Abstract: An electronic device for recording the fuel usage of a vehicle capable of operating on multiple fuel types. The invention tracks time, distance, and fuel mixture information in association with the type of fuel used by a multi-fuel vehicle. The device generally consists of a power supply; an electronic system clock; a data storage component; one or more connections to the vehicle which determine when the motor is running, which fuel type has been selected, which fuel type is being burned, the relative fuel content, and fuel performance information; a signal interface for converting analog vehicle signals to digital signals; an analog-to-digital convertor; a microcomputer to interpret the digital signals; a system logic control circuit for coordinating the writing of information to the data storage component; an external data interface for direct or indirect access to the contents of the data stored in memory; and a visual display.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 8, 1996
Date of Patent:
September 16, 1997
Assignee:
Alternative Fuel Technology Systems, Ltd. Co.
Inventors:
Michael K. Parkman, John W. Whittaker, Curtis J. Donaldson
Abstract: A device for recording the fuel usage of a vehicle capable of operating on multiple fuel types. The invention is a digital device which tracks time and/or distance parameters for each fuel type burned and stores these parameters in memory. In one embodiment, the device detects when the vehicle engine is running and what type of fuel is being burned. An electronic system clock provides the timing reference for measuring the length of time each fuel type is burned. The memory is periodically updated with the timing information. A second embodiment tracks traveling distance in a similar manner. The user may display the contents of any parameter recorded by the device on a numeric display.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 20, 1995
Date of Patent:
April 9, 1996
Assignee:
Alternative Fuel Technology Systems, Ltd. Co.
Inventors:
Michael K. Parkman, John W. Whittaker, Curtis J. Donaldson