Vehicle communication device

• US 5,905,434 A
• Filed: 12/08/1997
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ming Chun Chen, Paul J. Steffan
• Original Assignee: Ming Chun Chen, Paul J. Steffan
• Inventors: Steffan, Paul J., Chen, Ming Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/987,253
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 340/464, 340/468, 340/471, 340/472, 340/479, 340/469, 340/478, 340/475, 340/463, 340/465, 340/470, 340/473, 340/815.6, 340/815.53, 116/28 R, 116/42
• US Class Current: 340/464
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5035 electronic displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/545 for indicating other traffic conditions, e.g. fog, heavy traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/547 for issuing requests to other traffic participants; for confirming to other traffic participants they can proceed, e.g. they can overtake
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/549 for expressing greetings, gratitude or emotions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions

Abstract

A vehicle communications system having a remote control unit installed in the interior of a vehicle and a display unit located on the exterior of the vehicle. The display unit has an input from the remote control unit and an input from a vehicle interface module that has inputs from the vehicle such as the braking system and the turning signal system. The remote control unit is controllable by the driver in the vehicle and has a table of preset and preprogrammed messages selectable by the driver. The driver selects a message to be displayed and sends the message to the display unit. Any input to the vehicle interface module from the vehicle signaling systems overrides the signal input from the remote control unit unless the display unit is mounted on the front of the vehicle. The driver can select a message from a table of messages that are sequentially displayed on the remote control unit. The table of messages is stored on a flash memory in the remote unit and in a flash memory in the display unit. The table of messages in the remote unit is programmable via a USB programming port. The table of messages in the display unit can be programmed via an RF signal sent to the display unit by the remote unit.

Claims

1. A vehicle driver-alert communication system disposed in a vehicle, comprising:

a driver controllable remote control unit installed in a vehicle, wherein the driver controllable remote control unit includes an on/off switch, a first table of preselected and programmed signals, a rotary switch controllable by a person in the vehicle, wherein the person in the vehicle can sequentially select the signals in the first table, a remote control display to allow the person in the vehicle to visually view each signal from the first table as the rotary switch selects each signal, a first communication module to communicate an identification code for a selected signal to the display unit, a toggle switch associated with the rotary switch to send the identification code for the selected signal to the first communication module, a radio frequency signal encoder and wherein the first communication module includes a radio frequency transmitter to transmit an encoded radio frequency signal to the display unit;

a vehicle interface module having input signals from signaling systems in the vehicle wherein each input signal is assigned a unique priority;

a display unit installed on the vehicle for displaying a signal, wherein the display unit includes a second communication module to receive the identification code from the remote control unit, a second table of preselected and programmed signals that is identical to the first table, a pattern generating module having an input from the second communication module to receive the identification code from the remote control unit and an input from the vehicle interface module, an array power distribution module and an array display panel that displays the signal having the highest priority.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the input signals from the signaling system in the vehicle includes an input from a braking signal system, an input form a hazard warning signal system, an input form a turning signal system, an input from the vehicle security system and an input from a signal system indicating the vehicle is in reverse gear.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the second communication module to receive the identification code from the remote control unit comprises a radio frequency signal receiver and a radio frequency signal decoder.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the pattern generating module determines which signal is to be displayed by the array display panel and communicates which signal is to be displayed to the array power distribution module.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the pattern generating module displays the signal as indicated and received from the remote control unit when there is no signal from the vehicle interface module.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the pattern generating module will override the signal as indicated and received from the remote control unit when there is an input received from the vehicle interface module having a higher priority and communicates the signal as indicated and received from the vehicle interface module to the array power distribution module.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the pattern generating module will override the signal as indicated and received from the remote control unit when there is more than one signal input from the vehicle interface module and communicates the signal indicated by the vehicle interface module having a higher priority input from the vehicle interface module to the array power distribution module.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the remote control unit further comprises a programming port and the second table of preselected and programmed signals is stored in a first flash memory wherein the first flash memory is programmable via the programming port.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the first flash memory is programmable via the programming port by a computer.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the second table of preselected and programmed signals in the display unit is stored in a second flash memory located in the pattern generating module in the display unit, wherein the second flash memory in the pattern generating module in the display unit is programmable.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the second flash memory in the pattern generating module in the display unit is programmed via a radio frequency signal received from the remote unit.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the second flash memory in the pattern generating module in the display unit is programmed via a programming port located on the pattern generating module in the display unit.