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.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/390,711, filed Mar. 19, 2003. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to a digital message display for vehicles, and particularly to a digital message display for vehicles having a sensing means to detect when a trailing vehicle is following too closely for the purpose of automatically displaying a message to the trailing vehicle.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Digital message displays are well known, and have been employed in advertising signs, message boards or displays often seen in bars and restaurants, and a wide variety of commercial settings. Such displays are frequently used to promote sales, upcoming special events, and the like.  
         [0006]     Digital message displays have also been used on vehicles. Used on vehicles, these displays often show commercial messages. Also, digital message displays have been used to offer greeting and safety messages to the drivers and passengers of other vehicles. U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,281, issued on Oct. 20, 1998 to R. McCreary, describes a method of displaying advertising messages. A digital message display shows one of a number of pre-defined messages. Each time the brake pedal is depressed, the message display is changed. The display, mounted on the top or the rear of a vehicle, conveys advertising messages to other vehicles, pedestrians, and others who happen to see the vehicle.  
         [0007]     Another system that employs a vehicle-mounted digital display for commercial and advertising purposes is detailed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,993, issued on May 9, 2000 to E. Cohen. This system uses a wireless communication system, along with a GPS system, to display messages on command form a base station or based on geographic relevance as the vehicle moves between different locations.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,638, issued on Mar. 19, 1996 to I. George, discloses a vehicular goodwill message system that is intended to issue a message on command from the operator of a vehicle. The system allows for the display of four pre-defined messages including courtesy messages such as “SORRY!” or “THANK YOU!” that may be signaled to a trailing driver, and distress messages such as “PLEASE HELP” or “PLEASE CALL 911”. A control box includes a pushbutton for each message.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,905,434, issued on May 18, 1999 to P. Steffan, shows a vehicle communication device that is another example of a message display that allows the driver of a vehicle to select from a number of preset and pre-programmed messages to be displayed on a display device mounted on the exterior of the vehicle.  
         [0010]     In addition to the commercial benefit of advertising signs, and the entertainment and courtesy value of messages that a driver might signal to a following vehicle, it is desired to use a vehicle mounted digital display to improve vehicular safety. Rear-end accidents while driving account for a significant number of all vehicle accidents. These may be caused, among numerous factors, by a driver following another vehicle too closely, or by the driver of a following vehicle simply being inattentive to the actions of the vehicle in front.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,300,870, issued on Oct. 9, 2001 to W. Nelson, discusses safety aspects in an automotive digital rear window display. The primary safety feature discussed, however, is merely that the message display may capture the attention of a following driver more quickly than conventional means such as the vehicle brake lights or the turn signals.  
         [0012]     While the display may indeed capture the attention of the following driver, it is not helpful if the leading driver is unaware of, and therefore cannot display a message in response to, a hazardous situation such as a tailgater.  
         [0013]     None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus, a digital message display for vehicles solving the aforementioned problems is desired.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     The digital message display for vehicles is a digital message display, to be mounted in the rear window of an automobile, capable of displaying a number of pre-defined messages. Distance measuring sensors are mounted on the automobile&#39;s rear bumper to detect and determine the distance to a following vehicle. A computer processing unit, containing a program memory, is electrically connected to the display and the sensors and will cause a pre-determined message to be displayed when a following vehicle becomes too close. The system also has a remote control that may be used to show other courtesy messages on the display. An audible alarm and a distance display provide information to the vehicle&#39;s driver about the presence of, and the distance of, the trailing vehicle. The warning that is automatically issued to the following driver, along with the alert and distance information presented to the vehicle&#39;s driver, enhance safety and help to prevent a rear-end collision.  
         [0015]     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0016]      FIG. 1A  is an environmental, perspective view of a digital message display for vehicles according to the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 1B  is an environmental, perspective view of a digital message display for vehicles according to a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2A  is an environmental, perspective view of the remote control and distance display components of the digital message display for vehicles according to the present invention.  
         [0019]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of the remote control shown in  FIG. 2A .  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the message display for vehicles according to the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is an environmental, perspective view showing a method of mounting a digital message display for vehicles according to the present invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 5  is an environmental, perspective view showing an alternate method of mounting a digital message display for vehicles according to the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a message display in a digital message display for vehicles according to the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is a cutaway view of the message display shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
       [0025]     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]     The present invention is a digital message display for vehicles. The digital message display for vehicles is a vehicle safety device that displays a warning message on a message display  10  when a tailgating vehicle is detected by distance sensors  20 .  FIG. 1A  shows a digital message display for vehicles incorporating a message display  10 , disposed in a vehicle&#39;s rear window in view of following vehicles, and a first pair of distance sensors  20  mounted on the vehicle&#39;s rear bumper.  
         [0027]     Referring to  FIG. 1B , a second pair of distance sensors  21  are added. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1B , the first pair of distance sensors  20  and the second pair of distance sensors  21  are each configured to sense trailing vehicles at a different range, either by characteristic of the sensors or by software compensation. As illustrated, the first pair of distance sensors  20  are configured to sense trailing vehicles in the vicinity of a close range distance d 1 , while the second pair of distance sensors  21  are configured sense trailing vehicles in the vicinity of a long range distance d 2 . In one configuration, a short range distance d 1  may be about three (3) meters, in conjunction with a long range distance of about ten (10) meters, although it can be recognized that other distances may be employed as well.  
         [0028]     By employing the first and second pairs of distance sensors  20 ,  21 , each configured for a different range, the digital message display for vehicles may be responsive to trailing vehicles at multiple distance thresholds to provide a first general warning message (in the vicinity of the long range distance d 2 ), and a second more urgent warning message (in the vicinity of the short range distance d 1 ). Additionally, the digital message display for vehicles may provide different thresholds to illuminate a warning message at slow driving speeds (where a closer trailing distance is tolerated) or at high driving speeds (where a greater trailing distance is required for safety).  
         [0029]     As shown in  FIG. 2A , the digital message display for vehicles includes a distance display  46  that displays the distance between the vehicle and the tailgater. A remote control  30  allows the driver to control the operation of the digital message display for vehicles, such as to select a mode of operation or to manually display additional safety and courtesy messages. Referring to  FIG. 2B , a switch  32  is shown more clearly for selecting between a highway and a local mode of operation.  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a microcomputer  40  is shown in electrical connection with a pair of distance sensors  20  and with the message display  10 . The microcomputer  40  is one of a type well known in the art that contains a memory and program storage means. A microcomputer program is contained in the microcomputer  40 . The microcomputer program functions to read the distance sensors to determine the distance to a tailgating vehicle. In the illustrated embodiment, the microcomputer program reads the first and second pairs of distance sensors  20 ,  21 , although it can be understood that a single pair of distance sensors may be employed to provide similar functions using a single distance range.  
         [0031]     When the microcomputer program determines that a tailgating vehicle is present and closer than a predetermined safety threshold, the microcomputer  40  causes a warning message to be displayed on the message display  10 . A textual message such as “TAILGATING!” flashes on the message display  10  to alert the tailgating driver. The microcomputer program may operate in a local mode or in a highway mode, depending on the position of the switch  32 .  
         [0032]     In the local mode, the microcomputer program employs primarily the first pair of distance sensors  20  to monitor trailing vehicles within the vicinity of the short range distance d 1 , at relatively close distances associated with slower driving speeds. In the highway mode, the microcomputer program employs primarily the second pair of distance sensors  21  to monitor trailing vehicles within the vicinity of the long range distance d 2 , at greater distances associated with driving at higher speeds. The microcomputer  40  may be in communication with the vehicle&#39;s speedometer, or another device for measuring the actual velocity of the vehicle to compensate, or adjust, threshold levels for activating a tailgating message. When the vehicle is stopped, or parked for example, a very low distance threshold may be employed to indicate a different message, such as a collision warning.  
         [0033]     Additionally, a distance display  46  may be electrically connected to the microcomputer  10 . When the microcomputer program determines that a tailgater is present, the distance between the vehicle and the tailgater is displayed on the distance display  46 . In the illustrated embodiment, the distance display  46  is disposed in the vehicle&#39;s rear-view mirror. A beeper  44 , also in connection with the microcomputer  40 , emits an audible alarm to alert the driver to the tailgater&#39;s presence.  
         [0034]     The remote control  30  may communicate with the remote control receiver  42  over a wired connection or by a wireless means such as by infrared or RF. In the case of the wired connection, the remote control  30  may communicate directly with the microcomputer  40 . In the case of a wireless interface, the remote control  30  communicates with a remote control receiver  42  that is in electrical connection to the microcomputer.  40 . In a wireless embodiment, the remote control  30  transmits an RF signal that is received by the remote control receiver  42 . The remote control  30  has a plurality of pushbuttons  31 ,  33 ,  35 ,  57 , and  39 . When one of the pushbuttons  31 ,  33 ,  35 ,  57 ,  39  is depressed, a signal is transmitted to the remote control receiver  42 , which in turn communicates the signal to the microcomputer  40 . The microcomputer program will cause the message display  10  to display a unique predetermined message for each pushbutton that is depressed. In the embodiment illustrated, pushbutton  31  will cause the message “THANK YOU” to be displayed; pushbutton  33  displays “SORRY”; pushbutton  35  shows “SLOW DOWN”; pushbutton  37  shows “CALL 911”; and pushbutton  39  shows “TAILGATING”. Other messages could be pre-programmed in the microcomputer, but it is not intended that the messages are customizable by the users of the digital message display for vehicles.  
         [0035]     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , a method for removably mounting the message display  10  within a vehicle is shown. An elongated slide track  11 , having a “T” channel  13  defined lengthwise therein, is mounted to a rear deck D of the vehicle, adjacent to the rear window. An elongated “T” slide member  15  is fastened to the bottom of the message display  10 . The message display  10  is mounted in place by engaging the “T” slide member  15  with the “T” channel  13  of the slide track  11 .  
         [0036]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the message display  10  is shown removably mounted to the rear deck D of a vehicle with a hook and lop fastener. A first component  17  of a hook and loop fastener is affixed to the rear deck D of the vehicle, and a second mating component  19  of the hook and loop fastener is affixed to the bottom of the message display  10 . The message display  10  may be held in place on the rear deck D of the vehicle by simply mating together the first and second components  17 ,  19  of the hook and loop fastener.  
         [0037]     Turning now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an alternative message display  100  is fashioned on or within a vehicle rear window  108  itself, eliminating the requirement to mount a separate unit on the vehicle rear deck D. The message display  100  comprises an array of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)  102  disposed on the inside surface  106  of, or embedded within, the vehicle rear window  108 . The LEDs  102  are interconnected by electrical traces  104  formed on the inside surface  106  of the vehicle rear window  108  to form an alpha-numeric display. In the illustrated embodiment, the LEDs are arranged to form a dot-matrix type of alpha-numeric display.  
         [0038]     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.