Gear availability and synchronization indicator system with selectively maskable display

• US 7,522,034 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2006
• Issued: 04/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kent H. Price
• Original Assignee: Kent H. Price
• Inventors: Price, Kent H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US11/429,396
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 340/456, 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/439, 340/441, 340/461, 340/576, 180/197, 180/278, 701/1, 701/29, 701/30, 701/31, 701/51, 701/55
• US Class Current: 340/456
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2063/426 with means for advising the driver for proper shift action, e.g. prompting the driver with allowable selection range of ratios
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 63/42 Ratio indicator devices

Abstract

A gear availability indicator for multi-gear transmissions of motor vehicles capable of generating output signals for operation of a display, including a display having at least: a first section displaying a range of acceptable engine speeds; and a second section displaying at least one gear symbol representative of at least one gear ratio value, the displayed range of acceptable engine speeds and the at least one displayed gear symbol being moveable relative to one another; and means for selectively masking at least one of the first section and the second section.

Claims

1. A method for training a driver to operate heavy trucks, comprising the steps of:

displaying with an indicator information relating to engine speed of the heavy truck and available gears via a display, the display including at least;

a first section displaying a range of acceptable engine speeds; and

a second section displaying at least one gear symbol representative of at least one gear ratio value;

the displayed range of acceptable engine speeds and the at least one displayed gear symbol being moveable relative to one another; and

selectively masking at least one of the first and second sections of the display to test the driver on his or her knowledge of available gears absent the information provided by the indicator relating to engine speed of the heavy truck and available gears.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively masking includes selectively masking the first section of the display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively masking includes selectively masking the second section of the display.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively masking includes selectively masking the first section of the display and the second section of the display.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selectively masking is performed remotely from the indicator.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein an instructor selectively masks at least one of the first and second sections of the display.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the driver selectively masks at least one of the first and second sections of the display.