GB2231996A

GB2231996A - Displays

Info

Publication number: GB2231996A
Application number: GB9007018A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Keith Simmons
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-03-29
Filing date: 1990-03-29
Publication date: 1990-11-28
Also published as: GB9007018D0; GB8907061D0

Abstract

A display is arranged to be mounted in a vehicle such as a bus to be visible from outside and indicates the status of the vehicle such as the number and type of occupants of the vehicle. A control panel is located near the vehicle driver for the driver to input the required information. The display may be arranged to display a "HELP" message. The control panel may include means for inserting a card or token by a passenger joining the vehicle to indicate the number of passengers on board and also to, for example, indicate when a safe number of passengers has been exceeded. The control panel may also sense automatically when a passenger joins a vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPLAYS The invention relates to displays.

The invention relates more particularly to displays for vehicles.

According to the invention there is provided a display for mounting in a vehicle in a manner such as to be visible from outside the vehicle, and control means selectively operable to cause the display to indicate the status of the vehicle, for example one or more of the condition, number of occupants, type of occupants in the vehicle at any time.

Preferably, the display is mounted in a shock-proof manner, and may also be fire proof and waterproof, so as to be operative and visible even if the vehicle is involved in an accident. Preferably, the display is provided with its own power source in addition to or independent of the vehicle power unit or battery.

Other preferred features and advantages will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying claims. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a control panel for a bus, normally mounted on a dashboard of the bus; Fig. 2 is a display panel normally mounted inside the front and/or rear windscreen of the bus; Fig. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a display panel; Fig. 4 is a schematic side view of a bus or coach with an embodiment of the invention installed; Fig. 5 is a schematic side view of a car with another embodiment of the invention installed; Fig. 6 is a schematic view of a car with yet another embodiment of the invention installed;; Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a ferry with yet another embodiment of the invention installed; and Fig. 8 and 9 show another embodiment of a control for an embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, in Fig. 1 the panel 1 has an array of manually operated selector switches. The switches A, B and C provide displays of adults, babies and children and the numeric panels are used to enter the number of each category of occupants of the bus. If the bus includes invalids this can be indicated by the marked invalid button 2. A test button T is provided as well as a cancel button C and an ON-OFF button 3.

An illuminated panel 4 is arranged to flash when the ignition of the vehicle is turned on and remains flashing until each of switches A, B and C have been depressed and appropriate numbers associated with each of those switches also entered. It will be noted that such numbers may be zero (or X may be entered which is equivalent to zero for display purposes). The number switches in each group are depressed in sequence or simultaneously as required to provide any number to be lit up on the display panel.

In Fig. 2, the display panel shows the vehicle occupants consist of in this instance, 21 adults, 2 babies and no children.

The described arrangement is especially useful in an emergency particularly if the vehicle is involved in a collision. The rescue services are able to ascertain immediately how many occupants were travelling on the bus and so ensure all the passengers are accounted for after a crash and to carry out localised searches if necessary in the area until all the occupants are found.

The described arrangement is equally useful for use in a car for the same reason. Further, such an arrangement is particularly useful for a disabled driver who may use the display to attract attention if he actually requires assistance. It is not otherwise obvious if a car simply parks, with say its hazard warning lights operating, to other road users that the driver or occupants of the car require help as such. The panel can be used to flash a "HELP POLICE" notice or other notice, such as "ON TOW" as required (Fig. 3).

Broadly, embodiments of the invention can be provided incorporating any number of different combinations of display information to indicate to outsiders who or what type of occupants are in vehicle and/or to call for assistance as and when required.

Fig. 4 shows the position in which the control panel 1 may be mounted at the front 17a of a bus or coach, near the driver. A display panel 4 (Fig. 2 and 3) can be mounted both at the front 17a and rear 17b of the coach. Sensors 18 may be provided to detect automatically people getting in the bus or coach. They may be floor mounted, but preferably are ceiling mounted.

Fig. 5 shows a car with a control panel 1 and display panel 4, and optical sensors 21 each installed to detect someone entering through a car door.

Fig. 6 shows the use of sensors 22 mounted in the seats of a car.

Fig. 7 shows that the invention may be applied to other passenger carrying vehicles, such as a ferry, and shows a display 4 and a modified form of control box 23 (Fig.

8 and 9).

The control box 23 of Figs 8 and 9 is operated by insertion of a card, such as the passenger ticket, issued to each passenger. The card is inserted in a slot 27 and the running total is indicated at 30. A warning indicator 28 may indicate an invalid input, or that the safe number of passengers is exceeded, and a microphone 29 may provide for voice communication with a central control. A key operated over-ride 31 is also provided.

It will be appreciated that a vehicle may be equipped with a combination of controls and sensors for indicating automatically the number of persons on board and to allow manual input by the vehicle operator.

Various modifications may be made to the described embodiments and it is desired to include all such modifications as fall within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A display for mounting in a vehicle in a manner such as to be visible from outside the vehicle, and control means selectively operable to cause the diplay to indicate the status of the vehicle, for example one or more of the condition, number of occupants, type of occupants in the vehicle at any time.

2. A display as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diplay is mounted in a shock proof manner so as to be operative and visible even if the vehicle is involved in an accident.

3. A display as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the display is provided with its own power source in addition to or independent of the vehicle power unit or battery.

4. A display as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, arranged to display a "HELP" notice.

5. A display as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control means is manually operable by the vehicle driver or operator.

6. A display as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control means include means for insertion of a card, ticket or the like by a passenger getting on the vehicle.

7. A display as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control means include means for sensing automatically when a person boards the vehicle.

8. A display for mounting in a vehicle, substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.