US4864754A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Message display device for motor vehicle
Assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1987-11-12
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Granted: 1989-09-12
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Expires: 2007-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A message message display device for a motor vehicle comprises a message radiating mechanism disposed in a rear portion of the motor vehicle for radiating a message rearwardly of the motor vehicle, and a control mechanism operatively connected to the message radiating mechanism for enabling the message radiating mechanism to radiate the message substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle. The message radiating mechanism comprises a display unit disposed outside of at least a rear sight of a rearview mirror of the motor vehicle and operatively connected to the control mechanism for radiating an image light beam indicative of the message in response to a signal from the control mechanism, and a transparent reflecting plate for reflecting the image light beam from the display unit substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuhito Sangu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 11:46
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F21/00; G09F21/04; B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/26; B60Q1/30; B60Q1/302; B60Q1/50; B60Q1/503; B60Q1/5035; B60Q1/549; B60Q1/544
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
A message display device for a motor vehicle, comprising: message radiating means, disposed in a rear portion of the motor vehicle for radiating a message rearwardly of the motor vehicle; and control means, connected to said message radiating means for enabling said message radiating means to radiate the message substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle; said message radiating means including a display unit disposed outside of at least a rear sight of a rearview mirror of the motor vehicle and connected to said control means, said display unit radiating an image light beam, indicative of said message, in response to a signal from said control means; and a transparent reflecting plate reflecting said image light beam from said display unit substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
A message display device for a motor vehicle, comprising: message radiating means, disposed in a rear portion of the motor vehicle for radiating a message rearwardly of the motor vehicle; and control means, connected to said message radiating means for enabling said message radiating means to radiate the message substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle; said message radiating means including a display unit disposed outside of at least a rear sight of a rearview mirror of the motor vehicle and connected to said control means, said display unit radiating an image light beam, indicative of said message, in response to a signal from said control means; and a transparent reflecting plate reflecting said image light beam from said display unit substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A message display device according to claim 1, wherein said control means has an operating unit having message selecting buttons for manually selecting one of a plurality of messages.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
A message display device according to claim 2, further including sensor means for detecting when a brake of said motor vehicle is actuated; said control means including a display enabling means for enabling said display unit to display a message regarding actuation of the brake in an overriding relation to any message selected by said message selecting buttons when the actuation of the brake is detected by said sensor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
145 words
A message display device for a motor vehicle, comprising comprising: message radiating means, disposed in a rear portion of the motor vehicle, for radiating a message rearwardly of the motor vehicle; and control means, connected to said message radiating means, for enabling said message radiating means to radiate the message substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle, said control means having an operating unit having message selection buttons for manually selecting a plurality of messages; said message radiating means including a display unit disposed outside of at least a rear sight of a rearview mirror of the motor vehicle and connected to said control means, said display unit radiating an image light beam, indicative of said message, in response to a signal from said control means, and a transparent reflecting plate reflecting said image light beam from said display unit substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
145 words
A message display device for a motor vehicle, comprising comprising: message radiating means, disposed in a rear portion of the motor vehicle, for radiating a message rearwardly of the motor vehicle; and control means, connected to said message radiating means, for enabling said message radiating means to radiate the message substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle, said control means having an operating unit having message selection buttons for manually selecting a plurality of messages; said message radiating means including a display unit disposed outside of at least a rear sight of a rearview mirror of the motor vehicle and connected to said control means, said display unit radiating an image light beam, indicative of said message, in response to a signal from said control means, and a transparent reflecting plate reflecting said image light beam from said display unit substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A message display device according to claim 4, wherein said message radiating means is arranged rearwardly of a driver seat and is arranged close to a rear window within a cabin of the motor vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A message display device according to claim 4, wherein said transparent reflecting plate is inclined rearwardly of the motor vehicle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A message display device according to claim 4, wherein said transparent reflecting plate has a width in a transverse direction of a motor vehicle wider than a width of the image light beam from the display unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
A message display device according to claim 4, further including sensor means for detecting when a brake of said motor vehicle is actuated; said control means including a display enabling means for enabling said display unit to display a message regarding actuation of the brake in an overriding relation to any message selected by said message selecting buttons when the actuation of the brake is detected by said sensor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A message display device according to claims 1 or 4, wherein said transparent reflecting plate is swingably mounted on said display unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A message display device according to claims 1 or 4, wherein said transparent reflecting plate is fixedly mounted on said display unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A message display device according to claims 1 or 4, wherein said display unit is disposed on a rear parcel shelf of said motor vehicle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A message display device according to claims 1 or 4, wherein said display unit is attached to a lower surface of a roof panel of said motor vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A message display device according to claims 1 or 4, wherein said display unit has a display surface for radiating said image light beam in a vertical direction.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
A message display device according to claim 13, wherein said transparent reflecting plate has a width in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle, said width being greater than a width, in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle, of a display surface of said display unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
A message display device according to claim 13, wherein said transparent reflecting plate has a width in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle, said width being substantially the same as a width, in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle, of a display surface of said display unit, said width of said transparent reflecting plate being larger than a width of a longest message that can be displayed on said display surface, by a prescribed interval on each side of said longest message.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A message display device according to claims 1 or 4, wherein said display unit has a display surface comprising a plurality of dot-matrix LEDs controlled by said control means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
102 words
A message display device according to claims 1 or 4, wherein said display unit comprises a plurality of display elements each in a form of a triangular prism and having first, second, and third segment display surfaces, said display elements being arranged such that cooperating ones of said first, second, and third segment display surfaces lie flush with each other, and a drive mechanism for rotating said display elements; said cooperating ones of said first, second, and third segment display surfaces, when lying flush with each other, jointly constituting a display surfaces of said display unit to form and display the message.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
105 words
A message display device for a motor vehicle, comprising: a message radiating means, disposed in a rear portion of the motor vehicle, for radiating a message rearwardly of the motor vehicle, said message radiating means including a display unit radiating an image light beam indicating said message in response to a signal, and a transparent reflecting plate reflecting substantially rearwardly said image light beam from said display unit; and control means, connected to said message radiating means, for outputting said signal to said display unit indicating said message and for enabling said message radiating means to radiate the message substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
105 words
A message display device for a motor vehicle, comprising: a message radiating means, disposed in a rear portion of the motor vehicle, for radiating a message rearwardly of the motor vehicle, said message radiating means including a display unit radiating an image light beam indicating said message in response to a signal, and a transparent reflecting plate reflecting substantially rearwardly said image light beam from said display unit; and control means, connected to said message radiating means, for outputting said signal to said display unit indicating said message and for enabling said message radiating means to radiate the message substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
145 words
A message display device for a motor vehicle, comprising: a message radiating means, disposed in a rear portion of the motor vehicle, for radiating a message rearwardly; and control means, connected to said message radiating means, for enabling said message radiating means to radiate the message substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle, said control means including message selection buttons for manually selecting one of a plurality of messages and a microcomputer means for storing said plurality of messages; said message radiating means including a display unit connected to said control means, said display unit radiating an image light beam, indicative of said message, in response to a signal from said control means, said display unit including light emitting diodes for radiating said image light beam, and a transparent reflecting plate reflecting said image light beam from said display unit substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
145 words
A message display device for a motor vehicle, comprising: a message radiating means, disposed in a rear portion of the motor vehicle, for radiating a message rearwardly; and control means, connected to said message radiating means, for enabling said message radiating means to radiate the message substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle, said control means including message selection buttons for manually selecting one of a plurality of messages and a microcomputer means for storing said plurality of messages; said message radiating means including a display unit connected to said control means, said display unit radiating an image light beam, indicative of said message, in response to a signal from said control means, said display unit including light emitting diodes for radiating said image light beam, and a transparent reflecting plate reflecting said image light beam from said display unit substantially rearwardly of the motor vehicle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
A message display device according to claims 18 or 19 further including a brightness adjusting means for adjusting the brightness of said image light beam according to the amount of light around said display unit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A message display device according to claims 18 or 19 further comprising an adjusting means for adjusting the size of the displayed message.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
46 words
A message display device according to claims 18 or 19, wherein said transparent reflecting plate has a width in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle greater than a width of a display surface of said display unit in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A message display device according to claims 18 or 19, wherein said transparent reflecting plate does not block a rearview of a driver of the vehicle of a rearview mirror.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-09-11 | 1993-03-13 | 1993-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-11 | 1997-03-13 | 1997-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-11 | 2001-03-13 | 2001-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |