Video Monitoring System For A School Bus

Abstract

A video camera system for a school bus or other vehicle to replace one or more of the mirror systems typically utilized on buses and vehicles today. One or two cameras can be positioned on the sides of the school bus in place of the rearview mirrors presently utilized. A pair of cameras with wide-angle lenses can be positioned on the front fenders of the school bus to replace the cross view mirrors currently used today on school buses. One or more cameras can also be positioned on the rear of the school bus to display the environment immediately behind the school bus. Video monitors displaying the images from the cameras can be positioned inside the school bus or vehicle for viewing by the driver.

1 . A video camera system for school buses comprising:
 a first pair of cross-view video cameras positioned on each of the front fenders of the school bus for displaying images at least along the front of the bus; and   a first monitor positioned inside the school bus for displaying images from said pair of cross-view video cameras.   
     
     
         2 . A video camera system as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a second pair of video cameras are provided on each of the two sides of the school bus. 
     
     
         3 . A video camera system as described in  claim 2  further comprising a second monitor positioned inside the school bus for displaying images from said second pair of video cameras. 
     
     
         4 . A video camera system as described in  claim 3  wherein said second monitor is a split screen monitor. 
     
     
         5 . A video camera system as described in  claim 1  wherein said first monitor is a split screen monitor. 
     
     
         6 . A video camera system as described in  claim 1  further comprising at least one third video camera positioned on the rear of the school bus for providing images of the area immediately behind the school bus. 
     
     
         7 . A video camera system as described in  claim 6  further comprising at least one third monitor positioned inside the school bus for displaying images from said third video camera. 
     
     
         8 . A video camera system as described in  claim 1  further comprising cleaning members provided adjacent each of the lenses of said pair of cross-view video cameras for increasing the velocity of the air and directing it against the camera lenses. 
     
     
         9 . The video camera system as described in  claim 1  further comprising a video recording member for recording and retaining the images displayed from said first pair of video cameras, wherein the images recorded from the activities of the bus can be later monitored. 
     
     
         10 . The video camera system as described in  claim 1  further comprising an outport port in the bus for connection to a portable computer. 
     
     
         11 . A video camera system for vehicles comprising:
 at least one first video camera positioned on each side of the vehicle for displaying images in a rearward direction along the sides of the vehicle;   a pair of cross-view video cameras positioned on each of the front fenders of the vehicle for displaying images at least along the front of the vehicle; and   a first monitor positioned inside the vehicle for displaying images from said first video camera and said cross-view video cameras.   
     
     
         12 . A video camera system as described in  claim 11  wherein a pair of first video cameras are provided on each of the two sides of the school bus. 
     
     
         13 . A video camera system as described in  claim 12  wherein a pair of monitors or a split screen monitor is positioned inside the vehicle for displaying images from said first and cross-view video camera. 
     
     
         14 . A video camera system as described in  claim 11  further comprising at least one third video camera positioned at the rear of the vehicle for providing images of the area immediately behind the vehicle. 
     
     
         15 . A vehicle camera system as described in  claim 14  further comprising at least a second monitor positioned inside the vehicle for displaying images from said third video camera. 
     
     
         16 . The video camera system as described in  claim 1  further comprising a video recording system for recording and retaining the images displayed from at least one of said video cameras, wherein the images recorded from the activities of the vehicle can be later monitored.