Signage system

• US 8,875,426 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2009
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark W. Wagner
• Original Assignee: Mark W. Wagner
• Inventors: Wagner, Mark W.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, CASSANDRA HOPE
• Application Number:
  US12/994,045
• Publication Number:
  US 20110146119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,989 Days
• Field of Search: 40591-593, 404/46, 404/47, 404/52, 296 977- 978
• US Class Current: 40/591
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/005 Illumination controller or illuminated signs including an illumination control system
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/044 Signs, boards or panels mounted on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/005 Signs associated with a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2007/1852 for fastening magnetically or by suction or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/0485 Advertising means on windshields
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/18 Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/30 in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell controlling light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. electro-optical or magneto-optical cell, G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 44/00 Circuit arrangements for operating electroluminescent light sources for operating light emitting diodes H05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A signage system (10) including one or more visual display devices (11), each mounted for display behind the windshield (15) of one or more parked and ignition-off vehicles (16). Each sign (11) has a visual display surface (12) that is capable of forming an illuminated graphic display (13) on the visual display surface (12). The visual display surface (12) would be visible to observers in front of the vehicle (16). The system (10) includes wireless communication hardware (60) that allows the visual display (11) to be programmed by a remote programming device (41). Each of the display devices (11) can be programmed to have a separate message and each message would scroll from left to right across the display surface (12) in a time coordinated manner so that the message appears to scroll consistently from left to right across the visual field of the plurality of display surfaces (12).

Claims

1. A signage system, comprising:

a) a plurality of stationary and parked vehicles with the ignition off, facing the same direction, parked in an automobile sales lot with the front of each vehicle facing a road, each having a windshield,

b) a plurality of signs, each sign having a visual display surface that is capable of forming an illuminated graphic display on the visual display surface, each sign being mounted for display adjacent the inside surface of the windshield of one of the plurality of vehicles, so that the visual display surfaces of the plurality of signs are parallel, symmetric about a horizontal line of the visual display surfaces, and simultaneously visible to observers situated in front of the vehicles on a road, with the visual display surface substantially covering the entire windshield,

c) a plurality of message controllers, each adapted to determine the graphic display on one of the plurality of signs,

d) a single message programming device adapted to instruct the plurality of message controllers concerning the graphic display that each message controller determines for its associated sign,

e) a vehicle marketing and sales message appropriate for the plurality of vehicles in which the signs are installed, each sign displaying a portion of the message, with the complete message spanning the plurality of signs,

f) the vehicle marketing and sales message consisting of a single line of characters which are dimensionally substantially the full height of the visual display surface, and

g) the message transverses along the horizontal line of the visual display surfaces.

2. A signage system as recited in claim 1, wherein each display surface carries a matrix of highly energy efficient illumination devices that, when selectively illuminated, form the graphic display.

3. A signage system as recited in claim 2, wherein the illumination devices are light emitting diodes.

4. A signage system as recited in claim 1, wherein each vehicle includes a battery and a solar panel that provides electric power to the battery to power the sign.

5. A signage system as recited in claim 1, wherein each sign includes a suction cup for holding the sign to the inside of the windshield.

6. A signage system as recited in claim 1, wherein each message controller and the message programming device each include a wireless communication capability that allows the message programming device to communicate wirelessly with each message controller, and thereby program each message controller remotely.

7. A signage system as recited in claim 1, wherein each visual display surface of the sign includes a forwardly directed shade frame that protects the display surface from off axis light and thereby minimizes the glare on the display surface and maximizes the visibility of the graphic display.

8. A signage system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system includes a light sensor to monitor daylight and control the operation time of the visual display surfaces.

9. A signage system as recited in claim 1, wherein the system includes a

light sensor to monitor daylight and control the intensity of the visual display surfaces.

10. A signage system as recited in claim 1, wherein each sign includes a highly visible identification number that specifically identifies the sign and provides for efficient identification and programming of the sign.

11. A signage system as recited in claim 1, wherein two of the signs are programmed with different graphic displays, the graphic displays are time coordinated so that the combined graphical display creates a dynamic visual effect.

12. A signage system as recited in claim 11, wherein two of the signs are positioned so that they simultaneously face and are simultaneously viewable by an observer outside of and in front of the vehicles, and the signs are precisely programmed, using a single message programing device, with different graphic displays, the graphic displays being time coordinated so that the combined graphical display creates a dynamic visual effect wherein the graphic display appears to move from one sign to the other.

13. A signage system as recited in claim 11, wherein two of the signs are positioned so that they simultaneously face and are simultaneously viewable by an observer outside of and in front of the vehicles, and the signs are precisely programmed, using a single message programing device, with different graphic displays, the graphic displays being time coordinated so that the combined graphical display creates a dynamic visual effect wherein the graphic display appears to move from one sign to the other and back again.

14. A signage system as recited in claim 1, wherein three of the signs are positioned so that they simultaneously face and are simultaneously viewable by an observer outside of and in front of the vehicles, and the signs are each precisely programmed, using a single message programming device, with different graphic displays, the graphic displays being time coordinated so that the combined graphical display creates a dynamic visual effect wherein the graphic display appears to move from the first sign to the second sign, and then to the third sign.