Vehicle surveillance camera system actuated upon passenger entry

• US 6,008,841 A
• Filed: 12/05/1994
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Reginald T. Charlson
• Original Assignee: Reginald T. Charlson
• Inventors: Charlson, Reginald T.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, BRYAN T
• Application Number:
  US08/349,728
• Time in Patent Office: 1,849 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 348/143, 348/149, 348/151, 348/156, 348/159, 348/152, 348/153
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A security system for a vehicle which includes an internal compartment which is designed to contain humans. A door is formed within the exterior wall of the vehicle with the door providing access into and out of the internal compartment. A plurality of cameras are mounted within the internal compartment and exteriorly of the vehicle with one camera observing directly the area of the door. The output signals of all cameras are supplied through a multiplexer which causes all the output signals of the cameras to be placed on a single frame of the video camera permitting simultaneous observance of all cameras when the recorded film is observed by a human. When the door is closed, the signals of all cameras are reproduced on the video recorder at a slow playback speed. When the door is open, only the door mounted camera is recorded by the video recorder with sound also being recorded.

Claims

1. In combination with a vehicle, said vehicle having an exterior wall which encloses an internal compartment, a passenger door formed within said exterior wall, said passenger door being movable from a closed position to an open position, said closed position being when said passenger door is flush with said exterior wall preventing access through said passenger door into said internal compartment, said open position being when said passenger door is located transverse to said exterior wall permitting access into said internal compartment, a security system comprising:

a plurality of cameras mounted in conjunction with said vehicle, one of said cameras comprising a door camera in position to observe the area of said door located within said internal compartment; and

all of said cameras having an output signal which is transmitted to a multiplexer and into a video recorder, said multiplexer to cause the outputs of all said cameras to be placed on a single frame of said video recorder, said video recorder including an audio recorder, with said passenger door in said closed position said video recorder recording said output signal of each said camera at a first playback speed, with said passenger door in said open position said video recorder recording said output signal of only said door camera at a second playback speed, said first playback speed being substantially slower than said second playback speed, said first playback speed not including sound, said second playback speed including sound.

2. The security system as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said video recorder and said multiplexer being enclosed within a lockable housing.

3. The security system as defined in claim 1 wherein:

at least three of said cameras being located to observe said internal compartment.

4. The security system as defined in claim 1 wherein:

at least one of said cameras being positioned to observe forwardly and exteriorly of said vehicle.

5. The security system as defined in claim 1 wherein:

at least one of said cameras being positioned to observe rearwardly and exteriorly of said vehicle.

6. The security system as defined in claim 1 wherein:

said exterior wall including at least one cargo door, a camera mounted on said exterior wall in position to observe said cargo door.