Oncoming vehicle alert system

An apparatus for mounting on a vehicle, wherein the apparatus is further for alerting an oncoming vehicle operator as to the presence of a certain number of additional vehicles behind the vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

• a mount configured to attach to the vehicle, wherein the mount is adjustable;
• a body coupled with the mount such that the body is adjustable with respect to the vehicle, wherein the body includes an upper side and an operator-facing side;
• a circuit board positioned within the body;
• a processor mounted on the circuit board, wherein the processor is configured to receive power from a battery;
• a display mounted on the circuit board, and including a first group of segments and a second group of segments, wherein each of the segments comprises an LED, wherein the display is configured to receive power from the battery and to receive signals from the processor, wherein the signals dynamically control an illumination pattern of the segments, wherein the segments are mounted on a circuit board, wherein the first group of segments is configured to illuminate patterns of the segments corresponding to different numbers, wherein the second group of segments is configured to illuminate a pattern of the segments corresponding to at least one word, wherein at least one segment in the first group of segments is shared with the second group of segments, wherein a height of the first group of segments is greater than a height of the second group of segments, wherein the signals cause the first group of segments and the second group of segments to illuminate in an alternating manner, wherein the first group of segments and the second group of segments alternate at a period, wherein the period is no longer than approximately one second per group;
• a power indicator mounted on the circuit board and configured to illuminate in a manner corresponding to a charge level of the battery;
• a lens configured to cover the display, and including a display light pipe and a power indicator light pipe, wherein the display light pipe is configured to direct light from the display to a forward-facing surface of the lens, wherein the power indicator light pipe is configured to direct light from the power indicator to an upward-facing surface or a rearward-facing surface of the lens, wherein the lens comprises an opaque region in an area where there is no light pipe, wherein the opaque region is configured to obscure the appearance of structure behind the lens;
• and
• a user interface disposed on the rearward-facing side of the body, wherein the user interface communicates with the processor, wherein the user interface includes a power button, an increment button, and a decrement button, wherein the power button is configured to selectively turn the display ON and OFF, wherein the increment button is configured to cause the processor to generate a signal for the first group of segments in the display to increase the number such that a different pattern is illuminated, wherein the decrement button is configured to cause the processor to generate a signal for the first group of segments in the display to decrease the number such that a different pattern is illuminated, wherein the buttons comprise push buttons.