Simple idea this one. A row of LEDs fitted on the back of the rear wiper flicker to display a message while the wiper is in aciton. Like those silly executive clocks.
Store a number of messages via the onboard computer (which most cars have nowadays), and at the flick of a swicth you could be telling the guy tail-gating you to $&*! off (not reccomended though)-- shinobi, Nov 26 2006 + I like the idea, but have 2 questions:
How fast must the wiper reciprocate in order for the message to be readable?
Will the LEDs be bright enough to be visible in daylight, given that they are (spatially) multiplexed?-- csea, Nov 26 2006 "BACK"
"OFF"
"BUDDY"
"IT'S"
"RAINING"-- Dub, Nov 26 2006 "I swear to god officer I was tailgating so I could read the message that was being spelled out by his wiper blade, thats when i ran into the back of his car"-- jhomrighaus, Nov 26 2006 nicey +-- squeak, Nov 27 2006 csea.
1. I have no clue how fast the wiper would have to reciprocate in order for the message to be readable
2. The LEDs will probably not be brigt enough to be visible duting the day, unless the car has tinted windowds I suppose, thus giving it more contrast.-- shinobi, Nov 27 2006 More road rage waiting to happen... It could be made, but why would you want to piss yet another angry driver off?-- Alysonwonderland, Nov 27 2006 I have read that the eye retains a residual image for 1/10th of a second. So to create smooth images you would need the blade to actuate 10 times per second at a minimum.-- MoreCowbell, Nov 27 2006 From the Help file : //redundant - a very similar invention already exists on the halfbakery. Any invention involving back windows of cars and LEDs spelling out messages is likely to earn this tag.//
So, er, doesn't this come under that category?-- jtp, Nov 28 2006 No.-- squeak, Nov 28 2006 //So, er, doesn't this come under that category//
No, unless the other idea uses Persitence of Vision.-- webfishrune, Nov 28 2006 I don't really see what difference it makes, it's still LEDs spelling out messages on the back window of the car. But what do I know?-- jtp, Nov 28 2006 I think its enough different that it is at least a creative deviation from the normal version.-- jhomrighaus, Nov 28 2006 Some people don't want to take a hint. I think this is redundant-- PainOCommonSense, Nov 28 2006 the wiper will have to go to fast but a second arm just for this use would work nicely-- dev45, Nov 28 2006 It doesen't have to move that fast as the PoV is provided less by the movement and more by the strobing of the LEDs.-- webfishrune, Nov 28 2006 i agree, redundant. also, ive seen on HGTV's I want that, a simlar device that uses LEDs in rims of wheels to communicate with other drivers.
plus the speed makes this not really feasble. \begin{back of napkin calculations} if the tip of the wiper blade has to travel about 3 feet in 1/10th of a second, thats about 20.4 mph. i'd like to see the actuator that'll drive that. \end{bonc}-- bleh, Nov 28 2006 No, I don't think it would need to go that fast...maybe 2 full cycles per second.
Just had a similar idea, but this one is near enough.-- Ling, Apr 04 2013 random, halfbakery