Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
  • H04N5/76—Television signal recording
  • H04N5/91—Television signal processing therefor
  • H04N5/92—Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback
  • H04N5/926—Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback by pulse code modulation
  • H04N5/9261—Transformation of the television signal for recording, e.g. modulation, frequency changing; Inverse transformation for playback by pulse code modulation involving data reduction

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to catastrophic event-survivable data recorders.
• this invention relates to catastrophic event-survivable video recording systems that employ video data compression and data recorders such as commercially available flight data recorders.
• flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders have long been used to record information on aircraft systems and crew activities up to the time of occurrence of a catastrophic event.
• information from conventional flight data and cockpit voice recorders typically provide little, if any, information which would indicate the source of such an explosion.
• This problem may be further exacerbated when surviving components of a destroyed aircraft are very small, and/or lie in inaccessible areas such as deep water. Under such conditions, it may become very costly to recover and piece together destroyed portions of the aircraft in an effort to determine the source of an explosion or other failure.
• One example of such a system includes a catastrophic event-survivable video data recording system which may be employed to monitor and record catastrophic accidents, such as those occurring in land or sea-based facilities, or aboard vehicles.
• the disclosed catastrophic event-survivable video recording methods and systems may be employed to record actual video data during a catastrophic event such as a facility explosion or catastrophic transportation accident, and in a form which is capable of surviving the event and being replayed by safety investigators to determine the cause of the accident/incident.
• the system is easily adaptable for aircraft (e.g., private, commercial and military aircraft operations) as well as facility operations (e.g., plants, offshore platforms, mines, pipeline facilities, etc.), as well as to any vehicle or facility that may be involved in an accident resulting in casualties, extensive property damage or loss, accident liability, etc.
• aircraft e.g., private, commercial and military aircraft operations
• facility operations e.g., plants, offshore platforms, mines, pipeline facilities, etc.
• a relatively low cost, lightweight, catastrophic event-survivable video data recording method and system may be provided, one which provides a method of capturing and storing video data in crash-survivable form, utilizing relatively inexpensive and lightweight crash-survivable components.
• a system offers the capability to effectively capture, record and retain video data in a catastrophic event, such as a crash or explosion, without the need for relatively heavy recording equipment components and/or excessive amounts of computer memory or computer components.
• the disclosed method and system may be used to provide a video record of catastrophic incidents/accidents which may be used to decrease time and/or cost of investigation, while at the same time increasing the accuracy of the investigation conclusion.
• video data recording methods and systems may be provided for use in vehicles.
• video data may be recorded and stored without the need for excessive computer memory and associated equipment, allowing minimization of system component size and weight.
• conventional and commercially available flight data recording equipment may be employed without the need for large amounts of computer memory. Because commercially available data compression and flight recording equipment may be employed to implement the methods and systems of this embodiment, system cost may be advantageously minimized. Because such commercial components are relatively lightweight and compact, installation aboard vehicles such as existing or new aircraft may be performed with a minimum amount of modification or loss of vehicle interior space. Further advantageously, the disclosed methods and systems may be employed, for example, with one or more cameras mounted at varying locations throughout a vehicle interior and/or exterior and/or may interface with existing vehicle video camera installations, further minimizing cost of implementation.
• the disclosed methods and systems may also be used to provide catastrophic event- survivable video records of accident/incidents occurring in facilities, installations or any other environment in which such events may occur. Even in locations where weight and space requirements may not be a premium, the disclosed methods and systems may be used to advantageously provide a relatively low cost and readily available solution to the problem of generating a survivable video record of catastrophic events. For example, by utilizing readily available commercial video compression in combination with commercial flight data recorder components, the cost of a land or sea-based facility installation may be dramatically minimized. Furthermore, due to the relatively low cost of the disclosed system, a plurality of systems may be installed or deployed to monitor multiple areas of concern within a facility, such as a chemical plant, or oil production facility, etc. without incurring excessive cost. Monitoring multiple locations in such facilities is often desirable due to the large size and/or intricate nature of such facilities.
• the disclosed methods and systems may utilize one or more video compression unit/s (or video data encoder/decoder/s) to convert analog video signals from one or more video camera/s into compressed digital format suitable for storage in one or more video data recorder/s (e.g., a conventional flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder).
• a system may include a video data compression unit and video data interface between conventional video camera and conventional flight data recorder equipment.
• data compression conventional and commercially available data recording units may be employed with little or no modification to record video crash data.
• virtually any commercially available video encoder/decoder or compression unit may be utilized to process data into a format suitable for recording on virtually any commercially available data recording system having suitable memory to contain such data.
• a crash-survivable video data recording system may be provided that is capable of recording the last thirty minutes of a vehicle's route (e.g., aircraft, ship, train, submarine, helicopter, etc.) or facility operation (e.g., chemical plant, refinery, nuclear plant, offshore platform, pipeline facility, etc.) at about 250K bps.
• a vehicle's route e.g., aircraft, ship, train, submarine, helicopter, etc.
• facility operation e.g., chemical plant, refinery, nuclear plant, offshore platform, pipeline facility, etc.
• the recording system interfaces and reacts to the condition of the vehicle or facility in a manner similar to conventional crash data recorders, by storing data and cutting off input at predetermined accident parameters (e.g., primary power loss, etc.).
• an investigating authority e.g., NTSB, etc.
• the system may be interfaced with a variety of video camera types, requiring only a National Television Standards Committee (“NTSC") video output. This allows the ability to either tap into existing camera systems or to use a camera of choice.
• NTSC National Television Standards Committee
• Such a recorder system is also adaptable and upgradable as recorder and camera technologies advance, keeping upgrade costs to a minimum.
• a catastrophic event-survivable video recording system including a video data compression unit having at least one output, the output including compressed digital video data; and a video data recording unit having at least one input in signal communication with the output from the video data compression unit, the video data recording unit being capable of recording the compressed digital video data in catastrophic event-survivable form.
• a catastrophic event-survivable video recording system including a video data compression unit having at least one output, the output including compressed digital video data and having a serial data and clock stream generated at a rate of from about 250 Kbps to about 500 Kbps; and a video data recording unit having at least one input in signal communication with the output from the video data compression unit, the video data recording unit being capable of recording the compressed video data in catastrophic event-survivable form; wherein the system is configured for installation on a vehicle.
• a catastrophic event-survivable video recording system including a video data compression unit having at least one compressed digital video data output; a video data recording unit having at least one input in signal communication with the compressed digital video data output from the video data compression unit; and at least one video camera, the video camera having an output including analog video data; and wherein the video camera output is in signal communication with the video compression unit input; wherein the compressed video data output from the video compression unit may have a serial data and clock stream generated at a rate of about 256 Kbps; and wherein the video data recorder is capable of receiving and recording the video compression unit output; wherein the video data recorder is capable of saving at least about 30 minutes of compressed digital video data recorded prior to a catastrophic event; and wherein the system is configured for installation on an aircraft.
• a method of recording raw video data onto a catastrophic event-survivable video recorder including compressing the raw video data to form compressed digital video data; and recording the data on a video data recording unit in catastrophic event-survivable form.
• a catastrophic event-survivable video recording system including a video data compression unit having at least a first output, the first output including compressed digital video data; a video data recording unit having at least a first input in signal communication with the first output from the video data compression unit, the video data recording unit being capable of recording compressed digital video data in catastrophic event-survivable form; and a video data interface in signal communication between the video compressor first output and the video data recording unit first input, the video data interface being capable of converting the compressed video data of the video data compression unit first output to a compressed video data signal that is suitable for recording by the video data recording unit as a signal input to the video data recording unit first input.
• the video data recording unit may be a conventional flight data recording unit, including those that are commercially available, and/or the video data recording unit may be capable of saving at least about 30 minutes of compressed digital video data recorded prior to a catastrophic event.
• the video data compression unit of the system may further include at least a first input, the first input including analog video data, and the video data compression unit being capable of converting the analog video data to the compressed digital video of the video data compression unit first output.
• the video data interface may be capable of converting the compressed video data of the video data compression unit first output to compressed video data output having a serial data and clock stream generated at a rate of from about 250 Kbps to about 500 Kbps, alternatively about 256 Kbps; and the video data recording unit may be capable of receiving and recording the compressed video data output having a serial data and clock stream generated at a rate of from about 250 Kbps to about 500 Kbps, and alternatively about 256 Kbps.
• the video data compression unit may produce the compressed digital video data first output at a variable rate.
• the system may further include at least one video camera, the video camera having an output including analog video data; and wherein the video cameral output is in signal communication with the video compression unit first input.
• the video data recording unit may have at least a first output, the first output including compressed digital video playback data, with the video data recording unit being capable of playing back the compressed digital video data that is recorded in catastrophic event-survivable form.
• the video data compression unit may have a second input in signal communication with the first output from the video data recording unit and may have a second output including analog video playback data, with the video data compression unit being capable of converting compressed digital video data to the analog video playback data; and with the video data interface being capable of converting the compressed digital video playback data of the video data recording unit first output to a compressed digital video data signal that is suitable for input to the second input of the video data compression unit and conversion by the video data compression unit to the analog video playback data of the video data compression unit second output.
• a catastrophic event-survivable video recording system including: a video data compression unit having at least a first output, the first output including compressed digital video data; a video data recording unit having at least a first input in signal communication with the first output from the video data compression unit, the video data recording unit having at least a recording mode in which it is capable of recording compressed digital video data in catastrophic event-survivable form; a video data interface in signal communication between the video compressor first output and the video data recording unit first input, the video data interface having at least a recording mode in which it is capable of converting the compressed video data of the video data compression unit first output to a compressed video data signal that is suitable for recording by the video data recording unit as a signal input to the video data recording unit first input; and at least one video camera, the video camera having an output including video data; and wherein the video camera output is in signal communication with the video compression unit first input; wherein the video data interface is capable of converting the compressed video data of the video data compression unit first output to compressed video data having a
• the video data recording unit may have at least a first output, the first output including compressed digital video playback data, the video data recording unit having a playback mode in which it is capable of playing back the compressed digital video data that is recorded in catastrophic event-survivable form; and the video data compression unit may have a second input in signal communication with the first output from the video data recording unit and may have a second output including video playback data, the video data compression unit having a playback mode in which it is capable of converting compressed digital video data to the video playback data; and the video data interface being capable of converting the compressed digital video playback data of the video data recording unit first output to a compressed digital video data signal that is suitable for input to the second input of the video data compression unit and conversion by the video data compression unit to the video playback data of the video data compression unit second output.
• the system may further include a video processor and a cockpit control unit.
• the video processor may have a control input, a video data input and a video data output;
• the cockpit control unit may have a control output, video data input and video data output;
• the video processor video data input may be in signal communication with an analog video data output of the video compression unit;
• the video processor video data output may be in signal communication with the video data input of the cockpit control unit;
• the video processor control input may be in signal communication with the cockpit control unit control output;
• the cockpit control unit video output may be in signal communication with at least one video display configured to be used or mounted within the aircraft; and the cockpit control unit may be capable of controlling the video processor video data output to the video display.
• the system may include a cockpit control unit that has a control output that is in signal communication with a control input of the video data compression unit, and the cockpit control unit may have a control output that is in signal communication with a control input of the video data recording unit,
• the video data compression unit second output may be in signal communication with at least one video display configured for mounting within the aircraft; and the cockpit control unit may be capable of controlling the recording and playback modes of the video compression unit and the video data recording unit so as to control recording of the video data from the video camera by the video data recording unit, so as to control display of the video playback data by the video display, or a combination thereof.
• a large number of recording/playback options may be possible, and that these options may be offered separately or in many combinations as so desired to fit given situations.
• the capability may be provided so that video playback data may be displayed during flight, simultaneous with recording of new video data from, for example, a video camera.
• a cockpit control unit may be configured to only have limited control of the system, for example, so that it cannot control or alter recording of video data during flight only, or so that it cannot control or alter video data recording at any other time.
• a system may be configured so that playback is only possible via a password code entered into a cockpit control unit (e.g., a password known only by the pilot and/or ground personnel).
• a system may be configured so that playback is only possible via playback on the ground, for example, using such a password or alternatively via playback from the system components directly to ground equipment without interface with a cockpit control unit.
• ground playback may be possible in combination with the ability to playback video data using a cockpit control unit.
• a method of recording raw video data onto a catastrophic event-survivable video recording unit, including: compressing the raw video data to form compressed digital video data; converting the compressed digital video data to a compressed video data signal that is suitable for recording by a video data recording unit; and recording the data on a video data recording unit in catastrophic event-survivable form.
• the raw video data may include analog video data generated by at least one video camera; the compressing may further include converting the analog video data to the compressed digital video data.
• the compressed digital video data may have a serial data and clock stream generated at a rate of from about 250 Kbps to about 500 Kbps; the raw video data generation, compression and recording may occur on an aircraft; and the video data recording unit may be a conventional flight data recording unit capable of saving at least about 30 minutes of compressed digital video data recorded prior to a catastrophic event.
• FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic of a catastrophic event-survivable video recording system installed on an aircraft according to one embodiment of the disclosed method and apparatus.
• FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a catastrophic event-survivable video data recording system according to one embodiment of the disclosed method and apparatus.
• FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic of a catastrophic event-survivable video recording system installed on an aircraft and corresponding to the block diagram embodiment of FIG. 2. DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
• the disclosed method and apparatus may be used to provide crash-survivable and catastrophic incident-survivable video recording systems for use in any application in which a survivable video record of an accident or catastrophic incident is desired.
• "catastrophic event-survivable” and “catastrophic event-survivable form” include any device and/or recording media capable of surviving, for example, heat, pressure and/or shock associated with vehicle collisions (e.g., aircraft, trains, busses, helicopters, hydroplanes, automobiles, trams, subways, spacecraft, etc.), explosions and fires (e.g., explosions that are impact-induced, and/or that result from explosives, natural gas, gasoline, flammable chemicals, etc.), and/or water damage when exposed to or submerged under water for long periods of time.
• vehicle collisions e.g., aircraft, trains, busses, helicopters, hydroplanes, automobiles, trams, subways, spacecraft, etc.
• explosions and fires e.g., explosion
• RTCA/DO-160C as well as RTCA7DO-178B standard software development procedures, standardized markings, adequate documentation, etc.
• commercially available flight data recording and cockpit voice recording systems may be built to withstand the following conditions: 3400 G shocks, a 500-pound lance dropped from 10 feet, 5000 pounds of crushing force for five minutes, 2000°F flames for thirty minutes, 500°F flames for ten hours, and a thirty-day submersion in 20,000 feet of sea water.
• crash or catastrophic incident survivable records may be made of facility or equipment failure, as well as operator action and/or instrumentation at the time of a catastrophic event or crash.
• the disclosed catastrophic event- survivable video recording methods and systems may be employed to gather research data, such as for monitoring of natural events like volcanic eruptions, failure testing, fire testing, etc.
• Examples of just a few of the applications that the disclosed catastrophic event- survivable video data recorder systems may be employed to monitor include, but are not limited to, aircraft (e.g., exterior fuselage and control surfaces, interior passenger cabin and cockpit monitoring, baggage compartment, cargo hold, flight deck instruments, view of weather and runway conditions, etc.), railroad (e.g., exterior engine and railroad car views, interior passenger cabin, cargo hold, baggage compartment, cockpit view including instruments, forward facing view of track and crossing gate condition, etc.), chemical/nuclear/petroleum facilities (e.g., exterior view of process equipment, interior view of control room, etc.), ship monitoring (exterior view of water and weather conditions, interior views of bridge instrumentation, cargo hold, baggage compartment, etc.), submarines (interior views of cabins, engine rooms, control room and/or instrumentation, etc.)
• the disclosed systems may be employed on existing or new commercial aircraft available from manufacturers such as Boeing, McDonnell-Douglas and Airbus.
• Such aircraft include, but are not limited to, Boeing 707, Boeing 717, Boeing 727, Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Boeing 767, Boeing 777, DC-9, DC-10, MD-80, MD-11, Airbus 300, Airbus 310, Airbus 330, Airbus 340, etc.
• FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the disclosed catastrophic event-survivable video data recording system installed on an aircraft and including commercially available components that are in signal communication with each other.
• in signal communication it is meant that components may be electrically connected, coupled, or otherwise configured to send and receive signals including, but not limited to, electrical signals, radio signals, optical signals, ultrasonic signals, etc.
• video data recorder 22 may be a commercially available flight data recorder with a memory of from about 2MB to about 64MB although video data recorder memory may be greater or less than this range. In one case, such a memory range will typically allow recording of from about one minute to about thirty minutes of video data recorder prior to a catastrophic event.
• Such a recorder is a "FA-2100", available from L3 Communications Corporation, having a sufficient amount of memory (64MB) to allow up to about 30 minutes of compressed video data to be stored at a constant rate of 256 Kbps, although it will be understood with benefit of this disclosure that greater and lesser rates are also possible, such as when employing other equipment combinations. For example, in many cases it may be desirable to utilize commercially available equipment having the fastest processing speed and largest memory capacity that are available at a given time.
• data compression unit 20 converts analog video data output signal 18 to digital video output signal 21, which is transmitted to video data recorder 22, where it is recorded in crash-survivable form.
• a suitable data compression unit 20 may be a device only capable of compressing data for recording
• a suitable data compression unit 20 may also be a video data encoder/decoder such as an Aydin "VCE/D- 800," which contains both an encoder for compressing video, and a decoder which expands and reconstitutes the original video.
• Aydin "VCE/D-800” electrical jumpers may be used to configure the device for either function.
• data compression unit 20 may also be a device capable of accepting digital video signals, such as from a digital video camera or other source, or from an analog-to-digital data conversion unit placed intermediate between an analog video source and data compression unit 20.
• power supply 24 which powers the various selected components in the system.
• conventional aircraft power supply may be employed (typically about 28 volts DC), although other forms of power supply may be employed, including other voltage and/or frequencies of AC power, as well as DC power supplies (including batteries).
• loss of this power may be a "predetermined accident parameter" selected to terminate accident recording as described elsewhere herein.
• FIG. 1 also illustrates optional components which may be employed in addition to video camera 10, video compression unit 20 and video data recorder 22.
• video processing unit 23 may be configured to allow an aircraft pilot to switch compression unit 20
• video encoder/decoder e.g., video encoder/decoder
• video data recorder 22 from record to playback, e.g., when the pilot wants to carefully and repeatedly review video of some event, such as a near-midair collision, and/or enable a pilot to stop video data recording, so that such a recorded incident is preserved and not overwritten.
• technicians on the ground may also plug in a monitor and use this playback feature to repeatedly view stored video data.
• video processing unit 23 may be coupled to cockpit control unit 28 via control signal communication path 26 so as to allow control of video monitoring and recording functions from the cockpit.
• a system may be configured so that live or playback video data is viewable on existing instrument panel CRT's.
• cockpit control unit 28 may allow a live video output signal from video camera 10 to be directed to an aircraft in-flight entertainment system via video output signal 30 for display by video monitor/s 32 positioned in the passenger cabin of aircraft 16.
• Other optional equipment includes video data interface 11 (shown and discussed in relation to FIG.
• video data recording system components 20, 22 and 23 may be located in an aft section of aircraft 16 in a manner and location commonly employed for location of conventional flight data recording systems. However, it will be understood with benefit of this disclosure that one or more of these components may be located in alternative positions within an aircraft fuselage that allow interconnection between system components.
• FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment having a single video camera 10 mounted on vertical tail fin 14 of aircraft 16, it will be understood for the benefit of this disclosure that various alternative camera locations, as well as combinations of locations may be provided.
• cameras may be located at virtually any position within the interior or exterior of an aircraft fuselage or other component, and may be used to view the status of interior and/or exterior parts of an aircraft.
• Just a few of the many possible exterior locations for one or more video cameras include, but are not limited to, positioning on exterior surfaces of an aircraft fuselage at substantially any point around the circumference of the fuselage (e.g., in forward, middle or aft position/s), substantially any position on wings or vertical and/or horizontal stabilizers, engine components, nose gear or main gear assemblies, etc.
• FIG. 1 illustrates an example installation in an aircraft, the disclosed systems and methods may be deployed to monitor other types of vehicles, facilities and for other purposes, as described elsewhere herein.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a simplified block diagram of one embodiment of the disclosed crash-survivable video data recording system.
• video camera 10 supplies analog video data 18 to video compression unit 20 (in this case a video encoder/decoder unit).
• Video camera 10 may be any video camera suitable for use in the environment of the desired application, interior or exterior. Camera types may range from relatively simple home video cameras (available from manufacturers such as Sony of Japan) to sophisticated aviation equipment having, for example, fish-eye lenses, lenses to which water does not adhere, and/or automatic night vision capability to allow operation in all lighting conditions. Cameras or camera housings may be shaped to conform to aircraft exterior shapes, such as the leading edge of a vertical stabilizer.
• suitable video cameras include, but are not limited to, FlightVu "FV0300” color external aerospace camera and “FV0200” color internal aerospace camera available from DM Aerospace of Reston, Virginia; and "AVS420-ZX" interior camera available from Aerial
• the "AVS420-ZX" camera may be mounted, for example, in a forward-facing direction on an aircraft dashboard for an outside view.
• video compression unit 20 receives analog video data 18 from video camera 10 and outputs this data as compressed digital video data stream 21 suitable for input and recording by video data recorder 22.
• any suitable combination of video compression equipment 20 with video data recording equipment 22 may be employed.
• a commercially available video encoder/decoder unit may be employed to convert analog video signal 18 to a compressed digital video signal 21 for recording by a commercially available video flight data recorder 22. Using such a combination, advantageously reduces equipment costs and weight of crash-survivable video data recording system.
• Any video compression factor suitable for generating a record of sufficient length and clarity for a desired purpose may be employed. Table 1 lists a few exemplary combinations of video compression factors and frame rates for 200 MB capacity memory. For gathering the data of Table 1, a "DC30 Plus" video compressor available from miro Video of Palo Alto, California, was used.
• SCSI Small Computer System Interface
• suitable commercially available video compression units include, but are not limited to, video compression units available from manufacturers such as Aydin Telemetry of Newtown, Pennsylvania; L3 Communications Corporation of Sarasota, Florida; Image Manipulation Systems of Andover, Minnesota.
• suitable commercially available flight data recorders include flight data recording equipment available from manufacturers such as L3 Communications Corporation of Sarasota, Florida; D & D Instruments and Avionics of Valley Center, Kansas; British Aerospace Systems and Equipment of Fort Worth, Texas; DM Aerospace of the United Kingdom; Penny and Giles Data Recorders of Santa Monica, California; SFIM, Inc. of Grand Prairie, Texas; Smiths Industries of Grand Rapids, Michigan, etc.
• video data interface 11 which represents software and/or hardware modification of the bandwidth or other characteristics of compressed digital video data 21 that is output from video compression unit 20, to a signal 17 of the form that may be recorded by video data recording unit 22.
• video data interface 11 may be necessary with certain equipment combinations.
• video data interface 11 may be employed wherever necessary or desirable to modify the signal and/or data characteristics of compressed digital video data 21 to render it suitable for recording by a video data recording unit 22.
• a video interface unit 11 may be performed by, for example, a processor internal to one or more of the other components of a system, such as a processor integral to, or contained within, video recording unit 22, that has been programmed to perform the necessary modification to data stream 21.
• compressed digital video data 21 may be fed directly from compression unit 20 to recording unit 22 and playback signal 19 (when a playback feature is present) fed directly from recording unit 22 to compression unit 20 (which may be optionally configured with a playback mode to decompress recorded digital video data and convert it to analog playback video data, as described further herein).
• playback signal 19 when a playback feature is present
• compression unit 20 which may be optionally configured with a playback mode to decompress recorded digital video data and convert it to analog playback video data, as described further herein.
• Aydin "VCE/D-800" video compression unit is combined with a L3 Communications Corporation "FA-2100" data recorder
• a software modification may be made to allow the processor in the "FA-2100" to run at its native 250 Kbps speed, rather than the software-modified slower processing speed it is manufactured with.
• This modification allows direct video data communication between compression unit 20 and recording unit 22, without need for separate data interface 11.
• the slower processor speed is conventionally employed in commercially available "FA-2100
• a video data compression unit may produce an output having a serial data and clock stream of from about 31.25 K bits/second to about 2000 K bits/second, while a video data recording unit may have an input serial data and clock stream requirement of from about 19 K bits/second to about 256 K bits/second.
• processors, microprocessor, computer, minicomputer, etc. suitable for modifying characteristics (e.g., bandwidth, frame format, etc.) of digital data may be employed in combination with suitable programming to perform the function of a video data interface.
• video data recording unit 22 may also be configured for optional playback of video data 19, for example, during normal flight operations or for retrieval of data following a catastrophic event. If necessary, playback data
• video interface 11 may be processed by video interface 11 to produce a modified playback signal 15 suitable for processing by video compression unit 20, which may also be optionally configured with a playback mode to decompress recorded digital video data and convert it to analog playback video data 13 and/or 8 suitable for display or recording by conventional video recording equipment 42 and/or conventional video monitor equipment 40.
• video processing unit 23 (as described and illustrated in relation to FIG. 1), may be provided to switch video processing unit 20 and video data recording unit 22 from record to playback, modes and vice-versa.
• signal paths 8 and 13 are illustrated in FIG. 2 as separate signal path outputs from video compression unit 20 , it will be understood that a single analog playback video data signal may be output from video compression unit
• a system may include a combination of digital and analog video data components, or may include all digital components, as so desired for a given situation.
• a commercially available video encoder/decoder unit having a constant data rate such as an Aydin Telemetry "VCE/D-800" video encoder/decoder, may be employed to process analog video signal from a DM Aerospace video camera mounted on the upper leading edge of a vertical stabilizer, such as is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3.
• An Aydin Telemetry "VCE/D-800" encoder/decoder produces a digital video data output signal having a serial data and clock stream constant data rate of from about 31.25 Kbps bits/second to about 2 Mbps.
• a "VJ3100" JPEG Compression Card available from Image Manipulation Systems may be employed.
• a model "FA2100” solid state cockpit voice recorder available from L3 Communications Corporation may be configured in signal communication with the Aydin Telemetry "VCE/D-800" video encoder/decoder to allow recording and optional playback of recorded video signals.
• the "FA2100” may accept the compressor's non-return to zero (“NRZ”) data via a synchronous 256 Kbps input (using data interface modification previously described).
• the "VCE/D-800” produces acceptable video record when adjusted to 256 Kbps (specification limits: 31.25 to 2000 Kbps), and the "FA2100” continuously accepts data at 256 Kbps.
• multiple playback speeds may be provided as shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment 256 Kbps and 350 Kbps, and alternatively 256 Kbps and 512
• power converter 27 is employed to convert aircraft power supply 24 (150 volts AC, 400 Hz) to 28 volt DC voltage 25.
• Other optional equipment illustrated in FIG. 2 include optional video tape recording unit 42 and optional NTSC video monitor 40.
• optional video recorder 42 may be employed to replicate recordings for the media while optional video monitor 40 may be used to instant-replay incidents for the pilot.
• the National Transportation Safety Board may use video recorder 42 to provide a standard VHS cassette video tape to the media for an accident investigation news release.
• optional recorder 42 may be a separate component that is connected to the system on the ground.
• the pilot may use video monitor 40 to view an instant replay of an incident in the cockpit.
• additional components may be provided including, but not limited to, additional monitors, cameras, video recorders, and video data recorders, etc.
• multiple cameras may be provided with a manual or automatic switching unit for selectably directing the feed from two or more individual camera units into video data recorder 22.
• the feed from multiple video cameras 10 may be simultaneously recorded, and/or where increased recording bandwidth is available, it may be employed to record clearer pictures with less compression.
• video compression units and flight data recorder units are possible.
• constant data rate and/or maximum compression capability may be desirable; however, video compression units that produce variable data rates may also be paired with flight data recorders in the practice of the disclosed method and apparatus.
• a "VJ-3100" video compressor available from Image Manipulation Systems of Andover, Minnesota, may be employed.
• a processor such as a “VME2604 Power PC” processor from Motorola may be employed to act as video data interface 11 between the "VJ-3100" unit and a flight data recorder, such as a "FA2100 SOLID STATE COCKPIT VOICE RECORDER” available from L3 Communications Corporation.
• a single chip computer such as a "VME2604 Power PC” processor from Motorola.
• PC plug-in CPU cards may be employed as video interfaces with a variety of video compressors, including JPEG video compressors. Just one of many examples of CPU cards is "SBC-554" available from Aaeon of Hazlet, New Jersey.
• examples of other types of suitable video compressors include, but are not limited to, "VISCOUNT' available from Prima Graphics of Litlington, England "MULTI-FUNCTION VIDEO BOARD” available from RGB Spectrum of Alameda, California, “TARGA” available from Pinnacle Systems of Phoenix, Arizona.
• flight data recorders include, but are not limited to, a 72 Mbyte, 4Mbps "Model 3253” Voice and Data Recorder (“VADR”) available from Smiths Industries Aerospace of Grand Rapids, Michigan; a "253-E1568-00” available from L3 Communications; a 36 MB Cockpit Voice Recorder (“CVR”) that accepts up to four 3 KHz analog signals from Allied Signal of Phoenix, Arizona; a Quick Access Recorder (“QAR”) from Penny & Giles, etc.
• VADR Model 3253
• CVR Cockpit Voice Recorder
• QAR Quick Access Recorder
• FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the disclosed catastrophic event-survivable video data recording system installed on an aircraft and corresponding to the embodiment of FIG. 2.
• this embodiment may include commercially available components that are in signal communication with each other.
• commercially available video camera 10 is mounted in vertical fin camera assembly 12 which is installed on vertical fin 14 of aircraft 16.
• video camera 10 supplies analog video data 18 to video compression unit 20 (in this case a video encoder/decoder unit).
• Video compression unit 20 receives analog video data 18 from video camera 10 and outputs this data as compressed digital video data stream 21 suitable for input and recording by video data recorder 22.
• any suitable combination of video compression equipment 20 with video data recording equipment 22 may be employed, and in one embodiment, a commercially available video encoder/decoder unit may be employed to convert analog video signal 18 to a compressed digital video signal 21 for recording by a commercially available video flight data recorder 22. Also shown in FIG. 3 is optional video data interface 11 that modifies characteristics of compressed digital video data 21 that is output from video compression unit 20 to a signal 17 of the form that may be recorded by video data recording unit 22.
• Video data recording unit 22 of FIG. 3 is shown configured for playback of video data 19 in a manner as described elsewhere herein.
• Playback data 19 may be processed by video interface 11 to produce a modified playback signal 15 suitable for processing by video compression unit 20, which may also be optionally configured with a playback mode to decompress recorded digital video data and convert it to analog playback video data 8 suitable for display by conventional video monitor equipment 40.
• video compression unit 20 may also be optionally configured with a playback mode to decompress recorded digital video data and convert it to analog playback video data 8 suitable for display by conventional video monitor equipment 40.
• cockpit control unit 28 is shown coupled to video compression unit 20 and video data recording unit 22 via control signal communication path 26 so as to allow control of video monitoring and recording functions from the cockpit (via control of record and playback modes of video compression unit 20 and/or video data recording unit 22), for example, for purposes similar to those described in relation to FIG. 1.
• DC voltage 25 is provided by a suitable power supply and power converter, as described elsewhere herein.

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