Power and Battery Systems for Digital License Plates

Abstract

The power supply system for the digital license plate includes a sensor, a storage memory, and a battery status monitor that is operational only when the digital license plate is in operation. The battery status monitor includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) connected to the battery to provide status data to a processor in the digital license plate, the status data being stored in the storage memory. A determination of battery life is made at least in part using the status data and input from the sensor. In one embodiment, the status data may include an external temperature.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to digital license plates. More specifically, digital license plates having various power and battery systems for improved performance and increased expected battery life are disclosed. [Background technology]

[0002] Upon registering a vehicle, the vehicle owner is typically issued a license plate that displays the vehicle's identification and registration information. These license plates are printed or engraved. No power is required to view the license plate during the day, and only a low-power bulb or LED is required to provide light to view the license plate at night.

[0003] One potential device for creating, storing, and processing vehicle data can be used with a dynamic display that presents vehicle identification and registration information and can be located 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 updatability of vehicle identification and registration information through the use of digital license plates.

[0004] However, digital license plates require a significant amount of power to operate and display the necessary license information. A power system is required that can support operation with the vehicle on or off, in combination with a range of local and remote communication systems, and in a wide range of temperatures and environmental conditions. These can be provided by using a sensor-connected processor and a digital license plate that supports a variety of states, as discussed herein. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The power system for the digital license plate includes a sensor, a storage memory, and a battery status monitor that is operational only while the digital license plate is in operation. The battery status monitor includes an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) connected to the battery to provide status data to a processor in the digital license plate, the status data being stored in the storage memory. A determination of battery life is made at least in part using the status data and input from the sensor. In some embodiments, the status data may include an external temperature.

[0006] In some embodiments, the operational states of the digital license plate include an off state, a sleep state, a wake state, and a semi-wake state, and the battery life determination is performed only in the wake state. Switching between operational states is triggered in response to detected vehicle voltage, vehicle motion, wireless connection status, location or change in location, or real-time clock (RTC) information. The permissible operational states, the frequency of the operational states, and which electronic subsystems may be activated or deactivated are determined, at least in part, by the determined battery life.

[0007] In some embodiments, the battery life determination is provided to a remote device via a wireless connection.

[0008] In some embodiments, the sensor is an external temperature sensor. A battery health lookup table that uses data from the external temperature sensor and data from the ADC can be used to determine battery health.

[0009] In another embodiment, a method for measuring battery health for a digital license plate includes responding to an operating state of a sensor trigger that activates the digital license plate. A processor, memory, and an ADC connection to the battery are woken, the battery voltage is read through the ADC connection, and the result is stored in memory. The processor may then be used to determine battery health at least in part using the read battery voltage. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] 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.

[0011] [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 4A] 1 is an embodiment of an on-module battery power system. [Figure 4B] 1 is an embodiment of an off-module battery power system. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a state diagram for a power system. [Figure 6A] FIG. 1 is a power state diagram for an electrophoretic display. [Figure 6B] A table is presented showing how power conditions affect system components. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of a power distribution system is described. [Figure 9] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of a power distribution system is described. [Figure 10] An embodiment of a battery system will now be described. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a flow chart illustrating a battery charging method. [Figure 12] A battery health check monitor is described. [Figure 13] One embodiment of a battery health check procedure will now be described. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] 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.

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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 unaffiliated with 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 an advertisement or message for that particular rental car agency), or any other suitable purpose. However, the message may be any other suitable type of message.

[0015] 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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 .

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 4A and 4B depict embodiments of a display system 400 having an internal battery (FIG. 4A) and an external battery (FIG. 4B), respectively. For example, a processing system 414, a memory module 416, a communications module 418, and a battery 412 for powering the display 410 are mounted within the externally mountable module 402. Power may also be provided by the vehicle power system 404, either directly or via recharging the battery 412. In some embodiments, the battery 412 may be a lithium polymer, nickel cadmium, lead acid, lithium ion, lithium air, lithium iron oxide, nickel metal hydride, absorbent glass mat (AGM), or valve regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery. FIG. 4B illustrates an alternative display system 401 to that depicted in FIG. 4A. In this embodiment, the battery 412 may be located within the vehicle, external to the externally mountable module 402. Advantageously, this may allow for the use of larger batteries or batteries of different chemistries, including conventional rechargeable lead acid batteries.

[0032] When a vehicle associated with display system 400 is powered on, display system 400 is typically powered by the vehicle system. In some embodiments, the power supplied by the vehicle system to display system 400 may be 12V. In other embodiments, other voltage values ​​may be implemented. When the vehicle is powered off, display system 400 may still need to be powered on to, for example, display the vehicle's registration information. In some embodiments, display system 400 may need to be powered on substantially all the time. While the vehicle is in a powered-off state, display system 400 draws power from battery 412.

[0033] 5, the position on the power state chart 500 for the display system 400 may depend on the availability and requirements of power. Four states are described as being associated with the display system 100, including:

[0034] Off state: The display system 400 is switched off and no processes are running.

[0035] Sleep state: In this state, only a minimal number of processes are running, for example:

[0036] 1. Real-time clock

[0037] 2. Capacitive Touch Monitoring

[0038] 3. Accelerometer Monitoring

[0039] In some embodiments, an infrared sensor may be used to detect movement around the digital display and trigger a wake state, while in other embodiments, the processor may wake the plate at regular intervals.

[0040] Wake state: In this state, all device processes associated with the display system 100 are running, including the processor, communication modules (including cellular communication modules, Wi-Fi modules, and Bluetooth modules), digital display, accelerometer, gyroscope, and velocity sensor.

[0041] Semi-wake state: In this state, all processes associated with the sleep state are executed (as described above) and images are displayed on the display 110. In some embodiments, the processing system 414 and modem (not shown) may be powered up and used to implement a wireless connection (e.g., 3G or 4G cell service) to a remote server (not shown) by methods including, but not limited to, wireless Internet access. Other processes may include backlight / frontlight control or light / dark detection.

[0042] Transitions between states are initiated in response to battery and vehicle power levels, capacitive touch sensing, accelerometer events (motion sensing), cable disconnection (vehicle power disconnection), incoming SMS message (received via modem), timer signal, or infrared motion detection. Specifically, some transition triggers are described as follows:

[0043] Vehicle Power Removal

[0044] If 12V vehicle power is removed from the device and the battery is fully charged (>10%), the display system 400 will enter a sleep state. This transition will occur within 60 seconds. If the battery is fully discharged, the device will turn off completely.

[0045] Vehicle power supply

[0046] When 12V vehicle power is applied, the display system 100 will immediately wake up.

[0047] Capacitive Touch Recording

[0048] If a touch is sensed, the display system 100 will transition from a sleep state to a semi-wake state.

[0049] Accelerometer event sensing - When the accelerometer detects that the display system has been removed from a stationary vehicle.

[0050] In some embodiments, display system 400 transitions from a sleep state to a semi-wake state every 20 minutes, remains in the semi-wake state for 1 minute, and then returns to a sleep state. In other embodiments, other timing combinations may be implemented depending on the nature of the application. For example, display system 400 may transition from a sleep state to a semi-wake state every 60 seconds, remain in the semi-wake state for 10 seconds, and then return to a sleep state.

[0051] Returning to Figure 5, starting from the off state 502 where all systems are powered down, if a condition 514 occurs where vehicle power is applied or battery power is greater than 10%, the system transitions to the wake state 508. From the wake state, if a condition 512 occurs where vehicle power is removed or battery power is 0%, the system transitions to the off state 502. While in the wake state 508, if a condition 522 occurs where vehicle power is removed and battery power is greater than 10%, the system transitions to the sleep state 504. Conversely, while in the sleep state 504, if a condition 516 occurs where vehicle power is applied, the system transitions to the wake state 508. While in the sleep state 504, if a condition 510 occurs where battery power is 0%, the system transitions to the off state 502. While in sleep state 504, if a qualifying event (e.g., detection of capacitive touch or infrared activity as discussed above) is recorded or 20 minutes have passed since the last status check, condition 518, the system transitions to semi-wake state 506. If the system is in semi-wake state 506 and one minute has passed or condition 520 occurs in which the functionality associated with the qualifying event (recorded in step 518) is satisfied, the system transitions to sleep state. If the system is in semi-wake state 506 and condition 524 occurs in which the battery power is at 0%, the system transitions to off state 502. The flow diagram of Figure 5 captures the basic state flow process for digital display 100.

[0052] FIG. 6A is a power state diagram 600 for an electrophoretic display. Electrophoretic displays, also known as bi-stable displays, retain their state when external power is removed. In FIG. 6A, the term “plate” is used interchangeably to refer to display system 100. Starting from state 604 where the vehicle is off and the vehicle power is off, if a vehicle-on event 610 occurs, the system switches to state 602 where the vehicle is on and the plate is on. If a vehicle-off event 622 occurs in state 602 where the vehicle is on and the plate is on, the system transitions to state 608 where the vehicle is off and the plate is in a low-power sleep mode. When the system transitions to state 608 where the vehicle is off and the plate is in a low-power sleep mode, if digital display 110 is an electrophoretic display, the information on the display remains static and is not erased. If the system is in state 608 where the vehicle is off and the plate is in low-power sleep mode and then enters state 620 where the vehicle is on, the system returns to state 602 where the vehicle is on and the plate is on. If the system is in state 608 where the vehicle is off and the plate is in low-power sleep mode and event 618 occurs where the plate battery power decreases, the system transitions to state 604 where the vehicle is off and the vehicle power is off. If the system is in state 608 where the vehicle is off and the plate is in low-power sleep mode and event 614 occurs where a plate wake-up signal is received, the system transitions to state 606 where the vehicle is off and the plate is operating at limited power. The wake-up signal is triggered by any combination of capacitive touch sensing, an accelerometer event (motion sensing), a cable disconnection (vehicle power disconnection), an incoming SMS message (received via the modem), a timer signal, or infrared motion detection. If the system is in state 606 where the vehicle is off and the plate is operating on limited power and event 616 occurs where the wake-up task is completed, the system transitions to state 608 where the vehicle is off and the plate is in a low-power sleep mode.If the system is in state 606 where the vehicle is off and the plates are operating at limited power and an event 612 occurs where the vehicle is on, the system transitions to state 602 where the vehicle is on and the plates are on.

[0053] Some embodiments of display system 100 may include modules or system components such as a CPU module configured to perform data processing operations, a modem configured to implement a communications protocol, a screen associated with digital display 110, a frontlight system used to illuminate a screen comprising a bi-stable display or a backlight system used to illuminate a screen comprising an LCD display, or some combination thereof, a GPS module for positioning, and an On-Board Diagnostics Version II (OBD-II) connection. Each of these modules consumes power and is affected by the system's transitions from one state to another.

[0054] FIG. 6B presents a table 601 illustrating how power states affect system components. As seen in FIG. 6B, when the system is in state 602, the CPU is on, the modem is connected, the on-screen information can be changed, the front light is on (to illuminate the screen), the GPS module is on, and the OBD-II connection is on. When the system is in state 604, the CPU is off, the modem is off, the on-screen information is frozen at the last image (this information is retained because the display is bi-stable, e.g., an electrophoretic display), the front light is off, the GPS module is off, and the OBD-II connection is off. When the system is in state 606, the CPU is on but operating in a low-power mode, the modem is connected, the on-screen information can be changed, the front light is on, the GPS module is off, and the OBD-II connection is off. When the system is in state 608, the CPU is in suspend or low power mode, the modem is in low power mode, listening for example for an SMS wake signal, the information on the screen is frozen at the last image, the front lights are off, the GPS module is off, and the OBD-II connection is off.

[0055] FIG. 7 is a power state diagram 700 for an LCD display. In FIG. 7, the term “plate” is used interchangeably to refer to the display system 100. Starting from state 704 where the vehicle is off and the vehicle power is off, if event 710 occurs where the vehicle is on, the system switches to state 702 where the vehicle is on and the plate is on. If event 722 occurs where the vehicle is on and the plate is on while in state 702 where the vehicle is off, the system transitions to state 708 where the vehicle is off, the plate is in low-power sleep mode, and the LCD is off. In state 708 where the vehicle is off, the plate is in low-power sleep mode, and the LCD is off, no information is displayed on the LCD, and the LCD may appear dark. If the system is in state 708 where the vehicle is off, the plate is in low-power sleep mode, and the LCD is off, and the vehicle is turned on 720, the system returns to state 702 where the vehicle is on and the plate is on. If the system is in state 708 with the vehicle off, the plate in low-power sleep mode, and the LCD off, and event 718 occurs in which the plate battery power decreases, the system transitions to state 704 with the vehicle off and vehicle power off. If the system is in state 708 with the vehicle off, the plate in low-power sleep mode, and the LCD off, and event 714 occurs in which a plate wake-up signal is received, the system transitions to state 706 with the vehicle off and the plate operating at limited power. The wake-up signal is triggered by any combination of capacitive touch sensing, an accelerometer event (motion sensing), a cable disconnection (vehicle power disconnection), an incoming SMS message (received via modem), a timer signal, or infrared motion detection. If the system is in state 706 where the vehicle is off and the plate is operating on limited power and event 716 occurs where the wake-up task is completed, the system transitions to state 708 where the vehicle is off, the plate is in a low-power sleep mode, and the LCD is off.If the system is in state 708 where the vehicle is off, the plate is in low-power sleep mode, and the LCD is off, and the system receives a screen awake command 726, the system transitions to state 724 where the vehicle is off, the plate is in low-power sleep mode, and the LCD is on. If the system is in state 724 where the vehicle is off, the plate is in low-power sleep mode, and the LCD is on, information may be displayed on the LCD. If the system is in state 724 where the vehicle is off, the plate is in low-power sleep mode, and the LCD is on, and the system receives a screen off command 728, the system transitions to state 708 where the vehicle is off, the plate is in low-power sleep mode, and the LCD is off. If the system is in state 706 where the vehicle is off and the plate is operating at limited power, and an event 712 occurs that turns the vehicle on, the system transitions to state 702 where the vehicle is on and the plate is on.

[0056] FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of a power distribution system 800. In some embodiments, a vehicle power supply module 802 is electrically coupled to a protection circuit module 806 via an input power connector 804. The input power connector 804 is a physical connector that allows the vehicle power supply module 802 to be properly electrically coupled to the protection circuit module 806. The protection circuit module 806 includes electrical circuitry configured to prevent undesired occurrences of electrical phenomena, such as overvoltage, reverse voltage, or transients. The protection circuit module 806 therefore prevents overvoltage, reverse voltage, or transients from potentially damaging downstream components in the signal chain. The protection circuit module 806 is electrically coupled to a battery charger power path control module 808. Power from the vehicle power supply module 802 is routed to the battery charger power path control module 808 via the input power connector 804 and the protection circuit module 806.

[0057] In some embodiments, the battery 812 is electrically coupled to the battery charger power path control module 808 via a battery connector 810. The battery connector 810 is a physical connector that allows the battery 812 to be properly electrically coupled to the battery charger power path control module. The battery fuel gauge module 814 is configured to monitor the battery capacity of the battery 812.

[0058] The battery charger power path control module 808 is configured to route power depending on the state of the system. In some embodiments, when the vehicle power module 802 is active (e.g., when the vehicle is switched on), the battery charger power path control module 808 routes power from the vehicle power module 802 to downstream components. At the same time, if the battery capacity associated with the battery 812 is below a predetermined threshold as indicated by the battery fuel gauge module 814, a portion of the power from the vehicle power module 802 may be routed through the battery connector 810 to charge the battery 812. On the other hand, when the vehicle power module 802 cannot power the system, the battery charger power path control module 808 draws power from the battery 812 through the battery connector 810 to power downstream components, while preventing power from the battery 812 from being fed back toward the vehicle power module 802.

[0059] In some embodiments, the power output by the battery charger power path control module 808 may be distributed to various voltage support power sources, such as power generation module 816, power generation module 818, power generation module 820, power generation module 822, and load switch 824. Power generation module 816 may be, for example, a boost / buck converter and may be used to power a modem, which may be a cellular modem. Power generation module 818 may be, for example, a boost / buck converter and may be used to power one or more regulators, the converter outputs of which may be used to power the CPU, associated peripherals, and any debug interface. The converter outputs may also be used to power certain components of the digital display 110. In some embodiments, multiple power generation modules may be implemented, with each power generation module dedicated to a specific low-dropout regulator (LDO), which may be dedicated to powering a specific portion of the electrical system. The 12V power generation module 820 may be a boost / buck converter and may be used to power the digital display 110. The power generation module 822 may be, for example, an LDO, the output of which may be used to power certain portions of an electrical circuit. The load switch module 824 may be used, for example, to generate electrical power to power an ultrasonic transmitter, which may be used, for example, to determine the relative velocity of objects near the vehicle.

[0060] FIG. 9 illustrates one embodiment of a power distribution system 900. In some embodiments, a vehicle power source 902 is electrically coupled to a buck converter 906 via an input power connector 904. The input power connector 904 is a physical connector that allows the vehicle power source 902 to be appropriately electrically coupled to the buck converter 906. The buck converter 906 is configured as a DC-DC converter that can be configured to step down a voltage while stepping up a current from a power source to a load. The buck converter 906 provides multiple output signals. A first signal can be a BATT_IN signal 926 that is provided to a battery system 912, which will be discussed in more detail below. The battery system 912 is configured to generate a BATT_OUT 928 signal that is provided to an ideal diode 908 via a battery connector 910. The battery connector 910 is a physical connector that allows the battery system 912, and potentially other signals, to be appropriately electrically coupled to the ideal diode 908. The buck converter also generates a second output signal that is provided to the ideal diode 908. The ideal diode 908 is configured to produce an output only for positive values ​​of the input voltage and zero output for negative values ​​of the input voltage, thus mimicking the ideal theoretical characteristics of a diode. The microcontroller 924 is configured to provide an input signal to the ideal diode 908 that enables the output of the ideal diode 908 to switch between signals provided by the vehicle power source 902 and the battery system 912.

[0061] In some embodiments, when the vehicle power module 902 is active (e.g., when the vehicle is turned on), the microcontroller 924 configures the ideal diode 908 to route power from the vehicle power module 902 to downstream components. At the same time, when the battery capacity associated with the battery system 912 is below a predetermined threshold as indicated by a subsystem of the battery system 912 (discussed below), a portion of the power from the vehicle power module 902 may be routed via the BATT_IN signal to charge the battery associated with the battery system 912. On the other hand, when the vehicle power module 902 is unable to provide power to the system, the microcontroller 924 configures the ideal diode 908 to draw power from the battery system 912 via the battery connector 910 to power the downstream components while preventing power from the battery system 912 from being fed back toward the vehicle power module 902.

[0062] In some embodiments, the power output by the ideal diode 908 may be distributed to power sources such as a 3.8V generator module 914, a 3.3V generator module 916, a 12V generator module 918, a 1.8V generator module 920, and a load switch 922. The 3.8V generator module 914 may be, for example, a boost / buck converter and may be used to power a modem, which may be a cellular modem. The 3.3V generator module 916 may be, for example, a boost / buck converter and may be used to power one or more 1.8V regulators, and the 1.8V output of the LDO may also be used to power the CPU, associated peripherals, and any debug interface. The 1.8V output of the LDO may also be used to power certain components of the digital display 110. In some embodiments, multiple 3.3V generator modules may be implemented, with each 3.3V generator module dedicated to a specific LDO, which may be dedicated to powering a specific portion of the electrical system. The 12V power generation module 918 may be a boost / buck converter and may be used to power the digital display 110. The 1.8V power generation module 920 may be, for example, an LDO, the output of which may be used to power certain portions of an electrical circuit. The load switch module 922 may be used to generate power, for example, to power an ultrasonic transmitter, which may be used, for example, to determine the relative speed of objects near the vehicle.

[0063] 10 illustrates one embodiment of a battery system 912. In some embodiments, the battery system 912 includes a battery charger 1002 configured to receive the BATT_IN 926 signal. The battery charger 1002 is configured to charge one or more batteries. The battery charger 1002 also receives a 5V signal that may be used to power certain components or subsystems of the battery charger 1002. The output of the battery charger 1002 is routed to a current limiter 1004, which functions to protect downstream circuit components from currents that exceed a certain threshold.

[0064] In some embodiments, the output of current limiter 1004 is input to ideal diode 1 1006. Ideal diode 1 1006 is individually electrically coupled to multiple batteries, in this example, battery 1 1008, battery 2 1010, and battery 3 1012. In some embodiments, battery 1 1008, battery 2 1010, and battery 3 1012 may each be individually associated with an individual ideal diode. In other embodiments, ideal diode 1 1006 may be replaced with three individual ideal diodes, each uniquely associated with an individual battery. In other embodiments, battery 1 1008 may be a battery having a nominal 9.6V, 1.1Ah rating, while battery 2 and battery 3 may each be a battery having a nominal 9.6V, 10Ah rating. 10, each individual electrical connection from Ideal Diode 1 1006 to Battery 1 1008 through Battery 3 1010 is also electrically coupled to Ideal Diode 2 1014. When Ideal Diode 1 1006 is switched off, the outputs of Battery 1 1008, Battery 2 1010, and Battery 3 1012 are routed through Ideal Diode 2 1014, and any one individual battery output or combination of battery outputs can be made available at the output of Ideal Diode 2 as signal BATT_OUT 928.

[0065] In another embodiment, Battery 1 1008, Battery 2 1010, and Battery 3 1020 each generate output voltages VBATT_1 1028, VBATT_2 1030, and VBATT_3 1032, respectively. VBATT_1 1028 is routed to Fuel Gauge 1 1016, Level Detector 1 1018, and Sense Resistor 1 1028, where Fuel Gauge 1 1016 is configured to determine the charge remaining in Battery 1 1008, Level Detector 1 1018 is configured to determine the voltage level of Battery 1 1008, and Sense Resistor 1 1034 is configured to prevent the battery from being charged or discharged at an improper rate. Similarly, VBATT_2 1030 is routed to Fuel Gauge 2 1020, Level Detector 2 1022, and Sense Resistor 2 1030, where Fuel Gauge 2 1020 is configured to determine the charge remaining in Battery 2 1010, Level Detector 2 1022 is configured to determine the voltage level of Battery 1 1008, and Sense Resistor 2 1036 is configured to prevent the battery from being charged or discharged at an improper rate; VBATT_3 1028 is routed to Fuel Gauge 3 1024, Level Detector 3 1026, and Sense Resistor 3 1038, where Fuel Gauge 3 1024 is configured to determine the charge remaining in Battery 3 1012, Level Detector 3 1026 is configured to determine the voltage level of Battery 3 1012, and Sense Resistor 3 1038 is configured to prevent the battery from being charged or discharged at an improper rate.

[0066] In another embodiment, the individual outputs of fuel gauge 1 1016, fuel gauge 2 1018, and fuel gauge 3 1020 are connected via an inter-integrated circuit (I 2C) electrically coupled to the microcontroller 924 via an appropriate interface, such as a communication protocol. Additionally, the individual outputs of level detector 1 1018, level detector 2 1022, and level detector 3 1026 may be electrically coupled to the ideal diode 908, while the individual outputs of sense resistor 1 1036, sense resistor 2 1038, and sense resistor 3 are electrically coupled to the microcontroller 924.

[0067] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a battery charging method 1100. In some embodiments, the battery charging method 1100 is associated with charging Battery 1 1008, Battery 2 1010, and Battery 3 1012. As will be appreciated, the particular number of batteries is not important to the practice of the method; for example, Battery 3 may be checked and charged before Batteries 1 and 2. At 1102, the method enables the channel of the ideal diode associated with Battery 1, the channel referred to as Ideal Diode IN for charging Battery 1. At 1104, the method checks to see if Battery 1 is fully charged. If Battery 1 is not fully charged, the method returns to 1102. If Battery 1 is fully charged, the method proceeds to 1106, where Ideal Diode IN of the channel associated with Battery 1 is disabled and Ideal Diode OUT of the channel is enabled, allowing Battery 1 to power any associated circuitry.

[0068] At 1108, the method checks to see if the charge on Battery 2 is greater than the charge on Battery 3. If the charge on Battery 2 is greater than the charge on Battery 3, the method proceeds to 1110, where Battery 2 is placed in a standby state while Battery 3 is charged. At 1112, the method checks to see if Battery 3 is charged. If Battery 3 is not charging, the method returns to 1110. If the method determines at 1112 that Battery 3 is charged, the method proceeds to 1114, where the ideal diode OUT associated with Battery 1 is disabled, the channel of the ideal diode IN associated with Battery 2 is enabled (allowing Battery 2 to be charged), and the channel of the ideal diode OUT associated with Battery 3 is enabled, allowing Battery 3 to power any associated circuitry.

[0069] If, at 1108, the method determines that the charge on Battery 3 is greater than the charge on Battery 2, the method proceeds to 1116, where Battery 3 is placed on standby while Battery 2 is being charged. At 1118, the method checks to see if Battery 2 is being charged. If Battery 2 is not being charged, the method returns to 1116. If, at 1118, the method determines that Battery 2 is being charged, the method proceeds to 1120, where the ideal diode OUT associated with Battery 1 is disabled, the channel of the ideal diode IN associated with Battery 3 is enabled (allowing Battery 3 to be charged), and the channel of the ideal diode OUT associated with Battery 2 is enabled, allowing Battery 2 to power any associated circuitry.

[0070] 12 illustrates a battery health check monitor 1200. The battery 1210 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 indicated failure or abnormal motion-related event may be determined using the real-time clock 1030. This data may be transmitted to a user, a server system, or a cloud network using the wireless module 1050. Based on the received information, a replacement digital license may be automatically ordered, warranty coverage may be determined, and failure modes may be understood.

[0071] 12 illustrates one embodiment of a battery health check procedure that usefully determines battery health only during real-time device operation. Compared to devices that continuously or frequently monitor battery activity, a battery health monitor that can use a few simple inputs, such as battery voltage, time, and battery or external temperature, can be a useful low-power subsystem for a digital license plate.

[0072] In one embodiment, the battery 1210 may be connected to an analog-to-digital converter 1212 (ADC) via an ADC connection pin. Measurements from the ADC 1212 may be provided to a processor and memory 1220 for further processing. This processing may include or be responsive to sensor data from a real-time clock 1230 (RTC) and an inertial measurement unit 1240 (IMU). The IMU 1240 may include an accelerometer, gyroscope, or other instrumentation for measuring the magnitude, direction, and type of vehicle motion. A wireless connectivity system 1250, an external temperature sensor 1260, or other suitable sensors 1270, such as pressure or activity sensors, may also be connected.

[0073] During a digital license plate operation event triggered by sensor data, the unloaded battery voltage is read as determined by the ADC 1212 and processed and stored in the processor and memory 1220. In some embodiments, battery life can be better estimated in conjunction with temperature data from an external temperature sensor 1260. The temperature sensor 1260 can be mounted in, on, or near the battery, or mounted in other locations on the digital license plate, or can be provided by an unattached local wireless temperature sensor. The temperature data is read, stored / recorded, and used in voltage and temperature lookup tables to determine battery health and life estimates based on changes in voltage decay over time and temperature. Battery health or life data can be stored for later retrieval or immediately communicated to a local smartphone device or uploaded to a server cloud via the wireless system 1250. Based on the received information, a replacement digital license battery or unit can be automatically ordered, warranty coverage can be determined, and failure modes can be understood. Depending on the desired operating state, the digital license plate may be able to return to a low power state.

[0074] FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary process flow for the operation of a battery health system such as that described with respect to FIG. 12. After receiving a start event from digital license plate activation, the VBATT ADC connection to the battery is read, stored and recorded in memory, and provided for further processing. A temperature reading is also taken and stored. If the voltage is higher than a determined threshold operating voltage (3.6 volts in this case), the processor performs one of several voltage value lookups for the temperature and voltage to help determine battery health. If the temperature is too high or too low, a false value determination is made to prevent providing a misleading battery health determination. If the temperature is within an acceptable range, a battery measurement event life cycle counter is incremented, the result is checked against a battery life timer, and the data is read or stored for later access. If end of life is approaching, a notification may be made to the user or digital license plate provider.

[0075] Additionally, in some embodiments, battery life information may be used to initiate or prevent use of digital license plate operating states, including off, sleep, wake, and semi-wake states. In some embodiments, the battery life determination is made only in the wake state. In other embodiments, for example, the battery life determination may be made in the semi-wake state without requiring full power to all electronic subsystems. Switching between operating states may be triggered in response to detected vehicle voltage, vehicle motion, wireless connection status, location or change in location, or real-time clock (RTC) information. The allowable operating states, frequency of the operating states, and which electronic subsystems may be activated or deactivated may be determined at least in part by the determined battery life. In some embodiments, the battery life determination is provided to a remote device via a wireless connection.

[0076] 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.

[0077] 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.

[0078] 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.

[0079] 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.

[0080] 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).

[0081] 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 digital license plate having a processor and a plurality of operating states corresponding to different power consumption levels; a sensor configured to measure one parameter of a physical environment surrounding the digital license plate; Storage memory; an operable battery status monitor including an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) connected to the battery for providing status data to the processor in the digital license plate, the status data being stored in the storage memory, and a determination of battery life being based at least in part on changes in the status data over time and measurements from the sensor; The processor switches the digital license plate between the operating states based on the determination of battery life.

2. 2. The power system of claim 1, wherein the operating states include an off state, a sleep state, a wake state, and a semi-wake state, and the determination of battery life is performed only in the wake state.

3. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the change in operating state is triggered in response to a detected vehicle voltage.

4. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the operating state is triggered in response to vehicle movement.

5. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the operational state is triggered in response to a status of a wireless connection.

6. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the operating status is provided to the remote device via a wireless connection.

7. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the operating state is triggered in response to a position or a change in position.

8. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is an external temperature sensor.

9. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the change of state is triggered in response to a real time clock (RTC).

10. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the allowable operating conditions are determined at least in part by the determined battery life.

11. The power system of claim 1 , wherein the frequency of the operating state is determined at least in part by the determined battery life.

12. 10. The power system of claim 1, wherein activation of the electronic subsystem for the digital license plate is determined at least in part by a determined battery life.

13. The power system of claim 1 further comprising a battery health lookup table that uses external temperature sensor data and ADC data to determine battery health.

14. Configuring a digital license plate having a plurality of operating states corresponding to different power consumption levels; configuring a sensor to measure one parameter of a physical environment surrounding the digital license plate; reading the battery voltage through an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) connection to the battery and storing the battery voltage reading in memory; using a processor to determine battery health based at least in part on changes in status data with time and measurements from the sensor; Using the processor to switch the digital license plate between the operating states based on at least the determination of battery health. a step of: determining a battery health of the digital license plate having the processor and the plurality of operating states;

15. providing a temperature sensor; Using temperature data and read battery voltage to determine battery health The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

16. Providing battery health data to a remote device over a wireless connection The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of:

17. 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising triggering the operational state of the digital license plate using at least one of an inertial measurement unit (IMU), a real-time clock (RTC), and a wireless connectivity system.

Images