Pit road display

Abstract

Instruments or gauges arranged to provide feedback detectable by the peripheral vision of a driver when vehicle operating parameters, such as engine speed, temperature, pressure, and voltage, are in a critical range, include one or more of the following types of instruments or gauges and / or features: (a) a tachometer that not only includes a primary numeric display, but also a secondary display made up of a plurality of discrete lights of different colors, the colors indicating whether the engine speed of a vehicle is within a relatively narrow range of engine speeds acceptable for the roadway leading from a race track to service areas, known as “pit road,” the high and low limits of the range being adjustable to meet pit road requirements at different tracks; (b) an instrument or gauge having a background that illuminates to indicate critical sensor readings; (c) an instrument or gauge having improved handling of sensor abnormalities to prevent false readings; (d) a non-linear analog gauge for a motor vehicle having a higher resolution in a particular range of interest, and a lower resolution outside that range; and (e) a boost pressure gauge that facilitates entry of gear information for use in traction control. The instruments or gauges of the invention are suitable for use in racing vehicles that meet standards established by NASCAR.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 064,662, filed Mar. 19, 2008.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to instruments or gauges for us in vehicles, and in particular to instruments or gauges that provide feedback detectable by the peripheral vision of a driver when vehicle operating parameters, such as engine speed, temperature, pressure, and voltage, are in a critical range. The instruments or gauges of the invention are especially suitable for use in racing vehicles that meet standards of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), although they may also be used in other types of racing and non-racing vehicles.

[0004] The instruments or gauges of the invention may include one or more of the following types of instruments or gauges and / or features:

[0005] a. A tachometer that not only includes a primary numeric display, but also a secondary display made up of a plu...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0044]FIG. 1 shows a tachometer 1 having a secondary display 2 that includes seven indicator lights 3 arranged to be successively illuminated in order to indicate shift points.

[0045]The seven indicator lights 3 are preferably in the form of multi-color LEDs having a brightness sufficient to enable the lights to be seen using the driver's peripheral vision.

[0046]The lights 3 may be progressively illuminated such that the leftmost light will be illuminated first, followed by the leftmost light and the adjacent light, followed by the leftmost three lights, and so forth until all seven lights are illuminated. This pattern of progressive illumination may be referred to as a progressive illumination sequence. Preferably, three such progressive illumination sequences are provided, including a first in which the lights being illuminated are all green, a second in which the lights being illuminated are all yellow, and a third in which the lights being illuminated are all red.

[0047]The tachom...

[0001] This application claims the benefit of provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 064,662, filed Mar. 19, 2008.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates to instruments or gauges for us in vehicles, and in particular to instruments or gauges that provide feedback detectable by the peripheral vision of a driver when vehicle operating parameters, such as engine speed, temperature, pressure, and voltage, are in a critical range. The instruments or gauges of the invention are especially suitable for use in racing vehicles that meet standards of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR), although they may also be used in other types of racing and non-racing vehicles.

[0004] The instruments or gauges of the invention may include one or more of the following types of instruments or gauges and / or features:

[0005] a. A tachometer that not only includes a primary numeric display, but also a secondary display made up of a plu...

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0044]FIG. 1 shows a tachometer 1 having a secondary display 2 that includes seven indicator lights 3 arranged to be successively illuminated in order to indicate shift points.

[0045]The seven indicator lights 3 are preferably in the form of multi-color LEDs having a brightness sufficient to enable the lights to be seen using the driver's peripheral vision.

[0046]The lights 3 may be progressively illuminated such that the leftmost light will be illuminated first, followed by the leftmost light and the adjacent light, followed by the leftmost three lights, and so forth until all seven lights are illuminated. This pattern of progressive illumination may be referred to as a progressive illumination sequence. Preferably, three such progressive illumination sequences are provided, including a first in which the lights being illuminated are all green, a second in which the lights being illuminated are all yellow, and a third in which the lights being illuminated are all red.

[0047]The tachom...

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