US3846701A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle performance computer
Assignee: PENTRON IND INC US
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Filing: 1971-05-10
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Granted: 1974-11-05
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Expires: 1991-05-10
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle performance computer which is selectively operable to function as either a speedometer, or as a performance speed computer to determine the time required for the motor vehicle to travel a predetermined distance. Unlike many such devices of this latter type, the predetermined distance is internally measured, thus making it unnecessary to first establish a measured distance over which the performance of the vehicle is measured.
Inventors
- 👤 H Sampey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:51
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P3/00; G01P3/42; G01P3/44; G01P3/48; G01P3/481; G01P3/489; G01P3/64; G01P3/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
416 words
A vehicle performance computer comprising, in combination: a digital indicator; driver means coupled to and driving said digital indicator to indicate time in seconds thereon in accordance with the number of clock pulses received and counted theReby; pulse generator means coupled to said driver means for providing clock pulses thereto; gating means associated with said digital indicator and said driver means operable to prevent further updating of the information displayed by said digital indicator; signal pulse generator means for producing an electrical signal pulse each time the vehicle travels a preestablished increment of distance; signal pulse counter means for receiving and counting said electrical signal pulses; said signal pulse counter means being programmed to count a pre-determined number of said electrical signal pulses corresponding to the number of said electrical signal pulses occurring in the vehicle traveling a pre-determined distance and triggering said gating means to prevent further updating of the information displayed by said digital indicator, whereby the time indicated in seconds on said digital indicator represents the time elapsed in the vehicle traveling said internally measured pre-determined distance; switch means for coupling said electrical signal pulses to said driver means and for disconnecting said clock pulses therefrom, whereby the information displayed by said digital indicator is directly proportional to the velocity of the vehicle; a clock pulse counter for counting a pre-determined number of clock pulses, said number of clock pulses counted corresponding to a time interval to establish a constant of proportionality of 1.0 MPH; gating means enabled by said clock pulse generating when said pre-determined number of clock pulses have been counted to gate said first-mentioned gating means to prevent further updating of the information displayed by said digital indicator, whereby said displayed information corresponds to the velocity of said vehicle; said digital indicator including a first portion thereof which is driven by said signal pulses coupled to said driver means to indicate the velocity of said vehicle in whole numbers and a second portion which is driven to indicate the hundredths of said velocity of said vehicle, said second portion being operated by second driver means independent of said driver means for said first portion; and means triggered by said signal pulses and producing 100 pulses per second during the time interval between each of said signal pulses, said 100 pulses per second being coupled to and driving said second driver means, whereby the information displayed by said second portion of said digital indicator indicates the hundredths velocity of said vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
416 words
A vehicle performance computer comprising, in combination: a digital indicator; driver means coupled to and driving said digital indicator to indicate time in seconds thereon in accordance with the number of clock pulses received and counted theReby; pulse generator means coupled to said driver means for providing clock pulses thereto; gating means associated with said digital indicator and said driver means operable to prevent further updating of the information displayed by said digital indicator; signal pulse generator means for producing an electrical signal pulse each time the vehicle travels a preestablished increment of distance; signal pulse counter means for receiving and counting said electrical signal pulses; said signal pulse counter means being programmed to count a pre-determined number of said electrical signal pulses corresponding to the number of said electrical signal pulses occurring in the vehicle traveling a pre-determined distance and triggering said gating means to prevent further updating of the information displayed by said digital indicator, whereby the time indicated in seconds on said digital indicator represents the time elapsed in the vehicle traveling said internally measured pre-determined distance; switch means for coupling said electrical signal pulses to said driver means and for disconnecting said clock pulses therefrom, whereby the information displayed by said digital indicator is directly proportional to the velocity of the vehicle; a clock pulse counter for counting a pre-determined number of clock pulses, said number of clock pulses counted corresponding to a time interval to establish a constant of proportionality of 1.0 MPH; gating means enabled by said clock pulse generating when said pre-determined number of clock pulses have been counted to gate said first-mentioned gating means to prevent further updating of the information displayed by said digital indicator, whereby said displayed information corresponds to the velocity of said vehicle; said digital indicator including a first portion thereof which is driven by said signal pulses coupled to said driver means to indicate the velocity of said vehicle in whole numbers and a second portion which is driven to indicate the hundredths of said velocity of said vehicle, said second portion being operated by second driver means independent of said driver means for said first portion; and means triggered by said signal pulses and producing 100 pulses per second during the time interval between each of said signal pulses, said 100 pulses per second being coupled to and driving said second driver means, whereby the information displayed by said second portion of said digital indicator indicates the hundredths velocity of said vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
294 words
A vehicle performance computer comprising in combination: signal pulse generator means for producing an electrical signal pulse each time the vehicle travels a preestablished increment of distance; a digital indicator; driver means coupled to and driving said digital indicator in accordance with the number of signal pulses received and counted thereby, whereby the information displayed by said digital indicator is directly proportional to the velocity of the vehicle; gating means associated with said digital indicator and said driver means operable to prevent further updating of the information displayed by said digital indicator; pulse generator means for producing clock pulses; a clock pulse counter programmable to count a pre-determined number of clock pulses corresponding to a time interval to establish a constant of proportionality of 1.0 MPH; gating means enabled by said clock pulse counter when said programmed number of clock pulses have been counted to gate said first-mentioned gating means to prevent further updating of the information displayed by said digital indicator, whereby said information corresponds to the actual velocity of said vehicle; said digital indicator including a first portion thereof which is driven by said signal pulses coupled to said driver means to indicate the velocity of said vehicle in whole numbers and a second portion which is driven to indicate the hundredths of said velocity of said vehicle, said second portion being operated by seCond driver means independent of said driver means for said first portion, and means triggered by said signal pulses and producing 100 pulses per second during the time interval between each of said signal pulses, said 100 pulses per second being coupled to and driving said second driver means, whereby the information displayed by said second portion of said digital indicator indicates the hundredths velocity of said vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
294 words
A vehicle performance computer comprising in combination: signal pulse generator means for producing an electrical signal pulse each time the vehicle travels a preestablished increment of distance; a digital indicator; driver means coupled to and driving said digital indicator in accordance with the number of signal pulses received and counted thereby, whereby the information displayed by said digital indicator is directly proportional to the velocity of the vehicle; gating means associated with said digital indicator and said driver means operable to prevent further updating of the information displayed by said digital indicator; pulse generator means for producing clock pulses; a clock pulse counter programmable to count a pre-determined number of clock pulses corresponding to a time interval to establish a constant of proportionality of 1.0 MPH; gating means enabled by said clock pulse counter when said programmed number of clock pulses have been counted to gate said first-mentioned gating means to prevent further updating of the information displayed by said digital indicator, whereby said information corresponds to the actual velocity of said vehicle; said digital indicator including a first portion thereof which is driven by said signal pulses coupled to said driver means to indicate the velocity of said vehicle in whole numbers and a second portion which is driven to indicate the hundredths of said velocity of said vehicle, said second portion being operated by seCond driver means independent of said driver means for said first portion, and means triggered by said signal pulses and producing 100 pulses per second during the time interval between each of said signal pulses, said 100 pulses per second being coupled to and driving said second driver means, whereby the information displayed by said second portion of said digital indicator indicates the hundredths velocity of said vehicle.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-04 | 1978-05-06 | 1978-11-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-04 | 1982-05-06 | 1982-11-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-04 | 1986-05-06 | 1986-11-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |