Digital message display for vehicles

• US 7,378,948 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Eddie Somuah
• Original Assignee: Eddie Somuah
• Inventors: Somuah, Eddie
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland; Donnie L
• Application Number:
  US11/038,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,222 Days
• Field of Search: 340/436
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/50 for indicating other intentions or conditions, e.g. request for waiting or overtaking
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5035 electronic displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle
• 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

Abstract

The digital message display for vehicles detects a tailgater and automatically flashes a warning message, directed to the tailgater, on a message display that is located in the rear window of the vehicle in view of following traffic. In addition to the warning message directed to the tailgater, a distance display is located in view of the vehicle driver to indicate the distance of the tailgater. An audible alarm alerts the driver to the presence of the tailgater. Additionally, a wireless remote control device allows the driver to manually select and display one of a number of pre-defined safety and courtesy messages. Multiple distance sensors provide multiple functional ranges to accommodate varying driving or traffic conditions.

Claims

1. A digital message display for vehicles comprising:

a message display capable of displaying short textual messages;

at least one short range distance sensor having a first sensing range, the at least one short range distance sensor being adapted for mounting to a rear surface of a vehicle;

at least one long range distance sensor having a second sensing range, the second sensing range being greater than the first sensing range, the at least one long range distance sensor being adapted for mounting to the rear surface of the vehicle;

a microcomputer in electrical connection with said message display and with said at least one vehicle distance sensor; and

a computer readable program code contained in said microcomputer, the program code having means for selectively reading a trailing vehicle distance from either of said at least one short range distance sensor or said at least one long range distance sensor, means for determining when the trailing vehicle distance falls below a safety threshold, and means for selectively displaying on said message display one of a plurality of predefined short textual messages when the trailing vehicle distance falls below said safety threshold.

2. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein said message display is a light emitting diode display capable of displaying short textual messages.

3. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein said at least one short range distance sensor and said at least one long range distance sensor each comprise a plurality of vehicle distance sensors.

4. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 1, further comprising a beeper, the beeper being electrically connected to said microcomputer;

and

wherein the computer program code further comprises means for causing the beeper to generate an audible alarm when the trailing vehicle distance falls below the safety threshold.

5. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 1, further comprising a numeric distance display, the numeric distance display being electrically connected to said microcomputer;

wherein the computer program code has means to cause the numeric distance display to display said trailing vehicle distance.

6. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 5, wherein said numeric distance display is disposed in a vehicle rear-view mirror.

7. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 1, further comprising:

a remote control in communication with said microcomputer, the remote control having a plurality of pushbuttons;

wherein the computer program code further comprises means for selectively displaying on said message display one of a plurality of predefined short textual messages when one of said pushbuttons is pressed, there being a unique message for each said pushbutton.

8. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 7, further comprising:

a remote control receiver in communication with said remote control, the remote control receiver being electrically connected to said microcomputer.

9. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 7, wherein;

said remote control further comprises a mode switch having at least a first position and a second position; and

wherein the computer program code further comprises means for setting said safety threshold to a first distance when said mode switch is in said first position and setting said safety threshold to a second distance when said mode switch is in said second position.

10. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 3, wherein said at least one short range distance sensor and said at least one long range distance sensor are positioned in a linear array on a rear bumper of the vehicle.

11. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 10, further comprising means for selecting between a first operating mode and a second operating mode.

12. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 1, wherein the computer program code further comprises means for operating in said first operating mode to read said trailing vehicle distance from said at least one short range distance sensor, and operating in said second operating mode to read said trailing vehicle distance from said at least one long range distance sensor.

13. The digital message display for vehicles according to claim 1, further comprising means for mounting said message display to a rear deck of a vehicle.

14. A vehicle with a digital message display comprising:

a vehicle having a rear bumper;

a message display capable of displaying short textual messages;

at least one short range distance sensor having a first sensing range, the at least one short range distance sensor being mounted to the rear bumper of the vehicle;

at least one long range distance sensor having a second sensing range, the second sensing range being greater than the first sensing range, the at least one long range distance sensor being mounted to the rear bumper of the vehicle;

a microcomputer in electrical connection with said message display and with said at least one vehicle distance sensor; and

a computer readable program code contained in said microcomputer, the program code having means for reading a trailing vehicle distance from either of said short range distance sensor and said long range distance sensor, means for determining when the trailing vehicle distance falls below a safety threshold, and means for selectively displaying on said message display one of a plurality of predefined short textual messages when the trailing vehicle distance falls below said safety threshold.

15. The vehicle with a digital message display according to claim 14, further comprising:

a remote control in communication with said microcomputer, the remote control having a plurality of pushbuttons;

wherein the computer program code further comprises means for selectively displaying on said message display one of a plurality of predefined short textual messages when one of said pushbuttons is pressed, there being a unique message for each said pushbutton.

16. The vehicle with a digital message display according to claim 15, wherein said remote control further comprises means for selecting between a first operating mode and a second operating mode.

17. The vehicle with a digital message display according to claim 16, wherein the computer program code further comprises means for operating in said first operating mode to read said trailing vehicle distance from said short range distance sensor, and operating in said second operating mode to read said trailing vehicle distance from said long range distance sensor.

18. The vehicle with a digital message display according to claim 14, wherein said message display comprises:

a vehicle rear window having an interior surface;

a plurality of LEDs disposed on said interior surface; and

a plurality of electrical traces disposed on said interior surface and interconnecting said LEDs.

19. The vehicle with a digital message display according to claim 18, wherein said LEDs are arranged to form a dot-matrix alpha-numeric display.

20. The vehicle with a digital message display according to claim 14, wherein said at least one short range distance sensor and said at least one long range distance sensor are positioned in a linear array on the rear bumper of the vehicle.