Display Health Check System for Digital License Plates

Abstract

The digital license plate includes a display system capable of showing a first image and a power rail connected to the display system. A display controller has a data connection to the display system and is arranged to measure at least one of a power consumption and an impedance of the power rail. The display controller is further configured to prevent transmission of a second image to the display system if a display fault is indicated by the measured power consumption or impedance falling below a defined threshold.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to exterior displays mounted on vehicles, and more particularly to digital license plates having displays that are monitored for damage or errors. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditional engraved license plates for vehicles have long been used, despite the difficulty of updating the license number and the vulnerability to theft or tampering. Instead of engraved license plates, dynamic displays presenting vehicle identification and registration information may be placed on the exterior of the vehicle. For example, U.S. Patent 9,007,193 and published U.S. patent application US20130006775, both assigned to ReviverMX, describe dynamic displays that improve the renewability of vehicle identification and registration information through the use of digital license plates.

[0003] However, digital systems with dynamic displays operate under adverse conditions that can damage the display functionality, including vehicle crashes, vibration, dust or impacted gravel, and cold and extreme heat conditions that can damage or render the display unable to render. A system and method for detecting license number display failures is needed. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The digital license plate includes a display system capable of showing a first image and a power rail connected to the display system. A display controller has a data connection to the display system and is arranged to measure at least one of a power consumption and an impedance of the power rail. The display controller is further configured to prevent transmission of a second image to the display system if a display fault is indicated by the measured power consumption or impedance falling below a defined threshold.

[0005] In another embodiment, a method for operating a digital license plate includes the steps of displaying a first image and measuring at least one of power consumption and impedance of a power rail, wherein in the event of a display malfunction or error, a second image is prevented from being transmitted to the display system if a fault in the display is indicated by the measured power consumption or impedance falling below a defined threshold.

[0006] In some embodiments, the display failures are counted. A real-time clock may be used to correlate the impact with time as measured by the inertial measurement unit. The display failures and the impact-related data and time may be wirelessly communicated to a user or the cloud. In some embodiments, the first image is displayed on a bi-stable display and typically includes a license plate number.

[0007] In another embodiment, a method of operating a digital license plate includes receiving a request for a display update to a display and measuring at least one of a power consumption and an impedance of a power rail connected to the display. If a display failure occurs, as indicated by the measured power consumption or impedance falling below a defined threshold, the requested display update is aborted, allowing a first image of the license plate number to persist. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present disclosure are described with reference to the following figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

[0009] [Figure 1] An embodiment of a digital license plate system will now be described. [Figure 2] Explain various systems within the digital license plate system. [Figure 3]The operation of the digital license plate system will now be described. [Figure 4] Two views of the bezel are shown. [Figure 5] An alternative digital license plate system is described. [Figure 6] A bi-stable display component is described. [Figure 7] Describe the arrangement of multiple displays on a vehicle. [Figure 8] Multiple sub-displays are described. [Figure 9] Several types of displays are described. [Figure 10] An embodiment of a digital license plate with a display obstruction system is described. [Figure 11] One method for operating a display impairment system is described. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] 1 illustrates one embodiment of a digital license plate system 11 that presents vehicle identification and registration information and supports a dynamic display that may be located on the exterior of a vehicle 10. System 10 includes a display system 100 for use on the exterior of a vehicle, including a display 110, a vehicle speed sensor 120, and a processor 130 coupled to vehicle speed sensor 120. Processor 130 is configured to implement one of three operating modes of display system 100 based on the speed and state of the vehicle: a first operating mode in which first content including vehicle 10 identification information and / or vehicle 10 registration information is rendered on display 110 at a first power consumption level; a second operating mode in which second content including a message, vehicle 10 identification information, and / or vehicle 10 registration information is rendered on display 110; or a third operating mode in which content is rendered on display 110 at a second power consumption level that is lower than the first power consumption level. Display system 100 preferably also includes a communication device 140 that enables content (e.g., updated identification information, registration information, and / or messages) to be transferred to and from display system 100. Display system 100 may also include a location sensor 160, such as a global positioning system (GPS) device, a cellular tower location triangulation device, or any other suitable location sensor that determines the location of vehicle 10 on which display 110 is located. Location sensor 160 may provide a substantially rough location or a substantially precise location of the vehicle. Display system 100 may also include a storage device 150 that functions to store content, and processor 130 may retrieve content from storage device 150 and render it on display 110. Display system 100 may further include a sensor that determines the proximity of vehicle 10 to a second vehicle.

[0011] The digital license plate system 11 is preferably used on registered vehicles, such as private cars, trucks, motorcycles, rental cars, company-owned vehicles, or any other suitable type of vehicle. The display system 100 preferably functions to render identification and / or registration information for the vehicle 10, as provided by an official agency, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The processor 120 preferably renders the identification and / or registration information for the vehicle 10 on the display 110 in accordance with state vehicle codes, including the size and dimensions of the display area, the content, size, and text style of the information, and the visibility and reflectivity of the display 110. The processor 120 preferably renders content on the display 110 in accordance with the state vehicle code of the state in which the vehicle 10 is registered, or, in embodiments of the invention incorporating a location sensor (such as a GPS device), the processor 120 may render content on the display 110 in accordance with the state vehicle code of the state in which the vehicle is located. The display system 100 preferably functions to display a message in addition to the vehicle identification and / or registration information. The messages are preferably provided by advertisers, e.g., advertisers that are substantially unrelated to the user. The subject matter of the advertisements provided by the advertisers may be substantially unrelated to the driver and / or owner of the vehicle 10, and the advertisements may be substantially unrelated to the vehicle 10. Alternatively, the advertisements may be related to the demographic to which the driver and / or owner of the vehicle 10 belongs, or any other suitable characteristic of the driver and / or owner of the vehicle 10. The advertisements may also be selectable by the driver and / or owner of the vehicle 10, for example, via the Internet on a personal computer, via the Internet on an Internet-enabled mobile phone, or via any other suitable method. The advertisements may also be substantially related to the vehicle 10, e.g., a display system on a Porsche may display advertisements targeted to a demographic with a brand affinity for Porsche. The advertisements may also be substantially related to the location of the vehicle 10, e.g., a venue advertisement may be shown if the vehicle 10 is traveling near a venue.Alternatively, the message may be provided by law enforcement and may be, for example, an emergency broadcast regarding a missing person (e.g., an Amber or Elder Alert). Additionally, if the vehicle 10 has been reported stolen, the message may indicate that the vehicle 10 has been stolen, thus allowing parties outside the vehicle to identify the vehicle 10 as such.

[0012] Alternatively, the message may be any suitable type of message and may be controlled by any suitable party, such as a public agency (e.g., DMV), the driver of vehicle 10, the owner of vehicle 10, a third party unrelated to vehicle 10, or any other suitable party. In a first example, the message may include additional details related to vehicle 10, including the model of vehicle 10, smog check results for vehicle 10, maintenance issues for vehicle 10, or any other suitable type of information related to vehicle 10. In a second example, the message may include details related to the driver of vehicle 10, including an organization the driver supports or belongs to (e.g., the Girl Scouts, the San Francisco Giants baseball team, or a political party), a cause the driver supports (e.g., People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) or Cancer Awareness), demographics of the driver, or any other suitable type of information related to the driver. In this second example, the message may also include official details about the driver; for example, the message may indicate that the driver is a doctor or law enforcement officer, allowing people outside the vehicle 10 to direct a request to the driver if they need the driver's services. The official details may also include details about the driver's driving history; for example, if the driver has an incomplete driving record, a notice may be rendered on the display to alert others near the vehicle. In a third example, the message may include a notice for drivers near the vehicle 10, such as a traffic update or weather forecast. In a fourth example, the message may include details about the vehicle's owner. This may be particularly useful if the vehicle 10 is a member of a fleet, such as a car rental agency, a mobile truck rental agency, a government fleet, or any other suitable type of fleet. The fourth example message may indicate which fleet of vehicles the vehicle 10 belongs to, and this information may be used to identify the vehicle, to advertise for the fleet of vehicles (e.g., if the vehicle 10 belongs to a rental car agency, the message may include advertising or a message for that particular rental car agency), or any other suitable purpose. However, the message may be any other suitable type of message.

[0013] The display system 100 is preferably powered by a power source. The power source is preferably the vehicle's 10 power source, such as an accessory battery of the vehicle 10, the vehicle's 10 engine, or any other suitable power source of the vehicle 10. Alternatively, the display system 100 may include and be powered by a power source substantially independent of the vehicle's 10 power source. The power source of the display system 100 is preferably a battery, but may alternatively be a solar panel, a wind turbine, or any other suitable type of power source or combination of power sources. Further alternatively, the display system 100 may include a power source coupled to the vehicle's 10 power source that is rechargeable and stores power from the vehicle 10 while the vehicle 10 is operating and / or while the vehicle 10 ignition is on. In this variation, the power source of the display system 100 allows the display system 100 to later use power generated during vehicle operation. However, the display system 100 may be powered using any other method and / or configuration.

[0014] The display 110 functions to display content, which includes at least one of identification information for the vehicle 10, registration information for the vehicle 10, and a message. The display 110 is operated by the processor 130 in one of three operating modes. The display 110 is preferably a substantially low-power display, such as an LED display, an LCD display, an electronic ink display, an organic LED display, an interferometric modulator display (iMoD), a display using electrophoretic deposition (EPD), a cholesteric liquid crystal display (ChLCD), or any other suitable display. The display 110 may alternatively be a combination of the above display types. The display 110 also preferably has a substantially wide viewing angle. The display 110 is also preferably substantially thin, allowing the display 110 to replace an existing license plate on the rear and / or front exterior of a vehicle. Similarly, the display 110 preferably has a width, height, and / or aspect ratio substantially similar to that of the existing license plate. Alternatively, display 110 may be substantially different from existing license plates (e.g., for the relatively narrow height of European license plates, display 110 may be of a substantially different height), however, display 110 may be of any other suitable dimensions.

[0015] The display 110 may also include a backlight. The backlight functions to control the light intensity of information displayed by the display 110. The backlight preferably includes multiple levels of light intensity. The processor 130 may select the level of light intensity based on the operating mode. The processor 130 may also select the level of light intensity based on the ambient light level proximate the display 110. For example, the level of light intensity may be higher during the day and lower at night. In this variation, the display system 100 also includes a light sensor that detects the ambient light level. The level of light intensity of the display system 100 may also be selected based on the preferences of a driver, law enforcement officer, or any other appropriate party. However, the level of light intensity of the display system 100 may be selected based on any other suitable criteria. The backlight may be a set of lights positioned substantially around the display 110 and directed toward the display 110. Alternatively, the backlight may be positioned substantially behind the display 110 and provide light from behind the display 110. However, the backlight may be of any other suitable configuration. The backlight can be a series of low-power light sources, such as LEDs, but alternatively can be any other type of light source. Alternatively, the display can include a light-reflecting surface that functions to illuminate the display 110 with reflected light. The light-reflecting surface can be a mirror or any other suitable type of reflective material. The light-reflecting surface can also be of a retroreflective material that reflects light back toward the light source. The light-reflecting surface can also be combined with a light source to more effectively illuminate the display 110, for example, a transflective material used in highway signs. However, any other suitable material or method can be used to illuminate the display.

[0016] The vehicle speed sensor 120 functions to detect the speed of the vehicle 10. The vehicle speed sensor 120 is preferably a sensor that measures the actual speed and / or acceleration of the vehicle 10, such as an accelerometer coupled to the vehicle 10 or a tachometer coupled to the drivetrain of the vehicle 10 and measuring the number of rotations of a drivetrain component, such as a wheel, over a period of time to determine the speed of the vehicle 10. In a second variation, the vehicle speed sensor 120 is coupled to the speedometer of the vehicle 10 and / or an onboard computer of the vehicle 10. In this configuration, the speed sensor 120 does not directly measure the vehicle speed, but rather functions to transmit information collected by the speedometer and / or onboard computer to the processor 130. However, the vehicle speed sensor 120 may be any other suitable type of sensor that determines the actual speed and / or acceleration of the vehicle 10. Alternatively, the vehicle speed sensor 120 may be a sensor that measures the relative speed and / or acceleration of the vehicle, such as an ultrasonic sensor or an infrared sensor that determines the speed of the vehicle relative to another object. The other object may be a stationary portion of the road or a nearby vehicle. However, the vehicle speed sensor 120 may use any other suitable method or sensor type to determine the speed of the vehicle 10 .

[0017] The processor 130 is operative to render content on the display 110 based on an operational mode of the display system 100: a first mode in which first content including identification information and / or registration information of the vehicle 10 is rendered on the display at a first power consumption level; a second mode in which second content including a message and possibly including identification information and / or registration information of the vehicle 10 is rendered on the display 110; and a third mode in which content is rendered on the display 110 at a second power consumption level lower than the first power consumption level. Preferably, the content rendered in the third operational mode includes the identification and registration information of the vehicle 10. In a variation of the display system 100, the content rendered in the third operational mode includes a message in addition to the identification and / or registration information of the vehicle 10. However, the content rendered on the display 110 in the third operational mode may include any other information or message, or any combination thereof.

[0018] The processor 130 is preferably coupled to the vehicle speed sensor 120. As described above, the speed determined by the vehicle speed sensor 120 may be the actual speed of the vehicle 10, or alternatively, the speed of the vehicle 10 relative to another object (e.g., a nearby vehicle). The processor 130 preferably selects the operational mode of the display system 100 based on the speed and power status of the vehicle 10. However, a device other than the processor may select the operational mode of the display system 100, such as an on-board computer of the vehicle 10, a law enforcement officer, a second processor connected to a remote server, or any other suitable device or agency. The processor preferably operates the display 110 in the first and second operational modes when the vehicle 10 is on, and the processor preferably operates the display 110 in the third operational mode when the vehicle 10 is off. The vehicle 10 is preferably considered “on” when the driver turns on any part of the vehicle 10. Many automobiles have multiple “on” states, e.g., a first “on” state in which basic functions such as opening and closing windows are enabled, a second “on” state in which more advanced and / or higher-power functions such as a ventilation system or sound system are enabled, and a third “on” state in which the vehicle may be driven (or, in other words, the ignition is turned on). The vehicle 10 may otherwise be considered “off.” In the “off” state, certain parts of the vehicle may remain “on,” such as security sensors, key proximity sensors (such as keyless entry), or any other type of substantially low-power functionality. Alternatively, the vehicle 10 may be considered “on” when the ignition is on and “off” when the ignition is off, regardless of any other functionality the vehicle may provide to the driver. Alternatively, the vehicle 10 may be considered “on” when the presence of a person is detected within the vehicle and “off” when no one is within the vehicle. The vehicle 10 may also be considered off if the emergency brake or transmission parking brake of the vehicle 10 is applied, regardless of the state of the ignition or the presence of any person in the vehicle 10. However, a vehicle may be considered "on" and "off" using any other suitable criteria.The processor 130 preferably operates the display 110 in a first mode of operation when the vehicle 10 is at a first speed and in a second mode of operation when the vehicle 10 is at a second speed that is slower than the first speed. The second speed is preferably substantially zero speed or substantially close to zero speed. This allows the identification and / or registration information of the vehicle 10 to be substantially visible while the vehicle 10 is moving (first speed), as shown in FIG. 1 . This allows any party outside the vehicle 10 to visually access the information rendered on the display 110 in a manner similar to the manner used to visually access information on a static (or engraved) license plate. In one variation, the processor 130 operates the display 110 in a second mode of operation and renders second content on the display 110 when the vehicle 10 is on and at a second speed, which is preferably zero speed or a substantially slow speed, such as when the vehicle is moving slowly in heavy traffic. Because the message rendered in the second mode occupies a portion of the display's display area, the similarly rendered identification and / or registration information may consume a smaller portion of the display area in the second mode of operation compared to the first mode of operation. If the message is displayed simultaneously with information about the vehicle 10, because the identification and registration information is rendered in a smaller size on the display 110, the visibility of the identification and registration information may be lower in the second mode of operation than in the first mode of operation. Alternatively, the identification and / or registration information rendered on the display 110 in the second mode of operation may be of the same or similar format (e.g., size and layout) as in the first mode, but the message may be rendered on the display such that it overlaps the identification and / or registration information. This may also result in reduced visibility of the identification and / or registration information of the vehicle 10.Thus, the visibility of the identification and / or registration information is not diminished when the vehicle 10 is moving at a significant speed because the message may only be displayed under those conditions, such as when the vehicle is stopped or nearly stopped, but the additional functionality of displaying the message when the vehicle is at a second speed remains. Also, the message may pose an unnecessary distraction to parties outside the vehicle 10 while the vehicle 10 is moving; therefore, displaying the message only when the vehicle is stopped or nearly stopped may significantly reduce the likelihood of distraction. However, the processor 130 may instead operate the display 110 in the first and second operating modes at any other suitable speed configuration. In this variation, the display system 100 may improve the readability of the information to parties outside the vehicle 10 by horizontally mirroring content rendered on the display 110 when the display 110 is mounted on the front exterior of the vehicle 10; in this variation, the content rendered on the display may be read in the correct orientation by a party viewing the display 110 in the rearview or side mirror of a second vehicle located in front of the vehicle 10. However, the processor may render content on the display 110 by any other means or configuration that reduces distractions caused by the display 110 and improves the readability of the displayed content.

[0019] As described above, processor 130 preferably functions to operate display 110 in a third operating mode when vehicle 10 is off. The third operating mode preferably displays the identification and registration information of vehicle 10 at a second, lower power consumption level that is lower than the first power consumption level. In this variation, a message is rendered on display 110 in addition to the identification and registration information of vehicle 10, although any one or combination of the message, the identification information of vehicle 10, the registration information of vehicle 10, or any other information may be rendered on display 110 when in the third operating mode. When vehicle 10 is off, the power available to display system 100 may be less than when the vehicle is on. For example, in a variation in which display system 100 derives power from the vehicle's 10 power source, display system 100 may utilize energy stored from another period when the vehicle was on. Thus, by operating display 110 at a lower power consumption level in the third operating mode than in the first and / or second operating modes while the vehicle is off and there is a limited power supply, the length of time that content can be rendered on display 110 can be increased for a given amount of energy available to display system 100.

[0020] Operation of the display 110 in the third operating mode may reduce power consumption of the display system 100 in various configurations. In a first variation, the display 110 may be turned off at a first time and turned on at a second time. The display 110 may be timed to cycle on and off at specific time intervals, e.g., every five minutes. The driver, owner, or any other suitable party may adjust the intervals. This allows the display 110 to be turned off for some time and on for other time periods. The length of time the display 110 is turned off is preferably substantially longer than the length of time the display 110 is turned on, substantially reducing the power consumption of the display 110. In a further variation, when in the third operating mode, content may be rendered on the display 110 in a color that requires less power to display compared to when operating in the first operating mode. However, the processor may operate the display 110 by any other means that reduces the power consumption of the display 110 when in the third operating mode compared to the first operating mode. Additionally, processor 130 may reduce its power consumption level when in the third operating mode by, for example, slowing down its clock speed, shutting down auxiliary functions such as transmitting data to and / or receiving data from communication device 140, or any other method for reducing processor 130's power consumption. When processor 130 operates the display in the third operating mode, the light intensity of display 110 may be substantially the same as the light intensity in the first and / or second operating modes. Alternatively, because vehicle 10 is presumed to be stationary when off (a possible exception to this presumption would be if vehicle 10 were being towed), and the party to whom the message and / or identification and / or registration information is shown is substantially proximate to vehicle 10, the light intensity of display 110 may be substantially lower in the third operating mode than in the first and / or second operating modes. However, any other suitable light intensity may be used in the third operating mode.

[0021] In a second variation, the display may be continuously on when operating in the third mode of operation, but at a substantially lower light intensity than in the first and / or second modes of operation. In a first example, the backlight of display 110 may be at its lowest light intensity in the third mode. In a second example, in a variation of display 110 that is electronic ink, the backlight of display 110 may be turned off, leaving only the electronic ink visible, which is bistable and does not require additional power to maintain. The method and configuration for reducing power consumption of display 110 in the third mode of operation is preferably one of the above two variations, but may instead be a combination of the above variations or any other suitable method or configuration.

[0022] Processor 130 may instead operate display 110 in a fourth mode of operation. The fourth mode may be determined by communication through communication device 140. In a first example, communication device 140 may communicate with law enforcement, indicating to processor 130 that vehicle 10 has been stolen. Processor 130 may then operate display 110 in the fourth mode of operation in which a notice that vehicle 10 is a stolen vehicle is rendered on display 110. However, the fourth mode may instead be of any other suitable type and may be activated by any other suitable method.

[0023] Communication device 140 functions to enable content, information, and / or data to be transferred to and from display system 100. Communication may occur with a public authority (such as a DMV office or law enforcement agency), a content database, a vehicle driver, a vehicle owner, or any other appropriate party. The communication device may transmit and / or receive vehicle identification and / or registration information, vehicle maintenance information, driver information, vehicle location information (e.g., in display system 100 variations that include a GPS location device or access GPS location services), information regarding updated advertisements, or any other suitable type of information. Communication device 140 is preferably of a wireless communication type, such as a wireless communication type that communicates with a cell phone tower, a Wi-Fi hub, or any other suitable type of wireless communication. However, communication device 140 may also be a wired communication device. In this variation, updated information is transferred when display system 100 is “plugged in” to an update device, such as a maintenance facility, a DMV office, or other suitable location with wireless communication capabilities, or a computer in another vehicle and / or display system 100. Communications device 140 may also include a communications processor operative to interpret communications to and / or from display system 100. The communications processor is preferably separate from processor 130, but may alternatively be processor 130. The communications processor may be operative to encrypt and / or decrypt communications to and / or from display system 100. The encryption / decryption may be any one of a variety of authentication and encryption schemes. For example, encryption protocols such as Diffie-Hellman key exchange, Wireless Transport Layer Security (WTLS), or any other suitable type of protocol. The communications processor also operative to encrypt data to encryption standards such as Data Encryption Standard (DES), Triple Data Encryption Standard (3-DES), or Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). However, communications device 140 may enable any other suitable type of communication and may be of any other suitable configuration.

[0024] Communication device 140 may receive content, information, and / or data from a content database. Preferably, the content database is located substantially remotely from processor 130. The content database may also include content provided by institutions, such as advertisers, schools, record companies, or sports teams or venues, with the content provided by institutions preferably including advertisements. Alternatively, the content database may include content provided by drivers and / or owners of vehicle 10, such as a message written by the owner of vehicle 10 to congratulate his or her child on his or her high school graduation. However, any other suitable party may provide content to the content database, and the content database may include a combination of advertisements from one or more institutions and personal messages from one or more individuals. In a first example, content on the content database is accessed by processor 130 via communication device 140 and stored on storage device 150. Preferably, storage device 150 is located substantially near display 110, such as within vehicle 10 or within an enclosure containing display 110, although storage device 150 may be located remotely from vehicle 10, such as on a hard drive connected to a remote server. In a second example, content on the content database is accessed in real time via communication device 140 and subsequently rendered on display 110, thereby bypassing storage of the content on storage device 150. However, content from a remote message database may be accessed by any other means before being rendered on display 110. In a third example, the storage device also functions as a content database, and content from at least one institution or individual, such as those listed above, may be stored on the storage device and selected by the driver and / or owner of vehicle 10 to be rendered on display 110.In this variation, storage device 150 of display system 100, which also functions as a content database, may be accessed by a second display system separate from display system 100, such as a display system located on a second vehicle. However, any other suitable party may select content from the content database to be rendered on display 110. Furthermore, content on the content database may be selected, accessed, and / or modified by the driver and / or owner of vehicle 10, or any other suitable party, via an interface. Preferably, the interface is internet-based and accessible via a web browser, for example, on a mobile smartphone or computer. In a first example, the driver and / or owner of vehicle 10 may access the interface with an internet-enabled mobile phone, subsequently log in to the content database, and select the content (e.g., a San Francisco Giants baseball banner) they desire to render on display 110. In a second example, the content database stores vehicle registration information, and when the registration of vehicle 10 is updated, a DMV representative may access the content database via a computer with the interface and subsequently update the registration information for vehicle 10 on the content database, and communication device 140 may then retrieve the updated registration information from the content database, and the registration information subsequently rendered on display 110 may reflect the update. Alternatively, the interface may be a handheld device that is hardwired or physically "plugged in" to display system 100. In this variation, the interface may or may not be removable from display system 100.Furthermore, the interface may not be coupled to a content database via communication device 140, but instead may provide only the driver and / or owner of vehicle 10, or any other appropriate party, with access to content already located on display system 100, such as on storage device 150 located substantially proximate to display 110. For example, a law enforcement officer, upon stopping the driver of vehicle 10 for a traffic violation, may connect a device with an interface to display system 100 located on vehicle 10, with the interface providing access to current identification and / or registration information for vehicle 10. However, the interface may permit access to any content contained within any other device coupled to display 110 by any other means.

[0025] Communication device 140 may transmit data regarding the rendering of particular content on display 110. Preferably, the content rendered on display 110 includes an advertisement, and communication device 140 transmits data regarding the rendering of the advertisement on display 110. This data may include, for example, the length of time the advertisement was displayed, the time it was displayed, and the location where it was displayed. Alternatively, this data may be collected and / or stored by processor 130, although it may be collected and stored by any other device or means. Preferably, this information is used to determine the size or type of reward to be given to the driver and / or owner of vehicle 10. In a first example, if an advertisement for tickets to a baseball game featuring a given team is rendered on display 110, the driver and / or owner of vehicle 10 may receive a monetary reward depending on the length of time the advertisement was rendered on display 110, or the owner and / or driver of vehicle 10 may receive one or more tickets to a baseball game featuring this team in exchange for displaying the advertisement in an area with relatively low attendance at baseball games. However, any other method may be used to provide any other type of reward to the driver and / or owner of the vehicle 10 in exchange for rendering content on the display 110.

[0026] The sensor for determining the proximity of vehicle 10 to a second vehicle functions to direct processor 120 to modify the content rendered on display 110. Processor 120 preferably renders a message, such as an advertisement, on display 110 when the second vehicle is substantially approaching vehicle 10 (e.g., in the second mode), and processor 120 preferably renders identification and registration information of vehicle 10 on display 110 when the sensor detects that the second vehicle is not substantially approaching vehicle 10 (e.g., in the first mode or the third mode). The sensor may be a RADAR detector, a LIDAR detector, an IR transmitter-photoresistor pair, a camera, or any other suitable device configured to detect the proximity of vehicle 10 to a second vehicle. In embodiments of the sensor that is a camera, the camera may be configured to detect identification information of the second vehicle (e.g., the license plate number of the second vehicle), which may be used to determine the owner of the second vehicle and obtain information about the owner of the second vehicle. Processor 120 may subsequently modify the content rendered on display 110 based on the demographics of the owner of the second vehicle, such as by displaying an advertisement for discount prescription drugs if the owner of the second vehicle is determined to be at least 60 years old, by displaying an advertisement for a women's clothing store if the owner of the second vehicle is determined to be female, or by displaying driver information if the second vehicle is determined to be owned or used by law enforcement. In this example, the identification information of the second vehicle may be transmitted to a database of vehicle identification information, which returns information about the owner of the second vehicle 10, such as age, ethnicity, or gender, the database may be maintained by an entity such as the DMV or the American Automobile Association (AAA). Alternatively, the camera may be configured to directly determine the demographics of the driver of the second vehicle (e.g., by using facial recognition software to match drivers to a particular ethnicity) or the driver's response to messages rendered on display 120.In the latter example, the response of the driver of the second vehicle may be used to select an alternative message that may generate a more favorable response if the initial response is negative, or to select a similar message if the initial response is positive. Additionally, in embodiments where the sensor is a camera, the camera may be used to measure ambient light levels substantially proximate to vehicle 10 so that content may be rendered on the display at appropriate light levels; for example, if the camera determines high levels of sunlight near vehicle 10, the brightness of the display may be increased. However, the sensor may detect any other information related to the second vehicle and may direct the processor to modify the content rendered on the display based on any other variables.

[0027] 2 illustrates various systems, subsystems, or modules that may be incorporated into digital license plate system 200, along with potential interaction agents such as vehicle systems 218, vehicle occupants, or third-party human or automated systems 220. In this illustration, digital license plate 202 may be mounted on a vehicle. Systems within the digital license plate may include, but are not limited to, power system 204, thermal control system 206, and sensor system 208. Electronic security system 210 restricts unauthorized access to data recorded and distributed via data logging and interface system 212 or any communications received or transmitted through communication system 214. Received data may be used to determine or update information presented by display 216.

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates how one embodiment of a digital license plate system operates. After initial setup 302 to register and link the digital license plate to a particular vehicle, the digital license plate may be prepared for initialization 304 upon vehicle startup (or, alternatively, upon vehicle shutdown), which may use timers or sensors to help identify the digital license plate's context, location, or display preset. Data upload / download may be initiated, and any firmware / software updates may be completed. In normal operation, changes 306 to the display may occur in response to sensed data 308 from a data storage or analysis system 310 or as a result of external communication and data transfer 312. Similarly, sensed or stored data may be transmitted or received, and sensors may be activated or deactivated or sensor data may be analyzed based on internal triggers or externally received data. When the vehicle is shut down, or in response to timing or other suitable triggers, data may be returned (via line 314) to the initialization step 304.

[0029] Figure 4 depicts two views 400 of a bezel illustrating the cooling fins. View 400 of Figure 4 shows bezel 402, which acts as a frame surrounding digital display 110. 404 is an alternative view of bezel 402, showing a set of cooling fins 406. Cooling fins 406 function to dissipate heat from digital display 110, thereby helping to reduce the heat rate associated with digital display 110.

[0030] In some embodiments, a thermal conduit may be included as part of the bezel 402, which may be in direct contact with the circuit board components to conduct heat away and may also include some type of heat transfer compound (possibly a gel or paste) to aid in heat conduction. Other embodiments may use thermoelectric cooling (e.g., a Peltier device) to provide active cooling for the display system 110.

[0031] An appropriate thermal control system, such as that briefly discussed with respect to FIG. 2, can also help ensure reliable operation under a range of conditions. As discussed with respect to FIG. 1, the display system 100 may be mounted externally to a vehicle and may be exposed to a range of temperatures. Additionally, the display system 100 generates heat due to power consumption by associated components, such as the display 110. In some conditions, it may be important to prevent the display system 100 from overheating. One strategy for regulating the amount of heat generated is to reduce the brightness of the display 110 according to a detected temperature associated with the display system 100.

[0032] In some embodiments, the digital display 110 may be a bi-stable display. At low operating temperatures, the bi-stable display may need to be externally heated to transition properly. At high operating temperatures, switching may be difficult unless the bi-stable display is maintained below a defined temperature or at least temporarily cooled. Due to differences in operating temperatures between bi-stable displays and LCDs, temperature control may be programmed differently for bi-stable displays and LCDs.

[0033] 5 is an alternative embodiment of a digital license plate system 500 including a display 510 and a display controller 512. The display controller 512 is connected to a flash memory 514 for storing status and image-related data and a power management integrated circuit 516 for controlling and metering power provided to the display 510. The display controller 512 is connected to a master control unit 520 (MCU) for handling various communication, sensing, and control activities of the system 500. Connected modules include the flash memory 522, a GPS 524, a fuel gauge 526, a temperature sensor 540, an inertial measurement unit 543, and a security / anti-theft monitor, sensors, and locks 546. Communications may be provided by an LTE radio system 530 using an associated SIM card 532.

[0034] Figure 6 is a pictorial detail 600 of colored microspheres in an electrophoretic display containing white and black pigment materials. Such bistable displays are publicly available from E Ink Corporation and include microspheres 610 containing transparent oil, positively charged white pigment 612, and negatively charged black pigment 614, as illustrated in Figure 6. Bistable switching of the orientation of the microspheres 610 is enabled by a transparent electrode 620 and an addressable pixel electrode 622.

[0035] Alternative embodiments using only a single pigment material and colored oil are also possible. In these embodiments, the electrophoretic dispersion has one type of charged pigment particles dispersed in a contrasting colored oil or oil mixture. When a voltage difference is created between the transparent electrode 620 and the pixel electrode 622, the pigment particles migrate to the electrode of opposite polarity to the pigment particles. The color shown on the transparent electrode 620 can be either the color of the solvent or the color of the pigment particles. Reversing the polarity of the electrodes will cause the particles to migrate to the opposite pixel electrode 622, thereby reversing the color.

[0036] The performance of such bistable displays may be improved for digital license plates as discussed herein. For example, to improve readability, the white pigment particles may be formed from or associated with a material that reflects infrared light. This improves readability using an infrared-sensitive camera system. In another embodiment, to improve readability in twilight or low light, the white pigment particles may be formed from or associated with a fluorescent or phosphorescent material. In yet other embodiments, the white pigment particles may be formed from or associated with a heat-blocking or heat-absorbing material that reduces or increases temperature to help maintain the bistable display of the digital license plate within operating temperature limits.

[0037] At low operating temperatures, the bi-stable display may need to be heated externally to transition properly. At low temperatures, electronic ink has a higher lower limit of its operating temperature range than LCD, so an external heat source may be required to enable it to transition. Mounted heating elements, heating pipes, batteries, or vehicle-powered heating elements can all be used to maintain or temporarily exceed the minimum display switching temperature when switching is required. The use of a heating element, for example, allows activation of the heater to raise the display above the minimum display switching temperature, followed by deactivation of the heater, which results in the temperature dropping below the minimum display switching temperature. Other components that may be heated besides the bi-stable display may include any associated circuit boards and battery systems.

[0038] In embodiments without an associated heater (or if the heater does not generate enough heat to compensate for the low temperature), the operation of the bi-stable display may be adjusted to compensate. For example, in one embodiment, when the temperature drops near the lower operating temperature limit, the digital license plate may be configured to display only legally required information. Advertising that may interfere with the display of legally required information or dynamic displays that may not switch partially or completely due to the low temperature would not be allowed. In practice, for example, a vehicle maintained in a heated garage could display the full range of visual effects possible with a digital license plate. If the vehicle were moved into a sub-freezing environment, a temperature sensor could provide warning data of a low temperature condition, and the digital license plate would switch to displaying only legally required information or information that does not interfere with the viewing of the legally required information. Similarly, embodiments with active or passive cooling systems may support methods to ensure that the digital license plate switches to displaying only legally required information or information that does not interfere with the viewing of the legally required information before the temperature reaches the maximum display switch temperature.

[0039] The critical temperature varies depending on the display material and type. For example, an electronic ink bi-stable display may have a normal operating temperature range above 0 degrees Celsius and below 50 degrees Celsius. Actions to compensate for low or high heat conditions may be initiated before the critical temperature is reached. For example, a display pattern affecting reflectivity may be adjusted to increase reflectivity as the sensed temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius. If the temperature continues to rise, an optional cooling element may be activated, and if the temperature continues to rise, the display may be locked in a non-switching state, and the digital license plate functions to display only legally required information or information that does not interfere with the viewing of legally required information. Similarly, at low temperatures, as the sensed temperature drops below 10 degrees Celsius, the display pattern (reflectivity) may be adjusted to decrease reflectivity (i.e., increase absorption). If the temperature continues to fall, an optional heating element may be activated, and if the temperature continues to fall, the display may be locked in a non-switching state, and the digital license plate functions to display only legally required information or information that does not interfere with the viewing of legally required information. Typically, actions to compensate for high or low heat conditions begin within 15, 10, or 5 degrees Celsius of a critical temperature and are ordered so that actions requiring little or no power or having a small visual impact are implemented before actions requiring a significant amount of power or actions that have a greater impact on display messaging are implemented.

[0040] As will be appreciated, the display temperature may be measured directly or indirectly. An electronic thermometer with an associated temperature control module may be attached to the display, near or adjacent to the display, or elsewhere in the vehicle. Ambient temperature may be measured, and an indirect determination of the expected display temperature may be made. In certain embodiments, a predictive temperature may be used. For example, if a digital license plate receives predicted or calculated overnight temperature information, protective measures may be taken immediately when the vehicle is parked near the end of the day. While not as accurate as a direct measurement of the display temperature, ambient or other indirect temperature measurements are accurate enough to take protective measures if necessary as a critical temperature is approached.

[0041] In one embodiment, a display system supporting modifiable thermal-related display parameters includes a temperature sensor positioned to measure the temperature of the display system. A temperature control module may be connected to the temperature sensor and configured to modify the thermal-related display parameters as a critical temperature is approached. The modifiable thermal-related display parameters include brightness, which increases as a critical low temperature is approached and decreases as a critical high temperature is approached. In another embodiment, the modifiable thermal-related display parameters include a display pattern for modifying reflectivity, which is modified to increase heat absorption as a critical low temperature is approached and to decrease heat absorption as a critical high temperature is approached.

[0042] The use of the display system is not limited to vehicle license plates. For example, the display may be composed of multiple homogeneous tiles, a large heterogeneous display (e.g., a bi-stable display or electrophoretic display with an LED display section) with inset tiles, or may have distinct color and bi-stable sections. The display system may also control multiple additional displays located inside or outside the vehicle. For example, such displays may be tiled and arranged on the side of a bus, as shown in FIG. 7. Tiling displays may increase the number of options available for presenting media to an intended audience. The example illustrated in FIG. 4 shows a display 700 arranged on the side of a bus, and a similar set of tiled displays may also be implemented on the back of the bus. All of the systems and methods described herein may be extended to include a display ensemble such as that shown in FIG. 7.

[0043] Some embodiments include a larger display (e.g., 16" x 16"), one portion of which may show the plate image while the rest may be used for static messaging. In this way, a message and a plate image may be displayed simultaneously.

[0044] FIG. 8 illustrates a display 800 including multiple sub-displays. In some embodiments, the display may include similar or different types of sub-displays tiled together. As seen in FIG. 8 , display 800 may have an outer frame display 802, an inner sub-display 804, an inner sub-display 806, an inner sub-display 808, and an inner sub-display 810. The outer frame display 802 and the inner sub-displays 804-810 may be configured to display different media content. For example, the outer frame display 802 may be configured to display vehicle license and registration information, while the sub-displays 804-810 may display different advertising and / or promotional messages. In one embodiment, the sub-display 806 may be a color OLED display capable of accurately displaying, for example, a colored replica of an annual registration sticker. In other embodiments, the outer frame display 802 and the sub-displays 804-810 may include different types of displays. For example, outer frame display 802 may be a bi-stable display, sub-display 804 may be an OLED display, sub-display 806 may be an LCD display, and sub-displays 808-810 may each be a bi-stable display.

[0045] Measures to protect the display system from damage from road debris or similar hazards may include a physical protective cover made, for example, from Plexiglas or sapphire crystal. A hydrophobic coating may also be applied to the exterior surface of the display system to prevent damage from exposure to liquids such as water. In other embodiments, self-cleaning glass may be used, using nanocrystalline titanium dioxide coatings, plasma-chemical roughening, photocatalytic cleaning structures, molded polymer layers, or other suitable hydrophobic or hydrophilic systems. Thermal protection may be provided by an IR-blocking coating. Display systems may also be integrated into the vehicle structure itself. For example, curved or flexible displays may be used to aesthetically match the vehicle's design. An embodiment of the display system 100 may be integrated to fit, for example, the bumper of a vehicle.

[0046] 9 is a block diagram 900 illustrating a display communication protocol. In some embodiments, a low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) communication interface may be implemented between microcontroller 902 and display 1 904. In other embodiments, a gate / source interface may be implemented between microcontroller 906 and display 2 908. In yet other embodiments, a low-voltage differential signaling or serial peripheral interface (LVDS / SPI) communication interface may be implemented between microcontroller 910 and display 3 912. In some embodiments, other display communication technologies, such as HDMI®, may be used to implement the communication link between the processing device and the display device, which may be a microcontroller, such as microcontroller 902, or any other suitable processing device, such as a microprocessor, digital signal processor, and field programmable gate array.

[0047] Display 1 904, display 2 908, and display 3 912 may be either an LCD display, a TFT LCD display with LED backlight, a bi-stable display with front LED light, or any other suitable display. Any combination of signaling methods, such as LVDS, SPI, a parallel port interface, a serial port interface, and RS232, may be used to communicate between the microcontroller and the displays. In certain embodiments, one or more displays controlled by the aforementioned signaling methods and protocols may be located inside or outside the vehicle at a location remote from the digital license plate.

[0048] 10 illustrates an embodiment of a digital license plate system 1000 having a display failure system. Such a system is particularly useful in conjunction with the aforementioned bi-stable display 1010 that provides the license plate number. In many instances, a damaged display 1010 will still provide a recognizable image of, for example, the license plate number. Updating the display image before presenting a new image may result in a corrupted or unreadable license plate number.

[0049] In some embodiments, before the display controller 1020 updates the electronic display with new image data, Power rail (power rail)The impedance and / or current consumption of the display 1010 is measured. Based on a defined threshold of “pass” criteria, an electronic display sequence is initiated; based on a threshold of “fail” criteria, the display update sequence is aborted and the previous “pass” display image is retained. Unique faults may be counted using a fault counter 1022 and stored for tracking or troubleshooting purposes. Unique faults may also be associated with an inertial measurement unit 1040 (IMU), which may include a gyroscope, accelerometer, or other motion-related sensor capable of sensing possible impacts. The time of the display fault or abnormal motion-related event may be determined using a real-time clock 1030. This data may be transmitted to a user, a server system, or a cloud network using a wireless module 1050. Based on the received information, a replacement digital license may be automatically ordered, warranty coverage may be determined, or the failure mode may be understood.

[0050] 11 illustrates one method 1100 for operating a display fault system. A display update request is made to a power-inactive display. A power consumption or impedance measurement is made, and if the power consumption is less than or equal to 5 mA, for example, the display update is halted. A display fault counter is incremented, a notification of the fault may be provided to the user or cloud network, and the display update sequence ends. Alternatively, if a power consumption or impedance measurement is made and the power consumption is greater than 5 mA, a display update is initiated and the display is fully powered and ready for a new image write. After the write is successful, the display update sequence ends.

[0051] In the foregoing description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the concepts disclosed herein, and it should be understood that modifications to the various disclosed embodiments may be made and other embodiments may be utilized without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The foregoing detailed description, therefore, is not to be construed in a limiting sense.

[0052] References throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "embodiment," "one example," or "example" mean that a particular feature, structure, or feature described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Thus, the appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," "one example," or "example" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, particular features, structures, databases, or features may be combined in any suitable combinations and / or subcombinations in one or more embodiments or examples. Also, it should be understood that the figures provided herein are for purposes of explanation to persons skilled in the art, and that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0053] Embodiments according to the present disclosure may be embodied as an apparatus, a method, or a computer program product. Accordingly, the present disclosure may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.), or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects, all of which may be generally referred to herein as a "circuit," "module," or "system." Furthermore, embodiments of the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product embodied in any tangible medium of expression having computer-usable program code embodied in the medium.

[0054] Any combination of one or more computer usable or computer readable media may be utilized. For example, the computer readable medium may include one or more of a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM) device, a read-only memory (ROM) device, an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory) device, a portable compact disk read-only memory (CDROM), an optical storage device, and a magnetic storage device. Computer program code for carrying out the operations of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. Such code may be compiled from source code into computer readable assembly language or machine code suitable for the device or computer on which the code will be executed.

[0055] Embodiments may also be implemented in a cloud computing environment. In this description and the claims that follow, "cloud computing" may be defined as a methodology for enabling uniquely convenient, on-demand access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned through virtualization, released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction, and scaled accordingly. The cloud model may be comprised of a variety of characteristics (e.g., on-demand self-service, pervasive network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, measured service), service models (e.g., Software as a Service ("SaaS"), Platform as a Service ("PaaS"), Infrastructure as a Service ("IaaS")), and deployment models (e.g., private cloud, community cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud).

[0056] The flow diagrams and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in the flow diagrams or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which includes one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and / or flow diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flow diagrams, can be implemented by a special-purpose hardware-based system that performs the specified functions or operations, or a combination of special-purpose hardware and computer instructions. These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can cause a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such as to produce an article of manufacture, the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium including instruction means that implement the function(s) / operation(s) specified in one or more blocks of the flow diagrams and / or block diagrams. Many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing description and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. It is also understood that other embodiments of the invention may be practiced in the absence of elements / steps not specifically disclosed herein.

Claims

1. a display system capable of showing a first image; a power rail connected to the display system; a display controller having a data connection to the display system, the display controller being arranged to measure at least one of a power consumption and an impedance of the power supply rail, the display controller being further configured to prevent transmission of a second image to the display system if a display fault is indicated by the measured power consumption or impedance falling below a defined threshold; Including digital license plates.

2. 10. The digital license plate of claim 1 further comprising a display fault counter.

3. 10. The digital license plate of claim 1 further comprising a real time clock.

4. 10. The digital license plate of claim 1 further comprising a wireless connection to enable transmission of a fault in the display.

5. 10. The digital license plate of claim 1, further comprising an inertial measurement unit and a real time clock capable of recording impact data, and further comprising a wireless connection to enable transmission of the impact data, the associated time of the impact as determined by the real time clock, and indicative fault data.

6. The digital license plate of claim 1 , wherein the display system further comprises a bi-stable display.

7. The digital license plate of claim 1 , wherein the first image further includes a license plate number.

8. Displaying a first image; measuring at least one of power consumption and impedance of a power rail; Preventing transmission of a second image to the display system when a display fault is indicated by measured power consumption or impedance falling below a defined threshold. How to make digital license plates work, including the steps.

9. 9. The method of operating a digital license plate according to claim 8, further comprising the step of counting the number of display failures.

10. 10. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 8, further comprising the step of correlating time as measured by a real time clock with an impact as measured by an inertial measurement unit.

11. 10. The method of operating a digital license plate as set forth in claim 8, further comprising the step of wirelessly transmitting an indication of a fault in the display.

12. 9. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 8, wherein the first image is displayed on a bi-stable display.

13. 9. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 8, wherein the first image further includes a license plate number.

14. receiving a request for a display update for a display; measuring at least one of power consumption and impedance of a power rail connected to said display; Aborting requested display updates when a display failure occurs, as indicated by measured power consumption or impedance falling below a defined threshold. How to make digital license plates work, including the steps.

15. 15. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 14, further comprising the step of incrementing a display counter if a display failure occurs.

16. 15. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing an indication of the display failure to at least one of a user and a cloud connected service when a display failure occurs.

17. 15. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 14, further comprising the steps of initiating a display update sequence and writing an image to the display if no display fault has occurred as indicated by measured power consumption or impedance exceeding a defined threshold.

18. 15. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 14, wherein the display is a bi-stable display.

19. 15. The method of operating a digital license plate of claim 14, wherein the display shows an image further including a license plate number.

Images