Vehicle inspection camera utilizing infrared diodes

• US 20020097321A1
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Powerlinx Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Powerlinx Incorporated
• Inventors: McBride, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US09/766,897
• Publication Number:
  US 20020097321A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2476 Non-optical details, e.g. housings, mountings, supports
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2484 Arrangements in relation to a camera or imaging device processing or control of video signals generated by an endoscope H04N23/60, H04N23/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A vehicle inspection camera system is provided and includes an elongated rod having a video camera mounted on a distal end, a headgear unit having an eyepiece with a video screen mounted therein, and a battery belt pack. A video signal cable couples the video camera to the video screen. The battery belt pack includes a pouch in which a 12 volt DC battery is enclosed. The battery supplies power to the video camera and video screen. A plurality of infrared diodes are mounted around the video camera so that lens of the camera can capture an image in low or no light situations. The vehicle inspection camera system is used by positioning the camera underneath a vehicle and viewing its undercarriage through the eyepiece. The headgear unit is worn on the skull of the operator while battery belt pack is secured to the waist of the operator.

Claims

1. A remote area viewing inspection device utilizing a video camera comprising:

a) an elongated rod having a top and bottom end;

b) the video camera mounted on the rod bottom end and capable of being positioned in the remote area to be viewed and inspected;

c) an adjustable headgear unit having an adjustable eyepiece mounted thereon, the eyepiece including a video monitor for viewing a video signal captured by the video camera, the video camera and video monitor connected by a video signal cable, the adjustable headgear unit capable of being worn by an operator of the inspection device on the head of their body; and

d) a power source connected to the video camera and video monitor.

2. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 1, wherein the elongated rod comprises an upper and lower leg member separated by an elbow.

3. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 2, wherein the elbow is adjustable.

4. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 1, further comprising:

a) a head portion for supporting the video camera at the rod bottom end;

b) the head portion including an elongated plate mounted perpendicularly with respect to the rod bottom end, at least two wheels mounted on a bottom surface of the elongated plate and a clamping mechanism having a first and second part mounted at a center portion of the elongated plate;

c) the video camera mounted on a circuit board enclosed within a tubular housing having a transparent cover; and

d) the clamping mechanism first and second part securing the tubular housing in an upright position such that the video camera is positioned perpendicularly with respect to a ground surface when the wheels are flat upon the ground surface, the video camera viewing upwardly through the tubular housing transparent cover.

5. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of infrared diodes surrounding the video camera for illuminating the remote area to be viewed and inspected when there is low or no light present at the remote area.

6. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 1, wherein the adjustable headgear unit includes an adjustable head band and an adjustable skull strap.

7. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 6, wherein the adjustable headgear unit includes a guide rail mounted along a front side of the head band, the guide rail supporting the eyepiece and having a pair of stop members located at opposed ends thereof for defining the limit to which the eyepiece can be positioned along the guide rail.

8. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 1, wherein the power source is a battery.

9. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 8, further comprising:

a) an adjustable belt capable of being worn by the inspection device operator around the waist of their body; and

b) a pouch attached to the adjustable belt enclosing the battery.

10. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 9, wherein the pouch includes a body portion having a closed bottom end, an open top end, a top edge of the top end, a zipper attached along the top edge, a top flap and an opening formed in a side wall thereof, the zipper for securing the top flap to the pouch body portion, the opening for permitting electrical leads attached to the battery to be threaded through the body portion and thereout.

11. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 1, further comprising a video signal and power source distribution adapter having a first connector for coupling to the power source, a second connector for coupling to the video signal cable connected to the video camera, and a first cable enclosing a power source lead and a video signal lead and having a multi-pin plug disposed at a distal end for engaging the eyepiece and for supplying the captured video signal and the power source thereto.

12. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 11, wherein the distribution adapter includes a housing and a clip mechanism for securing the housing to a belt worn by the inspection device operator.

13. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 1, wherein the adjustable eyepiece includes a body portion having an internal channel in which the video monitor is mounted, a proximal and distal end, a light cover mounted on the body portion proximal end for prohibiting light from entering the internal channel when the light cover is placed up against an eye socket of the inspection device operator, a video signal receptacle located in the body portion distal end for receiving a plug of the video signal cable, and a plurality of rotation joints for permitting the eyepiece to be placed in a variety of positions.

14. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 13, wherein the eyepiece includes three rotation joints, a first rotation joint located proximal to the eyepiece to headgear unit mounting position, a second rotation point located between the eyepiece to headgear unit mounting position and a top end of the eyepiece body portion, and a third rotation point located at the eyepiece body portion top end.

16. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 15, wherein the elbow is adjustable thereby permitting the rod upper and lower leg members to be positioned at varying angles with respect to one another.

17. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 15, further comprising:

a) the head portion including an elongated plate mounted perpendicularly with respect to the rod lower leg member bottom end, at least two wheels mounted on a bottom surface of the elongated plate, and a clamping mechanism having a first and second part mounted at a center portion of the elongated plate;

b) a tubular housing having a transparent cover for enclosing a circuit board;

c) the video camera mounted on the circuit board; and

d) the clamping mechanism first and second part securing the tubular housing in an upright position such that the video camera is positioned perpendicularly with respect to a ground surface when the wheels are flat upon the ground surface, the video camera viewing upwardly through the tubular housing transparent cover.

18. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 15, further comprising a plurality of infrared diodes surrounding the video camera for illuminating the remote area to be viewed and inspected when there is low or no light present at the remote area.

19. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 15, wherein the adjustable headgear unit comprises:

a) a generally circular adjustable head band having a front side;

b) a convex-shaped adjustable skull strap connected to the head band at opposed ends of the skull strap; and

c) a guide rail mounted along the head band front side for supporting the eyepiece, the guide rail having a pair of stop members located at opposed ends thereof for defining the limit to which the eyepiece can be positioned along the guide rail.

20. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 15, wherein the power source is a battery.

21. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 20, wherein the battery is rechargeable.

22. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 20, further comprising:

a) an adjustable belt capable of being worn by the inspection device operator around the waist of their body; and

b) a pouch attached to the adjustable belt for enclosing the battery, the pouch including a body portion having a closed bottom end, an open top end, a top edge of the top end, a zipper attached along the top edge, a top flap and an opening formed in a side wall thereof, the zipper for securing the top flap to the pouch body portion, the opening for permitting electrical leads attached to the battery to be threaded through the body portion and thereout.

23. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 15, further comprising a video signal and power source distribution adapter having a housing, a first connector located in the housing for coupling to the power source, a second connector located in the housing for coupling to the video signal cable connected to the video camera, and a first cable attached to the housing for enclosing a power source lead and video signal lead and having a multi-pin plug disposed at a distal end for engaging the eyepiece and for supplying the captured video signal and the power source thereto.

24. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 15, wherein the adjustable eyepiece includes a body portion having an internal channel in which the video monitor is mounted, a proximal and distal end, a light cover mounted on the body portion proximal end for prohibiting light from entering the internal channel when the light cover is placed up against an eye socket of the inspection device operator, a video signal receptacle located in the body portion distal end for receiving a plug of the video signal cable, and three rotation joints for permitting the eyepiece to be placed in a variety of positions, a first rotation joint located proximal to the eyepiece to headgear unit mounting position, a second rotation point located between the eyepiece to headgear unit mounting position, and a top end of the eyepiece body portion, and a third rotation point located at the eyepiece body portion top end.

25. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 15, wherein the remote area to be viewed and inspected is the undercarriage of a vehicle.

26. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 15, further comprising a foot member located proximal to the rod lower leg member top end, the foot member assisting in stabilizing the inspection device against a ground surface while being used.

27. The remote area viewing inspection device of claim 15, further comprising a pair of handles attached along the rod upper leg member at perpendicular angles to said upper leg member in opposed directions.

29. The vehicle inspection camera system of claim 28, wherein the elongated rod comprises an upper and lower leg member separated by an adjustable elbow.

30. The vehicle inspection camera system of claim 28, further comprising:

a) a head portion for supporting the video camera at the rod bottom end;

b) the head portion including an elongated plate mounted perpendicularly with respect to the rod bottom end, at least two wheels mounted on a bottom surface of the elongated plate, and a clamping mechanism having a first and second part mounted at a center portion of the elongated plate;

c) the video camera mounted on a circuit board enclosed within a tubular housing having a transparent cover; and

d) the clamping mechanism first and second part securing the tubular housing in an upright position such that the video camera views upwardly through the tubular housing transparent cover.

31. The vehicle inspection camera system of claim 30, further comprising a plurality of infrared diodes surrounding the video camera for illuminating the vehicle undercarriage when there is low or no light present thereunder.

32. The vehicle inspection camera system of claim 28, wherein the headgear unit comprises:

a) a generally circular adjustable head band having a front side;

b) a convex-shaped adjustable skull strap attached to the head band at opposed ends of the skull strap; and

c) a guide rail mounted along the head band front side, the guide rail supporting the eyepiece and having a pair of stop members located at opposed ends thereof for defining the limit to which the eyepiece can be positioned along the guide rail.

33. The vehicle inspection camera system of claim 28, further comprising:

a) the power source being a battery;

b) an adjustable belt capable of being worn by an operator of vehicle inspection camera system; and

c) a pouch attached to the adjustable belt enclosing the battery and having an opening formed therein for permitting electrical battery leads to be threaded out through the pouch.

34. The vehicle inspection camera system of claim 28, further comprising a video signal and power source distribution adapter having a first connector for coupling to the power source, a second connector for coupling to the video signal cable connected to the video camera, and a first cable enclosing a power source lead and a video signal lead and having a multi-pin plug disposed at a distal end for engaging the eyepiece and for supplying the captured video signal and the power source thereto.

35. The vehicle inspection camera system of claim 28, wherein the eyepiece is adjustable and includes a body portion surrounding the internal channel, a proximal and distal end, a light cover mounted on the body portion proximal end for prohibiting light from entering the internal channel when the light cover is placed up against an eye socket of an operator of the vehicle inspection camera, a video signal receptacle located in the body portion distal end for receiving a plug of the video signal cable, and a plurality of rotation joints for permitting the eyepiece to be placed in a variety of positions.

36. The vehicle inspection camera system of claim 35, wherein the adjustable eyepiece includes three rotation joints, a first rotation joint located proximal to the eyepiece to headgear unit mounting position, a second rotation point located between the eyepiece to headgear unit mounting position and a top end of the eyepiece body portion, and a third rotation point located at the eyepiece body portion top end.

15. A remote area viewing inspection device utilizing a video camera comprising:

a) an elongated rod having an upper and lower leg member separated by an elbow, each leg member having a top and bottom end, the elbow connecting the lower leg member top end to the upper leg member bottom end;

b) a head portion for supporting the video camera mounted at the rod lower leg member bottom end, the head portion capable of being positioned in the remote area such that the video camera can view and inspect said remote area;

c) an adjustable headgear unit having an adjustable eyepiece mounted thereon, the eyepiece including a video monitor for viewing a video signal captured by the video camera, the video camera and video monitor connected by a video signal cable, the adjustable headgear unit capable of being worn by an operator of the inspection device on the head of their body; and

d) a power source connected to the video camera and video monitor.

28. A vehicle inspection camera system for use in viewing the undercarriage of a vehicle, the camera system comprising:

a) an elongated rod having a top and bottom end;

b) a video camera mounted on the rod bottom end such that a lens of the video camera is disposed perpendicularly with respect to a flat ground surface on which the vehicle rests permitting the vehicle undercarriage to be viewed by the video camera lens;

c) a headgear unit having an eyepiece mounted thereto, the eyepiece including a video screen mounted within an internal cavity of the eyepiece, the video camera coupled to the video screen by a video signal cable; and

d) a portable power source coupled to the video camera and the video screen.