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.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . A method of indicating vehicle instrument or gauge sensor malfunctions, comprising the steps of:
 sampling a sensor output;   when a sensor output is normal, displaying a parameter associated with the sensor output;   when a sensor output is abnormal or missing, repeatedly sampling said sensor output a predetermined number of times;   if said sensor output remains abnormal or missing during each of said predetermined number of samples, indicating a malfunction; and   if said sensor output becomes normal after indicating a malfunction, immediately resuming display of said parameter associated with the sensor output.   
   
   
       10 . In an analog gauge for displaying an operating parameter of a vehicle, comprising
 a faceplate;   a plurality of markings indicating units of said operating parameter;   a pointer for indicating the value of said operating parameter by pointing to or highlighting said operating parameter,   the improvement wherein the markings for equal units of said operating parameter are closer together outside a critical range than inside said critical range, and said pointer travels through a smaller distance to indicate an equal parameter change outside said critical range than inside said critical range, thereby increasing a resolution of said display within said critical range.   
   
   
       11 . An analog gauge as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said faceplate is a circular faceplate. 
   
   
       12 . An analog gauge as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said parameter is temperature, pressure, or voltage. 
   
   
       13 . An adaptive traction controller that utilizes a boost pressure gauge to input setpoints for activating said traction control, comprising
 means for reading a tachometer signal and a manifold absolute pressure (MAP) signal;   means for causing a boost pressure value to reduce boost pressure when an engine speed and MAP indicated by said tachometer and MAP signals are above predetermined setpoints; and   means for manually establishing said setpoints while operating a vehicle at gears and engine speeds sufficient to cause loss of traction.   
   
   
       14 . An adaptive traction control setting method, comprising the steps of:
 operating a vehicle at gears and engine speeds sufficient to cause loss of traction;   reading tachometer and MAP signals and establishing setpoints therefore upon manual input by a driver while operating the vehicle at said gears and engine speeds sufficient to cause loss of traction;   upon further operation of the vehicle, operating a valve to lower a boost pressure when said tachometer and MAP signals exceed said setpoints.   
   
   
       15 . A method of synchronizing a gauge to a sensor, comprising the steps of:
 causing a sensed parameter to attain a first level, verifying the level by independent means separate from the gauge, and having the user activate an input on the gauge when the first level is attained;   causing a sensed parameter to attain a second level verifying the level by independent means separate from the gauge, and having the user activate the input when the second level is attained.   
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the input is an enter button on the gauge, and activation of the input is carried out by pushing the button. 
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the gauge is a fuel gauge and the first and second levels are respective maximum and minimum fuel levels. 
   
   
       18 . A method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the gauge is a speedometer or tachometer. 
   
   
       19 . A gauge having an enter button programmed to be activated by a user upon attaining first and second levels according to the method claimed in  claim 15 .