Rotational display system

• US 20080068297A1
• Filed: 08/17/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spin Screen Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lightning Wheels LLC
• Inventors: Gilbert, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,284,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/31
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/143 Touch sensitive instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/143 Touch sensitive input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/1438 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/06 of controls, e.g. controls knobs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/045 supported by the wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/005 forming an image using a quickly moving array of imaging elements, causing the human eye to perceive an image which has a larger resolution than the array, e.g. an image on a cylinder formed by a rotating line of LEDs parallel to the axis of rotation

Abstract

The present invention provides a system which integrates unique lighting technologies, switching systems, mounting systems, information delivery systems and power supply systems within a vehicular wheel to provide an advanced, high quality visual display apparatus. These technologies, and their many unique applications, provide for a novel and useful series of video display devices that are small, lightweight, efficient and have the capability of producing a clear, bright, high definition image that is equivalent to that of a modern day TV or high quality computer monitor.

Claims

1. A rotational display system including:

a computer for operator controlled storage and recall of images, said computer in wireless communication with a rotatable assembly;

a rotatable assembly for displaying the visual information transferred from said computer, said rotatable assembly including an illuminating assembly, wherein said illuminating assembly includes at least one illuminating element, wherein said rotatable assembly is constructed and arranged for attachment to a motor vehicle wheel for rotation therewith, said motor vehicle wheel constructed and arranged for rotation about an axis;

a power delivery means for providing adequate electrical power to said rotatable assembly;

wherein operator selectable images may be displayed during rotation of said motor vehicle wheel about said axis.

2. The rotational display system of claim 1 wherein said computer includes software constructed and arranged to allow an operator to import, manipulate, store and selectably display visual information of the operator'"'"'s choice on the rotational display.

3. The rotational display system of claim 1 wherein said computer includes hardware constructed and arranged to allow an operator to import, manipulate, store and selectably display visual information of the operator'"'"'s choice on the rotational display.

4. The rotational display system of claim 1 wherein said rotatable assembly includes a controller for receiving wireless communications from said computer, said controller constructed and arranged to control said illuminating assembly.

5. The rotational display system of claim 4 wherein said illuminating assembly includes a plurality of illuminating elements, wherein each of said illuminating elements are individually controllable for illumination by said controller.

6. The rotational display system of claim 5 wherein said illuminating assembly includes illuminating elements which include three primary colors red, green and blue, wherein said illuminating assembly is constructed and arranged to display true color.

7. The rotational display system of claim 5 wherein said illuminating elements extend across said axis of rotation, whereby visual displays may extend across said axis of rotation during operation of said illuminating assembly.

8. The rotational display system of claim 5 wherein said plurality of illuminating elements are selected from the group consisting of light emitting diodes, organic light emitting diodes, electroluminescent strips, liquid crystal displays, thin film transistor liquid crystal displays, plasma displays, and small light bulbs.

9. The rotational display system of claim 7 wherein said illuminating assembly is constructed and arranged to display text across a linear bottom line.

10. The rotational display system of claim 1 wherein said rotatable assembly is constructed and arranged to display planar images across the face of said motor vehicle wheel.

11. The rotational display system of claim 1 wherein said rotatable assembly is constructed and arranged to display cylindrical images around the perimeter of said motor vehicle wheel, wherein said cylindrical image may be utilized for vehicular headlights, taillights, brake-lights, and directional signals.

12. The rotational display system of claim 1 wherein said rotatable assembly is constructed and arranged to display planar images across the face of said motor vehicle wheel and cylindrical images around the perimeter of said motor vehicle wheel.

13. The rotational display system of claim 4 wherein said rotatable assembly includes multiple illuminating assemblies that share a common axis of rotation, wherein each of said illuminating assemblies are positioned at different angles with respect to said axis of rotation, wherein said controller is constructed and arranged to synchronize images generated by said illuminating assembly in a predetermined sequence to provide a three dimensional image.

14. The rotational display system of claim 4 wherein said controller includes circuitry constructed and arranged to synchronously illuminating the illuminating elements.

15. The rotational display system of claim 4 wherein said controller includes a means of synchronization, wherein said means for synchronization is constructed and arranged to determine the relative position of said rotatable assembly with respect to a fixed position during rotation thereof.

16. The rotational display system of claim 15 wherein said means of synchronization is selected from the group consisting of gyroscopes, magnetic sensors, Hall Effect sensors, lasers, infrared devices, radio-frequency devices, optical/reflective tachometers, laser tachometers, mechanical position (rotary) encoders, accelerometers, displacement sensors and electromagnetic sensors.

17. The rotational display system of claim 1 wherein said rotational display system is constructed and arranged to display streaming video.