US4041782A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hood-mountable digital speedometer
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1976-08-03
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Granted: 1977-08-16
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Expires: 1996-08-03
Abstract
Abstract A digital speedometer includes analog-to-digital converter means which may be coupled to a speed-indicator of a vehicle-mounted speedometer for converting a position of the speed indicator into a binary number which is displayed, upon being converted into a decimal number, on a display means mounted on the hood of a vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Elmer J. Hingst
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:32
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P1/00; G01P1/07; G01P1/08; G01P1/10; G01P1/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A hood-mountable digital speedometer comprising: analog-to-digital converter means couplable to a speed-indicator of a vehicle-mountable speedometer for converting a position of the speed-indicator into a binary number; binary-to-decimal number converter means connected to said analog-to-digital converter means for converting the binary number into a decimal number, wherein the speed-indicator is movable over a region of excessive speed of the speedometer, and said analog-to-digital converter means converts only the position of the speed-indicator in the excessive speed-region to the binary number; display means mountable on the hood of a vehicle for displaying the decimal number; and a blinker circuit interconnected between said analog-to-digital converter means and said display means for periodically flashing the displayed decimal number on and off, whereby said display means is disposed in a direct line of vision of a vehicle operator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A hood-mountable digital speedometer comprising: analog-to-digital converter means couplable to a speed-indicator of a vehicle-mountable speedometer for converting a position of the speed-indicator into a binary number; binary-to-decimal number converter means connected to said analog-to-digital converter means for converting the binary number into a decimal number, wherein the speed-indicator is movable over a region of excessive speed of the speedometer, and said analog-to-digital converter means converts only the position of the speed-indicator in the excessive speed-region to the binary number; display means mountable on the hood of a vehicle for displaying the decimal number; and a blinker circuit interconnected between said analog-to-digital converter means and said display means for periodically flashing the displayed decimal number on and off, whereby said display means is disposed in a direct line of vision of a vehicle operator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A digital speedometer according to claim 1 further comprising a shield mountable on said display means for the shielding thereof from extraneous light.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
170 words
A hood-mountable digital speedometer comprising: analog-to-digital converter means, said analog-to-digital converter means including a disc formed with a multiplicity of alternately transparent and non-transparent regions, light from a light source being passable through said regions, a multiplicity of photodetectors disposed in the vicinity of said regions, each of said photo detectors being energizable upon the light passing through a corresponding one of the transparent regions, said analog-to-digital converter means being couplable to a speed-indicator of a vehicle-mounted speedometer for converting a position of the speed-indicator into a binary number; binary-to-decimal number converter means connected to said photodetectors for converting the binary number into a decimal number, wherein the speed-indicator is movable over a region of excessive speed of the speedometer, and wherein said analog-to-digital converter means converts only the position of the speed-indicator in the excessive speed-region to the binary number; and display means mountable on the hood of a vehicle for displaying the decimal number, whereby said display means is disposed in a direct line-of-vision of a vehicle operator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
170 words
A hood-mountable digital speedometer comprising: analog-to-digital converter means, said analog-to-digital converter means including a disc formed with a multiplicity of alternately transparent and non-transparent regions, light from a light source being passable through said regions, a multiplicity of photodetectors disposed in the vicinity of said regions, each of said photo detectors being energizable upon the light passing through a corresponding one of the transparent regions, said analog-to-digital converter means being couplable to a speed-indicator of a vehicle-mounted speedometer for converting a position of the speed-indicator into a binary number; binary-to-decimal number converter means connected to said photodetectors for converting the binary number into a decimal number, wherein the speed-indicator is movable over a region of excessive speed of the speedometer, and wherein said analog-to-digital converter means converts only the position of the speed-indicator in the excessive speed-region to the binary number; and display means mountable on the hood of a vehicle for displaying the decimal number, whereby said display means is disposed in a direct line-of-vision of a vehicle operator.
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) | 1980-08-15 | 1981-02-14 | 1981-08-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-08-15 | 1985-02-14 | 1985-08-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-08-15 | 1989-02-14 | 1989-08-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |