Abstract:
A digital display system designed to lie mounted on the exterior of a motorized vehicle, such as the front bumper of an automobile (see  FIG. 1 ). The digital display system includes a monitor disposed within a frame secured to the vehicle. A controller is disposed within the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The controller interfaces with the monitor and includes removable memory for storing the data image files to be displayed on the monitor.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates a digital display device for an automobile, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a programmable liquid crystal display device that is positioned on the exterior of an automobile that is used to display user selected information such as advertisements, custom images, or videos. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Millions of automobiles are used every day in this country. Whether commuting to work, driving to the store or on a trip, people spend an average of twelve hours a week in their automobile. 
         [0003]    A portion individuals who own automobiles choose to invest a certain amount of their disposable income in personalizing their automobiles. From custom wheels and lights to entertainment systems, investment in personalizing their automobile is a market that has seen significant growth in the last several years. 
         [0004]    While there arc numerous LCD type displays available for entertainment systems inside vehicles that are used for everything from navigating the internet to controlling a stereo system, there is currently no device that allows an automobile owner to display a digital image on the exterior of their automobile for communication or entertainment purposes. 
         [0005]    Another issue with current customization products for automobiles is that they do not offer a method in which organizations can engage in marketing or branding of additional products. As global competition and a flooded market place have cluttered the consumer market, organizations continuously evaluate different channels that they can use to brand their image and market their products. The short product life cycle of many automobile products creates a need for organizations to have the ability to communicate their marketing message frequently and through channels that will have the ability to capture the consumer&#39;s attention. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for an externally mounted digital display device for automobiles that is programmable to facilitate the transmission of customized displays that are inputted by the user to be utilized for marketing or other select purposes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It is the object of the present invention to provide a programmable device that is mounted to the exterior of an automobile that is used to display digital still or video images. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a liquid crystal display monitor that is used to display images or videos in order to enhance the exterior of an individual&#39;s automobile. 
         [0009]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a display device that is waterproof and shatter resistant. 
         [0010]    Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a display device that can be secured to the front bumper of an automobile and is approximately the size of a license tag. 
         [0011]    To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the display device of the present invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a controller of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Referring now to the embodiment in  FIG. 1 and 2 , and wherein the various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale, there is illustrated the components of a preferred embodiment of an automobile digital display system constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
         [0016]    The first component of the automobile digital display system is the external display unit or display monitor  100 . The external monitor  100  comprises a frame  110 . The frame  110  is circumferentially disposed on the screen  120 . The frame  110  is constructed of a suitable rigid material. More specifically but not by way of limitation, the frame  110  is manufactured from a group of thermoplastics including poly ethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride. The frame  110  is generally rectangular in shape, although no specific shape or dimensions are required. In the present embodiment, good results have been achieved with a frame  110  that is approximately eight inches in height by fourteen inches in length. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous alternative shapes could be used in place of and/or in conjunction with the frame  110  as described herein. 
         [0017]    Mounted on the frame  110  are two opposing pairs of mounting apertures  130 . Mechanical fasteners such as but not limited to bolts are journaled through the mounting apertures  110  in order to secure the external monitor  100  to the external surface of a vehicle, such as the front bumper area. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the number mounting apertures  130  could be used in place of and/or in conjunction with the four mounting apertures  130  as illustrated in  FIG. 1  will vary base on a users preference. More specifically but not by way of limitation the frame  110  could be secured to a front bumper of an automobile with a mechanical fastener journaled through one mounting aperture  130 . 
         [0018]    Substantially disposed within the frame  110  is the screen  120 . The screen  120  is a conventional LCD-type screen that is used for displaying images or video selected by the user. The screen  120  is secured within the frame  120  by conventional mechanical or chemical methods. The screen  120  can be manufactured using a passive matrix LCD technology or an active matrix LCD technology. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the screen  120  contains 256 range subpixels in order to display color-images that have an adjustable palette that is externally controlled. Although no specific size is required for the screen  120 , good results have been achieved with a screen that is approximately the size of a license tag or eight inches in height by fourteen inches in width. The screen  120  has mounted to one side a control cable  140 . The control cable  140  is to be extended and connected to controller  200  and supplies the power needed to operate the screen  120 . Furthermore, the control cable  140  functions to transmit the desired image data file to be projected on the screen  120 . 
         [0019]    Superposed on the screen  120  is the protective cover  150 . The protective cover  150  is a transparent material in order to minimize interference with the displaying of the desired image displayed on the screen  120 . The protective cover  150  is mounted to the screen  120  and the frame  110  by suitable chemical methods. The frame  110  and protective cover  150  are chemically bonded to ensure that no water can penetrate the bond. The chemical adhesion is accomplished with suitable material such as but not limited to silicon adhesives in order to ensure that the external monitor  100  is waterproof. The protective cover  150  is manufactured to be shatterproof and resistant to road debris that frequently strikes the front bumper area of an automobile. The protective cover  150  is manufactured from two layers of glass with a layer of polycarbonate material intermediate the two layers of glass. Suitable polycarbonate materials include but are not limited to, Lexan, Tuffak, and Cyrolon. Those skilled in the art will recognize that numerous different types of material could be used in place of and/or in conjunction with the materials referenced herein to achieve the desired functionality of the protective cover  150  as described herein. 
         [0020]    Now referring to  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated the second component of the automobile digital display system, the controller  200 . The controller  200  contains a conventional integrated circuit board that contains all of the electronics necessary to receive, store and manipulate digital image data files. Furthermore, the controller  210  functions to control other functions of the automobile digital display system such as but not limited to power management. The controller  210  comprises a housing  220  that is substantially rectangular in shape. Adjacent to the housing  220  and integrally mounted to one side is the cable receptacle  210 . The cable receptacle  210  is configured to receive the second end of the control cable  140 . Although the controller  200  is shown as a separate unit, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the controller  200  could be configured to be mounted into the dash or console area of an automobile in a similar method as a conventional radio. 
         [0021]    Centrally mounted to one side of the housing  220  opposite the cable receptacle  210  is the preview screen  215 . The preview screen  215  is a small conventional LCD type screen that provides the user a graphical interface to select a desired image or group of images to display on the external monitor  100 . The desired images are loaded into the controller  220  with the memory card  250 . The memory card  250  is a conventional memory card based on EEPROM technology that allows a user to load new data files and delete selected existing data files from the memory card  250  for subsequent display on the external monitor  100 . The memory card  250  interfaces with the controller via the slot  260 . The slot  260  is configured to be of suitable shape to mateably connect with a conventional memory card. It is further contemplated to be within the scope of the invention that data corresponding to the photos or videos to be displayed could also be wirelessly transmitted to control unit  200 , such as by Blue-Tooth™, WI-FI, or other wireless technologies. 
         [0022]    Adjacent to the preview screen  215  are a plurality of selector buttons  240 . The selector buttons  240  function as an interface for the user to navigate through the data stored on the memory card  250 . The selector buttons  240  are either conventional manual switches or switches that will detect light, heat or motion. 
         [0023]    Opposite the selector buttons  240  and adjacent to the preview screen  215  are a plurality of control buttons  230 . The control buttons  230  function to power the automobile digital display system on or off. Further, the control buttons  240  function as an interface for the user to program the automobile digital display system in a random or predetermined sequence of projection of stored images from the inserted memory card  250  to be transmitted to the external monitor  100 . It is also contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the control buttons  240  function to manipulate the image date files stored on the memory card  250 . More specifically but not by way of limitation, the control buttons  250  could be configured to direct changes in image quality such as brightness, sharpness, color or tint. 
         [0024]    It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the power source is the DC power system of the automobile. It is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention, that the power source could comprise an internal power source such as batteries mounted in the controller  200  and/or external monitor  100   
         [0025]    Now referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a description of the operation of the automobile digital display system is as follows. In use, the user mounts the external monitor  100  onto the front bumper of an automobile. The controller  200  is interfaced to the external monitor  100  with the control cable. The user inserts the memory card containing the data file images that are desired for projection of the external monitor  100 . The user manipulates the selector buttons  240  and the control buttons  230  to program the controller  200  to project the desired data image files in a predetermined sequence resulting in the desired customization effect for the automobile. The controller  200  could alternatively be programmed to project an image from a single data image file continuously onto the external monitor  100 . The user periodically reloads the memory card  250  with the desired image data files to be displayed and inserts the memory card into the controller  200  and repeats the process. 
         [0026]    In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.