Method and apparatus for monitoring operation of a motor vehicle

• US 6,570,609 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2000
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Troy A. Heien
• Original Assignee: Troy A. Heien
• Inventors: Heien, Troy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRITTON, HOWARD W
• Application Number:
  US09/556,186
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 348/148, 348/153, 348/155, 360/5, 386/92, 701/35
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring the operation of a motor vehicle for the purposes of determining causation and fault in the event of an accident, and to enhance physical security of the vehicle utilizes electronic digital cameras strategically placed to obtain sequential images of the area immediately adjacent the exterior, and optionally the interior, of the vehicle and to record those images in an electronic memory. A command module controls operation of the cameras and changes the camera mode of operation in the event of an impact or rapid inertial change that signals a collision or other traumatic event.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring a motor vehicle comprising:

first imaging means to continually produce at spaced time intervals single frame images of the exterior area immediately in front of said motor vehicle;

second imaging means to continually produce at spaced time intervals single frame images of the exterior area immediately to the rear of said motor vehicle; and

storage means arranged to accept said images from said imaging means and to allow retrieval of said stored images for external viewing, said storage means organized such that, when filled to capacity, the oldest image is erased and replaced with the newest, whereby a visual record of the last recorded events may be obtained.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including third imaging means to continuously produce at spaced time intervals single frame images of the interior of said motor vehicle, and to transmit said images to the storage means.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said first, second and third imaging means comprises a digital camera.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 including means to incorporate supplemental information relevant to the operation of the motor vehicle within each image produced by said imaging means.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said supplemental information includes at least the time and date at which the image was created.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 including means to record location data either as geographic coordinates or as a street address.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 including an event sensor that, upon being triggered by an inertial change or impact, modifies operation of said imaging means.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the sensitivity of said event sensor is adjustable between at least two settings, a first setting requiring a greater impact or inertial change to trigger said sensor than does a second setting.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said event sensor when at said first setting is triggered by an impact or a panic stop and is used while said motor vehicle is in operation.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said event sensor when at said second setting is triggered by a minor blow to the exterior of said vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 including means to activate said event sensor at its second setting when the vehicle ignition key is in the off position, and wherein a triggering of said sensor causes said imaging means to produce images for a short, predetermined length of time.

12. A method for producing an evidentiary record of the operation of a motor vehicle comprising:

continually producing single frame images of the exterior area in front of said motor vehicle at spaced time intervals;

continually producing single frame images of the exterior area to the rear of said motor vehicle at spaced time intervals;

providing storage of limited capacity for said images, the newest produced image continually replacing the oldest; and

retrieving said stored images to obtain a visual record of the last recorded events exterior to said vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein supplemental information from an external source is superimposed upon each said image, said supplemental information selected from or including all of the group consisting of time, date, vehicle speed, temperature, compass heading, and location data.

14. The method of claim 13 including continually producing single frame images of the interior of said motor vehicle, and storing said images with the images of the vehicle exterior.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein control of the production of said images is also responsive to the output from an event sensor, said event sensor adapted to produce a triggering signal in response to an impact to the vehicle or inertial change caused by panic braking, said triggering signal causing an increase in the rate at which said single frame images are produced.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the sensitivity of said event sensor is adjustable between at least two settings, a first setting such that the sensor produces a triggering signal upon impact or panic stop, and a second more sensitive setting such that the sensor produces a triggering signal upon a minor blow or impact to the vehicle exterior.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said first setting of the sensor is used during operation of the vehicle, and wherein said second setting of the sensor is used while the vehicle ignition is off.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the triggering signal produced at said second sensitivity setting of the sensor causes images of the vehicle exterior to be produced for a predetermined short time thereafter.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein said images are digitally produced and digitally stored.