Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A device for signalling defect conditions in a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a control system including means for regulating a nominal idling speed of the engine in dependency on predetermined operational variables, means for detecting malfunction of predetermined component parts of the motor vehicle, an optical warning device coupled with the detecting means to visually indicate a detected malfunction, comprising means for generating a modulating error signal when a defect occurs in said optical warning device, and said generating means being coupled to said idling speed regulating means to modulate the nominal idle running of the engine in response to said error signal such as to simulate an abnormal idle running of the engine signalling the defect condition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A device for signalling defect conditions in a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine, a control system including means for regulating a nominal idling speed of the engine in dependency on predetermined operational variables, means for detecting malfunction of predetermined component parts of the motor vehicle, an optical warning device coupled with the detecting means to visually indicate a detected malfunction, comprising means for generating a modulating error signal when a defect occurs in said optical warning device, and said generating means being coupled to said idling speed regulating means to modulate the nominal idle running of the engine in response to said error signal such as to simulate an abnormal idle running of the engine signalling the defect condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said control system further includes means for controlling fuel metering, means for controlling ignition, means for controlling rate of air flow in an air suction duct, and means for controlling exhaust gas composition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said malfunction detecting means monitor said exhaust gas controlling means, and said generating means delivering said modulating error signal in response to the detection of a defect in the exhaust gas controlling means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said optical warning device includes optical indicators assigned, respectively, to different component parts of the vehicle, an electronic gas pedal control, a brake locking protection device, an oil pressure gauge, a power supply battery, blinkers and hand brake indicator, to indicate actuation and/or operative condition of said component parts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said generating means deliver said modulating error signal at discrete time intervals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said malfunction detecting means monitor the control system, and said generating means delivering said modulating error signal in response to the detection of a defect of the control system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the motor vehicle includes means for measuring the predetermined operational variables, said malfunction detecting means monitoring said measuring means, and said generating means delivering said modulating error signal in response to the detection of a defect in the measuring means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said malfunction detecting means monitor said electronic gas pedal control, and said generating means delivering said modulating error signal in response to the detection of a defect in the electronic gas pedal control.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as defined in claim 4, wherein said malfunction detecting means monitor said brake locking protection device, and said generating means delivering said modulating error signal in response to the detection of a defect in the brake locking protection device.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
90 words
A device for signalling defect conditions in a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine provided with an electronic control system affecting at least fuel metering of the engine, and including means for generating at least a control signal for regulating nominal idle running of the engine, comprising means for generating a modulating error signal when a defect condition occurs in the vehicle; and means for modulating said control signal by said modulating error signal such as to simulate an abnormal idle running of the engine signalling the defect condition.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
90 words
A device for signalling defect conditions in a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine provided with an electronic control system affecting at least fuel metering of the engine, and including means for generating at least a control signal for regulating nominal idle running of the engine, comprising means for generating a modulating error signal when a defect condition occurs in the vehicle; and means for modulating said control signal by said modulating error signal such as to simulate an abnormal idle running of the engine signalling the defect condition.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
98 words
A device for signalling defect conditions in a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electronic control system including means for controlling at least the fuel metering of the engine, means for regulating idle running of the engine and means for delivering a nominal idling control signal for said regulating means, comprising means for generating an error signal when a defect condition occurs in the vehicle; and means for modulating said nominal idling control signal in response to said error signal such as to simulate an abnormal idle running of the engine signalling the defect condition.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
98 words
A device for signalling defect conditions in a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and an electronic control system including means for controlling at least the fuel metering of the engine, means for regulating idle running of the engine and means for delivering a nominal idling control signal for said regulating means, comprising means for generating an error signal when a defect condition occurs in the vehicle; and means for modulating said nominal idling control signal in response to said error signal such as to simulate an abnormal idle running of the engine signalling the defect condition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as defined in claim 11, wherein said error signal generating means includes means for generating an engine error signal when a defect condition occurs in the engine.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
107 words
A device as defined in claim 12, where said error signal generating means further includes means for generating a vehicle error signal when a defect condition occurs in parts of the vehicle outside said engine; and further comprising an alarm control unit having an input connected to said vehicle error signal generating means and an output connected to a warning device to activate said warning device in response to said vehicle error signal; means for generating a warning error signal when a defect condition occurs in said warning device itself; and said modulating means modulating said nominal idling control signal in response to said warning error signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as defined in claim 13, wherein said electronic control system further includes self-diagnosing means for generating an additional vehicle error signal applied to said alarm control unit when a defect condition occurs in the electronic control system itself.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as defined in claim 13, wherein said motor vehicle includes an electronic gas pedal control, and said vehicle error signal being generated in response to a defect in said electronic gas pedal control.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as defined in claim 11, wherein said modulating means modulate the idle running of the engine at predetermined time intervals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as defined in claim 11, wherein said electronic control system is designed for modulating the idle running of the engine periodically.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as defined in claim 11, wherein different error signals affect the modulation of the nominal idling control signal such as to change the simulated idle running of the engine in different ways.