Visual display device

• US 6,215,200 B1
• Filed: 10/20/1998
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bennett Ralph Genzel
• Original Assignee: Bennett Ralph Genzel
• Inventors: Genzel, Bennett Ralph
• Primary Examiner(s): PALADINI, ALBERT WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US09/176,407
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.1, 340/435, 340/901, 349/164, 362/540, 180/169, 315/159, 345/204, 345/207, 345/214
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/503 using luminous text or symbol displays in or on the vehicle, e.g. static text
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/14 Arrangements of reflectors therein

Abstract

A passive reflective device provides a warning or message visible when the intensity of light incident on the device exceeds a preselected minimum intensity or threshold value. The device includes a display, in the form of statements, pictographs, or images, with an appearance which is altered in color or pattern when impinged upon by light with an intensity greater than the threshold value and viewed by a viewer in front of the device. The device can be used as a sign or stationary display, such as a road sign, or it can be mounted on or in a front vehicle facing behind the vehicle such that the display is visible from behind the vehicle by someone who is within a preselected range of angles. The device can be mounted on the bumper or body of the vehicle, and the display can provide information, such as a visible warning to the driver of the following vehicle that his or her lights are shining so brightly on the front vehicle so as to cause the driver of the front vehicle to become uncomfortable, distracted, and/or temporary blind due to reflections of the following vehicle'"'"'s headlights in the front vehicle'"'"'s rear view mirror or mirrors. The device may have several appearances which change as the light intensity progressively exceeds several corresponding threshold intensities.

Claims

1. A reflective display device for providing a visual message to an observer in front of said device, said device comprising:

display means having a first appearance when impinged upon by light originating in front of said display and having an intensity less than a threshold intensity, said display means having a second appearance when impinged upon by light originating in front of said display and having an intensity greater than said threshold intensity, said second appearance including said message; and

means for reflecting incident light to provide said message to the observer;

wherein said appearances of said display differ in at least one characteristic selected from color and pattern, and said display means does not include a light source.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said message has a form selected from text, pictographs, images, and combinations thereof.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is a stationary sign.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said light originates within a preselected range of angles relative to a surface of said device and said message is visible to the observer within a second preselected range of angles relative to said surface.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said display means includes at least one element selected from masks, filters, holograms, lenses, prisms, fluorescent materials, and phosphorescent materials, wherein each of said elements is positioned in the light path between said means for reflecting and the observer, and each of said elements is operative to control the appearance of said display to the observer.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein:

said display means includes at least one additional appearance when impinged upon by light originating in front of said display, the light having an intensity greater than an additional corresponding threshold intensity, each of said additional appearances including an additional corresponding message; and

all of said appearances of said display differ from one another in at least one characteristic selected from color and pattern.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said reflecting means includes a substantially smooth and planar surface reflecting surface.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said reflecting means includes a non-planar reflecting surface.

9. A reflective display device adapted for mounting to a vehicle, said device comprising:

display means for providing a display that is visible to an observer behind the vehicle, said display having a first appearance when impinged upon by light originating behind said vehicle, said light having an intensity less than a threshold intensity, said display also having a second appearance including a safety warning when impinged upon by light having an intensity greater than said threshold intensity and originating behind said vehicle; and

means for reflecting said light originating behind said vehicle to provide said warning to the observer;

wherein said appearances of said display differ in at least one characteristic selected from color and pattern; and

wherein said warning indicates to the observer that the light intensity is great enough to distract a driver of the vehicle.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein said message has a form selected from text, pictographs, images, and combinations thereof.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein said light originates within a preselected range of angles relative to a surface of said device and said message is visible to the observer within a second preselected range of angles.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein said light greater than said threshold light intensity is distracting to a driver who sees the light reflected in his or her vehicle'"'"'s rear view mirror.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein said device is selected from the group consisting of bumper stickers and license plate holders.

14. A method for conveying a warning from a first vehicle to a second driver of a second vehicle, the second vehicle traveling in substantially the same direction as the first vehicle and having headlights shining in a generally forward direction, the warning signaling that the headlights of the second vehicle are distracting to a driver of the first vehicle, the method comprising the step of:

providing a passive display device on the first vehicle which can be viewed by the second driver, the display device including a first display visible under normal ambient lighting conditions and a second display visible when an incident light intensity exceeds a preselected threshold intensity, the second display conveying the warning to the second driver,

wherein said passive display device operates without a light source other than the incident light.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of masking a portion of the incident light.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of filtering a portion of the incident light.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of diffracting a portion of the incident light.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising selecting light which originates within a preselected range of angles relative to a surface of said device;

and wherein the observer is within a second preselected range of angles relative to said surface.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said message has a form selected from text, pictographs, images, and combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said displays differ in at least one characteristic selected from color and pattern.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein said warning indicates at least one of the intensity of the incident light and the distance between the first and second vehicles.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein said threshold light intensity is an intensity which is distracting to a driver who sees the light reflected in his or her or her vehicle'"'"'s rear view mirror.

23. A passive reflective display device comprising at least one sheet of material including therein a first set of indicia visible under normal ambient lighting conditions and a second set of indicia visible only when an incident light intensity exceeds a preselected threshold value, wherein said display device operates without a light source other than the incident light.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein each of said sets of indicia is selected from text, pictographs, images, and combinations thereof.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein said sets of indicia differ in at least one characteristic selected from color and pattern.

26. The device of claim 23, wherein said display device comprises at least one element selected from masks, filters, holograms, lenses, prisms, fluorescent materials, and phosphorescent materials, wherein each of said elements is positioned in the path of the incident light or the path of light reflected within said device.