360° automobile video camera system

• US 6,795,111 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• 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): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US10/261,606
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.718, H04/N.947, 348/148, 348/153, 348/118, 348/151, 348/159, 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 13/19647 Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• 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 digital video recording inside and outside of an automotive vehicle.

Claims

1. 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 said housing, each of said cameras being stationarily mounted to said housing to provide a 360°

range for simultaneous video recording images received by said cameras, said camera housing being incorporated into a rear view mirror of said vehicle;

a recording system for recording all recorded images received from said cameras thereby providing a recording of a 360°

environment surrounding said camera housing.

2. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said camera s transmit said recorded images to a digital video recorder by wireless transmission.

3. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said camera s transmit said recorded images to said digital video recorder by wired transmission.

4. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said digital video recorder is located inside said automotive vehicle.

5. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said digital video recorder is located remote from said automotive vehicle.

6. The video system according to claim 1 further comprising a flip down monitor attached to the rear view mirror for displaying said recorded images.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said digital video recorder is located in a glove compartment inside said automotive compartment.

10. The video system according to claim 1 wherein said digital video recorder is located in a trunk of said automotive vehicle.

11. The device according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of cameras are built into said rear view mirror so that said rear view mirror is said camera housing for said cameras.

14. The system according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said cameras is a zoom camera.

12. A method for digital video recording 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, each of said cameras being stationarily mounted to said housing, to provide a 360°

range for simultaneous video recording images received by said cameras, said camera housing being part of a housing of a rear view mirror of said vehicle;

recording images by means of a recording system thereby providing a recording of a 360°

environment surrounding said camera housing.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein said plurality of cameras are built into said rear view mirror so that said rear view mirror is said camera housing for said cameras.

15. The method according to claim 12 wherein at least one of said cameras is a zoom camera.