Computerized monitoring system having a programmable gauge

• US 5,374,917 A
• Filed: 11/12/1993
• Issued: 12/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Barney, Dennis A., Vance, Ricky D., Hoffman, John P., Kozlevcar, Joseph G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/150,753
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/439, 340/459-462, 340/517, 340/525, 340/691, 340/692
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

Instruments are often designed to operate in connection with a variety of machine types. Advantageously, such gauges are sufficiently flexible to indicate the levels of parameters in either a high warning or a low warning format. In the subject invention, a gauge includes a plurality of indicating segments being selectively illuminable for indicating the levels of the sensed parameter in the normal operating range, a high warning segment being selectively illuminable for indicating the level of the sensed parameter being above the normal operating range, and a low warning segment being selectively illuminable for indicating the level of the sensed parameter being below the normal operating range. An identification code is produced and received by an instrument which responsively enables one of the high and low warning segments.

Claims

1. An apparatus for indicating the level of one of a plurality of sensed parameters on one of a plurality of machines, said sensed parameter having a normal operating range, comprising:

an identification means for producing an identification code;

a plurality of indicating segment means being selectively illuminable for indicating the levels of the sensed parameter in the normal operating range;

a high warning segment means being selectively illuminable for indicating the level of the sensed parameter being above the normal operating range;

a low warning segment means being selectively illuminable for indicating the level of the sensed parameter being below the normal operating range; and

selection means for receiving said identification code and responsively enabling one of said high and low warning segment means.

2. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, including a high and a low outline segment means being illuminable for indicating high and low ranges of the sensed parameter, respectively, and wherein said selection means illuminates one of said high and low outline segment means in response to said identification code.

3. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 1, including a mode select means for producing a display mode identifier and means for selecting one of a plurality of display modes in response to said display mode identifier.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said display modes include a single-bar mode and a fill-the-graph mode.

5. An apparatus for indicating the level of one of a plurality of sensed parameters on one of a plurality of machines, said sensed parameter having a normal operating range, comprising:

an identification means for producing an identification code;

a plurality of indicating segment means being selectively illuminable for indicating the levels of the sensed parameter in the normal operating range;

a plurality of symbol means for indicating the identity of the sensed parameter, said symbol means being selectively illuminable;

a high warning segment means being selectively illuminable for indicating the level of the sensed parameter being above the normal operating range;

a low warning segment means being selectively illuminable for indicating the level of the sensed parameter being below the normal operating range; and

selection means for receiving said identification code and responsively enabling one of said high and low warning segment means and illuminating one of said plurality of symbol means.

6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, including a mode select means for producing a display mode identifier and means for selecting one of a plurality of display modes in response to said display mode identifier;

said display modes including a single-bar mode and a fill-the-graph mode.

7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, including a high and a low outline segment means being illuminable for indicating a range of levels of the sensed parameter being above and below the normal operating range, respectively, and wherein said selection means illuminates one of said high and low outline segment means in response to said identification code.

8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said indicating segment means and said high warning segment means flash in response to the level of the sensed parameter being above the normal operating range and the low warning segment means being enabled, and said indicating segment means and said low warning segment means flash in response to the level of the sensed parameter being below the normal operating range and the low warning segment means being enabled.

9. A method for indicating the level of one of a plurality of sensed parameters on one of a plurality of machines, said sensed parameter having a normal operating range, comprising the steps of:

producing an identification code; and

receiving said identification code and responsively enabling one of a high warning segment for indicating the level of the sensed parameter being above the normal operating range and a low warning segment for indicating the level of the sensed. parameter being below the normal operating range.

10. A method, as set forth in claim 9, including the step of illuminating one of a high and a low outline segment and one of a plurality of symbols in response to the identification code.

11. A method, as set forth in claim 9, including the step of selecting one of a single-bar mode and a fill-the-graph mode in response to a display mode identifier.