/456, 340/466, 235/104
• US Class Current: 324/160
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/08 Arrangements of scales, pointers, lamps or acoustic indicators, e.g. in automobile speedometers

Abstract

A high performance tachometer with memory device electronically connected to an input signal. A triggering device autometrically indicates the start of a drag racing event and activates the memory device. The memory device records only the racing event.

Claims

1. A high performance tachometer of the type having an input signal indicative of the vehicular engine speed and an output display for displaying the engine speed as indicated by the input signal, comprising in combination:

a memory device electronically connected to said input signal;

input controls for directing the control and operation of the tachometer;

triggering means for automatically indicating the start of the drag racing event and activating said memory in response thereto, said memory recording substantially the entirety of said racing event without being reset; and

a controller that is electrically connected among the input controls, the memory device and the triggering means, said controller controlling and synchronizing the operation of the input controls, memory device, and triggering means.

2. The high performance tachometer of claim 1, further comprising a RPM switch coupled to said controller for controlling the operation of a plurality of external controlled devices, wherein one of the plurality of controlled devices is a shift light.

3. The high performance tachometer according to claim 2, further including a manual control switch operated by the driver to determine an operative preset speed at which to illuminate the shift light.

4. The high performance tachometer of claim 2 having an operative preset speed, wherein the operative preset speed is determined by the gear that the transmission is presently in.

5. The high performance tachometer according to claims 2, further including means for driving the output engine speeds.