Land vehicle based surveillance system

• US 8,866,906 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2010
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cris Abad
• Original Assignee: Cris Abad
• Inventors: Abad, Cris
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheema, Umar
• Application Number:
  US12/798,281
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/23 with a predetermined field of view
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/101 using cameras with adjustable capturing direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/105 using multiple cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/70 characterised by an event-triggered choice to display a specific image among a selection of captured images
• 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 is a systems for visual and sound surveillance using a land vehicle with multiple cameras that may have a small pan-tilt-zoom camera profile that may be attached to a roof or ceiling of the land vehicle. The cameras may be positioned in a passenger side front and rear corner, in a driver side position behind a driver seat location, and in a driver side rear corner. A platform with a controller may be in communication with the cameras, and may have a display, a keyboard, a camera position control device, and a recorder.

Claims

1. A system for visual and sound surveillance using land vehicles comprising:

a land vehicle with a plurality of cameras that are small profile pan-tilt-zoom cameras attached to a roof interior to said land vehicle adjacent to a passenger side front and rear corner, adjacent to a driver side position behind a driver seat location, and adjacent to a driver side rear corner;

said plurality of cameras have a reduced subtending length below said roof inside over head structure sufficient to allow camera field of view external to said land vehicle through a transparent portion of said land vehicle at an attachment position and to minimize detection by a person external to said land vehicle;

a platform with a controller in communication with said plurality of cameras, and a display, a keyboard and a camera position control device; and

a recorder.

2. The system as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of cameras have good resolution and large zoom magnification characteristic packaged in a dome cover.

3. The system as in claim 1 wherein said subtending length is less than 1 to 2 inches below said roof inside overhead structure.

4. The system as in claim 1 wherein a portable control and communication device is in communication with a communication interface of said controller and said portable control is operable for remote control of said platform and said plurality of cameras.

5. The system as in claim 4 wherein said recorder is positionable with said portable control and communication device.

6. The system as in claim 4 wherein said communication is implemented using the World Wide Web.

7. The system as in claim 1 wherein said land vehicle has at least one of a supplemental electric power source, a supplemental air conditioning and heating unit, a personnel equipment unit and a voice recorder.

8. The system as in claim 1 wherein said land vehicle has a quad processor as a part of said platform.

9. The system as in claim 1 wherein said land vehicle has night vision equipment.

10. The system as in claim 1 wherein said land vehicle has an infrared illuminator.

11. The system as in claim 1 wherein said land vehicle has a position location device.

12. The system as in claim 11 wherein said position location device is a GPS tracking unit.

13. The system as in claim 1 wherein said land vehicle has tinted windows and window masking for reduced interior visibility from the outside of said land vehicle.

14. The system as in claim 1 wherein one of said plurality of cameras is attached to a generally vertical support member of said land vehicle.