TRIP LOGGER

• US 20090292418A1
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Kuykendal
• Original Assignee: Robert Kuykendal
• Inventors: Kuykendal, ROBERT L.
• Application Number:
  US12/126,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20090292418A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

An accessory device for vehicles, such as automobiles and light trucks, that automatically creates a log of all trips taken by the vehicle. The log includes date, time, odometer reading, stopping location, and miles traveled from previous stop. The device produces a log in a format that meets the regulation of tax collecting agencies and accounting firms regarding the separation of mileage by personal use and business use. The device allows a user to purge the log as desired.

Claims

1. A device producing data of vehicle operations suitable for a tax collecting agency, comprising:

a module receiving external power, said module receiving inputs, and said module providing outputs;

said inputs including odometer readings, vehicle status indicators, and alphanumeric characters; and

,

said output including data identifying the mileage between a plurality of paired locations upon a route traveled by a vehicle.

2. The vehicle data producing device of claim 1 further comprising:

said module including a memory, and a processor receiving said inputs and producing said outputs; and

,

a keypad in communication with said processor.

3. The vehicle data producing device of claim 1 further comprising:

said inputs including GPS location fix data.

4. The vehicle data producing device of claim 1 wherein said odometer readings are digital.

5. The vehicle data producing device of claim 1 further comprising:

said output including an LCD display proximate said module.

6. The vehicle data producing device of claim 1 further comprising:

said output including a port suitable for connection to an external device; and

,

said output providing date, time, location code, odometer readings, miles traveled, and a usage code denoting at least personal and business usages.

7. The vehicle data producing device of claim 1 further comprising:

said module receiving an input from said vehicle status indicators, logging the date, time, and odometer reading at the start of one of a day or a trip, receiving alphanumeric characters from a keypad for association with the start of a day or a trip, logging odometer readings from time to time during operation of a vehicle, creating a record of the date, time, odometer reading, and alphanumeric code at one of an interval during a trip, at the end of the day, or when a vehicle stops, matching the record when a vehicle stops with the record at the start of a day or trip, and providing output of mileage and usage upon command of a user.

8. The vehicle data producing device of claim 1 further comprising:

said module having an internal power source including a battery and a clock.

9. The vehicle data producing device of claim 1 further comprising:

said vehicle status indicators including a vehicle ignition switch status and a transmission drive selector.

10. A method of producing a log of data regarding vehicle operations suitable for a tax collecting agency using a processor, comprising:

receiving an input from one of a vehicle ignition switch or a transmission drive selector and logging said input within said processor;

logging the date, time, and odometer reading at the start of one of a day or a trip within said processor;

receiving alphanumeric characters from a keypad into said processor for association with the start of a day or a trip;

logging odometer readings from time to time during operation of a vehicle within said processor;

creating a record of the date, time, odometer reading, and alphanumeric code within said processor at one of an interval during a trip, when a vehicle stops, or at the end of a day or a vehicle trip;

matching the record when a vehicle stops with the record at the start of a day or trip by said processor; and

,

providing output of mileage and usage from said processor upon command of a user.