Automotive, cargo, and homeland security camera system

• US 20090066792A1
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Saad Issa
• Original Assignee: Saad Issa
• Inventors: Issa, Saad
• Application Number:
  US11/899,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20090066792A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera

Abstract

The automotive and/or vehicular camera system provides visual sensing devices for data generation and storage of visual information. On a vehicle or cargo container, cameras or other visual sensing devices may be placed strategically in order to provide a wide field of view. Data generated by the cameras may be transmitted by wire or otherwise to a central processing/memory/data capturing system. A power supply may supply power to both the processing and memory system as well as cameras. An interface may allow data and instruction transfer to and from the data capturing system. A variety of protocols can be used to achieve communication between the individual elements of the present invention and monitoring of other signals, events, and statuses may be achieved. By recording the history of the vehicle'"'"'s operation and travels, forensic analysis is made easier should an accident or other event of interest occur.

Claims

1. An automotive camera system as substantially disclosed herein.

2. An automotive camera system for a vehicle and/or cargo container, comprising:

a processing system for processing signals;

a memory media system coupled to said processing system, said memory media system recording signals transmitted by said processing system; and

a sensing device coupled to said processing system, said sensing device transmitting signals to said processing system for recording on said memory media system;

whereby

events sensed by said sensing device are recorded for later review by said memory media system.

3. An automotive camera system for a vehicle or cargo container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said processing system further comprises:

a processing system adapted to process digital signals.

4. An automotive camera system for a vehicle or cargo container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said memory media system further comprises:

a memory media system adapted to receive a removable media.

5. An automotive camera system for a vehicle or cargo container as set forth in claim 4, wherein said memory media system further comprises:

said removable media selected from the group consisting of DVD, flash memory, hard disk drives, and tape drives.

6. An automotive camera system for a vehicle or cargo container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said memory media system further comprises:

a non-removable memory; and

a non-removable memory interface enabling storage and delivery of signals by said non-removable memory.

7. An automotive camera system for a vehicle or cargo container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said sensing device further comprises:

a sensing device selected from the group consisting of cameras, microphones, transducers, engine sensors, operation sensors, and status sensors.

8. An automotive camera system for a vehicle or cargo container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said sensing device further comprises:

a camera positioned at an exterior corner of the vehicle.

9. An automotive camera system for a vehicle or cargo container as set forth in claim 8, wherein said camera further comprises:

a camera having a horizontal field of view of approximately one-hundred eighty degrees (180°

).

10. An automotive camera system for a vehicle or cargo container as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

an external interface coupled to an enabling communication to and from both said processing system and said memory media system.

11. An automotive camera system for a vehicle or cargo container as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:

an independent power source coupled to one or more of said processing system, said memory media system, and said sensing device.

12. An automotive camera system for a vehicle or cargo container as set forth in claim 2, wherein said independent power source further comprises:

an independent power source selected from the group consisting of batteries and solar panels.

13. An automotive camera system for a vehicle or cargo container, comprising:

a processing system for processing digital signals;

a memory media system coupled to said processing system, said memory media system recording signals transmitted by said processing system and storing said signals in memory media;

said memory media selected from the group consisting of removable and non-removable media;

said removable media selected from the group consisting of DVD, flash memory, hard disk drives, and tape drives;

said non-removable media including a non-removable memory, said non-removable media coupled to a non-removable memory interface enabling storage and delivery of signals by said non-removable memory;

a sensing device coupled to said processing system, said sensing device transmitting signals to said processing system for recording on said memory media system;

said sensing device selected from the group consisting of cameras, a camera positioned at an exterior corner of the vehicle;

a camera having a horizontal field of view of approximately one-hundred eighty degrees (180°

), microphones, transducers, engine sensors, operation sensors, and status sensors; and

an external interface coupled to and enabling communication to and from both said processing system and said memory media system;

whereby

events sensed by said sensing device are recorded for later review by said memory media system.

14. An automotive camera system for a vehicle as set forth in claim 13, further comprising:

an independent power source coupled to one or more of said processing system, said memory media system, and said sensing device, said independent power source selected from the group consisting of batteries and solar panels.