Self-reacting message board

• US 9,734,744 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2016
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John Strutt
• Original Assignee: Joan Mercior, John Strutt
• Inventors: McGie, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Eurice, Michael J
• Application Number:
  US15/188,134
• Time in Patent Office: 420 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/26 the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2603 Attenuation of the light according to ambient luminiosity, e.g. for braking or direction indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/5037 the display content changing automatically, e.g. depending on traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/545 for indicating other traffic conditions, e.g. fog, heavy traffic
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/006 using a distance sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/007 providing information about the distance to an obstacle, e.g. varying sound
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/86 Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/87 Combinations of radar systems, e.g. primary radar and secondary radar
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/01 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9316 combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9325 for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 : electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 : with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/04 : by land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/042 : the advertising matter being fixed on the roof of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 21/048 : Advertisement panels on sides, front or back of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/041 : Temperature compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 : for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 : Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 : the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/06 : Remotely controlled electronic signs other than labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/10 : Automotive applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/14 : Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/32 : semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Disclosed is a digital sign system and method of use thereof. The system includes a digital sign having a controller board having a microcontroller, a temperature sensor communicably coupled to fans or a cooling/heating unit, an ambient light sensor, a GPS unit, a radar, a communication module, and a power source, wherein the controller board is in communication with an LED panel or another display module for digitally outputting messages, further wherein the digital sign is mounted on a pilot truck to allow the pilot truck to relay messages to a transport truck and oncoming vehicles. The digital sign is in communication with a second GPS unit disposed on the transport truck so as to track the real-time location of the truck. The digital sign measures the distance between a transport and the digital pilot truck sign and displays the relative distances between the two on the digital message board. In operation, the digital sign is configured to automatically adjust its brightness so as to optimize its visibility while reducing glare to other drivers on the road.

Claims

1. A system for displaying messages, comprising:

a digital sign comprising a controller board having a microprocessor, a processor, an ambient light sensor, an LED panel, and a power source, wherein said digital sign is mounted on a pilot truck, further wherein said LED panel comprises a front-facing display visible to an oncoming vehicle and a rear-facing display visible to a transport truck trailing said pilot truck;

said ambient light sensor configured to measure surrounding light and adjust a brightness level of said front-facing display of said LED panel when said pilot truck is within a first predetermined distance of said oncoming vehicle and adjust a brightness level of said rear-facing display of said LED panel when said pilot truck is within a second predetermined distance of said transport truck.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller board further comprises a temperature sensor communicably coupled to internal fans, further wherein said temperature sensor is configured to activate said internal fans when said temperature sensor determines that exterior temperature is above or below a predetermined range of temperatures.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said transport truck comprises a load, further wherein said load comprises one or more sensors communicably coupled to said digital sign.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller board further comprises a communication module for establishing communication with an electronic device, wherein said electronic device is communicably connected to said digital sign to control said digital sign remotely.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller board further comprises a proximity sensor configured to detect presence of said oncoming vehicle and trigger said LED panel to adjust said brightness level of said front-facing display of said LED panel when said pilot truck is within said first predetermined distance of said oncoming vehicle.

6. A system for displaying messages, comprising:

a digital sign comprising a controller board having a microprocessor, a processor, a proximity sensor, a first GPS unit, an LED panel, and a power source, wherein said digital sign is mounted on a pilot truck, further wherein said LED panel comprises a front-facing display visible to an oncoming vehicle and a rear-facing display visible to a transport truck trailing said pilot truck;

a second GPS unit disposed on said transport truck;

said proximity sensor configured to detect presence of said oncoming vehicle and trigger said LED panel to adjust a brightness level of said front-facing display of said LED panel when said pilot truck is within a first predetermined distance of said oncoming vehicle and detect presence of said transport truck and trigger said LED panel to adjust a brightness level of said rear-facing display when said pilot truck is within a second predetermined distance of said transport truck;

said first GPS unit configured to provide a real-time location of said pilot truck and said second GPS unit in communication with said digital sign to provide a real-time location of said transport truck, wherein said real-time location of said pilot truck and said real-time location of said transport truck are used to calculate a distance between said pilot truck and said transport truck, further wherein said brightness level of said rear-facing display is automatically adjusted if said distance is within said second predetermined distance.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said controller board further comprises a temperature sensor communicably coupled to internal fans, further wherein said temperature sensor is configured to activate said internal fans when said temperature sensor determines that exterior temperature is above or below a predetermined range of temperatures.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said transport truck comprises a load, further wherein said load comprises one or more sensors communicably coupled to said digital sign.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein said controller board further comprises a communication module for establishing communication with an electronic device, wherein said electronic device is communicably connected to said digital sign.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said controller board further comprises an ambient light sensor configured to manage said brightness level of said front-facing display of said LED panel when said pilot truck is within said first predetermined distance of said oncoming vehicle.

11. A computerized method for displaying messages, comprising the steps of:

a) detecting, by at least one sensor of a digital sign, an oncoming vehicle, wherein said digital sign comprises an LED panel having a front-facing display and a rear-facing display;

b) determining a distance between a pilot truck and said oncoming vehicle, by said at least one sensor;

c) adjusting a brightness level of said front-facing display of said LED panel disposed on said pilot truck if said distance between said pilot truck and said oncoming vehicle is less than a first predetermined distance;

d) detecting, by said at least one sensor of said digital sign, a transport truck;

e) calculating a distance between said pilot truck and said transport truck; and

f) adjusting a brightness level of said rear-facing display of said LED panel disposed on said pilot truck if said distance between said pilot truck and said transport truck is less than a second predetermined distance.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least one sensor comprises an ambient light sensor;

said ambient sensor configured to manage said brightness level of said LED panel by measuring surrounding light from said oncoming vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least one sensor comprises a proximity sensor;

said proximity sensor configured to detect presence of said oncoming vehicle and trigger said LED panel to adjust said brightness level of said front-facing panel of said LED panel when said pilot truck is within said first predetermined distance of said oncoming vehicle.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein step d further comprises the steps of:

determining a real-time location of said pilot truck having a first GPS unit; and

determining a real-time location of said transport truck having a second GPS unit.