Fiat Auto S.p.a.

Eraldo Cerruti

The level indicated on the instrument panel of the motor vehicle results from a processing operation, including the calculation of a weighted average value, whereby the effects of accidental phenomena such as agitation of the fuel within the tank during movement of the motor vehicle are dispensed with.

Method for detecting the fuel level in the tank of a motor vehicle

A message is selectively presented in several different languages on an alpha-numeric visual display device. The display device has surface segments each of which can be selectively and individually switched, by connection to a power supply, between two operational states one of which corresponds to visual perceptibility of the segment itself. Selective interconnection of the segments and power supply is effected via connecting lines, the number of such lines being the same as the number of sub-sets of the complete set constituted by the languages in which the message is to be presented, whereby each of the lines corresponds uniquely to one of the sub-sets. Each of these lines is connected to all the segments that are only required to be switched to their states of perceptibility during the presentation of the message in each and every language contained in the corresponding sub-set. Selector means enable a language of message presentation to be selected, and serve to interconnect the power supply with all those, and only those, connecting lines which correspond to the sub-sets containing the selected language.

Apparatus for selectively presenting, particularly in motor vehicles,

A device for visually displaying alphanumeric characters by means of segments which are individually and selectively switchable between two operating states, one of which corresponds to visual perceptability of the segments themselves. The segments are arranged in identical, adjacent groups forming a repeating structure, wherein each group comprises first segments together defining a main configuration including two quadrilateral-shaped spaces arranged one above the other and open on their right-hand sides, second segments defining first and second subsidiary configurations disposed respectively at the lower left-hand corner, and the upper left-hand corner of the main configuration and each including a segment which extends substantially vertically from a respective corner of the main configuration itself, two third segments one of which occupies the upper left-hand portion of the lower quadrilateral-shaped space of the main configuration, and the other of which is located below the lower right-hand corner of the main configuration.

Device for visually displaying alphanumeric characters, particularly in

Monitoring apparatus which comprises a plurality of monitoring circuits arranged to indicate the malfunctioning of various components and systems for a motor vehicle. These warning circuits include a generator warning circuit and an oil-pressure warning circuit. To prevent activation of the generator and oil-pressure warning circuits when the vehicle ignition is turned on but the vehicle engine is not running, a respective switching device is inserted in each circuit. The switching device controlling activation of the generator warning circuit is arranged to activate the latter only when the engine oil pressure reaches a level indicating that the engine is running. The switching device controlling activation of the oil-pressure warning circuit is arranged to activate the latter only during operation of the generator. With this arrangement when the vehicle ignition is initially turned on the warning lights of the generator and oil pressure warning circuits will not be illuminated as generally happens. Preferably, a green indicator light is provided which is arranged to light up when the apparatus detects no faults.

Growing community of inventors

Turin, Italy

Eraldo Cerruti