U.S. patent application number 10/227170 was filed with the patent office on 2003-11-13 for 360 degree automobile video camera system.
Invention is credited to Mazzilli, Joseph J..
Application Number | 20030210328 10/227170 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32996225 |
Filed Date | 2003-11-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030210328 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mazzilli, Joseph J. |
November 13, 2003 |
360 degree automobile video camera system
Abstract
The present invention relates to a video camera system which has
a 360.degree. range for digital video recording inside and outside
of an automotive vehicle.
Inventors: |
Mazzilli, Joseph J.;
(Bayside, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard B. Klar
Suite 2301
875 Ave of the Americas
New York
NY
10001
US
|
Family ID: |
32996225 |
Appl. No.: |
10/227170 |
Filed: |
August 23, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10227170 |
Aug 23, 2002 |
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10186544 |
Oct 17, 2002 |
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10186544 |
Oct 17, 2002 |
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10005380 |
Dec 3, 2001 |
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10005380 |
Dec 3, 2001 |
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09494060 |
Jan 28, 2000 |
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6333759 |
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60124624 |
Mar 16, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
348/148 ; 348/26;
348/E7.085 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B 13/19641 20130101;
B60R 11/0211 20130101; G08B 13/1965 20130101; B60R 2011/0085
20130101; G07C 5/0891 20130101; B60R 2011/0035 20130101; B60R
2011/0082 20130101; G08B 13/19673 20130101; H04N 7/18 20130101;
B60R 1/12 20130101; B60R 11/04 20130101; G08B 13/19647 20130101;
B60R 11/02 20130101; G08B 13/19619 20130101; B60R 11/0235 20130101;
B60R 2001/1253 20130101; G08B 13/19632 20130101; B60R 2011/0026
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/148 ;
348/26 |
International
Class: |
H04N 007/18; H04N
009/47 |
Claims
1. A video system for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a camera
housing located inside an automotive vehicle including a plurality
of cameras, located on each side of said housing to provide a
360.degree. range for video recording images received by said
lenses, said camera housing being incorporated into a rear view
mirror of said vehicle; a digital video recorder for multiplying
and recording all recorded images received from said cameras
thereby a providing a recording of a 360.degree. environment
surrounding said camera housing.
2. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said camera s
transmit said recorded images to digital video recorder by wireless
transmission.
3. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said camera s
transmit said recorded images to digital video recorder by wired
transmission.
4. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said digital video
recorder is located inside said automotive vehicle.
5. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said digital video
recorder is located remote from said automotive vehicle.
6. The video system according to claim 1 further comprising a flip
down monitor attached to the rear view mirror for displaying said
recorded images.
7. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said camera
housing is shaped circularly and each of said cameras is located 90
degrees apart from each other.
8. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said camera
housing is cube shaped and each side surface of said cube shaped
camera housing has a lens therein.
9. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said digital video
recorder is located in a glove compartment inside said automotive
compartment.
10. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said digital
video recorder is located in a trunk of said automotive
vehicle.
11. A method for digital video recording within an automotive
vehicle, the steps comprising: locating a camera housing inside an
automotive vehicle including a plurality of cameras located on each
side of said housing to provide a 360.degree. range for video
recording images received by said lenses, said camera housing being
part of a housing of a rear view mirror of said vehicle;
multiplying and recording images by means of a digital video
recorder thereby a providing a recording of a 360.degree.
environment surrounding said camera housing.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation in part
application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/005,380 filed on
Dec. 3, 2001 which in turn is a continuation in part application of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/494,060 filed on Jan. 28, 2000
which has issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,333,759 and which in turn is a
continuation in part of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Serial
No. 60/124,624 filed on Mar. 16, 1999 and for which priority is
claimed under 35USC 120.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a video camera system in an
automobile. In particular the present invention relates to a video
camera which has a 360.degree. range for video recording inside and
outside of an automotive vehicle and thereby providing
documentation for police officers or vehicle owners.
[0004] 2. The Prior Art
[0005] The use of videotaping systems for an automobile is known.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,78,904 relates to a vehicle mounted surveillance
system. The system has a camera and a control head inside a police
vehicle and a video recorder in a bullet proof, fire proof vault of
the vehicle.
[0006] The system is used as a surveillance system to videotape
located in the trunk of a vehicle.
[0007] It would be preferred to have a system with a 360.degree.
range for video taping a 360.degree. area simultaneously thus
videotaping both inside and outside of the vehicle. It would be
preferable to be able to retract the camera when not in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is a principal object of the present invention to provide
a video camera system for documentary videotaping in a 360.degree.
range around the camera's location.
[0009] It is another object to provide a 360.degree. range camera
to be located behind and underneath the rear view mirror of an
automobile vehicle.
[0010] It is a further object to VCR (video-cassette recorder) for
ready image.
[0011] It is another object to provide a commercial VCR system
which operates off the automotive vehicle's battery.
[0012] It is still another object to locate the multiplexer and VCR
either inside a glove compartment or a trunk of the automotive
vehicle.
[0013] It is a further object to provide a video camera system
which provides a 360 degree simultaneous video taping documentation
for police officers to serve as evidence for appropriate situations
when vehicles and/or individuals are within range of the police
officer's vehicle.
[0014] It is still another object to provide a video camera system
which provides a 360 degree simultaneous video taping documentation
for vehicle owners to serve as evidence of vehicle theft or police
abuse that occur within range of the owner's vehicle.
[0015] It is yet another object to provide a video camera system
which provides a 360 degree simultaneous video taping documentation
for vehicle owners to serve as documentation of accidents and
injuries and for related insurance purposes therefor that occur
within range of the owner's vehicle.
[0016] Other objects will become readily apparent from the
foregoing description and accompanying drawings in which:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a top view of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a view of the monitor along line 2 of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view along lines 3-3 of FIG.
1;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of line 4-4 of FIG. 3;
and
[0021] FIG. 5 is an alternative embodiment of the invention in
which the camera has a circularly-shaped housing; and
[0022] FIG. 6 is another alternative embodiment of the present
invention in which the camera has a cube-shaped housing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a top view of the
invention, a 360 degree video camera system inside of an automotive
vehicle 1. The 360 degree camera system includes a camera housing
5, a multiplexer unit 15 and a video cassette recorder (VCR) 18 and
optionally a monitor 19, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0024] The camera housing 5, as shown in FIG. 3, can be mounted on
the supporting mount 7 of the rear view mirror 8 of the automotive
vehicle 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the camera housing 5 can be moved so
that it can be retracted and placed behind the rear view mirror 8
in position A when not in use or extended below the rear view
mirror 8 in position B when in use. A hinge mechanism 9 can
articulately move the camera on its mount from position A to
position B and vice verse. Alternatively other mechanical
arrangements might be employed such as having the camera mount
designed as a telescopic rod for extending and retracting the
camera behind or below the rear view mirror respectively.
[0025] The camera housing 5 is preferably formed to accommodate a 4
Board CCD or a PC51 Series CMOS inline Microvideo Camera sold by
Super Circuits, Inc., Leander, Tex., which is mounted on a 1 inch
to 2 inch mount giving it a 360 degree view inside and outside the
vehicle. These miniature video cameras can be black and white or
color cameras. It is understood, however, that any other miniature
camera system can be used and the invention is not limited to these
specific examples.
[0026] There is a swivel unit for the camera housing 5 which
attaches to the rear view mirror.
[0027] The system includes preferably a 5 inch or 6 inch LCD video
monitor for viewing the camera recorded images (FIG. 2). The
monitor can be color or black and white and can flip up or
down.
[0028] Wires run from the camera housing to the multiplexer which
records with time and date, either in color or black and white, all
four miniature video cameras at the same time. Then the wires run
into a VCR which along with the miniature video cameras and
multiplexer operate off the vehicle's battery 22, preferably by a
wire harness (not shown) to which the wires for the miniature
cameras, the multiplexer 15 and the VCR 18 run and from which the
wire harness connects to the vehicle's battery 22.
[0029] Preferably, the camera housing 5 can be configured into any
geometric shape and is not limited to the shapes described herein.
FIGS. 3-5 shows the camera housing as a ring shaped or circular
housing with lenses on each side. Preferably four miniature video
cameras are provided on each side of the housing spaced 90 degrees
apart but the number of cameras 11 can vary if desired. The
miniature video cameras 11 provide the camera housing 5 with a 360
degree range for video recording everything around the camera
housing 5, namely the interior of the automotive vehicle and the
exterior of the automotive vehicle by recording through the
windshield, side and rear windows of the automotive vehicle 1. The
camera housing 5 and cameras 11 can run off the automotive
vehicle's battery as shown in FIG. 1.
[0030] The system includes a multiplexer 15 and a VCR 18. The
multiplexer 15 permits all the recorded view from each camera 11 of
the camera housing 5 to be placed together to provide a 360 degree
picture. Thus in a four camera arrangement, the multiplexer 15
provides for the four cameras images to be placed side by side by
side by side for display as recorded in the VCR 18 and displayed in
the monitor 19. The VCR 18 records these images. One suitable
multiplexer 15 for the present invention is Model No. DPX4 for
color video taping and Model No. MX4M for black and white video
taping available from Advanced Technology Video Inc. of Redmond,
Wash. Of course the present invention is not limited to any one
particular multiplexer model.
[0031] The multiplexer 15 and the VCR 18 are placed together and
preferably stacked one on top of the other either in the trunk 22
of the automotive vehicle as shown in FIG. 1 or in the glove
compartment of the automotive vehicle (not shown).
[0032] The wiring between the camera housing 5, the multiplexer 15
and VCR 18 and optionally the monitor 19 can be placed behind the
panels of the sidewalls, roof and dashboard of the vehicle as shown
in FIG. 1 to keep the installation of the present invention less
intrusive and the wiring concealed for aesthetic appearances. The
monitor 19, VCR 18 and the multiplexer 15 can also run off the
automotive vehicle's battery 22. Thus, preferably, all four video
cameras 11, the multiplexer 15 and the VCR 19 have wires running to
a wire harness which is connected to the vehicle's battery 22.
Alternatively any other power supply can be provided such as
batteries for the camera, multiplexer and VCR.
[0033] Alternatively, the camera housing 5 can be part of the
housing of the rear view mirror. In other words, the camera housing
can be incorporated or built into the housing of the rear view
mirror.
[0034] In another embodiment(not shown), the miniature video camera
can be a miniature digital camera and instead of a multiplexer unit
and a VCR, the miniature digital camera would be wired into digital
recording system. The digital recording system would be located in
either the glove compartment or the trunk in place of the
multiplexer unit and the VCR and similarly the miniature digital
camera would be located as described for the location of the camera
and camera housing 5 herein. Examples of digital video cameras that
can be used in the present invention include but are not limited to
JVC DVM 90 and Sony DCRPC 9. Examples of digital video cameras that
can be used include but are not limited to Sony GVD 300, Sony GVD
600 and Mobil view II Digital Recorder.
[0035] In still another embodiment of the present invention a
miniature 4 camera system can be built into the housing of the rear
view mirror. Further a monitor can be installed and attached to the
rear view mirror which can flip down from the mirror for viewing.
Alternatvely, the monitor can be located elsewhere in the
automotive vehicle. One or more of these miniature camera system
are custom designed by SVS (Subsea Video Systems, Inc.) Having an
address in Elizabeth City, N.C. These miniature camera system has
the following specifications:
[0036] Miniature 4 camera, rear view mirror, in car video system
externally mounted-clip-on version with a 2.5' high resolution,
flip down color LCD view screen (the flip down monitor) with camera
switcher (1-5 cameras): Pickup element: 1/3" CCD, Snc:
Internal;AGC: Automatic;Video Output: Composite (1vp-p); white
balance: automatic; minimum illumination: 0.3 lux., 0.0 lux;
voltage:10-16 V DC,150 mA; Dimensions: 1.75 Dia..times.2.5 inches
Lg.; Weight: 154 grams; shock: Above 1000 g; Temperature: -40
degrees C. to +50 degrees C.; Lens face: Pyrex tempered.
[0037] A high resolution 16.times. color zoom camera is also being
custom built by SVS for the present invention with the following
specifications:
[0038] This high resolution color camera offers a remote controlled
motorized zoom lens with a 16.times.zoom o 3.9 to 54.6 mm. The lens
also incorporates an auto focus feature thereby minimizing control
functions . The remote zoom control unit is also included with the
camera. As with all our cameras the AV-Z is waterproof and rated to
our minimum specification of 300 foot water depth . The micro lens
motors do not allow for 1000 g shock levels but with our
specialized camera hardening techniques it can still achieve an
impressive 150 g continuous shock at 0.5 millisecond, still
exceeding any other standard video camera specifications. An
optional RS-232 serial data port is available for full computer
control with over 10 controllable functions. This system provides
for a true harsh environmental video camera.
[0039] The specifications for this camera system include:
[0040] Pickup element: 1/4" CCD, Snc: Internal;AGC: Automatic;Video
Output: Composite (1vp-p); white balance: automatic; minimum
illumination: 0.01lux.; voltage:10-16 V DC, shock: 150 g;
Temperature: -40 degrees C. to +50 degrees C.; Lens face: Pyrex
tempered.
[0041] A further embodiment which may utilize the camera systems
such as those which are being custom built by SVS manufactured
utilizes a DVR or digital video recorder as the digital recording
system and does not require a multiplexer in the present invention.
The camera system can either be wired for transmission to the DVR
or can communicate with the DVR by wireless transmission. The DVR
can be located in the automotive vehicle or at a remote location
from the automotive vehicle so that the camera system can
communicate with the DVR by wireless transmission. Again one
version of this DVR is being custom built by SVS as a
portable/mobile video recorder having the following features;
[0042] broadcast quality MPEG -2 recording , 1-5 cameras, 30FPS;
Programable
[0043] e video compression for, optimum recording; 1 channel audio
recording with wearable , wireless microphone (600' transmission
from car); instant replay of 1-5 cameras while still recording;
compatible with NTSC or PAL; simple VCR like wearable wireless
remote operation; computer/Internet accessible with secure password
protection and up to 30 days recording with the aforementioned
camera systems being custom built by SVS.
[0044] The specifications include:
[0045] ISO/IEX 13188-3,2(MPEG-2); Stream Types: Elementary, Program
and Transport., Half PEL accuracy; Video Encoder: Horizontal
Resolution-720,640,480,320,160; Vertical
Resolution-480,240,112(NTSC), 576,288, 144 (PAL); Preprocessor:
programmable 2D (7.times.6) filter spatial noise reduction; Motion
Estimation: Pand B-pictures +/-100 (H) X+/-34 (V); Inputs: (a)
Composite Video : 1.times., Input Impedance: 75 Ohm, 1.0Vp-p
Standards 525/60 (NTSC), 625/50 (PAL); Audio: 1.times.; Balanced
Level--Up to 3V p-p.
[0046] Although the invention is described in particular for use in
automotive vehicles, it can also be utilized in other vehicles
involving but not limited to aircrafts, boats, trains, etc.
[0047] While presently preferred embodiments have been described
for purposes of the disclosure, numerous changes in the arrangement
of method steps and apparatus parts can be made by those skilled in
the art. Such changes are encompassed within the spirit of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *