VIDEO CAMERA DEVICE AND CHILD MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20140118548A1
• Filed: 10/30/2012
• Published: 05/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baby-Tech Innovations Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Baby-Tech Innovations Incorporated
• Inventors: Veneziano, Giuseppe, Espinosa, Eduardo V.
• Granted Patent: US 9,565,402 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/008 allowing the driver to see passengers, e.g. for busses combined with rear-view mirrors B60R1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/103 using camera systems provided with artificial illumination device, e.g. IR light source
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8013 for child monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/56 provided with illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/63 by using electronic viewfinders
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/661 Transmitting camera control signals through networks, e.g. control via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/33 Transforming infrared radiation cameras or camera modules for generating image signals from infrared radiation H04N23/20; circuitry of SSIS for transforming infrared radiation into image signals H04N25/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and methods of monitoring a child seated in the rear seat of a vehicle in a child'"'"'s car seat employing a video camera which transmits a video signal to a video display receiver placed in the driver'"'"'s frame of vision. The video camera as envisioned herein is placed within a child'"'"'s stuffed toy, the camera signal being transmitted remotely to a separate video display monitor screen device, viewable to the parent driving the vehicle. The camera is adjustable in the number of positions in which it is placed in the vehicle compartment as well as the direction in which the camera is directed. To adjust the direction in which the camera is pointed, the invention includes a bendable, flexible and sturdy neck that interconnects the camera to a transmission unit, which provides the driver with a view of the child.

Claims

1. A video surveillance system for monitoring children in the rear seat of a vehicle, comprising a video camera placed within a child'"'"'s toy, the system further comprising a means of mounting said toy in the rearward compartment of the vehicle, said toy being configured with arms that can be wrapped around items located in the rearward compartment of the vehicle in order to secure the toy in a desired location, the surveillance system further comprising a video display monitor situated and secured in an area within the view of a driver of the vehicle, the video display monitor being linked remotely with said video camera, wherein said video camera is configured to transmit video images to said video display monitor, wherein the video camera can be adjusted within the toy by means of a flexible, rigid tubing which houses a video camera cable, so that the camera can be directed to any desired location within the vehicle compartment in order to view the child.

2. The video surveillance system of claim 1 wherein the camera is fitted with night vision capable functionality.

3. The video surveillance system of claim 2 wherein the camera further comprises an illumination source.

4. The video surveillance system of claim 3 wherein said illumination source comprises one or more LED lights.

5. The video surveillance system of claim 1 wherein said video camera cable provides an electrical connection between the camera and a power source, said power source being rechargeable.

6. The video surveillance system of claim 1 wherein said means of mounting the toy comprises mounting the toy in the rearward compartment of the vehicle in a desired position so that the child is viewable by the camera while the child is seated in said car seat, said mounting means comprising hanging the toy around a head rest of the vehicle by securing the toy'"'"'s hands together to form a loop, said loop being secured around the head rest.

7. The video surveillance system of claim 6 wherein said means of mounting the toy comprises hanging the toy with the toy'"'"'s arms wrapped around a portable mounting device in a loop, the device being secured to the rear seat of a vehicle or other desired area of the rearward compartment of the vehicle.

8. The video surveillance system of claim 7 wherein said portable mounting device comprises a device as shown in any of FIGS. 9 through 12.

9. The video surveillance system of claim 1 wherein the camera is electronically connected to a battery pack and video signal transmitter by means of a video camera cable, said video camera cable being a length of between 1 and 12 inches.

10. The video surveillance system of claim 9 wherein the battery-pack comprises a rechargeable battery.

11. The video surveillance system of claim 1 further comprising means of mounting the toy with a portable mounting device in a desired location within the rear vehicle compartment, wherein the vehicle lacks a headrest on the rear seat.

12. The portable mounting device of claim 11 further comprising an upper portion which is adjustable by means of a spring which allows said portable mounting device to be secured to items of varying widths which are located in the rearward compartment of a vehicle.

13. The video surveillance system of claim 1 wherein a smart phone is linked to the camera by means of a Bluetooth connection.

14. The video surveillance system of claim 13 wherein the smart phone comprises an “

app”

which allows a smart phone user to view images of the child transmitted from said camera by means of said Bluetooth connection.

15. A method of assembling a video surveillance camera comprising placing a video camera, power source and video signal transmitter within a child'"'"'s toy, the system further comprising a means of mounting said toy in the rearward compartment of the vehicle, said toy being configured with arms that can be wrapped around items in the rearward compartment of the vehicle in order to secure the toy in a desired location, the surveillance system further comprising a video display monitor which receives a video signal from said video signal transmitter, said video display monitor being situated and secured in an area within the view of a driver of the vehicle, the video display monitor being linked remotely with said video camera and video signal transmitter, said video camera being adjustable within the toy by means of flexible, rigid tubing which houses a video camera cable, so that the camera can be directed to any desired location within the vehicle compartment in order to view the child.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the toy comprises a plush toy in the form of an animal.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the video camera is fitted with night vision capability.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the video camera is fitted with illumination lighting.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the video camera is assembled to include a video camera cable that connects said camera with a power source and a video signal transmitter, said cable being between 1 and 12 inches in length.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the video camera cable is fitted within a flexible, rigid tubing, said tubing allowing adjustability of the video camera and toy to a desired position to view said child.