Vehicle accessory for monitoring travel distance

• US 6,434,510 B1
• Filed: 07/21/1999
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terry S. Callaghan
• Original Assignee: Terry S. Callaghan
• Inventors: Callaghan, Terry S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): TSAI, CAROL S W
• Application Number:
  US09/358,661
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: 702/97, 702/116, 702/122, 702/127, 702/142, 702/145-149, 702/165, 702/163, 702/175, 702/176-178, 702/182, 702/183, 702/187, 702/188, 702/FOR.103, 702/FOR.104, 702/FOR.134, 702/FOR.135, 702/FOR.141, 702/FOR.146, 702/FOR-150, 702/FOR-154, 702/FOR-170, 701/35, 701/123, 377/24.1, 377/24.2, 235/30.R, 235/30.A, 235/29.A, 235/29.B, 235/33, 705/400, 340/438, 346/33.R
• US Class Current: 702/165
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/02 by conversion into electric waveforms and subsequent integration, e.g. using tachometer generator G01C22/002, G01C22/004, G01C22/006 take precedence

Abstract

A vehicle mileage tracking system including an input device mounted in the vehicle for receiving one of a first and second door unlock signals, and a vehicle tripmeter. The vehicle tripmeter is coupled to the input device and to a vehicle odometer sensor for accumulating a first accumulated travel distance during vehicle travel following receipt by the input device of the first door unlock signal, and for accumulating a second accumulated travel distance during vehicle travel following receipt by the input device of the second door unlock signal. The tripmeter does not accumulate the first accumulated travel distance during vehicle travel following receipt by the input device of the second door unlock signal. The vehicle mileage tracking system also preferably includes a display coupled to the vehicle tripmeter for selectively displaying the first and second accumulated travel distance. The input device is preferably a receiver for receiving a signal from a remote transmitter. The mileage tracking system may also include output means operatively coupled to the vehicle tripmeter for outputting accumulated vehicle mileage to a device remote from the vehicle. The output means may be a physical output port or may be a transmitter for transmitting the accumulated vehicle mileage via a wireless communication link.

Claims

1. A vehicle mileage tracking system for use in a vehicle having a door lock for locking a door of the vehicle in response to a door lock signal and for unlocking the door in response to first and second door unlock signals, said system comprising:

an input device mounted in the vehicle for receiving first and second door unlock signals; and

a vehicle tripmeter coupled to said input device and to a vehicle odometer sensor for accumulating a first accumulated travel distance during vehicle travel following receipt by said input device of said first door unlock signal, and for accumulating a second accumulated travel distance during vehicle travel following receipt by said input device of said second door unlock signal, wherein said tripmeter does not accumulate said first accumulated travel distance during vehicle travel following receipt by said input device of said second door unlock signal.

2. The vehicle mileage tracking system as defined in claim 1 and further including a display coupled to said vehicle tripmeter for selectively displaying said first and second accumulated travel distance.

3. The vehicle mileage tracking system as defined in claim 1 and further including a reset switch coupled to said vehicle tripmeter for resetting said first or second accumulated travel distance to a value of zero when said reset switch is activated.

4. The vehicle mileage tracking system as defined in claim 1, wherein said input device is a receiver for receiving a signal from a remote transmitter.

5. The vehicle mileage tracking system as defined in claim 1 and further including output means coupled to said vehicle tripmeter for outputting accumulated vehicle mileage to a device remote from said vehicle.

6. The vehicle mileage tracking system as defined in claim 5, wherein said output means includes a transmitter for transmitting the accumulated vehicle mileage via a wireless communication link.

7. The vehicle mileage tracking system as defined in claim 6, wherein said transmitter is an RF transmitter for transmitting an RF signal to a receiver coupled to the remote device.

8. The vehicle mileage tracking system as defined in claim 1, wherein said vehicle tripmeter time- and date-stamps mileage trip segments that are recorded between periods defined by the ignition being turned on and off.

9. The vehicle mileage tracking system as defined in claim 8, wherein the mileage said vehicle tripmeter stores during each trip segment is business mileage.

10. The vehicle mileage tracking system as defined in claim 8, wherein said vehicle tripmeter further stores an indicator in association with each trip segment whether the trip segment was a business trip or a personal trip.

11. The vehicle mileage tracking system as defined in claim 1, wherein said vehicle tripmeter totals one of the first and second travel distances traveled during a specified period of time.

12. The vehicle mileage tracking system as defined in claim 11, wherein each said specified time period is a period during which taxes are calculated.

13. The vehicle mileage tracking system as defined in claim 11, wherein each said specified time period is a calendar year.

14. The vehicle mileage tracking system as defined in claim 11, wherein the mileage said control circuit totals during each specified time period is business mileage.

15. The vehicle mileage tracking system as defined in claim 11, wherein the mileage said control circuit totals during each specified time period is personal mileage.

16. A mileage display system for a vehicle for use in a vehicle having a door lock for locking a door in response to a door lock signal and for unlocking the door in response to first and second door unlock signals, said system comprising:

a portable transmitter having a first manually actuated switch for causing said transmitter to transmit a first door unlock signal, a second manually actuated switch for causing said transmitter to transmit a second door unlock signal, and a third manually actuated switch for causing said transmitter to transmit a door lock signal;

a receiver mounted in the vehicle for receiving said first and second door unlock signals and said door lock signal; and

a vehicle tripmeter adapted to be coupled to a vehicle odometer sensor, said vehicle tripmeter displays mileage accumulated during vehicle travel following receipt by said receiver of said second door unlock signal, wherein said tripmeter does not accumulate mileage during vehicle travel following receipt by said receiver of said first door unlock signal.

17. The mileage display system as defined in claim 16 and further including a switching device coupled between said vehicle tripmeter and the odometer sensor for selectively disabling said vehicle tripmeter from incrementing the displayed accumulated travel when said receiver receives the first door unlock signal and for selectively enabling said vehicle tripmeter to increment the displayed accumulated travel when said receiver receives the second door unlock signal.

18. The mileage display system as defined in claim 16, wherein said transmitter and said receiver are respectively configured to transmit and receive RF signals, and said first and second door unlock signals and said door lock signal are RF signals.

19. A mileage display system for a vehicle for use in a vehicle having a door lock for locking a door in response to a door lock signal and for unlocking the door in response to first and second door unlock signals, said system comprising:

an input device mounted in the vehicle for receiving first and second door unlock signals; and

a vehicle tripmeter coupled to said input device and to a vehicle odometer sensor for displaying mileage accumulated during vehicle travel following receipt by said input device of said second door unlock signal, wherein said tripmeter does not accumulate mileage during vehicle travel following receipt by said input device of said first door unlock signal.

20. The mileage display system as defined in claim 19 and further including a switching device for selectively enabling/disabling said vehicle tripmeter to/from incrementing the displayed accumulated travel.

21. The mileage display system as defined in claim 19, wherein said input device is an RF receiver for receiving RF first and second door unlock signals from a remote transmitter.

22. The mileage display system as defined in claim 19, wherein said input device is a user-actuated switch.

23. The mileage display system as defined in claim 19, wherein the accumulated mileage displayed by said vehicle tripmeter is mileage for one or more business trips.

24. A vehicle mileage accumulation and display system for use in a vehicle having a door lock for locking a door in response to a door lock signal and for unlocking the door in response to first and second door unlock signals, said system comprising:

a receiver for receiving a signal from a remote transmitter;

a mileage accumulator coupled to said receiver for accumulating vehicle mileage received from a mileage sensor as the vehicle travels in response to a signal received by said receiver from the remote transmitter; and

a display for displaying the vehicle mileage accumulated by said mileage accumulator.

25. The mileage display system as defined in claim 24, wherein said mileage accumulator includes an interface for coupling to an odometer sensor of the vehicle to receive a vehicle travel distance signal from which the vehicle mileage may be ascertained.

26. The mileage display system as defined in claim 25, wherein said mileage accumulator further includes a switching device coupled to said interface for receiving and selectively transmitting the vehicle travel distance signal.

27. The mileage display system as defined in claim 26, wherein said mileage accumulator further includes:

a memory device for storing cumulative travel distance; and

a processing circuit coupled to an output of said switching device and to said memory for calculating cumulative travel distance in response to the vehicle travel distance signal selectively transmitted through said switching device and for storing the cumulative travel distance in said memory.

28. The mileage display system as defined in claim 27, wherein said processing circuit is coupled to said receiver and controls said switching device to transmit the vehicle travel distance signal when the signal is received from said receiver.

29. The mileage display system as defined in claim 24, wherein the accumulated mileage displayed by said vehicle tripmeter is mileage for one or more business trips.

30. A vehicle mileage accumulation and display system for use in a vehicle having a door lock for locking a door in response to a door lock signal and for unlocking the door in response to first and second door unlock signals, said system comprising:

a portable transmitter having a first manually actuated switch for causing said transmitter to transmit a first door unlock signal, a second manually actuated switch for causing said transmitter to transmit a second door unlock signal, and a third manually actuated switch for causing said transmitter to transmit a door lock signal;

a receiver mounted in the vehicle for receiving said first and second door unlock signals and said door lock signal;

a vehicle tripmeter coupled to said receiver and adapted to be coupled to a vehicle odometer sensor, said vehicle tripmeter accumulates business travel distance during vehicle travel following receipt by said receiver of said first door unlock signal, and accumulates non-business accumulated travel distance during vehicle travel following receipt by said receiver of said second door unlock signal, wherein said tripmeter does not accumulate said business travel distance during vehicle travel following receipt by said receiver of said second door unlock signal; and

a display coupled to said vehicle tripmeter for selectively displaying said business and non-business accumulated travel distance.