Display unit

• US 6,411,205 B1
• Filed: 06/21/1999
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dedenbear Products, Inc. (Auto Meter Products Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Dennis Reid
• Inventors: Reid, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US09/337,706
• Time in Patent Office: 1,100 Days
• Field of Search: 340/468, 340/425.5, 340/466, 340/469, 340/479, 340/936, 340/901, 340/905, 340/933, 340/941, 340/323.R, 307/10.1, 362/459, 362/487, 362/503, 362/548
• US Class Current: 340/468
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5035 electronic displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/114 Racing vehicles, e.g. Formula one, Karts
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 Race time-recorders

Abstract

A display for displaying the dial-in selection of information of a racing vehicle for use by a timing tower in racing includes a display unit which displays a numeric amount or alphanumeric data of a dial-in selection of information. The display unit includes electronic driver circuits, and the display unit is constructed to be mounted on a racing vehicle so that the display can be readily seen from outside of the vehicle and at varied distances and angles with respect to the vehicle.

Claims

1. A display for displaying the dial-in selection of information of a racing vehicle for use by a timing tower in racing, said display comprising,

a display unit for displaying a numeric amount or alphanumeric data of a dial-in selection of information pertaining to a particular race vehicle in a race, to be sued by at least an observer in said timing tower,

said display including electronic driver circuits,

said display unit being constructed to be mounted on a racing vehicle so that the display can be readily seen from the outside of the vehicle and at varied distances and angles with respect to the vehicle,

setting means for programming the numeric amount of the dial-in selection to be displayed in the display unit, and

wherein the setting means include an electronic processor for programming the numeric amounts,

electronic delay timer means for controlling one or more selected functions of the racing vehicle to help prevent the racing vehicle from leaving the starting line until the moment when the race starts,

said delay timer means being connected to the display unit, and

wherein the electronic processor is in the display unit.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the setting means are built into the display unit.

3. A display for displaying the dial in selection of information of a racing vehicle for use by a timing tower in racing, said display comprising,

a display unit for displaying a numeric amount or alphanumeric data of a dial-in selection of information,

said display including electronic driver circuits,

said display unit being constructed to be mounted on a racing vehicle so that the display can be readily seen from the outside of the vehicle and at varied distances and angles with respect to the vehicle,

said display including setting means for programming the numeric amount of the dial in selection to be displayed in the display unit, and

wherein the setting means include an electronic processor for programming the numeric amounts, and

said display including electronic delay timer means to help prevent the racing vehicle from leaving the starting line until the moment when the race starts, and

wherein the electronic processor is in the delay timer means.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 including control means for automatically sending data to the display unit from settings programmed into the electronic delay timer means.

5. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein the setting means are built into the display unit itself.

6. The invention defined in claim 3 including connecting means connecting the setting means with the display unit for transmitting the programmed numeric amount to the display unit.

7. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein the display unit includes lamps arranged in the form of segments of numbers or letters and wherein the electronic driver circuits drive selected lamps to display selected numbers or letters.

8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the lamps are light emitting diodes.

9. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the lamps are incandescent lamps.

10. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the lamps are vacuum flourescent lamps.

11. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the lamps are nixie tube lamps.

12. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the lamps are gas plasma lamps.

13. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the lamps are liquid crystal displays.

14. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the lamps are neon lamps.

15. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the lamps are flourescent lamps.

16. The invention defined in claim 7 including brightness level control means for adjusting the brightness of the display unit to accommodate changes in the brightness of the ambient lighting.

17. The invention defined in claim 3 including multiple display units so that the multiple display units may be mounted at different, selected locations on the racing vehicle and wherein connecting means connect the setting means with each of the multiple display units.

18. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein the setting means include thumbwheels for converting the programmed numeric amounts into a pattern of lamps in the display unit.

19. She invention defined in claim 3 wherein the setting means include push buttons for converting the programmed numeric amounts into a pattern of lamps in the display unit.

20. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein the setting means include rotary switches for converting the programmed numeric amounts into a pattern of lamps in the display unit.

21. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein the display unit displays the number of the racing vehicle.

22. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein the display unit includes illuminating means for providing a display of the numeric amount that can be seen under all ambient lighting conditions including the lighting conditions existing during nighttime racing.

23. The invention defined in claim 22 wherein the illuminating means are adjustable.

24. The invention defined in claim 22 wherein the selectable number means include reflective numbers that can be electro-mechanically changed.

25. The invention defined in claim 24 wherein the setting means include thumbwheels for converting the programmed numeric amounts into reflective numbers in the display unit.

26. The invention defined in claim 24 wherein the setting means include push buttons for converting the programmed numeric amounts into reflective numbers in the display unit.

27. The invention defined in claim 24 wherein the setting means include rotary switches for converting the programmed numeric amounts into reflective numbers in the display unit.

28. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein the connecting means include cable.

29. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein the connecting means include light signal transmitting means.

30. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein the connecting means include radio signal transmitting means.

31. The invention defined in claim 6 wherein the connecting means include magnetic signal transmitting means.

32. A display for displaying selected information of a racing vehicle for use by a timing tower in racing, said display comprising,

a display unit for displaying a numeric amount or alphanumeric data,

said display unit including electronic driver circuits,

said display unit being constructed to be mounted on a racing vehicle so that the display can be readily seen from the outside of the vehicle and at varied distances and angles with respect to the vehicle,

electronic delay timer means for controlling one or more selected functions of the racing vehicle,

said delay timer means being connected to the display unit,

including setting means for programming the information to be displayed in the display unit, and

including transmitting means for transmitting the programmed numeric amount directly from the setting means to a timing tower.

33. The invention defined in claim 32 wherein the transmitting means comprise radio transmitting means.

34. The invention defined in claim 32 wherein the transmitting means comprise optical transmitting means.

35. The invention defined in claim 34 wherein the optical transmitting means include a photocell.

36. The invention defined in claim 34 wherein the optical transmitting means include fiber optic cable.

37. The invention defined in claim 32 wherein the transmitting means include a magnetic signal sending unit on the racing vehicle, a magnetic sensor near the starting line, and a wire running from the sensor to a timing clock in a race track timing tower.

38. The invention defined in claim 32 including a timing tower display for viewing the programmed numeric amount.

39. The invention defined in claim 32 including processing means in the timing tower for automatically entering the programmed numeric amount into a computer of the timing tower.

40. A display for displaying the dial-in selection of information of a racing vehicle for use by a timing lower in racing, said display comprising,

a display unit for displaying a numeric amount or alphanumeric data of a dial-in selection of information pertaining to a particular race vehicle in a race, to be used by at least an observer in said timing tower,

said display including electronic driver circuits,

said display unit being constructed to be mounted on a racing vehicle so that the display can be readily seen from the outside of the vehicle and at varied distances and angles with respect to the vehicle,

setting means for programming the numeric amount of the dial-in selection to be displayed in the display unit, and

wherein the setting means include an electronic processor for programming the numeric amounts,

electronic delay timer means for controlling one or more selected functions of the racing vehicle to help prevent the racing vehicle from leaving the starting line until the moment when the race starts,

said delay timer means being connected to the display unit, and

wherein the electronic processor is in a structure separate from the delay timer means and the display unit.