Camcorder mounting and control system

• US 6,587,152 B1
• Filed: 10/19/1998
• Issued: 07/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Police Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Police Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Sharp, Larry D., Pogue, Thomas W., Farnsworth, Jack
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Ngoc-Yen, Vu, Ngoc-Yen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, Tia M.
• Application Number:
  US09/175,129
• Time in Patent Office: 1,716 Days
• Field of Search: 348/372, 348/373, 348/376, 348/148, 348/211, 396/301
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A camcorder mounting and control system comprising a camera interface unit (termed a “camera box”) and mounting tray combination. The camera box contains a camera interface circuit board having a power transmit line and battery charging voltage transmit line which function as a bridge between an in-vehicle system control unit and a camcorder. The forward end of the circuit board is provided with an electronic interface which is accessible via a forward end opening on the camera box. The camera box is received in the special mounting tray which includes a quick disconnect adapter board having a first adapter electronic interface complimentary to the circuit board electronic interface and, in electrical communication therewith, a second adapter electronic interface for receiving a cable from the in-vehicle system control unit. The camcorder is easily disconnected from the mounting tray by sliding the camera box toward the rear of the mounting tray. The camera interface circuit board may further include a control circuit electronically connected to the control line interface connections to provide secure camera function control for out-of-vehicle use, a detection circuit electronically connected to the power transmit line to sense the voltage being supplied over the power transmit line, and a transfer circuit for coordinating command and control of the camcorder as between the system control unit and the camera interface control circuit.

Claims

1. A camcorder mounting and control system providing for the quick connection and disconnection of a camcorder from a vehicle dash mount, comprising:

a camera box for attachment to the camcorder, the camera box containing a camera interface circuit board and having an opening to provide access to an electronic interface on the circuit board, the circuit board having power and charging voltage interface connections to the camcorder; and

a mounting tray for receiving the camera box, the mounting tray including a quick disconnect adapter board having a first adapter electronic interface complimentary to the circuit board electronic interface and, in electrical communication therewith, a second adapter electronic interface for receiving a cable from an in-vehicle system control unit, wherein the second adapter electronic interface is a high density pin socket, and whereby power and charging voltage from the system control unit is carried by the circuit board to the camcorder.

2. A camcorder mounting and control system providing for the quick connection and disconnection of a camcorder from a vehicle dash mount, comprising:

a camera box for attachment to the camcorder, the camera box containing a camera interface circuit board and having an opening to provide access to an electronic interface on the circuit board, the circuit board having power and charging voltage interface connections to the camcorder;

a mounting tray for receiving the camera box, the mounting tray including a quick disconnect adapter board having a first adapter electronic interface complimentary to the circuit board electronic interface and, in electrical communication therewith, a second adapter electronic interface for receiving a cable from an in-vehicle system control unit, whereby power and charging voltage from the system control unit is carried by the circuit board to the camcorder; and

wherein the adapter board is a double-sided circuit board.

3. A camcorder mounting and control system providing for the quick connection and disconnection of a camcorder from a vehicle dash mount and for secure control of camera functions independent of whether the camcorder is in the dash mount, comprising:

a camera box for attachment to the camcorder, the camera box containing a camera interface circuit board and having an opening to provide access to an electronic interface on the circuit board, the circuit board having power and control line interface connections to the camcorder, a detection circuit electronically connected to the power line to sense the voltage being transmitted thereover, a control circuit electronically connected to the control line interface connections to provide secure camera function control for out-of-vehicle use, and a transfer circuit electronically connected to the detection circuit to receive a signal indicative of the detected voltage transmission across the power line and, if negligible voltage transmission is detected, to thereafter assume a position electronically connecting the control circuit with the control line interface connections; and

a mounting tray for receiving the camera box, the mounting tray including a quick disconnect adapter board having a first adapter electronic interface complimentary to the circuit board electronic interface and, in electrical communication therewith, a second adapter electronic interface for receiving a cable from an in-vehicle system control unit, whereby power and charging voltage from the system control unit is carried by the circuit board to the camcorder.

4. The camcorder mounting and control system according to claim 3 wherein the control line interface connections include control line connections for one or more of the camcorder functions selected from the group consisting of play, rewind, fast forward, eject, standby, record, focus and the transmission of audio signals.

5. The camcorder mounting and control system according to claim 3 wherein the camera box further comprises a power control switch and a multi-position camera function key switch, each switch being operator accessible and being electrically connected to the control circuit.

6. The camcorder mounting and control system according to claim 5 wherein the key switch has a first position, a second position, and a third position, and wherein the control circuit has alternate camera function control circuitry components responsive to the position of the key switch.

7. The camcorder mounting and control system according to claim 6 wherein, in response to the position of the key switch, the control circuit limits the operator selectable camera functions to, alternatively, a record only mode, a record/eject mode, and a playback mode.

8. A vehicle observation and audiovisual recording system with secure camera function control for both in-vehicle and out-of-vehicle use, comprising:

a camcorder having audio and visual recording capabilities;

a dash mount for holding the camcorder in an operable position for in-vehicle use;

a system control unit for managing the system for in-vehicle use;

a control console electrically interfaced with the system control unit provided with operator switch controls for in-vehicle use;

a camera box for attachment to the camcorder, the camera box containing a camera interface circuit board and having an opening to provide access to an electronic interface on the circuit board, the circuit board having power and control line interface connections to the camcorder, a detection circuit electronically connected to the power line to sense the voltage being transmitted thereover, a control circuit electronically connected to the control line interface connections to provide secure camera function control for out-of-vehicle use, and a transfer circuit electronically connected to the detection circuit to receive a signal indicative of the detected voltage transmission across the power line and, in response thereto, assume at least two positions, namely, in response to the detection of a normal operating voltage supplied through the system control unit to assume a first position electronically connecting the system control unit with the control line interface connections, or, in response to the detection of negligible voltage transmission across the power line to assume a second position electronically connecting the control circuit with the control line interface connections; and

a mounting tray for receiving the camera box, the mounting tray including a quick disconnect adapter board having a first adapter electronic interface complimentary to the circuit board electronic interface and, in electrical communication therewith, a second adapter electronic interface for receiving a cable from the in-vehicle system control unit, whereby power and charging voltage from the system control unit is carried by the circuit board to the camcorder.

9. The vehicle observation and audiovisual recording system according to claim 8 wherein the control line interface connections include control line connections for one or more of the camcorder functions selected from the group consisting of play, rewind, fast forward, eject, standby, record, focus and the transmission of audio signals.

10. The vehicle observation and audiovisual recording system according to claim 8 wherein the camera box further comprises a power control switch and a multi-position camera function key switch, each switch being operator accessible and being electrically connected to the control circuit.

11. The vehicle observation and audiovisual recording system according to claim 10 wherein the key switch has a first position, a second position, and a third position, and wherein the control circuit has alternate camera function control circuitry components responsive to the position of the key switch.

12. The vehicle observation and audiovisual recording system according to claim 11 wherein, in response to the position of the key switch, the control circuit limits the operator selectable camera functions to, alternatively, a record only mode, a record/eject mode, and a playback mode.