Hidden camera detection systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11423639-B2
Application number	US-202016945660-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2020
Priority date	Jul 31, 2020
Publication date	Aug 23, 2022
Grant date	Aug 23, 2022

Abstract

Hidden camera detection systems and methods are disclosed herein. An example method includes illuminating a surface with infrared light, obtaining an image of the surface using an infrared camera, and determining the presence of a hidden camera associated with the surface by determining a difference in spectral reflectance between how the infrared light is reflected off of the hidden camera as compared to how the infrared light is reflected off of the surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for detecting a hidden object in a vehicle, the method comprising:
illuminating a surface within the vehicle with infrared light;
obtaining an image of the surface using an infrared camera within the vehicle;
determining a first spectral reflectance based on infrared light reflected by the surface;
determining a second spectral reflectance based on infrared light reflected by the hidden object;
determining a difference in spectral reflectance between the first spectral reflectance and the second spectral reflectance, wherein the difference in spectral reflectance is created by elevation changes relative to the surface caused by the hidden object, and wherein the elevation changes comprise an elevational difference between the hidden object and the surface;
comparing the difference in spectral reflectance to a predetermined threshold value;
determining, based on the comparison of the difference in spectral reflectance to the predetermined threshold value, a presence of the hidden object; and
determining, based on the difference in spectral reflectance, that the hidden object is a camera with a lens having a heat absorbing mirror.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the hidden object further comprises a microphone.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the infrared light is reflected off of a filter material of the hidden object.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the filter material comprises a cut filter that is a hot mirror that reflects the infrared light to a greater degree than the surface to create the difference in spectral reflectance.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the filter material comprises a cut filter that is the heat absorbing mirror that absorbs the infrared light to a greater degree than the surface to create the difference in spectral reflectance.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising presenting a message that alerts a user when the hidden object is determined.

7. A device, comprising:
an infrared light source;
an infrared camera; and
a controller comprising a processor and memory, the processor executes instructions stored in memory to:
illuminate a surface using the infrared light source;
obtain an image of the surface using the infrared camera;
determine a first spectral reflectance based on infrared light reflected by the surface;
determine a second spectral reflectance based on infrared light reflected by a hidden camera;
determine a difference in spectral reflectance between the first spectral reflectance and the second spectral reflectance, wherein the difference in spectral reflectance is created by elevation changes relative to the surface caused by the hidden object, and wherein the elevation changes comprise an elevational difference between the hidden object and the surface;
compare the difference in spectral reflectance to a predetermined threshold value;
determine, based on the comparison of the difference in spectral reflectance to the predetermined threshold value, a presence of the hidden camera; and
determine, based on the difference in spectral reflectance, that the hidden object is a camera with a lens having a heat absorbing mirror.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the surface is within a vehicle cabin.

9. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the infrared light is reflected off of a filter material of the hidden camera.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the filter material comprises a cut filter that is a hot mirror that reflects the infrared light to a greater degree than the surface to create the difference in spectral reflectance.

11. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the filter material comprises a cut filter that is the heat absorbing mirror that absorbs the infrared light to a greater degree than the surface to create the difference in spectral reflectance.

12. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to present a message that alerts a user when the hidden camera is determined, the message being presented through an audio system of a human machine interface of a vehicle.

13. A vehicle, comprising:
an interior vehicle surface;
an infrared light source;
an infrared camera; and
a controller comprising a processor and memory, the processor executes instructions stored in memory to:
illuminate the interior vehicle surface with infrared light using the infrared light source;
obtain an image of the surface using the infrared camera; and
determine a first spectral reflectance based on infrared light reflected by the surface;
determine a second spectral reflectance based on infrared light reflected by a hidden camera associated with the interior vehicle surface;
determine a difference in spectral reflectance between the first spectral reflectance and the second spectral reflectance, wherein the difference in spectral reflectance is created by elevation changes relative to the surface caused by the hidden object, and wherein the elevation changes comprise an elevational difference between the hidden object and the surface;
compare the difference in spectral reflectance to a predetermined threshold value;
determine a presence of the hidden camera based on the comparison of the difference in spectral reflectance to the predetermined threshold value; and
determine, based on the difference in spectral reflectance, that the hidden camera comprises a lens having a heat absorbing mirror.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to present a message that alerts a user when the hidden camera is determined, the message being presented through an audio system of a human machine interface of a vehicle.

15. The vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein a filter material of the hidden camera comprises a cut filter that is a hot mirror that reflects the infrared light to a greater degree than the surface to create the difference in spectral reflectance.

16. The vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein a filter material of the hidden camera comprises the heat absorbing mirror that absorbs the infrared light to a greater degree than the surface to create the difference in spectral reflectance.

17. The vehicle according to claim 13 , wherein the surface is a low contrast surface having a dark pigmented surface or a matte finish and the hidden camera is disposed behind an aperture in the surface.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Parenti Robert
• Neubecker Cynthia

Classifications

• H04N23/20

  for generating image signals from infrared radiation only · CPC title

• G06V20/59

  inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions · CPC title

• H04N17/002 Primary

  for television cameras · CPC title

• G08B5/22

  using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission · CPC title

• G06V2201/05

  Recognition of patterns representing particular kinds of hidden objects, e.g. weapons, explosives, drugs · CPC title