Portable device having a changeable illuminated display and communications platform

• US 10,449,913 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eiland Enterprises LLC
• Original Assignee: Donald Curtis Eiland
• Inventors: Eiland, Donald Curtis
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne, Sharon E
• Application Number:
  US15/491,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20170349119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/105 Licence- or registration plates, provided with mounting means, e.g. frames, holders, retainers, brackets
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1633 Protecting arrangement for the entire housing of the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/044 Signs, boards or panels mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/1865 on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/1869 plates fixed to instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/048 Advertisement panels on sides, front or back of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/049 giving information to passengers inside the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/18 Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to illuminated display devices and methods of displaying indicia, advertisements, etc. on a changeable illuminated display. The display device comprises a frame structure, a plurality of openings formed in the frame structure, the plurality of openings comprising first and second open spaces disposed at top and bottom positions, respectively, of the frame structure, and the plurality of openings further comprising a third open space disposed between the first and second open spaces. The display device further comprises a compact image display device operable to display an image, the compact image display device held and positioned relative to the frame structure such that first, second, and third different portions of the image, when displayed by the compact image display device, are visible through the plurality of openings first, second, and third open spaces, respectively. Additionally, control circuitry is coupled to the compact image display device.

Claims

1. A portable device having a changeable illuminated display, the portable device comprising:

a frame structure having a front structure and a back structure, a plurality of openings being formed in the frame structure, the plurality of openings comprising first and second open spaces disposed at top and bottom positions, respectively, of the frame structure, and the plurality of openings further comprising a third open space disposed between the first and second open spaces, wherein the first open space, the second open space, and the third open space are digital image display areas and are separated by non-digital image display areas;

a compact image display device operable to display a first digital image display, a second digital image display, and a third digital image display, the compact image display device held between the front structure and the back structure and to be positioned relative to the frame structure such that first the digital image display, the second digital image display, and the third digital image display, when displayed by the compact image display device, are visible through the first, second, and third open spaces, respectively;

wireless electronics circuitry coupled to the compact image display device when employed, the wireless electronics circuitry enables wireless communications with an external communications system; and

a control circuitry coupled to the compact image display device and to the wireless electronics circuitry.

2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein a pedestal is formed at a back and lower portion of the frame structure and wherein the front structure being secured to the back structure by a number of screws, and

wherein, when a surface of the compact image display device is illuminated, the first, second, and third open spaces are sized and positioned to collectively expose a portion of the illuminated surface.

3. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the frame structure is a license plate frame structure.

4. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising:

a USB interface coupled to the control circuitry.

5. The portable device of claim 2, wherein the first and second open spaces are of equal area and generally rectangular shape, wherein the first and second open spaces are disposed at a center top position and a center bottom position, respectively, of the frame structure and wherein the third open space is a larger open space of generally rectangular shape.

6. The portable device of claim 5, wherein the control circuitry is held within the back structure of the frame structure.

7. The portable device of claim 2, wherein the compact image display is configured to display a digital image, and wherein the plurality of openings formed in the plate frame structure comprise the first open space and the second open space sized and positioned such that an entire first word in the digital image is visible through the first open space, and such that an entire second word in the digital image is visible through the second open space.

8. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising a strap attached to the frame structure.

9. A method, comprising:

at a venue and during a live event, receiving digital image data by wireless transmission,

wherein the digital image data includes content related to the live event; and

transmitting digital image data by wireless transmission from a first device to a plurality of devices,

the first device, comprising;

a license plate frame structure, first and second openings of generally rectangular shape formed in the license plate frame structure, and a third opening formed in the license plate frame structure between the first and second openings;

a compact image display device operable to display a digital image, the compact image display device held and positioned relative to the license plate frame structure such that first, second and third portions of the digital image, when displayed by the compact image display device, are visible through the first, second and third openings, respectively;

a strap attached to the license plate frame structure;

a control circuitry coupled to the compact image display device; and

a Secure Digital Card interface coupled to the control circuitry, wherein a pedestal is formed at a back and lower portion of the license plate frame structure, and

wherein the license plate frame structure has a front structure and a back structure, the front structure being secured to the back structure by a number of screws.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the live event is a sports event.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the digital image data is received by a portable device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the digital image data is received by a smartphone device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising employing haptics during the display of the digital image data.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless transmission is accomplished by at least one of Bluetooth, Zigbee, or infrared transmission technology.

15. A system, comprising:

a wireless router when in operation has access to the Internet;

a portable display device when in operation is communicatively coupled to the wireless router during operation, the portable display device comprising;

a license plate frame structure, first and second openings of generally rectangular shape formed in the license plate frame structure, and a third opening formed in the license plate frame structure between the first and second openings;

a compact image display device operable to display a digital image, the compact image display device held and positioned relative to the license plate frame structure such that first, second and third portions of the digital image, when displayed by the compact image display device, are visible through the first, second and third openings, respectively;

a strap attached to the license plate frame structure;

a control circuitry coupled to the compact image display device; and

a Secure Digital Card interface coupled to the control circuitry,

wherein a pedestal is formed at a back and lower portion of the license plate frame structure, and

wherein the license plate frame structure has a front structure and a back structure, the front structure being secured to the back structure by a number of screws; and

a smartphone device that is to be communicatively coupled to the wireless router and the portable device during operation;

when in operation, the portable display device and the smartphone device are to display content related to a live event that is retrieved from the wireless router.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the smartphone comprises haptics output capability.