TRAFFIC RECORDING ORDER

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention.

[0001] The disclosure relates to recording devices and more particularly pertains to a new recording device for recording video footage and velocity of oncoming traffic with respect to an emergency vehicle that is responding to a vehicular emergency on a roadway. The device includes a plurality of video cameras and a plurality of radar speed detectors to facilitate subsequent prosecution of vehicles on the roadway that violate traffic laws as they pass the emergency vehicle.Description of Related Art

[0002] The prior art relates to recording devices including a variety of traffic detection systems that incorporate video capture technology for capturing video footage of vehicles driving on public roadways. In several instances the video capture technology is employed to identify emergency vehicles for civilian drivers on the public roadways. In no instance does the prior art disclose a traffic recording device that includes a plurality of video cameras and a plurality of radar speed sensors, each being mounted to an emergency vehicle, thereby identifying vehicles that violate traffic laws as they pass the emergency vehicle when the emergency vehicle is parked on a side of a roadway.

[0003] WO2020 / 063866 discloses a traffic monitoring and evidence collection system. The system includes a housing for mounting to a top of a vehicle. A terminal is located outside of the housing and is configured to send a control signal. A plurality of image capturing cameras are configured to capture an image in response to the control signal from the terminal and are located in the housing.

[0004] US2013 / 0066542 discloses an intelligent laser tracking system for mobile and fixed position traffic monitoring and enforcement applications. The system autonomously tracks multiple target vehicles with a laser based speed measurement system. A pan / tilt mechanism is provided in the system to allow rotation of the speed measurement equipment.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to the present invention there is provided a traffic recording assembly according to claim 1.

[0006] Advantageous features are set out in the appended dependent claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0007] The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective phantom view of a traffic recording assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Figure 2 is a front view of a recording unit of an embodiment of the disclosure. Figure 3 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. Figure 4 is a back perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. Figure 5 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to Figures 1 through 5 thereof, a new recording device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

[0009] As best illustrated in Figures 1 through 5, the traffic recording assembly 10 generally comprises a plurality of recording units 12 and each of the recording units 12 is positionable on an emergency vehicle 14. Each of the recording units 12 is directed toward oncoming traffic when the emergency vehicle 14 is positioned on the side of a roadway 16 to respond to an emergency. Moreover, each of the recording units 12 has video recording capabilities to capture video of the oncoming traffic. In this way, vehicles that are not following traffic laws as they pass the emergency vehicle 14 can be identified. Additionally, each of the recording units 12 emits electromagnetic energy to detect the speed of the oncoming traffic.

[0010] Each of the recording units 12 comprises a remote housing 18 that has a front wall 20. Each of the recording units 12 includes a mount 22 comprising a first disk 24 that is rotatably positioned on a second disk 26. The first disk 24 can be coupled to an exterior surface 28 of the emergency vehicle 14. The remote housing 18 is attached to the second disk 26 such that the remote housing 18 is rotatably retained on the emergency vehicle 14. In this way the front wall 20 of the remote housing 18 can be directed toward oncoming traffic. The emergency vehicle 14 may be an ambulance, a police car, a tow truck or any other type of emergency vehicle that would commonly respond to vehicular emergencies on public roadways. Additionally, the first disk 24 may be comprised of a magnetic material such that the first disk 24 can magnetically engage the emergency vehicle 14. In this way the first disk 24 can releasably engage the emergency vehicle 14.

[0011] Each of the recording units 12 includes a remote control circuit 30 that is positioned within the remote housing 18 and the remote control circuit 30 receives an actuate input. Each of the recording units 12 includes a motion sensor 32 that is coupled to the front wall 20 of the remote housing 18. In this way the motion sensor 32 can sense motion of the oncoming traffic when the oncoming traffic moves within a pre-determined distance of the remote housing 18. The motion sensor 32 is electrically coupled to the remote control circuit 30 and the remote control circuit 30 receives the actuate input when the motion sensor 32 senses motion. The motion sensor 32 may comprise an electronic motion sensor that has an operational range of at least 30.48m (100.0 feet). Each of the recording units 12 includes a video camera 34 that is coupled to the front wall 20 of the remote housing 18 to capture video of the oncoming traffic when the remote housing 18 is directed toward the oncoming traffic. The video camera 34 is electrically coupled to the remote control circuit 30 and the video camera 34 is turned on when the remote control circuit 30 receives the actuate input. Each of the recording units 12 includes a radar emitter 36 that is coupled to the front wall 20 of the remote housing 18 and the radar emitter 36 emits the electromagnetic energy from the remote housing 18. Moreover, the radar emitter 36 receives the electromagnetic energy that is reflected from the oncoming traffic. The radar emitter 36 is electrically coupled to the remote control circuit 30 and the remote control circuit 30 determines the speed of the oncoming traffic by analyzing the electromagnetic energy that is reflected from the oncoming traffic. The electromagnetic energy emitted by the radar emitter 36 may have a frequency ranging between approximately 10.50 GHz and 10.55 GHz such as is common with police radar guns.

[0012] Each of the recording units 12 may include a transmitter 38 that is positioned in the remote housing 18. The transmitter 38 is electrically coupled to the remote control circuit 30 and the transmitter 38 broadcasts a data signal comprising video data from the video camera 34 and speed data of the oncoming traffic. The transmitter 38 may comprise a radio frequency transmitter or the like and the transmitter 38 may employ Bluetooth ®< communication protocols. Each of the recording units 12 includes a remote power supply 40 that is positioned in the remote housing 18. The remote power supply 40 is electrically coupled to the remote control circuit 30 and the remote power supply 40 comprises at least one battery.

[0013] A base unit 42 is positioned within the emergency vehicle 14 and the base unit 42 is in remote communication with each of the recording units 12. The base unit 42 has data storage capabilities to store the video recorded by the recording units 12 and to store the speed of the oncoming traffic. In this way the base unit 42 facilitates vehicles that violate traffic laws to be identified for subsequent prosecution. The base unit 42 comprises a base housing 44 that is positioned within the emergency vehicle 14, and the base housing 44 has an outer wall 46. The base unit 42 includes a base control circuit 48 that is positioned within the base housing 44.

[0014] The base unit 42 includes an electronic memory 50 that is positioned within the base housing 44 and the electronic memory 50 is electrically coupled to the base control circuit 48. The base unit 42 includes a receiver 52 that is positioned within the base housing 44 and the receiver 52 is electrically coupled to the base control circuit 48.

[0015] The receiver 52 is in wireless communication with the transmitter 38 associated with each of the recording units 12. Moreover, the receiver 52 receives the data signal broadcast by the transmitter 38 associated with each of the recording units 12. In this way the electronic memory 50 can store the video data and the speed data for subsequent analysis. The electronic memory 50 may comprise a hard disk drive or other type of solid state electronic memory 50. Additionally, the receiver 52 may comprise a radio frequency receiver or the like and the receiver 52 may employ Bluetooth ®< communication protocols.

[0016] The base unit 42 includes a display 54 that is coupled to the outer wall 46 such that the display 54 is visible to a user. The display 54 is electrically coupled to the base control circuit 48 and the display 54 displays indicia comprising words and letters to communicate operational parameters of the base unit 42 to facilitate the user to observe the operational parameters of the base unit 42. The display 54 may comprise an electronic display 54 such as a liquid crystal display 54 or the like. The base unit 42 includes a plurality of control buttons 56 that is each movably integrated into the base housing 44. Each of the control buttons 56 is electrically coupled to the base control circuit 48 such that each of the control buttons 56 controls respective operational parameters of the base unit 42. In this way the plurality of control buttons 56 facilitates the user to control the operational parameters of the base unit 42.

[0017] The base unit 42 includes a transceiver 58 that is positioned within the base housing 44 and the transceiver 58 is electrically coupled to the base control circuit 48. The transceiver 58 is in wireless communication with an extrinsic communication network 60 such that the transceiver 58 can to be connected to the internet. The extrinsic communication network 60 may comprise a cellular phone network, a wifi router or other means of wireless, global communication. The transceiver 58 may comprise a radio frequency transceiver or the like, the transceiver 58 may employ Bluetooth ®< communication protocols and the transceiver 58 may employ a WPAN signal. The base unit 42 includes a base power supply 62 that is positioned within the base housing 44, the base power supply 62 is electrically coupled to the base control circuit 48 and the base power supply 62 comprises at least one battery.

[0018] As is shown in figure 2, mount 22 may include a stem 64 that extends between the remote housing 18 and the second disk 26. In this way the remote housing 18 can be positioned on a horizontal surface of the emergency vehicle 14, such as the roof or the like. As is shown in figure 4, the mount 22 may include an arm 66 that extends between the remote housing 18 and the second disk 26. Additionally, the arm 66 may have an elbow 68 between the remote housing 18 and the second disk 26. In this way the remote housing 18 can be positioned on a vertical surface of the emergency vehicle 14, such as a sidewall or the like.

[0019] In use, each of the recording units 12 is positioned at strategic locations on the emergency vehicle 14 when the emergency vehicle 14 is parked on the side of the roadway 16 to respond to a vehicular emergency. In this way the each of the recording units 12 can be directed toward oncoming traffic from both directions with respect to the emergency vehicle 14. Moreover, video footage of any vehicles that approach the emergency vehicle 14 is recorded and the speed of the vehicles is determined. In this way any vehicle that violates traffic laws when the vehicle passes the emergency vehicle 14 can be identified for subsequent prosecution.

[0020] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art.

[0021] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A traffic recording assembly (10) being mounted to an emergency vehicle (14) while the emergency vehicle (14) is parked on the side of a road to record vehicles that are not obeying traffic laws as they pass the emergency vehicle (14), said assembly comprising: a plurality of recording units (12), each of said recording units (12) being positionable on an emergency vehicle (14) wherein each of said recording units (12) is configured to be directed toward oncoming traffic when the emergency vehicle (14) is positioned on the side of a roadway to respond to an emergency, each of said recording units (12) having video recording capabilities wherein each of said recording units (12) is configured to capture video of the oncoming traffic thereby facilitating identification of vehicles that are not following traffic laws as they pass the emergency vehicle (14), each of said recording units (12) emitting electromagnetic energy wherein each of said recording units (12) is configured to detect the speed of the oncoming traffic; and a base unit (42) being positioned within the emergency vehicle (14), said base unit (42) being in remote communication with each of said recording units (12), said base unit (42) having data storage capabilities to store the video recorded by said recording units (12) and to store the speed of the oncoming traffic wherein said base unit (42) is configured to facilitate vehicles that violate traffic laws to be identified for subsequent prosecution; wherein each of said recording units (12) comprises a remote housing (18) having a front wall (20), and a mount (22) comprising a first disk (24) being rotatably positioned on a second disk (26) wherein said first disk (24) is configured to be coupled to an exterior surface of the emergency vehicle (14), said remote housing (18) being attached to said second disk (26) wherein said remote housing (18) is configured to be rotatably retained on the emergency vehicle (14) thereby facilitating said front wall (20) of said remote housing (18) to be directed toward oncoming traffic; and wherein each of said recording units (12) includes a remote control circuit (30) being positioned within said remote housing (18) said remote control circuit (30) receiving an actuate input, a motion sensor (32) being coupled to said front wall (20) of said remote housing (18) wherein said motion sensor (32) is configured to sense motion of the oncoming traffic when the oncoming traffic moves within a pre-determined distance of said remote housing (18), said motion sensor (32) being electrically coupled to said remote control circuit (30), said remote control circuit (30) receiving said actuate input when said motion sensor (32) senses motion, a video camera (34) being coupled to said front wall (20) of said remote housing (18) wherein said video camera (34) is configured to capture video of the oncoming traffic when said remote housing (18) is directed toward the oncoming traffic, said video camera (34) being electrically coupled to said remote control circuit (30), said video camera (34) being turned on when said remote control circuit (30) receives said actuate input, and a radar emitter (36) being coupled to said front wall (20) of said remote housing (18) wherein said radar emitter (36) is configured to emit the electromagnetic energy from said remote housing (18), said radar emitter (36) receiving the electromagnetic energy that is reflected from the oncoming traffic, said radar emitter (36) being electrically coupled to said remote control circuit (30) wherein said remote control circuit (30) is configured to determine the speed of the oncoming traffic by analyzing the electromagnetic energy that is reflected from the oncoming traffic.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein: each of said recording units (12) includes a transmitter (38) being positioned in said remote housing (18), said transmitter (38) broadcasting a data signal comprising video data and speed data; and said base unit (42) comprises: a base housing (44) being positioned within the emergency vehicle (14), said base housing (44) having an outer wall (46); a base control circuit (48) being positioned within said base housing (42); an electronic memory (50) being positioned within said base housing (42), said electronic memory (50) being electrically coupled to said base control circuit (48); and a receiver (52) being positioned within said base housing (44), said receiver (52) being electrically coupled to said base control circuit (48), said receiver (52) being in wireless communication with said transmitter (38) associated with each of said recording units (12), said receiver (52) receiving the data signal broadcast by said transmitter (38) associated with each of said recording units (12) thereby facilitating said electronic memory (50) to store the video data and the speed data for subsequent analysis.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said base unit (42) includes: a display (54) being coupled to said outer wall (46) wherein said display (54) is configured to be visible to a user, said display (54) being electrically coupled to said base control circuit (48), said display (54) displaying indicia comprising words and letters comprising operational parameters of said base unit (42) wherein said display (54) is configured to facilitate the user to observe the operational parameters of said base unit (42); and a plurality of control buttons (56), each of said control buttons (56) being movably integrated into said base housing (44), each of said control buttons (56) being electrically coupled to said base control circuit (48) such that each of said control buttons (56) controls respective operational parameters of said base unit (42) wherein said plurality of control buttons (56) is configured to facilitate the user to control the operational parameters of said base unit (42).

4. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said base unit (42) includes a transceiver (58) being positioned within said base housing (44), said transceiver (58) being electrically coupled to said base control circuit (48), said transceiver (58) being in wireless communication with an extrinsic communication network (60) wherein said transceiver (58) is configured to be connected to the Internet.

5. The assembly according to claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, wherein the transmitter (38) is electrically coupled to said remote control circuit (30); said assembly comprising a remote power supply (40) being positioned in said remote housing (18), said remote power supply (40) being electrically coupled to said remote control circuit (30), said remote power supply (40) comprising at least one battery; and a base power supply (62) being positioned within said base housing (44), said base power supply (62) being electrically coupled to said base control circuit (48), said base power supply (62) comprising at least one battery.