Photographic system for use on school buses

• US 10,580,294 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2017
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jacques Bedard
• Original Assignee: Jacques Bedard
• Inventors: Bedard, Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Villecco, John
• Application Number:
  US15/810,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20180137753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 841 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/509 specific to unauthorised use, e.g. for indicating stolen vehicles or infringements of traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/545 for indicating other traffic conditions, e.g. fog, heavy traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/054 photographing overspeeding vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/60 Control of cameras or camera modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/90 Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums

Abstract

A photographic system for use on school buses allowing traffic authorities to issue citations for violations of school bus traffic laws which require drivers to stop when a school bus turns on its flashers. Doppler devices are activated when the flashers are turned on. The Doppler devices detect for vehicle motion and speed facilitating a camera to take a series of snapshots. The snapshots along with locational and time data are sent to the authorities. The photographic system is designed to improve awareness and safety around school buses when loading and unloading school children.

Claims

1. A photographic system for use on a school bus comprising:

a control unit located in the school bus;

at least one container connected to the control unit, wherein the at least one container includes a camera, a Doppler device, a microprocessor, a memory storage unit, and a GPS unit; and

a number of flashers positioned on a front portion and a back portion of the school bus, wherein the number of flashers are connected to the control unit such that when the number of flashers are turned on by a school bus driver, the Doppler device is activated for vehicle motion detection;

the Doppler device is configured to send signals to the microprocessor to initiate a series of snapshots of a license plate of a vehicle via the camera;

wherein the license plate is a rear license plate;

the vehicle is Doppler device detects that the vehicle is an oncoming vehicle towards the front portion of the school bus or an approaching vehicle towards the back portion of the school bus and determines that, wherein the oncoming or approaching vehicle is not decelerating to a stop at a predetermined distance from the school bus.

2. The photographic system for use on a school bus of claim 1, wherein the at least one container is a first container and a second container.

3. The photographic system for use on a school bus of claim 2, wherein the first container is positioned on a first side of the school bus adjacent to the front portion of the school bus and the second container is positioned on the first side of the school bus adjacent to the back portion of the school bus.

4. The photographic system for use on a school bus of claim 1, wherein the Doppler device is configured to determine the vehicle'"'"'s speed and the GPS unit is configured to determine locational data including GPS coordinates and time data.

5. The photographic system for use on a school bus of claim 1, wherein the series of snapshots, the vehicle'"'"'s speed, and locational data are stored on the memory storage unit and sent over the Internet to local authorities via a transmitter.

6. The photographic system for use on a school bus of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor is configured to determine a best time to trigger the series of snapshots.

7. The photographic system for use on a school bus of claim 1, wherein the license plate is a front license plate.

8. A photographic system for use on a school bus comprising:

a control unit located in the school bus;

a first container and a second container each having a camera and a Doppler device connected to the control unit, wherein the first container is positioned on a first side of the school bus adjacent to a front portion of the school bus and the second container is positioned on the first side of the school bus adjacent to a back portion of the school bus;

wherein at least one of the first or second containers include a microprocessor, a memory storage unit, and a GPS unit;

a number of flashers positioned on the front portion and the back portion of the school bus, wherein the number of flashers are connected to the control unit such that when the number of flashers are turned on by a school bus driver, the Doppler devices are activated;

the Doppler devices are configured to work together and send signals to the microprocessor when detecting an oncoming or approaching vehicle that is not decelerating at a predetermined distance from the school bus;

the microprocessor is configured to determine a best time to initiate a series of snapshots of a license plate of the vehicle via the cameras, wherein the best time is based on the signals sent by the Doppler devices; and

the Doppler devices are configured to determine the oncoming or approaching vehicle'"'"'s speed and the GPS unit is configured to determine locational data including GPS coordinates and time data, wherein the series of snapshots, the vehicle'"'"'s speed, and locational data are configured to be stored on the memory storage unit and sent over the Internet to local authorities via a transmitter.

9. A method of using a photographic system for use on a school bus when school bus flashers are actuated, the method comprising steps:

(a) activating, with a control unit, at least one Doppler device;

(b) determining, with the at least one Doppler device, if an approaching or an oncoming vehicle is not decelerating to a stop at a predetermined distance from the school bus;

(c) determining, with a microprocessor, a best time to take a series of snapshots of the approaching or oncoming vehicle based on the vehicle'"'"'s speed at the predetermined distance;

(d) taking, with at least one camera, the series of snapshots of a license plate of the approaching or oncoming vehicle;

(e) recording, with the at least one Doppler device, the vehicle'"'"'s speed;

(f) recording, with a GPS unit, the GPS coordinates and time data of the approaching or oncoming vehicle;

(g) storing, with a memory storage unit, the series of snapshots, the vehicle'"'"'s speed, the GPS coordinates, and the time data; and

(h) transmitting, with a transmitter, the series of snapshots, the vehicle'"'"'s speed, the GPS coordinates, and the time data to local authorities over the Internet.

10. The method of using a photographic system for use on a school bus when the flashers are turned on of claim 9, wherein in step (d), the license plate is a rear license plate.

11. The method of using a photographic system for use on a school bus when the flashers are turned on of claim 9, wherein in step (d), the license plate is a front license plate.