JP2013175032A - Drive recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drive recorder that makes it possible to rapidly know the occurrence of an accident and the scale of the accident and to improve immediacy thereof.SOLUTION: When a G value is input that exceeds a threshold in determining whether transmission to an office 70 is performed or not, a drive recorder 1 waits until G value thereafter detected by a G sensor 12 reaches approximately zero or until a prescribed time elapses after G value exceeds the threshold. After the elapse of the time, the drive recorder 1 retrieves a maximum value of G value, a Gmax (S2). The drive recorder 1 detects the Gmax, the maximum value of G value, extracts image data at the time thereof from image data recorded in a RAM43 (S3), transmits the extracted image data to a data management device 75 on the side of the office by wireless communication (S4).

Description

  The present invention relates to a drive recorder that records an image taken by a camera mounted on a vehicle.

  Conventionally, there is a drive recorder that transmits recorded video data to an office when an accident occurs.

  The drive recorder incorporates a G sensor, senses an impact by the G sensor, and has a function of recording an image photographed by the camera on a recording medium using the G sensor as a trigger. Here, the trigger is generated when the measured value of the G sensor is compared with a preset threshold value and the measured value of the G sensor exceeds the threshold value.

  In general, when trigger is generated, vehicle information such as sensor information and speed before and after the trigger is generated and moving image data captured and recorded by the camera are combined and recorded as trigger data. By transmitting this trigger data to the office, it is possible to use it for grasping the accident in the office.

  As a prior art of this type, there is known a wireless device that, when detecting that the current state is a dangerous state, takes a picture with a camera mounted on a vehicle and broadcasts already stored image data to other terminal devices. (See Patent Document 1).

  In addition, when the in-vehicle device detects an abnormal behavior of the vehicle, it transmits an emergency imaging request signal to the outside of the host vehicle and transmits image data stored for a certain period before and after the detection of the behavior abnormality to the accident analysis center. An accident reporting system is known (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2011-13801 A JP 2009-205368 A

  However, the conventional drive recorder has the following problems. That is, when the recorded moving image data is transmitted, the amount of communication is large and it takes time to complete the transmission. For this reason, it takes time to inform the office of the occurrence of the accident and the scale of the accident, and it may be difficult for the office to respond quickly.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and its purpose is to promptly notify the occurrence of an accident and the scale of the accident, thereby requiring the office to grasp the situation of the accident. The object is to provide a drive recorder that contributes to shortening the period.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the drive recorder according to the present invention is characterized by the following (1) to (6).
(1) A drive recorder for recording images taken by a camera mounted on a vehicle,
Acceleration detecting means for detecting acceleration of the vehicle and sensing an impact applied to the vehicle;
An accident determination means for determining that an accident has occurred when the magnitude of acceleration detected by the acceleration detection means exceeds a threshold;
Specifying means for specifying a point in time at which the magnitude of acceleration detected by the acceleration detecting means reaches a maximum value after it is determined that the accident has occurred;
Transmitting means for transmitting an image taken by the camera to the external device at the time when the maximum value is reached;
Be provided.
(2) A drive recorder configured as described in (1) above,
The specifying means specifies a time point at which the magnitude of acceleration detected by the acceleration detecting means becomes a maximum value after it is determined that the accident has occurred,
The transmitting means transmits an image taken by the camera at the time when the maximum value is reached in addition to the image at the time when the maximum value is reached.
(3) A drive recorder configured as described in (1) above,
The transmission means transmits an image taken by the camera within a predetermined time width including the time point in addition to the image at the time point when the maximum value is reached.
(4) A drive recorder configured as described in (3) above,
The predetermined time width is set to a value corresponding to the vehicle speed.
(5) A drive recorder configured as described in (3) or (4) above,
The transmission means transmits an image photographed by the camera and data representing the state of the vehicle within the predetermined time width.
(6) A drive recorder having any one of the constitutions (1) to (5),
The acceleration detection means detects at least one acceleration in the longitudinal direction, the lateral direction, and the vertical direction of the vehicle.

  According to the drive recorders (1) to (6) above, the time point at which the magnitude of acceleration reaches the maximum value is determined after it is determined that an accident has occurred. Send to device.

  According to the present invention, since it is determined that an accident has occurred, the time point at which the magnitude of acceleration reaches the maximum value is specified, and an image taken by the camera at this point is transmitted to the external device. And the scale of the accident can be quickly known. As a result, the time required for the office to grasp the situation of the accident is shortened, and the immediacy required for handling the accident is improved. In addition, an increase in communication volume can be suppressed and communication costs can be reduced. Furthermore, the accuracy of the image at the time of the accident can be improved.

  The present invention has been briefly described above. Further, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading through a mode for carrying out the invention described below (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) with reference to the accompanying drawings. .

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the drive recorder 1 in the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a state in which image data of an image taken at the time of the accident is transmitted from the drive recorder 1 to the data management device 75 on the office side when the accident occurs. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the drive recorder 1. 4 (A) to 4 (C) are graphs showing the time change of the G value when an accident occurs. FIG. 5 is a graph showing temporal changes in G value and speed actually measured when an accident occurs. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the drive recorder 1 in the second embodiment.

  A drive recorder according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the drive recorder 1 in the first embodiment. The drive recorder 1 has a CPU 11 that controls the entire drive recorder. The CPU 11 is provided in the housing of the drive recorder 1 and detects the acceleration applied to the vehicle to sense the impact applied to the vehicle, the real time clock (RTC) 13 for measuring the current time, and the battery voltage. A battery voltage detector 14 to be detected is connected. The G sensor 12 can detect accelerations in the front-rear (traveling) direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction of the vehicle.

  Also connected to the CPU 11 are a camera power supply detection unit 15 that detects the power supply voltage of the cameras 51 to 55, an accessory I / F 16 to which various accessories are connected, and an ignition (IGN) I / F 17 to which an ignition SW is connected. Is done.

  Further, the CPU 11 has a speed pulse I / F 18 for inputting a pulse signal representing the vehicle speed, an engine rotation pulse I / F 19 for inputting a pulse signal representing the engine speed, an external input I / F 20 for inputting an external signal, and an external An external output I / F 21 that outputs a signal is connected.

  Further, the CPU 11 is connected to a communication device I / F 22 to which a communication device 60 for performing wireless communication with a data management device 75 (see FIG. 2) on the office side through a network line such as the Internet, and an ETC to which an ETC is connected. The I / F 23 is connected.

  In addition, the CPU 11 includes a CAN controller 26 that controls a USB (function) I / F 24, a USB (host) I / F 25 to which various devices can be connected, and a CAN I / F 27 to which various in-vehicle devices are connected. Connected.

  Further, the CPU 11 switches the NTSC decoder 31 for converting the NTSC signals from the cameras 51 and 52 for photographing the front of the vehicle and the interior of the vehicle into image data, and the switch for turning on / off the NTSC decoders 31, 32, 33 and 34, respectively. The unit 35 is connected. The NTSC decoders 32, 33, and 34 are connected to cameras 53, 54, and 55 that photograph the left side, the right side, and the rear, respectively, with respect to the traveling direction of the vehicle.

  Further, the CPU 11 is connected to an NTSC encoder 36 that converts image data into an NTSC signal and outputs it to the video output unit 56, and an audio codec 37 that compresses an audio signal input from the microphone 57. In addition, the CPU 11 opens and closes the PCM conversion unit 38 that converts the pulse code for the audio signal amplified by the amplifier 58 and output from the speaker 59, the memory card I / F 39 to which the memory card is connected, and the cover. A cover SW40 is connected.

  The CPU 11 is connected to an operation unit 41 operated by a driver or the like, a display unit 42 including LEDs, a RAM 43 that stores image data and the like, and a ROM 44 that stores operation programs and various data described later. The operation unit 41 is provided with a selector switch 41a and the like which will be described later.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which image data taken at the time of the accident is transmitted from the drive recorder 1 to the data management device 75 on the office side when the accident occurs. FIG. 2 shows an accident when the vehicle 5 on which the drive recorder 1 is mounted reaches the T-shaped road and collides with the side surface of the oncoming vehicle 7.

  At this time, if the magnitude of the G value (for example, the G value in the front-rear direction) detected by the G sensor 12 (acceleration detecting means) built in the drive recorder 1 exceeds the threshold value, the drive recorder 1 determines that an accident has occurred. . When an accident occurs, the drive recorder 1 determines that the G value has a maximum value Gmax (see FIG. 4) from images (moving images) repeatedly captured by the camera 51 that captures the front of the vehicle 5 before the accident occurs. One image is extracted at the timing of (A) to FIG. 4 (C)).

Here, the magnitude of the G value represents the absolute value in both cases of acceleration and deceleration. 1G is 9.8 m / ^{S 2.} Hereinafter, when simply referred to as a G value, it is assumed that it represents the magnitude of the G value, that is, the absolute value of the G value.

  Then, the drive recorder 1 transmits the image data based on the single image 65 to the data management device 75 installed in the office 70 by wireless communication using the Internet line or the like. The manager 73 of the office 70 looks at the image displayed on the screen of the data management device 75 based on the sent image data and knows the occurrence of the accident and the scale of the accident.

  In the present embodiment, as a result of repeated verification of accidents that have occurred in the past, it is considered that the image captured by the camera best reflects the scale of the accident when the G value reaches the maximum value. Then, the image data taken at this time is transmitted to the office 70.

  The operation of the drive recorder 1 having the above configuration will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the drive recorder 1. This operation program is stored in the ROM 44 and executed by the CPU 11. Note that the drive recorder 1 repeatedly overwrites the RAM 43 with data of an image (video) taken by the cameras 51 to 55 for a predetermined time.

  First, the drive recorder 1 determines whether or not a G value exceeding a threshold value for determining whether to transmit to the office 70 is input as the magnitude of the G value detected by the G sensor 12. (Step S1). The process in step S1 corresponds to an accident determination unit that determines that an accident has occurred. If no G value exceeding the threshold is input, the drive recorder 1 repeats the process of step S1.

  On the other hand, when a G value exceeding the threshold value is input, the drive recorder 1 until the G value detected thereafter reaches a value near 0 or until a predetermined time elapses after the threshold value is exceeded. Wait, and after this elapses, the maximum G value Gmax is searched (step S2).

  When the maximum value Gmax of the G value is found, the drive recorder 1 extracts the image data at this time from the image data recorded in the RAM 43 (step S3). Then, the drive recorder 1 transmits the extracted image data to the office-side data management device 75 by wireless communication (step S4). Thereafter, the drive recorder 1 returns to the process of step S1.

  4 (A) to 4 (C) are graphs showing the time change of the G value when an accident occurs. As shown in FIG. 4A, when the G value exceeds the threshold value, the drive recorder 1 determines that an accident has occurred. As described above, the drive recorder 1 has a period from when the accident occurs until the G value reaches a value near 0 (end point 1), or when a predetermined time T elapses after the G value exceeds the threshold value (end point). In the period up to 2), the maximum G value Gmax is detected. In FIG. 4A, the maximum G value Gmax is detected at timing (time) t1. Furthermore, the drive recorder 1 transmits the image data captured at the time point t1 when the maximum G value Gmax is detected to the office 70.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the driver steps on the brake and collides once after the G value rises, the G value is a maximum value G1 smaller than that at the time before the maximum value Gmax. Changes to have. Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, in the case of a slip accident in which the driver steps on the brake many times, a plurality of maximum values G1, G2, G3 before and after the point when the G value reaches the maximum value. Changes to have.

  In this case, when the changeover switch provided on the operation unit 41 is set so as to transmit the image data captured at the time of the maximum value, the drive recorder 1 also sets the maximum value G1 in addition to the time of the maximum value Gmax. , G2 and G3 are also transmitted. This operation is a process of searching for the maximum value and the maximum value in step S2 of FIG. 3, extracting the image data at the time of the maximum value and the maximum value in step S3, and transmitting these image data in step S4. Realized.

  At this time, in step S4, all of these image data may be transmitted simultaneously, or after the image data at the time of the maximum value Gmax is transmitted, a delay time is provided, and then the maximum values G1, G2, and G3 are set. You may make it transmit the image data of a time.

  By providing this delay time, the transmission of one image is completed quickly, and the occurrence and scale of the accident can be notified to the office as soon as possible. It becomes possible to judge the scale accurately.

  FIG. 5 is a graph showing temporal changes in G value and speed actually measured at the time of occurrence of the accident. In the figure, symbol a indicates a change in speed over time. Symbols b, c, and d respectively indicate the G value in the front-rear (traveling) direction, the G value in the left-right direction, and the G value in the up-down direction.

  In this graph, as shown by the symbol a, the maximum G value (3.96 G) is reached after 2.3 seconds from the time point t 0 when the magnitude of the G value in the front-rear direction exceeds the threshold value (0.7 G), The accident is recorded until a predetermined time T = 5 seconds elapses from the time point t0 when the threshold value is exceeded. Accordingly, the time of the recording range before and after the occurrence of the accident is a total of 20 seconds from 15 seconds before the threshold is reached to 5 seconds after the threshold is reached.

  In the present embodiment, the G value in the front-rear direction is used in determining the occurrence of an accident, but the G value in the left-right direction or the vertical direction may be used.

  As described above, according to the drive recorder of the first embodiment, it is considered that the occurrence of an accident and the scale of the accident are best reflected from the demonstration data, and the G value is 1 at the maximum value. Only one image data is transmitted to the office. Thereby, the manager of the office can quickly know the scale of the accident without analyzing the moving image data as in the conventional case, and the immediacy can be improved. In addition, an increase in communication volume can be suppressed and communication costs can be reduced.

  Further, in addition to one piece of image data at the time when the G value has the maximum value, two or three pieces of image data at the time when the G value has the maximum value are used as the image at the time when the G value has the maximum value. You may make it transmit simultaneously with data or later than it. Thereby, the accuracy at the time of judging the scale of an accident can be secured.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that image data at the time of the maximum G value Gmax is promptly transmitted as trigger data when an accident occurs. Thereafter, the state of the vehicle such as speed and engine speed is changed. Of course, the data (vehicle data) to represent may be transmitted.

(Second Embodiment)
In the first embodiment, the case where the image data at the time point when the magnitude of the G value is the maximum value is transmitted to the office is shown, but in the second embodiment, the image data at the time point of the maximum value is transmitted. In addition, a case where image data captured within a time period before and after this point is also transmitted to the office is shown. The image data captured within this time width may be transmitted in either a moving image format or a still image format.

  Further, since the drive recorder of the second embodiment has almost the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the same constituent elements as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is made. Omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the drive recorder 1 in the second embodiment. When the drive recorder 1 detects the maximum G value Gmax in step S2, the drive recorder 1 extracts trigger data having a predetermined time (seconds) width before and after the maximum value, in addition to the image data at the maximum value. (Step S3A).

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4C, the trigger data in the range (predetermined time width w) from 0.25 seconds before to 0.25 seconds after this is extracted with the maximum value as the center. . In addition to the image data photographed by the camera 51, the trigger data includes vehicle data such as the G value detected by the G sensor 12, the presence or absence of a brake, the blinker state, the vehicle speed, and the engine speed.

  Then, the drive recorder 1 transmits the extracted image data at the time of the maximum value and trigger data having a predetermined time width w to the data management device 75 installed in the office 70 (step S4A). The trigger data having a predetermined time width may be transmitted at the same time as or later than the image data at the time of the maximum value. Thereafter, the drive recorder 1 returns to the process of step S1.

  Here, the predetermined time width is a fixed value set in advance, but may be set in consideration of the speed of the vehicle immediately before the occurrence of the accident. For example, when the vehicle speed is 40 km / h, the time width before and after may be set to about 0.4 seconds, and when the vehicle speed is 60 km, the time width before and after may be set to 0.5 seconds. As a result, it is possible to grasp the situation of the accident corresponding to the vehicle speed, and it is easy to obtain a clue to know the scale even if the accident has a high speed.

  Thus, according to the drive recorder of the second embodiment, in addition to the image data at the time point when the magnitude of the G value is the maximum value, the trigger data obtained within the time width before and after the time point at which the value is the maximum value is obtained. Send at the same time or late. Thereby, since highly urgent data is continuously sent, the accuracy in determining the scale of the accident can be further secured. Furthermore, accidents can be analyzed from vehicle data.

  The present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and any configuration that can achieve the function of the configuration of the present embodiment is applicable.

  For example, the first embodiment shows a case where only one photographed image is transmitted at the timing of the maximum G value Gmax. In the second embodiment, images of time widths before and after the single image are displayed. The case where (video or still image) is added and transmitted is shown. In the drive recorder, the transmission method of the first embodiment and the second embodiment may be arbitrarily switched by the driver or the like, and the transmission method can be selected according to the region and the situation.

  In the above embodiment, the G sensor is shown as being built in the housing of the drive recorder. However, the G sensor may be installed outside the housing and output a G value signal to the drive recorder.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the case where it is determined that an accident has occurred and the maximum value Gmax of the G value is searched when the magnitude of the G value in the front-rear (traveling) direction of the vehicle exceeds the threshold value has been shown. The same operation is performed when the G value in the direction or the G value in the vertical direction exceeds the threshold value. That is, when the magnitude of the G value in any one of the three directions of front and rear, left and right, and upper and lower exceeds the threshold value, an operation for searching for the maximum G value Gmax is performed. As a result, various types of accidents can be dealt with.

  Moreover, although the case where the camera 51 which image | photographs the front of a vehicle was used as a camera which can image | photograph the image that most reflected the scale of an accident was shown in the said embodiment, it is not restricted to this camera. One photographed with either camera 52 using a camera 52 for photographing the inside of the vehicle, cameras 53 and 54 for photographing the left and right sides of the traveling direction of the vehicle, or a camera 55 for photographing the rear of the vehicle. Image data based on these images may be transmitted. Alternatively, the images captured by the cameras 51 to 55 may be combined into a single image, and image data based on the combined single image may be transmitted. As a result, the scale of the accident can be notified more accurately.

  In addition, the present invention may be applied to a single drive recorder or may be applied to various devices equipped with a drive recorder function.

  In addition, as described above, the present invention is not limited to the negative G value that acts when the vehicle collides with an oncoming vehicle or the like, but can be similarly applied to the positive G value that acts when the vehicle collides from behind. It is.

  As described above, the present invention is useful because it is possible to quickly know the occurrence of an accident and the scale of the accident when recording an image taken by a camera mounted on a vehicle.

1 Drive recorder 5, 7 Vehicle 11 CPU
12 G sensor 41 Operation unit 42 Display unit 51, 52, 53, 54 Camera 60 Communication device 70 Office 73 Administrator 75 Data management device

Claims (6)

A drive recorder for recording images taken by a camera mounted on a vehicle,
Acceleration detecting means for detecting acceleration of the vehicle and sensing an impact applied to the vehicle;
An accident determination means for determining that an accident has occurred when the magnitude of acceleration detected by the acceleration detection means exceeds a threshold;
Specifying means for specifying a point in time at which the magnitude of acceleration detected by the acceleration detecting means reaches a maximum value after it is determined that the accident has occurred;
Transmitting means for transmitting an image taken by the camera to the external device at the time when the maximum value is reached;
A drive recorder comprising: The drive recorder according to claim 1,
The specifying means specifies a time point at which the magnitude of acceleration detected by the acceleration detecting means becomes a maximum value after it is determined that the accident has occurred,
The transmission means transmits the image taken by the camera at the time of the maximum value in addition to the image at the time of the maximum value. The drive recorder according to claim 1,
The transmission means transmits the image taken by the camera within a predetermined time width including the time point in addition to the image at the time point when the maximum value is reached. The drive recorder according to claim 3, wherein
The drive recorder characterized in that the predetermined time width is set to a value corresponding to a vehicle speed. The drive recorder according to claim 3 or 4,
The transmission means transmits the image captured by the camera and data representing the state of the vehicle within the predetermined time width. The drive recorder according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The drive detector according to claim 1, wherein the acceleration detecting means detects at least one acceleration in a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction, and a vertical direction of the vehicle.

Images