Emission monitoring display device

• US 7,702,438 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2006
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lee Bernard
• Original Assignee: Lee Bernard
• Inventors: Bernard, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu; Yonel
• Application Number:
  US11/429,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20090018720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,443 Days
• Field of Search: 701 33- 34, 701/29, 701/36, 340/438, 709/213, 709217-218, 709182-183
• US Class Current: 701/34
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor

Abstract

The present invention provides an emission monitoring device for a vehicle. The device includes but is not limited to a lightweight housing for operationally encapsulating a processor, memory; a sensor for each vehicle component to be monitored, a display device; and a power supply for power the device. The processor is programmed to monitor each sensor, capture data from each sensor, store the captured data from each sensor in the memory; and display the captured onto the display device. In one embodiment of the present invention the housing is operationally mounted onto the inner gas lid of the vehicle. In an alternative embodiment, the housing is incorporated into the dashboard.

Claims

1. An emission monitoring device for a vehicle comprising:

a lightweight housing for operationally encapsulating;

a processor;

a memory;

a sensor for each vehicle component to be monitored;

a display device;

the processor programmed to;

monitor the output from each sensor;

capture data from each sensor;

store the captured data from each sensor into the memory;

calculate performance attributes based upon the captured data;

store the performance attributes;

display the performance attributes of each vehicle component onto the display device; and

a system reset button adapted to reset the device and the housing being operationally mounted onto the inner gas lid of the vehicle.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a means for activating via voice commands.

3. The device of claim 1 further comprising a communication interface.

4. The device of claim 3 further comprising:

a first hand-held output device having a processor and a display indicator for each vehicle component to be displayed;

the first hand-held device having a means for removably interfacing with the communication interface;

the processor being further programmed to;

retrieve from memory the performance attributes for each vehicle component to be display;

translate the performance attribute for each sensor; and

display the performance attribute onto the display indicator, whereby a user can determine the status of the vehicle component from the indicator; and

the output device being operationally connected to the communication interface.

5. The device of claim 3 further comprising:

a second hand-held output device having a processor and a display indicator for the vehicle emission;

the second hand-held device having a means for removably interfacing with the communication interface and the processor being programmed to;

retrieve from memory performance attributes for the vehicle emission; and

display the performance attribute onto the display indicator, whereby an operator can determine the whether the car pass status of the vehicle component from the indicator; and

the output device being operationally connected to the communication interface.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the display indicator displays a red for fail, a green for pass, and a yellow for borderline.

7. The device of claim 5 further comprising:

the processor being further programmed to;

monitor the output from each sensor;

capture data from each sensor;

store the captured data from each sensor into the memory;

calculate performance attributes based upon the captured data;

store the performance attributes; and

display the performance attributes of each vehicle component onto the display device.

8. The device of claim 4 further comprising a printing device operationally connected to the communication interface.

9. The device of claim 4 further comprising a storage device operationally connected to the communication interface for transferring from memory stored performance attributes and/or captured data for monitored vehicle components.

10. The device of claim 1 further comprising an analog to digital converter for capturing analog data from each sensor producing an analog data.

11. The device of claim 1 further comprising an input device operationally connected to the processor for providing a user interface for initializing each vehicle component to be monitored.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein the vehicle component to be monitored is a detail emission rate for the vehicle.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the vehicle component to be monitored is the detail fuel level of the vehicle.

14. The device of claim 5 wherein the second hand held device further comprising:

a means for determining alcohol blood content of a person; and

displaying the blood alcohol content onto the display.