EP1031947A2 - Im Auto montiertes Bildaufzeichnungssystem mit einer Anordnung zum Speichern von aufgenommenen Bildern - Google Patents

Im Auto montiertes Bildaufzeichnungssystem mit einer Anordnung zum Speichern von aufgenommenen Bildern Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1031947A2
EP1031947A2 EP20000103386 EP00103386A EP1031947A2 EP 1031947 A2 EP1031947 A2 EP 1031947A2 EP 20000103386 EP20000103386 EP 20000103386 EP 00103386 A EP00103386 A EP 00103386A EP 1031947 A2 EP1031947 A2 EP 1031947A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
car
image
engine
time
storage
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status 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 status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP20000103386
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1031947A3 (de
Inventor
Tamaki Ohashi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tuner Corp
Original Assignee
Tuner Corp
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 Tuner Corp filed Critical Tuner Corp
Publication of EP1031947A2 publication Critical patent/EP1031947A2/de
Publication of EP1031947A3 publication Critical patent/EP1031947A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/18—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength
    • G08B13/189—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems
    • G08B13/194—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems
    • G08B13/196—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems using television cameras
    • G08B13/19665—Details related to the storage of video surveillance data
    • G08B13/19671—Addition of non-video data, i.e. metadata, to video stream
    • G08B13/19673—Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
    • 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
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/18—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength
    • G08B13/189—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems
    • G08B13/194—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems
    • G08B13/196—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems using television cameras
    • G08B13/19634—Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/18—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength
    • G08B13/189—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems
    • G08B13/194—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems
    • G08B13/196—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems using television cameras
    • G08B13/19639—Details of the system layout
    • G08B13/19645—Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
    • G08B13/18—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength
    • G08B13/189—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems
    • G08B13/194—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems
    • G08B13/196—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems using television cameras
    • G08B13/19639—Details of the system layout
    • G08B13/19647—Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a car-mounted image recording system in which images of the view outside of the car are captured by image capture devices mounted outside of a driver's seat area, and recorded by a record device mounted in the car.
  • the car-mounted recording system relating to the present invention captures images of a movement of the driver's car by the image capture device, the images to be recorded by the record device as information source image, and the driver recognizes that all states of the driver's running or stopping the car are recorded by the system.
  • the car driver is aware of his safe driving, since the captured images include an image of the road surface in relationship with his car and other images of outside of the driver's car.
  • the captured images will be best able to be used for evidencing the running state of the driver's car at the moment and just before when an auto accident is caused, so that it is made clear why the accident is caused.
  • the car-mounted image recording system reminds the driver of that the practicing of safe driving is very important to him.
  • the legal controls will not be imposed on the car driver, as soon as he got the driver's license.
  • the car driver has any particular business, he will try to accelerate his car.
  • the traffic laws control the dangerous driving, the car driver's mental state is not restrained by the traffic laws. Since the traffic laws alone do not establish safe driving, it is no exaggeration to say that the traffic laws will not prevent the current increase in the auto accidents.
  • the increase in the auto accidents requires more strict traffic rules for preventing the auto accidents, but any strict traffic rules will not prevent the increase in the auto accidents, because the thinking of the car driver that he would like to speed up, overcomes the safe driving. Thus, there is no hope that the traffic laws alone should establish the decrease in the auto accidents.
  • the facts of evidence of the traffic accident will be attested, based on the position where a car was finally stopped, the directions in which objective cars lie, the damage state of the objective cars, or on wheel tracks left on the road surface and etc.
  • the cause of the auto accident will not be found. For example, even though a driver has driven a car safely, when he has an accident, he will have to explain his safe driving. However, his explanation only will be interpreted as his evasive answer, unless his safe driving is attested. Consequently, even if the driver who drove his car safely, it may be judged that the accident was caused from his car.
  • the system comprises: an image capture device for capturing the image of a view outside of and ahead of the car as image input information; a controller for controlling the image capture device such that the image capture device operates at the start of the engine and stops by detecting a stop signal from the engine, the controller having functions for inputting and outputting at least one of the data time, speed, acceleration and deceleration; and a record device for recording the output datum from the controller.
  • the image capture device in the system is mounted on a dashboard in the cabin of the car or in vicinity of the radiator grill outside of the cabin. Such the image capture device can capture only the image of view outside of and ahead of the car.
  • the image capture device according to the prior art could capture a partial image of the road surface on which the car is running.
  • the image capture device was designed so as to capture a general image of the view changing outside of the running car, whereby the relationship between the driver's car and other objects was made clear. Consequently, the system according to the prior art could not control the driver's mental state, because the system could not monitor the movement of the driver's car. For this reason, in most cases, the image capture device according to the prior art could not provide sufficient evidence for testifying the movement of the driver's car.
  • the image record device in the system according to the prior art had the function of starting its operation upon detecting the start signal from the engine, but stopping the operation upon detecting the stop signal from the engine.
  • the system according to the prior art will fail to provide the advantages thereof sufficiently. For example, when a driver stopped his car for getting foods or beverages from a convenience store or a hamburger shop, the driver stopped the engine in his car and disappeared from his car. Baggage in his car might be stolen. Thus, it will be considered that the system according to the prior art could not provide a record thereof.
  • a car-mounted image recording system includes image capture devices (hereinafter, cameras) mounted at the driver's car for capturing images of a partial body of the car, including the road surface, and a view outside of the car in relationship with the movement of the car. Furthermore, the car-mounted image recording system can always record the images captured during the time when the driver drives his car.
  • image capture devices hereinafter, cameras
  • the system according to the present invention enables the driver to examine the operating state of the cameras.
  • the driver knows that the cameras operate well, he - driving his car - will probably feel that the cameras will keep watch on his driving manner because of the fact that the cameras in the system according to the present invention can capture, in detail, images of a partial body of his car, including the road surface on the ground near the body of his car, the road surface ahead, back or at the side of his car, and the view outside of his car. Therefore, when the driver drives his car, he will recognize at any time that the cameras always watch his driving manner, and will be conscious of concentrating his attention on a correct and safe driving which does not cause him to make a mistake. It is apparent from the foregoing that the system according to the present invention always captures, and records images of the movement of the car, and controls the driver.
  • a most important subject of the present invention is to enable the driver to inspect if each of the cameras operates in the normal state at any time. The inspection has to be made repeatedly.
  • the car-mounted image recording system includes the function of displaying the images that were captured by the cameras.
  • the driver can check right and left around a crossroad and look back for putting the car into the garage. At the same time, the driver will be able to examine the operating state of the system, the cameras.
  • the system according to the present invention includes a display device which is mounted near or in front of the driver's seat in the car, so that the driver can easily examine the operating state of cameras.
  • the display device permits a function such that images of selected cameras are displayed or either of the images on a display is changed into the images of the selected cameras. For example, the driver can look at the images of the selected cameras on the display, or can change the images shown on the display at an instant by only touching an operation panel, e.g. before passing a crossroad.
  • the driver never fails to inspect the operating state of the cameras, while looking at images of the view around the crossroad, for his safety.
  • the driver can inevitably examine the operating state of the cameras in the system without deepening his awareness of the examination, while driving or using the car.
  • the system according to the present invention provides the function of facilitating the regular inspection greatly.
  • the car drivers always feel that the cameras watch their driving manner.
  • they concentrate their attention on the following of the traffic laws and the safe driving. This is quite important to decrease the number of traffic accidents.
  • the system is operable, so that the image capture devices can automatically continue to capture images for a fixed time after the engine was stopped.
  • system according to the present invention permits the operation that the image capture devices operate to capture the images for a predetermined time set by the driver after the engine stopped.
  • system according to the present invention permits the operation that the image capture device operates to capture images for a time even extending the predetermined time after the engine was stopped, when the driver sets the extension of the time on the operation panel.
  • the system according to the present invention permits operations such that the image capture devices operate to capture images during the interval when the engine runs, and to automatically capture images in succession after the engine stopped.
  • the system according to the present invention includes: image recorders for recording the images captured by the image capture devices; a timer which operates for the fixed time after the engine was stopped; and the operative device for generating a start signal for starting the capture and record of the images after the engine was started, and a stop signal for stopping the capture and record of the images in response to the stopping operation of the timer, so that the operation of the image recorders is controlled through the start and stop signals from the operative device.
  • the system according to the present invention enables the driver to stop the capture and record of the images, and to cancel the stopping of the capture and record of the images.
  • the system according to the present invention includes a time-setting device enabling the driver to set a desirable time, the time-setting device operating after the engine was stopped; and an operative device for outputting a start signal for starting the storage of the images at the time when the engine is started, while outputting a stop signal for stopping the storage of further images at the time when the time-setting device ends the operation, so that the operation of the recorders is controlled by the start and stop signals from the operative device.
  • the system according to the present invention enables the driver to extend the fixed time of the timer by setting a desirable time through the time-setting device, after the engine was stopped.
  • system according to the present invention includes a cancelling device to permit the store of the images in the recorders to be cancelled by the driver.
  • the above cancelling device can automatically cancel the stopped state of the store of images in the recorders in response to the start of the engine.
  • the car-mounted image recording system includes an image capture unit 1, an image storage operating unit 3, an image recording unit 4, a display unit 5, and a day/time information writing device 6.
  • the car-mounted image recording system according to the present invention is mounted to a car P, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3.
  • the car mounting the system according to present invention includes various kinds of car types, including large-sized, stock, compact, sub compact, and custom-made cars, and a passenger car P is only given in the drawings as an example.
  • a transversely elongated rectangular-shaped line P' having the contour of the car P is shown as projecting parallel rays right under the car P, which surrounds an area A indicated by cross oblique lines.
  • the area A shows a location just under the car P.
  • An area B indicated by unilaterally oblique lines outside of the line P' and surrounding the area A shows an area on the ground in the immediate vicinity of the car P.
  • the car P mounts an image capture unit 1 in the car mounted image recording system.
  • the image capture unit 1 comprises a plurality of CCD cameras of the kind used for devices such as a video camera, a digital electronic camera, and etc.
  • the image capture unit 1 includes: four road surface looking cameras 1a to 1d for each capturing images of a part of the body of the car P and of the road surface in relation with the movement of the car P, preferably, a road surface on the ground near to the body of the car; a front-looking camera 1e for capturing an image of a part of the body of the car P, of the road surface ahead of the car P and of the view outside of the car P: and a back-looking camera 1f for capturing an image of a part of the body of the car P, of the road surface back of the car P and of the view outside of the car P.
  • the road surface image capture cameras 1a, 1b are mounted looking downwardly and symmetrically at the flanks of the roof adjacent the side edges thereof on both sides of the top surface and at the distal end thereof in or at the car P.
  • the road surface-looking cameras 1a, 1b allow to capture images of a part of the body of the car P, and the road surface in the area on both sides of and close to the car P.
  • the road surface-looking cameras 1c, 1d are mounted looking downwardly and symmetrically at the flanks of the roof adjacent the side edges thereof on both sides of the top surface and at the proximal end thereof in or at the car P.
  • the road surface looking cameras 1c, 1d enable capturing images of a part of the body of the car P, and the road surface in the area on both sides of and close to the car P. Furthermore, the road surface looking cameras 1a and 1b, and 1c and 1d enable capturing images of the road surface in the area on both sides of and close to the body of the car P so as to in part overlap each other.
  • the road surface looking cameras are mounted at a high level of a body in or at the car, this enables capturing images of the road surface in the vicinity of the body of the car within a wide area thereof, including a partial view of the body of the car.
  • the front-looking camera 1e is mounted substantially midway between the ends of the ceiling near the distal end thereof in or at the car P and is directed to the area ahead of the driver thereof. It enables capturing an image of a front part of the body of the car P of the road surface extending ahead of the car and of the forward view from the car P.
  • the back-looking camera 1f is mounted substantially midway between the ends of the ceiling near the proximal end thereof in or at the car P and is directed to the area in back thereof. It enables capturing an image of a rear part of the rear body of the car P, of the road surface extending back of the car and of the backward view from the car P.
  • each of the cameras may perhaps be further clarified by considering certain specific cases.
  • the cameras enable capturing images of views outside of the car P, which include, for examples, the shoulder of a road, a guardrail, a traffic sign painted on the road, the outlook etc., in addition to a partial view of the body of the car P. Therefore, each of the cameras can capture the image of not only the relation between the car P and the road surface in the area on the ground near the car P but also the circumference around the car P.
  • the images which are captured by the cameras and are recorded provide for a beneficial contribution to the evidencing of the accident as a clear and fair material, because the detail information on the scene of the accident and the movement immediately before the accident of the car P would be recorded.
  • each of the cameras capture images is indicated by arrows, and the area of the road surface, in which the cameras can capture images, is denotes as D.
  • the V shaped area indicated by the arrows that diverge from each of the cameras is depicted as setting the angle of view at 60 degrees, but the camera angle is for purpose of illustration only and is not to be understood as limiting value.
  • the angle of view is effective from 50 to 85 degrees as considered from the apex at the respective camera mounted at its positions, from the conveniently simplified adjustment at the mounting, and from the elapse displacement of the cameras, as caused by vibration of the car P.
  • the angle of view necessary for the cameras can be set individually according to the circumference of the mounted positions thereof, because in the case where each of the cameras has a wide angle lens, the camera will provide a widespread image of many objects nearer it, or in the case where a camera has a telephoto lens, the camera will provide an image enlarging the objects remote from the camera.
  • the purpose of the car-mounted image recording system according to the present invention is firstly to capture the images of a part of the body of the car P and a part of the road surface in relation with the car P, thus illustrating the relation between the body of the car P and the objects outside thereof, including the road surface on the ground near the body of the car P and the road surfaces extending ahead of, back of or at both sides of the car P.
  • each of the cameras can capture the image of the part of the body etc. from the mounted position thereof.
  • the road surface looking cameras 1a, 1b may be mounted at side mirrors projecting from the side edges on both sides of the body of the car P, if they are only to capture the relation between a part of the body of the car P and the objects outside of the car P including the road surface on the ground near the body and the road surfaces extending forward, rearward or at both sides thereof.
  • the road surface looking cameras 1a to 1d may carry each a device for cleaning the lens at the front thereof, which is easily soiled, and additionally may be accommodated in a waterproof protective case that permits the capture direction of the camera to be adjusted. Therefore, even though soil is sputtered up against the car by an oncoming car or a car running side by side on a muddy road, not much of the sputtered soil will adhere to the cameras.
  • the road surface looking cameras are mounted at a high level in or at the body of the car, they can capture the images of a part of the body and of the road surface near the body detecting a relatively wide area.
  • the aforesaid number of 6 (six) cameras constituting the image capture unit 1 are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be understood as a limiting value. It should be understood that the number of the cameras varies in accordance with the condition existing, for example, with the form and size of the car. The installation of the cameras is required to capture images of the area around the body of the car completely without generating blind spots. Some areas may overlap. The number of the cameras is increased not only in accordance with the number of the positions where the cameras are mounted, but also in accordance with the cases where different types of cameras are mounted side by side.
  • respective cameras having different directivity may be mounted at the same position
  • respective cameras having different angles of view may be mounted at the same position
  • a camera for night may be mounted side by side with a camera for daytime
  • a stand-by camera may be mounted side by side with the active camera.
  • an image recording unit 4 records the images captured by the image capture unit 1.
  • the image recording unit 4 includes recorder 8 used each with a record medium such as a film, videotape, optical disc, magnetic disc, semiconductor memory, etc.
  • the recorders 8 are accommodated in a box disposed under a rear seat in the car P, because the rear seat is in minor danger of being damaged when the car P has an accident.
  • the recorders 8 are bunched in two groups as groups A and B.
  • the groups A and B comprise each six recorders 8a to 8f, 8a' to 8f' for recording the images captured by the cameras 1a to 1f, respectively.
  • the group "A" comprised of the recorders 8a to 8f is accommodated in a box which permits the record medium to be easily taken out and changed, and which is comparatively convenient to handle.
  • the group B comprised of the recorders 8a' to 8f' is accommodated in a protective box which has excellent mechanical strength resistant to damage and which has an airtight construction in a slightly depressurized state.
  • the image recording unit 4 starts recording or storing the images captured by the respective cameras, after the engine (re)started running.
  • the respective images after the restart are recorded from the point where the captured images before the restart have been stopped on the magnetic tape.
  • the recorders in the image recording unit 4 have each a plurality of magnetic tapes for recording or storing the images, i.e. the image recording unit 4 enables a function according to which the images captured by the image capture unit 1 as information are recorded endlessly, because when the first magnetic tapes end up in the recorders, the recorders can record the images on second tapes which have been activated slightly before the first magnetic tapes were ended.
  • the system according to the present invention can provide all materials necessary for investigating the reasons for the accident.
  • one group of the recorders in the image recording unit 4, i.e. the recorders 8a' to 8f', are accommodated in a protective box having excellent mechanical strength. Therefore, even if the car P was badly damaged or destroyed by fire after the accident, the images recorded or stored in the respective recorders 8a' to 8f' can be reproduced without being affected, and thereby the course of the accident will be cleared up.
  • the images captured by the image capture unit 1 or recorded by the image recording unit 4 are displayed on a display 10a or 10b in the display unit 5.
  • the display unit 5 includes a selection switch 9 and a synthetic adapter 11.
  • the display unit 5 is disposed at the position where it attracts the driver's attention, for example, at the dashboard in his car, because the purpose of the present invention is to enable the driver to examine the operating state of the system, of each of the cameras, so as to avoid that when he happens to have an accident, the cameras had failed to capture the images which had to be recorded, for reasons such as a directional shift of the cameras, lenses soiled from mud or rain, the snapping of a wire or the breakdown of a camera, and for the reason that the driver does not know the breakdown of the cameras.
  • the driver can examine the operating state of the system by checking right and left before passage of a crossroad intersection, or checking the back, when putting his car into a garage.
  • the display unit 5 disposed inside the car includes the function of testing the operation of the cameras.
  • the driver can look easily at the images of any cameras that are displayed on the displays 10a, 10b in the display unit 5, after having changed the images from the cameras instantaneously only by touching an operation panel, before passing a crossroad.
  • the driver can test the operation of the cameras at any time, while checking right and left so as to drive his car safely.
  • the selection switch 9 permits the function of selecting the images that are to be displayed on the displays 10a, 10b, from the images captured by the respective cameras.
  • a synthetic adapter 11 an image of the images captured by respective cameras, images of the television programs, and an image of the car navigation enter into a single screen.
  • the driver can check the circumference around his car so as to drive safely.
  • the driver can soon realize if a damage and breakage of the image capture device, a gap relative to the direction of capture, etc. has occurred, by examining the reflection by images in which the operating state of the image capture device is displayed at all times. Therefore, the driver can always cope with an unexpected accident; the system will obtain a high accuracy.
  • the driver will always concentrate his attention on the safe driving. He can examine the operating state of the respective cameras in an instant, because the displays in the display unit enable him to look at all the images captured by the plurality of cameras at the same time, which images were gathered into a single screen. Accordingly, the driver can check the circumference around his car for safe driving during the time when he drives. There is no need for providing additional devices for examining the respective cameras. The system will obtain a compact design, and a free installation inside the car.
  • the driver can change the images that will be displayed on the displays 10a, 10b, at will in an instant by only touching the operation panel, that is the selection switch 9 in the display unit 5 disposed at the position where for example, the dashboard lies in his car, so as to look at the images displayed on the displays 10a, 10b, so that the driver can drive his car safely, checking the circumference around his car.
  • the driver can look at any of the images which the respective cameras capture, the images captured by the cameras, the images of the television programs, or the image of navigation, enter into a single screen through a synthetic adapter 11, on the display 10a, 10b.
  • the cameras 1a, 1c in the image capture unit 1 shown in FIG. 4 are identical to the road surface looking cameras 1a, 1c mounted at the distal and proximal ends of the roof on the left side thereof at the car P, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the driver can look at the images displayed on the displays, which are captured by the cameras 1a, 1c, before his car will turn to the left.
  • the driver can check the road surface at the area near the body of the car P, for his safe driving, and thereby he can always examine and know whether the system operates normally to capture the images or if the system is broken.
  • the driver can check the operating state of all the cameras in the system at an instant, because when he selects the images which simultaneously enter into a single screen through the synthetic adapter 11, he can look at all the images which enter into the single screen on the displays 10a, 10b.
  • the driver can save his trouble of selecting the images captured by the cameras in the system separately, he can always check the operating state of all the cameras at a time, so as to drive his car safely and carefully.
  • the driver can check the operating state of the system while the car is stopped in front of, for example, his house, by looking at the images which have been already recorded by the recorders to be displayed by display 10a, 10b.
  • the car-mounted image recording system contains the day/time information writing device 6 shown in FIG 4.
  • the day/time information writing device 6 is adapted to writing date/time information on the time when the images were captured by the respective cameras in the image capture unit 1, on the images recorded by the respective recorders in the image recording unit 4. Thereby, after the driver had an accident, when any or all of the images recorded by the respective recorders in the recording unit 4 are selected by the selection switch 9 in the display unit 5, the day/time information is displayed on the display 10a, 10b in the display unit 5.
  • the images recorded by the respective recorder in the image recording unit 4 are reproduced to be displayed on the display in the display unit 5 at the different times, the images can be adjusted to the same time by selecting the images through the selection switch 9, based on the day/time information.
  • the images fit to the same scene captured by the respective cameras at the same time. Therefore, it can be said that the images captured by the respective cameras and recorded by the respective recorders will be beneficial for the driver to evidence his safe driving without fault.
  • FIG. 5 is a block diagram according to the first embodiment.
  • the image storage operating unit 3 permits a function by which the operation of the image recording unit 4 is maintained for the fixed time after the engine was stopped.
  • the image storage operating unit 3 includes: a running engine detection device 15 for detecting the start or stop of the running of the engine through for example, a tachometer used for the engine and having a drive circuit; a timer 16 adapted to operating for the fixed time, for example, 1 hour, in response to an engine stop signal "a" to be inputted from the engine running detection device 15; and an operative device 14 for generating an ON signal, i.e. an image storage starting signal, in response to an operating signal "b" to be inputted from the running engine detection device 15, while generating an OFF signal, i.e. an image storage stopping signal, in response to an operation end signal "c" to be inputted from the timer 16.
  • a running engine detection device 15 for detecting the start or stop of the running of the engine through for example, a tachometer used for the engine and having a drive circuit
  • the car-mounted image recording system is operable, as will be described below, so that after the engine was started with for example, an engine key, the operating signal "b" is firstly inputted to the operative device 14 from the running engine detection device 15 in response to the driving of the tachometer for the engine, thereby the ON signal is generated by the operative device 14, and the image capture unit 1 starts the operation of capturing the images of parts of the body of the car P, of the road surface and of views outside of the car P in relation with the movement of the car P, by the respective cameras, while the recorders 8a to 8f and 8a' to 8f' in the image recording unit 4 start the operation of recording or storing the images captured by the respective cameras in the image capture unit 1, in response to the ON signal inputted from the operative device 14.
  • the described embodiment also includes the date/time information writing device 6 disposed therein for writing the date/time information on the images captured by the respective cameras and recorded or stored in the recorders 8a to 8f and 8a' to 8f'.
  • the system according to the present invention is operable so that the image capture unit 1 continues to capture images, while the image recording unit 4 continues to record the captured images, during the engine running.
  • the system according to the present invention has the timer 16 for delaying the generation of the OFF signal from the operative device 14 by a fixed time, for example, 1 (one) hour in response to the engine stop signal "a" from the engine tachometer, when the running of the engine was stopped.
  • the system is operable, as described below, so that the timer 16 inputs the operation end signal "c" to the operative device 14 to cause the OFF signal to be generated from the operative device 14, only after the fixed time has elapsed, and then the image recording unit 4 stops recording or storing the captured images, in response to the OFF signal from the operative device 14.
  • the car-mounted image recording system is operable so that the image-recording unit 4 can continue to record the images captured by the image capture unit 1 for the fixed time, after the running of the engine was stopped.
  • the image capture unit 4 can capture images of the circumference around his car and can record and store the captured images.
  • the car-mounted image recording system will record or store images which capture the circumference where baggage from the car is stolen, where the body of the car is damaged, or where other cars collide with the car during parking.
  • the recording or storing state of the image-recording unit is indicated by a time chart, as shown in FIG. 6, I, wherein level H, and level L indicates the image-recording state, and the stopped state of the image-recording, respectively.
  • a modified embodiment permits the car-mounted image recording system to provide the function that the driver can set at will a predetermined time, or a free set time which is the period of time between the time when he stops the engine and the time when he will come back to the car P from the shopping, drinking and eating.
  • the image storage operating unit 3 again comprises the running engine detection device 15, the operative device 14, and further a time setting device 17 replacing the timer 16 which was shown in FIG. 5 with reference to the first embodiment.
  • the time setting device 17 includes a plurality of elements 18 operatively connected therewith for setting predetermined times and endless time (free set time), the elements enabling the setting of for example, 1(one) hour, 2(two) hours, 4(four) hours, 8(eight) hours, 16(sixteen) hours, 24 hours, and endless, respectively.
  • the elements 18 each may be provided as for example, panel switches in the operation panel. Thereby, the driver can select for example, 2(two) hours by touching a mark which is indicated as 2(two) on one of the panel switches provided in the operation panel in the system, so that the time setting device 17 records the selected time of 2 hours.
  • the time setting device 17 might be operatively connected with a speech recognition device. In this case, when the driver utters a vocal sound, for example, two hours, the time setting device 17 will operate.
  • the time setting device 17 enables the system to operate so that the image recording unit 4 can continue to record or store the captured images for two hours after the engine was stopped.
  • the time setting operation means a point in time when a driver sets a setting time of the time setting device 17 to a predetermined time, for example, two hours.
  • the operation signal "b" is inputted to the operative device 14 from the running engine detection device.
  • the time setting device 17 will input an operation stop signal c' to the operative device 14, as shown in FIG. 7.
  • the time setting device 17 inputs the operation end signal "c'" to the operative device 14 at the point in time, "image storage stopped", after the two hours elapsed, as indicated in FIG. 6, a time chart II.
  • the car-mounted image recording system is operable so that after the engine was stopped, when the driver set the switch-off time of the time setting device 17 to a predetermined time, for example, 2 hours, the image recording unit 4 will continues to record or store the captured images for 2 hours after the stop of the engine, and when the end signal c' is inputted to the operative device 14 from the time setting device 17 after the 2 hours elapsed, the image recording unit 4 will stop the operation.
  • the operation time for the image recording unit 4 after the stop of engine could be freely set.
  • the image recording unit 4 fails to perform the operation, after the engine was stopped, because the driver forgot to set a predetermined time by the element 18. For example, the driver thought that he would like to set the time of the time setting device 17 to 2 hours, after parking his car, but without thinking he forgot to do so when he parked his car.
  • the image storage operating unit 3 includes the timer 16 that was stated in the first embodiment, the time setting device 17 that was stated in the second embodiment, and a priority circuit 19, as shown in FIG. 8.
  • the priority circuit 19 operates to give priority to an operation end signal c' sent from the time setting signal over the operation end signal c sent form the timer 16 to permit the operation end signal c' to be inputted to the operative device 14 therefrom.
  • the time setting device When the driver selects a time, for example, 2(two) hours by one of the elements 18 operatively connected with the time setting device 17, before the engine is stopped, the time setting device will store the two hours' data of the element 18.
  • the priority circuit is provided between the timer 16 or the time setting device 17 and the operative device 14.
  • the priority circuit 19 operates so as to switch the circuit through from which the end signal "c" or "c'" is inputted, wherein the time setting device 17 takes priority over the timer 16.
  • the priority circuit 19 switches the circuit in response to a priority signal "d" inputted from the element 18.
  • the time setting device 17 has priority to the element that was finally selected by the driver.
  • the car-mounted image recording system is operable, after the engine was stopped, as described below.
  • stop signal "a” will be inputted to both the timer 16 and the time setting device 17 from the running engine detection device 15, whereby the timer 16 and the time setting device 17 start their operations.
  • the image recording unit 4 continues to perform the operation for the fixed time after the engine was stopped. Normally, after the fixed time elapsed, the image recording unit 4 would stop recording or storing the captured images. However, if the time selected by the element 18 was stored in the time setting device 17, the priority circuit 19 will give priority to the operation end signal c' from the time setting device 17 over the operation end signal "c" from the timer 16, whereby the operation end signal c' is inputted to the operative device 14 form the time setting device 17 through the priority circuit 19. Thus, the ON signal is sent from the operative device 14 to the image recording unit 4, so that the image recording unit 4 will continue to record the captured images.
  • the operation end signal "c" will be inputted to the operative device 14 from the timer 16 through the priority circuit 19, as any set time is not stored in the time setting device 17, whereby the OFF signal is generated from the operative device 14 so as to stop the operation of the image capture unit 1 and the image recording unit 4.
  • the image storage operating unit 3 operated so as to cause the ON signal to be generated from the operative device 14 in response to the operating signal "b" sent from the running engine detection device 15, while the OFF signal was generated from the operative device 14 in response to the operation end signal "c" from the timer device 16 or the operation end signal c' from the time setting device 17, whereby the image recording unit 4 was controlled. It now may happen that when a driver is driving his car, or when a driver is stopping for an instant his car without stopping the engine, he wants to stop the operation of the image recording unit 4 for a minute.
  • the problem pointed out hereinbefore is solved by an image storage operating unit 3 as illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 11.
  • the forced change-over switch 20a comprises a push-typed switch which enables the driver to change the ON, OFF states of the operation of the image recording unit 4 at every push.
  • the forced change-over switch 20a is connected with an arbitrary selection switch 20.
  • the arbitrary selection switch 20 operates to select either of: the opening state where the operative device 14 does not establish an electrical contact with the image recording unit 4, or the closing state where the operative device 14 establishes an electrical contact with the image recording unit 4, in response to the operation which the driver drives on ON or OFF of the forced change-over switch 20a.
  • the forced change-over switch 20a transmits a selection signal "e" to the arbitrary selection switch 20, so that the circuit between the operative device 14 and the image recording unit 4 is no longer caused to be conducting.
  • the ON signal will not be sent from the operative device 14 to the image recording unit 4. Thereby, the operation of the image recording unit 4 will be stopped.
  • the driver can cancel the stopped operation of the image recording unit 4, the beginning of which is indicated as a stopping operation in chart IV, by pushing the forced change-over switch 20a, as indicated as a returning operation therein.
  • the forced change-over switch 20a is pushed again during the stopped state of the image recording unit 4, the operative device 14 will establish an electrical contact with the image recording unit 4. Thereby, the operation of the image recording unit 4 will re-start.
  • the stopped state may be displayed by any device which provides a function for displaying it (not shown).
  • the driver stops the operation of the image recording unit 4, as indicated as a stopping operation therein. After he stops the engine, as indicated as an engine stop therein, he now restarts the engine. At that time, the image recording unit 4 will automatically start recording or storing images.
  • the arbitrary selection switch 20 is not limited to the construction of a push-type switch.
  • the selection signal "e" may be outputted through a speech recognition device, which can recognize the voice for changing the operation, so as to cause the arbitrary selection switch 20 to or not to establish electrical contact between the operative device 14 and the image recording unit 4.
  • the arbitrary selection switch 20 alone may recognize the speech so as to or not to establish electrical contact between the operative device 14 and the image recording unit 4.
  • the car-mounted image recording system will be able to provide the important materials in which the safe driving of the driver who had driven the car P will be testified, because the image capture unit 1 can capture the images of a part of the body of the car P, of the road surface and of the view outside of the car P in relation to the movement of the car P, in detail, for a fixed period time between the time when the engine in the car P is started and the time when the engine is stopped.
  • the system in which an image of the view outside of the car around it relative to the running direction was captured, the system could record images of other cars which had caused an accident and the circumference around a place where an accident had had been caused, but could not record the road surface on the ground near the body of the car in an instant before and just before the accident was caused.
  • Such the system will not be able to clear up the movement of the driver's car mounting the system, and to monitor the driving manner of the driver.
  • the system according to the present invention will be more beneficial.
  • the image capture unit can capture images of the running state of the driver's car, that is, a partial body of the driver's car, including the road surface and views outside of the car in relation to the movement of the car, and the image recording unit can automatically record or store the driving state in detail for a period of time between the time when the engine is started and the time when the engine is stopped and for a fixed time. Therefore, the system will provide most important material, the images of a partial body of the driver's car, including the road surface and the view outside of the car in relation to the movement of the car, that is considered so as to exactly give evidence of the movement of the driver's car, because the image recording unit in the system can reproduce the recorded or stored images of the material.
  • this invention is inevitable one, which promotes the safe driving. If it is generalized to mount the system according to the present invention on all cars, the accidents will be rapidly reduced not only in Japan, but also in all over the world.
  • the system in the case where a driver stops the engine of his car in a parking area to leave from the car for a minute, when baggage is stolen from the car, when a partial body of the car is damaged, or when the car has a minor collision or a collision with other cars, the system will provide the important material necessary for investigating the cause of the accident, because the image recording unit can record or store the images of the circumference, which are captured before and after the accidents.
  • the system has the advantage to enable setting at will a time for operating the image recording unit, after the engine was stopped.
  • the system has the advantage to enable automatically operating the image recording unit for a fixed time, after the engine was stopped, even if the manual control of the time setting device is failed.
  • the system provides the convenient functions of which the user can control at will the recording or storing of the images during the engine running.
  • the system has the advantage to prevent incorrect action, which might be caused by the stop device, because the state where the image recording unit was disactivated by the stop device is cancelled by re-starting the engine.
EP20000103386 1999-02-26 2000-02-24 Im Auto montiertes Bildaufzeichnungssystem mit einer Anordnung zum Speichern von aufgenommenen Bildern Withdrawn EP1031947A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

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JP9530299 1999-02-26
JP9530299 1999-02-26
JP2000064152 2000-02-03
JP2000064152A JP2000309288A (ja) 1999-02-26 2000-02-03 車載用画像記録システムにおける蓄画作動装置

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EP1031947A3 EP1031947A3 (de) 2002-10-09

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EP1418556A1 (de) * 2002-11-05 2004-05-12 Kia Motors Co., Ltd. System zum Lesen von Informationen über den Unfall eines Fahrzeuges mittels Telematiksystems
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JP2002321664A (ja) * 2000-12-20 2002-11-05 Tuner Kk 車載用画像記録システム
JP2006213071A (ja) * 2005-02-01 2006-08-17 Nippon Seiki Co Ltd 車両用監視装置
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