Automated Activation and/or Charging of Cameras and/or Autonomous Vehicles

• US 20170324897A1
• Filed: 04/05/2017
• Published: 11/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
• Original Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
• Inventors: Swaminathan, Vishnu, Jablonsky, David Joseph, Rohrbaugh, Scott Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,594,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/57 Charging stations without connection to power networks
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/30 for imaging, photography or videography
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/55 for life-saving or rescue operations; for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/20 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/19 using electrically powered motors
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/38 by wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/12 Target-seeking control
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/64 Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A body camera can include: a camera configured to capture images; and a sensor module programmed to: sense a strength of a field within an emergency vehicle; activate the camera when the strength of the field falls below a certain threshold; and deactivate the camera when the strength of the field exceeds the threshold. The body camera can include a receiver configured to wirelessly receive power from an energy source within the emergency vehicle. An autonomous vehicle can also be carried by the emergency vehicle, with the autonomous vehicle being configured to be automatically activated and/or charged.

Claims

1. A body camera, comprising:

a camera configured to capture images; and

a sensor module programmed to;

sense a strength of a field within an emergency vehicle;

activate the camera when the strength of the field falls below a certain threshold; and

deactivate the camera when the strength of the field exceeds the threshold.

2. The body camera of claim 1, wherein the strength of the field decreases as a distance between the body camera and the emergency vehicle increases.

3. The body camera of claim 1, wherein the field is generated by a controller in the emergency vehicle.

4. The body camera of claim 1, further comprising a receiver configured to wirelessly receive power from an energy source within the emergency vehicle.

5. The body camera of claim 4, wherein the receiver is a magnetic resonator configured to wirelessly receive power from a field generated within the emergency vehicle.

6. The body camera of claim 5, wherein the magnetic resonator is positioned so that the power is received when a user is positioned in the emergency vehicle.

7. The body camera of claim 6, wherein the magnetic resonator is positioned so that the power is received from a seat when a user is positioned in the emergency vehicle.

8. A system for automatic activation of a body camera, the system comprising:

an emergency vehicle including a controller programmed to emit a field within an interior of the emergency vehicle; and

the body camera configured to be worn by an occupant of the emergency vehicle and including a camera configured to capture images, the camera including a sensor module programmed to sense a strength of a field within an emergency vehicle and to;

activate the camera when the strength of the field falls below a certain threshold; and

deactivate the camera when the strength of the field exceeds the threshold.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the strength of the field decreases as a distance between the body camera and the emergency vehicle increases.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the field is a radio frequency signal generated by the controller in the emergency vehicle.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a receiver configured to wirelessly receive power from an energy source within the emergency vehicle.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the receiver is a body camera magnetic resonator configured to wirelessly receive power from a field generated within the emergency vehicle.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the body camera magnetic resonator is positioned so that the power is received when a user is positioned in the emergency vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the body camera magnetic resonator is positioned so that the power is received from a magnetic resonator positioned in a seat of the emergency vehicle.

15. The system of claim 8, further comprising an autonomous vehicle carried by the emergency vehicle, wherein the autonomous vehicle is programmed to capture images.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the autonomous vehicle is a drone.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the autonomous vehicle is programmed to be automatically activated.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the autonomous vehicle is automatically activated based upon the strength of the field.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the autonomous vehicle is automatically activated when the strength of the field falls below a threshold and the emergency vehicle is stopped.

20. A system for automatic activation of a body camera, the system comprising:

an emergency vehicle including;

a controller programmed to emit a field within an interior of the emergency vehicle; and

a magnetic resonator positioned with in a set of the emergency vehicle and programmed to emit power; and

the body camera configured to be worn by an occupant of the emergency vehicle, the body camera including;

a camera configured to capture images, the camera including a sensor module programmed to sense a strength of a field within an emergency vehicle and to;

activate the camera when the strength of the field falls below a certain threshold; and

deactivate the camera when the strength of the field exceeds the threshold, wherein the strength of the field decreases as a distance between the body camera and the emergency vehicle increases; and

a magnetic resonator receiver configured to wirelessly receive the power from the magnetic resonator within the emergency vehicle.