Image recording system and method
First Claim
1. An image recording system for simultaneously recording images in different fields of view, the image recording system comprising:
- a camera;
a lens of the camera for receiving images in a predetermined field of view;
a redirecting mechanism disposed in the predetermined field of view which simultaneously redirects images in at least two fields of view that are not in the predetermined field of view through the lens; and
an image recording mechanism of the camera for transferring the simultaneously received images through the lens onto an image recording medium, wherein the redirecting mechanism comprises a prism having light reflective surfaces thereon with the prism being fixed relative to the camera.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A camera system and method are provided which are particularly well-suited for use in school buses for recording vehicles violating the stop-arm on the bus. The system and method provide advantages in terms of the ability to record both oncoming and upcoming vehicles relative to the bus that violate the stop-arm via one camera mounted to the bus and a redirecting mechanism disposed in the camera'"'"'s field of view. More particularly, the redirecting mechanism can be a prism having reflective surfaces mounted in front of the lens of the camera with the surfaces oriented to redirect images from forward and rearward of the stop-arm through the camera lens. A video recording mechanism records the images redirected through the lens. In a preferred form, a video display monitor displays the images redirected through the lens to the driver of the school bus.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An image recording system for simultaneously recording images in different fields of view, the image recording system comprising:
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a camera;
a lens of the camera for receiving images in a predetermined field of view;
a redirecting mechanism disposed in the predetermined field of view which simultaneously redirects images in at least two fields of view that are not in the predetermined field of view through the lens; and
an image recording mechanism of the camera for transferring the simultaneously received images through the lens onto an image recording medium, wherein the redirecting mechanism comprises a prism having light reflective surfaces thereon with the prism being fixed relative to the camera. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A video camera system for a school bus that simultaneously records images of cars from different predetermined areas about the bus, the video camera system comprising:
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a video camera mounted to the bus for recording images received from a first preselected area about the bus; and
an image redirecting mechanism in the first area configured and arranged to redirect images from predetermined second and third areas about the bus to the video camera so that images from the different predetermined areas are simultaneously recorded by the video camera with the second and third areas being separated from and non-overlapping with each other with the corresponding images from the second and third areas being distinct from each other, and the second and third areas being generally at opposite ends of the bus forwardly and rearwardly of the bus for simultaneously recording distinct images of oncoming and approaching vehicles, respectively, relative to the bus. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method for recording images from different fields of view, the method comprising:
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positioning a camera so that it has a selected field of view;
providing an image reflector in the predetermined field of view of the camera;
redirecting images with the image reflector to the camera from at least two fields of view different from the camera selected field of view;
recording the redirected images from the at least two fields of view with the camera; and
feeding the redirected images to a remote monitor as they are being recorded to allow for real-time viewing of the images from the different fields of view. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification