Image processing system for identifying car stealer

• US 6,954,138 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2002
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hiroshi Sugiura, Nagoya Toyopet Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Hiroshi Sugiura, Nagoya Toyopet Company Limited
• Inventors: Sugiura, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sihong
• Application Number:
  US10/469,150
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.24, 340/426.1, 340/426.28, 340/426.3, 348/148, 348/151, 348/152, 307/10.2, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 340/426.24
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera

Abstract

An image processing system for identifying car stealer to be set in a car involving a high risk to be stolen, comprising a device to take the full-faced image of the criminal without his/her knowledge.

A dashboard panel (2) in front of the driver'"'"'s seat comprises a meter housing (10) provided on a lamp case (12) for storing a light source (13) of indicator lamps (6a) and (6b). An indicator panel (14) made of transparent material is provided in front of the dashboard panel (2), therein the lighting from the light source is sent from the lamp case (12) to the front surface of the dashboard panel (2). An image taking device (21) which is a candid camera is provided in the lamp case (12), therein the image of the person sitting in the driver'"'"'s seat can be taken through the indicator panel (14). An image memory device (22) of the candid camera corresponds to the lighting of the indicator lamps (6a) and (6b), and save the image taken by the image taking device (21). An indicator turn signal lamp is preferably used for the indicator lamps (6a) and (6b).

Claims

1. An image processing system for identifying car stealer comprising a device to take a full-faced image of the criminal by a candid camera provided in the dashboard panel in front of the driver'"'"'s seat, which is characterized by comprising a light source of the indicator lamp installed in the aforementioned dashboard panel, a lamp case to install the aforementioned light source, an indicator panel made of transparent material provided on the front area of the aforementioned dashboard panel and leads the light of the aforementioned light source from the lamp case to the front side of the aforementioned dashboard panel, and an image taking device of the aforementioned candid camera which is installed in the aforementioned lamp case and takes the image of the criminal sitting in the driver'"'"'s seat, and an image memory device to save the image data obtained by the aforementioned image taking device while synchronizing with the lighting of the aforementioned indicator lamp.

2. An image processing system for identifying car stealer as described in claim 1, which is characterized in that the aforementioned indicator lamp comprises a symmetrical pair of indicator turn signal lamps.

3. An image processing system for identifying car stealer as described in claim 2, which is characterized in that the aforementioned turn signal lamp is turned on while the engine key switch is on.

4. An image processing system for identifying car stealer as described in claim 3, which is characterized by comprising an on-contact opening and closing relay in which the aforementioned turn signal lamps and the image memory device are electrically operated by the battery voltage when the engine key switch is on and the aforementioned turn signal lamps and the image memory device are electrically shut down by the alternator voltage after the engine has started.

5. An image processing system for identifying car stealer as described in claim 1, which is characterized in that the mirror finish is provided on the internal surface of the aforementioned lamp case.

6. An image processing system for identifying car stealer as described in claim 1, which is characterized by comprising a voice recording microphone to operate corresponding to a door switch.

7. An image processing system for identifying car stealer as described in claim 1, which is characterized by comprising an infrared light projector set in the car room, to be used with the aforementioned image taking device for night vision.

8. An image processing system for identifying car stealer as described in claim 2, which is characterized in that the mirror finish is provided on the internal surface of the aforementioned lamp case.

9. An image processing system for identifying car stealer as described in claim 3, which is characterized in that the mirror finish is provided on the internal surface of the aforementioned lamp case.

10. An image processing system for identifying car stealer as described in claim 4, which is characterized in that the mirror finish is provided on the internal surface of the aforementioned lamp case.

11. An image processing system for identifying car stealer as described in claim 2, which is characterized by comprising a voice recording microphone to operate corresponding to a door switch.

12. An image processing system for identifying car stealer as described in claim 3, which is characterized by comprising a voice recording microphone to operate corresponding to a door switch.

13. An image processing system for identifying car stealer as described in claim 4, which is characterized by comprising a voice recording microphone to operate corresponding to a door switch.

14. An image processing system for identifying car stealer as described in claim 2, which is characterized by comprising an infrared light projector set in the car room, to be used with the aforementioned image taking device for night vision.

15. An image processing system for identifying car stealer as described in claim 3, which is characterized by comprising an infrared light projector set in the car room, to be used with the aforementioned image taking device for night vision.

16. An image processing system for identifying car stealer as described in claim 4, which is characterized by comprising an infrared light projector set in the car room, to be used with the aforementioned image taking device for night vision.