Patent Publication Number: US-2003227375-A1

Title: Automotive courtesy display

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention is a system for electronically displaying courtesy messages by a driver within one automotive vehicle to drivers of other nearby automotive vehicles.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] Various automotive courtesy message display systems have been devised for allowing the operator of an automotive vehicle to display courtesy or informational messages to the operators of other nearby automotive vehicles. Such messages are useful for requesting an act of courtesy on the part of the operator of a nearby vehicle and for expressing graciousness toward the actions that have been taken by another automotive vehicle operator.  
       [0005] Conventional devices of this type are often located on the outside of a vehicle, either upon the trunk or rear body structure of the vehicle. Alternatively, they may be located within the vehicle, but visible through a rear windshield. Conventional devices of this type are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,905,434 and 6,300,870.  
       [0006] One significant shortcoming of conventional automotive vehicle courtesy message display systems is that they simply cannot be read by the drivers of other vehicles for whom they are intended due to interference from ambient light. Conventional courtesy message display systems of this type are typically displayed utilizing an LCD display panel. While displays of this type are readily visible to other nearby drivers in view of the display during hours of darkness, ambient daylight interferes with such displays to such an extent that the intended recipient of the message simply cannot visually make it out. Accordingly, conventional displays of this type have limited utility, since they are really only useful during the hours of darkness. The vase majority of driving time of automotive vehicles typically occurs during daylight hours. It is during the daylight that conventional illuminated message display systems are ineffective.  
       [0007] Another difficulty with conventional message display systems is that the display is quite bulky. If it is installed for observation through the rear windshield of a vehicle, it often significantly obstructs the rear view of the driver of the vehicle in which it is installed. Thus, display of a courtesy message, though meant as a gesture that will facilitate the flow of traffic and thereby reduce accidents, actually becomes a hazard due to its vision limiting position in the vehicle.  
       [0008] A further disadvantage of conventional automotive courtesy message display systems is the lack of a suitable mounting system. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,304,174 discloses an emergency auto visual communication system utilizing a display that is attached to the rear windshield of a vehicle utilizing suction cups. The positioning of the display in this manner not only presents a significant visual obstruction to the driver of the vehicle in which it is installed attempting to see through the rear windshield, but also is largely ineffective. Available suction cup systems simply will not hold the display in position for any significant length of time.  
       [0009] A further disadvantage of conventional automotive vehicle courtesy message display systems is the distracting effect they have upon the driver operating them. That is, to operate such a system the driver must carefully look at a message selection system with sufficient scrutiny to be assured of having selected the intended message. This requires the distraction of the visual attention of the driver from the traffic and the road ahead. Conventional automotive courtesy message display systems offer no selection verification system that does not demand the visual attention of the driver.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010] One object of the present invention is to provide an automotive vehicle message display system which displays messages of courtesy, warnings, greeting, or other information in such a manner that it is not obscured by the presence of ambient light. In this connection the automotive message display system of the present invention is mounted within a vehicle and is visible through the rear window of the vehicle, but is provided with a hood projecting out over the upper portion of the display so as to shade the display from ambient light. As a consequence, the illuminated characters in the message display have far greater visibility to nearby drivers than conventional message display systems.  
       [0011] Another object of the invention is to reduce road rage among drivers and thereby lower insurance premiums. The system is also very useful for educational purposes, especially to children and young drivers.  
       [0012] A further object of the present invention is to provide an automotive vehicle courtesy message display system that minimizes the visual obstruction through the rear windshield to the driver of the vehicle in which the message display system is installed. This objective may be achieved in a conventional passenger automobile by providing dual display units, one located behind each of the rear seat headrests of the vehicle. Virtually all conventional passenger vehicles are provided with front seats for the operator and at least one passenger, and a rear seat for additional passengers. The rear seat is typically configured to provide seating areas to the left and right of the center of the vehicle and to provide rear seat headrests at these locations. The headrests are actually provided for safety reasons to minimize whiplash that might occur in a collision.  
       [0013] According to the present invention, the dual display units of the automotive vehicle courtesy message display system of the invention are positioned directly behind each of the two rear seat headrests. Thus, the display units are located at positions facing the rear vehicle windshield in such a manner that they do not obstruct the vision of the driver looking through a rearview mirror, back through the center of the vehicle and out of the rear windshield.  
       [0014] The visual obstruction presented by the display unit or units of the courtesy message display system of the invention is also significantly reduced by positioning only the display screen itself at a location above the level of the rear deck panel behind the rear vehicle seat. In conventional electronic courtesy message display systems the power unit for the display is located within the same housing as the actual LED elements that display the message. According to the present invention, however, the electronic drivers for the message display screen or screens are located within a separate casing that may be positioned at a location beneath the rear deck panel of the vehicle so as not to prevent a visual obstruction to the view of the driver through the rear window.  
       [0015] All of the operating electronics for the courtesy message display system of the invention are located within a housing that may be positioned out of the way and out of view of any occupant of the vehicle. More specifically, the housing containing most of the electronics for the message display system of the invention is preferably located directly beneath the generally horizontal deck that typically extends from the back of the rear seat headrests to the base of the rear windshield of most passenger vehicles. This area is typically accessible from the trunk of the vehicle. Thus, the largest bulk of the display unit of the invention is located in a concealed storage location so that it does not present a hazzard to persons in the vehicle in case of a collision. Also, the concealment of the major portion of the equipment prevents interference with the rear view vision of the driver of the vehicle.  
       [0016] A further feature of the invention is the very versatile mounting system which allows the display units to be installed in automotive vehicles having a variety of sizes and configurations. In this connection, the display screen units are mounted upon display supports that may moved along a mounting rail and secured thereto at appropriate positions on the mounting rail. Also, the mounting rail itself is constructed using members that are telescopically connected together so that the length of the mounting rail can be adjusted to the width of the vehicle at a location directly behind the rear passenger seat. Also, the outboard ends of the telescoping rail are provided with feet that are pivotally mounted to the ends of the rails so as to accommodate different surface configurations found at the interior walls near the rear of the passenger compartment of different vehicles.  
       [0017] In one broad aspect the invention may be considered to be an electronic courtesy display system for mounting within the enclosure of an automotive vehicle comprising: a display unit, an operator console, an electronic storage memory, a display driver unit, and a speaker. The display unit has an elongated display screen for positioning for viewing through the rear window of an automotive vehicle from outside the vehicle. The display unit is also provided with a hood positioned to shade the display screen. The operator console provided is suitable for mounting upon the steering wheel of an automotive vehicle. The operator console includes a plurality of touch sensitive sensors, a unique operator message indicia for each of the sensors, and a transmitter for generating a unique, identifying signal for each of the sensors. Preferably, the transmitter is a radio-frequency transmitter. The electronic storage memory contains a plurality of preprogrammed alphanumeric messages in electronically encoded form. The electronic storage memory is responsive to each sensor identifying signal to select a corresponding one of the preprogrammed messages. The display driver unit is coupled to receive messages from the electronic storage memory as they are selected and to actuate a corresponding character display by the display screen. The speaker audibly announces each message contemporaneously with its selection by the touch-sensitive sensor. The driver of the vehicle thereby receives an audible feedback verifying the selection of the desired message. By providing an audible feedback it is unnecessary for a driver&#39;s visual attention to be distracted from the road and traffic ahead in order to verify selection of the appropriate message.  
       [0018] In another aspect the invention may be considered to be an electronic automotive message display system comprising an elongated display unit, an audio speaker, a message selection device, a receiver for responding to remotely generated signals to display a set of selected alphanumeric characters in a selected sequence, a touch-sensitive operator panel containing touch-sensitive selectors for alternatively selecting one of a plurality of encoded messages for display, and a display driver unit separate from the elongated display unit.  
       [0019] The elongated display unit is designed for positioning in the rear windshield of an automotive vehicle and has a display screen for displaying a linear array of alphanumeric characters. The elongated display unit is also provided with a sunshield that casts a shadow on the display screen. In addition, the elongated display unit is provided with the audio speaker.  
       [0020] The message selection device includes a memory containing a plurality of preselected, electronically encoded messages. Each message is formed of a different set of selected alphanumeric characters in a selected sequence. The message selection device is coupled to the receiver. The touch-sensitive operator panel is adapted for positioning on the steering wheel of an automotive vehicle. A transmitter is provided in the operator panel for generating a signal recognizable by the receiver as specifying the selected one of the messages. The display driver unit responds to the receiver by actuating the display screen to display the selected message on the display screen. The display driver also actuates the audio speaker to audibly announce the selected message.  
       [0021] The invention may be described with greater clarity and particularity by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0022]FIG. 1 a block diagram illustrating the functional electronic components of a electronic automotive courtesy message display system according to the invention.  
     [0023]FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view from the exterior of an automotive vehicle in which the electronic automotive message display system has been installed, illustrating display of one of a plurality of stored messages.  
     [0024]FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the automobile of FIG. 2 illustrating display of an alternative one of the stored messages.  
     [0025]FIG. 4 is a side sectional detail taken along the lines  4 - 4  of FIG. 2.  
     [0026]FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the message display units shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the system for mounting those units within an automotive vehicle.  
     [0027]FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the touch-sensitive operator panel in the message system of the invention mounted on the vehicle steering wheel.  
     [0028]FIG. 7 is a diagram indicating in greater detail examples of the messages that can be selected for display.  
     [0029]FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the interrelationship of the message display unit and the display driver unit for a dual display message display system.  
     [0030]FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the interrelationship between the display driver unit and a single display unit in a message display system according to the invention.  
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT  
     [0031]FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically the electronic components of an electronically operated visual courtesy message display system for an automotive vehicle constructed according to the present invention. Specifically, the display system of the invention includes at least one, and preferably dual, thin, elongated message display screens  10  and  12  that are positionable for viewing through the rear window  14  of an automotive vehicle  16  from the exterior thereof, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. As illustrated in FIG. 4, a display screen hood  18  is provided for shading each of the display screens  10  and  12 .  
     [0032]FIG. 6 illustrates an operator panel or console  20  for mounting on the center  23  of a steering wheel  22  of the automotive vehicle  16 . The operator console  20  includes an array of a plurality of individually actuable touch-sensitive selectors  24  through  42 . Each of the selectors  24  through  42 , upon actuation, provides a unique identifying electronic signal. The entire array of the electronic selectors  24  through  42  is indicated at  44  in FIG. 1. The console  20  also includes a signal encoder  46 , responsive to the selection of a particular one of the touch-sensitive switches  24  through  42  in the array of switches  44  to provide a unique identifying electronic signal to a radio-frequency transmitter  48  that generates an RF version of the unique identifying electronic signal produced by the signal encoder  46 . The wireless console  20  utilizes a single chip device which scans for momentary depression of the touch-sensitive switches  28 - 42 . When a switch closure is detected, the transmitter  48  transmits a radio frequency signal that identifies the switch selected.  
     [0033] As indicated in FIG. 6, the operator console  20  includes labeled indicia at each of the touch-sensitive selection switches  24  through  42  for visually identifying to an operator a unique alphanumeric message associated with each of the selectors  28  through  42 . These messages are indicated more clearly in FIG. 7.  
     [0034] The visual display system of the invention further includes an electronic storage memory  50  that contains a plurality of displayable visual alphanumeric messages stored in an electronically encoded form. More specifically, the messages indicated in FIG. 7 are electronically stored in the text message storage unit  50  indicated in FIG. 1. A microprocessor controller  52  is responsive to each of the unique identifying electronic signals generated by the transmitter circuit  48  and received by the RF receiver unit  54  and decoded by the decoder unit  56 . The microprocessor controller  52  recognizes from the decoder  56  the signal indicating which of the particular selection switches  24  through  42  in the selection switch array  44  has been actuated. The microprocessor controller  52  recalls from the text message storage memory  50  a corresponding one of the alphanumeric messages indicated in FIG. 7 and transmits that message in electronically encoded form through a display control driver circuit  58 . The display control driver circuit  58  receives character generator information from a character generator unit  60  and provides driving display signals to the appropriate display screen  10  or  12 , as designated by the column in the selector array  44  in which the actuated one of the selectors  24 - 28  lies.  
     [0035] Concurrently, the microprocessor  52  also provides an output indicative of the selected message to a voice playback driver circuit  62 . The voice playback driver circuit  62  selects an audio encoded version of the same message being transmitted to the display screen  10  or  12  from a voice message storage unit  64  and transmits the audio version of that message to an audio amplifier  66 . The audio amplifier  66  in turn provides an output of the audio encoded version of the message to a speaker  68 , which is located within at least one of the display screens  10  or  12 . For reasons of economy, a single speaker  68  may be located in the rear of the display screen  10  and provide audible announcement of the particular message selected, whether it has been selected for display in the display screen  10  or in the display screen  12 . The mini audio amplifier speaker  68  is integrated into the display screen enclosure on the side opposite the rearwardly facing display screen panel  10 , as indicated in FIG. 4.  
     [0036] An audible version of the selected message is announced to the driver of the vehicle  16  so that the driver can verify that the proper touch-sensitive switch in the switch array  44  was activated. The position of the touch-sensitive switches in an array located at the center of the vehicle steering wheel allows the vehicle driver to momentarily actuate any particular sensor  24 - 42  with either the right or left thumb of the driver&#39;s hands. The vehicle driver can thereby operate the control panel  20  without loss of concentration on the road and traffic ahead.  
     [0037] The operator console  20  containing the message selection sensor array  44  is fabricated as a thin, small, rectangular panel or pad that fits within the central area  23  of the steering wheel  22  and is secured thereto by a releaseable elastic band  70  that passes through openings between the spokes  21  of the steering wheel  22 . The elastic band  70  secures the operator console  20  so that it is supported from behind by the central portion  23  of the steering wheel  22 . Plastic clips or other fastening means such as flexible hook and loop fabric fastener pads of the type sold under the registered trademark Velcro® may be utilized in place of the elastic band  70  to secure the operator console  20  onto the center  23  of the steering wheel  22 .  
     [0038] The touch-sensitive sensors  24  and  26  are provided to turn the operator console  20  on or off, respectively. When the “on” sensor  24  is depressed an electrical contact is made beneath the surface of the display  20  and a signal is generated by the signal encoder  46  and transmitted by the transmitter circuit  48  to the radio-frequency receiver  54 , which is housed within a protective case  72 . This introductory signal is processed through the microprocessor controller  52  to direct the voice playback circuit  62  to select a greeting message from the voice message storage unit  64 . This greeting message may, for example, be an audio greeting such as “Welcome to your automotive courtesy display system”. The electronically coded audio message is retrieved from the voice message storage unit  64  and connected by the voice playback circuit  62  to the audio amplifier  66 , which is connected to the speaker  68  indicated in FIGS. 1 and 4.  
     [0039] Similarly, depression of the “off” touch sensor  26  may initiate a comparable audio message from the speaker  68 , such as “Automatic courtesy message display system shutting down”. Alternatively, depression of the sensor  26  may simply turn off power to the unit.  
     [0040] Once the selector switch  24  has been depressed, power to the courtesy message display system of the invention is on. Courtesy message selections may then be made utilizing the touch-sensitive message selection switches  28 - 42 .  
     [0041] The touch-sensitive sensors  28  and  30  are respectively associated with the vehicle driver side display screen  10  and the vehicle passenger side display screen  12 . Depression of either the touch-sensitive sensor  28  or  30  initiates essentially the same courtesy message, although phrased slightly differently. Depression of the touch-sensitive sensor  28  initiates the display in the driver&#39;s side display screen  10  of the message “Sorry, please let me in”. Similarly, depression of the touch-sensitive sensor  30  initiates a display on the passenger&#39;s side display screen  12  of the message, “Sorry, I need to get in, please”. This message will appear on the passenger side display screen  12 . Both messages are visible through the automotive vehicle rear window  14 .  
     [0042] Both of the messages initiated by depression of the touch-sensitive sensors  28  and  30  are displayed as a result of essentially the same electronic signal processing. That is, the signal encoder  46  generates a signal indicative of the particular one of the plurality of touch sensors  24  through  42  that has been depressed and operates the transmitter circuit  48  to transmit a radio frequency version of this key or touch-sensor identification signal.  
     [0043] The system employs a control unit casing  72  containing the electronically stored messages and the display driver unit. This casing  72  is located apart from the display screens  10  and  12 , the operator console  20 , and the speaker  68 . The casing  72  is positioned for concealment from view within the automotive vehicle.  
     [0044] All of the signal storage components of the processor unit are located within the small, flat, rectilinear case  72 , which is preferably located beneath the generally horizontal, rear deck  74  of the automotive vehicle  16 . The rear deck  74  is located behind the rear seat back  76 , indicated in FIG. 4. More specifically, the rear deck  74  extends from the back side of the rear passenger seat back  76 , just beneath the rear seat headrests  92  and  94 , horizontally and rearwardly to the base of the rear windshield  14 . The casing  72  that contains most of the electronic components of the courtesy message display system of the invention is located directly beneath the rear deck  74 .  
     [0045] At the time of purchase the touch-sensitive selector array  44  is preprogrammed with totally predetermined responses to depression of the sensors  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34 . The responses associated with touch sensors  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42  are also preprogrammed, but are selected and designated at the time the sensor array  44  is set up from among a larger number of messages.  
     [0046]FIG. 7 illustrates diagrammatically the messages stored in the text message storage unit  50 . As previously indicated, the responses associated with depression of the “on” sensor  24  and the “off” sensor  26  are predetermined and cannot be changed. Likewise, the messages designated for the touch sensors  28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34  are also invariable and cannot be changed. These messages are: sensor  28 —“Sorry, please let me in”; sensor  30 —“Sorry, I need to get in, please”; sensor  32 —“Thank you, I appreciate it”; and sensor  34 —“Thank you for you kindness”.  
     [0047] On the other hand, the messages associated with depression of the touch sensors  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42  may be selected from among the remainder of the messages indicated in FIG. 7. All of these messages are stored as text messages in the text message storage unit  50 . Once the selection of the elective messages of FIG. 7 to be displayed has been performed by the owner of the courtesy message display system, each depression of the touch sensor  36  will cause the microprocessor  52  to elicit the same, designated one of the messages indicated in FIG. 7. That message is withdrawn from the text message storage unit  50  each time the touch sensor  36  is depressed. The same is true of depression of the touch sensors  38 ,  40 , and  42 .  
     [0048]FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings illustrate an important aspect of the invention, namely the provision of the hood  18  for each of the display screens  10  and  12 . Identical hoods  18  are utilized for each of the display screens  10  and  12 .  
     [0049] Each of the display screens  10  and  12  is preferably about two inches in height, about ten to twelve inches in length, and less than an inch in thickness. The rearwardly facing surfaces of the display screens  10  and  12  are preferably each covered with an antiglare glass or plastic surface, which further reduces visual impairment due to ambient light.  
     [0050] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the hoods  18  is constructed as a plastic structure having an upright forward wall  82  that is rounded rearwardly at its upper extremity to form a roof and which includes a generally rectangular, rearwardly projecting overhead shading visor  84 . Each hood  18  includes opposing end panels  86  that restrict the amount of light that is cast upon the display screens  10  and  12  from the sides. A slotted, generally rectangular plastic speaker grill  88  is formed in the hood  18  at the rounded transition between the forward wall  82  and the roof of the hood  18 .  
     [0051] The overhead visors  84  of the two hoods  18  extend rearwardly from the display screens  10  and  12  and between the side blinders formed by the end panels  86  of the hoods  18 . Each overhead visor  84  includes a laterally extending living hinge  90  so that the orientation of at least a portion of the roof of the hood  18 , namely the visor panel  84 , is adjustable relative to the display screen with which it is associated. The rearwardly projecting overhead visor panel  84  is located atop and extends between the side blind panels formed by the ends  86  of the hood  18 . The laterally extending living hinge  90  is thereby also adjustable in orientation relative to the side blind panels formed by the ends  86  of the hood  18 .  
     [0052] The end panels  86  serve as side blinders at the opposing ends of the display screens  10  and  12  and the overhead visor  84  is generally horizontally disposed and projects rearwardly above the display screen  10  or  12  and toward the rear window  14  of the automotive vehicle  16 . As illustrated in FIG. 4, the overhead visor  84  is connected to the remaining structure of the hood  18  by the transverse, flexible living hinge joint  90  that allows the visor  84  to be adjusted in orientation relative to the display screen  10  or  12  located beneath it and forwardly therefrom. As indicated in FIG. 4, the overhead visor  84  may be lifted upwardly to the position indicated at  84 ′ in FIG. 4, where it is oriented with a slight upward and rearward orientation. Alternatively, the overhead visor  84  may be moved about the stiff, living hinge connection  90  downwardly at an incline to the position indicated at  84 ″ in FIG. 4. The precise orientation of the overhead visor  84  can preferably be varied between about ten and fifteen degrees by moving it upwardly or downwardly relative to horizontal about the stiff hinge  90 , as illustrated in FIG. 4.  
     [0053] As indicated in FIG. 5, the embodiment of the electronic courtesy message display system of the invention illustrated in the drawings employs a pair of elongated, thin display screens  10  and  12 , one for positioning behind each rear seat headrest  92  and  94  of the automotive vehicle  16 . As indicated in FIG. 6, in addition to the “on” touch sensor  24  and the “off” touch sensor  26 , the remaining touch sensors  28 - 42  are located in an array of two columns, one associated with each of the display screens  10  and  12 . The left-hand column of touch sensors  28 ,  32 ,  36 , and  40  produces messages in the driver&#39;s side display screen  10 . The right-hand column of touch sensors  30 ,  34 ,  38 , and  42  in the operator control panel  20  shown in FIG. 6 elicit the display of messages on the passenger-side display screen  12 .  
     [0054] The display screen mounting system of the invention is very versatile and may be utilized in most commercially available automotive vehicles designed primarily for transporting passengers. The laterally extendable display screen mount  96  is illustrated in detail in FIG. 5. The display screen mount  96  includes a pair of telescoping tubes  98  and  100 , each having an outboard end and an inboard end. Padded feet  102  are located at the outboard ends of the tubes  98  and  100 . As illustrated, the feet  102  are secured to the outboard ends of the telescoping tubes  98  and  100  by omnidirectional connectors, which are ball and socket connectors  104 . The provision of omnidirectional connectors for the padded feet  102  allows the angulation of the padded feet  102  to be adjusted relative to coaxial alignment with the telescoping tubes  98  and  100  as illustrated by the directional arrows indicated generally at  106  in FIG. 5. Thus, the feet  102  can be oriented to bear against the inside surfaces of the interior passenger compartment walls of the automotive vehicle  16 . These walls exhibit a wide variety of curvatures above the deck  74  just forward of the rear windshield  14  in different models of vehicles.  
     [0055] The relative extension of the telescoping tubes  98  and  100  is also adjustable. As illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the telescoping tubes  98  and  100  is constructed with a square outer cross-sectional configuration. The telescoping tube  98  is hollow so as to receive, at its inboard extremity, the inboard extremity of the other telescoping tube  100  therewithin. One side of the telescoping tube  100  is configured in the shape of a rack  108  which has a multiplicity of teeth arranged along the length of the tube  100 . The inboard extremity of the other telescoping tube  98  is equipped with a pinion and crank mechanism  110  for selectively adjusting and maintaining the desired degree of telescopic offset between the tubes  98  and  100 . The pinion crank mechanism  110  includes a pinion mounted for rotation about a vertical axis within a housing  112 . A crank lever  114  is attached to the upper end of the pinion axle by means of a hinge connection  116 . Near the hinged end of the crank lever  114  there is a locking pin  118  that fits into corresponding locking openings  120  arranged in a circular pattern on the top of the pinion housing  112 .  
     [0056] The crank lever  114  may be rotated about the vertical pinion axle in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction relative to the pinion housing  112  to rotate the pinion therewithin. The pinion engages the rack  108  to either extend the outboard ends of the telescoping tubes  98  and  100  further apart from each other, or retract them toward each other, depending upon the width of the passenger compartment of the vehicle  16 .  
     [0057] The rack and pinion arrangement formed by the rack  108  and the pinion crank mechanism  110  serves as an extension mechanism for forcing and holding the padded feet  102  at the outboard ends of the tubes  98  and  100  apart from each other and against the interior walls of the automotive vehicle  16 . The telescoping tubes  98  and  100  extend across the width of the vehicle  16  proximate the rear window  14  thereof. The pin  118  of the crank lever  114  serves as a latch device for holding the pinion within the housing  112  at a selected location relative to the rack  108 .  
     [0058] To install the mounting display screen mounting system  96  the crank lever  114  is first operated to retract the telescoping tube  100  into the other hollow telescoping tube  98  to a sufficient extent that the display screen mount  96  may be inserted into the passenger compartment of the vehicle and positioned behind the rear seat headrests  92  and  94 . The display screen mounting system  96  is installed just above the deck  74  with the padded feet  102  directed outwardly toward the opposing interior sides of the vehicle passenger compartment. The crank lever  114  is then operated to rotate the pinion so that the pinion teeth interact with the teeth of the rack  108  and extend the telescoping tube  100  further out of the other telescoping tube  98 . This causes the padded feet  102  to be pushed outwardly and to bear against the interior surfaces of the vehicle passenger compartment just above the deck  74 , as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. As previously indicated, the swiveling nature of the ball and socket connections  104  allows the alignment of the padded feet  102  to be adjusted somewhat so as to properly bear outwardly to exert maximum outward pressure against the interior sides of the passenger compartment of the vehicle  16  above the deck  74 .  
     [0059] With the padded feet  102  frictionally engaged with the interior passenger compartment walls so that the display screen mount  96  is firmly held in position behind the rear seat headrests  92  and  94 , the crank lever  114  is rotated downwardly toward the pinion housing  112  to engage the locking pin  118  in the closest locking pin aperture  120  with which it is aligned. The interengagement of the locking pin  118  in the selected aperture  120  forms a locking latch that immobilizes the telescoping tubes  98  and  100  relative to each other. Interengagement of the locking pin  118  of the crank lever  114  with the aligned locking aperture  120  selectively adjusts and maintains a desired degree of telescopic offset between the tubes  98  and  100 .  
     [0060] Each of the display screens  10  and  12  may then be laterally adjusted to a proper position directly behind the rear seat headrests  92  and  94  so as to minimize any visual obstruction of view by the vehicle driver using the rearview mirror  122  to look out through the rear windshield  14 . To perform this adjustment the display screen mount  96  is provided with a pair of mounting brackets  122  and  124  that are each slidably mounted relative to the telescoping tubes  100  and  98 , respectively, for positioning across the width of the passenger compartment. Specifically, the mounting bracket  122  is slidably mounted on the telescoping tube  100 , while the mounting bracket  124  is slidable mounted on the telescoping tube  98 .  
     [0061] The telescoping tubes  98  and  100  are each of a uniform cross section throughout. Each of the mounting brackets  122  and  124  is therefore formed with a square opening of appropriate dimensions for mounting in sliding engagement with the outer surface of the telescoping tube for which it is designed. That is, the mounting bracket  122  includes a square opening through its structure only slightly larger than the outer cross-sectional size of the telescoping tube  100 , while the mounting bracket  124  has a slightly larger square opening through its structure to accommodate the slightly larger telescoping tube  98 .  
     [0062] As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, both of the mounting brackets  122  and  124  include a releaseable clamp in the form of a set screw  126  that is directed inwardly and engaged in an internally tapped opening in its mounting bracket so as to be advanced and retracted relative to the telescoping tube encompassed within the mounting bracket. The set screw  126  of the mounting bracket  122  can thereby be advanced to clamp against the telescoping tube  100 , while the set screw  126  of the mounting bracket  124  can be advanced to clamp against the facing side walls of the telescoping tube  98 . The set screws  126  serve as releaseable clamps for locking the mounting brackets  122  and  124  at selected locations along the telescoping tubes  100  and  98 , respectively.  
     [0063] The display screens  10  and  12  are each housed within a separate hood  18 . The hoods  18  have forwardly projecting mounting tabs  128  with vertical openings defined therethrough. Clamping screws  130  are provided and are directed through the openings in the hood-mounting tabs  128  and are engageable in internally tapped vertical bores  132  defined in each of the mounting brackets  122  and  124 . The hoods  18  are thereby securely but releaseably attached to the mounting brackets  122  and  124 . Each hood  18 , and consequently the display screen  10  or  12  located therewithin, may be varied in orientation relative to the rear windshield  14  by twisting the mounting tab  28  slightly relative to the axis of the fastener  130  so as to hold the display screens  10  and  12  directed for maximum visibility through the rear windshield  14 .  
     [0064] It is important to minimize the bulk of the components that are employed both in the operator console  20  and in the display screens  10  and  12 . Unlike conventional display systems, the display screens  10  and  12  contain only the minimum components necessary to actually display the messages that are stored and processed in the processor unit. This allows each of the display screens  10  and  12  to be very thin, no more than a fraction of an inch in thickness. Consequently, the display screens  10  and  12  can be positioned well forward in their hoods  18  so that the overhead visors  84  and the side blinder end panels  86  project rearwardly beyond the rear display face of each display screens  10  and  12  a distance of between three and one-half and four and one-half inches from the display surface.  
     [0065] The hoods  18  are normally fabricated of a neutral-colored plastic material, which may be a dull black or gray. Because most of the electronics have been repositioned from the display screens  10  and  12  to the electronic processor unit  72 , and because the hoods  18  and the display mount  96  are formed of light-weight materials, none of the display apparatus that is located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle is very heavy at all. This light-weight construction of all of the components that reside behind the rear seat headrests  92  and  94  minimizes the chance of any injury to the passengers in the event of a collision. That is, all of the display apparatus illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5 is so light in weight it would not cause injury to passengers within the vehicle  16 , even if thrown forward due to the force of impact of a collision with the vehicle  16 .  
     [0066] Once the display mount  96  has been installed in the manner described, it may be advisable for the display mount  96  to be covered for cosmetic reasons. This covering could take the form of a simple, elongated cloth covering colored to match the interior color of the vehicle. The cloth covering can be placed lengthwise along the length of the telescoping tubes  98  and  100 . Such a covering would be notched out at appropriate locations for the protrusion of the mounting tabs  128  for the hoods  18 . Rather than a cloth covering, a light-weight, tunnel-shaped plastic canopy could be utilized to hide the operating mechanism of the display mount  96  from view.  
     [0067] The protective case  72  contains the power supply for the electronically operated visual message display system of the invention, and also the display drivers and the electronic memory and processing circuits required for the operation of the courtesy message display system of the invention. The protective case  72  is preferably formed as a hardy, rigid metal or plastic case that contains most of the operating electronic components of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 1. As previously indicated, the case  72  is preferably fastened to the underside of the rear deck panel  74 . As illustrated in FIG. 8, the protective case  72  is equipped with a receiving antenna  138  that receives signals transmitted by the transmitter circuit  48 . The antenna  138  is connected to the radio frequency receiver  54  that is encapsulated within the protective case  72 .  
     [0068] The courtesy message display system of the invention is operated by direct electrical current that may be supplied by a power cord  140  that is either wired into the vehicle electrical DC power system, or connected to a plug that is inserted into the cigarette lighter socket found in most, if not all, commercially available automotive vehicles.  
     [0069] As illustrated in FIG. 8, an output signal cable  142  emanates from the protective case  72  and carries the display driver signals to the message display screens  10  and  12 . The cable  142  also carries the audio signal from the audio amplifier  66  to the speaker  68  that is located in the display screen  10 . The speaker  68  is positioned on the forwardly facing side of the display  10  right behind the speaker grill  88  of the hood  18  thereof.  
     [0070] To utilize the electronically operated visual courtesy display system illustrated, the driver of an automotive vehicle will normally drive with the unit on by depressing the “on” sensor  24  on the operator console pad  20 . This activates the power supply within the casing  72  to couple the twelve-volt vehicle DC power supply from the power cable  140  and step down the voltage to the normal five-volt power supply required by most electronic processing circuitry.  
     [0071] When traffic conditions warrant, the driver will depress a selected one of the message touch sensors  28  through  42 . That is, for example, if the driver of the automotive vehicle  16  is seeking to enter a lane of heavy traffic by merging from a right-hand position into the lane of traffic, which may be located to the left of the vehicle  16 , the driver depresses the touch sensor  28 . The signal identifying the sensor  28  is then encoded by the signal encoder  46  and transmitted by the transmitter  48  to the processor unit, which receives the signal with the radio frequency receiver  54 . This signal is decoded by the decoder  56  and the microprocessor controller  52  retrieves the electronically encoded version of the message “Sorry, please let me in” from the text message storage unit  50 .  
     [0072] The microprocessor controller  52  then outputs the electronic version of this message to the display control circuit  58 . The character generator  60  supplies the display driver information necessary to operate the display screen  10  or the display screen  12  to display the appropriate alphanumeric characters thereon. Because the microprocessor controller  52  detected that the message selected was from the touch sensor  28 , which it associates with the message display screen  10  to the exclusion of the message display screen  12 , the display control circuit  58  directs the driver signals from the character generator  60  only to the display screen  10 . The display message thus appears as illustrated in FIG. 2 in the display screen  10  that is located behind the rear passenger seat  92  on the driver&#39;s side of the vehicle.  
     [0073] Concurrently with the visual display, the microprocessor controller  52  actuates the voice playback circuit  62 , which retrieves a stored audio version of the same message “Sorry, please let me in” and transmits it to the audio amplifier  66 , which in turn directs the audio message to the speaker  68 . For the sake of economy, a single speaker  68  located in the back of the display screen  10  serves both the visual message display screens  10  and  12 . The speaker  68  provides an audible announcement of the message that may easily be heard by the driver, since the speaker  68  is directed forwardly and is located right behind the speaker grill  88  in the hood  18  in which the display screen  10  is located.  
     [0074] By providing an audio announcement, the visual attention of the driver is not unduly distracted to ensure that the correct message has been selected. Should the driver determine that the wrong message was selected, the driver can quickly abort the message by depressing the “off” sensor  26  on the operator console  20 . This would be followed by depression of the “on” touch sensor  24 , followed by depression of the touch sensor associated with the correct message to be displayed.  
     [0075] In a typical situation, once the courtesy message of the type illustrated in FIG. 2 has been visually displayed, it is readily observable by a driver of another vehicle located behind the vehicle  16 . Since the hood  18  shades the display screens  10  and  12 , the visual display on the message display screens  10  and  12  is not obscured by ambient light, even in bright sunshine. Accordingly, the message display system of the invention is not only useful during hours of darkness, like conventional courtesy message display systems, but is also useful during daylight hours.  
     [0076] Upon observing a message such as that displayed in FIG. 2, the driver of a following vehicle will normally allow the vehicle  16  to enter the lane of traffic as a matter of courtesy. In such a situation, once the vehicle following the vehicle  16  has obliged the driver of the vehicle  16 , display of a “thank you” message is normally warranted. To provide such a visual message display, the driver of the vehicle  16  merely depresses the touch sensor  30 , which is associated with the electronically stored message “Thank you for your kindness”. Pressure upon the touch sensor  30  thereupon generates an encoded signal from the signal encoder  46  which is transmitted by the transmitter  48  as a radio frequency signal. This signal is then detected by the receiver  54  and processed in the same manner previously described. The only difference in the processing is that, since the touch sensor  30  is associated with the display screen  12 , the display control circuit  58  provides the alphanumeric output from the character generator  60  to the display screen  12 , rather than the display screen  10 . The displayed message thereupon appears as illustrated in FIG. 3. Again, an audio announcement of the message being displayed on the display screen  12  is announced to the driver of the vehicle  16  through the speaker  68  that is housed with the display screen  10 .  
     [0077] A dual display screen system employing visual displays  10  and  12  is appropriate for use on many passenger motor vehicles. However, in some vehicles the interior passenger compartment configuration is such that the use of a single display screen  10  is more appropriate. Such an arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 9 and is appropriate for use on vehicles, such as sport utility vehicles, vans, and other vehicles which do not have a pair of laterally separated rear seat headrests located proximate to the rear windshield of a vehicle: In the case of a system employing a single message display screen  10 , such as that illustrated in FIG. 9, all of the touch sensors  28  through  42  would elicit messages for display from the processor unit for display on the single message display screen  10 .  
     [0078] The display screens  10  and  12  are always located within a vehicle. Consequently, they are not subject to vandalism or weather damage like message display systems that are located externally on a vehicle.  
     [0079] All the messages stored in the text message storage unit  50  are preprogrammed so that the touch-sensitive sensors  28  through  42  can only be utilized to select predetermined, courteous messages. The use of certain preprogrammed messages avoids the display of any message that might be considered to be inflammatory or reflective of “road rage”.  
     [0080] The form in which the message is displayed on the display screens  10  and  12  may vary. That is, if the message is short enough it will appear as a single, static image on the display screen  10  or  12 . Alternatively, if the message is too long to be displayed in a single static display, the display control circuit  58  is capable of operating the display screens  10  and  12  to display messages in a running sequence of alphanumeric characters, typically moving from right to left from the standpoint of the viewer. Alternatively, the message can be flashed out in a sequential series of static displays. The message may also be displayed as a vertically rolling message.  
     [0081] The audibly spoken message emanating from the speaker  68  is announced at the same time that the message is visually displayed on the display screen  10  or  12 . The driver can thereby abort the message if one of the touch sensors  28 - 42  has been touched in error. While it is possible for the audio message to precede the visual display, this typically would create an undesirable situation in which the visual display of the message would be delayed for too long a time.  
     [0082] Undoubtedly, numerous variations and modifications of the invention will become readily apparent to those familiar with automotive vehicle courtesy message display systems. For example, many different messages other than those specifically indicated in FIG. 7 may be selected for display. Also, different mounting and latching systems from those indicated in FIG. 5 may be employed to mount and orient the display screens relative to the rear vehicle windshield. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be construed as limited to the specific embodiment depicted and described, but rather is defined in the claims appended hereto.