Vehicle mounted navigation and incident recording device and method of operating
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A digital in-vehicle device comprising:
- an image capturing device for continuously capturing actual scene in real-time;
a vision microprocessor coupled to said image capturing device for controlling the operation of said image capturing device, a vision memory device coupled to said vision microprocessor, a persistent memory device coupled to said vision microprocessor, wherein said persistent memory device is a non-volatile storage device, means connected to said vision microprocessor for triggering a permanent storage in response to selective triggering events, in said persistent memory device, of a plurality of consecutive frames of captured visual scene, wherein said permanent storage of a plurality of consecutive frames is achieved by means of prohibiting the current content in said persistent memory from being over-written by new images after a pre-programmed elapsed time period such that said plurality of consecutive frames stored are composed of a number of images captured so many seconds before and after said selective triggering events occur, wherein the number of said images stored is a function of the size of said persistent memory, wherein said persistent memory consisting of a finite number of storage elements overwritten repeatedly by said vision microprocessor in a first-in-first-out fashion so that a finite storage can be used to buffer up a plurality of said images continuously, means connected to said vision microprocessor for manually triggering the said permanent storage, in said persistent memory device, of frames of said visual scene, wherein said manually triggering can be an action selected from the group consisting of taking snap shots of visual scene, taking a sequence of continuous images of visual scene, taking a sequence of continuous images of visual scene that makes up so many seconds before and after said trigger and freezing the activity of said continuously capturing visual information so as to prevent existing said images in said persistent memory of being replaced by new images in order to preserve existing said images, wherein said stored frames can be used for various purposes, including accident aftermath analysis and documentation of the visual aspects of an event or scene; and
said microprocessor executing software being adaptable to learn and store a plurality of events including hazardous events and inconsequential events, said microprocessor being operative to alert operator in response to identifying the hazardous events by inspecting said captured real-time images.
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Abstract
A vehicle mounted, navigation device is disclosed. This invention combines a global position system (GPS) with an image capturing system into a portable device that can be optimally mounted within a vehicle. It can be used for land, air and sea vehicles. The image capturing system detects and interprets visual information to provide the vehicle operator with appropriate navigational guidance assistance and to alert operator of potentially hazardous conditions. Additionally, the device has the capability to store consecutive frames of detected, visual information so as to enable the device to be used for accident aftermath analysis and the documentation of an event or scene.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A digital in-vehicle device comprising:
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an image capturing device for continuously capturing actual scene in real-time;
a vision microprocessor coupled to said image capturing device for controlling the operation of said image capturing device, a vision memory device coupled to said vision microprocessor, a persistent memory device coupled to said vision microprocessor, wherein said persistent memory device is a non-volatile storage device, means connected to said vision microprocessor for triggering a permanent storage in response to selective triggering events, in said persistent memory device, of a plurality of consecutive frames of captured visual scene, wherein said permanent storage of a plurality of consecutive frames is achieved by means of prohibiting the current content in said persistent memory from being over-written by new images after a pre-programmed elapsed time period such that said plurality of consecutive frames stored are composed of a number of images captured so many seconds before and after said selective triggering events occur, wherein the number of said images stored is a function of the size of said persistent memory, wherein said persistent memory consisting of a finite number of storage elements overwritten repeatedly by said vision microprocessor in a first-in-first-out fashion so that a finite storage can be used to buffer up a plurality of said images continuously, means connected to said vision microprocessor for manually triggering the said permanent storage, in said persistent memory device, of frames of said visual scene, wherein said manually triggering can be an action selected from the group consisting of taking snap shots of visual scene, taking a sequence of continuous images of visual scene, taking a sequence of continuous images of visual scene that makes up so many seconds before and after said trigger and freezing the activity of said continuously capturing visual information so as to prevent existing said images in said persistent memory of being replaced by new images in order to preserve existing said images, wherein said stored frames can be used for various purposes, including accident aftermath analysis and documentation of the visual aspects of an event or scene; and
said microprocessor executing software being adaptable to learn and store a plurality of events including hazardous events and inconsequential events, said microprocessor being operative to alert operator in response to identifying the hazardous events by inspecting said captured real-time images. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for digitally capturing an actual scene so that captured images can be used for various purposes, said method comprising the steps of:
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continuously capturing actual scene in real-time and converting said scene into digital form, permanently storing up captured said images so that said images can be retrieved for viewing at a later time, continuously buffering up a plurality of captured images using a first-in-first-out mechanism so that said buffered images can be preserved permanently if so desired, manually triggering the storage in a persistent memory device of consecutive frames of detected visual information, wherein said manually triggering can be an action selected from the group consisting of taking snap shots of visual scene, taking a sequence of continuous images of visual scene, taking a sequence of continuous images of visual scene that makes up so many seconds before and after said trigger and freezing the activity of said continuously capturing visual information so as to prevent existing said images in said persistent memory be replaced by new images in order to preserve existing said images. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for digitally capturing an actual scene so that captured images can be used for various purposes, said method comprising the steps of:
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continuously capturing actual scene in real-time and converting said scene into digital form, controlling the operation and timing of said capture process, permanently storing up captured said images so that said images can be retrieved for viewing at a later time, continuously buffering up a plurality of captured images using a first-in-first-out mechanism so that said buffered images can be preserved permanently if so desired, inspecting captured images and alerting operator of potential hazardous condition, manually triggering the storage in a persistent memory device of consecutive frames of detected visual information, wherein said manually triggering can be an action selected from the group consisting of taking snap shots of visual scene, taking a sequence of continuous images of visual scene, taking a sequence of continuous images of visual scene that makes up so many seconds before and after said trigger and freezing the activity of said continuously capturing visual information so as to prevent existing said images in said persistent memory be replaced by new images in order to preserve existing said images.
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26. A method for digitally capturing an actual scene so that captured images can be used for various purposes, said method comprising the steps of:
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continuously capturing actual scene in real-time and converting said scene into digital form, controlling the operation and timing of said capture process, continuously buffering up a plurality of captured images using a first-in-first-out mechanism so that said buffered images can be preserved permanently if so desired, inspecting captured images and alerting operator of potential hazardous condition, manually triggering the storage in a persistent memory device of consecutive frames of detected visual information, wherein said manually triggering can be an action selected from the group consisting of taking snap shots of visual scene, taking a sequence of continuous images of visual scene, and freezing the activity of said continuously capturing visual information so as to prevent existing said images in said persistent memory be replaced by new images in order to preserve existing said images.
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27. A method for digitally capturing an actual scene so that captured images can be used for various purposes, said method comprising the steps of:
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continuously capturing actual scene in real-time and converting said scene into digital form, p1 continuously buffering up a plurality of captured images using a first-in-first-out mechanism so that said buffered images can be preserved permanently if so desired, manually triggering the storage in a persistent memory device of consecutive frames of detected visual information, wherein said manually triggering can be an action selected from the group consisting of taking snap shots of visual scene, taking a sequence of continuous images of visual scene, taking a sequence of continuous images of visual scene that makes up so many seconds before and after the trigger and freezing the activity of said continuously capturing visual information so as to prevent existing said images in said persistent memory be replaced by new images in order to preserve existing said images.
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28. A method for digitally capturing an actual scene so that captured images can be used for various purposes, said method comprising the steps of:
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continuously capturing actual scene in real-time and converting said scene into digital form, continuously buffering up a plurality of captured images using a first-in-first-out mechanism so that said buffered images can be preserved permanently if so desired, inspecting captured images and alerting operator of potential hazardous condition, automatically triggering a permanent storage of a plurality of consecutive frames of captured visual information, wherein said permanent storage of a plurality of consecutive frames is achieved by prohibiting older said images from being erased and replaced by newer images after a pre-programmed elapsed time period such that said plurality of consecutive frames stored are composed of a number of images captured so many seconds before and after said automatic triggering.
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Specification