Low cost night vision camera for vehicles and mounting thereof

• US 5,619,036 A
• Filed: 08/14/1995
• Issued: 04/08/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OL Security LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Salvio, Paul, Walsh, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANIG, RICHARD E
• Application Number:
  US08/514,550
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 250/330, 250/332, 250/334, 250/353, 359/859, 359/851, 348/148, 348/164
• US Class Current: 250/330
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/24 in front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/30 providing vision in the non-visible spectrum, e.g. night or infrared vision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/106 using night vision cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/205 using a head-up display
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8053 for bad weather conditions or night vision
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/12 with means for image conversion or intensification
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

An arrangement (10) for mounting a night vision enhancement system to a vehicle (1010). The invention is adapted for use with a night vision enhancement system having an infrared camera (14) and a display (587). In the preferred embodiment, the invention (10) includes a mounting mechanism (16) disposed at a front end of said vehicle (1010) for retaining the camera (14). Optionally, a door (42) is included for protecting the camera (14). The door (42) is actuated on command between open and closed positions by a solenoid (44) attached to the frame of the vehicle on one end and to a linkage (48, 49) on the other. The linkage (48, 49) allows the door (42) to pivot in response to the movement of the solenoid plunger (45). The camera (14) is retained in an upside down orientation by a bracket (16) which is attached to the frame of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A night vision enhancement system for a vehicle, the night vision enhancement system comprising:

an infrared camera for providing output signals for use in displaying an image;

a display for displaying the signals provided by the camera in a first orientation when the camera is mounted in a first orientation;

mounting means for retaining said camera to said vehicle; and

shield means for protecting said camera, wherein said shield means includes a door disposed in the line of sight of said camera.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said shield means further includes means for actuating said door between substantially open and substantially closed positions.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said means for actuating includes a solenoid actuator mounted at one end thereof to a frame of said vehicle and connected at another end to said door.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said solenoid actuator is connected to said door through a linkage.

5. A night vision enhancement system for a vehicle, the night vision enhancement system comprising:

an infrared camera for providing output signals for use in displaying an image;

a display for displaying the signals provided by the camera in a first orientation when the camera is mounted in a first orientation; and

mounting means for retaining said camera to said vehicle, wherein said mounting means includes means for retaining said camera in a second orientation.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said first orientation is a right-side up orientation and said second orientation is an up-side down orientation.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said means for retaining is a bracket.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein said bracket is welded to a frame of said vehicle.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said means for retaining includes means for securing said camera to said bracket in said second orientation.

10. A mounting arrangement for a night vision enhancement system for a vehicle, the night vision enhancement system including an infrared camera for providing output signals for use in displaying an image and a display for displaying the signals provided by the camera in a first orientation when the camera is mounted in a first orientation, said night vision enhancement system comprising:

mounting means disposed at a front end of said vehicle for retaining said camera in a second orientation, said first orientation being a right-side up orientation and said second orientation being an up-side down orientation, said mounting means including;

a bracket attached to said vehicle and

means for securing said camera to said bracket in said second orientation.

11. A night vision enhancement system for a vehicle comprising:

an infrared camera for providing output signals for use in displaying an image;

mounting means disposed at a front end of said vehicle for retaining said camera in an upside down orientation;

shield means for protecting said camera; and

means for displaying the signals provided by the camera.

12. A night vision enhancement system for a vehicle comprising:

an infrared camera having a right-side up orientation and an upside down orientation;

means for mounting said camera at a front end of the vehicle in the upside down orientation;

means for inverting electrical signals output by said camera for display in a right side up orientation; and

means for displaying said electrical signals provided by said camera.

13. A method for installing a vision enhancement system to a vehicle including the steps of:

providing a camera having a right-side up orientation and an upside down orientation;

mounting said camera at a front end of a vehicle in the upside down orientation;

inverting electrical signals output by said camera for display in a right side up orientation; and

displaying said electrical signals provided by said camera.