WO2016162860A1

WO2016162860A1 - Method, system and device for communication and information on vehicle through projection of text, image, and / or video on the rear, side, and / or front windshield of vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2016162860A1
Application number: PCT/ID2015/000001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christian LAHINO
Original assignee: Lahino Christian
Priority date: 2015-04-09
Filing date: 2015-08-07
Publication date: 2016-10-13

Abstract

The invention presented here shows a method and system for communication and information installed in a vehicle, and used to communicate with other vehicles and other parties outside the vehicle, during cruising or stationary. This communication sytem consists of several modules, namely: an application module (24) installed in a special device with a touch screen, track-pad/trackball, and/or keypad. The application module (24) can also be installed on a smartphone or a tablet; a projector module (25) for projecting the information or message received from the application module (24); and a receiver module (26) that will display the message and information projected by the projector module (25) to the outside of the vehicle through the windshields (front, side, or rear).

Description

Method, System and Device for Communication and Information on Vehicle through Projection of Text, Image, and / or Video on the Rear,

Side, and / or Front Windshield of Vehicles.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a communication and information device between one vehicle and other vehicles, because of a need, through texts, images and / or videos that appear on the rear or the left and the right side or the front windshield of the vehicle.

Background of the Invention

Sometimes we need to make communication between our vehicle and other vehicles around us either to provide or request information or making statements, whether when preceding another vehicle, or cruising side by side of the other vehicles, or driving behind another vehicle.

This information can be in the form of text, image, and video. The information that can be provided in the present invention are for example: an apology statement for having preceded a vehicle, notification to the vehicle cruising along side our vehicle that its door is not closed properly, or asking for help due to vehicle brake problems and so on.

Currently there are no means of communication between vehicles that can be used for such purposes, and thus it is common for someone to open the vehicle windshield and shout to the intended vehicle for any communication. However, if the vehicle is above a certain speed and or the vehicle windshields are closed, then this method is neither safe nor effective. In some accident cases (on the freeway), it is found that the driver of the vehicle that has problem could not provide information or ask for assistance from other vehicles in the surrounding areas due to the absence of means of communication between vehicles. Thus, there is a need for a vehicle communication device to bridge the gap.

This invention consists of several components that are linked one to another in such a way that it becomes a communication device that can be used to facilitate communication between one vehicle and another as described above. The components of the invention include (i) mini / micro projector, (ii) pan tilt mounting, (iii) transparent projection screen, and (iv) an application using special device or smartphone or other devices with touch screen technology that support the application. In reference of patent from China number CN201373971 Y (Liu and Yuan). The utility model provides an LED micro projector which comprises a red/green/blue light source synthesizing part, a lens, a DMD, a reflector and a projecting lens. The LED micro projector has the advantages of simple structure, small volume and convenient carrying, thereby being widely applied.

United States Patent number 8,633,916 (Bernstein; Jeffrey Traer (San Francisco, CA), Cieplinski; Avi (San Francisco, CA), Degner; Brett W. (Menlo Park, CA), Kerr; Duncan (San Francisco, CA), Kessler; Patrick (Mountain View, CA), Puskarich; Paul (Palo Alto, CA), Coelho; Marcelo H. (Cambridge, MA), Pance; Aleksandar (Saratoga, CA)), explain about Electronic devices may use touch pads that have touch sensor arrays, force sensors, and actuators for providing tactile feedback. The touch pad may have a rectangular planar touch pad member that has a glass layer covered with ink and contains a capacitive touch sensor array. United States Patent number US5463432 A (Philip Kahn) explain about the invention is directed to a computer-controlled miniature pan/tilt tracking mount for the precise control of position, velocity, and acceleration of small payloads (e.g., a video camera). The invention consists of a motorized rotational tilt axis mounted atop a motorized rotational pan axis.

Another invention as mentioned in United States patent number US6577355 B1 (Zvi Yaniv) on an image projection system comprises an image projector, such as a film or television projector and a projection screen. The projection screen is fabricated of a substantially transparent material, such as glass or plastic. The screen of transparent material has one or more areas or portions formed therein which areas or portions may be made to be translucent upon the application of a stimulus. Once in a translucent condition, the projected image can be received and viewed on the translucent portion.

United States patent number US6359732 B1 (Osamu Yoshimura)explain that provided is a plastic sheet for rear projection screens, which has a two or more multi-layered structure and which can be readily warped without being unfavorably swollen or waved. The plastic sheet is constructed to have a two or more multi-layered structure, in which the coefficient of linear expansion (at 20° C.) of one layer is higher by at least 1.0x10-6 mm/(mm °C.) than that of any other layer. In one embodiment of the plastic sheet, the layer of which the coefficient of linear expansion is higher than that of any other layer contains a fine particulate rubber material having a diameter of from 0.1 to 100 pm to such a degree that the rubber material content thereof is higher by at least 0.5% by weight than that of any other layer.

This invention combines all the components of the above inventions so that it becomes a communication device that can be installed to the vehicle in order to assist the driver in sending messages and other information to the other vehicles or others parties outside of the vehicle. This of course be an innovative step that can answer the problems outlined above and can improve the effectiveness of communication among vehicles and can reduce the risks that often arise due to the lack of communication among vehicles or communication from a vehicle to the parties outside of the vehicle.

Brief Description of the Invention

The purpose of the invention of vehicle communication device or communication from a vehicle to parties outside the vehicle is to overcome the problems mentioned above, and as well as to serve other purposes as may be necessary for users of the vehicle.

To achieve this goal, the inventor develops the vehicle communication device that consisted of three main modules, namely: 1 ) the application / program module; 2) the projector module; and 3) the receiver module.

This vehicle communication starts by inputting the information, in the form of text, images, and / or video into application / program module that is installed in a special device with a touch screen, track-pad / trackball, and / or keypad, or into the application / program module which has been installed in a smartphone (with IOS, Android, BB, and other operating system) as well as a tablet or IPad or other multi-media devices are compatible. The application provides several pre-set messages or information that can be displayed quickly on the selected windshield of the vehicle. The format of messages follows open office standard formatting (fonts, styles, paragraph, layout, etc.). Application / program module can be linked or connected to the multi-media devices on the vehicle. Depending on the multi-media type and capabilities, it may be able to perform some functions of the application / program module, such as running a pre-set messages or other information. If the display format in the form of an image or video, the application / program module can resonate sound through the vehicle speakers. Application / program module may provide option on which vehicle windshield to display the information. The Information can also be displayed in sequence from one windshield to another. For example, information can be displayed from the rear windshield, to the right rear windshield and then to the left rear windshield and so on.

The application / program module can also zoom in and zoom out the display to clarify and reinforce the information.

The message / information inputted into the application / program module will be transmitted via WIFI, Bluetooth, or data cable to the projector module. The projector module is mounted inside of the vehicle (the mounting location within the interior of the vehicle depends on the model and the type of vehicle, but mostly on the ceiling of the vehicle).

The projector module (can be either LED or laser) based on the command from the application / program module, will adjust the projector position toward the direction of the selected receiver module that is placed on the windshield. The adjustment is performed by raising, lowering, tilting, and rotating the projector module toward the receiver module, and/or sliding, then setting up the focus, and projecting the appropriate information.

In the event that the receiver module is placed at the front windshield, the application can display reversed text, so it is readable by vehicles cruising ahead.

For certain vehicles, either because of the size, specific function, and or special design, 2 projector modules can be installed in tandem (e.g. one projector module for the front area windshields, and one projector module for the rear area windshields). Brief Description Of Drawings

Figure 1 is a diagram of the overall setup of the device and the inter- relation among modules as the basis for the proposed invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the application / program module that has been installed in a special device with a touch screen, track-pad / trackball, and keypad, in which the application is used to transmit the text, image, and / or video to the projector module using WIFI, blue-tooth, and data cable. The transmittance of data can be done directly from the application / program module to the projector module, or through multi-media devices available in the vehicle. This application / program module can also:

a. installed on a smartphone (with IOS, Android, BB, and other operating system) as well as a tablet or iPad, as an alternative of a special device as described above, so that it can directly connects to the projector module;

b. set the display duration of text, image, and / or video. The pre-set display duration option could be from 10 seconds to 1 hour or until the display of subsequence text, image, and / or video, or it can use the default display duration;

c. set up pre-set text message or information up to 10 sentences or images with the choice of windshields to display the information;

d. set up the upload and format of images, emoticons, and video;

e. set up the text format using open source word application;

f. set up the projector module through control / main board unit in accordance with the user command for vehicle that installed 2 projector modules or more;

g. set up the direction of the projector unit to the selected windshield, by choosing a pre-set receiver module. This pre-set receiver module will direct the projector unit to the rear, side, or front windshield, and with the sequence if required, for example the projector unit is directed to the rear windshield (R), then it is directed to the rear right windshield (RH2) and then to the rear left windshield (LH2) and then back again to the rear windshield (R). The pre-set for the projector module direction to receiver module (on the vehicle windshields) can be done during installation;

h. the set up of the projector unit direction to the receiver module as described in point g is performed by adjusting the projector unit position accordingly, either by sliding it horizontally, moving the lever arm up and down, and rotating it toward the receiver module, in accordance with the option in the application module (e.g. F1 for the right front windshield, F2 for the left front windshield, LH1 for front left windshield , LH2 for the back left windshield , RH1 for front right windshield , RH2 for the back right windshield , R for the rear windshield );

i. set on / off the projector unit, the mounting unit, and the connection unit of WIFI, Bluetooth as well as data cable;

j. set auto focus of the projector unit by reading the focus sensors at the receiver module that is placed on the vehicle's windshield;

k. adjust the zoom in or zoom out of the text, image and / or videos that are to be displayed;

I. set and resonate sound through the vehicle speakers for image or video message;

m. set the option to display the reversed text on the front windshield (F1 , F2);

Figure 3, 4, 5 and 6 are the perspective views of a projector module (25) similar as in Figure 1 , with from difference perspectives and more detail. The projector module consists of 4 units, namely: the connection unit through WIFI, blue-tooth, (12) and / or data cable (8, 9); control / main board unit (1 1 ); mounting unit (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7); and projector unit (1 ). Each unit has the following functions: 1. Connection unit via WIFI, Bluetooth, and / or Cable Data

This unit is to connect between the application / program module and the control / main board unit. The connection can be done through WIFI, Blue-tooth, and / or the given data cable as an alternative;

2. Control / main board unit

This unit regulates the mounting and projector units in accordance with the command from the application / program module;

3. Mounting Unit

This unit sets the direction of the projector in accordance with the command from the application / program module. This unit can perform horizontally sliding by the sliding motor (5), sliding wheel (6) and sliding rail (7), horizontally rotating by motor (not shown) and wheel - pan (4), lifting up and down by motor (not shown) and lifting arm (3), and tilting up and down by motor (not shown) and tilting gear (2), in accordance with the direction of the selected receiver module;

4. Projector unit

This unit projects text, images and / or video with a particular format in accordance with the application / program module command (24). The projector unit (1 ) can also perform auto focus through reading sensor placed at the receiver module (26);

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a receiver module (26). It receives and displays text, image and / or video projected by the projector unit (1 ) to be visible from outside the vehicle, either from the rear, right and left side of vehicles, as well as from the front of the vehicle, depends on the position of the projector (1 ). This module is made of a special transparent plastic which can act as a projector screen, with varying degrees of color depends on the request (e.g. translucent white, light gray to dark gray or other colors). An auto focus sensor (27) is placed at the receiver module to assist the projector unit to automatically focus the message. Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the alternative installation of this communication device in a vehicle. The placement, installation and setting up of the device depend on the model and type of vehicle.

Detail Description of the Invention

Furthermore, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings that are included within the document. With reference to Figure 1 , it can be described the operation of the invention as a whole. The user switches on application / program module (that have been installed in the special device, provided with touch screen, trackpad / trackball, and / or keypad) via a button program (19). Then input messages in the form of text, image, and / or video that will be displayed at the receiver module (26). The user can use the touch screen (16) and / or keypad (17) in carrying out the process. The user can select the receiver module (26) using track-pad / trackball (18) or touch screen (16). The setting of the pre-set receiver module is done during installation of devices in the vehicle. In addition to using special device referred above, the application / program module can also be installed on a smartphone (with IOS, Android, BB, and other operating system) as well as a tablet or IPad.

The message to be displayed is then transmitted via data cable (8) and (9) or through WIFI or blue-tooth to the control / main board unit (11) on the projector module (25). The messages can also be transmitted through vehicle multi-media that have been connected with the application / program module. Then based on the command from the user received by the control / main board unit (1 ) (on selected screen as a pre-set), control / main board unit (1 ) direct the projector unit (1 ) to the receiver module (26) at the selected vehicle windshield. In the process of directing the projector unit (1 ) to the selected receiver module (26), the control / main board unit (1 1 ) will run the sliding motor (5) to rotate the wheel (6) on the projector rail (7) so that the position of the projector unit corresponds to the receiver module (26). The control / main board unit (1 1 ) will also operate the pan and tilt motors (not shown in the drawings) to rotate the horizontal (4) and vertical axis (3), and adjust the tilting gear (2) so that the projector unit is in the best position in front of the receiver module (26).

With reference to Figure 2, as part of the present invention, is an application / program module (24) which is a special device as mentioned above with a minimum of 2GB of memory capacity, and can be added using the memory card (22). However, application and program of application / program module can be installed on a smartphone (with IOS, Android, BB, and other operating system) as well as a tablet or an iPad, which uses a touch screen. The application / program module is switched on and off by using the button (19), the application appears on the touch screen (16) which can be operated by finger touch or with keypad (17) and / or track-pad (18). The message in the form of text can be prepared using the touch screen (16) and the keypad (18). The image and video messages may be uploaded via the USB slot (21 ) or the memory card / micro SD slot (22). To select the receiver module (26) and the sequence of the receiver module (26), if desired (e.g. vehicle rear windshield R, then the rear right windshield - RH2, then rear left windshield - LH2, and so on), can be performed by selecting a pre-set box of receiver module (26) and its order of appearance, using the touch screen (16), or by using the track-pad (18) on the application.

Message in the form of text and / or image can be zoomed in or zoomed out using the application / program module (24) touch screen (16) if necessary. If necessary, application / program module (24) can display reversed text on the receiver module (26) for front windshield of the vehicle. When the message is ready to be displayed, the data will be transmitted to the projector module through WIFI or blue-tooth (12) that is built into the application / program module (24), or through the data cable (23). The data cable (23) is also used as a charger for the lithium batteries used in the application / program module (24).

Setting of the sound can be done by adjusting the knob (20) or touch screen (16) on the application / program module (24), before and during the display of the image or video at the receiver module (26). By doing sound settings, the application / program module (24) will connect to the vehicle multi-media through cable data or other connections such as WIFI or blue- tooth.

When 2 (two) projector modules are installed for the front and rear of the vehicle separately, because of the requirement and or due to special design of the vehicle, the user can select one of the projector modules (25) that will be used using the touch screen (16) and key (19). With the choice, the application / program module (24) will refer to the selected projector module (25). The first projector module (25) is marked with an indicator light ( 9A), and the second projector module (25) is marked with an indicator light (19B). Both projector modules can be used in sequence if necessary (19C). The synchronization between both projector modules is done by using data cable or other connections such as WIFI or blue-tooth. With reference to figure 3, 4, 5, and 6 as part of the present invention, is a projector module (25) which consists of 4 (four) units, namely: the connection unit via data cable (8, 9), WIFI or blue-tooth (12); control / main board unit (11 ); mounting unit (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7); and projector unit (1 ). After receiving a command from the application / program module (24) via connection unit through data cable (8, 9), WIFI or blue-tooth (12), the control / main board unit (11 ) will adjust mounting unit by sliding (6, 7), rotating horizontally (4), lifting up and down vertically (3) and tilting the slope (2) to adjust the projector unit (1 ) to be in the right position to project the message on the receiver module (26). If the command from the user is to display messages sequentially on the receiver modules (26) at the different vehicle windshields, the control / main board unit will subsequently adjust the mounting unit position by sliding (6, 7), rotating horizontally (4), lifting vertically (3) and tilting to slope (2) in accordance with the position of the receiver module (26) in sequence. Based on the command from the control / main board (1 1), the projector (1 ) will project text, images and / or video to the receiver module (26) after automatically focusing it by reading the automatic sensor (27) on the receiver module (26). The control / main board unit (11) based on the command of the application / program module (24) will transmit the message that is already zoomed in or zoomed out to a receiver module (26).

With reference to Figure 7 as part of the present invention, is a receiver module (26), in which the module is made of transparent plastic, with few color variations, that can be used as a projector screen to display messages in the form of text, image, and / or video that can be seen from the outside of the vehicle. A focus sensor (27) is placed at the receiver module (26) that helps the projector module (25) to focus the message at the receiver module (26). Receiver module (26) is placed on all vehicle windshields to be able to display the message.

With reference to the figure 8 as part of the present invention, is an alternative installation scheme within the vehicle interior. The installation scheme (position and place) depends on the type and model of the vehicle. In this case, it is shown using one projector module (25). In this example, the projector module (25) is placed on the vehicle ceiling that set up the projector unit (1 ) facing toward the rear of the vehicle (R). The projector module (25) in this case is connected to the application / program module (24) via WIFI connection (12). The power requirement of the projector module is obtained from the vehicle battery through a fuse box. The application / program module can use its own battery or connected to the power through cigarette lighter outlet available in the vehicle. The connection with the cigarette lighter outlet is also intended for communicating to multi-media of the vehicle, if required. The receiver module (26) with focus sensor (27) is placed at the windshields of the vehicle that will be used to display the message. Figure 8 also shows an example of a text message that can be displayed on the rear windshield of a vehicle (R).

Claims

Claim:

Method of displaying text, image, and / or video using the an application which is installed in a special device with touch screen, track-pad / trackball, and or keypad or installed in smartphone (with IOS, Android, BB, and other operating system) or installed in a tablet or iPad, through projecting to the windshield of a vehicle as a means of communication / information of the vehicle to other parties or other vehicles;

Diagram of the vehicle information system that consists of application / program module, projector module and receiver module on the vehicle windshields;

Application / program module defined in claim 2, installed in a special device with a touch screen, track-pad/ trackball, and / or keypad;

Application / program module defined in claim 3, is compatible and can be installed on a smartphone (with IOS, Android, BB, and other operating system) and a tablet or IPad;

Application / program module defined in claim 2, 3 and 4, which controls the display of message or information in the form of text, image, and / or video and control the message display format on the receiver module in the normal position and reversed text;

6. Application / program module defined in claim 2, 3 and 4, sets up to 0 pre-set messages or information with the related windshield to display the information;

7. Application / program module defined claim 2, 3 and 4, which functions to upload a video from other sources through USB, memory card, and to receive file transfer from other media / devices via data cable connection, WIFI or Blue-tooth;

8. Application / program module defined in claim 2, 3 and 4, which sets the zoom in and zoom out of the display on the receiver module;

9. Application / program module defined in claim 2, 3 and 4, which sets the direction of the projector unit toward the selected receiver module by adjusting the mounting through the control / main board unit, either to the individual selected receiver module, or in sequence among the selected receiver modules;

10. Application / program module defined in claim 2, 3 and 4, can be connected with the multi-media of the vehicle, to perform some of the functions of the application / program module;

11. Application / program module defined in claim 2, 3 and 4, which regulates and resonates sound through the vehicle's multi-media;

12. Application / program module defined in claim 2, 3 and 4, which regulates and selects the projector module to be used, either individually or together at the same time, and or in sequence, if 2 (two) or more projector modules are installed on a vehicle;

13. The projector module defined in claim 2, installed in a vehicle, in the number and position of installation depending on the need, the type and the model of the vehicle;

14. The projector module defined in claim 13, which is consisted of (i) connection unit data cable, WIFI, or blue-tooth, (ii) control / main board unit, (iii) mounting unit, and (iv) projector unit;

15. Control / main board unit on the projector module defined in claim 14, which controls the movement of the mounting unit in accordance with the command from application / program module, to the direction of the receiver module;

16. Control / main board unit on the projector module defined in claim 14, which function to place the projector unit in the right position against the receiver module by sliding, raising up, lowering down, rotating horizontally and or tilting the projector unit;

17. Control / main board unit on the projector module defined in claim 14, which controls the auto focus projector unit;

18. Mounting unit of the projector module defined in claim 14, which is mounted in a vehicle as a mounting of the projector unit and to adjust the position of the projector unit against the receiver module;

The receiver module defined in claim 2, which is placed on t vehicle windshield act as a screen to display text, images, and / video;

The receiver module defined in claim 19, which has the auto focus sensor.