Hidden camera assembly with microprocessor control

• US 9,442,350 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2014
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Samardzic, Igor, Jarvis, David Lee, Mayville, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Minh
• Application Number:
  US14/560,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20160161831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 396/427, 396/433, 348/143, 348/151
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/004 outside the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/561 Support related camera accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/2805 whereby the speed is regulated by measuring the motor speed and comparing it with a given physical value
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/50 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

Abstract

A hidden camera system for a vehicle includes a cover, a camera, a pulse width drive motor, a linkage connecting the drive motor to the cover and the camera and a control system. The control system modulates output of the drive motor and electronically monitors operation of the hidden camera assembly as the camera is displaced between a hidden or home position and a fully deployed position.

Claims

1. A hidden camera assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a cover;

a camera;

a pulse width modulating drive motor;

a linkage connecting said drive motor to said cover and said camera; and

a control system to modulate output of said drive motor and electronically monitor displacement of said camera between hidden and deployed positions, wherein said control system includes at least one position marker carried on said linkage, at least one sensor for detecting said at least one position marker, and a temperature sensor,

wherein said control system provides a first mode of operation wherein said camera is deployed in a first time frame F₁, a second mode of operation wherein said camera is hidden in a second time frame F₂ where F₁<

F₂ and a third mode of operation wherein power to said drive motor is increased for a limited period of time to break said cover free of any ice holding said cover in a closed position, wherein said third mode of operation is entered when the at least one sensor does not detect the passing of the at least one position marker within a predetermined period of time and the temperature sensor indicates a temperature below the freezing point of water.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said control system includes a controller operating said drive motor in response to input data from said at least one sensor.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said at least one position marker is a magnetic element.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said at least one sensor is a hall sensing element.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein said controller is a computing device.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein said control system includes a circuit board and said at least one hall sensing element and said computing device are carried on said circuit board.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said linkage includes a transmission including at least one gear and said magnetic element is carried on said at least one gear.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said linkage includes a transmission, a crank arm, a first link, a second link, a cover support bracket and a camera mounting bracket.