Assisted view axis for vehicle sign

Abstract

This invention relates to portable signs used to display a signal or message. In embodiments, the invention includes a sign, a stator, and a rotor. The sign has a display surface for displaying information and is mounted to a vehicle. The stator has a central axis, and the rotor may be coupled to the sign and rotatably coupled to the stator. The rotor may be configured to rotate about the central axis so that rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator may align the display surface in a selected orientation.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A system for displaying traffic information, the system comprising:
 a sign having a display surface for displaying information, the sign mounted to a vehicle;   a stator having a central axis; and   a rotor coupled to the sign and rotatably coupled to the stator, the rotor configured to rotate about the central axis,   wherein rotation of the rotor with respect to the stator is configured to align the display surface in a selected orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a bearing surface disposed between the rotor and the stator. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the stator comprises a first disk disposed about the central axis and wherein the rotor comprises a second disk disposed about the central axis. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the rotor includes a first locking feature, wherein the stator includes a second locking feature, and wherein the first locking feature aligns with the second locking feature when the message surface is aligned in the selected orientation. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , further comprising a pin, wherein the first locking feature includes an opening, and wherein the pin fits through the opening to lock the rotor with respect to the stator. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the second locking feature comprises one of a plurality of openings radially disposed about the stator. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a motor coupled to the rotor and configured to rotate the rotor with respect to the stator;   a camera having an optical axis, the camera configured to produce a series of images perpendicular to the optical axis; and   a controller operatively coupled to the motor and to the camera.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the motor is coupled to the rotor via a pulley, a gear, a shaft, a friction wheel, a band, or a chain. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller displays an image of the series of images on a display. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to extract a feature from one or more of images, to determine an operative orientation based on the feature, and to rotate the rotor to the operative orientation, and
 wherein the feature includes a direction of approaching traffic.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the feature by comparison of a first image selected from the series of images and a second image selected from the series of images. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the first image includes a traffic vehicle in a first position and the second image includes the traffic vehicle in a second position. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to determine the feature by identification of a road component. 
     
     
         14 . A system for displaying traffic information, the system comprising:
 a vehicle having a travel direction;   a sign capable of displaying an electronically changeable message, the sign mounted to the vehicle and having a display surface;   an assisted view axis disposed between the vehicle and the sign,   wherein the assisted view axis is configured to dispose the display surface in one of a plurality of directions with respect to the travel direction.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the assisted view axis includes a stator disk having a central axis and a rotor disk coupled to the sign and rotatably coupled to the stator disk. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the assisted view axis further includes a bearing surface disposed between the rotor disk and the stator disk, a locking element configured to lock rotation of the rotor disk, and a hub configured to align the rotor disk to the stator disk. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a camera, a motor mechanically coupled to the rotor, and a controller operatively coupled to the camera and to the rotor. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the camera is configured to deliver an image to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to extract a target orientation from the image, and wherein the controller is configured to drive the motor to align the display surface in the target orientation. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to extract the target orientation by processing a representation of a traffic vehicle or of a road component from the image. 
     
     
         20 . A system for orienting an electronic sign disposed on a vehicle, the system comprising:
 a stator configured to attach to a vehicle and having a central axis;   a rotor configured to attach to an electronic sign, the rotor rotatably coupled to the stator and configured to rotate about the central axis;   a camera disposed on the rotor;   a motor coupled to the rotor and configured to rotate the rotor; and   a controller operatively coupled to the camera and to the motor, the controller configured to receive an image from the camera, to extract a target orientation from the image, and to drive the motor to align the rotor in the target orientation.