Thermometer for engine of vehicle

• US 6,902,318 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2002
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oppama Industry Co., Ltd. (Yamabiko Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oppama Industry Co., Ltd. (Yamabiko Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Hiromi
• Primary Examiner(s): VERBITSKY, GAIL KAPLAN
• Application Number:
  US10/470,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20040062291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 374/141, 374/144, 374/148, 374/183, 374/185, 374/170, 374/208, 340/870.16, 340/870.17, 340/584, 327/101, 701/1
• US Class Current: 374/141
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/16 concerning coolant temperature F01P11/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 2031/20 Warning devices

Abstract

Provided is a thermometer that is mounted on an engine incorporated in a vehicle and that measures the temperature of the engine during running of the vehicle. A temperature/resistance element included in the thermometer senses the temperature of the engine all the time. The sensed temperature is displayed on a display. Furthermore, a temperature warning indicator indicates whether the sensed temperature exceeds a warning set temperature. While monitoring the sensed temperature and temperature warning indication, a driver can accelerate the vehicle or shift the transmission gear so as to retain a load on the engine in an optimal state.

Claims

1. A thermometer for an engine of a vehicle, comprising:

a temperature/resistance element that is mounted on part of an engine incorporated in a vehicle and that detects the temperature of the engine as a change in resistance;

a resistance-frequency converter that is optionally connected to said temperature/resistance element and that converts the detected change in resistance into a change in frequency;

a computer that calculates the temperature of the engine on the basis of a frequency represented by an output of said resistance-frequency converter, and displays it on a display; and

a key entry unit for use in setting a warning temperature of the engine to a value selected from among a plurality of predetermined values and thus determining the warning temperature, wherein;

when a temperature of the engine exceeds the warning set temperature determined using said key entry unit, said computer instructs a warning indicator to give a warning indication;

the thermometer further comprising an engine speed detecting unit that detects an engine speed, wherein;

said computer calculates an engine speed on the basis of an output of said engine speed detecting unit;

when the calculated engine speed is equal to or higher than a shift timing point revolution speed and is equal to or lower than a shift timing warning set revolution speed, a shift timing indicator is actuated.

2. The thermometer for an engine of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said computer has the ability to convert the temperature of the engine obtained using said resistance-frequency converter from a Celsius temperature to a Fahrenheit temperature or vice versa.

3. The thermometer for an engine of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said key entry unit is used to determine the warning temperature in either Celsius or Fahrenheit.

4. The thermometer for an engine of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said key input unit is a key matrix unit that permits a user to determine the warning temperature, a warning voltage, or the setting of a timer, to store, display, or reset a maximum temperature of the engine, or to designate whether the functions of circuits are activated or inactivated automatically or manually at the time of starting or stopping the engine.

5. The thermometer for an engine of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein in stopwatch mode which is designated using said key entry unit and in which stopwatch measurement, lap time measurement, split second measurement, or lap time/split second storage is carried out, said computer displays on said display times measured during running of a vehicle.

6. The thermometer for an engine of a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a Celsius/Fahrenheit display setting unit that is used to specify in said computer whether the temperature of the engine obtained using said resistance-frequency converter is displayed on said display in Celsius or Fahrenheit.

7. The thermometer for an engine of a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein after the engine is stopped, when a set time has elapsed, said computer automatically halts all the functions of circuits except the function of a timer.

8. The thermometer for an engine of a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a shift timing warning indicator that is driven when the engine speed detected by said engine speed detecting unit is equal to or higher than a shift timing warning set revolution speed determined using said key entry unit.

9. A thermometer for an engine of a vehicle, comprising:

a temperature/resistance element that is mounted on part of an engine incorporated in a vehicle and that detects the temperature of the engine as a change in resistance;

a resistance-frequency converter that is optionally connected to said temperature/resistance element and that converts the detected change in resistance into a change in frequency;

a computer that calculates the temperature of the engine on the basis of a frequency represented by an output of said resistance-frequency converter, and displays it on a display; and

a key entry unit for use in setting a warning temperature of the engine to a value selected from among a plurality of predetermined values and thus determining the warning temperature, wherein;

when the temperature of the engine exceeds the warning set temperature determined using said key entry unit, said computer instructs a warning indicator to give a warning indication;

the thermometer further comprising;

a battery voltage detecting unit that detects a voltage across a battery incorporated in the vehicle; and

converts the detected voltage into a frequency; and

a voltage warning indicator that when the voltage across the battery exceeds a pre-set warning voltage, gives a warning indication, wherein;

said computer calculates the voltage across the battery on the basis of the frequency represented by an output of said battery voltage detecting unit, and displays on said display the calculated voltage across the battery;

when the voltage across the battery exceeds the warning set voltage determined using said key entry unit, said voltage warning indicator gives a warning indication, wherein;

said battery voltage detecting unit includes a frequency division circuit that produces a signal whose frequency corresponds to an integral submultiple of the frequency into which the frequency of the voltage across the battery is converted and whose timing matches the data processing timing at which said computer processes data.

10. The thermometer for an engine of a vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said computer has the ability to convert the temperature of the engine obtained using said resistance-frequency converter from a Celsius temperature to a Fahrenheit temperature or vice versa.

11. The thermometer according to claim 9, wherein said key entry unit is used to determine the warning temperature in either Celsius or Fahrenheit.

12. The thermometer for an engine of a vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said key entry unit is a key matrix unit that permits a user to determine the warning temperature, a warning voltage, or the setting of a timer, to store, display, or reset a maximum temperature of the engine, or to designate whether the functions of circuits are activated or inactivated automatically or manually at the time of starting or stopping the engine.

13. The thermometer for an engine of a vehicle according to claim 9, wherein in stopwatch mode which is designated using said key entry unit and in which stopwatch measurement, lap time measurement, split second measurement, or lap time/split second storage is carried out, said computer displays on said display times measured during running of a vehicle.

14. The thermometer for an engine of a vehicle according to claim 9, further comprising a Celsius/Fahrenheit display setting unit that is used to specify in said computer whether the temperature of the engine obtained using said resistance-frequency converter is displayed on said display in Celsius or Fahrenheit.

15. The thermometer for an engine of a vehicle according to claim 9, wherein after the engine is stopped, when a set time has elapsed, said computer automatically halts all the functions of circuits except the function of a timer.