Motor vehicle recorder system

• US 6,593,848 B1
• Filed: 08/28/2001
• Issued: 07/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William T. Atkins III
• Original Assignee: William T. Atkins III
• Inventors: Atkins, William T. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US09/939,622
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/426, 340/540, 340/945, 348/148, 360/5, 369/21
• US Class Current: 340/426.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00

Abstract

This invention relates to a Motor Vehicle Recorder System device, which consists of a recorder device, microphones and a camera system installed in an automobile to record a conversation or other events. The invention reveals a recorder installed in a motor vehicle with a microphone positioned on the driver'"'"'s side and a camera system preferably concealed in a decorative ornament. This recording system can be activated by either a foot switch, a voice activation switch, a remote wireless switch, or an airbag deployment. The system of the invention also includes activation in several different modes: (1) silent activation, (2) signal activation, (3) compliance activation whereby there is a message announcing that the incident is being recorded, and (4) automatic shut down of all other sound systems in the motor vehicle to allow this invention to function and record without background noise. In a preferred embodiment of the system, a transmitted is included in the system, and audio, video and other data are transmitted from the vehicle to a remote location. Also, the system can be interfaced with a GPS system so that a vehicle'"'"'s instantaneous position information can be recorded along with the speed of the vehicle. The system has been designed to protect drivers involved in an accident, car failure, severe weather conditions or any other condition which causes the driver to abandon or leave the motor vehicle. The system has also been designed to protect law-abiding citizens and drivers in any attempted car-jacking situations and to discourage police officers from mistreating motorists and displaying unprofessional attitudes.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle recorder system which monitors the speed and location of the vehicle and also records audible and visual information of the motor vehicle comprising:

a recorder device adapted to transmit the speed and location of the vehicle as well as transmitting audio signals and video signals to a receiving device,

a speed tracking connected to said recorder device,

a GPS device adapted to provide the location of the vehicle connected to said recorder device,

two or more microphones connected to said recorder device,

at least one camera connected to said recorder device,

one or more speakers connected to said recorder device,

a multiple position mode function control switch connected to said recorder device,

a foot activation control switch connected to said recorder device,

a cut-off switch connected to said recorder device for simultaneously turning off the motor vehicle radio and tape player and CD player prior to activation of said microphones and camera.

2. A motor vehicle recorder system as in claim 1, in which an optional voice activation device is added to the system and is connected to said recorder device which permits voice activation of said system.

3. A motor vehicle recorder system as in claim 2, in which said multiple position mode function control switch includes:

the “

Off”

, “

Silent”

, “

Signal”

, and “

Compliance”

function positions.

4. A motor vehicle recorder system as in claim 3, in which the said multiple position mode function control switch includes:

the “

Silent”

function position which controls recording the vehicle speed and location at programmable intervals and at a programmable time prior to activation of the system,

wherein activation of the system comprises activation of said recorder, microphones, camera, speaker, and the said cut-off switch.

5. A motor vehicle recorder system as in claim 3, in which the said multiple position mode function control switch includes:

a “

Signal”

function position which controls recording the vehicle speed and location at programmable intervals and at a programmable time prior the activation of the system,

wherein activation of the system comprises activation of said recorder, microphones, camera, speaker, and said cut-off switch, and emission of an intermittent beep sound through said speaker.

6. A motor vehicle recorder system as in claim 3, in which the said multiple position mode function control switch includes:

a “

Compliance”

function position which controls recording the vehicle speed and location at programmable intervals and at a programmable time prior to activation of the system,

wherein activation of the system comprises activation of said recorder, microphones, camera, speaker, and said cut-off switch, and a broadcast through said speaker from the recorder device of a prerecorded warning message that a recording will be made of the incident.

7. A motor vehicle recorder system as in claim 3, in which said recorder device includes the capability to record the vehicle speed at intermittent time intervals and to record at a programmable time prior to activation of the system, in which said intervals can be programmed by adjusting a designated variable setting of said recorder device.

8. A motor vehicle recorder system as in claim 1, wherein said camera is concealed as a decorative ornament.

9. A motor vehicle recorder system as in claim 1, further comprising a wireless activation switch connected to said recorder device, adapted to enable a user to activate said system remotely.

10. A motor vehicle recorder system which monitors and records the speed and location of a vehicle at programmable intervals and at a programmable time prior to activation of the system, and also records audible and visual information in and around said motor vehicle comprising:

a recorder device capable of monitoring and recording the speed and location of the vehicle as well as recording audio and video information,

a speed tracking device connected to said recorder device,

a GPS device adapted to provide location information connected to said recorder device,

two or more microphones connected to said recorder device,

at least one camera connected to said recorder device,

one or more speaker connected to said recorder device,

a multiple position mode function control switch connected to said recorder device,

a foot activation control switch connected to said recorder device,

a cut-off switch connected to said recorder device adapted to turn off the motor vehicle radio and tape layer and CD player prior to activation of said microphones and camera,

a transmitter connected to said recorder device adapted to transmit data relating to said speed, location, audio and video information to a remote receiving device.

11. A motor vehicle recorder system as in claim 10, in which an optional voice activation device is added to the system and is connected to said recorder device which permits a voice activation of the said system.

12. A motor vehicle recorder system as in claim 11, in which said multiple position motor function controls witch includes:

the “

Off”

, “

Silent”

, “

Signal”

, and “

Compliance”

function positions.

13. A motor vehicle recorder system as in claim 12, in which the said multiple position mode function control switch includes:

a “

Silent”

function position which controls the vehicle speed and location at programmable intervals at a programmable time prior to activation of the system,

wherein activation of the system includes activation of said recorder, microphones, camera, speaker, and said cut-off switch.

14. A motor vehicle recorder system as in claim 12, in which the said multiple position mode function control switch includes;

a “

Signal”

function position which controls recording the vehicle speed ad location at a programmable time prior to activation of the system;

wherein activation of the system comprises activation of said recorder, microphones, camera, speaker, and said cut-off switch, and emission of an intermittent beep sound by said speaker.

15. A motor vehicle recorder system as in claim 12, in which the said multiple position mode function control switch includes;

a “

Compliance”

function position which controls recording the vehicle speed at programmable intervals at a programmable time prior to activation of the system,

wherein activation of the system comprises activation of the said recorder, microphones, camera, speaker, and cut-off switch, and broadcasting a prerecorded warning message through said speaker that a recording will be made at the incident.

16. A motor vehicle recorder system as in claim 12, in which the recorder device includes the capability to silently and continuously monitor as well as to record the vehicle speed and location at intermittent time intervals and to record at a programmable time prior to activation of the system in which said intervals can be programmed by adjusting a designated variable settings of said recorder device.

17. A method of monitoring a motor vehicle comprising:

recording in a motor vehicle the speed and location of the vehicle at programmable intervals and at a programmable time prior to activating said recording system,

activating said recording system,

engaging a cut-off switch adapted to turn off a radio, tape player or CD player located in said vehicle,

generating sound information using at least one microphone located on said vehicle,

generating visual information from at least one camera located on said vehicle,

emitting a sound from at least one speaker located on said vehicle, said sound selected from the group comprising an intermittent beeping sound and a warning message indicating that a recording will be made of the incident,

transmitting said vehicle speed and location, and said sound information and said visual information to a remote receiving device.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein activating said recording system comprises selecting one of a plurality of active modes on a multiple position mode function control switch connected to said recorder device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein activating said recording system is accomplished by any one of a foot control switch, a voice activation switch, or an airbag deployment switch.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said multiple position mode function control switch includes an “

Off”

position, and said plurality of active modes correspond to “

Silent”

, “

Signal”

, and “

Compliance”

function positions respectively.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

moving said multiple position mode function control switch to said “

Signal”

function position,

emitting an intermittent beep sound by said speaker,

recording the vehicle speed and location at programmable intervals and at a programmable time prior to activation of the system,

activating said recorder, microphones, camera, speaker, and cut-off switch.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

moving said multiple position mode function control switch to said “

Compliance”

function position,

broadcasting through said speaker a pre-recorded message that a recording will be made of the incident,

recording the vehicle speed and location at programmable intervals and at a programmable time prior to activation of the system,

activating said recorder, microphones, camera, speaker, and cut-off switch.

21. The method of 20, further comprising:

moving said multiple position mode function control switch to said “

Silent”

function position,

recording the vehicle speed and location at programmable intervals and at a programmable time prior to activating said system,

activating said recorder, microphones, camera, speaker, and cut-off switch.