Vehicle accessory for monitoring travel distance

• US 6,856,933 B1
• Filed: 06/02/2002
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terry S. Callaghan
• Original Assignee: Terry S. Callaghan
• Inventors: Callaghan, Terry S.
• Primary Examiner(s): TSAI, CAROL S W
• Application Number:
  US10/063,993
• Time in Patent Office: 989 Days
• Field of Search: 235/30.R, 235/30.A, 235/29.A, 235/29.B, 235/33, 701/35, 701/123, 340/438, 346/33.R, 702FOR 103-104, 702FOR 134-135, 702/FOR.141, 702/FOR.146, 702FOR 150-151, 702FOR 154-155, 702FOR 170-171, 702/97, 702/116, 702/122, 702/127, 702/142, 702145-149, 702/165, 702/163, 702175-178, 702/182, 702/183, 702/187, 702/188, 705/400, 377/24.1, 377/24.2
• US Class Current: 702/149
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/02 by conversion into electric waveforms and subsequent integration, e.g. using tachometer generator G01C22/002, G01C22/004, G01C22/006 take precedence

Abstract

A mileage tracking system including an input device mounted in the vehicle for receiving one of a first and second door unlock signals, and a tripmeter. The tripmeter is coupled to the input device and to a vehicle odometer sensor for accumulating a first accumulated travel distance during vehicle travel following receipt by the input device of the first door unlock signal, and for accumulating a second accumulated travel distance during vehicle travel following receipt by the input device of the second door unlock signal. The tripmeter does not accumulate the first accumulated travel distance during vehicle travel following receipt by the input device of the second door unlock signal. The mileage tracking system also preferably includes a display coupled to the tripmeter for selectively displaying the first and second accumulated travel distance. The input device is preferably a receiver for receiving a signal from a remote transmitter.

Claims

1. A mileage display system for a vehicle comprising:

a receiver for receiving a signal from a remote transmitter;

a mileage accumulator coupled to said receiver for accumulating vehicle mileage received from a mileage sensor as the vehicle travels in response to a signal received by said receiver from the remote transmitter; and

a display for displaying the vehicle mileage accumulated by said mileage accumulator.

2. The mileage display system as defined in claim 1, wherein said mileage accumulator includes an interface for coupling to an odometer sensor of the vehicle to receive a vehicle travel distance signal from which the vehicle mileage may be ascertained.

3. The mileage display system as defined in claim 2, wherein said mileage accumulator further includes a switching device coupled to said interface for receiving and selectively transmitting the vehicle travel distance signal.

4. The mileage display system as defined in claim 3, wherein said mileage accumulator further includes:

a memory device for storing cumulative travel distance; and

a processing circuit coupled to an output of said switching device and to said memory for calculating cumulative travel distance in response to the vehicle travel distance signal selectively transmitted through said switching device and for storing the cumulative travel distance in said memory.

5. The mileage display system as defined in claim 4, wherein said processing circuit is coupled to said receiver and controls said switching device to transmit the vehicle travel distance signal when the signal is received from said receiver.

6. The mileage display system of claim 1 and further comprising an input device mounted in the vehicle for receiving an input representing whether a trip is for business or personal purpose and for generating a signal representing the received input, wherein said mileage accumulator is coupled to said input device for accumulating vehicle mileage received from the mileage sensor as the vehicle travels in response to the signal received from said input device.

7. A vehicle mileage tracking system comprising:

a tripmeter mounted in a vehicle for tracking travel distance of the vehicle;

a transmitter mounted in the vehicle coupled to said tripmeter for transmitting the travel distance;

a receiver remotely located from the vehicle for receiving the travel distance transmitted by said transmitter; and

a computer server remotely located from the vehicle and coupled to a local area network and to said receiver for receiving and storing the travel distance received by said receiver,

wherein said tripmeter further stores an indicator in association with each trip segment whether the trip segment was a business trip or a personal trip, and wherein said computer server generates an electronic mail message including the vehicle identification code and travel distance.

8. A mileage tracking system for use in a vehicle, said mileage tracking system comprising:

a tripmeter for tracking travel distance of the vehicle;

an input device mounted in the vehicle for receiving an input representing whether a trip is for business or personal purpose and for generating a signal representing the received input, wherein said tripmeter is coupled to said input device for accumulating vehicle mileage received from a mileage sensor as the vehicle travels in response to the signal received from said input device; and

a transmitter coupled to said tripmeter for transmitting the travel distance to a receiver that is remotely located from the vehicle,

wherein said vehicle tripmeter further stores an indicator in association with each trip segment whether the trip segment was a business trip or a personal trip.

9. The mileage tracking system as defined in claim 8, wherein said input device is a receiver for receiving a signal from a remote transmitter.

10. The mileage tracking system as defined in claim 8, wherein said vehicle tripmeter time- and date-stamps mileage trip segments that are recorded between periods defined by the vehicle ignition being turned on and off.

11. The mileage tracking system as defined in claim 8, wherein said tripmeter totals one of the travel distances traveled during a specified period of time.

12. The mileage tracking system as defined in claim 11, wherein each said specified time period is a period during which taxes are calculated.

13. The mileage tracking system as defined in claim 11, wherein each said specified time period is a calendar year.

14. The mileage tracking system as defined in claim 11, wherein the mileage said tripmeter totals during each specified time period is business mileage.

15. The mileage tracking system as defined in claim 8 and further including a display coupled to said vehicle tripmeter for selectively displaying the travel distance.

16. The mileage tracking system as defined in claim 8, wherein said input device is an RF receiver for receiving RF first and second door unlock signals from a remote transmitter.

17. A mileage tracking system for use in a vehicle, said mileage tracking system comprising:

a tripmeter for tracking travel distance of the vehicle;

an input device mounted in the vehicle for receiving first and second door unlock signals, wherein said tripmeter coupled to said input device and to a vehicle odometer sensor for displaying mileage accumulated during vehicle travel following receipt by said input device of said second door unlock signal, wherein said tripmeter does not accumulate mileage during vehicle travel following receipt by said input device of said first door unlock signal; and

a transmitter coupled to said tripmeter for transmitting the travel distance to a receiver that is remotely located from the vehicle;

wherein said transmitter is a transceiver for receiving an interrogation signal and for transmitting vehicle mileage in response to the interrogation signal.

18. The mileage tracking system as defined in claim 17, wherein said input device is an RF receiver for receiving RF first and second door unlock signals from a remote transmitter.

19. The mileage tracking system as defined in claim 17, wherein said transmitter is an RF transmitter for transmitting an RF signal to a receiver coupled to the remote device.

20. The mileage tracking system as defined in claim 17, wherein said input device is a receiver for receiving a signal from a remote transmitter.

21. A vehicle mileage tracking system comprising:

a tripmeter mounted in a vehicle for tracking travel distance of the vehicle;

an input device mounted in the vehicle for receiving an input representing whether a trip is for business or personal purpose and for generating a signal representing the received input, wherein said tripmeter is coupled to said input device for accumulating vehicle mileage received from a mileage sensor as the vehicle travels in response to the signal received from said input device;

a transmitter mounted in the vehicle coupled to said tripmeter for transmitting the travel distance;

a receiver remotely located from the vehicle for receiving the travel distance transmitted by said transmitter; and

a computer coupled to said receiver for receiving and storing the travel distance received by said receiver;

wherein said tripmeter further stores an indicator in association with each trip segment whether the trip segment was a business trip or a personal trip.

22. The vehicle mileage tracking system of claim 21, wherein said computer is configured to automatically generate and store an electronic record indicating the vehicle and travel distance.

23. The vehicle mileage tracking system of claim 21, wherein said computer is a computer server coupled to a local area network.

24. The vehicle mileage tracking system of claim 21, wherein said transmitter is a transceiver for receiving an interrogation signal and for transmitting vehicle mileage in response to the interrogation signal.

25. The vehicle mileage tracking system as defined in claim 21, wherein said input device is a receiver for receiving a signal from a remote transmitter.