1. A method for dynamically-controlled display of information on a billboard, the method comprising the steps of:
a) displaying a billboard message, wherein the message is displayed on the billboard for a certain time duration;
b) measuring speed of at least one vehicle by at least one sensor; and
c) selecting the message display time duration, by at least one computer, in response to the measured speed.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
selectively breaking the message into a number of segments by the computer; and
displaying the message segments on respective ones of a number of billboards by the computer, wherein the billboards are located such that they are viewable in a sequence as the at least one vehicle moves, and wherein the number of segments is selected in response to the measured speed, such that the number of segments is increased in response to an increase in the measured speed.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein selectively breaking the message into a number of segments by the computer includes i) breaking the message into two segments for a first measured speed, wherein for the first measured speed the displaying of the message segments on respective ones of a number of billboards includes displaying a first one of the two message segments on a first one of the billboards and displaying a second one of the two message segments on a second one of the billboards, and ii) breaking the message into three segments for a second measured speed, the second measured speed being a higher speed than the first measured speed, wherein for the second measured speed the displaying of the message segments on respective ones of a number of billboards includes displaying a first one of the three message segments on a first one of the billboards, displaying a second one of the two message segments on a second one of the billboards, and displaying a third one of the three message segments on a third one of the billboards
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the message includes at least one word or includes graphical information, and the method further comprises:
changing, by the computer, the at least one word or the graphical information included in the message in response to the measured speed.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the message includes a certain number of words, and the changing of the at least one word or the graphical information includes changing the certain number of words to a smaller number of words in response to an increase in the measured speed.
6. The method of claim 1, including the step of:
detecting, by at least one sensor, clusters of vehicles traveling in a certain direction on a road, wherein step b) further comprises measuring, by the sensor, speed of at least one of the clusters of vehicles, and wherein the message display time duration is selected in step c) in response to the measured speed of the clusters, enabling an increased number of persons to see the message from within the traveling vehicles.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of displaying the billboard message includes starting the message displaying at a certain start time, the message start time being selected in response to the measured speed of the clusters, and wherein selecting the message start time includes selecting the message start time to correspond to a time when one of the clusters arrives at a distance from which the message for the billboard is readable, and selecting the message display time duration includes selecting the message display time duration to correspond to a time interval when the one of the clusters is at a distance from which the message for the billboard is readable.
8. The method of claim 6, including the step of:
rotating the billboard by the computer in response to the speed of such a cluster, wherein the rotation is about an axis substantially perpendicular to the road and wherein the rotating responsive to the cluster speed tends to maintain a face of the billboard toward the cluster, enabling an increased number of persons to see the message from within the traveling vehicles.
9. The method of claim 1, including the step of:
detecting, by the sensor, lengths of vehicles traveling in a certain direction on a road, wherein the message display time duration is selected by the computer in step c) also in response to the lengths, enabling an increased number of persons to see the message from within the traveling vehicles.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein step c) further comprises:
selecting the message display time duration for the billboard message such that the billboard message is displayed for a shorter time duration as the measured speed increases, and for a longer time duration as the measured speed decreases.
11. A computer program product for dynamically-controlled display of information on a billboard, wherein the computer program product resides on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code, the program code comprising:
first instructions for displaying a message on a billboard for a certain time duration;
second instructions for computing speed of at least one vehicle in response to a sensor measurement; and
third instructions for selecting the message display time duration in response to the speed.
12. An apparatus for dynamically-controlled display of information on a billboard, wherein the computer program product resides on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code, the apparatus comprising:
a billboard;
a sensor for measuring speed of at least one vehicle; and
a computer for communicating with the sensor and varying display time of a message on the billboard, wherein the message display time is selected in response to the measured speed.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising:
at least a second billboard, the billboards being located such that they are viewable in a sequence as the at least one vehicle moves, wherein the computer selectively breaks the message into a number of segments and controls displaying of the segments on the respective billboards, the computer selecting the number of segments in response to the speed measured by the sensor such that the number of segments is increased in response to an increase in the measured speed.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the computer i) breaks the message into two segments for a first measured speed, wherein for the first measured speed the displaying of the message segments on respective ones of a number of billboards includes displaying a first one of the two message segments on a first one of the billboards and displaying a second one of the two message segments on a second one of the billboards, and ii) breaks the message into three segments for a second measured speed, the second measured speed being a higher speed than the first measured speed, wherein for the second measured speed the displaying of the message segments on respective ones of a number of billboards includes displaying a first one of the three message segments on a first one of the billboards, displaying a second one of the two message segments on a second one of the billboards, and displaying a third one of the three message segments on a third one of the billboards
15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the message includes at least one word or includes graphical information, and the computer changes at least one word or the graphical information included in the message in response to the speed measured by the sensor.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein wherein the message includes a certain number of words, and the changing of the at least one word or the graphical information includes the computer changing the certain number of words to a smaller number of words in response to an increase in the measured speed.
17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sensor is for measuring speed of at least one cluster of vehicles and the computer selects the message display time duration in response to measured speed of the clusters, enabling an increased number of persons to see the message from within the traveling vehicles.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the computer starts the message displaying at a certain start time, the message start time being selected in response to the measured speed of the clusters, and wherein selecting the message start time includes selecting the message start time to correspond to a time when one of the clusters arrives at a distance from which the message for the billboard is readable, and selecting the message display time duration includes selecting the message display time duration to correspond to a time interval when the one of the clusters is at a distance from which the message for the billboard is readable.
19. The apparatus of claim 16, including:
an operator for rotating the billboard by the computer in response to the speed of such a cluster, wherein the rotation is about an axis substantially perpendicular to the road and wherein the rotating responsive to the cluster speed tends to maintain a face of the billboard toward the cluster, enabling an increased number of persons to see the message from within the traveling vehicles.
20. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the sensor is for detecting lengths of vehicles traveling in a certain direction on a road, wherein the message display time duration is selected by the computer, also in response to the lengths, enabling an increased number of persons to see the message from within the traveling vehicles.
21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the computer selects the message display time duration for the billboard message such that the billboard message is displayed for a shorter time duration as the measured speed increases, and for a longer time duration as the measured speed decreases.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A steering system for a ski boat having a helm, a propulsion motor, a propeller, and a rotatable propeller shaft, said helm being adapted for input of operator commands for speed and steering, said propeller being mounted on said rotatable propeller shaft, said propeller shaft being linked to transfer power directly or indirectly from said propulsion motor to said propeller, and said propeller being positioned to be in a flow of water supporting said ski boat when said ski boat is moving relative to the water, comprising:
a. a pair of rudders operatively mounted to interact with said flow of water;
b. said pair of rudders including a movable aft rudder operatively mounted to interact with said flow of water aftward of said propeller;
c. a movable forward rudder operatively mounted to interact with said flow of water forward of said propeller; and
d. a rudder control system including controls that operatively move one of said pair of rudders without moving the other of said pair of rudders when the ski boat is traveling in a first range of speed conditions; and
e. said rudder control system also including controls that operatively move both of said pair of rudders, thereby achieving greater exposure of rudder turning surfaces to said water flow, when the ski boat is traveling in a second range of speed conditions
f. an aft rudder steering shaft attached to said aft rudder, the rotational axis of said aft rudder steering shaft positioned aft of said non-steerable propeller and approximately intersecting along the extended centerline of said propeller shaft;
g. an aft rudder controller in communication with, and capable of controlling the pivotal movement of said aft rudder steering shaft and thereby changing the angle of said aft rudder in relation to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft such that when said helm is commanded to starboard an operating body portion of said aft rudder rotates to starboard and when said helm is commanded to port said operating body portion of said aft rudder rotates to port;
h. an aft rudder angle sensor for detecting and transmitting a relative rotational position of said aft rudder steering shaft;
i. a helm sensor transmitting said helm’s command to said aft rudder controller;
j. a throttle control to command the speed and thrust direction of said non-steerable propeller;
k. a throttle control sensor detecting and transmitting said throttle control’s speed and thrust direction commands;
l. a strut securing said propeller shaft to said hull of said ski boat;
m. said movable forward rudder located generally aft of said strut and forward of said non-steerable propeller;
n. a forward rudder steering shaft attached to said forward rudder, the rotational axis of said forward rudder steering shaft positioned forward of said non-steerable propeller and along the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft;
o. a forward rudder controller capable of controlling the movement of said forward rudder steering shaft and thereby changing the angle of said forward rudder in relation to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft;
p. an electronic controller receiving input information from said helm sensor, said throttle control sensor, and said aft rudder angle sensor, said electronic controller including a control signal generator;
q. said control signal generator sending control signals to said forward rudder controller based on said input information, said control signals transmitted to said forward rudder controller to rotate said forward rudder steering shaft and thereby change the angle of said forward rudder in relation to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft, such that:
(1) when said throttle control commands a forward or no thrust, said forward rudder remains aligned parallel to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft;
(2) when said throttle control commands a reverse thrust and said helm is selected to starboard, said forward rudder rotates to port in direct proportion to the aft rudder rotation to starboard;
(3) when said throttle control commands a reverse movement and said helm is selected to port, said forward rudder rotates to starboard in direct proportion to the aft rudder rotation to port.
2. The steering system of claim 1, wherein said second range of speed conditions includes conditions that are characteristic of some or all no-wake speeds for said ski boat.
3. The steering system of claim 1, wherein said second range of speed conditions includes conditions that are characteristic of reverse speeds for said ski boat.
4. The steering system of claim 1, wherein said first range of speed conditions includes conditions that are characteristic of reverse speeds for said ski boat.
5. The steering system of claim 1, wherein said controls are adapted to operatively move the aft rudder without moving the forward rudder when the ski boat is traveling in said first range of speed conditions, and wherein said first range of speed conditions includes conditions that correspond to ski boat speeds that are in excess of no-wake speeds for said ski boat.
6. The steering system of claim 1, wherein said controls are adapted to operatively move the forward rudder without moving the aft rudder when the ski boat is traveling in said first range of speed conditions, and wherein said first range of speed conditions includes conditions that correspond to reverse ski boat speeds.
7. The steering system of claim 1, wherein said rudder control system includes controls that operatively move the aft rudder without moving the forward rudder when the ski boat is traveling in said second range of speed conditions, said second range of speed conditions that correspond to ski boat speeds that are in excess of no-wake speeds for said ski boat.
8. A method and system for steering a ski boat comprising:
a. a ski boat with a single propulsion motor where said single propulsion motor is located between the bow and stern of the hull;
b. said ski boat having a single, non-steerable propeller;
c. a helm;
d. a propeller shaft transferring power from said propulsion motor to said non-steerable propeller;
e. an aft rudder located aft of said non-steerable propeller;
f. an aft rudder steering shaft attached to said aft rudder, the rotational axis of said aft rudder steering shaft positioned aft of said non-steerable propeller and along the extended centerline of said propeller shaft;
g. an aft rudder controller in communication with, and capable of controlling the movement of, said aft rudder steering shaft and thereby changing the angle of said aft rudder in relation to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft such that, when said helm is commanded to starboard, an operating body portion of said aft rudder rotates to starboard and, when said helm is commanded to port, said operating body potion of said aft rudder rotates to port;
h. an aft rudder angle sensor for detecting and transmitting a rotation of said aft rudder steering shaft;
i. a helm sensor transmitting said helm’s command to said aft rudder controller;
j. a throttle control to command the speed and thrust direction of said non-steerable propeller;
k. a throttle control sensor detecting and transmitting said throttle control’s speed and thrust direction commands;
l. a strut securing said propeller shaft to said hull of said ski boat;
m. a forward rudder located generally aft of said strut and forward of said non-steerable propeller;
n. a forward rudder steering shaft attached to said forward rudder, the rotational axis of said forward rudder steering shaft positioned forward of said non-steerable propeller and along the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft;
o. a forward rudder controller capable of controlling the movement of said forward rudder steering shaft and thereby changing the angle of said forward rudder in relation to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft;
p. an electronic controller receiving input information from said helm sensor, said throttle control sensor, and said aft rudder angle sensor, said electronic controller including a control signal generator;
q. said control signal generator sending control signals to said forward rudder controller based on said input information, said control signals transmitted to said forward rudder controller to rotate said forward rudder steering shaft and thereby change the angle of said forward rudder in relation to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft, such that:
(1) when said throttle control commands a forward or no thrust, said forward rudder remains aligned parallel to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft;
(2) when said throttle control commands a reverse thrust and said helm is selected to starboard said forward rudder rotates to port in direct proportion to the aft rudder rotation to starboard;
(3) when said throttle control commands a reverse thrust and said helm is selected to port, said forward rudder rotates to starboard in direct proportion to the aft rudder rotation to port.
9. The system of claim 8, further comprising:
a. said forward rudder consisting of two connected sections: an upper section located between the hull of said ski boat and the top of the propeller shaft and a lower section extending below said propeller shaft;
b. said lower section designed to minimize drag when said ski boat is traveling forward at high speeds.
10. A ski boat ski boat steering system for steering a ski boat comprising:
a. a ski boat with a single propulsion motor where said single propulsion motor is located between the bow and stern of the hull;
b. said ski boat having a single, non-steerable propeller;
c. a helm;
d. a propeller shaft transferring power from said propulsion motor to said non-steerable propeller;
e. an aft rudder located aft of said non-steerable propeller;
f. an aft rudder steering shaft attached to said aft rudder, the rotational axis of said aft rudder steering shaft positioned aft of said non-steerable propeller and along the extended centerline of said propeller shaft;
g. an aft rudder controller in communication with, and capable of controlling the movement of, said aft rudder steering shaft and thereby changing the angle of said aft rudder in relation to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft such that, when said helm is commanded to starboard, an operating body portion of said aft rudder rotates to starboard and, when said helm is commanded to port, said operating body potion of said aft rudder rotates to port;
h. an aft rudder angle sensor for detecting and transmitting a rotation of said aft rudder steering shaft;
i. a helm sensor transmitting said helm’s command to said aft rudder controller;
j. a throttle control to command the speed and thrust direction of said non-steerable propeller;
k. a throttle control sensor detecting and transmitting said throttle control’s speed and thrust direction commands;
l. a strut securing said propeller shaft to said hull of said ski boat;
m. a forward rudder located proximal said strut and forward of said non-steerable propeller;
n. a forward rudder steering shaft attached to said forward rudder for controlling the position of said forward rudders, the rotational axis of said forward rudder steering shaft positioned forward of said non-steerable propeller and along the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft;
o. a forward rudder controller capable of controlling the movement of said forward rudder steering shaft and thereby changing the angle of said forward rudder in relation to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft;
p. an electronic controller receiving input information from said helm sensor, said throttle control sensor, and said aft rudder angle sensor, said electronic controller including a control signal generator;
q. said control signal generator sending control signals to said forward rudder controller based on said input information, said control signals transmitted to said forward rudder controller to rotate said forward rudder steering shaft and thereby change the angle of said forward rudder in relation to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft, such that:
(1) when said throttle control commands a forward thrust, said forward rudder remains aligned parallel to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft;
(2) when said throttle control commands a reverse thrust and said helm is selected to starboard said forward rudder rotates to port in direct proportion to the aft rudder rotation to starboard;
(3) when said throttle control commands a reverse thrust and said helm is selected to port, said forward rudder rotates to starboard in direct proportion to the aft rudder rotation to port.
11. A method and system for steering a ski boat comprising:
a. a ski boat with a single propulsion motor where said single propulsion motor is located between the bow and stern of the hull;
b. said ski boat having a single, non-steerable propeller;
c. a helm;
d. a propeller shaft transferring power from said propulsion motor to said non-steerable propeller;
e. an aft rudder located aft of said non-steerable propeller;
f. an aft rudder steering shaft attached to said aft rudder, the rotational axis of said aft rudder steering shaft positioned aft of said non-steerable propeller and along the extended centerline of said propeller shaft;
g. an aft rudder controller in communication with, and capable of controlling the movement of said aft rudder steering shaft and thereby changing the angle of said aft rudder in relation to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft such that when said helm is commanded to starboard, an operating body portion of said aft rudder rotates to starboard and, when said helm is commanded to port, said operating body potion of said aft rudder rotates to port;
h. an aft rudder angle sensor for detecting and transmitting a rotation of said aft rudder steering shaft;
i. a helm sensor transmitting said helm’s command to said aft rudder controller;
j. a throttle control to command the speed and thrust direction of said non-steerable propeller;
k. a throttle control sensor detecting and transmitting said throttle control’s speed and thrust direction commands;
l. a strut securing said propeller shaft to said hull of said ski boat;
m. a forward rudder located generally aft of said strut and forward of said non-steerable propeller;
n. a forward rudder steering shaft attached to said forward rudder, the rotational axis of said forward rudder steering shaft positioned forward of said non-steerable propeller and along the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft;
o. a forward rudder controller capable of controlling the movement of said forward rudder steering shaft and thereby changing the angle of said forward rudder in relation to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft;
p. a forward rudder angle sensor for detecting and transmitting a rotation of said forward rudder steering shaft;
q. a ski boat speed sensor for detecting and transmitting the speed of said ski boat;
r. a ski boat direction sensor capable of measuring and transmitting the direction of movement of said ski boat;
s. a propeller sensor capable of measuring and transmitting the speed of rotation of said propeller and the thrust direction of said propeller;
t. an electronic controller receiving input information from said helm sensor, said throttle control sensor, said ski boat speed sensor, said ski boat direction sensor, said propeller sensor, said aft rudder angle sensor, and said forward rudder angle sensor, said electronic controller including a control signal generator;
u. said control signal generator calculating optimal rudder angle commands based on said input information and sending control signals to achieve said optimal rudder angle to said forward rudder controller to rotate said forward rudder steering shaft and thereby change the angle of said forward rudder in relation to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft, such that:
(1) when said throttle control commands a forward or no thrust, said forward rudder remains aligned parallel to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft;
(2) when said throttle control commands a reverse thrust and said helm is selected to starboard, said forward rudder rotates optimally to port;
(3) when said throttle control commands a reverse thrust and said helm is selected to port, said forward rudder rotates optimally to starboard.
12. The method and system of claim 11, further comprising:
a. said forward rudder consisting of two connected sections; an upper section located between the hull of said ski boat and the top of the propeller shaft and a lower section extending below said propeller shaft;
b. said lower section designed to minimize drag when said ski boat is traveling forward at high speeds.
13. A method and system for steering a ski boat comprising:
a. a ski boat with a single propulsion motor where said single propulsion motor is located between the bow and stern of the hull;
b. said ski boat having a single, non-steerable propeller;
c. a helm;
d. a propeller shaft transferring power from said propulsion motor to said non-steerable propeller;
e. an aft rudder located aft of said non-steerable propeller;
f. an aft rudder steering shaft attached to said aft rudder, the rotational axis of said aft rudder steering shaft positioned aft of said non-steerable propeller and along the extended centerline of said propeller shaft;
g. an aft rudder controller in communication with, and capable of controlling the movement of said aft rudder steering shaft and thereby changing the angle of said aft rudder in relation to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft such that, when said helm is commanded to starboard, an operating body portion of said aft rudder rotates to starboard and, when said helm is commanded to port, said operating body potion of said aft rudder rotates to port;
h. an aft rudder angle sensor for detecting and transmitting a rotation of said aft rudder steering shaft;
i. a helm sensor transmitting said helm’s command to said aft rudder controller;
j. a throttle control to command the speed and thrust direction of said non-steerable propeller;
k. a throttle control sensor detecting and transmitting said throttle control’s speed and thrust direction commands;
l. a replacement strut securing said propeller shaft to said hull of said ski boat;
m. a forward rudder located proximal said strut and forward of said non-steerable propeller;
n. a forward rudder steering shaft attached to said forward rudder, the rotational axis of said forward rudder steering shaft positioned forward of said non-steerable propeller and along the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft;
o. a forward rudder controller capable of controlling the movement of said forward rudder steering shaft and thereby changing the angle of said forward rudder in relation to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft;
p. a forward rudder angle sensor for detecting and transmitting a rotation of said forward rudder steering shaft;
q. a ski boat speed sensor for detecting and transmitting the speed of said ski boat;
r. a ski boat direction sensor capable of measuring and transmitting the direction of movement of said ski boat;
s. a propeller sensor capable of measuring and transmitting the speed of rotation of said propeller and the thrust direction of said propeller;
t. an electronic controller receiving input information from said helm sensor, said throttle control sensor, said ski boat speed sensor, said ski boat direction sensor, said propeller sensor, said aft rudder angle sensor, and said forward rudder angle sensor, said electronic controller including a control signal generator;
u. said control signal generator calculating optimal rudder angle commands based on said input information and sending control signals to achieve said optimal rudder angle to said forward rudder controller to rotate said forward rudder steering shaft and thereby change the angle of said forward rudder in relation to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft, such that:
(1) when said throttle control commands a forward or no thrust, said forward rudder remains aligned parallel to the longitudinal centerline of said propeller shaft;
(2) when said throttle control commands a reverse thrust and said helm is selected to starboard, said forward rudder rotates optimally to port;
(3) when said throttle control commands a reverse thrust and said helm is selected to port, said forward rudder rotates optimally to starboard.