Cruise control indicator

• US 7,159,679 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Issued: 01/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group Incorporated (Harley-Davidson Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sena, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): SHRIVER II, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US10/427,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20040216937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 180/170, 180/176, 180/219, 180/171, 180/175, 123/349, 340/425.5, 340/427, 340/461, 340/438
• US Class Current: 180/176
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/04 and means for comparing one electrical quantity, e.g. voltage, pulse, waveform, flux, or the like, with another quantity of a like kind, which comparison means is involved in the development of an electrical signal which is fed into the controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/042 where at least one electrical quantity is set by the vehicle operator
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 11/14 Handlebar constructions, or arrangements of controls thereon, specially adapted thereto hand controls per se B62K23/02

Abstract

A motorcycle comprising a frame, a front wheel coupled to the frame, a rear wheel coupled to the frame and an engine adapted to propel the motorcycle. The motorcycle also includes a cruise control system including an off condition, an on condition, and a set condition operable to maintain the motorcycle at a desired speed. A cruise control indicator is electrically connected to the cruise control system and is operable to emit light of a first color when the cruise control is in the on condition and light of a second color when the cruise control is in the set condition.

Claims

1. A cruise control system including an off condition, an on condition, and a set condition, the cruise control system comprising:

an indicator selectively operable to emit light having one of a first color and a second color; and

a user-operable control movable to configure the cruise control system in one of an off condition, an on condition, and a set condition, the indicator emitting light of the first color when the cruise control system is in the on condition and emitting light of the second color when the cruise control system is in the set condition.

2. The cruise control system of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes a first light-emitting device operable to emit light of the first color and a second light-emitting device operable to emit light of the second color.

3. The cruise control system of claim 2, wherein the first light-emitting device is an LED and the second light-emitting device is an LED.

4. The cruise control system of claim 1, further comprising a panel including a display window positioned to at least partially cover the indicator such that the light emitted by the indicator is visible through the display window.

5. The cruise control system of claim 4, wherein the display window is shaped to resemble a proposed ISO symbol for a cruise control indicator.

6. The cruise control system of claim 1, wherein one of the first color and the second color is green and the other of the first color and the second color is red.

7. The cruise control system of claim 1, further comprising a selector operable to configure the cruise control system in one of the off condition, the on condition, and the set condition, and wherein the indicator emits no light when configured in the off condition.

8. The cruise control system of claim 1, further comprising at least one switch, the switch adjustable to configure the cruise control system in one of the off condition, the on condition, and the set condition.

9. The cruise control system of claim 8, wherein the switch is a solid state switch.

10. A method of indicating the status of a cruise control system comprising:

emitting light of a first color from an indicator when the cruise control system is in an on condition;

changing the configuration of the cruise control system from the on condition to a set condition; and

emitting light of a second color from the indicator when the cruise control system is in the set condition.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising turning off the light of a first color from the indicator after changing the configuration of the cruise control from the on condition to the set condition.

12. A cruise control system operable in an off condition, an on condition, and a set condition, the cruise control system comprising:

a faceplate including a display side and a back side;

a cutout perimeter defining a cutout portion that provides an illumination path between the back side and the display side;

a first LED positioned adjacent the back side and operable to emit light of a first color when the cruise control is in the on condition, at least a portion of the emitted light passing through the cutout portion; and

a second LED positioned adjacent the back side and operable to emit light of a second color when the cruise control is in the set condition, at least a portion of the emitted light passing through the cutout portion, the second color being different from the first color.

13. The cruise control of claim 12, further comprising a user-operable control movable to configure the cruise control system in one of the off condition, the on condition, and the set condition.

14. The cruise control system of claim 12, wherein one of the first color and the second color is green and the other of the first color and the second color is red.