US 2025/0033565 A1Published application

Navigation and monitoring system for vehicles

OwnerHugh Lafon Carterinventor

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Abstract

The present invention allows for continuous monitoring of the environment of the vehicle before, during, and after use by the occupant(s). This effectively allows the device to function as a driving aid as well as a theft prevention device. Further, the side facing cameras allow for interactions with law enforcement to be adequately recorded and simultaneously uploaded to a remote server for preservation. In some embodiments, live streaming of the images captured by the cameras is permitted thereby allowing the vehicle and its occupants to be viewed in real time. In embodiments, cameras operate, record, and stream in an independent and controllable manner. Thus, one camera can take images, while another video, while another streams. The imaging has four cameras facing in different directions for 360 degree coverage.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A device for monitoring a vehicle environment, the device comprising:

a housing, which is approximately rectangular having six faces;
a first image capturing device;
a second image capturing device;
a third image capturing device;
a fourth image capturing device, each of the image capturing devices being substantially at a ninety degree angle from each other, which results in three hundred and sixty degree coverage, wherein each is positioned on one face of the housing excluding a top face and a bottom face;
a digital image sensor having a singular surface that receives light from each of the image capturing devices;
a processor configured to preform digital signal processing tasks on output from the digital image sensor to produce a set of digital media files, which include image files and video files, wherein image files are stored in a standardized image format viewable via a conventional media player, wherein video files are stored in a standardized video format viewable via a conventional media player;
and
a data store that stores the digital media files,
wherein the device permits a user to independently control and determine how output from each of the image capturing devices is processed, wherein said independent control permits a video file to be created that includes video from a first subset of one to three of the image capturing devices while concurrently permitting creation of a set of at least one image files from a user selected second subset of one to three of the image capturing devices, wherein none of the image capturing devices of the first subset are in the second subset.

7 more elements

A device for monitoring a vehicle environment of a vehicle, the device comprising:

a housing, which is approximately rectangular having six faces;
a first image capturing device;
a second image capturing device;
a third image capturing device;
a fourth image capturing device, each of the image capturing devices being substantially at a ninety degree angle from each other, which results in three hundred and sixty degree coverage, wherein each is positioned on one face of the housing excluding a top face and a bottom face;
a digital image sensor having a singular surface that receives light from each of the image capturing devices;
a processor configured to preform digital signal processing tasks on output from the digital image sensor to produce a set of digital media files;
a data store that stores the digital media files;
and
a speed detector component, which is at least one of a radar detector and a LIDAR detector,
wherein the device is configured to responsive to the speed detection component sensing occurrence of a speed detection activity targeting the vehicle, the image capturing devices are automatically activated to begin continuously capturing images in the three hundred and sixty degree coverage, wherein said captured images are stored in the data store within at least one of the media files.

8 more elements

A device for monitoring a vehicle environment of a vehicle, the device comprising:

a housing, which is approximately rectangular having six faces;
a first image capturing device;
a second image capturing device;
a third image capturing device;
a fourth image capturing device, each of the image capturing devices being substantially at a ninety degree angle from each other, which results in three hundred and sixty degree coverage, wherein each is positioned on one face of the housing excluding a top face and a bottom face;
a digital image sensor having a singular surface that receives light from each of the image capturing devices;
a processor configured to preform digital signal processing tasks on output from the digital image sensor to produce a set of digital media files;
a data store that stores the digital media files;
and
a mounting apparatus, wherein the mounting apparatus permits free rotation of the device while being used.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/796,346Filed 7 Aug 2024
Priority: 26 Jun 2019
Published: 30 Jan 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B60R 1/27
With a predetermined field of view: providing all-round vision, e.g. using omnidirectional cameras
G01S 7/022
Auxiliary means for detecting or identifying radar signals or the like, e.g. radar jamming signals: road traffic radar detectors
G01S 13/58
Systems of measurement based on relative movement of target: velocity or trajectory determination systems; Sense-of-movement determination systems
G01S 13/867
Combinations of radar systems with non-radar systems, e.g. sonar, direction finder: combination of radar systems with cameras

Family

Application62/866,936Us provisional application · filed 26 Jun 2019
Application16/885,349Continuation in part · filed 28 May 2020
Application18/796,346Continuation in part
US 2020/0406833 A1Published application
US 2025/0033565 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.