An illuminated plate for motor vehicles includes: a base sheet; an electroluminescent sheet; a background sheet which is transparent, translucent, or reflective, and which has a cutout section constituted by openings shaped in characters for display; character inserts which are transparent or translucent and shaped in the characters, which character inserts are infixed in the corresponding openings of the characters in the cutout section; and a clear cover sheet.

Vehicles, components, and methods present information based on context, for example presenting a first list or menu of items (e.g., food) or first set of signage or color scheme when in a first location or during a first period, and presenting a second list or menu of items (e.g., food) or second set of signage or color scheme when in a second location or during a second period. For instance, a first menu of items (e.g., relatively more expensive entrees, beverages) may be displayed via one or more displays or screens at a first location during a first period, and a second menu of items (e.g., relatively less expensive entrees, beverages) may be displayed at a second location during a second period. Context (e.g., present location, destination, date, day, period of time, event, size of crowd, movement of crowd, weather) may be manually provided, or autonomously discerned, and presentation automatically.

A sign-monitoring system includes at least one electronic sign and a controller comprising a processor and memory. The electronic sign includes a pixel array, the pixel array including a plurality of pixels. The electronic sign further includes an embedded controller coupled to the at least one electronic sign. The embedded controller develops diagnostic information for the at least one electronic sign, the diagnostic information including information related to a number of malfunctioning pixels in the plurality of pixels. The controller is communicably coupled to the embedded controller and receives at least a portion of the diagnostic information from the embedded controller. In addition, the controller assesses the at least a portion of the diagnostic information to develop health information. The assessment involves evaluating the information related to the number of malfunctioning pixels.

Described is a display system for a vehicle. The display system uses one or more active displays integrated into a new vehicle or coupled as an aftermarket product in an existing vehicle. The new vehicle with integrated displays of the system may be provided to a purchaser for a reduced cost for participation in the advertisement system. The system operates to provide nearby vehicle occupants, pedestrians, or others with advertisement and/or emergency messages using the displays. The display system can show advertising messages or emergency messages on the active displays that are relevant to the location of the vehicle. The system may operate to prioritize the advertisement messages or emergency messages that will be displayed based on determinations made by a server of the system.

The present invention relates to a system and method for selecting and transmitting images, particularly commercial messages and advertisements, to a projecting device mounted on a vehicle for projection and display of the images on the surface of the vehicle.

A vehicular video display system is provided including a vehicle, a video display attached to the vehicle, a source of advertisements unrelated to the operation of the vehicle, a source of one or more images representing the vehicle's operation, and an operational sensor device which detects one or more changes in the operation of the vehicle. In addition, the display system includes a controller which is connected to the advertisements, images and operational sensor. The controller ceases the display of advertisements upon the video display in the event that operational sensor device detects a change in the operation of the vehicle, and causes the video display to display one or more of said images on said video display indicating the change in operation of the vehicle.

An apparatus includes an elongate member, a plurality of markings, and a plurality of attachment means. The elongate member includes a first-side and a second-side. Each side includes words to alert other drivers and emergency service. The plurality of markings are disposed about a surface area of the elongate member to provide a visual indicator. The plurality of attachment means are configured to attach the elongate member to a vehicle. The apparatus may be used to signal the roadside emergency by providing a highly visible safety sign or banner for applying to a vehicle.

Described herein is an illumination device for projecting light in a predetermined illumination pattern on a surface. The illumination device includes a light module having a light source and a light pipe configured to transmit light in any suitable manner. The illumination device also includes a housing having a cavity, an entrance opening for receiving the light emitted from the light source, and an aperture at a second housing end. Within the housing between the entrance opening and the aperture is a screen at least partially disposed in the cavity, the screen having at least one opening defining a base pattern configuration corresponding to the predetermined illumination pattern. The light pipe is configured to selectively transmit light from the light source to the cavity and may be linear or non-linear such that the light source and the surface to be illuminated do not need to face one another.

An information display system for use on a vehicle comprises a portable display support platform, and at least one vehicle interface support member coupled to the portable display platform and comprising a universal vehicle coupling device operable to couple the portable display support platform to a vehicle support structure. An electronic information display device, supported by the portable display platform, is moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position, and is operable to display information (e.g., advertisements) when in the deployed position. A computer implemented method includes: receiving position data, at a server via a network, for a position of a vehicle supporting an electronic information display device; identifying, using the position data, a display activation zone that includes the position of the vehicle; identifying display information associated with the user; and sending instructions to a device of the vehicle, via the network, to display the display information on the electronic information display device.

An apparatus for signaling a roadside emergency includes a plurality of panels including a first-panel, a second-panel, and a third-panel, a plurality of markings, and a plurality of attachment means. The second-panel and third-panel include words to alert other drivers and emergency service. The plurality of markings are disposed about a surface area of the plurality of panels to provide a visual indicator. The plurality of attachment means are configured to attach the plurality of panels to a vehicle. The apparatus may be used to signal the roadside emergency by providing a highly visible safety sign or banner for applying to a vehicle.