WO1994027844A1

WO1994027844A1 - Automatic security device for vehicles with tamper-proof recording of sounds and images

Info

Publication number: WO1994027844A1
Application number: PCT/PT1994/000004
Authority: WO
Inventors: Inocêncio VALENTIM FREITAS ERMIDA; Silvério JORGE MOREIRA DA SILVA; Adão FERNANDO GONÇALVES DOS SANTOS
Original assignee: Securtaxi Europa (Caixa Negra) - Alarmes Electrónicos, S.A.
Priority date: 1993-05-28
Filing date: 1994-05-30
Publication date: 1994-12-08
Also published as: PT101282B; PT101282A; AU6900694A

Abstract

An automatic security device for vehicles featuring tamper-proof recording of sounds and images, and provided with one or more detectors (A), connected to a central processing unit (B) for, as one of its fonctions, actuating audio and visual alarm means and vehicle engine disabling means (I). It features the novel combination of the above mentioned items with an autofocus camera (D) mounted on a motorised rotary support (E), a video cassette recorder (C), connected to the camera, an identity card turning and identification device (F, G, H), a pedal (J), a lever or button for manual actuation of sound and image recording, a remote control (L), or similar for disabling the vehicle, an electronic unit with an automatic payment facility (P), a cordless telephone (S) for contacting the central office (Z), a transmitter (T) for transmitting vehicle position coordinates via satellite (X) and a terminal (M) for receiving instructions from the external image reception and decoding unit (Y). These items constitute a security system which serves not only to warn but also to identify. It operates automatically, irrespective of whether or not the vehicle is in use.

Description

- 1 -

Description

Automatic safety device for vehicles with tamper-proof recording of sounds and images "

Technical area

The invention presented here is an automatic safety device for installation in vehicles which has the function of increasing the safety conditions of the vehicles and of the respective passengers, in undesirable intrusion situations, and that by its characteristics is specially equipped to be applied in taxis, 10 once the respective drivers are particularly vulnerable to assault and theft situations of the respective cars.

15 Prior art

Today vehicle alarms basically have the function of protecting cars (and equipment that is inside the same, like,

20 for example, radios, cordless telephones, etc.) against theft, when they are stopped and unoccupied, having the effect of several actions in the case of activation of the same, which generally boil down to the transmission of '' a cry of alert, when the headlights of cars are switched on

25 and also, frequently, cutting the ignition current of the respective motor.

These alarms are only intended to detect situations of violation of the protected area, 0 without doing any type of action to identify the intruder. During the time when the car is worn out the traditional alarms are deactivated, having only the possibility given by some existing models in the market to activate the audible and visual means of alarm in emergence situations, which is done at from a button which exists inside the vehicle and which will be pressed by its driver, for example, in the case where the intruder enters the vehicle during the time that it is stopped in a semaphore or in a traffic jam.

In addition, traditional alarms have only the possibility already mentioned, they do not give any type of assistance to drivers and passengers in transit.

Thus, in the case of drivers of taxis or similar vehicles, the only possibility which existed to increase the conditions of safety inside the respective vehicles, was the installation of the protective glasses of insulation already known, which notwithstanding are very expensive , unsightly and can be practical.

Statement of the invention

The attached device has one or more detectors, connected with a central unit which, among other functions, allows to activate the sound and light alarm means and the means which block the engine of the vehicle, and which is the result of a new combination of the elements already mentioned with:

- an "autofocus" filming camera that focuses automatically, placed on a rotating support;

- a video recorder, connected with the camera to be filmed;

- a device that detects and turns a card of dentition;

- a pedal, manipulator or button to manually activate the recording of sound and

1 image; - a remote control, or additionally, for immobilizing the vehicle;

- a kind of automatic cash register with payment, with an electronic safe;

- a cordless telephone; - a transmitter of vehicle position coordinates, by satellite;

which results in the creation of a new security system which not only gives the possibility of alerting, but it also makes it possible to identify - either the assailant or the place of aggression - and which works automatically regardless of whether the car is in service or not.

With this device - which for what it follows have installed in a taxi to facilitate the description of its operation - the driver's safety is reinforced, because in a completely automatic way and away from the will of this is carried out a cycle of image and sound recording each time a new customer enters the car, a cycle which includes the recording of the voice and the image of the customer, much like the image of an identification card to him, by which, later, if necessary, the individual carried can be easily identified.

In addition, the alerting means operate not only in small areas but also in large areas, thanks to the automatic sequence of either a coded telephone call and led by the public wireless telephone network to a small decoding / multiplication center that exists on land, or transmitting the position coordinates of the vehicle to a receiving center also placed in the ground. This last action, by making the arrival time of the police or other entities shorter at the place where the vehicle is, also indirectly allows the security of the data recorded in the video recorder located in the tamper-resistant box which encloses the central unit of the device presented.

Thus, potential thieves will not have the courage to assault taxi drivers, because their image (and possibly also their voice) will remain recorded in an inviolable manner, without the driver having the possibility of preventing this action, which is essential, once, on the contrary, there is the risk of the driver, under threat, putting the system out of service.

It should also be added that, if the money is in the electronic safe and if the currency (coin and banknotes) is supplied completely automatically by this safe, counting the difference between the amount paid by the customer and the amount indicated in the taximeter, access to the money in the taxi is immediately forbidden by thieves.

This automatic operating device remains active during the day and during the night, so in the period when the drivers are more vulnerable they are also protected.

Brief description of the drawings

The operating mode of this device is described immediately with the aid of a concrete example which is not limiting and which is illustrated in the appended drawings, where: FIG. 1 represents a schematic diagram which identifies the main elements of the apparatus, as well as the complementary external elements placed on solid ground or in space.

FIG. 2 represents a more detailed schematic diagram which corresponds to the best way of constructing the apparatus in question.

In these figures we can see the detectors (A) connected with a central unit (B). Among other functions, this unit commands the video recorder (C) which records the images captured by a video camera (D), which is linked to a mobile support with motors (E), also controlled by the central unit already mentioned. In addition, there is also a device for detecting and turning an identification card, which is composed by the switch (F), by the chassis (G) and by the respective motor (H). Finally, local alarm means (I) are also represented, comprising the ignition cut (11) and the solenoid valve (12) which cuts the flow of fuel - these two components are visible only in the second figure. - well like the pedal or handle (J), the remote control (L), or alternatively the presence sensors of the driver (L1) and (L2), and again the terminal (M), the internal supply battery (N) of the device, the battery (O) of the vehicle, the electronic cash register (P), the keyboard (Q) and all of the "leds" (R) which is visible only in Figure 2.

In Figure 2, some components represented there are referred to by a set of letters and numbers, the letters identifying the functions of the components according to the description made in the previous paragraph and the numbers sequencing the classification of these components, grouping them by structural families, when necessary, cases where two numbers have been used per component.

In FIG. 1, beyond the elements already mentioned, the devices external to the device presented are also represented, which communicate at a distance with it, namely the satellite (X) for communicating the position coordinates of the vehicle, the device (Y) for reception and decoding of the recorded images and sounds and for controlling the video recorder (C), and also the central (2) for automatic transmission of telephone calls with a pre-recorded alert message.

Best way to realize the invention

We will now describe the mode of operation of the device, highlighting the best way to carry out the invention, which is shown in FIG. 2.

During the period when the car is stopped and the driver is waiting for customers, the device monitors the passenger compartment of the vehicle by means of sensors (A), where (A11) and (A12) are switches placed in the access doors of the taxi customers and (A21) and (A22) are infrared emitting / receiving LEDs which are placed so that they cannot be operated by the driver.

When a customer enters the car, it is detected by the aforementioned means, the change of state of which (open / closed circuit or vice versa) generates an impulse, as soon as the said change is made in the sequence (A1), ( A21) / (B11), (A22) / (B12) - where (B1) represents an electronic control circuit of linear infrared emitters / receivers - sequence which is controlled by the assembly composed by the transistors ( B21) and (B22), by the "NOR" (B31) of 3 inputs and by the decimal counter (B4). The aforementioned pulse realizes the "reset" of the decimal counter in (B41) and activates the "one-shot" (monostable) (B51), which activates the "NOR" (B32) and starts a time delay of almost 15s.

At this time the "NOR" (B32) gives a pulse "TRIGGER", as a result of the change of state of (B51), injecting this signal into the photo-coupler (B61) which isolates with great impedance this circuit of the video recorder (C) and also gives a "TRIGGER" pulse in the power supply (C1) of the video recorder which starts.

By its side the "one-shot" (monostable) (B52), which also receives the signal from the counter (B4), unleashes another time delay (almost 2s) that delays the instruction signal to start the recording that , through the middle of the photo-coupler (B62), sends to the input (C2) of the video recorder (C).

This delay allows the video recorder (C), the camera (D) and the respective accessories to become operational.

These accessories are:

- The circuit (V) which consists of a traditional electronic circuit for solar switches that is connected with a solar detector (A30), preferably of the photovoltaic cell type, and with a "led" emitter / receiver of infrared (A23 ) and which allows the internal light of the vehicle to be switched on and off or, more preferably, a set (R) of infrared "LEDs" (almost 30), the light of which is recorded for the camera.

- The circuit (U) which is a common circuit that controls the servo motors or, preferably, stepper motors (E1), (E2) and (H).

Thus the entry of a customer into the car causes the central unit (B) to unleash an automatic cycle of sound and image recording during which the video recorder (C) and the respective video camera are placed in operation. During this period, the light in the passenger compartment is controlled so that there is sufficient quantity to record the image in the event that it is night, wherever one is in a place of low light.

The motors (E) of the camera support are also activated which, as they rotate, drag the camera described by a sweeping movement from inside the vehicle.

At the end of this period, the power supply to the camera (D) and to the video recorder (C) is cut off due to the transition from the logic state of (B51) to the end of the timed period, which is caused by a new "TRIGGER" signal which deactivates the video recorder, unless however the presence detector (F) installed in the detection and turning device of an identity card has been activated.

Whenever this action takes place, the video camera, as soon as the movement of the initially described cycle is finished, is placed by the motors of the respective support so that the device (G) and the card can be framed. identification which is in its interior.

When the device (G) is framed, the camera and the video recorder are put into operation for a short period of time preset in the central unit to burn the image of the first face of the menu .

The device (G) can be, for example, a frame linked to a motor (H) that makes it rotate. This chassis has a groove in one of these sides and a posi¬ tion detector - preferably of the microswitch type or of the photocell type - 1 'opposite of this one.

At the end of the period already mentioned, the central unit activates the motor linked to the chassis, to turn the second side of the identification card towards the video camera. During this operation, the video recorder is stopped so as not to spend film, immediately resuming the fiImage, for a preset period of time, so that the second side of the card can be recorded. When this operation is complete, an audible or light signal is emitted which indicates that the card can be removed from the chassis (G).

During the phases described, the operation of the engine is prevented due to the activation of the cutting means (I), which means that the car cannot move without the cited records being made.

Whenever the driver of the car is wary of the intentions of the transported individuals, he will be able to make an additional recording of image and sound, in a period of time adjustable according to the number of pulses which correspond to the number of consecutive actuations. a button (J) (or another means with the same function) exercised by the driver.

When the tape of the tape recorder reaches the end, the output (C3) is activated and, by means of the photo-coupler (B63), activates the "one-shot" (monostral) (B53) which a time delay of approximately 180s during which, by means of the photo-coupler (B61), keeps the video recorder in service and, by means of the photo-coupler (B64), gives an impulse towards the entry (C4) of the video recorder to start the winding behind the tape, until the goal of this one.

In the event that the transported individual wishes to steal the car, the device which prevents the movement of the car, which may be the traditional cutting of the ignition or the current supply of the fuel injection pump, will be actuated in a timed manner, after a preset period of time in one central unit.

The actuation of this device can be achieved by remote control, such as, for example, by actuation - for a small period of time pre-established in the central unit - of presence detectors (L) placed in the driver's seat , which will be activated whenever this driver is removed from its place.

In this case, the electrostatic detector (L10), placed under the cover of the driver's seat and the "LED" transmitter / receiver (L20) and respective logic circuit (B13) will simultaneously activate the "NAND" (B8), which 'in turn, by means of "NOR" (B33), activates the "one-shot" (monostable) (B54), which unleashes the engine cut-off delay.

Alternatively, by means of a password, said by the driver and picked up by the microphone (S2) of the wireless telephone (S), one can also activate the "NOR" (B33).

In this case, the telephone (S) which is of the cordless type and is provided with hands-free, voice-activated dialing, still has the function of automatically making a telephone call from a pre-recorded number and transmitting for the exterior a pre-established coded signal which is produced by the electronic circuit of coding (S3). At the same time it is actuated the transmitter (T) of position coordinates which is of the traditional type, which, by means of the satellite (X), communicates outside, for example to the police, the position of the vehicle. At present there are transmitters which give position information with an error of less than 50m.

In turn, the automatic telephone call made for the outside, by means of the antenna (S1), activates the exchange (Z) that when it recognizes the codified signal already cited unleashes a series of telephone calls where transmits a pre-recorded audio message.

All recorded images and sounds will remain in the VCR, which is placed in a tamper-resistant box automatically powered by the battery (N) which is protected by the diode (N1), which is isolated from the outside environment (for example, by means of a box system with double walls insulated by a partially emptied space and with occasional supports of ceramic material). This VCR is accompanied by the central command unit of the device that will have an optical link terminal (M) outside.

The observation of the recordings made will be carried out according to the connection of an external device (Y) to the communications terminal (C30) of the video recorder.

In order to be able to make the observation mentioned, a code must be entered on the keyboard (Q), which activates the relay (B73) which will change the mode of the video recorder (C) for recording (C44 for playback (C5).

In this mode, the sensor (M) of the video recorder (C) is active, which allows the remote control that exists in (Y) to control the movement of the tape to the desired position, as well as the reading of the respective content.

When the means (I) are activated, a code must be entered on the keyboard (Q) already mentioned to give a "reset" signal to the "one-shot" (monostable) (B54). Alternatively, the so-called "reset" can be done by means of a password recognizable by the telephone (S).

The device (Y) will be placed in an external unit which can be used by the taxi driver whenever he needs a copy of a certain sound and image recording, for example, to present a complaint to the police of an event in which he was the victim.

The aforementioned entity will take copies, once in the external device (Y) there are inputs to control the reading, the advancement, the reversing, and the stopping of the magnetic tape which is in the magnetos¬ cope of the security device (with the respective immobilization of the image), as well as for disconnection of the reading thereof.

Claims

1 - Automatic security device for vehicles, with an inviolable recording of sounds and images, equipped with one or more detectors, connected with a central unit which makes it possible to activate the sound and light alarm means and the means for blocking the vehicle engine, characterized for the combination of these elements with a film camera (D) placed on a rotating support, with a video recorder (C) connected to it - video recorder and camera which are inserted in tamper-evident boxes and have a periodic operation, synchronized with each other and automatically controlled by the central unit already mentioned, without there being any manual function which can prevent this operation with a device (F, G and H) for detecting and turning a card d identity, with a pedal, handle or button (J) for manual actuation of additional recording of sound and image, with a remote control (M) for immob reading of the vehicle, with a kind of automatic pay station (P) provided with an electronic safe, with a cordless telephone (S), and with a transmitter (T) of vehicle position coordinates, and further characterized by having automatic vigilance function, even when the car is running.

2 - Apparatus according to claim 1, caracté¬ ized in that said device (F, G and H) for detection and rotation comprises, preferably, a frame (G) connected to a motor which allows it to rotate, which has a groove in one of these sides and a presence detector - preferably of the microswitch type or of the photocell type - in the opposite.

3 - Apparatus according to claim characterized in that said rotary support of the camera (D) is motorized and automatically describes a scanning movement at the end of which the camera automatically aims at the detection and turning device of the identification card, when the detector (F) is actuated .

4 - Apparatus according to claim 1, caracté¬ ized in that said camera (D), the tape recorder (S) and the central unit (B) are installed, together or not, in tamper-evident boxes, in that the order recording is managed internally in the central unit - completely automatically, away from the will of the vehicle occupants - and in that this order results from the actuation of the detectors (A11 ) or (A12) together with the detectors (A21) and (A22) - without there being any manual recording function available, except for the pedal, button or lever (J).

5 - Apparatus according to claim 4, caracté¬ ized in that said detectors (A21) and (A22) are preferably of the linear infrared type.

6 - Apparatus according to claim 1, caracté¬ ized in that before the blocking of the vehicle engine there is a time delay triggered by the remote control, and in that this blocking is simultaneous with the actuation of the sound and visual means of alert.

7 - Apparatus according to claim 6, caracté¬ ized in that both of the remote control it can have one or more presence detectors, preferably electrostatic detectors (L10) placed under the cover of the driver's seat and sets of infrared light emitting / receiving diodes (L20) and respective logic circuits (B13), which unleash the blocking of the engine if the driver is removed from his seat.

8 - Apparatus according to claim 1, caracté¬ ized in that the timed blocking of the motor can be unleashed by a password recognizable by the phone (S) and in that the unlocking of said motor can also be done by means of a watchword.

9 - Device according to claim 1, caracté¬ ized in that the start of the engine blocking delay is simultaneous with the emission of a coded emergency call by the telephone and the emission of the coordinates of the location of the vehicle .

10 - Apparatus according to claim 1, caracté¬ ized in that the electronic cash (P) gives the currency (coin and banknotes) completely automatically, counting only the difference between the amount paid by the customer and the amount indicated in the taximeter.