Vehicle camera system and method of operating the same

A camera system for a vehicle, the camera system comprising:

• a camera comprising:
• a housing defining an interior space;
• a non-volatile memory device in the interior space;
• a processor in the interior space coupled to the memory device;
• a lens exposed on an exterior of the housing;
• an image sensor in the interior space coupled to the memory device and configured to capture video;
• and
• a sensor coupled to the processor;
• and
• an attachment mechanism coupled to the camera configured to secure the camera system to the vehicle,
• wherein the camera is configured to move between a closed position and an open position,
• wherein the memory device includes instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine the camera is in the open position in response to an output signal by the sensor, and
• wherein the memory device includes instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the camera system to record the video captured by the image sensor in response to the determination that the camera is in the open position,
• wherein the camera is hingedly coupled to the attachment mechanism,
• wherein the camera is configured to rotate relative to the attachment mechanism between the closed position and the open position, and
• wherein the sensor comprises a first electrical contact on the housing and a second electrical contact on the attachment mechanism, wherein the first electrical contact is in contact with the second electrical contact when the camera is in the open position, and wherein the first electrical contact is not in contact with the second electrical contact when the camera is in the closed position.

A camera system for a vehicle, the camera system comprising:

• a camera comprising:
• a housing defining an interior space;
• a non-volatile memory device in the interior space;
• a processor in the interior space coupled to the memory device;
• a lens exposed on an exterior of the housing;
• an image sensor in the interior space coupled to the memory device and configured to capture video;
• and
• a sensor coupled to the processor;
• and
• an attachment mechanism coupled to the camera configured to secure the camera system to the vehicle,
• wherein the camera is configured to move between a closed position and an open position,
• wherein the memory device includes instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine the camera is in the open position in response to an output signal by the sensor, and
• wherein the memory device includes instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the camera system to record the video captured by the image sensor in response to the determination that the camera is in the open position,
• wherein the camera is hingedly coupled to the attachment mechanism,
• wherein the camera is configured to rotate relative to the attachment mechanism between the closed position and the open position, and p1 wherein the sensor is an angle sensor configured to measure an angle between the camera and the attachment mechanism, and wherein the instructions stored in the memory device, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine the camera is in the open position in response to the angle exceeding a threshold angle.