VIDEO CAMERA DEVICE AND METHOD TO MONITOR A CHILD IN A VEHICLE

• US 20170104963A1
• Filed: 12/16/2016
• Published: 04/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baby-Tech Innovations Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Baby-Tech Innovations Incorporated
• Inventors: Veneziano, Giuseppe
• Granted Patent: US 9,769,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 system comprising:

a video surveillance system for monitoring one or more children seated in the rearward compartment of a vehicle, the video surveillance system comprising a non-stationary video camera housed within a child'"'"'s toy, wherein the camera further comprises an illumination source, the video camera configured within the head of the toy, wherein the video camera comprises a video camera cable that connects the non-stationary video camera with a power source and a video signal transmitter, wherein the flexible, rigid tubing and the camera cable are 6 inches in length and wherein the camera is fitted with night vision capable functionality;

the toy further comprising 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;

a video display monitor wherein the display monitor is secured in an area within view of a driver of the vehicle, the video display monitor being linked remotely with the video camera, wherein the video camera is configured to transmit video images to the video display monitor;

a flexible, rigid tubing within the neck of the toy that houses video cable wiring connecting the video camera to a power source wherein the flexible rigid tubing is adjustable so that the video camera can be manually or remotely directed in any desired direction within the vehicle compartment in order to view the one or more children wherein the video cable wiring provides an electrical connection between the camera and a power source, the power source being rechargeable, wherein a smart phone is linked to the camera by means of a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection, 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 or Wi-Fi connection, wherein the “

app”

remotely adjusts the non-stationary video camera and flexible, rigid tubing so that the video camera can be directed in any desired direction within the vehicle compartment in order to view the one or more children,

a portable, detachable mounting device, the portable, detachable mounting device consisting of a narrow 10 cm wide wedge secured to a desired area of the rearward compartment of the vehicle in close proximity to the one or more children to be viewed, wherein the wedge comprises a rigid material at the top half of the wedge and a flexible material at the bottom half of the wedge, the wedge further consisting of a wing nut at the base of the wedge that allows a user to adjust the height and position of the wedge, wherein the video surveillance system further comprises a means of mounting the toy with the detachable, portable mounting device in a desired location within the rear vehicle compartment, wherein the vehicle lacks a headrest on the rear seat, wherein the toy is mounted on the portable, detachable mounting device by fastening the toy'"'"'s arms around the portable, detachable mounting device in a loop, the detachable, portable mounting device further comprising an upper portion which is adjustable by means of a spring which allows the detachable, portable mounting device to be secured to items of varying widths which are located in the rearward compartment of a vehicle, wherein the system comprises a temperature and battery life indicator.

2. The video surveillance system of claim 1 wherein the illumination source comprises one or more LED lights.

3. The video surveillance system of claim 2 wherein the detachable, portable mounting device comprises a device that is mounted in a vehicle equipped either with or without a headrest.

4. The video surveillance system of claim 1 wherein the battery-pack comprises a rechargeable battery.

5. The video surveillance system of claim 4 wherein the system connects to the computer of an intelligent vehicle configured with Bluetooth connectivity and a Wi-Fi source.

6. The video surveillance system of claim 5 wherein video images are transmitted to the in-dash monitor of the intelligent vehicle by Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity.

8. The video surveillance system of claim 6 wherein the video camera is turned on or off remotely by means of an “

app”

loaded onto a smart device.

10. The video surveillance system of claim 6 wherein the monitor is a split screen monitor wherein more than one child is monitored simultaneously.

11. The video surveillance system of claim 10 wherein a user is alerted as to the presence of a child situated in the rearward compartment of the vehicle following turning the ignition of the vehicle off, wherein the alert is sent to the user'"'"'s smart device.

12. The video surveillance of claim 11 wherein the system transmits music to a speaker configured in the head of the toy, the music streamed to the speaker via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity with the vehicle or user'"'"'s smart device.

13. The video surveillance system of claim 12 wherein the music is streamed from an internet source or from a user'"'"'s smart device library, or from the vehicle'"'"'s internal sound system.

14. The video surveillance system of claim 13 wherein the system comprises a microphone and speaker so that there is two-way communication between the child and driver of the vehicle.

7. The video surveillance system of claim 7 wherein the video camera is turned on or off remotely by means of a remote control.

9. The video surveillance system of claim 9 wherein the video camera pans, tilts or zooms.

15. A method of monitoring one or more children seated in a vehicle, the method comprising:

capturing video images of the one or more children when the children are seated in the rearward compartment of a vehicle with a video surveillance system, the system comprising a non-stationary video camera configured within the head of a child'"'"'s toy, wherein the video camera is fitted with illumination lighting and night vision capability, wherein a smart phone is linked to the camera by means of a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection, 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 or Wi-Fi connection, wherein the “

app”

remotely adjusts the non-stationary video camera and flexible, rigid tubing so that the video camera can be directed in any desired direction within the vehicle compartment in order to view the one or more children, the toy further comprising toy arms, the system further comprising an adjustable, flexible rigid tubing within the neck of the toy the adjustable, wherein the flexible rigid tubing houses video cable wiring that connects the video camera to a power source;

the video surveillance system further comprising a video display monitor wherein the display monitor is secured in an area within view of a driver of the vehicle;

remotely linking the video display monitor with the video camera, wherein the video camera is configured to transmit video images to the video display monitor, wherein the video camera comprises a video camera cable that connects the non-stationary video camera with a power source and a video signal transmitter, wherein the flexible, rigid tubing and the camera cable are 6 inches in length wherein the camera is fitted with night vision capable functionality;

securing a portable, detachable mounting device to a desired area of the rearward compartment of the vehicle, the portable, detachable mounting device consisting of a narrow 10 cm wide wedge wherein, the wedge comprises a rigid material at the top half of the wedge and a flexible material at the bottom half of the wedge, the wedge further consisting of a wing nut at the base of the wedge that allows a user to adjust the height and position of the wedge;

wrapping the toy'"'"'s arms around the portable, detachable mounting device by fastening the toy'"'"'s arms in a loop around the mounting device so that the toy is secured to the mounting device;

manually or remotely adjusting the toy'"'"'s head and the flexible rigid tubing within the toy so that the non-stationary video camera is directed in any desired location within the vehicle compartment in order to view the child;

viewing the one or more children so to ensure the safety of the one or more children during transit in the vehicle, wherein the system comprises a temperature and battery life indicator.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein video images are transmitted to the in-dash monitor of the intelligent vehicle by Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the video camera pans, tilts or zooms and wherein the monitor is a split screen monitor wherein more than one child is monitored simultaneously.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the user is alerted as to the presence of a child situated in the rearward compartment of the vehicle after the vehicle has been turned off, wherein the alert is sent to the user'"'"'s smart device.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the system transmits music to a speaker configured in the head of the toy, the music streamed to the speaker via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity with the vehicle or user'"'"'s smart device.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the system comprises a microphone and speaker so that there is two-way communication between the child and driver of the vehicle.