Traffic-light timed advertising center
First Claim
1. A variable message advertising display apparatus combined with a traffic control signal device positioned adjacent a street, comprising:
- a traffic control signal device consisting of multiple sets of traffic lights each facing a direction of traffic and each having a first phase for stopping the flow of traffic and a second phase for permitting the flow of traffic on the street;
a variable message advertising display means mounted adjacent to each of said multiple sets of traffic lights of the traffic control signal device in line of sight visible to drivers and passengers of vehicles in the flow of traffic being controlled by the traffic control signal device, said advertising display means being capable of displaying an advertising message and of having said advertising message made selectively visible and invisible to the drivers and passengers of the vehicles;
display control means connected to said advertising display means and to said traffic control signal device for automatically and selectively actuating and deactuating the advertising display means such that the advertising message is made visible and invisible, said display control means comprising digital logic gates connected to a flip-flop multivibrator for actuating and deactuating said advertising display means as a function of the phase of operation of the corresponding set of traffic lights; and
electronic programming means connected to said display control means and said advertising display means for automatically and selectively changing the advertising message according to a predetermined display schedule chosen by a user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A traffic light timed advertising center includes an advertising display device, such as an electronic message center or other visual display device for displaying alpha-numeric and symbolic advertising messages, in which the advertising messages can be made selectively visible and invisible to drivers, is positioned adjacent a traffic control signal device having alternative signal phases for sequentially stopping and permitting the flow of traffic. A display control device, including an electronic control signal, coordinates the advertising display device with the traffic control signal device to make the advertising message invisible to drivers at selected times, particularly during transitions of the traffic control signal device from one signal phase to another, during a particular phase, and for predetermined time intervals before or after the transition from one phase to another, as desired or appropriate to display the advertising message only during times of the traffic control signal device phases when drivers'"'"' attentions to the advertising message will not adversely affect the drivers'"'"' attentions to required driving functions.
154 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A variable message advertising display apparatus combined with a traffic control signal device positioned adjacent a street, comprising:
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a traffic control signal device consisting of multiple sets of traffic lights each facing a direction of traffic and each having a first phase for stopping the flow of traffic and a second phase for permitting the flow of traffic on the street; a variable message advertising display means mounted adjacent to each of said multiple sets of traffic lights of the traffic control signal device in line of sight visible to drivers and passengers of vehicles in the flow of traffic being controlled by the traffic control signal device, said advertising display means being capable of displaying an advertising message and of having said advertising message made selectively visible and invisible to the drivers and passengers of the vehicles; display control means connected to said advertising display means and to said traffic control signal device for automatically and selectively actuating and deactuating the advertising display means such that the advertising message is made visible and invisible, said display control means comprising digital logic gates connected to a flip-flop multivibrator for actuating and deactuating said advertising display means as a function of the phase of operation of the corresponding set of traffic lights; and electronic programming means connected to said display control means and said advertising display means for automatically and selectively changing the advertising message according to a predetermined display schedule chosen by a user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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- 8. A variable message apparatus, electrically connected to and synchronized with a traffic control device, for displaying an alpha-numeric and symbolic display for disseminating information to oncoming traffic, comprising a display visibility means automatically controlled in such a way that the alpha-numeric and symbolic display may at times be visible and at other times may be effectively made invisible, and wherein said display visibility means is electronically programmed in such a way that the alpha-numeric and symbolic display may be automatically and selectively changed according to a predetermined display schedule chosen by a user.
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17. A method of displaying a variable alpha-numeric and symbolic message on a variable-message advertising display comprising the steps of:
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electrically connecting the display to and synchronizing it with a traffic control device; and programming the display in such a way that the alpha-numeric and symbolic display may be automatically and selectively changed according to a predetermined display schedule chosen by a user. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for a traffic-control-signal variable message advertising display combination for use adjacent a street, comprising:
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an electronic message center, including a two-dimensional array of a plurality of light-producing elements, each of which can be turned on and off separately, said two-dimensional array being capable of forming alpha-numeric advertising messages and graphic symbols constituting traffic control signals comprising a first phase for stopping the flow of traffic and a second phase for permitting the flow of traffic on the street; a programmable microprocessor connected to said electronic message center for automatically activating the sequence of traffic control signals for said first and second phase of traffic flow and for controlling the display of any desired set of alpha-numeric advertising messages in a variety of display formats by actuating said plurality of light-producing elements according to a predetermined sequence chosen by a user; and a sequential network connected to said electronic message center and to said programmable microprocessor for automatically enabling and restricting the activation of said plurality of light-producing elements to particular light phases of the traffic control signals. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification