Vehicle operation display system

• US 7,145,442 B1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vehicle Operation Technologies LLC (Empire IP LLC)
• Original Assignee: Wai Yu Hei Sunny
• Inventors: Wai, Yu Hei Sunny
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US10/684,031
• Time in Patent Office: 1,148 Days
• Field of Search: 340459-462, 340/438, 340/440, 340/441, 340/453, 340/815.4, 340/815.45, 340/815.44, 340/815.53, 340/691.1, 340/691.6, 340/521, 340/522, 340/691.3, 701 29- 35, 345/33, 345 35- 40
• US Class Current: 340/438
• 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: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/30 Wheel torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/403 between front and rear axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/406 between left and right wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

An apparatus, method, system and/or image editing process for presenting visual displays to the driver of a motor vehicle regarding the real time operating condition of the vehicle systems and components. These include the anti-lock braking system, the stability of the vehicle as to proximity to rolling over, the power consumed by vehicle components such as the heating system and lights and/or, for four-wheel drive vehicles, the torque and/or braking forces delivered to the wheels. The information is acquired from sensors and/or from signals generated by the vehicle and it processed by the vehicle CPU or, in another embodiment, by a display CPU, the information being presented in black and white or in color using an LED, LCD, vacuum fluorescent means, numerical display, gauge, meter or PDA.

Claims

1. A data collection and display system for a proper vehicle comprising:

at least one sensing means producing at least one source electric signal proportional to the distributed driving force of said proper vehicle;

at least one calculating means converting said at least one source electric signal to at least one electric display signal;

at least one electric signal transmission means connecting said sensing means to said at least one calculating means;

at least one display means; and

at least one electric display signal transmission means connecting said at least one calculating means to said at least one display means,

whereby said at least one electric signal transmission means transfers said at least one source electric signal from said sensing means to said at least one calculating means, said calculating means creating at least one electric display signal, said at least one electronic display signal transmitted by said at least one electric display signal transmission means to said at least one display means, said display means creating an image visible to the operator of said proper vehicle, said image proportionally depicting said driving force.

2. A data collection and display system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one sensing means is a Hall effect sensor.

3. A data collection and display system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one sensing means monitoring a conductor, said conductor transmitting said control of said driving force, said at least one sensing means comprised of a clampon induction sensor or an in-line induction sensor or an in-line series current sensor.

4. A data collection and display system as in claim 1 wherein, said image is at least one bar chart, scalar bar chart, or an image displaying the torque or braking force delivered to the wheels or an image displaying the torque or braking force delivered to the front pair of wheels and to the rear pair of wheels or an image displaying the slippage of one or more wheels with regard to the other wheels.

5. A data collection and display system as in claim 1 wherein, said image is comprised of a display varying in time in one or more characteristics to include color, hue, shading, density of cross hatching, contrast, content, shape, orientation, pattern and/or illumination.

6. A data collection and display system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one display means is an LED, LCD, vacuum fluorescent means, GPS display and/or trip computer, numerical display, gauge, meter and/or PDA.

7. A data collection and display system for a proper vehicle comprising:

a CPU controlling engagement forces of one or more of the wheels;

at least one sensing means producing an electrical input signal proportional to said engagement forces and providing said signal to said CPU;

at least one display signal generated by said CPU derived from said input signal, said display signal proportional to said engagement forces; and

at least one display device;

whereby said at least one display signal is transferred from said CPU to said display device, said display device displaying an image proportional to said engagement forces to the operator.

8. A data collection and display system as in claim 7 wherein, said image is comprised of a display varying in time in one or more characteristics to include color, hue, shading, density of cross hatching, contrast, content, shape, orientation, pattern and/or illumination.

9. A data collection and display system as in claim 7, wherein said at least one display means is an LED, LCD, vacuum fluorescent means, GPS display and/or trip computer, numerical display, gauge, meter and/or PDA.

10. An apparatus comprising:

at least one signal source producing sensory data;

a processing device operably coupled to said signal source to transform said sensory data into a display signal; and

a display device to receive and display said display signal as a viewable image, said image comprised of information regarding at least one operating parameter, said at least one operating parameter comprised of torque and/or braking forces delivered at the wheels of a motor vehicle;

whereby said image is observable by the operator of said motor vehicle.

11. An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said at least one signal source is a sensor comprised of a brake signal amplitude sensor, a torque amplitude signal sensor, an in-line induction sensor, an inserted serial current sensor, a clampon induction sensor and/or a flux sensor.

12. An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said image is at least one bar chart, scalar bar chart, or bar chart in pie segment format or, is an image displaying the torque or braking force delivered to the wheels or, is an image displaying the torque or braking force delivered to the front pair of wheels and to the rear pair of wheels or an image displaying the slippage of one or more wheels with regard to the other wheels.

13. An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein said processing device is comprised of a vehicle CPU or a display CPU.

14. An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said display device is a LED, LCD, vacuum fluorescent means, GPS display or trip computer, numerical display, gauge, meter and/or PDA.

15. An apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said at least one image is comprised of a highlighted image and/or a display varying in time in one or more characteristics to include color, hue, shading, density of cross hatching, contrast, content, shape, orientation, pattern and/or illumination.

16. A system comprising:

a first data signal generation means affixed to or within a vehicle and producing a first data signal, said first data signal generation means comprised of a lateral acceleration sensor;

a first interface to receive said first data signal;

a second data signal generation means affixed to or within said vehicle and producing a second data signal, said second data signal generation means comprised of a harmonic frequency sensor;

a second interface to receive said second data signal;

a processing device operably coupled to said interfaces to transform said data signals into at least one frame of display data; and

a display device displaying said at least one frame of display data for the operator of said vehicle;

whereby said display data comprises at least one image indicating the approach of a rollover condition of said vehicle.

17. A system as in claim 16, wherein said processing device is comprised of a vehicle CPU or a display CPU.

18. A system as in claim 16, wherein said display device is a LED, LCD, vacuum fluorescent means, GPS display and/or trip computer, numerical display, gauge, meter and/or PDA.

19. A system as in claim 16 wherein said image is comprised of a display varying in time in one or more characteristics to include color, hue, shading, density of cross hatching, contrast, content, shape, orientation, pattern, illumination and/or highlighting.

20. A system as in claim 16 wherein said image is comprised of a display of at least one bar chart, scalar bar chart or bar chart in pie segment format.

21. A method comprising:

generating a data signal from at least one sensor attached on or within a motor vehicle;

processing said data signal producing at least one display image; and

displaying said at least one display image on a display device observable by the operator of said motor vehicle;

whereby said at least one display image comprising at least one image representing information regarding at least one vehicle operating parameter, said at least one operating parameter comprised of torque and/or braking forces delivered at the wheels of said motor vehicle.

22. A method as in claim 21, wherein said vehicle is a four-wheel drive vehicle.

23. A method as in claim 21, wherein one of said operating parameters displayed is the steering angle of the front wheels.

24. A method as in claim 21, wherein said at least one sensor is comprised of a torque amplitude signal sensor.

25. A method as in claim 21, wherein said processing is by said vehicle'"'"'s CPU or by a display CPU.

26. A method as in claim 21, wherein said displaying is with a LED, LCD, vacuum fluorescent means, GPS display, numerical display, gauge, meter and/or PDA.

27. A method as in claim 21, wherein said at least one display image is a bar chart, scalar bar chart, bar chart in pie segment format, a numerical display or an image displaying the torque or braking force delivered to the wheels or an image displaying the slippage of one or more wheels with regard to the other wheels.

28. A method as in claim 21, wherein said image is comprised of a display varying in time in one or more characteristics to include color, hue, shading, density of cross hatching, contrast, content, shape, orientation, pattern, illumination and/or highlighting.

29. An image creating and sound creating device comprising:

a first data signal generation means affixed on or within a vehicle and producing a first data signal;

a first interface to receive said first data signal;

a second data signal generation means affixed on or within said vehicle and producing a second data signal, said second data signal generation means comprised of a harmonic frequency sensor;

a second interface to receive said second data signal;

a processing device operably coupled to said interfaces to transform said first and second data signals into at least one frame of display data and into an electronic sound signal;

a display device displaying said at least one frame of display data for the operator of said vehicle; and

a sound producing device converting said electronic sound signal to audible sound for said operator;

whereby said display data comprising said at least one frame of display data is displayed and/or said sound producing device creates said audible sound regarding at least one vehicle operating parameter and said at least one operating parameter is the approach of a rollover condition of said vehicle.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein said vehicle is a four-wheel vehicle.

31. The device of claim 29, wherein said first data signal generation means is a lateral acceleration sensor.

32. The device of claim 29, wherein said processing device is comprised of a vehicle CPU or a display CPU.

33. The device of claim 29, wherein said display device is a LED, LCD, vacuum fluorescent means, GPS display and/or trip computer, numerical display, gauge, meter and/or PDA.

34. The device of claim 29, wherein said image is at least one bar chart, scalar bar chart, bar chart in pie segment format, a numerical display and/or an image displaying the approach of a rollover condition of a vehicle.

35. The device of claim 29, wherein said at least one image is comprised of a display varying in time in one or more characteristics to include color, hue, shading, density of cross hatching, contrast, content, shape, orientation, pattern, illumination and/or highlighting.

36. An item comprising a medium storing instructions that, if executed, enable a system to perform steps comprising:

receiving a data signal comprised of information regarding at least one operating parameter;

generating from said data signal a command;

transforming said data signal based on the command into display information; and

displaying said display information on a display for the operator of a motor vehicle;

whereby said at least one operating parameter comprises the power consumption of a vehicle component.

37. The item of claim 36, comprising a medium storing instructions that, if executed, enable a system to perform steps to transform said data signal by using a vehicle CPU or a display CPU.

38. The item of claim 36, comprising a medium storing instructions that, if executed, enable a system to display said display information on a LED, LCD, vacuum fluorescent means, GPS display and/or trip computer, numerical display, gauge, meter and/or PDA.

39. The item of claim 36, comprising a medium storing instructions that, if executed, enable a system to display an image comprised of at least one bar chart, scalar bar chart, bar chart in pie segment format, or at least one image of a power consumption component and associated bar chart, or an image of at least one power consumption component and associated numerical display.

40. The item of claim 36, comprising a medium storing instructions that, if executed, enable a system to display said image varying in time in one or more characteristics to include color, hue, shading, density of cross hatching, contrast, content, shape, orientation, pattern, illumination and/or highlighting.

41. A data collection and display system for a proper vehicle comprising:

a first CPU controlling engagement forces of one or more of the wheels;

at least one sensing means producing an electrical input signal proportional to said engagement forces and providing said signal to a second CPU;

at least one display signal generated by said second CPU derived from said input signal, said display signal proportional to said engagement forces; and

at least one display device;

whereby said at least one display signal is transferred from said second CPU to said display device, said display device displaying an image proportional to said engagement forces to the operator.

42. A data collection and display system as in claim 41 wherein, said image is comprised of a display varying in time in one or more characteristics to include color, hue, shading, density of cross hatching, contrast, content, shape, orientation, pattern, illumination and/or highlighting.

43. A data collection and display system as in claim 41, wherein said at least one display means is an LED, LCD, vacuum fluorescent means, GPS display and/or trip computer, numerical display, gauge, meter and/or PDA.

44. A data collection and display system as in claim 41, wherein said first CPU and said second CPU are the same CPU.