Digital data link for truck weighing applications

Claim 1

An apparatus for communicating a vehicle parameter to another location on the vehicle remote and apart from where the vehicle parameter is measured comprising: (a) sensor means responsive to the vehicle parameter being measured and producing an output analog signal proportional to the vehicle parameter; (b) means periodically converting said output analog signal into a digital signal whereby the vehicle parameter being measured is represented by an N-bit digital code; (c) calibration means simulating said sensor means output analog signal and switchable to said means periodically converting said analog signal into a digital signal thereby providing calibration for the apparatus; (d) a transmitter in communication with a demodulator by means of a hardwire link constituting a portion of the vehicle's existing wiring, said transmitter transmitting said N-bit ditital code from means for periodically converting said analog signal into a digital signal through said existing vehicle wiring to said demodulator which receives said digital code; (e) means periodically converting said N-bit digital code representative of the vehicle parameter received by said demodulator into a continuous analog signal representative of the vehicle parameter; and, (f) visual display means whereby the continuous signal representative of the vehicle parameter is displayed in a user viewable form.

Claim 2

An apparatus for communicating a vehicle parameter to another location on the vehicle remote and apart from where the vehicle parameter is measured comprising: (a) sensor means responsive to the vehicle parameter being measured and producing an output analog signal proportional to the vehicle parameter; (b) means periodically converting said output analog signal into a digital signal whereby the vehicle parameter being measured is represented by an N-bit digital code; (c) calibration means simulating said sensor means output analog signal and switchable to said means periodically converting said analog signal into a digital signal thereby providing calibration for the apparatus; (d) a transmitter in communication with a demodulator by means of a hardwire link constituting a portion of the vehicle's existing wiring, said transmitter transmitting said N-bit ditital code from means for periodically converting said analog signal into a digital signal through said existing vehicle wiring to said demodulator which receives said digital code; (e) means periodically converting said N-bit digital code representative of the vehicle parameter received by said demodulator into a continuous analog signal representative of the vehicle parameter; and, (f) visual display means whereby the continuous signal representative of the vehicle parameter is displayed in a user viewable form.

Claim 11

An apparatus for communicating a continuous electrical signal representing a vehicle parameter to a location remote and apart from where the vehicle parameter is measured, the said apparatus comprising: (a) means periodically converting the continuous electrical signal into an N-bit digital code representative of the vehicle parameter; (b) means converting said N-bit digital code to an M-bit digital code and said means further outputting a digital signal therefrom; (c) a transmitter in communication with a demodulator by a hardwire link disposed along the length of the vehicle, the hardwire link being a portion of the vehicle's existing wiring, said transmitter transmitting said digital signal through said existing wiring to said demodulator disposed at a location remote from where the vehicle parameter was measured; (d) means periodically converting said M-bit digital code representative of the vehicle parameter received by said demodulator into a continuous signal representative of the vehicle parameter; (e) visual display means whereby the continuous signal representative of the vehicle parameter is displayed in a user viewable form; and, (f) means enabling a predetermined and known continuous analog signal simulating the electrical signal representing the vehicle parameter to be measured and switchable therewith to be periodically converted into an additional signal thereby providing calibration for the apparatus.

Claim 12

An apparatus for communicating a continuous electrical signal representing a vehicle parameter to a location remote and apart from where the vehicle parameter is measured, the said apparatus comprising: (a) means periodically converting the continuous electrical signal into an N-bit digital code representative of the vehicle parameter; (b) means converting said N-bit digital code to an M-bit digital code and said means further outputting a digital signal therefrom; (c) a transmitter in communication with a demodulator by a hardwire link disposed along the length of the vehicle, the hardwire link being a portion of the vehicle's existing wiring, said transmitter transmitting said digital signal through said existing wiring to said demodulator disposed at a location remote from where the vehicle parameter was measured; (d) means periodically converting said M-bit digital code representative of the vehicle parameter received by said demodulator into a continuous signal representative of the vehicle parameter; (e) visual display means whereby the continuous signal representative of the vehicle parameter is displayed in a user viewable form; and, (f) means enabling a predetermined and known continuous analog signal simulating the electrical signal representing the vehicle parameter to be measured and switchable therewith to be periodically converted into an additional signal thereby providing calibration for the apparatus.

Claim 17

The apparatus of 10 wherein said means enabling a predetermined and known continuous analog signal simulating the electrical signal representing the vehicle parameter to be measured comprises a tone generator in communication with a tone detector with said tone detector being switchably connectable to said means periodically converting said electrical signal.

Claim 18

The apparatus of 10 wherein said means enabling a predetermined and known continuous analog signal simulating the electrical signal representing the vehicle parameter to be measured comprises a tone generator in communication with a tone detector with said tone detector being switchably connectable to said means periodically converting said electrical signal.