360 ° automobile video camera system

• US 6,333,759 B1
• Filed: 01/28/2000
• Issued: 12/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Joseph J. Mazzilli
• Original Assignee: Joseph J. Mazzilli
• Inventors: Mazzilli, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Britton, Howard
• Assistant Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US09/494,060
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.718, H04/N.947, 348/118, 348/148, 348/153, 348/159, 348/151, 348/36, 348/143, 224/556, 224/564, 224/563, 224/543, 396/429, 396/502, 352/131, 352/132
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0035 Sun visors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

The present invention relates to a video camera system which has a 360° range for video recording inside and outside of an automotive vehicle.

Claims

1. A non-rotational, unitary video system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a camera housing located inside an automotive vehicle including a plurality of cameras,

located on each side of housing to provide a 360°

range for simultaneous video recording of images received by said lenses, said camera housing being separate from a rear view mirror housing and each of said cameras being located apart from each other;

a video multiplexer for multiplying all recorded video images by said cameras; and

a video camera recorder for recording image multiplexed by said multiplexer thereby providing a recording of a environment surrounding said camera housing.

2. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said camera housing is shaped circularly and each of said cameras is located 90 degrees apart from each other.

3. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said camera housing is cube shaped and each side surface of said cube shaped camera housing has a lens therein.

4. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said video cassette recorder and said multiplexer are located in a glove compartment inside said automotive vehicle.

5. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said video cassette recorder and said multiplexer are located in a trunk of said automotive vehicle.

6. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said camera housing is located behind a rear view mirror of said automotive vehicle and is adapted to extend below said rear view mirror.

7. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said camera housing has a hinge mechanism adapted to fold behind said rear view mirror when not in use.

15. The video system of claim 1 wherein said camera housing is shaped circularly.

16. The video system of claim 1 wherein said camera housing is cube shaped.

8. A method for video taping within an automotive vehicle, the steps comprising:

locating a non-rotational, unitary camera housing inside an automotive vehicle including a plurality of cameras located on each side of said housing to provide a range for simultaneous video recording of images received by said lenses, said camera housing being separate from a rear view mirror housing and each of said cameras being located apart from each other;

multiplexing all recorded video images by said cameras by means of a multiplexer; and

recording image multiplexed by said multiplexer by means of a video cassette recorder thereby providing a recording of a environment surrounding said camera housing.

9. A method for video taping within an automotive vehicle, the steps comprising:

locating a non-rotational, unitary camera housing inside an automotive vehicle including a plurality of cameras located on each side of said housing to provide a °

range for simultaneous video recording of images received by said lenses, said camera housing being separate from a rear view mirror housing and each side of said camera housing has a lens therein;

multiplexing all recorded video images by said cameras by means of a multiplexer; and

recording image multiplexed by said multiplexer by means of a video cassette recorder thereby a providing a recording of a 360°

environment surrounding said camera housing.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein said camera housing is shaped circularly.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein said camera housing is cube shaped.

10. A method for video taping within an automotive vehicle, the steps comprising:

locating a camera housing inside an automotive vehicle including a plurality of cameras located on each side of said housing to provide a 360°

range for video recording images received by said lenses, said camera housing being separate from a rear view mirror, and being located behind said rear view mirror and being adapted to extend below said rear view mirror;

multiplexing all recorded video images by said cameras by means of a multiplexer; and

recording image multiplexed by said multiplexer by means of a video cassette recorder thereby a providing a recording of a 360°

environment surrounding said camera housing.

11. A method for video taping within an automotive vehicle, the steps comprising:

locating a camera housing inside an automotive vehicle including a plurality of cameras located on each side of said housing to provide a 360°

range for video recording images received by said lenses, said camera housing having a hinge mechanism adapted to fold behind said rear view mirror when not in use;

multiplexing all recorded video images by said cameras by means of a multiplexer; and

recording image multiplexed by said multiplexer by means of a video cassette recorder thereby a providing a recording of a 360°

environment surrounding said camera housing.

12. A non-rotational, unitary video system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a camera housing located inside an automotive vehicle including a plurality of cameras, located

on each side of housing to provide a 360°

range for simultaneous video recording of images received by said lenses, said camera housing being separate from a rear view mirror housing and each side of said camera housing has a lens therein;

a video multiplexer for multiplying all recorded video images by said cameras; and

a video camera recorder for recording image multiplexed by said multiplexer thereby providing a recording of a 360°

environment surrounding said camera housing.

13. A video system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a camera housing located inside an automotive vehicle including a plurality of cameras, located on each side of housing to provide a range for video recording of images received by said lenses, said camera housing being separate from a rear view mirror, and being located behind said rear view mirror and being adapted to extend below said rear view mirror;

a video multiplexer for multiplying all recorded video images by said cameras; and

a video camera recorder for recording image multiplexed by said multiplexer thereby a providing a recording of a 360°

environment surrounding said camera housing.

14. A video system for an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a camera housing located inside an automotive vehicle including a plurality of cameras, located on each side of housing to provide a 360°

range for video recording of images received by said lenses, said camera housing having a hinge mechanism adapted to fold behind said rear view mirror when not in use;

a video multiplexer for multiplying all recorded video images by said cameras; and

a video camera recorder for recording image multiplexed by said multiplexer thereby a providing a recording of a 360°

environment surrounding said camera housing.