IP Library Granted Patent US 10,421,412
Granted Patent B2
US 10,421,412 · App. 14/689,411 · Granted Sep 24, 2019

Rotatable camera

Inventors: Michael James Mouser (Parker, TX); Donald James Finney, Jr. (West Bloomfield, MI)
Assignee: The Hertz Corporation
B60R11/04H04N7/183B60R2300/8006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,421,412
App. No.
14/689,411
Granted
Sep 24, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A camera assembly in a vehicle includes a housing installed in the vehicle. A camera is mounted to the housing and movable relative to the housing between a first position where the camera can take an image of an occupant of the vehicle and a second position where the camera is blocked by a portion of the housing. In one example, the camera can be moved from the first position to the second position by rotating a knob mounted to the housing.

Claims (30)

1. A camera assembly comprising:

a housing; and

a camera movably mounted to the housing, the camera movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position, wherein the camera can record an image out of the housing in the first position and wherein the camera faces a portion of the housing in the second position.

2. The camera assembly of claim 1 wherein the camera is movable by a user between the first position and the second position.

3. The camera assembly of claim 2 wherein the camera is rotatable relative to the housing between the first position and the second position.

4. The camera assembly of claim 1 wherein the camera is part of an authentication system installed in a vehicle.

5. The camera assembly of claim 1 further including at least one position sensor within the housing.

6. The camera assembly of claim 5 wherein the at least one position sensor includes a GPS receiver.

7. The camera assembly of claim 5 further including a processor within the housing, the processor receiving position information from the at least one position sensor and digital image information from the camera.

8. The camera assembly of claim 7 wherein the processor is programmed to provide navigation instructions based upon the position information.

9. The camera assembly of claim 1 further including a knob mounted to the camera, wherein the knob is rotatable relative to the housing to selectively move the camera between the first and second positions.

10. An authentication system comprising:

a housing installed in a vehicle;

at least one position sensor;

a camera mounted to the housing, the camera movable relative to the housing between a first position where the camera can take an image of an occupant of the vehicle and a second position where the camera is blocked by a portion of the housing; and

a processor within the housing, the processor receiving position information from the at least one position sensor, the processor receiving the image from the camera, the processor programmed to authenticate operation of the vehicle based upon the image of the occupant.

11. The authentication system of claim 10 wherein the camera is movable by a user between the first position and the second position.

12. The authentication system of claim 10 wherein the camera is rotatable relative to the housing between the first position and the second position.

13. The authentication system of claim 12 wherein the at least one position sensor includes a GPS receiver.

14. The authentication system of claim 13 wherein the processor is programmed to provide navigation instructions based upon the position information.

15. The authentication system of claim 14 wherein the camera is movable by a user between the first position and the second position.

16. A method for taking an image in a vehicle including the steps of:

a) presenting an object to a camera in a housing in a vehicle while the camera is in a first position relative to the housing;

b) causing the camera to take an image of the object; and

c) after said steps a) and b), moving the camera to a second position relative to the housing, wherein the camera is blocked by a portion of the housing in the second position.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein step c) includes the step of rotating the camera relative to the housing from the first position to the second position.

18. The camera assembly of claim 1 wherein a lens of the camera is directed toward and an opaque portion of the housing in the second position.

19. The camera assembly of claim 18 wherein the lens of the camera is directed through an opening in the housing in the first position.

20. The camera assembly of claim 19 wherein the camera is rotatably mounted to the housing, such that the camera can be rotated relative to the housing between the first position and the second position.

21. The camera assembly of claim 20 wherein the camera is mounted within the housing.

Assignments (7)
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2024
From: THE HERTZ CORPORATION; HERTZ SYSTEM, INC.
To: COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068105/0946 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2024
From: THE HERTZ CORPORATION; HERTZ SYSTEM, INC.
To: COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068105/0954 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS RECORDED AT R/F 052588/0001 Recorded Jul 8, 2021
From: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COMMON COLLATERAL AGENT
To: THE HERTZ CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 056806/0083 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 30, 2021
From: THE HERTZ CORPORATION; HERTZ SYSTEM, INC.
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 056772/0578 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2020
From: THE HERTZ CORPORATION
To: BARCLAYS BANK PLC AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 052588/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 13, 2019
From: NAVIGATION SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: THE HERTZ CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 050040/0104 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2015
From: MOUSER, MICHAEL JAMES; FINNEY, DONALD JAMES, JR.
To: NAVIGATION SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 037281/0519 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61980704 · Apr 17, 2014
Related Publication 20160082896A1 · Mar 24, 2016
Cited By (2)
US 12,272,537 US 12,417,852