US 12,354,420 B2

Systems and methods for an automobile status recorder. Inventor Kennith Burks. Granted July 8, 2025.

This page is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Only the granted claims define the scope of the patent. Read the full text on Google Patents and consult a patent attorney before relying on any description here.

Timeline

August 14, 2020Priority date (provisional application 63/065,502)
June 3, 2021Application 17/338,101 filed
July 8, 2025Patent granted with 19 claims

19claims

3independent

5 yrspriority to grant

Cover of U.S. Patent 12,354,420 B2, the grant certificate — Grant certificate cover, U.S. Patent 12,354,420 B2.

What is claimed

There are three independent claims: a method (claim 1), a recorder (claim 14) and a computer-readable medium (claim 17). Claims 2 to 13, 15, 16, 18 and 19 depend on them and add detail.

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Independent claim Other claims depend on one of these.

In plain language

Cameras and microphones in the vehicle collect data. Camera data is used to work out where passengers are, and audio to work out what they are doing.
The system stores time-stamped statuses of the vehicle that can be retrieved by time range.
It detects a vehicle malfunction.
It correlates the malfunction with abnormal behavior of the driver's hand at the steering wheel.
It sends a notification with a live stream of status to a mobile device.

Every independent claim includes these elements, so the claims are specific. The claims as granted are the controlling text.

Where each claimed element lives in a car

Hover or tap an item to highlight its place on the diagram. Positions are illustrative.

Why the driver's hand matters

Each independent claim requires the system to correlate a vehicle malfunction with abnormal behavior of the driver's hand at the steering wheel. That is what separates the claimed method from a simple dash camera.

The clip is stock footage that illustrates the idea. It is not Carkenny footage.

Described, not claimed

The specification describes more than the claims cover. Descriptions can guide product design, but they are not the protected scope.

Time-stamped speed read from the vehicle bus and cross-checked against an image of the speedometer
Owner-set speed and geofence alerts
QR-code access to the record for shared vehicles
A cloud black-box style record
Use of the stored data as evidence, including in court

Questions

Does the patent prove my speed in court?

No. A patent protects an invention. Whether a record is accepted as evidence is for the court.

Is speed evidence claimed?

It is in the description rather than the claims. A different claim set would be needed to cover it, so ask counsel.

Can I license it?

We are open to licensing and partnership conversations with automakers and suppliers.

Discuss licensing Read the patent

Who it's for

Interior of a modern vehicle with a driver-facing camera

Automakers and suppliers

An owner-controlled event record that builds on the cameras and sensors already in the car.

See partner use cases

Insurers and fleets

Time-indexed records that make incident review faster and less disputed.

See how it helps

A driver checking a phone notification next to a parked car

Drivers and families

Peace of mind with your own settings. See real cases where vehicle data mattered.

Read the stories

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