Vehicle surveillance system

• US 6,940,397 B1
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verve LLC
• Original Assignee: Benjamin E Le Mire
• Inventors: Le Mire, Benjamin E
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/383,417
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.1, 340/426.11, 340/426.13, 340/426.14, 340/426.16, 340/426.17, 340/426.18, 340/426.19, 340/426.2, 340/426.27, 340/426.3, 340/426.35, 340/440, 340/426.26, 348/148, 348/143, 348/138, 180/287, 307/10.2, 307/10.6
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/302 using recording means, e.g. black box
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera

Abstract

An apparatus for the recording of images from an interior of a vehicle upon detection of an intrusion allows for the arming of the vehicle when it is not in use. A locking of the vehicle'"'"'s doors, a shutting off of the engine, or other methods are used to detect when the system is to be armed. The system does not record images when it is armed. It must be armed and then an intrusion must occur. Intrusion is detected by a dome light illuminating, a door lock being opened from the inside, a motion sensor detecting a presence or by other methods. When intrusion occurs with an armed system, recording of the images in the vehicle discreetly occurs.

Claims

1. A vehicle surveillance system, comprising:

(a) means for recording a video image, said means including a video cassette recorder;

(b) means for arming said system sufficient to enable the recording of said video image subsequent to the detection of an event;

(c) means for detecting an intrusion into said vehicle; and

wherein said means for recording a video image includes a video cassette recorder and a mounting cage that is adapted to receive said video cassette recorder, said mounting cage attached to said vehicle, and wherein said video cassette recorder includes an access door over an opening adapted to receive a video cassette tape, and wherein said access door includes a key lock and wherein said key lock includes a tab that is adapted to pass through an opening provided in said mounting cage when said video cassette recorder is disposed in said mounting cage and said key lock is urged into a locking position and wherein said tab is adapted to prevent both the removal of said video cassette recorder from said mounting cage and to also prevent the removal of said video cassette tape from said video cassette recorder;

whereby a detection of an intrusion by said means for detecting an intrusion is adapted to provide said event sufficient to enable said system to record said video image.

2. The video surveillance system of claim 1 wherein said means for recording a video image includes a camera disposed in said vehicle, said camera adapted to view at least a portion of an interior of said vehicle.

3. The video surveillance system of claim 1 wherein said means for recording a video image includes means for storing said video image.

4. The video surveillance system of claim 3 wherein said means for storing said video image includes a video cassette recorder.

5. The video surveillance system of claim 4 wherein said video cassette recorder includes a video cassette tape that is adapted to cooperate with said video cassette recorder sufficient to record said video image upon said video cassette tape.

6. The video surveillance system of claim 1 wherein said means for arming said system includes means for determining that said vehicle is not in use.

7. The video surveillance system of claim 6 wherein said means for determining that said vehicle is not in use includes detection of a locking of all doors of said vehicle by a key.

8. The video surveillance system of claim 6 wherein said means for determining that said vehicle is not in use includes detection of a locking of all doors of said vehicle by a remote control of said vehicle.

9. The video surveillance system of claim 6 wherein said means for determining that said vehicle is not in use includes detection of a closing of all doors of said vehicle followed by the elapsing of a sufficient amount of time when said vehicle is not in motion.

10. The video surveillance system of claim 9 wherein said sufficient amount of time is greater than one minute and less than five minutes.

11. The video surveillance system of claim 6 wherein said means for determining that said vehicle is not in use includes detection of a turning off of an ignition key of said vehicle followed by the elapsing of a sufficient amount of time.

12. The video surveillance system of claim 11 wherein said sufficient amount of time is greater than one minute and less than five minutes.

13. The video surveillance system of claim 6 wherein said means for determining that said vehicle is not in use includes detection of the absence of a person disposed in a driver seat of said vehicle followed by the elapsing of a sufficient amount of time when said vehicle is not in motion.

14. The video surveillance system of claim 6 wherein said means for determining that said vehicle is not in use includes detection of the turning off of a dome light of said vehicle when said vehicle is not in motion.

15. The video surveillance system of claim 6 wherein said means for determining that said vehicle is not in use includes the absence of detection of motion by a motion sensor in said vehicle followed by the elapsing of a sufficient amount of time when said vehicle is not in motion.

16. The video surveillance system of claim 1 wherein said means for detecting an intrusion includes turning on of a dome light in said vehicle when said system is armed.

17. The video surveillance system of claim 1 wherein said means for detecting an intrusion includes opening of a door in said vehicle when said system is armed.

18. The video surveillance system of claim 1 wherein said means for detecting an intrusion includes detection of motion in said vehicle by a motion sensor that is disposed in said vehicle when said system is armed.

19. A method of recording video images of a portion of an interior of a vehicle that is not in use, comprised of the steps of:

(a) providing means for recording a video image in said vehicle, said means including a video cassette recorder;

(b) providing means for arming said system sufficient to enable the recording of said video image subsequent to the detection of an event;

(c) providing means for detecting an intrusion into said vehicle;

(d) recording said video image subsequent to detecting an intrusion by said means for detecting an intrusion; and

(e) providing a mounting cage that is adapted to receive said video cassette recorder, said mounting cage attached to said vehicle, and wherein said video cassette recorder includes an access door over an opening adapted to receive a video cassette tape, and wherein said access door includes a key lock and wherein said key lock includes a tab that is adapted to pass through an opening provided in said mounting cage when said video cassette recorder is disposed in said mounting cage and said key lock is urged into a locking position and wherein said tab is adapted to prevent both the removal of said video cassette recorder from said mounting cage and to also prevent the removal of said video cassette tape from said video cassette recorder.

20. A vehicle surveillance system, comprising:

(a) means for recording a video image;

(b) means for arming said system sufficient to enable the recording of said video image subsequent to the detection of an event;

(c) means for detecting an intrusion into said vehicle;

(d) wherein said means for arming said system includes means for determining that said vehicle is not in use prior to an arming of said system and wherein said means for determining that said vehicle is not in use includes the absence of detection of motion by a motion sensor in said vehicle followed by the elapsing of a sufficient amount of time when said vehicle is not in motion; and

whereby a detection of an intrusion by said means for detecting an intrusion is adapted to provide said event sufficient to enable said system to record said video image.