WO2000051083A1 - Vehicles and/or ships onboard electronic device for obtaining information, particularly in case of crash - Google Patents

Vehicles and/or ships onboard electronic device for obtaining information, particularly in case of crash Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000051083A1
WO2000051083A1 PCT/IB2000/000200 IB0000200W WO0051083A1 WO 2000051083 A1 WO2000051083 A1 WO 2000051083A1 IB 0000200 W IB0000200 W IB 0000200W WO 0051083 A1 WO0051083 A1 WO 0051083A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
electronic device
memory element
information
crash
central unit
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2000/000200
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Roberto Cavallotti
Sauro Silvestrini
Original Assignee
Roberto Cavallotti
Sauro Silvestrini
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Roberto Cavallotti, Sauro Silvestrini filed Critical Roberto Cavallotti
Priority to AU26847/00A priority Critical patent/AU2684700A/en
Publication of WO2000051083A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000051083A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07C—TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
    • G07C5/00—Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
    • G07C5/08—Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
    • G07C5/0841—Registering performance data
    • G07C5/0875—Registering performance data using magnetic data carriers
    • G07C5/0891—Video recorder in combination with video camera

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns onboard electronic devices for vehicles and/or ships, aimed at obtaining information, in case of crash. These devices allow to obtain uncontestable proofs related to the crash course and, possibly to the events following it.
  • the object of the present invention is to propose an electronic device for vehicles and/or ships, aimed at obtaining information, particularly in case of crash, which allows to supply inconfutable proofs about the crash course, and about the moments immediately before as well as after the crash has occurred.
  • Another object of the present invention is to propose a device obtained by a simple, cheap, extremely functional and reliable technical solution, which ensures a continuous and actual recording of information during the vehicle and/or ship use.
  • an electronic device to be installed in vehicles and/or ships including a central unit interacting with at least one continuous memory element, which records video and numerical information, and with at least one video sensor aimed at obtaining images, with said central unit being activated and/or deactivated by the vehicle/ship ignition key, and deactivated by a collision sensor, which cooperates with a timer, with the collision sensor - timer combination being aimed ,at delaying the deactivation of said central unit, in case of crash, thus prolonging detection and recording of said video and numeric information for a predetermined period of time.
  • reference numeral Z indicates a digital microprocessor central unit interacting with at least one continuous cycle solid state digital memory element W, aimed at storing information obtained during the vehicle and/or ship, e.g. motorcar, use.
  • the continuous cycle memory elements W can be rewritten indefinitely. In fact, the information memorized therein is automatically overwritten when the capacity limit is reached, thus ensuring almost unlimited autonomy.
  • the device can obtain numeral data B (e.g. date, time, speed, acceleration, etc.) by a known connection with the central unit of the motorcar, on which it is installed.
  • numeral data B e.g. date, time, speed, acceleration, etc.
  • the device can obtain image information by video detectors A, preferably video cameras, suitably oriented, e.g. situated behind the car windshield.
  • the device is activated with the car ignition key C2 and obtains information, which is stored in the memory element W in a continuous and reliable way, until a crash occurs or the car stops .
  • a collision sensor Cl deactivates the central unit Z, thus making the memory element W stop detecting video and numerical information, while information stored previous to the crash are maintained.
  • the collision sensor Cl is connected to a timer T in order to delay the deactivation of the central unit Z, thus allowing to obtain and store information for some moments immediately after the crash.
  • the delay time can be adjusted according to the needs.
  • the car stops it is the ignition key that deactivates the central unit Z thus making the memory element W stop detecting the information.
  • suitable signal means E e.g. acoustic and/or optic, informs the car driver about the failure.
  • the device is equipped with a resetting button D, which resumes operation of the central unit Z, allowing the memory element W to detect again video and numeric information, while maintaining stored, or not, the information memorized before.
  • the proposed device allows to obtain information, particularly in case of crash, supplying uncontestable proofs concerning the course of the crash.
  • the proposed device can be situated either inside the driver and passenger compartment or outside, as it can be waterproof and/or fireproof.
  • the position of the device can be easily changed with respect to the vehicle and/or ship, according to different driver's needs.
  • the proposed device can be also equipped with a protected video output, accessible only for authorized persons, so as to avoid deceitful change of the stored obtained information.
  • digital solid state memory elements W which can be rewritten indefinitely (RAM, EEPROM, etc.) allows to store information in a particularly reliable and continuous way, with high fidelity.
  • the data stored in the memory elements W are instantaneously transferred to the additional memory elements Wl , so as to ensure the storing of all the information about the crash causes .
  • RAM and FLASH continuous memory elements

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Traffic Control Systems (AREA)
  • Road Signs Or Road Markings (AREA)
  • Time Recorders, Dirve Recorders, Access Control (AREA)

Abstract

In an electronic device, installed on vehicles and/or ships for obtaining information, particularly in case of crash, a central unit (Z) interacts with a continuous memory element (W), aimed at recording video and numerical information, and with a video sensor (A), aimed at taking images.

Description

VEHICLES AND/OR SHIPS ONBOARD ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR OBTAINING INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY IN CASE OF CRASH
Technical field of the invention
The present invention concerns onboard electronic devices for vehicles and/or ships, aimed at obtaining information, in case of crash. These devices allow to obtain uncontestable proofs related to the crash course and, possibly to the events following it.
Description of the Prior art
It is known that people involved in a crash can contest the statement of the course of the crash on the ground of merely subjective motivations, often non based on actual facts .
Also filling in of the so-called amicable agreement form, usually provided by insurance companies, can cause disagreement about those facts of the event, which can be freely interpreted by the involved parties . The difficulty in establishing unequivocally the real course of the crash causes considerable slow down of insurance negotiations and on-the-spot assessment, which results in delayed payments .
There have been proposed devices and apparatuses installed on vehicles for obtaining and storing information and images related to the vehicle drive, so as to reconstruct what actually happened in case of crash: see the documents 095/28783 and CH 674426.
These devices are extremely complicated, their memories are very expensive and not very efficient. Moreover, in case of crash, these devices stop detecting and storing information and images too suddenly, thus making it impossible to obtain information about the moments immediately after the crash, which is very important in case of litigation.
Objects of the invention
The object of the present invention is to propose an electronic device for vehicles and/or ships, aimed at obtaining information, particularly in case of crash, which allows to supply inconfutable proofs about the crash course, and about the moments immediately before as well as after the crash has occurred.
Another object of the present invention is to propose a device obtained by a simple, cheap, extremely functional and reliable technical solution, which ensures a continuous and actual recording of information during the vehicle and/or ship use.
Summary of the invention
The above mentioned objects are obtained in accordance with the contents of the claims, by an electronic device to be installed in vehicles and/or ships, including a central unit interacting with at least one continuous memory element, which records video and numerical information, and with at least one video sensor aimed at obtaining images, with said central unit being activated and/or deactivated by the vehicle/ship ignition key, and deactivated by a collision sensor, which cooperates with a timer, with the collision sensor - timer combination being aimed ,at delaying the deactivation of said central unit, in case of crash, thus prolonging detection and recording of said video and numeric information for a predetermined period of time.
Brief description of the drawings
The characteristic features of the proposed invention will be pointed out in the following description of a preferred, but not the only, embodiment, with reference to the enclosed drawing, which shows a basic operational diagram of the proposed electronic device.
Best modes of carrying out the invention
With reference to the enclosed figure, reference numeral Z indicates a digital microprocessor central unit interacting with at least one continuous cycle solid state digital memory element W, aimed at storing information obtained during the vehicle and/or ship, e.g. motorcar, use.
The continuous cycle memory elements W can be rewritten indefinitely. In fact, the information memorized therein is automatically overwritten when the capacity limit is reached, thus ensuring almost unlimited autonomy.
The device can obtain numeral data B (e.g. date, time, speed, acceleration, etc.) by a known connection with the central unit of the motorcar, on which it is installed.
Moreover, the device can obtain image information by video detectors A, preferably video cameras, suitably oriented, e.g. situated behind the car windshield.
The device is activated with the car ignition key C2 and obtains information, which is stored in the memory element W in a continuous and reliable way, until a crash occurs or the car stops .
When a crash occurs, a collision sensor Cl, e.g. of inertial type, deactivates the central unit Z, thus making the memory element W stop detecting video and numerical information, while information stored previous to the crash are maintained.
Advantageously, the collision sensor Cl is connected to a timer T in order to delay the deactivation of the central unit Z, thus allowing to obtain and store information for some moments immediately after the crash.
The delay time can be adjusted according to the needs.
In this way, it is possible to obtain a lot of information about the moments following the crash, which is extremely useful in case of litigation.
If the car stops, it is the ignition key that deactivates the central unit Z thus making the memory element W stop detecting the information.
If the central unit Z is deactivated accidentally, and consequently the information detection is inhibited, suitable signal means E, e.g. acoustic and/or optic, informs the car driver about the failure.
The device is equipped with a resetting button D, which resumes operation of the central unit Z, allowing the memory element W to detect again video and numeric information, while maintaining stored, or not, the information memorized before.
Therefore, the proposed device allows to obtain information, particularly in case of crash, supplying uncontestable proofs concerning the course of the crash.
The proposed device can be situated either inside the driver and passenger compartment or outside, as it can be waterproof and/or fireproof.
The position of the device can be easily changed with respect to the vehicle and/or ship, according to different driver's needs.
The proposed device can be also equipped with a protected video output, accessible only for authorized persons, so as to avoid deceitful change of the stored obtained information. The use of digital solid state memory elements W, which can be rewritten indefinitely (RAM, EEPROM, etc.) allows to store information in a particularly reliable and continuous way, with high fidelity.
In fact, the use of traditional magnetic tapes could cause some problems because they could be changed by vibrations of limited amplitude and variable frequency.
It is possible to join the above mentioned memory elements W to "FLASH" type additional memory elements Wl (indicated with the broken line in the Figure) . The "FLASH" type additional memory elements Wl are aimed at maintaining the information stored therein, also in case of lacking of power supply.
In case of crash, in phase relation with the deactivation of the central unit Z operated by the collision sensor Cl, the data stored in the memory elements W are instantaneously transferred to the additional memory elements Wl , so as to ensure the storing of all the information about the crash causes .
The use of the above mentioned continuous memory elements (RAM and FLASH) , which can be rewritten, allows to store data and images with short recording cycles, with extremely high efficiency and very cheaply (e.g. a configuration of three video cameras with one recording cycle of 20 seconds for each video camera, in total 60 seconds, needs only 4 Mb of RAM and as many of "FLASH" memory) .
Moreover, it is to be pointed out that the components of the electronic device for information detection are few and simple to manufacture, which is advantageous for production costs. The above mentioned advantages are obtained by a simple, extremely reliable and functional technical solution, which optimizes the consistency and time continuity with which the information detection and storing are performed. It is understood that what above has been described as a mere, not limitative example, therefore, possible modifications of some details, as well as changes of form and dimensions of described components, remain within the protective scope of the present invention, as claimed hereinafter.

Claims

1. A vehicles and/or ships onboard electronic device for obtaining information, particularly in case of crash, characterized in that it includes a central unit (Z) interacting with at least one continuous operation memory element (W) , aimed at recording video and numerical information, and with at least one video sensor (A) , aimed at taking images, with said central unit (Z) activated and/or deactivated with the ignition key (C2) of said vehicle and/or ship and deactivated by a collision sensor (Cl) cooperating with a timer (T) , the collision sensor (Cl) - timer (T) combination being aimed at delaying the deactivation of said central unit (Z) , in case of crash, thus prolonging obtaining and recording of said video and numeric information for a predetermined period of time.
2. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the said delay time can be adjusted.
3. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said memory element (W) is joined with at least one additional memory element (Wl) , to which said information stored in said memory element (W) is transferred in phase relation with the deactivation of said central unit (Z) .
4. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said memory element (W) is joined with at least one additional memory element (Wl) , the information stored in said memory element (W) being transferred to said memory element (W) in phase relation with the operation of said collision sensor (Cl) .
5. An electronic device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein said additional memory element (Wl) is aimed at storing information in case power supply is lacking.
6. An electronic device according to claim 1, including a resetting button (D) for resuming operation of said central unit (Z) , allowing to obtain information after a failure.
7. An electronic device according to claim 6, including at least one element (E) for signaling said failure.
8. An electronic device according to claim 7, wherein said signaling element (E) is an acoustic warning signal emitter.
9. An electronic device according to claim 7, wherein said signaling element (E) is a warning light emitter.
10. An electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said collision sensor (Cl) includes an inertial sensor.
PCT/IB2000/000200 1999-02-26 2000-02-24 Vehicles and/or ships onboard electronic device for obtaining information, particularly in case of crash WO2000051083A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU26847/00A AU2684700A (en) 1999-02-26 2000-02-24 Vehicles and/or ships onboard electronic device for obtaining information, particularly in case of crash

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITBO99A000084 1999-02-26
IT1999BO000084A ITBO990084A1 (en) 1999-02-26 1999-02-26 ELECTRONIC DEVICE TO INSTALL ON BOARD VEHICLES AND / OR VESSELS FOR THE DETECTION OF INFORMATION, PARTICULARLY IN THE EVENT OF A LEFT

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000051083A1 true WO2000051083A1 (en) 2000-08-31

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IT (1) ITBO990084A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2000051083A1 (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001031587A1 (en) * 1999-10-26 2001-05-03 Gauermann Joerg Traffic accident documentation system
WO2002048969A2 (en) * 2000-12-12 2002-06-20 N'oxid S.P.A. Electronic device to be installed aboard vehicles and/or boats, for obtaining information particularly useful in case of an accident
FR2823048A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2002-10-04 Claude Bendavid DEVICE FOR STORING A VISUAL SEQUENCE FOLLOWING THE SENDING OF AN ALARM SIGNAL ON BOARD A VEHICLE
FR2822992A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2002-10-04 Claude Bendavid Video sequence recording/memorising following vehicle shock signal having cameras recording vehicle scene and images memory temporarily stored and shock signal triggering freezing prior filmed time sequence

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0005532A1 (en) * 1978-05-19 1979-11-28 Raffaele Conte Apparatus mounted on a vehicle for recording of accidents
WO1988009023A1 (en) * 1987-05-08 1988-11-17 Viktor Szabo Accident data recorder
CH674426A5 (en) 1987-10-30 1990-05-31 Georges Joliat Continuous recording of driving history of transport vehicle - using two recorders to store captured data, one being erased while other records, and stops automatically on impact
GB2268608A (en) * 1992-06-10 1994-01-12 Norm Pacific Automat Corp Vehicle accident prevention and recording system
WO1995028783A1 (en) 1994-04-19 1995-10-26 Prima Facie, Inc. Method and apparatus for recording sensor data
WO1996000957A1 (en) * 1994-06-28 1996-01-11 Sistemi Per L'intelligenza Artificiale S.R.L. Method and device in particular for enabling the causes of an accident involving a vehicle to be verified by means of images of the environment within which the vehicle is in a moving or stationary state
WO1999040545A1 (en) * 1998-02-09 1999-08-12 I-Witness, Inc. Sequential image storage system with pre-event history
EP0947963A1 (en) * 1998-04-03 1999-10-06 Marco Sarti Automatic recording system of events preceding and/or following a typical event in which a vehicle is involved

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0005532A1 (en) * 1978-05-19 1979-11-28 Raffaele Conte Apparatus mounted on a vehicle for recording of accidents
WO1988009023A1 (en) * 1987-05-08 1988-11-17 Viktor Szabo Accident data recorder
CH674426A5 (en) 1987-10-30 1990-05-31 Georges Joliat Continuous recording of driving history of transport vehicle - using two recorders to store captured data, one being erased while other records, and stops automatically on impact
GB2268608A (en) * 1992-06-10 1994-01-12 Norm Pacific Automat Corp Vehicle accident prevention and recording system
WO1995028783A1 (en) 1994-04-19 1995-10-26 Prima Facie, Inc. Method and apparatus for recording sensor data
WO1996000957A1 (en) * 1994-06-28 1996-01-11 Sistemi Per L'intelligenza Artificiale S.R.L. Method and device in particular for enabling the causes of an accident involving a vehicle to be verified by means of images of the environment within which the vehicle is in a moving or stationary state
WO1999040545A1 (en) * 1998-02-09 1999-08-12 I-Witness, Inc. Sequential image storage system with pre-event history
EP0947963A1 (en) * 1998-04-03 1999-10-06 Marco Sarti Automatic recording system of events preceding and/or following a typical event in which a vehicle is involved

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001031587A1 (en) * 1999-10-26 2001-05-03 Gauermann Joerg Traffic accident documentation system
WO2002048969A2 (en) * 2000-12-12 2002-06-20 N'oxid S.P.A. Electronic device to be installed aboard vehicles and/or boats, for obtaining information particularly useful in case of an accident
WO2002048969A3 (en) * 2000-12-12 2002-08-15 Oxid S P A N Electronic device to be installed aboard vehicles and/or boats, for obtaining information particularly useful in case of an accident
FR2823048A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2002-10-04 Claude Bendavid DEVICE FOR STORING A VISUAL SEQUENCE FOLLOWING THE SENDING OF AN ALARM SIGNAL ON BOARD A VEHICLE
FR2822992A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2002-10-04 Claude Bendavid Video sequence recording/memorising following vehicle shock signal having cameras recording vehicle scene and images memory temporarily stored and shock signal triggering freezing prior filmed time sequence
WO2002080115A1 (en) * 2001-03-30 2002-10-10 Claude Bendavid Device for storing a visual sequence in response to a warning signal on board a vehicle

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Publication number Publication date
ITBO990084A0 (en) 1999-02-26
AU2684700A (en) 2000-09-14
ITBO990084A1 (en) 2000-08-26

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