School bus traffic arm camera system

• US 8,599,260 B1
• Filed: 10/02/2012
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zen-Tinel, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Zen-Tinel, Inc.
• Inventors: Vaughn, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): DIEP, NHON THANH
• Application Number:
  US13/633,481
• Time in Patent Office: 427 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/149
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0175 by photographing vehicles, e.g. when violating traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors

Abstract

A system for capturing images of a vehicle violating an extended stop arm of a school bus. The system includes a housing, a base plate for the housing, a system actuation device, and a mounting plate. The system comprises the following components disposed between the base plate and the housing: (i) at least a first camera for capturing an image of a license plate of a vehicle passing the school bus; (ii) a storage device for recording images from the first camera; and (iii) a power source for operating the camera and storage device. The mounting plate is attached to the school bus, and the base plate and housing are removably attached to the mounting plate without the need for permanently attaching the system to the school bus.

Claims

1. A school bus camera system comprising:

a portable camera unit comprising a housing, a base plate attached to the housing, the portable camera system containing;

at least a first camera for capturing an image of a license plate of a vehicle passing the school bus;

a storage device for recording images from the first camera; and

a power source for operating the camera and storage device,

a system activation device in electrical communication with components in the housing, and

a mounting plate separable from the portable camera unit for removably attaching the portable camera unit to a side of a school bus,

(iii) wherein the mounting plate is fixedly attached to the school bus, and the portable camera unit is removably attached to the mounting plate.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first camera captures an image of a license plate of a vehicle passing from the front of the bus, further comprising a second camera for capturing an image of a license plate of a vehicle passing from the back of the bus, and a third camera for capturing an image of a driver of at least one of the vehicle passing from the front of the bus and the vehicle passing from the back of the bus, wherein at least one of the first, second and third cameras also captures at least a portion of an extended stop arm of the bus.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the system activation device comprises a camera(s) activation device, wherein the first, second and third cameras begin recording when the stop arm of the bus is extended.

4. The system of claim 3 further comprising a motion sensor for creating an event indicating when the first, second and third cameras record a vehicle passing the school bus while the stop arm is extended.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first camera captures an image of a license plate of a vehicle passing from the front of the bus and portion of an extended stop arm of the school bus.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a GPS unit for recording the location of the school bus when the first, second and third cameras capture images.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an access door on a side portion of the housing for removing the storage device to retrieve images recorded by the school bus camera system and for accessing a power source of the school bus camera system.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a power source for powering the system, wherein the power source is independent from and not in electrical communication with the school bus, the power source being selected from the group consisting of a rechargeable battery, a solar power source, and combinations thereof.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a power cable in electrical communication with the school bus wherein the school bus camera system is powered by the school bus.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the base plate and mounting plate contain a locking device for securing the base plate of the system to the mounting plate.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the base plate is slidably engaged with the mounting plate.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the base plate is rotatively engaged with the mounting plate.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the mounting plate is magnetically attached to a side portion of the school bus.

22. The system of claim 9, wherein the power cable in electrical communication with the school bus comprises a plug and receiver for removably securing the power cable to the camera system.

14. A method for attaching a camera system to a school bus,

wherein the camera system comprises (a) a mounting plate containing engaging means and locking means, (b) a portable camera unit comprising a housing and a base plate for engaging the engaging means and locking means of the mounting plate, the portable camera unit containing one or more cameras for recording stop arm violations, and (c) an activation means for activating the camera system, the method comprising

fixedly attaching the mounting plate to a school bus;

removably attaching the portable camera unit to the mounting plate and;

locking the portable camera unit onto the mounting plate.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the activation means comprises a magnetic switch for activating the first, second and third cameras of the camera system when a vehicle passes the stop arm while the stop arm is extended.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising a motion sensor for creating an event indicating when the first, second and third cameras record a vehicle passing the school bus while the stop arm is extended.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the camera system comprises a GPS unit for recording the location of the school bus when the first, second and third cameras capture images.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the housing comprises an access door on a side portion of the housing for removing a storage means in the housing.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the system comprises power means for powering the system, wherein the power means is independent from and not in electrical communication with the school bus, the power means being selected from the group consisting of a rechargeable battery, a solar power source, and combinations thereof.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the camera system is removably attached to the mounting plate by slidably engaging the base plate with the mounting plate.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the base plate is removably attached to the mounting plate by rotatively engaging the base plate with the mounting plate.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein the activation means is in electrical communication with the school bus such that the camera system is activated when the stop arm is extended.

24. The method of claim 16 wherein the event recorded by the first, second and third is wireless transmitted to a central database when the event is detected.