Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging – One cell or battery charges another – Vehicle battery charging
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-09
2003-09-23
Tso, Edward H. (Department: 2838)
Electricity: battery or capacitor charging or discharging
One cell or battery charges another
Vehicle battery charging
Reexamination Certificate
active
06624611
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to pre-heating of a mobile electronic device, such as a video recorder used in a police car.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mobile Digital Video Recording System
Currently, the videocassette recorder (VCR) is the prime instrument for recording and capturing real-time video for evidentiary purposes in both fixed and mobile applications. One such mobile application is the recording of video captured by one or more cameras mounted in a police car or on a police motorcycle. Such video can provide useful evidence of traffic stops, car chases and other police activity for later use in court proceedings.
Conventionally, a standard VCR has been used for such mobile video-capture needs. Typically, in such cases the VCR is coupled with a DC to AC converter to provide power to the device and is housed in a box with a fan and filter set to provide cooling. In fact, in law-enforcement vehicles such VCR-based recording systems commonly are used. Because continuous operation of a VCR recorder generally provides only six to eight hours of recording time before a tape change is required, because law enforcement vehicles can be on the road for considerably more than six to eight hours, and also because of the costs of recording, archiving and reviewing full-time recordings generally are thought to be prohibitive, incident-only recording procedures commonly are used. Typically, incident recording is triggered when the police officer activates the siren or the chase lights, when the air bag in the vehicle is deployed or when the officer manually pushes a button to start the system. As used herein, the term “chase lights” is intended to mean flashing lights used by emergency response vehicles, such as patrol cars, ambulances or fire trucks, to indicate a chase or emergency situation.
Other mobile recording systems have been proposed and/or implemented. However, each utilizes either full-time recording or event-based recording. As indicated above there are significant problems with full-time recording. One problem with event-based recording is that some valuable evidence might not be recorded.
Heating and Cooling of a Mobile Video Recorder
A common conventional application of mobile video recording is the recording of video captured by one or more cameras mounted in a police car or on a police motorcycle. Such video can provide useful evidence of traffic stops, car chases and other police activity for later use in court proceedings. Typically, a standard videocassette recorder (VCR) is used for such purposes, although other recording systems also have been proposed and/or implemented.
Unfortunately, VCRs and other devices do not operate very well, if at all, at high temperatures, and might even become damaged if operation is attempted under such circumstances. Similarly, VCR-based and other recording systems do not operate well and/or may become damaged at very low temperatures, e.g. at or below 30° F. Accordingly, both VCR-based systems and PC (personal computer)-based systems include fans and filters installed in their respective system cabinet housings.
However, in most law enforcement applications, the recording system (either VCR-based and PC-based) is installed within the trunk due to the large size of the recorder and particular power supply. Rarely is the temperature of the space of trunks regulated, and internal temperatures in the unregulated trunk often rise to 150° F. or more. These extremely high temperatures are well beyond the ability of a fan alone to convection cool the recording system. In addition, it may be necessary to use a separate heating device if the recorder is to be used in a cold climate.
Event-Based Vehicle Image Capture
In the recent past, there has been an attempt to utilize automated systems in order to detect traffic violations (e.g., speeding) and then photograph the violator's license plate for the purpose of issuing a traffic citation or a warning letter. Unfortunately, timing the camera to photograph a vehicle's license plate at precisely the correct moment has proved to be quite difficult. In addition, early attempts to introduce VCR recording or film technology in such applications have not been successfully deployed, as in many instances the images captured of the event trigger also are not in synchronization or fast enough or have enough resolution to adequately capture the violator's license plate number.
Mobile Video Recorder Control and Interface
A common conventional application of mobile video recording is the recording of video captured by one or more cameras mounted in a police car or on a police motorcycle. Such video can provide useful evidence of traffic stops, car chases and other police activity for later use in court proceedings. Typically, a standard videocassette recorder (VCR) is used for such purposes, although other recording systems also have been proposed and/or implemented.
In such applications, it is common to utilize a dedicated control panel for operating the VCR or other recording device. However, this solution has the drawback that it requires additional space in the patrol car, a resource that is often in short supply. In addition, the present inventor has discovered that additional efficiencies can be obtained by interfacing the video recorder in such applications to other equipment in the patrol car.
Pre-Heating A Mobile Electronic Device
Many electronic devices have operating temperature ranges within which they can be operated properly and without causing damage to the device. Thus, without taking precautions the use of such devices in a mobile environment in a very cold climate can cause significant problems. Even if a heater is provided, such a heater typically would only be operated if the vehicle were in operation. As a result, at a minimum the user would have to wait until the temperature of the subject device came within the acceptable range, and the user might even be required to guess when that point occurred.
Mobile Digital Video Monitoring with Pre-Event Recording
Recently, there has been increased interest in monitoring events that occur on various forms of public transportation, such as airplanes, buses and trains. Currently, the videocassette recorder (VCR) is the prime instrument for recording and capturing real-time video for evidentiary purposes in both fixed and mobile applications. Unfortunately, the use of a VCR for such purposes has the drawbacks that it would be difficult to continuously replace the videocassette and that the storage, archiving and reviewing of such tapes would be costly.
Storage of Mobile Video Recorder Content
A common conventional application of mobile video recording is the recording of video captured by one or more cameras mounted in a police car or on a police motorcycle. Such video can provide useful evidence of traffic stops, car chases and other police activity for later use in court proceedings. In addition, recently there has been increased interest in monitoring events that occur on various forms of public transportation, such as airplanes, buses and trains. Typically, a standard videocassette recorder (VCR) is used for such purposes, although other recording systems also have been proposed and/or implemented.
In either event, the common technique for permanently storing such recorded video is to remove the media on which the video is recorded, label it and then store it in an appropriate facility. However, such techniques are cumbersome and costly, both in terms of the ongoing activity required to store such content and then again later when an individual wishes to locate and view a specific segment of the video. Additional authenticity and chain-of-custody problems also arise if the video is intended to be used as evidence in a courtroom.
Real-Time Operating System of Recording Device
Following the VCR-based recording systems, personal computer (PC)-based digital video recording systems have been commercialized. These PC-based systems typically use a Windows™ operating syste
Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP
Taw Security Concepts, Inc.
Tibbits Pia
Tso Edward H.
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