GLOSSARY OF TERMS

AJUSTABLE BRACKET - Multi angle bracket that swivels (some 360 degrees) then locks in place for best viewing angle . Used on reversing cameras and rear view camera monitors.

AMP - Unit of electric current.

ANTI-GLARE CASE - Non-reflective outer casing used on many rear view system monitors that prevents bright glare bouncing off the windscreen.

ASPECT RATIO - The ratio of picture frame width to height in standard TV systems . 3 units high and 4 units wide.

AUDIO - Sound via microphone from reversing camera to monitor speaker. Not commonly used as extra distraction that is usually only road noise

AUTOMATIC HEATING - Some heavy duty cameras have automatic heating when the unit temperature drops to 10 degree's to counter frost and moisture clouding over the lens.

AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION - AA New Zealand a well trusted authority on road safety with over one million members has joined with Plunket , Consumer Magazine , St John and the Dog and Lemon Guide in a call for wider use of Rear View Cameras in NZ to combat the high rate of backover accidents ( worst in OECD ) from reversing vehicles.

AUTO-SHUTTER CAMERA - Heavy duty truck type camera that has a protection shield that closes when not in use . Good for tip trucks to prevent stone chips on reversing camera lense.

AUTO-SWITCHING MONITOR - Mirror mount monitor for cars that have a reversing camera (not rear view camera) that has a standby mode triggered by a wire connected to the reversing power(eg. reversing light or beeper) so it will not be displaying ' no signal ' while vehicle is in forward motion.

A.V.CHANNEL # - Number of Audio/Video channels availible on rear view camera monitors. Most reversing systems have more than one A.V. inputs that can be switched by button or often a trigger wire (connected to another switch e.g. side view camera activated via indicator).Some have up to 4 inputs that can be displayed on a split screen or individually.

BACKOVER ACCIDENT - Common term used to describe driveway accidents by reversing vehicles often with small children victims of their own family car backing over them usually due to poor visibility in the blind spot area.

BACKUP CAMERA - Another term popular in the U.S. that describes reversing cameras or rear view cameras.

BLIND SPOT - The area around a vehicle that can not be seen by the operator in the normal driving position either through the windows ,in mirrors or on reversing camera monitors.

BLUETOOTH - Handsfree cellular phone technology that allows drivers to use their phones more safely and is now the only legal way to use a phone on N.Z. roads . Some rear view camera monitors now have this integrated eliminating clutter of gadgets in cars.

BRIGHTNESS - Ajustment option on many reversing camera monitors to change picture brightness.

CABLE 4 PIN - Most common and reliable connector type specially used on rear view camera systems that screw together and are water resistant and often come with a rubber boot for added protection . The pins are 12v+ ,ground , video and audio . They are usually used on the heavy truck type rear view camera systems that the power is supplied from the monitor and saves running two cables . 4 pin conversion plugs are available that convert to RCA and DC .

CABLE R.C.A. - Common A.V. plug that is used to transmit the video signal from the reversing camera to the monitor .

CAMERA CASE - Outer casing of rear view camera . Usually made of aluminium coated to prevent corrosion . Now some rear view cameras are made of A.B.S. (ensure this is U.V. resistant).

CAMERON GULBRANSEN ACT 2007 - H.R.1216 Kids Transportation Safety Act brought in by George Bush relates to child safety in cars and put in several new conditions for new car makers one of which is the phasing in of rear view cameras on all new car by 2014 . The act was named after the son of a doctor who killed his child while backing in his driveway in a vehicle he had not chosen the optional reversing camera .

CCD IMAGE SENSOR - Charged Coupled Device image pickup sensor , better that the cheaper CMOS sensor , but larger and twice the cost.

C.E. MARK - Confirms the product has been tested and approved for electromagnetic compatibility.

CONDENSATION - Fogging of the reversing camera lense usually from moisture entering the camera case often from pressure washing . Quality rear view camera use nitrogen filled cases to prevent this and the corrosion that follows .

CONSUMER MAGAZINE - A popular publication that rates and compares products has joined with AA , Plunket , Dog and Lemon Guide and St John asking for wider use of rear view cameras to counter driveway accidents .

CONTRAST - Ajustment option availble on many reversing camera monitors to change contrast of picture to suit .

CMOS IMAGE SENSOR - Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor ( see CCD image sensor ) .

C.R.T. MONITOR - Old style monitor before TFT LCD monitors became the norm for rear view camera display .

D.I.N. SLOT - Standard car stereo slot . Double din are larger to allow for L.C.D. screens or reversing camera displays. 

DISTANCE LINES - Lines to mark distance from object that appear on rear view camera display . Used as an additional guide .

DOME CAMERA - Dome shaped camera that swivels in a socket to ajust angle . Vandal proof models are availible and usually used as low snag side view cameras or for passenger safety inside buses and prisoner transports .

DOG AND LEMON GUIDE - Popular car review magazine that has joined with AA , Plunket , Consumer magazine and St John calling for wider use of reversing cameras .

D.V.R. - Digital Video Recorders attached to vehicle cameras (e.g. cash transt vans) record images on to hard drive or S.D. card for later viewing . Can be used to prove guilt or innocence .

E MARK - Replaces earlier C.E. mark .

E.U. BLIND SPOT DIRECTIVE - New law in Europe for all vehicles over 3500kg requiring mirrors or cameras to see all around covering all blind spot areas . Some vehicles needing up to 3 monitors for rear view camera , side view camera and front view cameras to cover all angles .

FORWARD LOOKING CAMERA - Front view camera that is not mirror imaged like rear view cameras . Used for blindspots and height monitoring .

FLUSH MOUNT CAMERA - Rear view camera that sits flush in car bumper .

FUSE - Recommended to use with and auto electrical accessory to prevent fires started by short circuits .

G.P.S.- Global Positioning System . Navigation system commonly availible some come with option of integrated rear view camera display on screen .

HARDWIRED - Hardwired rear view camera systems where video signal is transmitted via cable . Superior quality to wireless reversing cameras with high interferance and distortion .

HORIZONTAL RESOLUTION - Maximum number of picture elements that can be distinguished in a single scanning line on a monitor . The more the better image .

INFRARED LED - LEDs mounted in the rear view camera housing that turn on via light sensor in low light that enable night vision .

INFRARED REMOTE - Remote control for monitor that transmits via I.R. waves to a sensor in the reversing camera screen.

ILLUMINATION DISTANCE - Range of infrared led low light illumination . Varies with size and number .

I.P.## INGRESS PROTECTION - Protection level of camera internals from dust(1st number) and liquids(2nd number). IP66 hose proof IP67 temporary submersion IP68 long term submersion and IP69 pressure washing.

L.C.D. MONITOR - Liquid Crystal Display panel flatter than C.R.T older models . Only TFT-LCD monitors suit rear view cameras .

L.E.D. BACKLIGHTING - Lighting of rear view camera buttons for night use .

L.E.D. - Light Emitting Diode.

LENS - The image sensor of the reversing camera .

LUX - A unit used to measure light .

MIRROR IMAGE - Reversed image from rear view camera that simulates as if viewed in rear view mirror.

MIRROR MONITOR - Rear view camera monitor that clips over or replaces existing rear view mirror . Popular as its the natural place to look and simplifies mounting .

N.T.S.C. - Nation Television Systems Committee . Colour encoding system .

O.E.M. - Original Equipment Manufacturer . Factory fit ,model specific , as opposed to universal fit .

OPERATING VOLTAGE - The D.C. voltage that the reversing camera system uses. Usually 12v standard car power is used for rear view cameras and monitors . For trucks and other vehicles that use 24v a inverter that reduces voltage to 12 can be used or better still some models of reversing camera systems feature 11 to 32v free operating voltage that can use any voltage in this range and provides the monitor and reversing camera 12volts .

O.S.D. - On Screen Display . Text that appears on reversing camera monitor (e.g. contrast , channel ,etc..) .

P.A.L. - Phase Alternating Line . Colour encoding system .

PIXELS - Picture points . The more the better picture .

PLUNKET - A non profit organisation that cares for children under 5 years joined with AA , Consumer Magazine , St John and the Dog and Lemon guide to call for wider use of rear view camera to prevent driveway backover accidents .

QUAD MONITOR - A rear view camera monitor that have 4 A/V channels that can be displayed on a split screen or individually often switched by trigger wires (e.g. rear view camera, 2 side view camera and a internal camera viewing load .).

RESOLUTION - Number of pixels used to display reversing camera image . Higher number , better picture .

REVERSING ALARM - A beeper used on large vehicles to warn persons nearby of a backing vehicle.

REAR VIEW CAMERA - A camera that has a reversed image as seen in rear view mirror that enhances vision in blind spot area . Rear view cameras are usually on at all times when used on large vehicles as opposed to reversing cameras.

REVERSING CAMERA - Same purpose as a rear view camera , but only on when reverse gear is activated .

REVERSING SENSORS - Sensors that sound an alarm in drivers area to warn of large objects approaching . Less effective than reversing cameras that show objects in detail ( hitching a trailer is just as hard with no camera).

REVERSING SPOTLIGHTS - Additional lighting to increase visibility at night . Only specially designed spotlights can be used for this purpose.

SAFEKIDS N.Z. - Non profit organisation promoting child safety.

SCREEN SIZE - The size of the reversing camera monitor screen is measured diagonally , usually in inches .

S.D. CARD - Small memory card used to store data (e.g. D.V.R memory , G.P.S. data.).

SHOCK RESISTANCE - Measured in units called 'G's .

SIDE VIEW CAMERA - A camera that activates with indicator to display non driver side preventing blind spot accidents (e.g. cutting cyclist off with truck.).

ST JOHN - Non profit organisation that provides health care and emergency 1st aid that has teamed up with AA , Plunket , Consumer Magazine  and the Dog and Lemon Guide to call for wider use of rear view cameras .

SUN VISOR - A shade that shield reversing camera and / or monitor from the sun .

TOUCH SCREEN - Touch sensitive rear view camera screen that is used to control monitor menu instead of buttons .

TRIGGER WIRE -  A wire connected to a positive power source (e.g. reversing light positive) that triggers the reversing monitor to turn on or switch to that A/V channel .

T.V. LINES - The number of horizontal lines used to create and image .

U.S.B. PORT - Plug for removable flash drive or computer to share data (e.g. D.V.R. images).

VIEW ANGLE CAMERA - The maximum angle of vision of a rear view camera .

VIEW ANGLE MONITOR -The angle that the rear view camera monitor faces the driver .

WIRELESS - Wireless rear view camera systems transmit the video signal via 2.4 ghz radio waves . This frequency is shared with cordless phones , security cameras , R.C. cars and many other signals . This causes channel swapping and interferance , which is unacceptable for a safety product . Many people purchase this product thinking installation is much simpler , however both the monitor and camera need power wires , running the video wire for a hardwired system is easy by comparison .