JP2013109417A - Drive recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drive recorder which is mounted on a vehicle and records video data.SOLUTION: When a control part (160) displays video data recorded by a recording control part (150) on a display part (15), the control part (160) acquires a unit image included in the video data recorded by the recording control part (150) by referring to image record information recorded by the recording control part (150), further acquires the unit image included in the video data recorded by the recording control part (150) during processing where an image processing part (120) decodes the acquired unit image, and displays periodically the decoded unit image on the display part (15).

Description

  The present invention relates to a drive recorder that is mounted on a vehicle and records video data.

  A drive recorder that records driving data of a vehicle together with video data is mounted on the vehicle. For example, when an impact occurs in the vehicle, the drive recorder is configured to acquire video data for a predetermined time before and after the time when the impact occurred and to record the data in a memory card.

  In such a drive recorder, when confirming the contents of the video data recorded on the memory card, the memory card on which the video data is recorded is inserted into a personal computer (PC) having a video data playback function, and the PC After moving the video data, the video data is reproduced on the display screen of the PC.

  In addition, the drive recorder can be provided with a liquid crystal monitor, or the recorded video data can be reproduced on the drive recorder main body by using the monitor function of the in-vehicle car navigation system.

  Cited Document 1 discloses a drive recorder using a monitor for displaying vehicle control content or a monitor for car navigation as a monitor for displaying video data captured by a camera.

JP 2009-193257 A

  When the video data recorded on the memory card is reproduced by the drive recorder main body, a time for reading from the memory card occurs. Therefore, even if video data playback is requested, a time lag occurs until playback actually starts. Further, until the video data is completely read, if an operation (fast forward, rewind, thumbnail display, etc.) is performed on the video data, a time for reading from the memory card further occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a drive recorder that can reduce the waiting time for reading video data.

  The present invention includes a camera that is mounted on a vehicle and acquires video data, an image processing unit that encodes and decodes video data, a recording control unit that controls recording of video data encoded by the image processing unit, and an image The present invention is applied to a drive recorder including a display unit that displays video data decoded by the processing unit, and a control unit that controls recording and display of the video data.

  When the video data is recorded by the recording control unit, the control unit causes the recording control unit to record the video data, and causes the recording control unit to record information about the unit image included in the video data as image recording information. When the video data recorded by the recording unit is displayed on the display unit, the unit image included in the video data recorded by the recording control unit is acquired with reference to the image recording information recorded by the recording control unit, and acquired. The unit image included in the video data recorded by the recording control unit is further acquired between the processes in which the image processing unit decodes the unit image, and the decoded unit image is periodically displayed on the display unit. And

  According to the present invention, when image recording information is recorded together with video data and the video data is displayed, a unit image is further acquired in the interval between decoding the unit images of the video data. As a result, the processing time for reading the video data can be shortened, and the video data can be displayed without delay.

It is explanatory drawing of the drive recorder system containing the drive recorder of embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram of the drive recorder of the embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the recording of the video data of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the reproduction | regeneration processing of the video data of embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a drive recorder system 1 including a drive recorder 10 of the present invention.

  The drive recorder system 1 includes a drive recorder 10 mounted on a vehicle 11, a personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 20 installed in a business office, and a memory card 30 that records data acquired by the drive recorder 10. Is done.

  The drive recorder 10 acquires travel data (for example, vehicle speed, engine speed, latitude, longitude, etc.) from the vehicle 11, and records these at predetermined time intervals together with date / time information. The drive recorder 10 is connected to a camera 12 and records video data acquired by the camera 12. The travel data and video data are recorded on the memory card 30 via the memory card interface 150.

  The drive recorder 10 includes a display unit 15 including a liquid crystal panel that can display video data and the like. The drive recorder 10 also includes a memory card interface 150 as a recording control unit that records and reads data with the memory card 30 with the memory card 30 inserted, and video data displayed on the display unit 15. Are provided with an operation button 170 for accepting operations such as playback and stop, and a record button 180 for artificially recording video data on the memory card 30.

  The PC 20 includes a memory card interface 21 that records and reads data from and to the memory card 30 with the memory card 30 inserted, a display unit 22 that includes a liquid crystal display that can display video data, and the like. And an input unit 23 including a keyboard and a mouse that can input instructions from.

  The memory card 30 is configured to be readable and writable by the memory card interface 150 and the memory card interface 21. For example, a flash memory card such as SD (Secure Digital) or CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) is used.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the drive recorder 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  The drive recorder 10 includes an A / D conversion unit 110, an image processing unit 120, an internal memory 130, a memory card interface 150, a control unit 160, an operation button 170, a recording button 180, an event detection unit 190, Is provided. The control unit 160 is connected to the A / D conversion unit 110, the image processing unit 120, the internal memory 130, the memory card interface 150, the operation button 170, the recording button 180, and the event detection unit 190, and controls these units. The A / D conversion unit 110 is connected to the image processing unit 120 and outputs video data to the image processing unit 120. The image processing unit 120 is connected to the internal memory 130, and transmits / receives video data to / from the internal memory 130 under the control of the control unit 160. The internal memory 130 is connected to the memory card interface 150 and transmits / receives video data to / from the memory card 30 under the control of the control unit 160.

  The A / D conversion unit 110 A / D converts the video signal received from the camera 12 and outputs it as video data.

  When recording video data, the image processing unit 120 performs image processing on the video data output from the A / D conversion unit 110 based on a predetermined encoding method, and outputs the encoded video data to the internal memory 130. . Further, the image processing unit 120 performs a decoding process on the video data recorded in the internal memory 130 and outputs the decoded video data to the display unit 15 when reproducing the video data.

  In this embodiment, the image processing unit 120 encodes video data as a JPEG image in a predetermined time unit. When video data is played back, it is played back as a moving picture by playing back JPEG images at predetermined time intervals.

  The internal memory 130 is used as a buffer for temporarily storing the video data encoded by the image processing unit 120 and recording it in the memory card 30 when recording the video data. Further, when reproducing the video data, the video data recorded in the memory card 30 is temporarily stored and used as a buffer for decoding by the image processing unit 120. The internal memory 130 is configured by a memory that can be accessed at a higher speed than the memory card 30 such as an SDRAM.

  The operation button 170 functions as a user interface that receives an operation on video data reproduced on the display unit 15. The operation buttons 170 include, for example, buttons such as play, stop, fast forward, and rewind. The control unit 160 monitors the input state of the operation button 170, reads video data from the memory card 30 to the internal memory 130 based on the button operation, and causes the display unit 15 to display it. Note that a touch panel may be built in the display unit 15 and may be used as the operation button 170.

  The event detection unit 190 is an example of an impact detection unit and includes an acceleration sensor. When the acceleration detected by the acceleration sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold (for example, the front-rear G or the lateral G is 0.8 G or more). In the case), it is determined that an impact has been applied to the vehicle, and an event is detected and notified to the control unit 160.

  When the event detection unit 190 detects an event, the control unit 160 determines that an impact has been applied to the vehicle, extracts video data recording a predetermined time before and after the time when the impact was applied, from the internal memory 130, Recording is performed on the memory card 30 via the memory card interface 150. Also, when it is detected that the user has operated the record button 180, it is assumed that an event is detected in the same manner, and video data that records a predetermined time before and after the time when the record button 180 is operated is extracted, and the memory card is extracted. Recording is performed on the memory card 30 via the interface 150.

  More specifically, the camera 12 always acquires a video signal, and this video signal is always recorded in the internal memory 130 as video data via the A / D conversion unit 110 and the image processing unit 120.

  Here, when an event is detected by operating the event detection unit 190 or the recording button 180, the control unit 160 determines from the video data recorded in the internal memory 130 before and after the time when the event was detected. Video data of time (for example, 12 seconds before event detection and 8 seconds after event detection) is extracted, and the extracted video data is recorded in the memory card 30 via the memory card interface 150.

  In this manner, video data when the event detection unit 190 detects an event or when the recording button 180 is operated is recorded in the memory card 30 via the memory card interface 150.

  Next, the operation of the drive recorder 10 configured as described above will be described.

  As described above, the drive recorder 10 of the present embodiment records video data when an event is detected on the memory card 30 via the memory card interface 150. The drive recorder 10 is configured to be able to reproduce the video data recorded on the memory card 30 on the display unit 15 based on a user instruction.

  When the operation button 170 is operated by the user to detect a video data reproduction request, the control unit 160 acquires the video data related to the request from the video data recorded on the memory card 30. The acquired video data is copied to the internal memory 130.

  The control unit 160 sequentially acquires individual unit images (JPEG images) recorded in time series from the video data copied to the internal memory 130 and sends them to the display unit 15. The display unit 15 sequentially displays the unit images at a predetermined timing to reproduce the video data as a moving image.

  The video data is obtained by continuously recording unit images in time series. Therefore, at the time of reproduction, it is necessary to read out unit images one by one from the video data. The unit image is encoded in the JPEG format as described above. The control unit 160 starts reading from the start position of the unit image of the video data recorded in the internal memory 130, and acquires it as one unit image data when the end position of the unit image is detected. The acquired unit image is decoded by the image processing unit 120 and displayed on the display unit 15.

  By the way, since the JPEG method is an indefinite length compression method, the size of the unit image in the video data is different for each unit image. Conventionally, in order to reproduce the video data, it is necessary to copy the video data recorded on the memory card 30 to the internal memory 130 and decode the copied video data for each unit image.

  Even if the user requests the reproduction of the video data for this reading process, there is a time lag until the reproduction actually starts, and the user may wait. In particular, when the data size of video data is large, the time lag also increases. Further, even when an operation on the video data (fast forward, rewind, thumbnail display, etc.) is performed, if all the video data has not been completely read from the memory card 30, a read time is further generated.

  Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the following configuration is used to smoothly display the playback image displayed on the display unit 15 where playback of the video data is started when the video data is played back. .

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing recording of video data executed by the control unit 160 of the present embodiment.

  The video signal acquired by the camera 12 is converted into digital data by the A / D conversion unit 110, encoded in a predetermined encoding method by the image processing unit 120, and recorded as video data 201 in the internal memory 130. The video data 201 is composed of a plurality of unit images 204 made up of JPEG images.

  If it is determined that an event has been detected by operating the event detection unit 190 or the record button 180, the control unit 160 includes the time at which the event was detected from the video data 201 recorded in the internal memory 130. Video data for a predetermined time before and after is extracted. The control unit 160 records the extracted video data as video data 202 on the memory card 30 via the memory card interface 150. The video data 202 is obtained by continuously recording unit images 204 within a predetermined time.

  At this time, the offset and size of each unit image 204 included in the video data 202 are acquired and recorded in the image recording information 203 of the memory card 30. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the video data 202 includes 15 unit images, and the offset and size are acquired for all of these and recorded in the image recording information 203.

  The size of the unit image 204 is determined when it is encoded by the image processing unit 120. Therefore, for example, when the control unit 160 stores the size of each unit image 204 and records the video data 202 on the memory card 30 when an event is detected, the size of the unit image 204 included in the video data 202 is changed to an image. In addition to recording in the recording information 203, the offset position of each unit image 204 is determined in the order recorded in the video data 202, and this is recorded in the image recording information 203.

  Alternatively, after the video data 202 is recorded on the memory card 30, the control unit 160 acquires the contents of the video data 202 from the top, detects each unit image 204, acquires the size and offset for each, and records the image The information 203 may be recorded.

  By such processing, in addition to the video data 202 when the event is detected, the image recording information 203 corresponding to the video data 202 is recorded in the memory card 30.

  Next, the reproduction process of the video data 202 recorded on the memory card 30 will be described.

  The drive recorder 10 includes a display unit 15 and can reproduce video data recorded on the memory card 30 on the display unit 15.

  For example, the control unit 160 displays a list of video data 202 recorded in the memory card 30 on the display unit 15, and the user can select reproduction of the video data 202 by operating the operation buttons 170. Further, during playback, fast forward playback, rewind playback, and the like can be performed.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of video data reproduction processing executed by the control unit 160 of this embodiment. This flowchart shows the processing when the memory card 30 is inserted into the memory card interface 150 of the drive recorder 10 and the video data 202 and the image recording information 203 are already recorded on the memory card 30.

  The controller 160 waits for a request to reproduce the video data 202 recorded on the memory card 30 (step S101). When the operation of the operation button 170 by the user is detected and a reproduction request for the video data 202 is detected, the process proceeds to step S102.

  In step S <b> 102, the control unit 160 displays a list of video data 202 recorded on the memory card 30 on the display unit 15. At this time, the file name and recording date and time of the video data 202 may be displayed as a list, or the unit images 204 of the video data 202 may be extracted and displayed as thumbnails.

  Next, the control unit 160 specifies the video data 202 selected by the operation of the operation button 170 by the user (step S103).

  Next, the control unit 160 refers to the image recording information 203 corresponding to the specified video data 202 (step S104). Then, based on the offset and size recorded in the image recording information 203, the nth unit image 204 in the video data 202 is acquired. The acquired unit image 204 is copied to the internal memory 130. (Step S105). Note that n is an integer and the initial value is 1.

  Next, the control unit 160 transfers the unit image 204 copied to the internal memory 130 to the image processing unit 120 (step S106).

  The image processing unit 120 decodes the transferred unit image 204 (step S110). The decoded unit image 204 is sent to the display unit 15 at a predetermined timing. The display unit 15 displays the unit image 204 input at a predetermined timing (step S111).

  Here, the predetermined timing is the bit rate of the video data 202, for example, 30 [fps]. That is, the decoded unit image is displayed at a timing of once every 33.3 ms, and is reproduced as a moving image.

  On the other hand, the transfer of the unit image 204 from the memory card 30 to the internal memory 130 is completed earlier than this timing. For example, the unit image 204 is several tens of KB when JPEG-encoded with a VGA size (640 × 480), and the transfer speed of an SD card, which is a standard for flash memory, is generally several MB / s. Therefore, a plurality of unit images can be transferred from the memory card 30 to the internal memory 130 during the aforementioned timing of 33.3 ms.

  Therefore, the control unit 160 copies the plurality of unit images 204 from the memory card 30 to the internal memory during the decoding process by the image processing unit 120.

  First, after transferring the unit image 204 in the internal memory 130 to the image processing unit 120 in step S106, the control unit 160 determines whether or not all the unit images 204 included in the video data 202 have been copied to the internal memory 130. Is determined (step S107).

  When it is determined that the copying of all the unit images 204 included in the video data 202 has not been completed, the control unit 160 adds 1 to n and increments n to obtain a new nth unit image 204. Copying from the memory card 30 to the internal memory 130 (step S108).

  Then, the control unit 160 determines whether or not the reproduction of the video data 202 has been completed (step S109). If the reproduction of the video data 202 has not been completed yet, the process returns to step S106, and the copying process of the unit image 204 in steps S106 to S108 is repeated. When the reproduction of the video data 202 is completed, it can be considered that all the unit images 204 have already been copied. Therefore, when the reproduction of the video data 202 is completed, the processing according to this flowchart is terminated.

  As described above, in the drive recorder 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the control unit 160 records the video data 201 recorded in the internal memory 130 on the memory card 30 via the memory card interface 150, Information relating to the unit image 204 per unit time included in the video data 202 is recorded as image recording information 203 on the memory card 30 via the memory card interface 150. When displaying the video data 202, the information is recorded on the memory card 30. The unit image 204 is acquired from the video data with reference to the recorded image recording information 203. In particular, control is performed to copy the unit image 204 to the internal memory 130 between the decoding processes when displaying the video data 202.

  With such control, when the video data 202 is displayed on the display unit 15, the unit image 204 included in the video data 202 is acquired with reference to the image recording information 203. Does not occur.

  Further, since the video data 202 is sequentially read for each unit image 204 during the decoding process of the video data 202, the entire video data 202 can be copied to the internal memory 130 before the reproduction of the video data 202 is completed. . Therefore, even when there is an operation (fast forward, rewind, thumbnail display, etc.) on the video data 202 when the reproduction of the video data 202 is completed, the time for reading from the memory card 30 does not occur and this is not delayed. The operation can be performed.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, an example has been described in which the encoding method is the JPEG method and the unit image is a JPEG image. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other encoding methods can be similarly applied.

  For example, the encoding method is the MPEG file method, the unit image is the I-Picture of the MPEG image, and the offset of the I-Picture and the size of the GOP are recorded in the image recording information. The display control of the video data can be executed similarly.

  It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes various modifications and improvements that can be made within the scope of the technical idea.

1 Drive Recorder System 10 Drive Recorder 11 Vehicle 12 Camera 20 Personal Computer (PC)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 30 Memory card 110 A / D conversion part 120 Image processing part 130 Internal memory 150 Memory card interface 160 Control part 170 Operation button 180 Recording button 190 Event detection part

Claims (3)

A camera that is mounted on a vehicle and acquires video data;
An image processing unit for encoding and decoding the video data;
A recording control unit that controls recording of the video data encoded by the image processing unit;
A display unit for displaying the video data decoded by the image processing unit;
A control unit for controlling acquisition and display of the video data;
In a drive recorder comprising:
The controller is
When the video data is recorded by the recording control unit, the video data is recorded by the recording control unit, and information on a unit image included in the video data is recorded by the recording control unit as image recording information.
When displaying the video data recorded by the recording control unit on the display unit, it is included in the video data recorded by the recording control unit with reference to the image recording information recorded by the recording control unit. The unit image included in the video data recorded by the recording control unit is further acquired and decoded between processes in which the unit image is acquired and the image processing unit decodes the acquired unit image. The unit recorder periodically displays the unit image on the display unit. Equipped with an impact detection unit that detects impact,
The controller is
When the impact detection unit detects an impact generated in the vehicle, the recording control unit records video data acquired during a predetermined time before and after the impact occurrence time, and is included in the video data. The drive recorder according to claim 1, wherein the recording control unit records information relating to a unit image as image recording information. An internal memory for temporarily recording the video data when the video data is reproduced on the display unit;
The controller is
When displaying the video data on the display unit, the unit image included in the video data recorded by the recording control unit is acquired with reference to the image recording information recorded by the recording control unit. ,
Record the acquired unit image in the internal memory,
The unit image recorded in the internal memory is decoded by the image processing unit,
The drive recorder according to claim 1, wherein the decoded unit image is periodically displayed on the display unit.

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