A vehicular rear window assembly includes a fixed window panel and an indicating device having a plurality of light sources. The vehicular rear window assembly is configured to be disposed at a rear portion of a cabin of a vehicle. The indicating device is disposed at the fixed window panel. With the vehicular rear window assembly disposed at the rear portion of the cabin of the vehicle, the light sources, when electrically powered to emit light, emit light that is visible through the window panel so as to be viewable by a person viewing the vehicular rear window assembly from exterior and rearward of the vehicle. The indicating device is operated responsive to at least one system of the vehicle. Responsive to an output of the at least one system, the indicating device adjusts operation of the light sources to indicate a status of the at least one system.

A digital license plate includes a display system capable of showing a license number readable by camera systems even under poor external lighting conditions. A light redistribution element is positioned near the display system and a lighting system is positioned to direct light from the light redistribution element and toward the display system. In some embodiments the lighting system includes a non-visible lighting element such as can be provided by an infrared source, and the display system includes an electrophoretic or LCD display.

A school bus stop arm and drive unit therefor are disclosed. The stop arm includes a stop sign and a drive unit for moving the stop sign between a retracted position and a deployed position. In some embodiments the stop sign is illuminated. In some embodiments the drive unit includes a controller.

An image projection apparatus that can be attached to a vehicle and can be effectively utilized for acquisition of road surface condition information, detection of a hidden vehicle, and the like is provided. The image projection apparatus that projects an image includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information related to a vehicle; an image projection unit that projects an image based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit; and imaging means that acquires an image outside the vehicle, the image projection unit projects light in a wavelength band centered on a wavelength of 1.4 μm and the imaging means provides the information related to the vehicle by imaging an image projected based on the light in the wavelength band centered on the wavelength of 1.4 μm.

A self-contained illuminated sign for mounting on a vehicle is disclosed. The sign includes a front panel, a rear panel situated opposite and substantially parallel to the front panel in spaced relation therefrom to define a space therebetween, and a light source comprising a plurality of LEDs. The light source is positioned between the front and rear panels and is configured to emit light that emanates from the front panel. The front panel is thus backlit to display indicia. A system for supporting a self-contained illuminated sign on a vehicle is also disclosed. The system includes the sign and a separate mounting frame mountable on a vehicle. The mounting frame is configured to removably receive the sign and, when the sign is received in the mounting frame, to surround a perimeter of the sign while permitting visibility of the front display area. Related methods are also disclosed.

An image projection apparatus that can be attached to a vehicle and can be effectively utilized for acquisition of road surface condition information, detection of a hidden vehicle, and the like is provided. The image projection apparatus that projects an image includes: an acquisition unit that acquires information related to a vehicle; an image projection unit that projects an image based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit; and imaging means that acquires an image outside the vehicle, the image projection unit projects light in a wavelength band centered on a wavelength of 1.4 μm and the imaging means provides the information related to the vehicle by imaging an image projected based on the light in the wavelength band centered on the wavelength of 1.4 μm.

An automatic safety tripod for a vehicle includes a frame formed in a housing with one open surface, and a display part of which one portion is connected to the frame, the display part being folded or unfolded to be inserted into or protrude out of the frame. The frame includes a rotation bar in the frame, and having screw threads at opposite ends thereof, the screw threads being screwed to one side of the frame, a motor provided at the center of the rotation bar and rotating the rotation bar; pulleys provided at opposite sides of the rotation bar based on the center portion, and a wire of which a first portion is connected to each of the pulleys and a second portion is connected to the display part, the wire moving the frame by rotation of the pulley.

Disclosed is a multi-layer lens arrangement for a vehicle light. The lenses include printed ink or other deposited materials at each level of lens, and can, in some versions, create a three-dimensional effect for a graphic.

An assembly includes a common parts sub-assembly, an actuator, a physical appendage, and a mounting bracket. The common parts sub-assembly includes a rotor bracket and a housing. The actuator is connected to the rotor bracket to cause the rotor bracket to rotate during actuator actuation. The actuator and the rotor bracket connected thereto are housed within the housing. The mounting bracket connects the physical appendage to the rotor bracket whereby the physical appendage moves between stowed and deployed positions during actuator actuation. The actuator is either an electric motor actuator or a pneumatic actuator that are substitutable with one another to assemble the assembly without modification to the common parts sub-assembly or the physical appendage. The physical appendage may be either a stop sign or a crossing guard arm that are substitutable with one another to assemble the assembly without modification to the common parts sub-assembly or the actuator.