Method and system of monitoring an aircraft using a fisheye lens system

• US 6,831,680 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2000
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coastal Optical Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Coastal Optical Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Kumler, James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAO, ANAND SHASHIKANT
• Application Number:
  US09/713,079
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 348/142-160, 725/125, 725/105, 725/107-110
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/0053 using visual equipment, e.g. cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19628 of wide angled cameras and camera groups, e.g. omni-directional cameras, fish eye, single units having multiple cameras achieving a wide angle view
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1965 the vehicle being an aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

An aircraft monitoring system is disclosed that is comprised of a fisheye lens system and a data storage system. The fisheye lens system is configured to mount in an aircraft. The fisheye lens system captures images that represent a hemispherical field of view of about 180-degrees. The field of view is of an interior portion of the aircraft. The fisheye lens system transfers the images to the data storage system. The data storage system stores the images. The interior portion of the aircraft could be the cockpit, cabin, luggage compartment, or some other area in the aircraft. The aircraft monitoring system further includes an independent power supply that operates even if the aircraft loses power. In some examples, the fisheye lens system also transfers the images to a video transmitter. The video transmitter transmits the images to a receiver on the ground to provide video monitoring of the aircraft. In some examples, the aircraft monitoring system includes multiple fisheye lens systems positioned throughout the aircraft. The aircraft monitoring system advantageously provides improved monitoring and recording of events that take place on an aircraft.

Claims

1. A method of recording events on an aircraft, the method comprising:

mounting a first fisheye lens system in said aircraft;

capturing first images representing a hemispherical field of view of about 180-degrees of a first interior portion of said aircraft using said first fisheye lens system; and

storing said first images in a data storage system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first interior portion comprises a cockpit of said aircraft.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting said first images over a video signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting said first images wirelessly from said aircraft to a remote ground control station.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising mounting a second fisheye lens system in said aircraft and capturing second images representing a hemispherical field of view of about 180-degrees of a second interior portion of said aircraft using said second fisheye lens system, wherein said second interior portion comprises a cabin of said aircraft.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising storing said second images in said data storage system.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising transmitting said second images over a video signal.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting said second images wirelessly from said aircraft to a remote ground control station.

9. The method of claim 5 further comprising displaying said second images in a cockpit of said aircraft.

10. The method of claim 5 further comprising mounting a third fisheye lens system in said aircraft and capturing third images representing a hemispherical field of view of about 180-degrees of a third interior portion of said aircraft using said third fisheye lens system, wherein said third interior portion comprises a luggage compartment of said aircraft.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing said third images in said data storage system.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising transmitting said third images over a video signal.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising displaying said third images in a cockpit of said aircraft.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting said third images wirelessly from said aircraft to a remote ground control station.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein said data storage system comprises a black box.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said first fisheye lens system and said data storage system are configured to couple to an independent power supply that is separate from standard power supplies on said aircraft.

30. The method of claim 1, comprising the additional step of illuminating the first interior portion of said aircraft using an illuminator emitting a wavelength between 780 nm and 890 nm.

17. An aircraft monitoring system for monitoring events on an aircraft, comprising:

a first fisheye lens system configured to mount in an aircraft, capture first images representing a hemispherical field of view of about 180-degrees of a first interior portion of said aircraft, and transfer said first images; and

a data storage system configured to communicate with said first fisheye lens system, receive said first images from said first fisheye lens system, and store said first images.

18. The aircraft monitoring system of claim 17 wherein said first interior portion comprises a cockpit of said aircraft.

19. The aircraft monitoring system of claim 17 further comprising a video transmitter configured to communicate with said first fisheye lens system, receive said first images from said first fisheye lens system, and transmit said first images over a video signal.

20. The aircraft monitoring system of claim 17 further comprising a second fisheye lens system configured to mount in said aircraft, capture second images representing a hemispherical field of view of about 180-degrees of a second interior portion of said aircraft, and transfer said second images, wherein said second interior portion comprises a cabin of said aircraft.

21. The aircraft monitoring system of claim 20 wherein said data storage system is further configured to receive said second images from said second fisheye lens system and store said second images.

22. The aircraft monitoring system of claim 20 further comprising a video transmitter configured to communicate with said second fisheye lens system, receive said second images from said second fisheye lens system, and transmit said second images over a video signal.

23. The aircraft monitoring system of claim 20 further comprising a video display configured to communicate with said second fisheye lens system, mount in a cockpit of said aircraft, receive said second images from said second fisheye lens system, and display said second images.

24. The aircraft monitoring system of claim 20 further comprising a third fisheye lens system configured to mount in said aircraft, capture third images representing a hemispherical field of view of about 180-degrees of a third interior portion of said aircraft, and transfer said third images, wherein said third interior portion comprises a luggage compartment of said aircraft.

25. The aircraft monitoring system of claim 24 wherein said data storage system is further configured to receive said third images from said third fisheye lens system and store said third images.

26. The aircraft monitoring system of claim 24 further comprising a video transmitter configured to communicate with said third fisheye lens system, receive said third images from said third fisheye lens system, and transmit said third images over a video signal.

27. The aircraft monitoring system of claim 24 further comprising a video display configured to communicate with said third fisheye lens, mount in a cockpit of said aircraft, receive said third images from said third fisheye lens system, and display said third images.

28. The aircraft monitoring system of claim 17 wherein said data storage system comprises a black box.

29. The aircraft monitoring system of claim 17 further comprising an independent power supply configured to couple to said first fisheye lens system and said data storage system, wherein said independent power supply is separate from standard power supplies on said aircraft.

31. The system of claim 17, further comprising an illuminator for illuminating the first interior portion of said aircraft.

32. The system of claim 31, the illuminator emitting a wavelength between 780 nm and 890 nm.