Vehicle Front View Camera Integration with Smartphone Infotainment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle camera systems, particularly for front view cameras, are costly to retrofit and lack integration with infotainment systems, making them less accessible and less secure for forensic purposes, and current car radio systems are not suitable for hosting dashcam functionality due to lack of LCD displays or connectivity features.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes a smartphone's display screen and communication circuitry to receive, store, and transmit video frames from a front view camera, connected via WiFi or USB to the car radio, allowing for video signal handling and processing without the need for additional recording devices, and leveraging the car radio's CAN subsystem for operational status sensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a front view camera is retrofitted in a vehicle, then video evidence capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase due to requiring separate recording devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the camera, recording device, and transmission device into a single integrated front view camera system. The camera unit includes an image sensor, processor for compressing and storing video data, and wireless transmission capability, eliminating the need for separate dashboard cameras and recording devices that would otherwise be required.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated front view camera serves multiple functions: capturing video frames, compressing and storing them locally, transmitting them wirelessly to external devices, and providing both front and rear view capabilities. This multi-functional design replaces what would traditionally require multiple separate devices.
2Reliability
If a front view camera system is retrofitted, then video recording capability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the camera, processor, memory, and wireless transmission components into a single camera unit, reducing the total component count and assembly complexity compared to retrofitting separate camera and recording devices. This integration lowers manufacturing costs while maintaining full video recording capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera unit includes an integrated processor that automatically compresses and stores video data without requiring external recording devices. The system is self-sufficient, handling all video processing functions internally, which reduces the need for additional expensive components and simplifies installation.
3Reliability
If video frames are transmitted to mobile communication devices, then forensic storage capability is improved, but loss of information increases due to potential device incompatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a standardized wireless communication interface as an intermediary between the camera unit and various mobile devices. The camera transmits video data through a universal communication protocol that can be received by different types of mobile communication devices, ensuring broad compatibility and preventing data loss due to interface incompatibility.
4Device complexity
If car radio systems are used to host dashcam functionality, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability worsens due to lack of LCD displays and connectivity features
Solution Approach 1:
The camera unit is designed with universal wireless transmission capability that can interface with multiple types of devices including mobile phones, tablets, and infotainment systems. The system adapts to different display and communication platforms without requiring modification, maintaining versatility while keeping the core camera system simple.
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle such as a motor car (V) equipped with a car radio equipment (14) is provided with a front view camera (10). Video frames from the front view camera (10) are supplied to video signal handling circuitry (S2) in a mobile communication device (S) such as a smart phone carried or worn by the vehicle driver under the control of the radio equipment (14) for handling (e.g. storing, transmitting, displaying) by the video signal handling circuitry (S2) of the mobile communication device (S).