Abstract: A backlighting system for liquid crystal display provides low power consumption and high efficiency. The backlighting system includes an array of LEDs arranged in a matrix to generate backlight needed to display light and dark colors on the liquid crystal display. The backlighting system emulates light and dark areas of video images being displayed on the liquid crystal display, selectively backlighting only areas of the liquid crystal display that require backlighting, thereby reducing power consumption.

Abstract: A system for publicly displaying messages includes elements carried by an automotive vehicle. In some embodiments the vehicle carries a publicly visible electronic display; a sensor for sensing the brightness of light in the vicinity of the display; and illumination varying circuitry for varying the brightness of light generated by the display in response to brightness detected by the sensor. In some embodiments the vehicles carries a publicly visible display formed by ganging together a plurality of displays, each having at least 640×480 pixels; and video drive circuitry for causing images to be shown on the ganged display with different portions of individual images being shown on each of the individual displays. In some embodiments the vehicle has an automotive electrical system and carries a publicly visible high-bright display, capable of providing over 1000 NITS illumination and having 640 by 480 or greater pixel resolution; and video drive circuitry causing images to be shown on the display.

Abstract: A system for publicly displaying messages can comprise an automotive vehicle having an automotive electrical system including an ignition system and a generator and a publicly visible electronic display; video drive circuitry for generating images (which can include advertisements) on the display; display-power circuitry for receiving power from the vehicle's automotive electrical system, supplying that power to the display, and automatically reducing the power supplied to the display after the vehicle's ignition is turned off. The display-power circuitry can automatically increase power to the display when the vehicle's ignition is turned back on. A computer can control the images on the display and the display-power circuitry can automatically reduce power to the display independently of whether the computer is operating.

Abstract: A system of advertising information on one or more mobile vehicles as a function of the vehicle's location. The system comprises mobile units and a central system for controlling the displays on the mobile units. The mobile units include displays visible from the outside of the vehicle, a controller, and a wireless communication system for repeatedly transmitting a locator signal to and receiving display-selection messages from the central system. The central system includes a wireless communication system for receiving locator signals from the mobile units, a memory and a processor. The central system determines a zone in which the mobile unit is located, selects a display to be shown by the mobile unit based on the zone that the mobile unit is located, and transmits a display-selection message to the mobile unit identifying a selected display message to be shown on the mobile unit's display.

Abstract: A system shows messages on electronic displays, including networks of outdoor displays, such as displays mounted on vehicles. With such vehicle displays, a display's current geographical location can be sensed, such as by a GPS receiver in the vehicle or by multiple wireless receivers separate from the vehicle. The sensed location can then be used to select which messages are shown the display. Different values can be associated with showing messages on displays at different locations and times, and values associated with the locations and time through which a display travels can be summed, such as for charging advertisers or crediting vehicle operators. The system can be controlled by a computer system, such as an e-commerce site, which allows advertisers to upload message content, select messages, and select the time and place at which a messages is to be shown, either directly or by specifying criteria for the system to select such times and places.

Abstract: A system for publicly displaying messages includes one or more mobile units, each including an automotive vehicle carrying a publicly visible electronic display; a computer for controlling the images shown on the display; and a radio for transmitting and receiving information, including information about which messages should be shown on the mobile unit's display. A central system receives and sends information to radios on the mobile units to control what messages they display. In some embodiments the mobile unit includes programming to enable a remote computer, such as a central system computer, to have remote access over the radio to commands of the mobile unit's computer's operating system. In some embodiments, the information transmitted by a mobile unit's radio includes information about the status of the mobile unit's computer. This can include how much more room its memory has, how utilized its CPU is, how much radio traffic it is having, what display message it is currently showing, etc.

Abstract: Databases provide information on viewership for messages. In some embodiments the database can describe the numbers and/or type of pedestrians who can watch public displays at different locations and times. The displays can be outdoors and/or vehicle mounted. The database can be updated by information from sensors. In some embodiments data having a given temporal and spatial granularity, such as pedestrian or vehicle data, is smoothed to produce data having a higher spatial and/or temporal resolution. In some embodiments a database of potential viewership is used to automatically select the message and charge for a showing on a given display. In some embodiments the database indicates viewership for different times of day and the charges or messages selected also vary by time of day. Such message or charge selection can be applied to nonpublic displays, based on multiple-viewer demographics associated with different displays, including demographics derived by sensors.

Abstract: A system for publicly displaying messages includes elements carried by an automotive vehicle. In some embodiments the vehicle carries a publicly visible electronic display; a sensor for sensing the brightness of light in the vicinity of the display; and illumination varying circuitry for varying the brightness of light generated by the display in response to brightness detected by the sensor. In some embodiments the vehicles carries a publicly visible display formed by ganging together a plurality of displays, each having at least 640×480 pixels; and video drive circuitry for causing images to be shown on the ganged display with different portions of individual images being shown on each of the individual displays. In some embodiments the vehicle has an automotive electrical system and carries a publicly visible high-bright display, capable of providing over 1000 NITS illumination and having 640 by 480 or greater pixel resolution; and video drive circuitry causing images to be shown on the display.

Abstract: A vehicle display unit is designed to be carried by an automotive vehicle. Some such units are designed for mounting on the roof of a car, bus, or other vehicle. Others are designed to be mounted in other locations on or in a vehicle, such as, for example, on the side of a car, truck, or bus. Such a display unit can include components such as an one or more electronic displays; display drive circuitry, which can include a computer; a connection for receiving power from the electrical system of a vehicle; an enclosure around the one or more displays and their drive circuitry which has ventilation openings; and a ventilation fan for moving cooling air through the enclosure. The electronic displays can have 640×480 or greater resolution. Some roof-mounted embodiments have three electronic displays arranged in a triangle, with two displays each visible from the front and one side of the vehicle, and the third display visible from the behind the vehicle.