Odometer system and method for a vehicle
First Claim
1. In a vehicle of a type having an ignition switch, an improvement comprising a mileage display system for displaying an accumulated mileage traveled by the vehicle, the mileage display system comprising:
- a main odometer having a display face capable of displaying a predetermined number of display digits as a normal display;
a display controller operatively connected to the ignition switch of the vehicle and operable to calculate the accumulated mileage by counting a pulse signal produced according to movement of the vehicle; and
a memory unit for recording the accumulated mileage;
wherein the display controller is operable to record the accumulated mileage in the memory unit during vehicle operation and to display the accumulated mileage on the display face, and if the accumulated mileage recorded in the memory unit exceeds a maximum value, established by the predetermined number of display digits, when the ignition switch is operated, the display controller is operable to display a numeric value of higher order than the normal display on the main odometer, for a predetermined period of time, as an enhanced display.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A mileage display system includes a control unit operatively connected to an ignition switch of a motorcycle that obtains the accumulated mileage by accumulating a pulse signal produced according to running of the motorcycle. The control unit records odometer data in an EEPROM. The control unit also reads the odometer data recorded in the EEPROM when the ignition switch is operated. If the odometer data exceeds the maximum value to be displayed on an odometer (for example, 99999), the control unit displays on the odometer for a predetermined period of time a numeric value of digits of higher order than the predetermined number of display digits of the odometer data. The mileage display system displays an accurate, accumulated distance traveled or accumulated mileage, after the mileage overflows by exceeding a maximum display value as established by a predetermined number of display digits.
9 Citations
21 Claims
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1. In a vehicle of a type having an ignition switch, an improvement comprising a mileage display system for displaying an accumulated mileage traveled by the vehicle, the mileage display system comprising:
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a main odometer having a display face capable of displaying a predetermined number of display digits as a normal display; a display controller operatively connected to the ignition switch of the vehicle and operable to calculate the accumulated mileage by counting a pulse signal produced according to movement of the vehicle; and a memory unit for recording the accumulated mileage; wherein the display controller is operable to record the accumulated mileage in the memory unit during vehicle operation and to display the accumulated mileage on the display face, and if the accumulated mileage recorded in the memory unit exceeds a maximum value, established by the predetermined number of display digits, when the ignition switch is operated, the display controller is operable to display a numeric value of higher order than the normal display on the main odometer, for a predetermined period of time, as an enhanced display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. In a vehicle of a type having an ignition switch, an improvement comprising a mileage display system for displaying an accumulated mileage traveled by the vehicle, the mileage display system comprising:
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a main odometer having a display face capable of displaying a predetermined number of display digits as a normal display; a display controller operatively connected to the ignition switch of the vehicle and operable to calculate the accumulated mileage by counting a pulse signal produced according to movement of the vehicle; and a memory unit for recording the accumulated mileage; a reset switch; a trip odometer for displaying an accumulated mileage accrued by the vehicle, the trip odometer operable to be reset to zero when the reset switch is operated; wherein the display controller is operable to record the accumulated mileage in the memory unit and, if the reset switch is simultaneously operated when the ignition switch is operated, and if the accumulated mileage recorded in the memory unit exceeds a maximum value of display as established by the predetermined number of display digits, the display controller causes the main odometer to display, for a predetermined period of time, a numeric value of digits of higher order than the predetermined number of display digits, as an enhanced display, to show the accumulated mileage. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of displaying accumulated mileage on a vehicle having an ignition switch and a mileage display system for displaying an accumulated mileage traveled by the vehicle, the mileage display system comprising a main odometer having a display face capable of displaying a predetermined number of display digits as a normal display, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
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counting a pulse signal produced according to movement of the vehicle; calculating the accumulated mileage traveled by the vehicle based on the pulse signal count, using a display controller; displaying the accumulated mileage on the display face of the main odometer as a normal display; and storing a value corresponding to the accumulated mileage in a memory unit; wherein the display controller periodically updates the stored value corresponding to the accumulated mileage in the memory unit during vehicle operation, and if the accumulated mileage recorded in the memory unit exceeds a maximum value, established by the predetermined number of display digits, when the ignition switch is operated, displaying a numeric value of higher order than the normal display on the main odometer, for a predetermined period of time, as an enhanced display. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of displaying accumulated mileage on a vehicle having an ignition switch and a mileage display system for displaying an accumulated mileage traveled by the vehicle, the mileage display system comprising a main odometer having a display face capable of displaying a predetermined number of display digits as a normal display, and a trip odometer operatively associated with a reset switch, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
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counting a pulse signal produced according to movement of the vehicle; calculating the accumulated mileage traveled by the vehicle based on the pulse signal count, using a display controller; displaying the total accumulated mileage of the vehicle on the display face of the main odometer as a normal display; displaying an accumulated trip mileage accrued by the vehicle on the trip odometer, the trip odometer operable to be reset to zero when the reset switch is operated; and storing a value corresponding to the accumulated mileage in a memory unit; wherein the display controller periodically updates the stored value corresponding to the accumulated mileage in the memory unit during vehicle operation, and if the reset switch is simultaneously operated when the ignition switch is operated, and if the accumulated mileage recorded in the memory unit exceeds a maximum value of display as established by the predetermined number of display digits, displaying, for a predetermined period of time, a numeric value of digits of higher order than the predetermined number of display digits, as an enhanced display, to show the accumulated mileage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification