US6389340B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle data recorder
Assignee: Lytx Inc
•
Filing: 1999-09-24
•
Granted: 2002-05-14
•
Expires: 2019-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A self-contained device for capturing video imagery in response to a triggering event may include a mirror and be mounted to a vehicle windshield in place of a conventional rear-view mirror. The device includes a housing in which the electronics and related elements of the invention are contained. These elements include one or more data sensors, at least one of which is an image sensor,. Also included are a data sensor circuit and a capture circuit. The data sensor circuit responds to the triggering event, and may include data sensors coupled to vehicle systems such as a speedometer, tachometer, brake, turn signals or the like, or other data sensors such as an accelerometer or a vehicle position sensor. The triggering event may be, for example, a sudden change in acceleration indicative of an impending collision, or it may be a change in the signal provided by any such data sensor, including the image sensor. The capture circuit is coupled to the image sensor and captures a signal representing the video imagery by recording it in a digital memory, by transmitting it to a remote location, or by other suitable means. The capture circuit terminates capture of the signal in response to the data sensor circuit sensing a triggering event. The captured data thus describe circumstances leading up to the time of the triggering event. The data can be analyzed to help police, insurance or other investigative personnel understand those circumstances.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary A. Rayner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:21
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/12; B60R11/00; B60R11/04; G; G07; G07C; G07C5/00; G07C5/08; G07C5/0841; G07C5/085; G07C5/0866; G07C5/0875; G07C5/0891; B60R2300/00; B60R2300/80; B60R2300/8006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
A vehicle-mounted device for capturing video imagery in response to a triggering event, comprising: a housing; an image sensor mounted to said housing, said image sensor sensing optical phenomena representing said video imagery; a data sensor circuit within said housing and in part responsive to said triggering event; and a capture circuit within said housing; said capture circuit comprising: a non-volatile memory; a volatile, random-access memory configured as a continuous-loop buffer, said volatile memory coupled to said non-volatile memory and coupled to said image sensor; said volatile memory capturing a signal representing said video imagery from said image sensor in a first-in, first-overwritten manner, and, responsive to said data sensor circuit sensing a triggering event, terminating capture of said signal and copying the captured signal representing said a video imagery to said non-volatile memory.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
A vehicle-mounted device for capturing video imagery in response to a triggering event, comprising: a housing; an image sensor mounted to said housing, said image sensor sensing optical phenomena representing said video imagery; a data sensor circuit within said housing and in part responsive to said triggering event; and a capture circuit within said housing; said capture circuit comprising: a non-volatile memory; a volatile, random-access memory configured as a continuous-loop buffer, said volatile memory coupled to said non-volatile memory and coupled to said image sensor; said volatile memory capturing a signal representing said video imagery from said image sensor in a first-in, first-overwritten manner, and, responsive to said data sensor circuit sensing a triggering event, terminating capture of said signal and copying the captured signal representing said a video imagery to said non-volatile memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 1 , wherein said capture circuit terminates capture of said signal a predetermined time interval after occurrence of said triggering event.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 1 , wherein said capture circuit comprises a digital recording circuit having a digital memory and records said signal representing said video imagery.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 3 , wherein said capture circuit further records a signal representing data produced by said data sensor circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 1 , wherein said capture circuit comprises a transmitter transmitting a signal representing said video imagery to a remote location.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 5 , wherein said transmitter transmits said signal in real-time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 1 , wherein said data sensor circuit comprises a sensor responsive to a change in force experienced by said device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 7 , wherein said data sensor circuit comprises a forward sensor responsive to a change in force experienced by said device in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of elongation of said housing and a lateral sensor responsive to a change in force experienced by said device in a direction substantially parallel to said direction of elongation of said housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 1 , wherein said image sensor is disposed behind a mirror and senses said optical phenomena transmitted through a portion of said mirror.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 9 , wherein said portion of said mirror is half-silvered and partially transmits and partially reflects said optical phenomena to provide said mirror with a uniformly mirrored appearance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 9 , wherein said portion of said mirror is transparent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 1 , wherein said image sensor is oriented to sense the optical phenomena impinging upon it from a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of elongation of said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
82 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 12 , wherein said image sensor comprises first and second portions, said first portion oriented to sense the optical phenomena impinging upon it from a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of elongation of said housing, said second portion oriented to sense the optical phenomena impinging upon it from a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of elongation of said housing and axially opposite said direction from which said optical phenomena impinges upon said first portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 13 , wherein said first portion of said image sensor is disposed behind a mirror and senses said optical phenomena transmitted through a portion of said mirror.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
41 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 1 , wherein: said data sensor circuit further comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver identifying a geographic position of said vehicle-mounted device; and said capture circuit further records a signal representing said geographic position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 1 , wherein: said data sensor circuit further comprises a microphone; and said capture circuit further records a signal representing a sound impinging upon said microphone.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
152 words
A vehicle-mounted device for capturing video imagery in response to a triggering event, comprising: a housing having a generally elongated shape; a rear-view mirror mounted to said housing and having a generally elongated shape; an image sensor mounted to said housing, said image sensor sensing optical phenomena representing said video imagery; a data sensor circuit within said housing and in part responsive to said triggering event; and a capture circuit within said housing; said capture circuit comprising: a non-volatile memory; and a volatile, random-access memory configured as a continuous-loop buffer; said volatile memory coupled to said non-volatile memory and coupled to said image sensor; said volatile memory capturing a signal representing said video imagery from said image sensor in a first-in, first-overwritten manner, and, responsive to said data sensor circuit sensing a triggering event, terminating capture of said signal and copying the captured signal representing said video imagery to said non-volatile memory.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
152 words
A vehicle-mounted device for capturing video imagery in response to a triggering event, comprising: a housing having a generally elongated shape; a rear-view mirror mounted to said housing and having a generally elongated shape; an image sensor mounted to said housing, said image sensor sensing optical phenomena representing said video imagery; a data sensor circuit within said housing and in part responsive to said triggering event; and a capture circuit within said housing; said capture circuit comprising: a non-volatile memory; and a volatile, random-access memory configured as a continuous-loop buffer; said volatile memory coupled to said non-volatile memory and coupled to said image sensor; said volatile memory capturing a signal representing said video imagery from said image sensor in a first-in, first-overwritten manner, and, responsive to said data sensor circuit sensing a triggering event, terminating capture of said signal and copying the captured signal representing said video imagery to said non-volatile memory.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 17 , wherein said capture circuit terminates capture of said signal a predetermined time interval after occurrence of said triggering event.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 17 , wherein said capture circuit comprises a digital recording circuit having a digital memory and records said signal representing said video imagery.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 19 , wherein said capture circuit further records a signal representing data produced by said data sensor circuit.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 17 , wherein said capture circuit comprises a transmitter transmitting a signal representing said video imagery to a remote location.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 21 , wherein said transmitter transmits said signal in real-time.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 17 , wherein said data sensor circuit comprises a sensor responsive to a change in force experienced by said device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
67 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 23 , wherein said data sensor circuit comprises a forward sensor responsive to a change in force experienced by said device in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of elongation of said housing and a lateral sensor responsive to a change in force experienced by said device in a direction substantially parallel to said direction of elongation of said housing.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 17 , wherein said image sensor is disposed behind said mirror and senses said optical phenomena transmitted through a portion of said mirror.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 25 , wherein said portion of said mirror is half-silvered and partially transmits and partially reflects said optical phenomena to provide said mirror with a uniformly mirrored appearance.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 25 , wherein said portion of said mirror is transparent.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
35 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 17 , wherein said image sensor is oriented to sense the optical phenomena impinging upon it from a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of elongation of said housing.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
82 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 18 , wherein said image sensor comprises first and second portions, said first portion oriented to sense the optical phenomena impinging upon it from a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of elongation of said housing, said second portion oriented to sense the optical phenomena impinging upon it from a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of elongation of said housing and axially opposite said direction from which said optical phenomena impinge upon said first portion.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
33 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 29 , wherein said first portion of said image sensor is disposed behind said mirror and senses said optical phenomena transmitted through a portion of said mirror.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 17 , wherein: said data sensor circuit further comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver identifying a geographic position of said vehicle-mounted device; and said capture circuit further records a signal representing said geographic position.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
The vehicle-mounted device claimed in claim 17 , wherein: said data sensor circuit further comprises a microphone; and said capture circuit further records a signal representing a sound impinging upon said microphone.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for capturing video imagery in a vehicle-mounted system in response to a triggering event, said system comprising a rear-view mirror device mounted upon a windshield of a vehicle, said rear-view mirror device having a housing with a generally elongated shape, a mirror assembly mounted to said housing and having a generally elongated shape, an image sensor mounted to said housing and sensing optical phenomena representing said video imagery, a data sensor circuit within said housing, and a capture circuit within said housing; said capture circuit comprising: a non-volatile memory; and a volatile, random-access memory configured as a continuous-loop buffer, said volatile memory coupled to said non-volatile memory, the method comprising the steps of: using said image sensor sensing optical phenomena transmitted through a portion of said mirror assembly and representing said video imagery; using said capture circuit capturing said video imagery in said volatile, random-access memory in a first-in, first-overwritten manner, and, responsive to said data sensor circuit sensing a triggering event, terminating capture of a signal representing said video imagery and copying the captured signal representing video imagery to said non-volatile memory.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
185 words
A method for capturing video imagery in a vehicle-mounted system in response to a triggering event, said system comprising a rear-view mirror device mounted upon a windshield of a vehicle, said rear-view mirror device having a housing with a generally elongated shape, a mirror assembly mounted to said housing and having a generally elongated shape, an image sensor mounted to said housing and sensing optical phenomena representing said video imagery, a data sensor circuit within said housing, and a capture circuit within said housing; said capture circuit comprising: a non-volatile memory; and a volatile, random-access memory configured as a continuous-loop buffer, said volatile memory coupled to said non-volatile memory, the method comprising the steps of: using said image sensor sensing optical phenomena transmitted through a portion of said mirror assembly and representing said video imagery; using said capture circuit capturing said video imagery in said volatile, random-access memory in a first-in, first-overwritten manner, and, responsive to said data sensor circuit sensing a triggering event, terminating capture of a signal representing said video imagery and copying the captured signal representing video imagery to said non-volatile memory.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method claimed in claim 33 , further comprising the step of transmitting said signal representing said video imagery to a remote location.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method claimed in claim 33 , wherein said step of terminating capture of said signal representing said video imagery comprises terminating capture of said signal in response to a change in force experienced by said device.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
227 words
A method for capturing video imagery in a vehicle-mounted system in response to a triggering event, said system comprising a rear-view mirror device mounted upon a windshield of a vehicle, said rear-view mirror device having a housing with a generally elongated shape, a mirror assembly mounted to said housing and having a generally elongated shape, an image sensor mounted to said housing and sensing optical phenomena representing said video imagery, a data sensor circuit within said housing, and a capture circuit within said housing; said capture circuit comprising: a non-volatile memory; and a volatile, random-access memory configured as a continuous-loop buffer; said volatile memory coupled to said non-volatile memory, the method comprising the steps of: using said image sensor sensing optical phenomena representing said video imagery impinging upon it from a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of elongation of said housing and forwardly through said windshield of said vehicle and said video imagery impinging upon it from a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of elongation of said housing and rearwardly with respect to said vehicle; using said capture circuit capturing said video imagery in said volatile, random-access memory in a first-in, first-overwritten manner, and, responsive to said data sensor circuit sensing a triggering event, terminating capture of a signal representing said video imagery and copying the captured signal representing video imagery to said non-volatile memory.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
227 words
A method for capturing video imagery in a vehicle-mounted system in response to a triggering event, said system comprising a rear-view mirror device mounted upon a windshield of a vehicle, said rear-view mirror device having a housing with a generally elongated shape, a mirror assembly mounted to said housing and having a generally elongated shape, an image sensor mounted to said housing and sensing optical phenomena representing said video imagery, a data sensor circuit within said housing, and a capture circuit within said housing; said capture circuit comprising: a non-volatile memory; and a volatile, random-access memory configured as a continuous-loop buffer; said volatile memory coupled to said non-volatile memory, the method comprising the steps of: using said image sensor sensing optical phenomena representing said video imagery impinging upon it from a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of elongation of said housing and forwardly through said windshield of said vehicle and said video imagery impinging upon it from a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of elongation of said housing and rearwardly with respect to said vehicle; using said capture circuit capturing said video imagery in said volatile, random-access memory in a first-in, first-overwritten manner, and, responsive to said data sensor circuit sensing a triggering event, terminating capture of a signal representing said video imagery and copying the captured signal representing video imagery to said non-volatile memory.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method claimed in claim 36 , further comprising the step of transmitting said signal representing said video imagery to a remote location.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method claimed in claim 36 , wherein said step of terminating capture of said signal representing said video imagery comprises terminating capture of said signal in response to a change in force experienced by said device.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for mounting a system for capturing video imagery in response to a triggering event, comprising the steps of mounting upon a vehicle windshield a device comprising a housing, an image sensor mounted to said housing to sensing optical phenomena representing said video imagery, a data sensor circuit within said housing responsive to said triggering event, and a capture circuit within said housing; said capture circuit comprising: a non-volatile memory; and a volatile, random-access memory configured as a continuous-loop buffer; said volatile memory coupled to said non-volatile memory and coupled to said image sensor using; using said volatile memory capturing a signal representing said video imagery from said image sensor in a first-in, first-overwritten manner, and, responsive to said data sensor circuit sensing a triggering event, terminating capture of said signal and copying the captured signal representing said video imagery to said non-volatile memory.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for mounting a system for capturing video imagery in response to a triggering event, comprising the steps of mounting upon a vehicle windshield a device comprising a housing, an image sensor mounted to said housing to sensing optical phenomena representing said video imagery, a data sensor circuit within said housing responsive to said triggering event, and a capture circuit within said housing; said capture circuit comprising: a non-volatile memory; and a volatile, random-access memory configured as a continuous-loop buffer; said volatile memory coupled to said non-volatile memory and coupled to said image sensor using; using said volatile memory capturing a signal representing said video imagery from said image sensor in a first-in, first-overwritten manner, and, responsive to said data sensor circuit sensing a triggering event, terminating capture of said signal and copying the captured signal representing said video imagery to said non-volatile memory.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method claimed in claim 39 , wherein said housing has a generally elongated shape, said device further comprises a suction-cup attached to said housing and a mirror having a generally elongated shape mounted to said housing, and said mounting step comprises the step of adhering said device to said windshield.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method claimed in claim 39 , wherein said mounting step comprises the step of engaging said suction-cup upon said windshield.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-05-13 | 2005-11-12 | 2006-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-05-13 | 2009-11-12 | 2010-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-05-13 | 2013-11-12 | 2014-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |