Interactive dynamic realtime management system for powered vehicles

• US 5,257,190 A
• Filed: 08/12/1991
• Issued: 10/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Condatis LLC (The Medici Portfolio LLC)
• Original Assignee: Harold E. Crane
• Inventors: Crane, Harold E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US07/745,061
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 364/424.01, 364/431.1, 364/431.11, 364/431.12, 73/116, 73/117.2
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0231 Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0234 related to maintenance or repairing of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/05 by combined monitoring of two or more different engine parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/18 Indicator or display

Abstract

A dynamic realtime management system for a powered vehicle having a microprocessor adapted to sense realtime inputs related to the condition of the powered vehicle. A plurality of input sensors are connected to components of the powered vehicle so as to transmit condition information to the microprocessor. A memory is provided for storing the sensed values of the realtime parameters and storing the programs for defining relationships between certain of the sensed values of the realtime parameters. A display is provided so as to produce a humanly perceivable signal related to the condition information. The microprocessor is interconnected to the display so as to transmit the condition output to the display. The microprocessor is programmed to automatically determine a plurality of unknown values relative to the conditions of the powered vehicle as a function of the sensed values of the realtime parameters. The microprocessor produces an interaction indication result for the purpose of determining the status of the components of the powered vehicle. In this manner, the operator of the powered vehicle as direct access to information generated from the management system in order to enable the operator to make reasonable, logical management decisions so as to cure costly problems and inefficiencies quickly and reliably.

Claims

1. A dynamic realtime management system for managing the condition of a powered vehicle comprising:

a microprocessor for sensing a plurality of realtime parameters associated with said powered vehicle and having means for receiving condition information relating to battery charging components of said powered vehicle, said realtime parameters selected to determined battery condition, said realtime parameters being battery voltage, starter switch voltage, and ignition input;

p1 a memory for storing sensed values of said realtime parameters and storing a plurality of programs for defining relationships between certain of said sensed values of said realtime parameters;

a display interconnected to said microprocessor, said display for producing a humanly perceivable signal, said microprocessor programmed to automatically determine a plurality of unknown values relative to the conditions of said powered vehicle as a function of said sensed values of said realtime parameters by individually selecting said unknown values to be determined, said microprocessor for determining interactions between said sensed values using said stored programs, said microprocessor producing an interaction indication result, said microprocessor producing a condition output indicative of the relationship of said condition information and said interaction indication result, said condition output being a battery condition, said microprocessor for transmitting said condition output to said display; and

a plurality of input sensor connected to said microprocessor so as to transmit said condition information to said microprocessor, said input sensors being interactively connected to a battery of said powered vehicle such that said microprocessor senses battery voltage, to an alternator motor such that said microprocessor senses alternator output voltage, to a starter switch such that said microprocessor senses starter switch voltage, and to a starter motor such that said microprocessor senses starter motor voltage.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an analog-to-digital converter connected between said input sensors and said microprocessor, said analog-to-digital converter for converting an analog output of said input sensors into a digital input to said microprocessor.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a power source connected to said microprocessor for supplying a voltage to said microprocessor, said power source independent of said battery of said powered vehicle.

4. The system of claim 1, said display being a visual monitor showing the battery charge level of said battery, said battery charge level being said condition output.

5. The system of claim 1, said display being a light signal indicative of said condition output.

6. The system of claim 1, said microprocessor programmed to determine interactions by commanding said certain realtime parameters be held constant to act as comparators in order to sense changes in other of said realtime parameters.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a terminal interconnected to said microprocessor for selecting a desired condition output to be transmitted to said display.

8. The system of claim 7, said terminal for allowing management information to be input into said microprocessor, said microprocessor for interacting said management information with said realtime parameters.

9. A dynamic realtime management system for managing the condition of a battery charging system of a vehicle comprising:

a plurality of input sensor connected to components associated with the charging system of said vehicle;

a microprocessor connected to said input sensors for sensing a plurality of realtime parameters associated with said charging system, said input sensors transmitting condition information to said microprocessor, said plurality of input sensors comprising an alternator motor voltage sensor, an alternator motor belt sensor, and a battery voltage sensor, said microprocessor for receiving and interacting the realtime parameters as received by said input sensor;

a memory for storing sensed values of said realtime parameters and for storing a program for defining relationships between certain of said sensed values of said realtime parameters; and

a display connected to said microprocessor for producing a humanly perceivable signal indicative of charging system conditions, said microprocessor interacting each of the inputs from said sensors, said microprocessor programmed so as to interact the realtime parameters in the event of a single abnormal parameter, said microprocessor for transmitting a signal to said display indicative of a cause of said single abnormal parameter.