WARNING AND COURTESY DISPLAY SYSTEM FOR MOTOR VEHICLE OPERATORS

• US 3,720,913 A
• Filed: 06/25/1971
• Issued: 03/13/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Richard H. Bradford
• Original Assignee: Richard H. Bradford
• Inventors: Bradford, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myers, Randall P.
• Application Number:
  US05/156,888
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 340/22,31R,32,38R,38P,33 250/214D,217R 40/52R,52B,129C,13R,13C,132R
• US Class Current: 340/933
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages

Abstract

A display for notifying a motorist that his headlights are not on and/or for conveying other courtesy information comprises means for sensing proximity of a vehicle, means for sensing ambient light, and means for sensing illumination from the vehicle headlights. When a vehicle is present under poor ambient light conditions and headlight illumination is not sensed, a display advises the motorist to turn headlights on. When illumination is sensed, the display may change to a courtesy message.

Claims

1. A display system for motor vehicles comprising a display device disposed adjacent to the path of travel of a vehicle approaching entry onto a public highway, said device including at least one actuable display portion including courtesy indicia visible to an operator of said approaching vehicle, means for sensing the proximity of said vehicle irrespective of its headlight illumination condition when at a point on said path in advance of said display device and for activating said system in response thereto, photosensitive means distinct from said proximity sensing means disposed within an area of expected illumination by the headlight beam of said vehicle when at said point, and control means normally inhibiting actuation of said display portion and responsive to illumination of said photosensitive means by said headlight beam to enable actuation of said portion when said system is activated in response to said proximity sensing means.

2. A display system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said display device includes a warning display portion also including indicia visible to said operator to apprise him of a non-illuminated condition of the headlights of said approaching vehicle, and means for activating said warning display portion in response to said activation of said system when activation of said first named portion is so inhibited.

3. A display system as set forth in claim 2 including means for disabling control by said headlight beam sensing means.

4. A display system as set forth in claim 3 wherein said disabling means is responsive to means for sensing ambient light conditions in excess of a predetermined level.