Surveillance apparatus for a vehicle

• US 6,583,730 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Original Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLC
• Inventors: Witzke, Michael, Lang, Heinrich
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/731,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20020017983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 340/905, 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/461, 340/901, 348/143, 348/148, 348/118, 348/149, 348/207.99, 348/208.14, 348/231.2, 348/231.3, 348/231.5, 359/896, 359/839, 359/273
• US Class Current: 340/905
• 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 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/28 with an adjustable field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8066 for monitoring rearward traffic
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera

Abstract

A surveillance apparatus is provided for a vehicle to record data such as images over a period of time. The surveillance apparatus has a camera for collecting images in a field of view from the vehicle and a storage apparatus to record and store the data. A method of surveilling a vehicle operating area using the surveillance apparatus is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A surveillance apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an outside rearview mirror defining an aperture therethrough;

a camera having a field of regard with a plurality of fields of view from the vehicle, the camera disposed in the outside rearview mirror and adjustably configured to collect selected images from the plurality of fields of view through the aperture;

a storage apparatus in electrical communication with the camera, the storage apparatus configured to record and store the images collected by the camera for a period of time;

at least one sensor disposed about the vehicle and configured for sensing extra-vehicular information selected from the group consisting of temperature, humidity, date, time, pavement conditions, brightness and combinations thereof;

an interface device in communication with the at least one sensor and the storage apparatus and configured for providing the extra-vehicular information and vehicle drive train activity data to the storage apparatus; and

a control apparatus in electronic communication with the camera and the storage apparatus, the control apparatus configured to activate the camera and storage apparatus and adjust the field of regard of the camera to record the selected images from the plurality of fields of view.

2. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera is a still image camera.

3. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera is a video camera.

4. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the period of time is between a first point in past time t₁ and a second point in time t₂.

5. The surveillance apparatus of claim 4, wherein the storage apparatus is an image and data storage apparatus.

6. The surveillance apparatus of claim 4, wherein the storage apparatus erases the data older than t₁.

7. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle drive train activity data is selected from the group consisting essentially of vehicle speed, acceleration, brake usage, gear selection and combinations thereof.

8. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage apparatus is configured to be impact resistant and fireproof.

9. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera is disposed proximate an inside rearview mirror in the vehicle.

10. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera is configured to be weatherproof.

11. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera is configured to be swivelled.

12. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a monitor to display the images.

13. The surveillance apparatus of claim 12, wherein the monitor is disposed in a vehicle driver'"'"'s field of view.

14. The surveillance apparatus of claim 13, wherein the monitor is disposed in an edge of a mirror pane.

15. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cameras disposed about the vehicle to collect different images.

16. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of monitors to display different images.

17. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one monitor can simultaneously display a plurality of images.

18. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an operational device proximate a driver area, the operational device configured to affect the control apparatus to pivot the camera to change the field of regard.

19. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of the fields of view from the vehicle is forward looking.

20. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of the fields of view from the vehicle is rearward looking.

21. The surveillance apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of the fields of view from the vehicle is lateral looking.

22. A method of surveilling a vehicle operating area with a surveillance apparatus attached to the vehicle and including a camera mounted in a rearview mirror, and a storage apparatus in electronic communication with the camera and configured to record and store vehicle data, the method comprising:

(a) selectively adjusting the camera to collect selected images from a plurality of fields of view through an aperture in the rearview mirror, the camera having a field of regard with a plurality of fields of view from the aperture;

(b) collecting the images using the camera;

(c) transferring the collected images to the storage apparatus; and

(d) storing the collected images in the storage apparatus between a first point in past time t₁ and a second point in time t₂; and

(e) and erasing data older than t₁.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the surveillance apparatus includes an interface device for collecting data, and the method further includes the steps of transferring collected data from the interface device to the storage apparatus and storing the collected data in the storage apparatus for at least a given period of time.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the collected data includes at least one of vehicular data and environmental data.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the surveillance apparatus includes a monitor, and the method further includes the step of displaying the collected images on the monitor.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the camera includes a plurality of cameras mounted at different locations on the vehicle.

27. A surveillance apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

an outside rearview mirror defining an aperture therethrough;

a camera disposed in the outside rearview mirror having a field of regard through the aperture with a plurality of fields of view, the camera adjustably configured to collect selected images from the plurality of the fields of view;

a storage apparatus in electrical communication with the camera, the storage apparatus configured to record and store the images collected by the camera for a period of time between a point in past time t₁ to a point in time t₂ and further configured to erase the images older than t₁;

at least one sensor disposed about the vehicle and configured for sensing extra-vehicular information selected from the group consisting of temperature, humidity, date, time, pavement conditions, brightness and combinations thereof;

an interface device in communication with the at least one sensor and the storage apparatus and configured for providing the extra-vehicular information and vehicle drive train activity data to the storage apparatus, the vehicle drive train activity selected from the group consisting of vehicle speed, acceleration, brake usage, gear selection and combinations thereof; and

a control apparatus in electronic communication with the camera and the storage apparatus, the control apparatus configured to activate the camera and storage apparatus and adjust the field of regard of the camera to record the selected images from the plurality of fields of view.

28. The surveillance apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a plurality of cameras disposed about the vehicle.

29. The surveillance apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a monitor to display the selected images.