The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 28, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 13, 1996
Brian S Honeck, Holland, MI (US);
Colin R Smidstra, Hudsonville, MI (US);
Prince Corporation, Holland, MI (US);
Abstract
An electronic vehicle accessory includes a non-volatile memory, and a controller coupled to the non-volatile memory and to a speed sensor of the vehicle for receiving speed data representing the vehicle's current speed. The controller determines when the vehicle's current speed falls below a predetermined threshold and stores variable data in the non-volatile memory when the vehicle's speed is below the predetermined threshold. The electronic vehicle accessory may be an instrument panel, an electronic compass, and/or a mini-trip computer, which may be housed in an overhead housing. By storing variable data in the non-volatile memory as a function of the vehicle's speed, the present invention ensures that the most up-to-date data is stored in the non-volatile memory before the vehicle's ignition is turned off while eliminating excessive stores that shorten the lifetime of the non-volatile memory. Further, by storing data as a function of vehicle speed, the connection to a battery powerline may be eliminated and the manufacturing and installation costs may be significantly reduced. Additionally, excessive battery drain resulting from the electronic accessory being locked in a failure mode may be prevented.