Combination delay box with driver reaction time tester and tachometer and playback

• US 6,166,629 A
• Filed: 12/03/1999
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Biondo Racing Products, Inc., Digital Delay Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Biondo Racing Products, Inc., Digital Delay Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Hamma, Nolen L., May, Dwain C., Biondo, Saverio
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/454,393
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/439, 340/466, 340/461, 340/936, 340/922, 340/441, 345/172, 345/168, 345/169, 345/334, 307/10.1, 307/9.1, 307/10.6, 324/160, 324/166
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/11 Instrument graphical user interfaces or menu aspects
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/114 Racing vehicles, e.g. Formula one, Karts

Abstract

A multi-function, composite apparatus for mounting on a drag racing vehicle is described which includes: (i) a terminal panel having leads coupled to various vehicle control components of the vehicle to affect operation of the vehicle; (ii) a display means to depict a plurality of different racing indicia selectable by a user wherein at least one of said indicia relates to vehicle performance during racing such as delay box timers, throttle stop controllers, cross over delay timers, etc. and a second indicia relating to a non-racing function such as driver reaction time tester or race playback function; and (iii) a keypad having a plurality of user-operable keys including function keys to control what indicia is shown on the display means and data input keys to modify the data in the apparatus. All required outputs can be shown on a single visual display means.

Claims

1. A multi-function, composite apparatus for mounting on a drag racing vehicle comprising:

a terminal panel having at least one lead for coupling said apparatus to a vehicle control component of said vehicle;

a visual display means to depict a plurality of differing indicia selectable by a user wherein at least one of said indicia is reflective of vehicle performance during actual racing and a second of said indicia relates to a driver reaction time tester; and

a keypad having a plurality of user-operable keys including function keys for determining which of said plurality of different indicia is shown on said display means and data input keys to modify data of said apparatus, said user-operable keys further utilized to initiate said driver reaction time tester.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indicia relating to vehicle performance during actual racing is a delay box timer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indicia relating to vehicle performance during actual racing is a cross over delay timer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said indicia relating to vehicle performance during racing is a throttle stop controller timer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a third of said indicia that can be depicted on said visual display means which relates to a race playback function.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said race playback function is based on RPM information.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said is based on time.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said visual display means is a liquid crystal display.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vehicle control component is a transbrake.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vehicle control component is a throttle stop controller.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vehicle control component is a tachometer.