Digital message display for vehicles

• US 20040183659A1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eddie Somuah
• Original Assignee: Eddie Somuah
• Inventors: Somuah, Eddie
• Application Number:
  US10/390,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20040183659A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5037 the display content changing automatically, e.g. depending on traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/549 for expressing greetings, gratitude or emotions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes

Abstract

The digital message display for vehicles detects a tailgater and automatically flashes a warning message, directed to the tailgater, on a message display that is located in the rear window of the vehicle in view of following traffic. In addition to the warning message directed to the tailgater, a distance display is located in view of the vehicle driver to indicate the distance of the tailgater. An audible alarm alerts the driver to the presence of the tailgater. Additionally, a wireless remote control device allows the driver to manually select and display one of a number of pre-defined safety and courtesy messages.

Claims

1. A digital message display for vehicles comprising:

a message display;

at least one vehicle distance sensor;

a microcomputer in electrical connection with said message display and with said at least one vehicle distance sensor; and

a computer readable program code contained in said microcomputer, the program code having means for reading a trailing vehicle distance from said at least one vehicle distance sensor, means for determining when the trailing vehicle distance falls below a safety threshold, and means for displaying a message on said message display when the trailing vehicle distance falls below said safety threshold.

2. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein said message display is a light emitting diode display capable of displaying short textual messages.

3. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein said at least one vehicle distance sensor comprises two vehicle distance sensors.

4. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 1, further comprising a beeper, the beeper being electrically connected to said microcomputer;

and

wherein the computer program code further comprises means for causing the beeper to generate an audible alarm when the trailing vehicle distance falls below the safety threshold.

5. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 1, further comprising a numeric distance display, the numeric distance display being electrically connected to said microcomputer;

wherein the computer program code has means to cause the numeric distance display to display said trailing vehicle distance.

6. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 5, wherein said numeric distance display is disposed in a vehicle rear-view mirror.

7. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 1, further comprising:

a remote control having a plurality of pushbuttons; and

a remote control receiver in communication with said remote control, the remote control receiver being electrically connected to said microcomputer;

wherein the computer program code further comprises means for causing a pre-determined message to be displayed on said message display.

8. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of pushbuttons comprises five pushbuttons.