GB2442269A - Vehicle light bar with camera for closed circuit television - Google Patents

Vehicle light bar with camera for closed circuit television Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2442269A
GB2442269A GB0618869A GB0618869A GB2442269A GB 2442269 A GB2442269 A GB 2442269A GB 0618869 A GB0618869 A GB 0618869A GB 0618869 A GB0618869 A GB 0618869A GB 2442269 A GB2442269 A GB 2442269A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
light bar
camera
vehicle light
vehicle
translucent portion
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB0618869A
Other versions
GB0618869D0 (en
GB2442269B (en
Inventor
Mark Mercer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MARK MERCER ELECTRONICS Ltd
Original Assignee
MARK MERCER ELECTRONICS Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MARK MERCER ELECTRONICS Ltd filed Critical MARK MERCER ELECTRONICS Ltd
Priority to GB0618869A priority Critical patent/GB2442269B/en
Publication of GB0618869D0 publication Critical patent/GB0618869D0/en
Publication of GB2442269A publication Critical patent/GB2442269A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2442269B publication Critical patent/GB2442269B/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/0017—Devices integrating an element dedicated to another function
    • B60Q1/0023—Devices integrating an element dedicated to another function the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q—ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60Q1/00—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor
    • B60Q1/26—Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor the devices being primarily intended to indicate the vehicle, or parts thereof, or to give signals, to other traffic
    • B60Q1/2611—Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
    • B60R1/12—Mirror assemblies combined with other articles, e.g. clocks
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
    • B60R1/20—Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
    • B60R1/22—Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles for viewing an area outside the vehicle, e.g. the exterior of the vehicle
    • B60R1/28—Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles for viewing an area outside the vehicle, e.g. the exterior of the vehicle with an adjustable field of view
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
    • B60R11/04—Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B17/00—Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor
    • G03B17/56—Accessories
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B17/00—Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor
    • G03B17/56—Accessories
    • G03B17/561—Support related camera accessories
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B29/00—Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
    • H04N23/60—Control of cameras or camera modules
    • H04N23/695—Control of camera direction for changing a field of view, e.g. pan, tilt or based on tracking of objects
    • H04N5/2251—
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00—Television systems
    • H04N7/18—Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
    • H04N7/183—Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast for receiving images from a single remote source
    • H04N7/185—Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast for receiving images from a single remote source from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
    • B60R2011/0001—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position
    • B60R2011/0003—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position inside the vehicle
    • B60R2011/0033—Rear-view mirrors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
    • B60R2011/0001—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position
    • B60R2011/004—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position outside the vehicle
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R2300/00—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle
    • B60R2300/80—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement
    • B60R2300/804—Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle characterised by the intended use of the viewing arrangement for lane monitoring

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fittings On The Vehicle Exterior For Carrying Loads, And Devices For Holding Or Mounting Articles (AREA)

Abstract

A vehicle light bar 1 comprises a translucent portion 3 and a camera 4 arranged to view through the translucent portion. The camera may be movable for panning, rotating or tilting by means of a mechanism 5.

Description

Closed Circuit Television Mounting Apparatus The present invention
relates to an apparatus for mounting a closed circuit television camera.
Closed circuit television systems are frequently used to allow remote monitoring. For example, an industrial estate or other area may be monitored by personnel at a remote monitoring station using closed circuit television (CCTV) . In a CCTV system, one or more cameras provide a video output of a viewed area. The camera(s) may be static, to always view the same area, or may be moveably mounted so that an operator may electrically control the position of the camera to provide a moveable view.
However, CCTV systems are limited in that the view, even from a moveable camera, is relatively constrained.
That is, the location of the CCTV camera is fixed, even though it may be for example, rotated.
It is desired to provide a mounting apparatus for a CCTV camera which allows the position of the CCTV camera to be easily changed. In other words, it is desired to provide a mounting apparatus which allows a CCTV camera to be moved between locations.
According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus as set forth in the appended claims.
Preferred features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle light bar comprising: a translucent portion; and a camera arranged to view through the translucent portion.
For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a cross sectional cut-through of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in Figure 1, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle light bar 1, comprising an enclosure. As is known, distal ends of a vehicle light bar comprise translucent portions 2, which are generally coloured. Inside each translucent portion, at least one light emitter is arranged to provide a flashing light to alert persons nearby. The light bar is then mounted upon a vehicle for use in emergency or warning situations.
A central portion of the light bar 1 comprises a raised, translucent, dome 3. The dome is hemispherical and protrudes above the vehicle light bar 1. As shown in Figure 1, inside the dome 3 a camera 4 is mounted to outwardly view through the dome 3.
The camera 4 is moveable mounted within the light bar 1 so that a user may change the direction of view of the camera within the dome 3, as desired. In order to moveably mount the camera 4, a mechanism 5 similar to that disclosed in GB-A-9910596 by the same Applicant, which is herein incorporated by reference, is used. The mechanism is inverted in comparison with that used to provide a pole mounted moveable camera. The mechanism 5 allows the camera to be rotated within the dome 3, and also to be tilted in order to provide an adjustable upward or downward view. In this way, a viewer or operator may adjust the viewing direction of the camera 4.
When the light bar 1 of the present invention is mounted upon a vehicle, a remote broadcast of the video signal may be provided to relay the video images to a remote viewing station. Alternatively, a driver of the vehicle may be able to view the video images via a display internal to the vehicle. Further, the video image may be recorded by equipment inside the vehicle.
The vehicle having the light bar 1 mounted thereon may be driven to a desired location in order to provide a video of the location. This is useful in monitoring large areas of land where it is impractical to provide fixed CCTV camera. Further, a vehicle having the light bar imounted thereon may be dispatched to a desired location to monitor an unexpected event.
Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.
All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.
Each feature disclosed in this specification
(including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features
disclosed in this specification (including any
accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims (9)

  1. Claims 1. A vehicle light bar comprising: a translucent portion; and a
    camera arranged to view through the translucent portion.
  2. 2. The vehicle light bar according to claim 1, wherein the camera is moveable mounted to change a direction of view through the translucent portion.
  3. 3. The vehicle bar according to claim 2, wherein the translucent portion is generally hemispherically shaped.
  4. 4. The vehicle light bar according to claim 3, wherein the hemispherically shaped portion protrudes upward from the vehicle light bar.
  5. 5. The vehicle light bar according to any preceding claim, wherein the camera is rotatably mounted to provide a panning function.
  6. 6. The vehicle light bar according to any preceding claim, wherein the camera is tiltably mounted.
  7. 7. The vehicle light bar according to any preceding claim comprising at least one generally translucent portion and a light emitter arranged to provide a visual alert signal through the generally translucent portion.
  8. 8. A vehicle having the light bar of any of claims 1 to 7 mounted thereon.
  9. 9. A vehicle light bar substantially as described S hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawing.
GB0618869A 2006-09-26 2006-09-26 Closed circuit television mounting apparatus Expired - Fee Related GB2442269B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0618869A GB2442269B (en) 2006-09-26 2006-09-26 Closed circuit television mounting apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0618869A GB2442269B (en) 2006-09-26 2006-09-26 Closed circuit television mounting apparatus

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0618869D0 GB0618869D0 (en) 2006-11-01
GB2442269A true GB2442269A (en) 2008-04-02
GB2442269B GB2442269B (en) 2009-05-20

Family

ID=37421585

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0618869A Expired - Fee Related GB2442269B (en) 2006-09-26 2006-09-26 Closed circuit television mounting apparatus

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2442269B (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2553298A (en) * 2016-08-26 2018-03-07 Zenith Security Solutions Ltd Intelligent lightbar
EP3795426A1 (en) * 2019-09-19 2021-03-24 Federal Signal Vama, S.A.U. System for fastening and tilting image capturing devices to lighting devices of priority vehicles

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4063258A (en) * 1976-07-15 1977-12-13 Allen Robert H Spotlight mounted camera for vehicles
US5491464A (en) * 1994-03-14 1996-02-13 Carter; Conrad C. Remotely controlled radar gun and video recording apparatus

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9002313B2 (en) * 2006-02-22 2015-04-07 Federal Signal Corporation Fully integrated light bar

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4063258A (en) * 1976-07-15 1977-12-13 Allen Robert H Spotlight mounted camera for vehicles
US5491464A (en) * 1994-03-14 1996-02-13 Carter; Conrad C. Remotely controlled radar gun and video recording apparatus

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2553298A (en) * 2016-08-26 2018-03-07 Zenith Security Solutions Ltd Intelligent lightbar
GB2553298B (en) * 2016-08-26 2019-10-09 Zenith Security Solutions Ltd Lightbar
EP3795426A1 (en) * 2019-09-19 2021-03-24 Federal Signal Vama, S.A.U. System for fastening and tilting image capturing devices to lighting devices of priority vehicles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0618869D0 (en) 2006-11-01
GB2442269B (en) 2009-05-20

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20120926