US3868570A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic digital speedometer
Assignee: Old Carco LLC
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Filing: 1973-09-28
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Granted: 1975-02-25
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Expires: 1993-09-28
Abstract
Abstract An electronic digital speedometer having a liquid crystal display for displaying the speed of a motor vehicle. The speedometer is responsive to a plurality of speed pulses generated by a magnetic transducer and a tone wheel located in the transmission. A crystal controlled oscillator provides a source of high frequency timing pulses for controlling the solid state logic elements used to process the pulses from the transducer. An odometer circuit is also responsive to the speed pulses and records the distance travelled by the motor vehicle. In addition, a variable display interval computer is described for controlling the interval between successive changes in the display according to the magnitude of change in vehicle speed.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Joseph J Kopera
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P3/00; G01P3/42; G01P3/44; G01P3/48; G01P3/481; G01P3/489; G01P1/00; G01P1/07; G01P1/12; G01P1/122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
In a motor vehicle, an electronic digital speedometer comprising: means for receiving a series of pulses representing the movement of the vehicle, pulse shaping means electrically connected to said receiving means for shaping each of said pulses into a substantially rectangular waveshape. timing means for generating a plurality of pulses at predetermined intervals independently of said pulses from said pulse shaping means, control means responsive to the pulses from said timing means and the pulses from said pulse shaping means for generating a gate control signal, a counter control signal and a memory strobe signal upon the simultaneous occurrence of both of said pulses, a counter responsive to said counter control signal for clearing said counter, gate means responsive to said gate control signal for gating said pulses from said pulse shaping means to said counter, memory means responsive to said counter and said memory strobe signal for retaining the count in said counter during the interval between consecutive gate control signals, digital display means responsive to the count in said memory means for displaying the count in said memory, said count representing the speed of said motor vehicle, and a strobe interval computer responsive to the count in said memory means and the updated count in said counter for determining the interval between succeesive displays of said display means according to the difference between each of said memory count and said updated count and generating said memory strobe signal in response to said determination.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
In a motor vehicle, an electronic digital speedometer comprising: means for receiving a series of pulses representing the movement of the vehicle, pulse shaping means electrically connected to said receiving means for shaping each of said pulses into a substantially rectangular waveshape. timing means for generating a plurality of pulses at predetermined intervals independently of said pulses from said pulse shaping means, control means responsive to the pulses from said timing means and the pulses from said pulse shaping means for generating a gate control signal, a counter control signal and a memory strobe signal upon the simultaneous occurrence of both of said pulses, a counter responsive to said counter control signal for clearing said counter, gate means responsive to said gate control signal for gating said pulses from said pulse shaping means to said counter, memory means responsive to said counter and said memory strobe signal for retaining the count in said counter during the interval between consecutive gate control signals, digital display means responsive to the count in said memory means for displaying the count in said memory, said count representing the speed of said motor vehicle, and a strobe interval computer responsive to the count in said memory means and the updated count in said counter for determining the interval between succeesive displays of said display means according to the difference between each of said memory count and said updated count and generating said memory strobe signal in response to said determination.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a motor vehicle an electronic digital speedometer comprising: means for generating a pulse train whose frequency represents the vehicle speed; means for generating a second pulse train forming a timing base; counting circuit means for counting pulses in said first-mentioned pulse train; memory and digital display means for memorizing and displaying an accumulated count in said counting circuit means; and control circuit means operatively coupling said first-mentioned means and said second-mentioned means with said counting circuit means and said memory and digital display means such that pulses in said first pulse train are periodically gated to said counting circuit means to be accumulated by said counting circuit means during a counting interval defined by a given number of pulses of said second pulse train and the count accumulated by said counting circuit means at the conclusion of each counting interval is then memorized and displayed by said memory and digital display means in timed relation to the termination of the counting interval; said control circuit means including computing means for comparing each count in said memory and digital display means with the count accumulated by said counting circuit means during a subsequent counting interval and for changing said timed relation in accordance with the comparison.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a motor vehicle an electronic digital speedometer comprising: means for generating a pulse train whose frequency represents the vehicle speed; means for generating a second pulse train forming a timing base; counting circuit means for counting pulses in said first-mentioned pulse train; memory and digital display means for memorizing and displaying an accumulated count in said counting circuit means; and control circuit means operatively coupling said first-mentioned means and said second-mentioned means with said counting circuit means and said memory and digital display means such that pulses in said first pulse train are periodically gated to said counting circuit means to be accumulated by said counting circuit means during a counting interval defined by a given number of pulses of said second pulse train and the count accumulated by said counting circuit means at the conclusion of each counting interval is then memorized and displayed by said memory and digital display means in timed relation to the termination of the counting interval; said control circuit means including computing means for comparing each count in said memory and digital display means with the count accumulated by said counting circuit means during a subsequent counting interval and for changing said timed relation in accordance with the comparison.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
194 words
In a motor vehicle an electronic digital speedometer comprising: means for generating a pulse train whose frequency represents the vehicle speed; means for generating a second pulse train forming a timing base; counting circuit means for counting pulses in said first-mentioned pulse train; memory and digital display means for memorizing and displaying a count in said counting circuit means; and control circuit means operatively coupling said first-mentioned means and said second-mentioned means with said counting circuit means and said memory and digital display means such that pulses in said first pulse train are periodically gated to said counting circuit means during a counting interval defined by a given number of pulses of said second pulse train and the accumulated count in said counting circuit means is then memorized and displayed by said memory and digital display means; said control circuit means including means for resetting said counting circuit means in response to one of the pulses of said first pulse train occurring subsequent to the completion of a counting interval and means for starting a subsequent counting interval in response to a pulse of said first pulse train subsequent to said one pulse thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
194 words
In a motor vehicle an electronic digital speedometer comprising: means for generating a pulse train whose frequency represents the vehicle speed; means for generating a second pulse train forming a timing base; counting circuit means for counting pulses in said first-mentioned pulse train; memory and digital display means for memorizing and displaying a count in said counting circuit means; and control circuit means operatively coupling said first-mentioned means and said second-mentioned means with said counting circuit means and said memory and digital display means such that pulses in said first pulse train are periodically gated to said counting circuit means during a counting interval defined by a given number of pulses of said second pulse train and the accumulated count in said counting circuit means is then memorized and displayed by said memory and digital display means; said control circuit means including means for resetting said counting circuit means in response to one of the pulses of said first pulse train occurring subsequent to the completion of a counting interval and means for starting a subsequent counting interval in response to a pulse of said first pulse train subsequent to said one pulse thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electronic digital speedometer as claimed in claim 3 wherein said control circuit means comprises means responsive to a predetermined characteristic of the pulse in said first pulse train for starting the subsequent counting interval.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-24 | 1978-08-26 | 1979-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-24 | 1982-08-26 | 1983-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-24 | 1986-08-26 | 1987-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |