SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT INTERIOR

• US 20060238375A1
• Filed: 03/08/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L3 Technologies, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: L-3 Communications Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gomez, Oscar, Mednick, Kemp Alan
• Granted Patent: US 7,151,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/945
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0053 using visual equipment, e.g. cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A surveillance system for monitoring activity within at least the cabin portion of the aircraft in order to alert the flight crew within the cockpit of any emergency activity including, but not limited to, highjacking or terrorist activity. A video controller assembly is interconnected between a viewing assembly and a display assembly so as to distribute image data there between. The viewing assembly includes one or more cameras disposed to selectively capture images throughout the aircraft cabin interior and deliver the captured image data to the display assembly observable by the flight crew. Activation of the system is accomplished by controlled operation of one or more portable, wireless transmitters and at least one receiver which is operationally connected to the viewing assembly and the display assembly.

Claims

1. A surveillance system for monitoring activity within an aircraft interior, said system comprising:

a viewing assembly disposed within the aircraft interior and structured to monitor at least a predetermined portion thereof,

a display assembly disposed within the aircraft interior in at least partially segregated relation to said viewing assembly,

a video controller assembly connected to said viewing assembly and said display assembly and structured to control distribution of image data therebetween,

a control assembly connected to said video controller assembly and structured to regulate operation thereof, and

said control assembly and said video controller assembly structured to be operatively isolated from critical flight systems of the aircraft.

2. A surveillance system as recited in claim 1 further comprising an activation assembly variably spaced at least in part from said viewing assembly and remotely operative to initiate observation of the aircraft interior;

said activation assembly structured to be operationally isolated from critical flight systems of the aircraft.

3. A surveillance system as recited in claim 1 wherein said viewing assembly comprises a plurality of cameras collectively disposed to monitor at least a majority of a passenger cabin of the aircraft interior.

4. A surveillance system as recited in claim 3 wherein said viewing assembly comprises a plurality of cameras, at least one of which is disposed to monitor aircraft interior portions adjacent a cockpit entry.

5. A surveillance system as recited in claim 3 further comprising an activation assembly variably spaced at least in part from said viewing assembly and remotely operative to initiate observation of the aircraft;

each of said plurality of cameras operatively responsive to said activation assembly.

6. A surveillance system as recited in claim 3 wherein said video controller assembly is structured to selectively distribute image data from each of said plurality of cameras to said display assembly.

7. A surveillance system as recited in claim 6 wherein said viewing assembly comprises a plurality of display monitors each structured to display images from each of said plurality of cameras and at least one of said plurality of display monitors being disposed within viewing range of a flight crew.

8. A surveillance system as recited in claim 7 wherein said video controller assembly is structured to selectively distribute image data from each of said plurality of cameras to any of said plurality of display monitors.

9. A surveillance system as recited in claim 6 further comprising a recording assembly structured to record image data, said video controller assembly structured to selectively distribute image data from each of said plurality of cameras to said recording assembly.

10. A surveillance system as recited in claim 9 further comprising a recording assembly structured to record image data, said video controller assembly structured to selectively distribute image data from said viewing assembly to said recording assembly.

11. A surveillance system for monitoring activity within an aircraft interior, said system comprising:

a viewing assembly comprising a plurality of cameras disposed within the aircraft and collectively positioned to monitor at least a majority of a passenger cabin of the aircraft interior,

a display assembly comprising a plurality of display monitors each structured to display images from said plurality of cameras,

an activation assembly comprising at least one transmitter and at least one receiver remotely operative and cooperatively structured to selectively initiate operation of anyone of said plurality of cameras,

a video controller assembly connected to said viewing assembly and said display assembly and structured to selectively distribute image data from said plurality of cameras to said plurality of display monitors,

a controller assembly connected to said video controller assembly and structured to regulate operation thereof, and

said controller assembly, said activation assembly and said video controller assembly structured to be operationally isolated from critical flight systems of the aircraft.

12. A surveillance system as recited in claim 11 further comprising a recording assembly structured to record image data, said video controller assembly structured to selectively distribute image data from each of said plurality of cameras to said recording assembly.

13. A surveillance system as recited in claim 11 wherein said at least one of said plurality of cameras is disposed within viewing range of a flight crew.

14. A surveillance system as recited in claim 11 wherein each of said plurality of cameras are responsive to said activation assembly and structured to deliver image data of different aircraft interior portions to any of said plurality of display monitors.

15. A surveillance system as recited in claim 11 further comprising an alert assembly disposed in communicating relation to the flight crew, said alert assembly responsive to said activation assembly and structured to be indicative of activation of said viewing assembly.

16. A surveillance system for monitoring activity within an aircraft interior, said system comprising:

a viewing assembly comprising a plurality of cameras disposed and structured to monitor predetermined portions of the aircraft interior,

a display assembly including a plurality of display monitors disposed to be observable by a flight crew,

an activation assembly including at least one receiver and a plurality of transmitters, said activation assembly structured to selectively activate any of said plurality of cameras,

said plurality of transmitters independently positionable in variably spaced relation to said receiver within the aircraft interior,

a video controller assembly connected to said viewing assembly and said display assembly and structured to control image data,

a controller assembly connected to said video controller assembly and structured to regulate operation thereof.

17. A surveillance system as recited in claim 16 further comprising a recording assembly structured to record image data, said video controller assembly structured to selectively distribute data from any of said plurality of cameras to said recording assembly.