Message display unit for motor vehicles
First Claim
1. A message display unit for presenting messages from a motor vehicle comprising:
- a power supply for providing power,an interrupter for producing, within a first predetermined time frame, interruptions in the power provided by the power supply,a power sensor for sensing the interruptions in the power,a counter for counting the interruptions sensed in the power,a timer for measuring the first predetermined time frame during which the interruptions in the power occur,a message storage means for storing at least one message,a controller for selecting one of the stored messages based on the number of interruptions sensed in the power and the first predetermined time frame during which the interruptions in the power occurred, anda display panel for presenting the selected one of the messages.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A display unit for presenting messages from a motor vehicle in which messages are selected for presentation based upon the number of interruptions in the power supplied to the display unit. A power supply provides power to an interrupter, which produces, within a first predetermined time frame, interruptions in the power. The power interruptions are sensed and counted, and a timer measures the first predetermined time frame in which the interruptions in the power occur. A message storage means is provided, in which is stored at least one message to be presented. A controller selects one of the stored messages for presentation, based on the number of interruptions sensed in the power and the first predetermined time frame during which the interruptions occurred, and the message is presented on a display panel. In a preferred embodiment the controller ceases the presentation of the message after a second predetermined time frame, which is most preferably about three seconds.
31 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A message display unit for presenting messages from a motor vehicle comprising:
-
a power supply for providing power, an interrupter for producing, within a first predetermined time frame, interruptions in the power provided by the power supply, a power sensor for sensing the interruptions in the power, a counter for counting the interruptions sensed in the power, a timer for measuring the first predetermined time frame during which the interruptions in the power occur, a message storage means for storing at least one message, a controller for selecting one of the stored messages based on the number of interruptions sensed in the power and the first predetermined time frame during which the interruptions in the power occurred, and a display panel for presenting the selected one of the messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A message display unit for presenting messages from a motor vehicle comprising:
-
a display panel having display elements, a power supply for providing power, an interrupter for producing, within a first predetermined time frame, interruptions in the power provided by the power supply, a power sensor for sensing the interruptions in the power, a counter for counting the interruptions sensed in the power, a timer for measuring the first predetermined time frame during which the interruptions in the power occur, a controller for energizing a selected one of a plurality of outputs based on the number of interruptions sensed in the power and the first predetermined time frame during which the interruptions in the power occurred, and a plurality of switch sets, each switch set having a plurality of switches, the number of switch sets equal to the number of outputs, and each switch set associated with a different one of each of the outputs, each switch in a switch set associated with a different one of the display elements, each switch set being responsive to the output with which it is associated, such that when the associated output is energized, each switch in the switch set energizes the display element with which the switch is associated, the energized display elements forming a message thereby.
-
-
20. A method for presenting a message from a motor vehicle comprising:
-
providing power from a power supply, interrupting, within a first predetermined time frame, the power provided by the power supply, sensing the interruptions in the power, counting the interruptions sensed in the power, measuring the first predetermined time frame during which the interruptions occur in the power, storing at least one message in a memory, selecting one of the messages based on the number of interruptions sensed in the power and the first predetermined time frame during which the interruptions in the power occurred, and presenting the selected one of the messages on a display panel.
-
-
21. A message display unit for receiving power and presenting messages from a motor vehicle, comprising:
-
a line for receiving power from the motor vehicle, a power sensor for sensing interruptions in the power received by the line, a timer for measuring a first predetermined time frame, a counter for counting the interruptions in the power sensed by the power sensor during the first predetermined time frame, a message storage means for storing at least one message, a controller for selecting one of the stored messages based on the number of interruptions sensed in the power during the first predetermined time frame, and a display panel for presenting the selected one of the messages.
-
Specification