Vehicle-mounted video system with distributed processing

• US 9,325,950 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digital Ally Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digital Ally Incorporated
• Inventors: Haler, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazaro, David
• Application Number:
  US13/975,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20130342697A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/148, 348/739, 340/293, 340/438, 340/936
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/12 Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0033 Rear-view mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/00 Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/53 of electronic viewfinders, e.g. rotatable or detachable
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/65 Control of camera operation in relation to power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A vehicle-mounted system for recording video and audio. The system uses distributed processing, including encoding the video and audio at their source(s), and a high-speed, e.g., Ethernet, bus connecting the various system components and external devices. The system may include a display monitor which is integrated into the same housing as a rear view mirror of the vehicle, with the display monitor being located behind the mirror and video displayed on the monitor being visible through the mirror.

Claims

1. A video system for a law enforcement vehicle, the system comprising:

a first video camera mounted on the law enforcement vehicle and configured to capture and encode video of an event and to associate the encoded video with a first unique camera identifier;

a second video camera configured to capture and encode video of the event and to associate the encoded video with a second unique camera identifier;

wherein the first video camera and the second video camera are configured to implement a pre-event recording loop;

a central control unit configured to receive, decode, and timestamp the encoded video from the first video camera and the encoded video from the second video camera,

wherein the central control unit is configured to be updated in the field via a wireless data link;

a memory for receiving and storing the captured, decoded, and timestamped video from the central control unit,

wherein the central control unit is further configured to wirelessly upload the captured, decoded, and timestamped video stored in the memory to a remote computer,

wherein one or both of the video captured by the first video camera and the video captured by the second video camera is selectively playable on a display of a smartphone carried by a user of the video system, such that the display is configured to display the selected decoded video; and

a microphone configured to capture and encode audio, wherein the central control unit is configured to receive and decode the encoded audio.

2. The video system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second video cameras and the central control unit are connected by a high speed bus.

3. The video system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second video cameras are connected to a hub, the hub is connected to the central control unit, and the central control unit is configured to receive the encoded video from each of the first and second video cameras simultaneously.

4. The video system as set forth in claim 1, further including a location determining device configured to determine a location of the vehicle when the video from the first camera is captured, and wherein the memory of the video system is configured to record at a least a portion of the captured video from the first camera and the location of the vehicle when the video from the first camera was captured.

5. The video system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the first video camera includes an input that when actuated, marks a current location of the first video camera in the captured video.

6. The video system as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first video camera and said central control unit comprises a backup power source for operating said first video camera or said central control unit in the event a primary power source is lost.

7. The video system as set forth in claim 6, wherein the backup power source is a battery.

8. The video system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the central control unit is communicatively coupled with a speed detector and is configured to associate speed information provided by the speed detector with the captured video from the first video camera.

9. The video system as set forth in claim 1, wherein one or both of the first and second video cameras includes an infrared light for providing infrared illumination.

10. The video system as set forth in claim 1, wherein one or both of the first and second video cameras is configured to be placed in a stealth mode, such that all lights and indicators on the respective video camera are turned off.

11. The video system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the system is configured to be remotely controlled by a remote control device.

12. The video system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the central control unit is communicatively coupled with at least one of a crash sensor, a radar gun, and a speedometer.

13. A video system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a first video camera mounted on the vehicle and configured to capture and encode video and to stamp the encoded video with a first unique camera identifier;

a second video camera mounted on the vehicle and configured to capture and encode video and to stamp the encoded video with a second unique camera identifier;

wherein the first video camera and the second video camera are configured to implement a pre-event recording loop;

a central control unit configured to receive and decode the encoded video from the first camera and the second camera,

wherein one or both of the video captured by the first video camera and the video captured by the second video camera is selectively playable on a display of a smartphone carried by a user of the video system, such that the display is configured to display the selected decoded video; and

a microphone configured to capture and encode audio, wherein the central control unit is configured to receive and decode the encoded audio.

14. The video system as set forth in claim 13, wherein one or both of the first and second video cameras is synchronized with the central control unit so as to provide an accurate time stamp associated with the respective captured video.

15. The video system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the first and second video cameras and the central control unit are connected by a high speed bus.

16. The video system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the first and second video cameras are connected to a hub, the hub is connected to the central control unit, and the central control unit is configured to receive the video from each of the first and second video cameras simultaneously.

17. The video system as set forth in claim 13, further including a location determining device configured to determine a location of the vehicle when the video from the first and second cameras is captured, and wherein the memory of the video system is configured to record at a least a portion of the captured video from the first and second cameras and the location of the vehicle when the video from the first and second cameras was captured.

18. The video system as set forth in claim 17, wherein one of the first and second video cameras includes an input that when actuated, marks a current location of the respective first or second video camera in the captured video.

19. The video system as set forth in claim 13, having at least one software component for implementing the functionality of the system, wherein said at least one software component of said system is upgradable while said system is located in the field as during normal use of the system.

20. The video system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the central control unit is communicatively coupled with a speed detector and is configured to associate speed information provided by the speed detector with the captured video from the first video camera.

21. The video system as set forth in claim 13, wherein one or both of the first and second video cameras includes an infrared light for providing infrared illumination.

22. The video system as set forth in claim 13, wherein one or both of the first and second video cameras is configured to be placed in a stealth mode, such that all lights and indicators on the respective video camera are turned off.

23. The video system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the system is configured to be remotely controlled by a remote control device.

24. The video system as set forth in claim 13, wherein the central control unit is communicatively coupled with at least one of a crash sensor, a radar gun, and a speedometer.