Variable message traffic signalling trailer

• US 5,257,020 A
• Filed: 06/12/1991
• Issued: 10/26/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fiber Optics Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fiber Optics Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Morse, Robert H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Application Number:
  US07/714,259
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 340/908, 340/908.1, 340/471, 340/472, 340/473, 340/479, 340/470, 340/815.12, 340/815.23, 340/815.24, 340/815.27
• US Class Current: 340/908.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 7/02 to be attached to overhanging loads or extending parts of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/662 mounted on vehicles, e.g. service vehicles; Warning vehicles travelling along with road-maintenance, e.g. remotely controlled
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/3026 Video wall, i.e. stackable semiconductor matrix display modules video wall control systems G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026

Abstract

A moveable traffic signaling which includes a trailer having wheels and a supporting structure; a general purpose message board supported by the supporting structure of the trailer, for communicating to drivers of passing vehicles a user-selected alpha-numeric message; an operator interface mounted on the supporting structure, for programming the message to be displayed at the site at which it is to be displayed; and a controller supported by the supporting structure, connected to interact with the operator interface and connected to provide the programmed message to the message board.

Claims

1. A moveable traffic signalling trailer device, comprising

a trailer having wheels and adapted to be towed to a remote, exposed site and left in unattended, message-displaying operation for periods of time, and a message board supporting structure mounted on said trailer,

a general purpose message board supported by said message board supporting structure of said trailer, for communicating to drivers of passing vehicles a user-selected alpha-numeric message, said message board including a plurality of picture elements (pixels) for displaying the message, said plurality of picture elements include light emitting diodes,

an operator interface mounted on said trailer, for programming the message to be displayed at the remote site at which said trailer is to be left in unattended, message-displaying operation, and

a controller supported by said trailer, connected to interact with said operator interface and connected to provide the programmed message to said message board.

2. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 1 wherein said operator interface includes an input device connected to said controller, for receiving on-site operator input and a display connected to said controller for displaying the message to the operator.

3. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 2 wherein said controller is adapted to display the message on said display before the message is sent to the message board.

4. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 2 wherein said input device is a keyboard and said display is a full-screen CRT display.

5. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 1 wherein each said picture element (pixel) includes four of said light emitting diodes.

6. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 1 wherein said message board further includes a plurality of power supplies each connected to some of said picture elements (pixels), and said power supplies are independently short-circuit protected.

7. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 1 wherein said message board includes at least 3584 light emitting diodes per line.

8. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 1 wherein said message board is capable of displaying at least three lines of 18 inch characters with at least 1-8 characters per line, and each line is capable of being sub-divided into two separate lines of approximately 9 inch characters.

9. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 1 wherein said controller is adapted to cause said picture elements (pixels) to flash at a variable, operator-selectable rate when programmed to do so by the operator.

10. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 1 wherein said controller is adapted to cause said picture elements (pixels) to be displayed at a dim intensity, for improved night viewing.

11. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 1 wherein said controller includes memory for storage of messages.

12. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 11 wherein said memory includes storage for pre-determined messages, and storage for user-defined messages.

13. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 1 further including a generator group for powering said message board and said operator interface.

14. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 13, wherein said generator group includes a surge suppressor.

15. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 1 wherein said support structure includes a bed and a superstructure, and said message board is mounted on a frame that is mounted on said superstructure so as to be moveable between a stowed position and an elevated display position.

16. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 15 wherein said superstructure further includes a shock absorbing structure for supporting said message board when in the stowed position.

17. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 15 further including a lift mechanism mounted on said superstructure and connected to said frame via a cable, for raising and lowering said message board.

18. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 1, further including a lockable cage positioned on shock mounts mounted on said supporting structure of said trailer, for housing said controller and said user interface, and protecting said controller and said user interface from shocks.

19. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 1, further including a modem and a cellular telephone set connected to said controller for receiving off-site commands to change the message.

20. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 1, further including a computer interface connected to said controller for communicating directly with said controller.

21. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 1, wherein said message board is made up of a plurality of panels, each of said panels being replaceable separately.

22. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 1, further including a plurality of leveling jacks attached to said supporting structure of said trailer, for leveling said trailer and preventing it from being tipped over by wind.

23. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 11, wherein said plurality of picture elements (pixels) include light emitting diodes.

24. A moveable traffic signalling trailer device, comprising

a trailer having wheels and a supporting structure,

a general purpose message board supported by said supporting structure of said trailer, for communicating to drivers of passing vehicles a user-selected alpha-numeric message, said message board comprising a thermostat connected to at least one cooling fan, for cooling said message board,

an operator interface mounted on said supporting structure, for programming the message to be displayed at the site at which it is to be displayed, and

a controller supported by said supporting structure, connected to interact with said operator interface and connected to provide the programmed message to said message board.

25. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 24, wherein said message board further comprises a plurality of picture elements (pixels) for displaying the message.

26. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 25, wherein said controller is adapted to cause said picture elements (pixels) to flash at a variable, operator-selectable rate when programmed to do so by the operator.

27. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 24, wherein said message board is made up of a plurality of panels, each of said panels being replaceable separately.

29. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 26 wherein said message board further includes a plurality of panels, each of said panels being replaceable separately, and a plurality of power supplies each connected to said picture elements in one of said panels, and wherein said power supplies are independently short-circuit protected.

28. A moveable traffic signalling trailer device, comprising

a trailer having wheels and adapted to be towed to a remote, exposed site and left in unattended, message-displaying operation for periods of time, and a message board supporting structure mounted on said trailer, said supporting structure including a bed and a superstructure,

a general purpose message board supported by said supporting structure of said trailer, for communicating to drivers of passing vehicles a user-selected alpha-numeric message, said message board including a plurality of picture elements for displaying the message, said picture elements including light emitting diodes, said message board being mounted on a frame that is mounted on said superstructure so as to be moveable between a stowed position and an elevated display position,

a lift mechanism mounted on said superstructure and connected to said frame, for raising and lowering said message board between said positions,

an enclosure mounted on said trailer,

an operator interface mounted on said trailer, for programming the message to be displayed, said operator interface including a keyboard for receiving on-site operator input and a full-screen CRT display for displaying the message to the operator,

a controller supported by said supporting structure, connected to interact with said operator interface, and connected to provide the programmed message to the message board, said controller including storage for pre-determined messages, and storage for user-defined messages, said controller being adapted to display the message on said display before the message is sent to the message board, and

a generator group for powering said message board and said operator interface.

30. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 28 wherein said message board includes at least 3584 light emitting diodes per line and is capable of displaying at least three lines of 18 inch characters with at least 1-8 characters per line, and each line is capable of being sub-divided into two separate lines of approximately 9 inch characters.

31. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 28 wherein said controller is adapted to cause said picture elements to flash at a variable, operator-selectable rate when programmed by the operator to do so, and wherein said controller is adapted to cause said picture elements to be displayed at a dim intensity, for improved night viewing.

32. The signalling trailer device of claim 28, further including a modem and a cellular telephone set connected to said controller for receiving off-site commands to change the message.

33. The signalling trailer device of claim 28, further including a computer interface connected to said controller for communicating directly with said controller.

34. The traffic signalling trailer device of claim 28 wherein said superstructure further includes a shock absorbing structure for supporting said message board when in the stowed position, and wherein said enclosure is a lockable cage positioned on shock mounts mounted on said supporting structure of said trailer, said cage protecting said controller and said user interface from shocks.

35. The signalling trailer device of claim 28, further including a plurality of leveling jacks attached to said supporting structure of said trailer, for leveling said trailer and preventing it from being tipped over by wind.

36. A moveable traffic signalling trailer device, comprising:

a trailer having wheels and a supporting structure, said supporting structure including a bed and a superstructure,

a general purpose message board supported by said supporting structure of said trailer, for communicating to drivers of passing vehicles a user-selected alpha-numeric message, said message board including a plurality of picture elements for displaying the message, said picture elements including light emitting diodes, said message board being mounted on a frame that is mounted on said superstructure so as to be moveable between a stowed position and an elevated display position, said message board further including a thermostat connected to at least one cooling fan, for cooling said message board,

lift mechanism mounted on said superstructure and connected to said frame, for raising and lowering said message board between said positions,

an enclosure mounted on said trailer,

an operator interface mounted in said enclosure, for programming the message to be displayed, said operator interface including a keyboard for receiving on-site operator input and a full-screen CRT display for displaying the message to the operator,

a controller supported by said supporting structure, connected to interact with said operator interface, and connected to provide the programmed message to said message board, said controller including storage for pre-determined messages, and storage for user-defined messages, said controller being adapted to display the message on said display before the message is sent to the message board, and

a generator group for powering said message board and said operator interface.