AU736184B2 - Bus stop pole with light-emitting diode panels, touch screen liquid-crystal display panel and voice message device - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 .00.

1.

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

STANDARD PATENT invention tidle: BUS STOP POLE WITH LIGHT-EMFITIG

DIODE

PANELS, TOUGH SCREEN LIQUID-CRYSTAL DISPLAY PANEL AND VOICE MESSAGE DEVICE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: dxbmM011061931501999995 9.02.2000 BUS STOP POLE WITH LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE PANELS, TOUCH SCREEN LIQUID-CRYSTAL DISPLAY PANEL AND VOICE MESSAGE

DEVICE

Description This invention relates to bus stop poles, by which is meant road furniture of the type which is largely upright and intended to indicate to passengers and to drivers where a bus or other public transport vehicle is intended to stop to discharge and pick up passengers.

In this specification, unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act or item of 10 knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was at the priority date part of the common general knowledge; or known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

GB-A-2 214 691 discloses a bus stop in the form of an upright carrying a cylindrical drum which is rotatable about the axis of the upright. The drum has fluorescent tubes within it intended to back-light information sheets or advertising material mounted on curved panels forming part of the cylindrical portion of the drum. This known device has the disadvantage that the displayed information is static.

The present invention aims at providing a bus stop pole which is water- and vandal-proof, and which provides means by which intending passengers may ask for relevant information to be displayed on request.

Accordingly the present invention provides an integrated bus stop pole, comprising an upright having a route indicia display panel at one end, a housing intermediate its ends, the housing having first and second display surfaces which are oppositely directed, the first of the display surfaces having a part formed of light emitting diodes (LEDs)- and a part formed by a touchscreen liquid-display panel; wherein the electrical and electronic components of the pole are adapted to be connected at one end of the upright to electricity and data supply means.

Preferably the upright is made of stainless steel.

Preferably, the LEDs comprise adjacent panels.

Preferably, the second display surface comprises a display area which is illuminated and may be used for displaying posters or other advertising media kyim M110935666v3 122841 25.05.2001 1A The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a rear elevation of one embodiment of the invention, and Figure 2 is a front elevation of the pole shown in Fig. 1.

The bus stop shown in Fig. 1 is as it would be seen from the roadway. It comprises an upright in the form of a pole 8, preferably of stainless steel. The upright 8 is intended to have its lower end (as viewed) embedded in cement or other means to keep it in place despite attempts by vandals to remove it or distort it. At a suitable height from the ground 10 is a housing 7 attached firmly to the upright. The housing has two oppositely-directed major i 10 surfaces 12 and 14 (of which only surface 12 is shown in Fig. This surface is intended to face the roadway, so that it can be viewed conveniently by people in passing vehicles, and on Swalkways on the opposite side of the road. Surface 12 is intended to have its major area covered by a display panel on which a poster 6 may be mounted, the poster being able to be lit o o *go o kyim M0110935666v3 122841 25.05.2001 by means of light source positioned within the housing 7. The manner in which the poster is positioned on the housing does not form part of the subject-matter of this invention, and so will not be described herein in any further detail. Another part of the surface 12 may have a panel on which is displayed the name or location of the bus stop, and this may likewise be illuminated from within the housing.

The portion of the upright 8 above the housing is surmounted by a plate 1 having two major faces. Although Fig. 1 shows the plate as being oriented such that it is parallel with the roadside kerb, and therefore with the surfaces 12 and 14, it is within the purview of this invention to orient it at right-angles to the kerb, so that it may be viewed from afar by intending passengers approaching the bus stop from either direction. In another embodiment (not shown), the plate may be of cruciform cross-section, so that it presents a similar appearance whatever the location of the viewer. On both or all of its major surfaces, the plate bears indicia indicating which route(s) serves the stop. Preferably the route identity information is displayed on a back-lit transparent or translucent member (not shown).

As shown in Fig. 2, the display surface of the housing 7 is significantly different from that of Fig. 1. It is divided into at least one large panel 2 covered with an array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), and another panel 3 forming a touch-screen liquid-crystal display. In one embodiment of the invention the panel 2 is divided into two incremental panels. One of these sub-panels may be used to display non-transport information controlled by a remote centre, while the other one would be intended to display bus route information and operational •o messages. At times the display on both sub-panels could be changed from the centre to *o display advertising material.

The panel 3 could be used to display route information, such as a route map and a fare table, together with such information that the bus operator wants to show, such as the Web page or address of the operator.

Positioned towards the bottom end of the housing (as viewed) is a loudspeaker. This could be operated optionally at the choice of intending passengers, or permanently, to announce in words what the display is showing. When the display in operated in two or more languages, the language of the aural announcements is changed appropriately.

By means which are known, and which do not form part of the subject-matter of this invention, all the electricity-using and data-display devices forming part of the bus stop pole are connected through the buried end of the upright to electricity and data cables.

It will thus be seen that this invention provides a bus stop pole which displays and announces variable information requested by intending passengers, as well as the usual static information, and advertising material under the control of the bus company.

The word 'comprising' or forms of the word 'comprising' as used in this description and in the claims do not limit the invention claimed to exclude any variants or additions.