Visual communication system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11922829-B2
Application number	US-202117529745-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2021
Priority date	Dec 13, 2018
Publication date	Mar 5, 2024
Grant date	Mar 5, 2024

Abstract

This technology relates to a display mounted messaging system. The display mounted messaging system may include a light emitting diode (LED) display attached to a housing of a sensor. The housing of the sensor may rotate. The display mounted messaging system may also include an LED controller which is configured to selectively activate and deactivate at least one LED in the LED display, to provide a message in the direction of an intended recipient.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A display mounted messaging system, the system comprising:
a light emitting diode (LED) display attached to a rotating housing of a sensor, the LED display including at least one LED; and
a computing device including one or more processors configured to (1) control a signaling system including one or more lights to provide information to surrounding subjects and (2) when the signaling system fails to provide the information, control the LED display to selectively activate or deactivate the at least one LED to provide the information.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the information is provided by the LED display as a message including text.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the text indicates that a vehicle on which the sensor is mounted is turning right.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more lights includes a tail light.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more lights includes a brake light.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the LED display and the housing of the sensor rotate at a same rate.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more lights includes a turn signal.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one LED in the LED display is part of a LED strip comprising a plurality of LEDs.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising the sensor and one or more strips of LEDs mounted to one or more supports attached to the housing of the sensor.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of LEDs of the LED strip are integrated into a housing of the sensor.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more lenses are integrated into the housing.

12. The system of claim 8 , further comprising one or more lenses, wherein the one or more lenses are configured to redirect light emitted by the at least one of the plurality of LEDs.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more lenses are configured to move relative to the LED strip.

14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a motor configured to move the one or more lenses.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the LED strip is configured to move relative to the one or more lenses.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a motor configured to move the LED strip.

17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a motor, wherein the motor is configured to rotate the housing of the sensor and the LED display simultaneously.

18. The system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more lenses, wherein the one or more lenses are configured to redirect light emitted by the at least one LED.

19. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle, and wherein the sensor is mounted on the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the information indicates the vehicle's intent to other drivers or vehicles.

21. A method comprising:
controlling, by one or more processors, a signaling system and a visual notification system, wherein the signaling system is configured to provide information to surrounding subjects, and the visual notification system includes a light emitting diode (LED) display attached to a rotating housing of a sensor for displaying messages; and
when the signaling system fails to signal the information, activating and deactivating, by the one or more processors, individual LEDs of the LED display to signal the information.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the information indicates a vehicle's intent to other drivers or vehicles.

23. A vehicle comprising:
a rotating housing of a sensor;
a light emitting diode (LED) display attached to the rotating housing, the LED display including at least one LED;
a signaling system including one or more lights; and
a computing device including one or more processors configured to (1) control the signaling system to provide information indicating the vehicle's intent to other drivers or vehicles and (2) when the signaling system fails to provide the information, control the LED display to selectively activate or deactivate the at least one LED to provide the information.

Assignees

• Waymo Llc

Inventors

• Shepard Ralph Hamilton
• Droz Pierre-Yves
• Verghese Simon

Classifications

• G09F9/33

  being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes · CPC title

• G09F13/0413 Primary

  Frames or casing structures therefor · CPC title

• G09F13/22

  electroluminescent (electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00) · CPC title

• G09F13/30

  with moving light sources, e.g. rotating luminous tubes · CPC title

• G09F21/04

  by land vehicles · CPC title