Abstract
A dynamic message sign includes a front housing defining a viewing window and an interior. A LED assembly is in the interior for displaying a message within a cone of vision. A louver assembly limits the cone of vision. The dynamic message sign may also include a back frame for supporting the front housing and a bracket for setting the front assembly at an angle with respect to the back frame. The LED assembly can include a plurality of LED pixels arranged in rows and columns. The louver assembly can include a plurality of louver racks, each louver rack extending adjacent to a column of LED pixels.
Claims
1-13. (canceled)
14. A dynamic message sign comprising: a front housing defining a viewing window and an interior; a LED assembly in the interior for displaying a message; a back frame for supporting the front housing; and a motor connected between the back frame and front housing for selectively setting the front assembly at an angle with respect to the back frame.
15. A dynamic message sign as recited in claim 14, further comprising a louver assembly for limiting a cone of vision of the dynamic message sign.
16. A dynamic message sign as recited in claim 15, wherein the louver assembly includes a plurality of louver racks, each louver rack having a plurality of louvers extending adjacent to a column of LED pixels.
17. A dynamic message sign as recited in claim 14, wherein the LED assembly includes a plurality of LED pixels arranged in rows and columns.
18. A dynamic message sign comprising: a front housing defining a viewing window and an interior; a LED assembly in the interior for displaying a message within a cone of vision; a louver assembly for limiting the cone of vision; a back frame for supporting the front housing; and a motor connected between the back frame and front housing for selectively setting the front assembly at an angle with respect to the back frame.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] So that those having ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosed system appertains will more readily understand how to make and use the same, reference may be had to the following drawings.
[0013] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) in accordance with the subject technology.
[0014] FIG. 1B is a front view of a DMS in accordance with the subject technology.
[0015] FIG. 1C is a side view of a DMS in accordance with the subject technology.
[0016] FIG. 1D is a perspective view of a DMS with the front opened in accordance with the subject technology.
[0017] FIG. 1E is a side view of a DMS with the front opened in accordance with the subject technology.
[0018] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a DMS with a front housing/louver assembly set at an angle in accordance with the subject technology.
[0019] FIG. 2B is a top view of a DMS with a front housing/louver assembly set at an angle in accordance with the subject technology.
[0020] FIG. 3A is a front view of a louver rack for a DMS in accordance with the subject technology.
[0021] FIG. 3B is a side view of a louver rack for a DMS in accordance with the subject technology.
[0022] FIG. 3C is a top view of a louver rack for a DMS in accordance with the subject technology.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a top detailed view of several louvers aligned with LEDs for a DMS in accordance with the subject technology.
[0024] FIG. 5 is an overhead view of a highway with a DMS deployed thereon in accordance with the subject technology.
[0025] FIG. 6 is an overhead view of a highway with another DMS deployment thereon in accordance with the subject technology.
[0026] FIG. 7 is an overhead view of a highway with still another DMS deployment thereon in accordance with the subject technology.
[0027] FIG. 8 is an overhead view of a highway with yet another DMS deployment thereon in accordance with the subject technology.
[0028] FIG. 9 is an overhead view of a highway with another exemplary DMS deployment thereon in accordance with the subject technology.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] The subject technology overcomes many of the prior art problems associated with Dynamic Message Signs (DMS). The advantages, and other features of the systems and methods disclosed herein, will become more readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art from the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the drawings which set forth representative embodiments of the present invention.
[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 1A-E, various views of a Dynamic Message Sign (DMS) 100 in accordance with the subject technology are shown. The DMS 100 has a front housing 102 rotatably mounted to a back frame 104. The front housing 102 defines an interior 106 enclosing an LED assembly 108 (best seen in FIG. 4). The LED assembly 108 is typically a plurality of LEDs 122 (FIG. 4) clustered together in groups or LED pixels, which are arranged in a rectangular grid. The LED pixels may be any shape such as circular as shown in U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 2004/0123501 published on Jul. 1, 2004 to Safavi et al.
[0031] The front housing 102 also includes a louver assembly 110 that is hingedly connected thereto. The louver assembly 110 covers a window 112 that is aligned to allow viewing the LED assembly 108. The louver assembly 110 limits view of the characters displayed in the viewing window 112 in a desired direction as described below with respect to FIGS. 5-9. As shown in FIG. 1D, the front housing 102 can be opened by dropping down the louver assembly 110 to access the LED assembly 108 for maintenance and the like.
[0032] Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the DMS 100 is shown with the front housing 102 set at an angle with respect to the back frame 104. The front housing 102 is hinged at one end 114 and selectively fixed at an opposing end 116 by using a bracket 118. By providing a plurality of differently sized brackets 118 the angle a of the front housing 102 with respect to the back frame 104 can be modified for a particular application. Preferably, the front housing 102 can also have a bracket 118 on the first end 114 and by virtue of a hinge or other mechanism pivot about the second opposing end 116. Typically, the front housing 102 and louver assembly 110 are arranged to fine tune the cone of vision of the DMS 100 for oncoming traffic. Instead of a bracket, a motor can connect between the back frame 104 and front housing 102 for selectively setting the front assembly 102 at an angle with respect to the back frame 104. For example, the motor could be a control module sending signals to a rotary motor connected to a rack and pinion. In another embodiment, a hand crank may be used to set the angle a of the front housing. In still another embodiment, the front housing mounts on a bracket with a series of adjustment points that allow for selection of the angle a of the front housing.
[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 3A-C, several views of a vertical louver rack 130 for the louver assembly 110 are shown. The louver assembly 110 includes as many louver racks 130 as needed to pair up with the LED pixels. Preferably, the louver racks 130 are made of the same material as the front housing 102 and back frame 104 such as aluminum that has a black coating.
[0034] The louver rack 130 includes a plurality of rectangular blades or louvers 132 for partially blocking light from the LED pixels. The louvers 132 may be sized and configured to pair with a single LED 122 depending upon the particular application. In another embodiment, the louver rack 130 has a single, long solid louver. The louvers 132 extend from a backing 134 at a right angle. The backing 134 defines slots 136 for easily mounting each louver rack 130 on the front housing 102 in front of the viewing window 112. The louver racks 130 may also be bolted to the front housing 102.
[0035] Referring now to FIG. 4, a top detailed view of several louvers 132 aligned with LEDs 122 for a DMS 100 is shown. In the shown embodiment, the LEDs 122 have a cone of vision 136 of approximately 28.5 degrees. By mounting a louver 132 in front of each LED 122, the effective cone of vision is reduced about 5 degrees. Selection of the size and placement of the louvers 132 can advantageously modify the viewing range of the DMS 100 such as shown in FIG. 5. It is envisioned that the standard cone of vision could be much more than 28.5 degrees and, in any case, the cone of vision can be reduced by the louver assembly to less than 5 degrees. A typical DMS 100 will have a normal cone of vision at about 30 degrees reduced by about 10 to 90 percent depending upon the application. It is envisioned that a louver can be placed on each side of each LED 122 to limit the view in both directions. As a result, an even smaller cone of vision can be created. Any method now known or later developed for mounting or integrating the louvers can be utilized.
[0036] FIG. 5 is an overhead view of an exemplary highway 200 with the DMS 100 deployed thereon. The highway 200 has four normal lanes 202a-d and two high occupancy (HOT) lanes 204a-b separated by a dividing area 206. The DMS 100 would typically be mounted above the road surface in a known manner. A plurality of cars 208a-g are shown travelling along the highway 200.
[0037] By including the louver assembly as shown in FIG. 4, the viewing area 210 of the DMS message becomes limited as illustrated by demarcation lines 212a-b. As can be seen, there is a significant area of the HOT lanes 204a-b that is outside the viewing area 210 (e.g., a significant area that is unable to read the DMS 100 by design). In one embodiment, the length L1 of the HOT lanes 204a-b completely unable to read the DMS message is about 146 feet. A length L2 of the HOT lanes 204a-b that is at least partially blocked is about 420 feet. A length L3 of lane 202a in which it may be difficult to read the DMS message is about 110 feet. Preferably, the DMS 100 is sized so that a visibility length L4 of the message extends at least 1000 feet.
[0038] Referring now to FIG. 6, an overhead view of the highway 200 with another DMS deployment thereon is illustrated. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art, the highway 200 is drawn with like reference numerals as shown above in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the DMS 100 has been adjusted to include an angle a between the front housing 102 and back frame 104. As such, the lengths L1, L2 and L3 are modified. The length L1 is about 357 feet, the length L2 is about 816 feet and the length L3 is about 88 feet.
[0039] Referring now to FIG. 7, an overhead view of the highway 200 with still another DMS deployment thereon is shown. Again, the DMS 100 has been adjusted to include a different angle a between the front housing 102 and back frame 104. As such, the length L1 is about 1000 feet, the length L2 is over 1000 feet and the length L3 is about 82 feet.
[0040] Referring now to FIG. 8, an overhead view of the highway 200 with another DMS deployment thereon is shown. The highway 200 includes a plurality of DMS 100. In this embodiment, each DMS 100 has been adjusted to include an angle a of 10 degrees between the front housing 102 and back frame 104. The DMS 100 are particularly placed to straddle the dividing area 206 and normal lane 202d so that the HOT lanes 204a-b cannot see the DMS message at all.
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 9, an overhead view of the highway 200 with yet another DMS deployment thereon is shown. In this embodiment, the DMS 100 has longer louvers 132 on each side of the LEDs 122 so that the cone of vision 236 is significantly limited to about 10 degrees. As such, only the central lane 202c or adjacent lanes 202b, 202d can view the DMS message.
[0042] As can be seen from review of the subject disclosure, the louver configuration and/or angle a can be adjusted to produce a desired result suitable for a particular application. In another embodiment, both sides of the front housing can be inserted with a bracket. The DMS can also be equipped with a kit having a plurality of different brackets for on-site adjustment. In another embodiment, rather than including a back frame and bracket, the front housing is simply mounted on the support at an angle with respect to the oncoming traffic.
[0043] The subject technology is also applicable to many other areas. For example, the sign may be any size for any application. A DMS could be one square foot for use as a crosswalk sign directed at pedestrians. A DMS may provide information at a train station regarding train information, safety information and/or provide information to aide in flow of pedestrian traffic. Stores may use a plurality of DMS to provide information outside the store such as open or closed as well as information in the store such as various specials information inside the store. The DMS can be any color and, thus, color can be selected to be suited for the application. The subject technology is also particularly suited to retrofit on existing sign structures. Providing a bracket or other like mechanism to set the angle is particularly useful in retrofit applications.
[0044] It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art that the functions of several elements may, in alternative embodiments, be carried out by fewer elements, or a single element. Similarly, in some embodiments, any functional element may perform fewer, or different, operations than those described with respect to the illustrated embodiment. Also, functional elements (e.g., assemblies, brackets, modules, interfaces, housings and the like) shown as distinct for purposes of illustration may be incorporated within other functional elements in a particular implementation.
[0045] All patents, patent applications and other references disclosed herein are hereby expressly incorporated in their entireties by reference. While the subject technology has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the subject technology without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
