Motor vehicle display apparatus

• US 6,008,732 A
• Filed: 11/19/1996
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter Ar-Fu Lam
• Original Assignee: Peter Ar-Fu Lam
• Inventors: Lam, Peter Ar-Fu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US08/752,612
• Time in Patent Office: 1,134 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/815.4, 340/438, 340/473, 340/815.46, 340/815.54, 340/573, 340/469, 362/276, 362/802, 362/83.3, 362/20, 362/488
• US Class Current: 340/815.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/52 for indicating emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/04 characterised by the provision of a light source housing portion adjustably fixed to the remainder of the device
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/08 characterised by means for in situ recharging of the batteries or cells
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/00 Lighting devices or systems producing a varying lighting effect
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/035 by means of plugging into a wall outlet, e.g. night light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2025/005 Message recorded in a memory device
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 25/00 Audible advertising sound recording or reproducing per se G11B; public address systems H04R27/00
• CPC Class Codes: G10K 9/18 Details, e.g. bulbs, pumps, pistons, switches or casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/00 Switches operated by change of a physical condition operated by change of magnetic or electric field H01H36/00; thermally-actuated switches H01H37/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/14 Switches operated by change of acceleration, e.g. by shock or vibration, inertia switch wherein the liquid constitutes a contact of the switch H01H29/002
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 35/40 actuated by devices allowing continual flow of fluid, e.g. vane
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Display apparatus (20) is configured to be plugged into the cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle. LEDs 37 and control circuit 36 are configured to provide a gently blinking display mode to enhance the driving pleasure at night. In case of emergency, switch 34 triggers the LEDs 34 to provide high intensity blinking warning light. Batteries (24, 25, 26) provide power to the apparatus when it is detached from the cigarette lighter socket of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A display apparatus useful in combination with a vehicle comprising:

power plug dimensioned to plug into the cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle and to receive power from said vehicle;

light transducer configured to provide at least a first high intensity mode and a second lower intensity mode; and

said light transducer is further configured to be operative to provide said high intensity mode when said power plug is removed from the cigarette lighter socket of the vehicle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the higher light intensity of said first mode is obtained by optically focusing the light transmitted by said light transducer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the higher light intensity of said first mode is obtained by delivering higher power to said light transducer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising electronic circuit means to provide different visual display in between said first mode and said second mode.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said light transducer comprises of one or more light emitting devices and said electronic circuit means is configured to provide at least one blinking pattern to said light transducer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising energy storage device to power said apparatus when it is detached from the vehicle.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said energy storage device is rechargeable.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a motion sensitive device to turn on said light transducer when the vehicle is in motion.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a sound sensitive device to turn on said light transducer when the sound level received exceeds a predefined level.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a light sensitive device to turn on or off said light transducer when the ambient light exceeds or below a predefined level.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further configured with means to automatically switch said apparatus to the first mode when said power plug is detached from the cigarette lighter socket of the vehicle.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising circuit means to charge said energy storage device when said power plug is connected to the power of said cigarette lighter socket and to connect the power of said energy storage device to the light transducer when said power plug is detached from said cigarette lighter socket.

13. A sound sensitive trigger circuit means for use in an apparatus to be plugged into the cigarette lighter of a vehicle having an engine, comprising an engine sound sensitive device mounted to receive the engine sound of said vehicle, said circuit means further be configured to differentiate the characteristics of said engine sound,

contact terminals dimensioned to receive power from said cigarette lighter of the vehicle;

and

control circuit means to generate a trigger signal according to the sound signal received by said sound detection device.

14. The sound sensitive trigger circuit means of claim 13 wherein said trigger signal is to turn on a light transducer equipped in said apparatus.

15. An apparatus configured to be useful inside a vehicle comprising:

a power plug to plug into the cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle and to receive power from said vehicle;

said power plug defines a first power source derived from the vehicle;

energy storage means to define a second power source;

a light transducer configured to be operable while said vehicle is running and to receive power from at least one of said power sources;

switchinig circuit means to deliver power from the vehicle to said light transducer when said apparatus is attached to the cigarette lighter socket of the vehicle and to deliver power from said energy storage means to said light transducer which said apparatus is detached from the cigarette lighter socket; and

said light transducer is further configured to provide at least two different lighting modes and said switching circuit means is further configured to switch the light transducer from a first lighting mode to a second lighting mode.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said switching circuit means automatically deliver power from said energy storage means to said light transducer when said apparatus is detached from the cigarette lighter socket.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said switching circuit means is automatically set to said second lighting mode when said apparatus is detached from the cigarette lighter socket.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said first lighting mode is a decorative mode to enhance the driving pleasure at night.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said second lighting mode is a panic mode to generating an alert lighting signal at night.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said sound lighting mode is of higher intensity than said first lighting mode.

21. The appartus of claim 15 further comprises a translucent picture.

22. A decorative display apparatus configured to be useful inside a vehicle comprising:

power plug to plug into the cigarette lighter socket of a vehicle and to receive power from said vehicle;

said power plug defines a first power source derived from the vehicle;

a second power source,

a light transducer configured to be operable while said vehicle is running having at least a first lighting mode and a second different lighting mode; and

said first power source is configured to light up said first lighting mode and said second power source is configured to light up said second lighting mode.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein in said second lighting mode is of higher intensity than said first lighting mode.

24. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprise a translucent picture and a picture frame mounting said translucent picture to said apparatus.

25. The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising a detachable translucent picture.

26. An apparatus configured to be useful inside a vehicle comprising:

light transducer means to provide at least first and second modes of lighting;

rechargeable energy storage means to power said light transducer means when said apparatus is detached from the vehicle cigarette lighter socket;

a power plug dimensioned to plug into the cigarette lighter socket of the vehicle and to deliver power from the vehicle to charge said energy storage means;

first circuit means configured to drive said light transducer means to deliver a visual effect; and

second circuit means initiated by the removal of said apparatus from the cigarette lighter socket to automatically start the second mode of lighting without any other user intervention.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said second mode is a panic mode configured to provide emergency lighting signal at night.

28. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said first mode is configured to provide a decorative lighting effect to enhance the driving pleasure at night.

29. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said first mode is when said light transducer means is off.

30. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein said first and second modes provide different visual lighting effects.