CAMERA SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CAPTURING IMAGES IN MOTOR VEHICLES

• US 20080165251A1
• Filed: 09/04/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: O'Kere, David Mcscott
• Original Assignee: O'Kere, David Mcscott
• Inventors: O'Kere, David McScott
• Application Number:
  US11/849,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20080165251A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/101 Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• 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: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera

Abstract

Various embodiments of camera systems for capturing images in motor vehicles and methods related to such systems are disclosed. One embodiment, among others, comprises a camera system in a motor vehicle, comprising a camera configured to obtain an image of an occupant of the motor vehicle; a controller configured to obtain image data from the camera in response to an activation signal; memory configured to store the image data; and a preservation enclosure configured to receive the controller and the memory.

Claims

1. A camera system in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a camera configured to obtain an image of an occupant of the motor vehicle;

a controller configured to obtain image data from the camera in response to an activation signal;

memory configured to store the image data; and

an enclosure configured to protect the controller and the memory.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the activation signal is generated in response to starting the motor vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the activation signal is generated in response to shifting the motor vehicle transmission out of a park position.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the transmission was in the park position for a predetermined period prior to shifting.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is configured to obtain an image of all occupants of a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is a digital camera.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to process the image data.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein processing the image data includes image compression.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising an input/output (I/O) port to access the controller and memory.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the I/O port is accessible from the exterior of the preservation enclosure.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless connection to access the controller and memory.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising.

a second camera configured to obtain an image of a person opening the trunk of the motor vehicle;

and

the controller configured to obtain image data from the second camera in response to a second activation signal.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the second activation signal is generated in response to opening the trunk of the motor vehicle.

14. A camera system in a motor vehicle, comprising:

means for acquiring image data of an occupant of the motor vehicle in response to an activation signal; and

means for storing the image data.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for processing the acquired image data.

16. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for accessing the stored image data.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for acquiring image data of a person accessing an interior compartment of the motor vehicle in response to a second activation signal.

18. The system of claim 14, further comprising:

means for acquiring audio data of the occupant in response to the activation signal; and

means for storing the audio data.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for generating an activation signal by voice recognition.

20. A method for capturing images in a motor vehicle, comprising:

obtaining image data of an occupant of the motor vehicle in response to an activation signal; and

storing the image data in memory.