Vehicle data recording system

Claim 2

A vehicle data recording system comprising magnetic tape recording means for recording selected data representative of a vehicle''s operation, said tape recording means including magnetic head means and tape transport means for incrementally advancing a magnetic tape past said head means during spaced intervals of time, means for providing a plurality of input signals corresponding to the vehicle''s operation, and control means for periodically processing and sampling said input signals to simultaneously provide a plurality of data signals to said head means for recording on the magnetic tape and provide step signals to said tape transport means, said tape transport means advancing the tape by predetermined increments in response to said periodic step signals.

Claim 3

The assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for providing said input signals includes means for sensing a plurality of vehicle conditions.

Claim 4

The assembly set forth in claim 2 together with switch means including a plurality of selectively operable switches for providing input signals representative of a route of vehicle travel.

Claim 5

The assembly set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said switches corresponds to a route through a tax zone.

Claim 6

The assembly set forth in claim 4 wherein said switch means and tape recording means are mounted in a compact housing located in the vehicle for convenient operation by a driver.

Claim 7

A vehicle data recording system comprising means for sensing a plurality of vehicle conditions or the like to provide a plurality of corresponding input signals, means for encoding said input signals into corresponding digital bits, means for storing said digital bits in the form of digital data words, control means including means for producing clock pulse trains which are operative to pass said digital data words from said storage means, said control means including means for periodically initiating said pulse trains and means responsive to the passage of the stored digital data words from said storage means for terminating said pulse trains, tape recording means including head means for recording data on a magnetic tape and transport means for selectively advancing the magnetic tape past said head means, means receiving and processing said digital data words from said storage means and feeding such to said head means and simultaneously producing motor drive signals, sid transport means advancing the magnetic tape in response to said motor drive signals, said meaNs for receiving said digital data words including means for terminating said motor drive signals in response to the completion of the passage of the digital data words from said storage means, and means for periodically producing sample command pulses to enable said storage means to store said words.

Claim 8

A vehicle data recording system comprising means for sensing a plurality of vehicle conditions or the like to provide a plurality of corresponding input signals, means for encoding said input signals into corresponding digital bits, means for storing said digital bits in the form of digital data words, control means including means for producing clock pulse trains which are operative to pass said digital data words from said storage means, said control means including means for periodically initiating said pulse trains and means responsive to the passage of the stored digital data words from said storage means for terminating said pulse trains, tape recording means including head means for recording data on a magnetic tape and transport means for selectively advancing the magnetic tape past said head means, means receiving and processing said digital data words from said storage means and feeding such to said head means and simultaneously producing motor drive signals, sid transport means advancing the magnetic tape in response to said motor drive signals, said meaNs for receiving said digital data words including means for terminating said motor drive signals in response to the completion of the passage of the digital data words from said storage means, and means for periodically producing sample command pulses to enable said storage means to store said words.

Claim 9

The assembly set forth in claim 6 wherein said storage means including a plurality of registers each receiving digital data bits corresponding to said vehicle conditions, said assembly further including means for producing data ready signals when a digital data word is stored in each of said plurality of registers to enable said control means to produce said data clock pulse trains.

Claim 10

The assembly set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for receiving said digital data words includes means for terminating said motor drive signals in response to the completion of a digital data word.