Abstract: Systems for diagnosing fault conditions in a plurality of inputs are useful in many applications. Advantageously, such systems allow a technician to quickly and clearly identify the fault condition. The subject invention includes a plurality of sensors to produce a plurality of sensor signals. Each of the sensor signals is in one of a normal state or a fault condition and has an associated pin number. A plurality of indicator lights are also each associated with one of the sensor signals. A display individually indicates each pin number associated with a sensor signal in the fault condition. Each of the indicator lights associated with one of the sensor signals in the fault condition is flashed. The indicator light associated with the sensor signal for which the associated pin number is indicated by the display is steadily illuminated.

Abstract: Gauges for indicating the level of sensed parameters are often provided in connection with a variety of machines. Advantageously, such gauges are sufficiently flexible to indicate the level of a parameter having a warning level that is dependent upon the level of a second sensed parameter. In the subject invention, a gauge indicates the level of a primary sensed parameter having a normal operating range. A sensor produces a signal indicative of the level of a secondary sensed parameter and the levels of the primary sensed parameter associated with the normal operating range are modified in response to the level of the secondary sensed parameter.

Abstract: The invention is a novel system for monitoring a plurality of functions and conditions of a vehicle and providing a graphic presentation and recordation of torque and horsepower as well as other factors contributing to or depreciating a vehicle's performance as well as concurrently displaying manufacturers established parameters for on-board, live comparison of actual performance with expected design performance. Externally visible components of a display panel includes a group of separate analog and digital signal visual display means for indicating the approximate value of the operating parameters. All information is reported live and updated by the on-board computer. When the vehicle's accelerator is fully opened, a switch is engaged, and if other necessary conditions are met, the torque corresponding to the RPM is plotted concurrently with the manufacturers established parameters and remains graphically presented on the screen until cleared.

Abstract: An electronic display license plate and message center for use on automobiles and other vehicles. The electronic display license plate is a replacement for the standard metal license plate, and may be constructed as a part of the car, such as an integral part of the taillight assembly, or may be constructed as a bolt-on replacement module for existing license plates. The display may be constructed from an array of light-emitting diodes, or a liquid crystal display, or from an electroluminescent panel. A configuration cartridge, typically containing a read only memory (ROM) circuit, contains license plate information such as state, county, license number, and expiration date, configures the display for the particular vehicle. The electronic display license plate may also contain circuitry to detect the expiration of the license and appropriately indicate that expiration by flashing or inverting the display, or causing it to go blank.

Abstract: A wireless data display system has a receiver/display unit tuned to the same frequency as a sensor/transmitter unit for monitoring wheel rotation for a vehicle such as a bicycle. The two units are preferably battery powered, and their circuits are designed for low power consumption. Both units have directed antennas positioned in alignment with each other. The receiver includes a tunable antenna to enhance signal reception and reduce sensitivity to a transmitter of an adjacent system, as well as filter and latch circuitry to reduce interference from EMI or RFI or from adjacent operation of a similar transmitter/receiver pair.

Abstract: An information display system for a vehicle includes: a plurality of sensors for detecting various conditions of the vehicle; a display unit for displaying a selected one of a plurality of items of information relating to the conditions of the vehicle as detected by the corresponding sensors; a pair of manual for sequentially shifting the item of information which is currently displayed on the display unit; and a control unit for producing one of the items of information on the display unit according to output from one of the sensors. The control unit is further adapted to change the item of information which is currently displayed to a display of a default item of information, when the current display was manually selected, upon elapsing of a certain time interval after the manual selection of the current item of information for display.

Abstract: A panel having an array of backlighted windows for displaying a change in a process variable from a nominal condition to a changed condition comprising a thin, sealed frame and a circuit board with an array of LEDs interconnected for each window and a binary switch coupled to the LED array that energizes the LEDs on receipt of a binary logic signal. The panel can be operated in a stand-alone unit or be backfitted to an existing data recorder, tapping into the incoming or internal logic variable signals and power supply without disturbing the underlying function of the recorder.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a plurality of indicators for indicating operating states of components of a system. A method of inducating fault or no-fault condition of the components derived from different possible causes, comprises causing the indicators to be placed into one of two different indicating statuses, to indicate by the combination statuses of the indicators the conditions of the components.

Abstract: An engine oil condition sensor which measures oil temperature and the time the engine has been in operation since the last oil change. The sensor determines when the amount of "cold" engine operation exceeds a predetermined portion of the total engine operation in order to warn the operator to change engine operation patterns by providing more operation time at warmer temperatures. The sensor also accumulates the actual time the oil has been in the engine and the time the engine has been operated at elevated "hot" temperatures. Whenever any accumulation exceeds predetermined threshold levels, appropriate warnings are given to the operator.

Abstract: A display and control for use with an engine-equipped machine apparatus comprising a computer adapted to receive operating information from the apparatus, a memory connected to the computer and operable to store reference values of the operating information, a display connected to the computer for displaying in human readable form a selected operating information and the reference value associated therewith, a control connected to the computer for changing the operating information and the reference value associated therewith to be shown by the display, and an adjustment connected to the computer and the memory for varying the reference values.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for control apparatus of a motor vehicle equipped with self-diagnostic functions in which the control apparatus are connected with each other by way of a diagnostic bus and a defect lamp line. Diagnostic functions can be initiated by way of a key or momentary switch in an initialization line of the diagnostic bus whereby the diagnostic results can be read out at a defect lamp connected to the defect lamp line by way of flashing code word. The defect output thereby takes place strictly sequentially, defect-by-defect and control apparatus by control apparatus. In order to be able to discontinue at any time a diagnostic analysis of the control apparatus and to be able to continue to the diagnostic analysis of the next control apparatus, a newly defined special signal emission is applied to the initialization line.

Abstract: A control arrangement for a display unit, for use in a motor vehicle for digital presentation of vehicle operational data, is located within a housing having a display face. A multi-way push button is accessible on the display face and extends into the housing for operating at least two switches. The push button is pivotally mounted for operating different ones of the switches when specific operational data is desired.

Abstract: A transmission system (10) including a control display (2, 302) is provided. The control display comprised of three sections, a currently engaged gear ratio section (2'") a maximum permissible consecutive upshift indicating section (2') and a maximum permissible consecutive downshift indicating section (2"). The central processing unit (38) includes circuitry and logic rules to process input signals to determine the currently permissible gear ratios and will indicate said gear ratios, in the form of maximum permissible upshifts and downshifts, at said display. The central processing unit also includes circuitry and logic rules to sense the existence of a fault condition, to assign a predetermined code ("18") thereto and to issue command output signals to the display to cause the second and third sections to assume a fault condition indicating display and to cause said first section to display to assigned code.

Abstract: A device for displaying the gear parameters of a bicycle comprises a sensor for detecting the position of the member (or members) for controlling the gear-change, and display means connected to the sensor means and able to supply a signal indicative of the ratio engaged. In a preferred embodiment, the number of teeth of the two gear-wheels (front and rear) on which the chain is engaged are displayed.