Recording device and method for capturing and processing image data in a vehicle

• US 8,849,104 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2009
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Original Assignee: SMR Patents Sarl (SMR Patents)
• Inventors: Eder, Oliver, Schaffer, Heinz-Erwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr., William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, EILEEN M
• Application Number:
  US12/504,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20100014842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 386/362
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera

Abstract

A recording device for capturing and processing image data in a vehicle is proposed. The recording device comprises an optical image generating sensor and an image processor for processing image data and a communication processor for bidirectional communication with the vehicle. The image data and additional vehicle data is imaged into the data structure of the vehicle bus system together as mixed data.

Claims

1. A rear view mirror assembly for a vehicle having a vehicle bus system, said rear view mirror assembly comprising:

a mirror housing having a primary opening;

a reflective element housed within said mirror housing and visible through said primary opening, said reflective element showing images of a rearward direction;

and a recording device for capturing and processing image data in a vehicle with an optical image generating sensor and with an image processor for processing image data, with a communication processor for bidirectional communication with the vehicle,

wherein said recording device, optical image generating sensor, said image processor and said bidirectional communications processor are all housed within said mirror housing between said mirror housing and said reflective element,

and the image data and is imaged into the data structure of the vehicle bus system together as mixed data.

2. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the mixed data per byte is imaged into the data frame.

3. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the recording device includes a storage medium which is connected to the optical sensor.

4. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the image processor processes the image data and a data reduced image data set is stored in the memory.

5. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rear view mirror assembly is an exterior mirror.

6. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 5, wherein the recording device performs the function of dead angle monitoring.

7. A rear view mirror assembly according to claim 1, wherein the rear view mirror assembly is an interior mirror.