Vehicle-mounted video system with distributed processing

• US 10,730,439 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2016
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digital Ally Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digital Ally Incorporated
• Inventors: Haler, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazaro, David R
• Application Number:
  US15/137,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20160236621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/53 of electronic viewfinders, e.g. rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A vehicle-mounted system for recording video and audio. The system uses distributed processing, including encoding the video and audio at their source(s), and a high-speed, e.g., Ethernet, bus connecting the various system components and external devices. The system may include a display monitor which is integrated into the same housing as a rear view mirror of the vehicle, with the display monitor being located behind the mirror and video displayed on the monitor being visible through the mirror.

Claims

1. A video system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a rear view mirror housing;

a mirror mounted in the rear view mirror housing;

a first video camera attached to the rear view mirror housing and configured to capture first video data;

a second video camera attached to the rear view mirror housing and configured to capture second video data;

wherein the first video camera and the second video camera are configured to implement a recording loop such that video signals from the first camera and the second camera are simultaneously and continuously encoded and stored in a removable memory module,

a first video camera memory storing the first video data;

a second video camera memory storing the second video data,

wherein the first video data is encoded at the first video camera,

wherein the second video data is encoded at the second video camera;

a microphone integrated into the rear view mirror housing and configured to capture audio data,

wherein the audio data is encoded at the microphone;

a central control unit installed in the rear view mirror housing and configured to receive the first video data from the first camera, the second video data from the second camera and the audio from the microphone;

a memory port adapted to receive the removable memory module, wherein the removable memory module is operable to receive and store the first video data, the second video data and the audio from the central control unit;

a user input configured to be manipulated by a user; and

a display monitor configured to selectively display at least one of the first video data and the second video data;

wherein the display monitor is configured to display setting information thereon, such that the user can change the setting information by manipulation of the user input,

wherein the display monitor is mounted in the rear view mirror housing substantially behind the mirror, and the mirror and the display monitor being configured so that the displayed video is viewable through the mirror,

wherein lost frames are retrieved by the central control unit from the first video camera memory when it is determined that the first video data received at the central control unit does not include the lost frames.

2. The video system of claim 1, wherein the first and second video cameras are synchronized via the central control unit so as to provide an accurate time stamp associated with the respective captured video.

3. The video system of claim 1, wherein the display monitor is configured to selectively display no video data, the first video data, and the second video data.

4. The video system of claim 1, wherein the system includes day and night recording modes.

5. The video system of claim 1, wherein the central control unit is configured to play back on the display previously recorded video data.

6. The video system of claim 1, wherein the first camera and the second camera are wide-angle cameras.

7. The video system of claim 1, wherein the central controller timestamps the first video data and the second video data.

8. The video system of claim 1, further comprising an LED recording indicator.

9. The video system of claim 1, further comprising an audio/visual connector for transmitting video data and audio data to an external monitor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the audio data is encoded at the microphone at least by converting the audio data from an unencoded analog signal to a digital signal.

11. A rear-view mirror video camera apparatus, comprising:

a rear view mirror housing;

a mirror mounted in the rear view mirror housing;

a first video camera attached to the rear view mirror housing and configured to capture first video data;

a second video camera attached to the rear view mirror housing and configured to capture second video data,

wherein the first video data is encoded at the first video camera,

wherein the second video data is encoded at the second video camera;

a first video camera memory storing the first video data;

a second video camera memory storing the second video data,

a microphone integrated into the rear view mirror housing and configured to capture audio data,

wherein the audio data is encoded at the microphone;

a removable flash memory module configured to store the first video data from the first camera, the second video data from the second camera and the audio from the microphone such that video signals from the first camera and the second camera are simultaneously and continuously encoded and stored in the removable flash memory module; and

a display monitor configured to selectively display at least one of the first video data and the second video data,

wherein the display monitor is mounted in the rear view mirror housing substantially behind the mirror, and the mirror and the display monitor being configured so that the displayed video is viewable through the mirror,

wherein lost frames are retrieved from the first video camera memory when it is determined that the first video data stored at the removable flash memory module does not include the lost frames.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first and second video cameras are synchronized so as to provide an accurate time stamp associated with the respective captured video.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the display is configured to selectively display no video data, the first video data, and the second video data.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the camera apparatus includes day and night recording modes.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the display monitor is configured to play back on the display previously recorded video data from the removable memory module.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first camera and the second camera are wide-angle cameras.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first video data and the second video data include a timestamp.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an LED recording indicator.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an audio/visual connector for transmitting video data and audio data to an external monitor.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the audio data is encoded at the microphone at least by converting the audio data from an unencoded analog signal to a digital signal.