Electronic data recorder apparatus and method

US4835546A · kind A · utility

Inventor

• Walter Keller · Willich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 1, 1987
• Grant date: May 30, 1989
• Expiry date: Jul 1, 2007

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01D9/00
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An improved electronic data recorder for use in a vehicle includes a housing having a pair of connectors. The housing encloses a modular converter, a printer module, a continuous roll of paper, a modular paper advance mechanism, conversion electronics, and memory and computation electronics. Also included in the housing are a driver code input keypad, a clock and date display, and keys for selecting a variety of functions. The data recorder connects to a free end of a rotatable odometer-speedometer cable between a rotating part of a vehicle to which the cable is attached and the vehicle odometer-speedometer. The data recorder also connects to the vehicle battery and ignition switch. The rotational motion of the cable is communicated into the housing of the data recorder by one of the connectors and from there into the modular converter. The converter converts the rotational motion into a plurality of unique electrical signals representative of mileage. The printer module and modular paper advance mechanism are responsive to the activation and deactivation of the vehicle's ignition switch to print the driver code, date, current odometer reading, and elapsed mileage.