JP2001331896A - Vehicle accident information detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicle accident information detector capable of obtaining the cause of an accident. SOLUTION: The detecting velocity of an acceleration sensor 20 is taken (step 200) to judge whether this detection acceleration is equal to or higher than a prescribed value (step 210) and when the detection acceleration is equal to or higher than the prescribed value, the occurrence of the accident of a vehicle is judged. Next, when the occurrence of the accident of the vehicle is judged at the step 210, the update of a FIFO memory 110 is stopped (step 220). Since a cabin inside information signal SAD, a cabin outside information signal SBD, a velocity signal SCD, a brake signal SDD and a raining signal SED are inputted to the FIFO memory 110 then, the respective signals SAD to SED for a prescribed period retroactively from the occurrence of the accident. Thus information showing the cause of the accident can be obtained from the memory 110, thereby clarifies the cause of the accident.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle accident information detecting device for detecting vehicle accident information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-1240069, an acceleration sensor is mounted on a vehicle, and a vehicle accident is detected in accordance with the detection of the acceleration sensor. A system for reporting a situation after the occurrence has been proposed.

[0003]

However, in the above system, as described above, the situation after the occurrence of the vehicle accident, the time of the accident, and the accident site can be reported, but the situation before the occurrence of the accident is obtained. Can not get the cause of the accident.

[0004] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle accident information detecting device capable of obtaining an accident cause.

[0005]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, an accident detecting means (2) mounted on a vehicle and detecting occurrence of a vehicle accident is provided.
0, 21, 200, 201 to 203, 210) and information detecting means (40 to 40) mounted on the vehicle and starting to detect at least one of vehicle information inside and around the vehicle prior to detection by the accident detecting means. 80) and first storage means (110) mounted on the vehicle and storing vehicle information.
And, mounted on the vehicle, according to the detection of the accident detection means,
Storage control means (22) for controlling the first storage means so as to store the vehicle information of the information detection means as the cause of the vehicle accident;
0).

Thus, the storage control means can store the vehicle information of the information detection means in the first storage means as information indicating the cause of the vehicle accident. For this reason, after the occurrence of the accident, the cause information of the accident can be obtained from the first storage means, so that the cause of the accident can be clarified. Further, in the first aspect of the present invention, the first storage means includes, as described above, the first storage means as compared with a case where the vehicle information is held throughout the entire time.
The vehicle information of the information detecting means is stored as information indicating the cause of the vehicle accident. Therefore, as the information storage capacity of the first storage means, only the information storage capacity for storing the information indicating the cause of the vehicle accident is prepared.
Therefore, it is possible to suppress an increase in the information storage capacity of the first storage means.

More specifically, the accident detecting means detects the occurrence of a vehicle accident on the vehicle based on the acceleration of the vehicle, so that the accident has occurred on the vehicle. In this case, after the occurrence of the accident, the cause information of the accident can be obtained from the first storage means in the same manner as in the first aspect of the invention. Further, in the invention according to claim 3, the accident detecting means detects a vehicle accident of a surrounding vehicle located around the vehicle. Further, the accumulation control means controls the first accumulation means so as to hold the vehicle information as the cause of the vehicle accident of the surrounding vehicle in response to the detection by the accident detection means. Accident cause information can be obtained.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation unit (21) mounted in a vehicle interior, and an accident detecting means (203).
Detects the occurrence of a vehicle accident based on the operation of the operation unit, so that the accident detecting means can detect an accident of a surrounding vehicle or an accident of the vehicle.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a receiving means (22) for receiving an accident notification signal, and the accident detecting means (2).
01, 202) detects the occurrence of a vehicle accident of a surrounding vehicle in response to the reception of the accident report signal by the receiving means.
Regardless of the operation of the occupant, the occurrence of a vehicle accident of the surrounding vehicle can be detected.

In the invention according to claim 6, the second storage means (121) stores information, and the copying means (230) stores the information.
Since the information indicating the cause of the vehicle accident is copied to the second storage means, the accident cause information can be obtained from the second storage means, so that the accident cause information can be reliably obtained. Specifically, as in the invention described in claim 7, the first storage means is controlled so as to retain the vehicle information for a predetermined period from the occurrence of the accident as the cause of the vehicle accident.

In the invention according to claim 8, the first storage means repeatedly stores and updates the vehicle detection information and holds the vehicle detection information for a predetermined period, so that the storage capacity of the first storage means is minimized. Can be suppressed. Further, in the invention according to claim 9, the third storage means (122) is
The vehicle information by the information detecting means after the occurrence of the accident is accumulated. Thus, by obtaining the vehicle detection information after the occurrence of the accident, the cause of the accident can be further clarified.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, the transmitting means (30) for transmitting a transmission signal and the transmission control means (260) for controlling the transmitting means to transmit vehicle information indicating the cause of the vehicle accident as the transmission signal. And characterized in that: Accordingly, if the transmission signal as the vehicle information is received by a device other than the vehicle, the information indicating the cause of the vehicle accident can be obtained by the device other than the vehicle.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, the transmission control means controls the transmission means to transmit the vehicle information after the occurrence of the accident as a transmission signal. Thereby, if the vehicle information after the occurrence of the accident is received other than the vehicle, a more reliable cause of the vehicle accident can be obtained.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, an accident detecting means (21) mounted on a vehicle for detecting occurrence of a vehicle accident
0), and information detecting means (40 to 40) mounted on the vehicle and detecting at least one of vehicle information inside and around the vehicle.
80), a storage unit (110) mounted on the vehicle and storing vehicle information by the information detection unit, a transmission unit (30) mounted on the vehicle and transmitting a transmission signal, and detection of the accident detection unit. And transmission control means (260) for controlling the transmission means so as to transmit the vehicle information stored in the storage means as a transmission signal indicating the cause of the vehicle accident. Accordingly, if the transmission signal is received by a device other than the vehicle, information indicating the cause of the vehicle accident can be obtained by a device other than the vehicle.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the accident detecting means detects a vehicle accident of a surrounding vehicle located around the vehicle, and the transmission control means detects the vehicle information in response to the detection by the accident detecting means. The transmission unit is controlled to transmit the transmission signal indicating the cause of the vehicle accident of the vehicle.
This makes it possible to obtain information indicating the cause of a vehicle accident of a surrounding vehicle other than the vehicle.

Incidentally, the reference numerals in parentheses of the above means are examples showing the correspondence with specific means described in the embodiments described later.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a vehicle accident communication system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle accident communication system, FIG.
Is a schematic block configuration of the vehicle accident information detection device.
In FIG. 1, repeaters 3 are provided at predetermined intervals on a highway 2 of a vehicle 1, and each repeater 3 is connected to a control center 5 through a communication line 9. A road management station 7 and a nearest emergency hospital 8 are connected to the control center 5 through a communication line 9. In addition, the Road Management Bureau 7
It manages accident situations and congestion situations on the expressway 2 and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, a vehicle accident information detecting device 10 is provided in the vehicle 1, and the vehicle accident detecting device 10
Is the acceleration sensor 20, the transmitter 30, the camera 4 for the vehicle interior
0, the vehicle exterior camera 50, a vehicle speed sensor 60, brake sensor 70, the rainfall sensor 80, I / O port 90, an analog - digital converter 100, FIFO memory 110, non-volatile memory (E ² PROM) 120, and a control circuit 130. The acceleration sensor (G sensor) 20 detects the acceleration of the vehicle and outputs a detected acceleration signal to the control circuit 130,
The transmitter 30 is controlled by the control circuit 130 to transmit the vehicle accident information signal to the repeater 3 using radio waves (electromagnetic waves) as a medium.

The in-vehicle camera 40 detects image information of the occupant and the state of the cabin, and outputs a cabin information signal SA to the I / O port 90. (Red, yellow, blue), on-vehicle information such as oncoming vehicles, pedestrians, road surface conditions, and road surface slip marks are detected and output to the I / O port 90. The vehicle speed sensor 60 detects a vehicle speed and outputs a vehicle speed signal SC to the I / O
The braking sensor 70 detects the braking state of the vehicle brake device and outputs a braking signal SD to the I / O port 9.
Output to 0.

The rain sensor 80 detects the presence or absence of rain and the amount of rain, outputs a rain signal SE to the I / O port 90, and outputs an analog-digital converter (hereinafter referred to as an AD converter) 1.
00 receives a vehicle interior information signal SA, a vehicle exterior information signal SB, a vehicle speed signal SC, a braking signal SD, and a rainfall signal SE through an I / O port 90, digitally converts each signal SA to SE, and outputs a vehicle interior information signal. SA _D, vehicle exterior information signal SB _D, the vehicle speed signal SC _D, and outputs a braking signal SD _D, and rain signal SE _D.

The FIFO memory 110 stores a vehicle interior information signal SA.
_D , vehicle exterior information signal SB _D , vehicle speed signal SC _D , braking signal S
D _D, and with receiving the rain signal SE _D, repeatedly stored and updated from the signal SA _D ~SE _D for a predetermined period. Thus, FIFO memory 110 is always capable of storing a respective signal SA _D ~SE _D for a predetermined period dating back from the current time. The non-volatile memory (E ² PROM) 120 includes first and second
The control circuit 130 has banks 121 and 122 and performs information protection processing and the like.

The operation of the first embodiment will be described below.
When the power is turned on, the acceleration sensor 20, the transmitter 30,
Cabin camera 40, the vehicle exterior camera 50, a vehicle speed sensor 60, brake sensor 70 and rain sensor 80, starts operation, FIFO memory 110 stores the respective signal SA _D ~SE _D. When the power is turned on, the control circuit 130 starts the information protection process according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor 20 is fetched (step 200), and it is determined whether or not the detected acceleration is equal to or more than a predetermined value (step 210). When the detected acceleration is equal to or more than the predetermined value, it is determined that a vehicle accident has occurred.

Next, at step 210, when it is determined that the accident of the vehicle, the update of the FIFO memory 110 is stopped (step 220), a nonvolatile each signal SA _D ~SE _D stored in the FIFO memory 110 Is copied to the first bank 121 of the volatile memory 120 (step 230). This allows
Together with the FIFO memory 110, the first
Also in the bank 121, the signals SA _D ~SE _D for a predetermined period is accumulated retroactively from the time of a vehicle collision.

Next, each of the signals SA _D .about.
The SE _D by accumulated in the second bank 122 of the nonvolatile memory 120 (step 240), the routine proceeds to step 250 to determine transmitter 30 whether transmittable. That is, according to the state of the radio wave received from the repeater 3, the transmitter 30
It is determined whether or not the (vehicle 1) can transmit to the repeater 3. In addition, you may make it determine whether the transmitter 30 has failed.

Next, at step 250, when it is determined that the transmitter 3 can transmit to the repeater 3, if the FIFO memory 1
10 (or, first bank 121) each signal SA _D ~SE _D for a predetermined period dating back from the time of vehicle collision, which is stored in each signal SA _D ~SE _D after a vehicle collision, accident showing the accident occurrence A signal and various accident information signals (vehicle ID, accident occurrence time, occupant) are transmitted to the repeater 3 using electromagnetic waves as a medium.
As described above, the repeater 3 receives the various signals from the vehicle 1 and transmits the received various signals to the control center 5 through the communication line 4. The traffic control center 5 informs the road management bureau 7 and the nearest emergency hospital 8 of the accident situation.

Next, the features of the first embodiment will be described.
That is, as described above, since the FIFO memory 110 dating back from the time of a vehicle collision is the signal SA _D ~SE _D for a predetermined period is held, after the accident occurs, the signal from the FIFO memory 110 S
You can obtain as accident information A _D ~SE _D.
This makes it possible to clarify the history of the accident and the cause of the accident, so that in the case of an accident, etc., the parties involved in the accident are alleged to have negligence, the signal condition of the traffic signal, etc. (certification)
Can be avoided. Also FI
Since the FO memory 110 is copied to the signal SA _D ~SE _D in the first bank 121 of the nonvolatile memory 120, with the accident, for example, even if a fire or the like occurs, the signal SA _D
It is possible to increase the possibility of obtaining a ～SE _D as accident information. However, it may be adopted numerous memory for copying each signal SA _D ~SE _D.

Further, each signal SA _D after the occurrence of the accident
The ~SE _D, the second bank 122 of the nonvolatile memory 120
Since held in, after the accident, the signals SA _D ~SE _D from the second bank 122 of nonvolatile memory 120 can be obtained. For example, when the vehicle accident at an intersection, in accordance with each signal SA _D ~SE _D for a predetermined period dating back from the time of a vehicle collision (the vehicle exterior camera 50), although not obtained signal state of the traffic signal, vehicle accident depending on the signal SA _D ~SE _D after generation, the signal state of the traffic signal may be obtained. Therefore, by obtaining the signal SA _D ~SE _D after a vehicle collision, the accident, further, can be clearly apparent.

Also, the FIFO memory 110 is employed to
The memory 110, always because so as to accumulate the signal SA _D ~SE _D for a predetermined period dating back from the current time,
The memory capacity can be minimized. Here, the vehicle interior information signal SA _D by the vehicle interior camera 40 is used.
As described above, the data is stored in the FIFO memory 110 for a predetermined period retroactively from the time of occurrence of the vehicle accident. As a result, it is possible to minimize the storage of the cabin information other than the cause of the accident in the FIFO memory 110.
From FO memory 110 are taken out of the vehicle interior information signal SA _D, may protect the privacy of the vehicle occupant.

Furthermore, the transmitter 30 transmits the signals SA _D ~SE _D after the accident to the repeater 3 as a transmission signal, the repeater 3 is transmitted to the control center 5 to the transmission signal via the communication line 4 Therefore, the cause of the accident can be obtained from the control center 5. The control center 5 may hold the transmission signal.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment,
The example in which the vehicle is equipped with the vehicle accident information detection device 10 and the cause of the accident is clarified by maintaining the situation before the accident occurs when the vehicle has caused an accident has been described. When the vehicle accident information detection device 10 is not mounted, the cause of the accident cannot be clarified.
Therefore, in the second embodiment, the vehicle accident information detection device 1
Even if a vehicle that does not have 0 is in an accident, the cause of the accident can be obtained. Hereinafter, an example in which the vehicle 1A, the vehicle 1B, and the control center 5 are employed in the second embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle 1A includes an emergency notification device 10A. The emergency notification device 10A includes an acceleration sensor 11, a GPS 12, a control circuit 13, and a transmitter 14. The acceleration sensor 11 (G sensor) detects the acceleration of the vehicle 1A and outputs an acceleration signal indicating the acceleration. The GPS 12 obtains the vehicle position information of the vehicle 1A, and outputs the vehicle position signal indicating the vehicle position information. Output.
The control circuit 13 detects the occurrence of an accident of the vehicle 1A by comparing the detection of the acceleration of the acceleration sensor 11 with a predetermined threshold value, and transmits an emergency notification signal by the transmitter 24 using an electromagnetic wave as a medium when the occurrence of the accident is detected. Control Center 5 as
Send to However, the emergency notification signal includes accident occurrence detection information from the acceleration sensor 11 and vehicle position information from the GPS 22.

The vehicle 1B includes a vehicle accident information detecting device 10B instead of the vehicle accident information detecting device 10 shown in FIG. 1. The vehicle accident information detecting device 10B has a switch 21 in addition to the configuration shown in FIG. And radio receiver 22, GPS2
3 The switch 21 is mounted on an instrument panel in the passenger compartment. The switch 21 is depressed when an occupant witnesses a vehicle accident.
It outputs a signal indicating the accident of the surrounding vehicles. Wireless receiver 2
2 receives a command signal (accident notification signal) described later through an antenna (not shown) using electromagnetic waves as a medium and outputs the command signal to the control circuit 30. The GPS 23 obtains vehicle position information of the vehicle 1B. A signal indicating the vehicle position information is output.

In the second embodiment, a flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is employed instead of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, and the control circuit 30 of the vehicle accident information detecting device 10B performs processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Do. Steps 200 to 260 shown in FIG. 5 are the same as steps 200 to 260 shown in FIG. Further, the control center 5 has a radio unit 5a and a control unit 5b, and the radio unit 5a transmits an emergency notification signal from the transmitter 24 of the emergency notification device 10A of the vehicle 1A (an accident occurrence vehicle) using electromagnetic waves as a medium. The received emergency notification signal is output to the control unit 5b. The control unit 5b controls the vehicle 1A based on the emergency notification signal.
Is obtained, and a command signal having the position information of the vehicle 1A and the accident occurrence information is transmitted by the radio unit 5a using an electromagnetic wave as a medium.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described below. The control circuit 30 of the vehicle accident information detection device 10B of the vehicle 1B performs processing according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, when a command signal (from the control center 5) is received via the radio receiver 22 through the antenna (Step 201), the process proceeds to Step 202, where the position of the vehicle 1A (the accident-causing vehicle) is determined based on the command signal. It is determined whether or not the vehicle 1B is located within a predetermined radius centered on the position (hereinafter, referred to as an accident area). Thereby, the vehicle 1B
It is determined whether or not the vehicle 1A (the vehicle in which the accident has occurred) is located around the vehicle.

Next, in step 202, when it is determined that the vehicle 1B is located in the accident area, the FIFO memory 11
The update of 0 is stopped (step 220). Furthermore, FI
Each signal SA _D ~SE _D stored in the FO memory 110 is copied to the first bank 121 of the nonvolatile memory 120 (step 230). Then, each signal SA after the occurrence of a vehicle accident
The _{D ~SE D} by accumulated in the second bank 122 of the nonvolatile memory 120 (step 240), the routine proceeds to step 250, transmitter 30 determines whether transmittable control center 5.

Next, in step 250, when it is determined that the transmitter 3 can transmit to the control center 5, it is retroactive to the time of the occurrence of the vehicle accident stored in the FIFO memory 110 (or the first bank 121). Each signal SA _{D to} S for a predetermined period
E _D, transmitting electromagnetic waves as a medium in the control center 5 to accident signal indicating the signal SA _D ~SE _D after a vehicle collision, an accident occurs.

Next, at step 201, the control center 5
When the command signal is not received from the CPU, it is determined whether or not the switch 21 has been pressed (step 203). here,
When the occupant of the vehicle 1B witnesses the vehicle accident of the vehicle 1A and presses the switch 21, as described above, step 220 is executed.
２６０Step 260 is performed. Step 203
If the switch 21 is not pressed,
0, the processing of steps 210 to 260 is performed.

Hereinafter, features of the second embodiment will be described. First, even if there is a witness to a vehicle accident, the stored contents of the vehicle accident situation may become ambiguous over time, and the accuracy of the testimony of the accident situation may be reduced. Also, witnesses to vehicle accidents feel annoyed by the testimony of the accident situation, and the testimony of the accident situation is rarely made positively. For this reason, effective information for investigating the cause of the accident cannot be obtained, and the persons involved in the vehicle accident may suffer disadvantages.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, if the vehicle 1A is located around the vehicle 1B even if a vehicle accident of the vehicle 1A occurs, the occupant of the vehicle 1B depresses the switch 21 to release the vehicle 1A. the output signal SC _D of the output signal SB _D and a vehicle speed sensor 60 for use camera 50, FIFO memory 11
0 and the first bank 121 may be stored. For this reason,
As the output signal SB _D of vehicle exterior camera 50, the vehicle 1A
Together with the image showing the accident can be obtained, it is possible to determine the vehicle speed in the vehicle 1A by the output signal SC _D of the output signal SB _D and the vehicle speed sensor 60 of the vehicle exterior camera 50. Thereby, the cause of the accident of the vehicle 1A can be clarified. Further, the transmitter 3 of a vehicle collision information detecting apparatus 10B of the vehicle 1A, each output signal SB _D, and transmits electromagnetic waves as a medium in the control center 5 to SC _D, control centers 5 each output signal SB _D, the SC _D But you can get it.

When the vehicle 1A has an accident,
An emergency notification signal is transmitted to the control center 5 by the emergency notification device 10A, and the vehicle accident information detection device 10B of the vehicle 1B is transmitted.
Operates in response to a command signal from the control center 5,
As described above, storage of witnesses or, regardless of the will of the witness, the output signal SB _D, it is possible to obtain a cause of the accident as SC _D, it is possible to clarify the cause of the accident.

In the second embodiment, an example has been described in which the accident area is within a predetermined radius centered on the position of the vehicle 1A. However, the present invention is not limited to this. May be set within a predetermined radius around the center.

Further, in the second embodiment, the vehicle accident information detecting device 10B performs the accident cause detecting process (step 2).
20 to 260) based on the command signal transmitted from the control center 5, based on the command signal transmitted from the control center 5.
0B) is determined according to whether or not the vehicle is located within an area within a predetermined radius of the location information of the vehicle in which the accident has occurred. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. Is also good.

That is, the vehicle equipped with the vehicle accident information detecting device 10B transmits the position information from the GPS to the control center 5 at regular intervals. As a result, the control center 5 can grasp the position information of the vehicle equipped with the vehicle accident information detecting device 10B. A vehicle (on which the vehicle accident information detection device 10B is mounted) for which the detection process needs to be started is selected, and the vehicle accident information detection device 10 of the selected vehicle is selected.
A command signal is transmitted to B.

Further, in the second embodiment, an example has been described in which both the emergency notification device 10A and the vehicle accident information detection device 10B perform direct wireless communication with the control center 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Adopting the repeater 3 described in the first embodiment, wireless communication is performed between both the emergency notification device 10A and the vehicle accident information detection device 10B and the repeater 3, and the communication between the repeater 3 and the control center 5 is performed. The communication may be performed through a telephone line (or a wired line).

Further, in the second embodiment, the emergency notification device 10A uses the acceleration sensor 2 to detect the occurrence of a vehicle accident.
The example in which the detection is performed according to 0 has been described. However, the invention is not limited thereto, and a vehicle accident may be detected according to an operation of the operation unit. Further, in implementing the present invention, in detecting the vehicle accident of the vehicle equipped with the vehicle accident information detecting device 10, 10A in the vehicle accident information detecting device 10, 10A, not only the detection of the acceleration sensor 20 but also the switch 21 May be performed in response to the above operation. In practicing the present invention, a mobile phone may be used as the transmitter 30, and a base station of the mobile phone may be used as the repeater 3. In implementing the present invention, the information indicating the cause of the accident is not limited to obtaining the vehicle information both inside and around the vehicle, and may be configured to obtain any one of the vehicle information inside and around the vehicle. .

Further, in the first and second embodiments, each of the signals SA _D to SA _D for a predetermined period is always traced back from the current time.
SE _D has been described an example adopting the FIFO memory 110 to hold (vehicle information) (accumulation) is not limited thereto, it may be adopted memory other than the FIFO memory (first storage means). In this case, the memory (first storage means)
By the control circuit 130 (holding control means), always will be controlled such that each signal SA _D ~SE _D for a predetermined period dating back from the current time hold (vehicle information) (storage).

[0047] Specifically, the memory as the (first storage means), has a storage capacity to hold the respective signal SA _D ~SE _D a (vehicle information) for a predetermined period, the memory (first
Storage means), the control of the control circuit 130, each signal in a predetermined period SA _D ~SE _D (after holding the vehicle information), each signal SA _D ~SE _D in a predetermined period that is held in most prior signals held by SA _D ~SE erase the _D, newly input the respective signals S of
It performs a process of overwriting the A _D ~SE _D (vehicle information). Such overwriting process by repeating, at all times, capable of holding the respective signal SA _D ~SE _D for a predetermined period dating back from the current time. When a vehicle accident is detected by the acceleration sensor 20, the control circuit 130 (holding control means) stops the memory overwriting process. Therefore, after the occurrence of the accident, it is possible to obtain the accident cause information from the memory.

In the detection of a vehicle accident, the memory overwriting process is stopped even when the switch 21 is depressed or when a command signal from the control center 5 is received. As the memory other than the FIFO memory, for example, RAM, DRAM, E ² PROM, may be employed a flash memory or the like.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle accident communication system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the vehicle accident information detection device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle accident communication system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control circuit shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

20: acceleration sensor, 110: FIFO memory, 130: control circuit.

Claims (13)

[Claims] An accident detecting means (20, 21, 200, 201-2) mounted on a vehicle for detecting occurrence of a vehicle accident.
03, 210) and information detecting means (40 to 80) mounted on the vehicle and starting to detect at least one of vehicle information inside and around the vehicle prior to the detection by the accident detecting means.
A first storage unit (110) mounted on the vehicle and storing the vehicle information; and a vehicle information of the information detection unit mounted on the vehicle and detected by the accident detection unit. And a holding control means (220) for controlling the first storage means so as to hold the information as a cause of the vehicle accident. 2. The vehicle accident information detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the accident detecting means detects occurrence of a vehicle accident of the vehicle based on acceleration of the vehicle. 3. The accident detecting means detects a vehicle accident of a surrounding vehicle located around the vehicle, and the holding control means outputs the vehicle information to the surrounding vehicle in response to the detection by the accident detecting means. 2. The vehicle accident information detection device according to claim 1, wherein the first accumulation unit is controlled so as to be held as the cause of the vehicle accident. 4. An operation unit (21) mounted in a vehicle interior, wherein the accident detection means (203) detects occurrence of the vehicle accident based on operation of the operation unit. The vehicle accident information detection device according to claim 1 or 3, wherein 5. A receiving means (2) for receiving an accident notification signal.
The accident detection means (201, 202) detects the occurrence of the vehicle accident of the surrounding vehicle in response to the reception of the accident notification signal by the reception means.
The vehicle accident information detection device according to claim 1. 6. A second vehicle mounted on a vehicle for storing information.
6. A storage unit (121), and a copying unit (230) for copying the information indicating the cause of the vehicle accident to the second storage unit. The vehicle accident information detection device according to the above. 7. The storage control unit according to claim 1, wherein the first control unit controls the first storage unit to retain the vehicle information for a predetermined period from the occurrence of the accident as a cause of the vehicle accident. 7. The vehicle accident information detection device according to any one of 1 to 6. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first storage means repeatedly stores and updates the vehicle information and holds the vehicle information for the predetermined period. Vehicle accident information detection device. 9. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a third storage unit mounted on the vehicle for storing the vehicle information after the occurrence of the accident. Vehicle accident information detection device. 10. Transmission means (30) for transmitting a transmission signal.
And transmission control means (260) for controlling the transmission means so as to transmit the vehicle information indicating the cause of the vehicle accident as the transmission signal.
The vehicle accident information detection device according to any one of the above. 11. The transmission control means controls the transmission means so as to transmit the vehicle information after the occurrence of the accident as the transmission signal.
0. The vehicle accident information detection device according to any one of 0. 12. An accident detecting means (210) mounted on a vehicle for detecting occurrence of a vehicle accident, and an information detecting means mounted on the vehicle and detecting at least one vehicle information inside or around the vehicle. (40-80)
A storage means (110) mounted on the vehicle for storing vehicle information by the information detection means; and a transmission means (3) mounted on the vehicle and transmitting a transmission signal.
0), and a transmission control means (260) for controlling the transmission means so as to transmit the vehicle information stored in the storage means as a transmission signal indicating the cause of the vehicle accident in response to the detection of the accident detection means. A vehicle accident information detection device comprising: 13. The accident detection means detects a vehicle accident of a surrounding vehicle located around the vehicle, and the transmission control means transmits the vehicle information to the surrounding vehicle in response to the detection by the accident detection means. 13. The vehicle accident information detection device according to claim 12, wherein the transmission unit is controlled to transmit the transmission signal indicating the cause of the vehicle accident.