Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A method of (i) displaying the presence and (ii) the identity of a sensed vehicle fault condition in a vehicle equipped with mechanical change gear transmission (12), a central processing unit (38) for receiving input signals indicative of transmission input shaft (32) and output shaft (36) rotational speeds, and for processing same according to predetermined logic rules; to determine the currently engaged gear ratio of said transmission and to determine permissibly engaged gear ratios of said transmission under sensed vehicle operating conditions; and to issue command output signals to a display (2) for displaying the currently engaged gear ratio and also displaying an indication of the permissibly engaged gear ratios, said displaying including: a first section (302'") displaying alpha-numerical information indicative of the currently engaged gear ratio; a second display section (302') displaying information indicative of the highest permissible engaged gear ratio; and, a third display section (302") displaying information indicative of the lowest permissible engaged gear ratio, said method characterized by: processing said input signals to sense the presence or absence of a fault condition; upon sensing a fault condition, (i) assigning a predetermined code to the sensed fault, (ii) causing at least one of said first, second and third display sections to display information indicative of the presence of a fault and (iii) causing said first section to display the assigned code.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
224 words
A method of (i) displaying the presence and (ii) the identity of a sensed vehicle fault condition in a vehicle equipped with mechanical change gear transmission (12), a central processing unit (38) for receiving input signals indicative of transmission input shaft (32) and output shaft (36) rotational speeds, and for processing same according to predetermined logic rules; to determine the currently engaged gear ratio of said transmission and to determine permissibly engaged gear ratios of said transmission under sensed vehicle operating conditions; and to issue command output signals to a display (2) for displaying the currently engaged gear ratio and also displaying an indication of the permissibly engaged gear ratios, said displaying including: a first section (302'") displaying alpha-numerical information indicative of the currently engaged gear ratio; a second display section (302') displaying information indicative of the highest permissible engaged gear ratio; and, a third display section (302") displaying information indicative of the lowest permissible engaged gear ratio, said method characterized by: processing said input signals to sense the presence or absence of a fault condition; upon sensing a fault condition, (i) assigning a predetermined code to the sensed fault, (ii) causing at least one of said first, second and third display sections to display information indicative of the presence of a fault and (iii) causing said first section to display the assigned code.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said indication of the presence of a fault condition comprises causing the display in one of said first, second and third display sections to flash on and off.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said second display displays zero, one, two or three symbols indicating the maximum permissible number of consecutive upshifts from the currently engaged gear ratio is zero, one, two or three, respectively, and said third display displays zero, one, two or three symbols indicating that the maximum number of consecutive downshifts from the currently engaged gear ratio is zero, one, two or three, respectively, said indication of a fault (FIG. 15) comprising all of said second and third section symbols being displayed simultaneously.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said display of all of said second and third section symbols comprising an alternating display and non-displaying thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said transmission is a semi-automatic mechanical transmission, said display is carried by a housing (38A) with said first section interposed said second and third sections, said housing also carrying a manually operated shift selector switch (1) normally biased to a centered positioned and movable in a first direction to select upshifts from the currently engaged gear ratio and movable in a second opposite direction to select downshifts from said currently engaged gear ratio.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said indication of a fault is simultaneously displaying permissibility of the maximum number of upshifts and downshifts (FIG. 15).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said second display displays zero, one, two or three symbols indicating the maximum permissible number of consecutive upshifts from the currently engaged gear ratio is zero, one, two or three, respectively, and said third display displays zero, one, two or three symbols indicating that the maximum number of consecutive downshifts from the currently engaged gear ratio is zero, one, two or three, respectively, said indication of a fault comprising said second and third section symbols of three allowable shifts, but not of one or two allowable shifts, being displayed simultaneously (FIG. 15A).