Activation method and system for the timed activation of a vehicle camera system

• US 10,173,644 B1
• Filed: 02/01/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Myrna Trenchard, Nersa Soler, Vidal M. Soler
• Original Assignee: Myrna Trenchard, Nersa Soler, Vidal M. Soler
• Inventors: Soler, Vidal M., Soler, Nersa, Trenchard, Myrna
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Thai Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wendmagegn, Girumsew
• Application Number:
  US15/422,211
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/302 using recording means, e.g. black box
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/188 Capturing isolated or intermittent images triggered by the occurrence of a predetermined event, e.g. an object reaching a predetermined position signal generation from motion picture films H04N5/253
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

An activation method and system is provided that, in response to an external signal, initiates a timed activation of a vehicle camera system, including for instance a series of cameras and a digital video recorder. The disclosed activation system generally includes a system control module having a timer and a series of relays connected to external devices such as, for example, an alarm system, an ignition system, etc. The relays receive signals from an external source and trigger the system control module to send a timed signal to the vehicle camera system. The activation system may also include a beeper control module including a beeper and connected to the timer such that the timer is activated in response to an external signal transmitted to the beeper by an external device such as a smartphone or home alarm system.

Claims

1. An activation system for providing timed activation of a vehicle camera system in response to an external signal, comprising:

a timer having a common input connected to an electrical power source, a trigger input, a normally open output connected to at least one electronic device of a vehicle camera system, and a normally closed output, wherein said timer is switchable, in response to a triggering voltage being applied to said trigger input, from;

an initial position in which the common input is connected to the normally closed output, to

an activated position in which the common input is connected to the normally open output, and in which electrical power from the electrical power source is provided to the at least one electronic device of the vehicle camera system for a predetermined amount of time; and

a triggering relay comprising;

a common input, a positive voltage input, a negative voltage input, a normally closed output, a normally open output and a relay contact, wherein

the common input of said triggering relay is connected to an electrical power source, wherein

wherein the normally open output of said triggering relay is connected to said trigger input of said timer, and further wherein

said relay contact is switchable, in response to a voltage being applied between the positive and negative voltage inputs of said triggering relay, from an initial position connecting said common input of said triggering relay to said normally closed output of said triggering relay, to an activated position connecting said common input of said triggering relay to said trigger input of said timer via said normally open output of said triggering relay, wherein, in said activated position of said relay contact, said electrical power source connected to the common input of said triggering relay provides said triggering voltage to said trigger input of said timer.

2. The activation system of claim 1, wherein the electrical power source connected to the common input of the timer is the same as the electrical power source connected to the common input of the triggering relay.

3. The activation system of claim 2, wherein the electrical power source connected to both the common input of the timer and the common input of the triggering relay is a 12-Volt electrical system of a vehicle.

4. The activation system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the positive and negative voltage inputs of the triggering relay is electrically connected to a vehicle alarm system, and further wherein said voltage applied between the positive and negative voltage inputs of the triggering relay is applied responsively to said vehicle alarm system activating an alarm.

5. The activation system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the positive and negative voltage inputs of the triggering relay are electrically connected to a vehicle ignition system, and further wherein said voltage applied between the positive and negative voltage inputs of the triggering relay is applied responsively to said vehicle ignition system being ignited.

6. The activation system of claim 1, wherein said at least one electronic device comprises a camera.

7. The activation system of claim 1, wherein said at least one electronic device comprises a digital video recorder.

8. The activation system of claim 1, herein said at least one electronic device comprises a geolocation tracker.

9. The activation system of claim 1, further comprising an additional relay having a common input, a positive voltage input, a negative voltage input, a normally closed output, a normally open output and a relay contact, wherein the common input of said additional relay is connected to an electrical power source, wherein the normally open output of said additional relay is connected to said at least one electronic device, and further wherein said relay contact of said additional relay is switchable, in response to a voltage being applied between the positive and negative voltage inputs of said additional relay by the normally open output of the timer, from an initial position connecting said common input of said additional relay to said normally closed output of said additional relay, to an activated position connecting said common input of said additional relay to said at least one electronic device via said normally open output of said additional relay.

10. The activation system of claim 1, further comprising a beeper configured to receive an external wireless signal, the activation system further comprising a beeper-activated relay having a normally open output electrically connected to the trigger input of the timer, wherein the beeper-activated relay is switchable to an activated position, in which the normally open output of the beeper-activated relay is powered, responsively to the beeper receiving said external wireless signal.

11. The activation system of claim 10, further comprising a photoresistor switch electrically connected to the beeper-activated relay, wherein the photoresistor switch is configured to switch to a closed position in response to illumination of a screen of the beeper caused by the beeper receiving said external wireless signal and to switch the beeper-activated relay to said activated position.

12. The activation system of claim 10, wherein the beeper comprises a vibratory motor including a vibratory motor contact electrically connected to the beeper-activated relay, wherein the vibratory motor contact is configured to switch to a closed position in response to the vibratory motor being activated consequently to the beeper receiving said external wireless signal and to switch the beeper-activated relay to said activated position.

13. An activation system for providing timed activation of a vehicle camera system in response to an external signal, comprising:

a timer having a common input connected to an electrical power source, a trigger input, a normally open output connected to at least one electronic device of a vehicle camera system, and a normally closed output, wherein said timer is switchable in response to a triggering voltage being applied to said trigger input, from;

an initial position in which the common input is connected to the normally closed output, to

an activated position in which the common input is connected to the normally open output, and in which electrical power from the electrical power source is provided to the at least one electronic device of the vehicle camera system for a predetermined amount of time; and

at least one of a vehicle alarm system and a vehicle ignition system electrically connected to said trigger input of said timer and configured to provide said triggering voltage to the trigger input.

14. The activation system of claim 13, wherein said at least one of a vehicle alarm system and a vehicle ignition system are electrically connected to said trigger input of said timer via a triggering relay, said triggering relay comprising:

a common input, a positive voltage input, a negative voltage input, a normally closed output, a normally open output and a relay contact, wherein

said at least one of a vehicle alarm system and a vehicle ignition system is electrically connected to the triggering relay and configured to provide a voltage between said positive voltage input and said negative voltage input of said triggering relay, wherein

the common input of said triggering relay is connected to an electrical power source, wherein

the normally open output of said triggering relay is connected to said trigger input of said timer, and further wherein

said relay contact of said triggering relay is switchable, in response to said voltage being applied between the positive and negative voltage inputs of said triggering relay, from an initial position connecting said common input of said triggering relay to said normally closed output of said triggering relay, to an activated position connecting said common input of said triggering relay to said trigger input of said timer via said normally open output of said triggering relay, wherein, in said activated position of said relay contact, said electrical power source connected to the common input of said triggering relay provides said triggering voltage to said trigger input of said timer.

15. The activation system of claim 13, wherein said at least one electronic device comprises a camera.

16. The activation system of claim 13, wherein said at least one electronic device comprises a digital video recorder.

17. The activation system of claim 13, wherein said at least one electronic device comprises a geolocation tracker.

18. An activation system for providing timed activation of a vehicle camera system in response to an external signal, comprising:

a timer having a common input, a normally open output, a normally closed output and a trigger input, wherein the common input is connected to an electrical power source and the normally open output is connected to one or more cameras carried by a vehicle;

at least one of a vehicle alarm system and a vehicle ignition system electrically connected to said trigger input of said timer;

wherein

said timer is switchable, in response to a voltage applied at said trigger input by said at least one of a vehicle alarm system and a vehicle ignition system, between;

an initial position in which the common input is connected to the normally closed output, and

an activated position in which the common input is connected to the normally open output, and in which electrical power from the electrical power source is provided to the one or more cameras for a predetermined amount of time.

19. The activation system of claim 18, wherein said normally open output of said timer is further electrically connected to a digital video recorder carried by said vehicle.

20. The activation system of claim 18, wherein said normally open output of said timer is further electrically connected to a geolocation tracker carried by said vehicle.