Apparatus for photographing objects and/or persons simultaneously with the occurrence of a predetermined event

• US 4,734,725 A
• Filed: 12/11/1986
• Issued: 03/29/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John C.A. Bierman
• Original Assignee: John C.A. Bierman
• Inventors: Bierman, John C. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Perkey, W. B.
• Application Number:
  US06/940,748
• Time in Patent Office: 474 Days
• Field of Search: 354/410, 354/75, 354/76, 354/81, 354/266, 354/131, 346/107 A, 346/107 B, 346/107 VP, 346/107 R, 40/612, 116/63 R, 340/22, 340/937
• US Class Current: 396/59
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules

Abstract

Apparatus for photographing objects and/or persons simultaneously with the occurrence of a predetermined event wherein the apparatus is particularly adapted for photographing persons when they shoot traffic signs along highways. The impact of a bullet against the traffic sign energizes an encoded transmitter with transmits a radiofrequency into the air for a first predetermined time period. A receiver/decoder is located remotely from the transmitter for receiving the radiofrequency signal from the transmitter, and a camera is positioned to photograph persons and/or vehicles within a predetermined area adjacent to the traffic sign during the period of time that a signal is received by the receiver/decoder.

Claims

1. Apparatus for photographing persons when they shoot traffic signs along highways, said apparatus comprising:

means in operative relationship with said traffic sign for detecting the impact of a bullet against said sign;

transmitting means in operative relationship with said detecting means for transmitting an encoded radiofrequency signal into the air for a first predetermined time period in response to activation of said detecting means by impact of a bullet against said sign;

receiver means remotely positioned from said transmitting means for receiving said radiofrequency signal from said transmitting means and for providing a first resultant encoded electrical output signal;

means in operative relationship with said receiver means for decoding said encoded output signal and for providing a second resultant electrical output signal; and

a camera positioned to enable photographing of said persons and vehicles within a predetermined area adjacent to said traffic sign and in operative relationship with said receiver means and with said decoding means for enabling operation of said camera for said first predetermined time period in response to said second resultant electrical output signal;

said transmitting means including;

timer means in operative relationship with said detecting means for providing a third electrical output signal during said first predetermined time period in response to activation of said detecting means by impact of a bullet against said sign;

encoding menas in operative relationship with said timer means for receiving said third output signal and for providing a fourth resultant encoded electrical output signal; and

oscillator-transmitter means in operative relationship with said encoding means for receiving said fourth encoded output signal and for transmitting said resultant encoded radiofrequency signal into the air; and

said detecting means including;

a first electrically conducting substantially flat sign number;

a second electrically conducting substantially flat sign member which carries the message of said traffic sign;

a plurality of electrically insulating connectors between said sign members and connecting together said sign members;

an electrically insulating spacer element mounted on each of said connectors and positioned between said first and second sign members for normally maintaining said sign members in predetermined spaced apart relationship with respect to each other;

a first electrically conducting element in contact with said first sign member and in electrical circuit relationship with said transmitting means; and

a second electrically conducting element in contact with said second sign member and in electrical circuit relationship with said transmitting means.

2. Apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said first and second conducting elements include first and second washers, respectively, mounted on one of said connectors, said first washer located between said first sign member and said spacer element and said second washer located between said second sign member and said spacer element.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said encoding means includes a pulse code encoder.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said decoding means includes a pulse code decoder.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said camera is in a location remote from said traffic sign.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said transmitting means is located on said traffic sign.

7. Apparatus as in claim 5 wherein said transmitting means is positioned at a location away from said traffic sign.