JP3259276B2 - Vehicle - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle, and more particularly to a vehicle provided with an image pickup device for picking up an outside scene and a recording device for recording an output signal of the image pickup device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a system for objectively recording the situation before and after a car accident has not been generally established. Therefore, when a car accident occurs, the accident is determined based on the memories of the parties or witnesses. The situation and cause have been determined. As a related art, in a large vehicle such as a bus or a truck, there is known a system for monitoring the rear of a vehicle that is not directly visible to a driver. For example,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-31956, which is proposed by the present applicant, discloses that a camera device is mounted above a rear end of a large vehicle,
There is disclosed a technique in which a monitor for displaying a video signal obtained by the camera device is mounted on a driver's seat, and the presence or absence of an obstacle behind the vehicle is confirmed using the monitor.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned prior art,
Although it is possible to monitor the rear of the vehicle, it does not have a recording function, so if an accident occurs, the situation and cause of the accident can be determined based on the memories of the parties or witnesses in the same way as before. Become. However, the parties or witnesses do not always remember the situation accurately,
Therefore, in such a case, there has been a problem that a correct situation and cause are not always determined.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle having a function of recording the situation before and after the occurrence of an accident and leaving it as evidence.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle including an image pickup device for picking up an external scene, a recording device for recording an output signal of the image pickup device, and a recording device.
A protective box having fire resistance and impact resistance.
And at least a first terminal for power supply, an imaging device,
A second device for transmitting and receiving signals to and from a recording device;
The terminal, the state of the imaging device and the state of the recording device
And a third terminal for inspecting the vehicle.

[0006]

[0007]

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the scene outside the vehicle compartment is imaged and recorded from the interior of the vehicle, when an automobile accident occurs, the situation before and after the accident is recorded as an objective record. At least a first terminal for supplying power and a second terminal for mutually transmitting and receiving signals between the imaging device and the recording device.
Externally check the status of the imaging device or recording device.
The recording device can be left in a recording device housed in a protective box provided with a third terminal for an interface for checking , and the record can be used as evidence. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the scene outside the vehicle compartment is captured and recorded from the interior of the vehicle, and the recording operation is stopped when the detecting device detects an impact. It is possible to prevent the recording operation from being continued, and to record the situation before and after the occurrence of the accident by transmitting and receiving signals between at least the first terminal for power supply and the imaging device and the recording device. Interface for checking the state of the imaging device or the recording device from outside.
And the recording device stored in the protective box provided with the third terminal for storage.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the scene outside the vehicle compartment is imaged and recorded, and the surrounding sounds are collected and recorded by the microphone, so that the situation before and after the occurrence of the accident can be visually recognized. From the viewpoint of hearing, the first terminal for supplying power at least and the second terminal for mutually transmitting and receiving signals between the imaging device and the recording device are provided as clearer and more objective recording from the viewpoint of hearing. And an interface for externally checking the status of the imaging device or the recording device
And a third terminal for use in a recording device housed in a protective box having a third terminal. According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the start and stop of recording are controlled in conjunction with the operation of the recording device or the ignition switch, and the recording operation is stopped when the detecting device detects an impact. In addition, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting the operation for stopping and to prevent the battery from being consumed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the scene outside the vehicle compartment is imaged and recorded through the area where raindrops are removed on the windshield by the wiper, and the recording operation is stopped when the detecting device detects an impact. Therefore, even when it is raining, the scene outside the vehicle compartment can be clearly imaged and recorded, and at least a first terminal for power supply, an imaging device, and the like can be clearly and objectively recorded before and after the accident. Housed in a protective box having a second terminal for transmitting and receiving signals to and from a recording device and a third terminal for an interface for externally checking the state of the imaging device or the recording device. Can be reliably left in the recorded recording device.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 show an overall block diagram of this embodiment. An engine 3 and a battery 4 are provided in a vehicle body 2 of an automobile 1, and a video camera 5 is arranged on a ceiling in a vehicle compartment. Further, an impact sensor 18 for detecting an impact, for example, an impact generated at the time of an accident is provided in the vehicle body 2. And the body 2
Inside, a recording device 1 including a video tape recorder (hereinafter, simply referred to as VTR) 11 and an impact detection circuit 19, etc.
0 and a protection box 9 for storing the switch circuit 16. Further, a microphone 8 for collecting ambient sounds is provided outside the vehicle body 2. The microphone 8 may be provided close to the video camera 5.

The engine 3 is provided with a speed detector 7 for detecting the rotation speed of the engine 3 and forming a signal (hereinafter simply referred to as a speed signal) representing the running speed of the automobile 1 based on the rotation speed. ing.

The protective box 9 has a rectangular shape as a whole as shown in FIG. 3, and has fire resistance and impact resistance.
For example, it is a metal box. As shown in FIG. 3, four types of connectors 9a, 9b, 9c, and 9d are used to connect the recording device 10 and the switch circuit 16 stored inside the protection box 9 to external devices. Is provided.

The connector 9a is a connector for supplying power, and includes a recording device 10 stored in the protection box 9;
The power for the video camera 5 is supplied from the battery 4. The connector 9b is an interface connector for exchanging various signals between the video camera 5 and the recording device 10 described above. The connector 9c receives various detection outputs obtained from the automobile 1, for example, the rotation speed of the engine 3, the traveling speed of the automobile 1, the detection output of the impact sensor 18, and the like, or various types of output from the video camera 5 or the recording device 10. An interface connector for supplying information to the vehicle 1.
The connector 9d is a terminal 2 for transmitting various test signals for checking the state of the video camera 5 or the recording device 10.
0 or externally supplied via a video camera 5
Alternatively, it is an interface connector for extracting various signals from the recording device 10. Such a connector
Since it has 9d, REC, PLAY, STOP, REW, FF etc.
Operation can be performed, and the EE monitor and the video camera 5 can be monitored . Also, a control signal for a reset switch can be supplied.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When the driver operates the ignition switch 17 and the ignition switch 17 is turned on, the terminals 15a and 15b of the switch circuit 15 are connected, and the switch circuit 15 is closed.

In the initial state, since the switch circuit 16 in the protection box 9 is closed, the recording device 10 in the protection box 9 is supplied from the battery 4 via the terminal 12, the switch circuits 15, 16 and the connector 9a. , And the video camera 5 are supplied with power. Thereby, the recording device 10 and the video camera 5 are turned on. That is, the video camera 5
A scene outside the vehicle compartment is imaged into a video signal, and the surrounding sound is collected by the microphone 8 to form an audio signal. The video signal and the audio signal are supplied to the superimpose circuit 6. . Further, a speed signal is supplied from the speed detector 7 to the character generator 14.

In the character generator 14, a signal representing a character or a number corresponding to the above-mentioned speed signal (hereinafter simply referred to as a character signal) is formed, and this character signal is supplied to the superimpose circuit 6. The superimposing circuit 6 superimposes characters, numerals, and the like represented by the above-described character signals on the video signal supplied from the video camera 5. This video signal is supplied to the VTR 11 of the recording device 10 provided in the protection box 9 together with the above-mentioned audio signal, and is recorded on an endless magnetic tape [described later].

Here, the video camera 5 and the VTR 11 used in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. For the video camera 5 and the VTR 11, conventional ones having normal specifications are used.
As shown in FIG. 5, the video camera 5 is mounted on a ceiling 83 in the vehicle interior. The mounting position and the direction of the video camera 5 are in a range ARa in which raindrops on the windshield 85 can be wiped by the wipers 84a and 84b.
It is in a state where a scene outside the vehicle compartment can be imaged through ARb. Desirably, a state outside the vehicle compartment can be imaged through the shaded portions in the above-mentioned ranges ARa and ARb so as not to obstruct the view of the driver and the passenger.

First, the video camera 5 will be described with reference to FIG. In the configuration shown in FIG. 6, light [optical image] having passed through the lens 30 is transmitted by the dichroic prism 31 composed of prisms 32 to 34 to the three primary colors R, G,
Decomposed into B. That is, the red primary color component light R is separated by the prism 32 and guided to the CCD 35. Also, the green primary color component light G is separated by the prism 33 and
It is led to D36. Further, the blue primary color component light B is separated by the prism 33 and guided to the CCD 37.

In each of the CCDs 35 to 37, primary color component light R,
G and B are each converted into an electric signal to be a video signal. That is, the electric signal formed by the CCD 35 is transmitted through the preamplifier 38 and the variable gain
The electric signal formed by D36 is supplied to an image enhancer 45 via a preamplifier 39 and a variable gain amplifier 42, and the electric signal formed by the CCD 37 is supplied to a image enhancer 45 via a preamplifier 40 and a variable gain amplifier 43, respectively. You.

In the image enhancer 45, the aforementioned CC
The video signals of the three primary colors R, G, and B formed by D35 to D37 are subjected to so-called contour correction, and then supplied to the process amplifier circuit 46. In the process amplifying circuit 46, processing such as clamp, clip, and gamma correction is performed on the video signals of the three primary colors R, G, and B, and thereafter,
It is supplied to the encoder circuit 47.

In the encoder circuit 47, the three primary colors R,
For example, an NTSC video signal is formed based on the G and B video signals.
Taken out of 8. Alternatively, based on the video signals of the three primary colors R, G and B, component signals of a luminance signal Y and color difference signals (RY) and (BY) are formed, and these component signals are taken out from terminals 49 to 51. .

Next, the recording system and the reproduction system of the VTR 11 will be described respectively. In the configuration of FIG.
In the recording system 11, the luminance signal Y supplied from the terminal 55
However, the high-frequency component is emphasized by the pre-emphasis circuit 58 and FM-modulated by the FM modulation circuit 59. After being amplified by the recording amplifier 60, it is recorded on the magnetic tape 62 by the magnetic head 61.

The color difference signal (RY) supplied from the terminal 56 and the color difference signal (BY) supplied from the terminal 57 are supplied to the compression circuit 63. This compression circuit 63
Is called CTDM (Compressed Time Division Multiple
x), the color difference signals (RY), (B
-Y) is time-compressed and multiplexed within the effective period of 1H. The multiplexed color difference signals (RY), (B
-Y), the high-frequency component is emphasized by the pre-emphasis circuit 64 and FM-modulated by the FM modulation circuit 65. After being amplified by the recording amplifier 66, the magnetic head 67
Is recorded on the magnetic tape 62. The magnetic tape 62 is endless by joining both ends in the longitudinal direction.

In the configuration of FIG. 7, in the reproduction system of the VTR 11, the luminance signal Y reproduced from the magnetic tape 62 by the magnetic head 61 is amplified by the reproduction amplifier 70 and
The demodulation circuit 71 performs FM demodulation. Then, the low-frequency component is emphasized by the de-emphasis circuit 72, the jitter is removed by the time axis correction circuit 73, and then supplied to the addition circuit 74. The color difference signals (RY) and (BY) reproduced from the magnetic tape 62 by the magnetic head 67 are amplified by the reproduction amplifier 76, and then amplified by the FM demodulation circuit 77.
M demodulated. Then, the low-frequency component is emphasized by the day emphasis circuit 78 and supplied to the time axis correction circuit 73.

In the time axis correction circuit 73, the above-described color difference signals (RY) and (BY) are subjected to jitter removal and time expansion, and the color difference signals (RY) and (B−Y) are removed. Y) are respectively separated. This color difference signal (RY),
(B−Y) are each converted into a chroma signal C by the encoder circuit 79 and supplied to the addition circuit 75. In the adder circuit 75, the chroma signal C is superimposed on the above-mentioned luminance signal Y to form, for example, an NTSC video signal. The video signal is taken out from the terminal 80.

On the other hand, when the ignition switch 17 is operated by the driver and the ignition switch 17 is turned off, the connection of the terminals 15a and 15b of the switch circuit 15 is released and the recording operation is terminated. Therefore, the power supply is cut off by the switch circuit 15, and the recording operation ends. Alternatively, as described below, when an impact of a predetermined level or more is detected by the impact sensor 18 and the impact detection circuit 19 due to the occurrence of an accident, the connection of the terminals 16a and 16b of the switch circuit 16 is released and the switch circuit 16 is opened. As a result, the power supply is cut off by the switch circuit 16, and the recording operation also ends in this case.

FIG. 4 shows details of the shock detection circuit 19. A signal relating to the impact force detected by the impact sensor 18, for example, an acceleration sensor, is supplied to a DC amplifier 21. The DC amplifier 21 forms a DC voltage VDC corresponding to the impact force. This DC voltage VDC is supplied to the comparator 2
2 is supplied to one terminal. Further, the comparator 22
Is supplied with a reference voltage Vref via a terminal 23. In the comparator 22, the DC voltage VDC and the reference voltage Vref are compared, and a signal CP (hereinafter, simply referred to as a comparison signal) representing a comparison result is held in a latch circuit 25, and is held in the latch circuit 25. The comparison signal CP is supplied to the above-described switch circuit 16 via the terminal 26.

The switch circuit 16 includes an impact detection circuit 19
The connection state is controlled based on the comparison signal CP supplied from. Therefore, when an impact of a predetermined level or more is detected by the impact sensor 18, it is determined that an accident has occurred, the closed state of the switch circuit 16 is released, and the power supply from the battery 4 is shut off. Therefore, in this case, naturally, the recording operation in the VTR 11 of the recording device 10 is stopped.

When resetting the contents of the latch circuit 25, the connection state of the switch circuit 28 is controlled by a reset signal RST supplied through a terminal 27. That is, the reset signal RST is
And the contents of the latch circuit 25 are reset when the switch circuit 28 is closed.

Therefore, for the recording apparatus 10 described above,
Basically, power is supplied and cut off in conjunction with the ignition switch 17. In other words, the video camera 5 and the recording device 10 are in the recording mode and can record the surrounding scene only while the ignition switch 17 is operated to be turned on [ON] and the switch circuit 16 is in the closed state. And the ignition switch 17
The recording operation is stopped while the power supply is OFF, or after the impact sensor 18 detects an impact of a predetermined level or more.

Thus, in this embodiment, the vehicle 1
Since the scene outside the vehicle compartment is imaged from the vehicle interior by the video camera 5 and recorded by the VTR 11, the situation before and after the occurrence of the automobile accident can be left as an objective record when an automobile accident occurs. Can be used as evidence. In this embodiment, a video camera 5 captures a scene outside the vehicle compartment from the interior of the vehicle 1 and records it with the VTR 11, and the recording operation is stopped when the impact sensor 18 and the impact detection circuit 19 detect an impact. Therefore, even if a car accident occurs and the engine 3 cannot be turned off, V
The power supply of the TR 11 can be cut off, the VTR 11 can be prevented from continuing the recording operation, and a record of the situation before and after the occurrence of the accident can be reliably recorded.

In this embodiment, since the microphone 8 is provided, the scene outside the vehicle compartment is imaged and recorded, and the surrounding sounds are collected and recorded. Can be left as a clearer and more objective record not only in terms of sight but also in terms of hearing.
In this embodiment, the start and stop of recording are controlled in conjunction with the operation of the recording device 10 or the ignition switch 17, and the recording operation is stopped when the shock sensor 18 and the shock detection circuit 19 detect a shock. So that
It is possible to prevent the operation for starting and / or stopping the recording from being forgotten, and to prevent the battery 4 from being consumed.

In this embodiment, since the recording device 10 is housed in the protective box 9 having at least fire resistance and impact resistance, when an automobile accident occurs, the recording device 10 is not affected by the degree of damage to the vehicle body caused by the accident. Records of the situation before and after the accident can be reliably stored. The protective box 9 includes a power supply connector 9a, an interface connector 9b between the video camera 5 and the recording device 10, an interface connector 9c between the automobile 1 and the recording device 10, and a video camera 5 Alternatively, since the interface connector 9d for checking the state of the recording apparatus 10 is provided, an operation confirmation test can be performed from the outside in a state where the set has been assembled. In this embodiment, the area AR from which the raindrops are removed on the windshield 85 is shown.
a, the scene outside the vehicle compartment is captured and recorded by the video camera 5 through the ARb, and the impact sensor 18 and the impact detection circuit 1
Since the recording operation is stopped when the impact is detected, the scene outside the vehicle compartment can be clearly imaged and recorded even in rainy weather, and the situation before and after the occurrence of the accident can be clearly and objectively recorded. .

In this embodiment, the scene outside the vehicle compartment is recorded by using the VTR 11, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is sufficient that the scene outside the vehicle compartment can be recorded. , A semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, or the like may be used. Further, in this embodiment, the character generator 14, the superimpose circuit 6, the shock sensor 18 and the like are arranged outside the protective box 9. However, the present invention is not limited to this. May be provided inside. Further, in this embodiment, the recording device 1 is linked with the operation of the ignition switch 17.
Although power is supplied to and shut off from 0, the present invention is not limited to this. A manual mode may be provided, and video and audio signals may be recorded by user operation. In this case, for example, the terminal 20 is connected to the connector 9d of the protective box 9, and signals for various tests are supplied from the outside through the terminal 20 , or
Various signals from the video camera 5 or the recording device 10
Can be put out .

[0036]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since a scene outside the vehicle compartment is imaged and recorded from the interior of the vehicle, when an automobile accident occurs, the situation before and after the accident is objectively recorded. as external least a power supply first terminal for supplying a second terminal for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the imaging apparatus and the recording apparatus, the state of the imaging apparatus or a recording apparatus
This can be left in a recording device housed in a protective box provided with an interface third terminal for checking from the recording device, and the recording can be used as evidence. The protective box is provided with various terminals.
Therefore, when the set has been assembled,
The effect is that a confirmation test of operation can be performed.
You.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the scene outside the vehicle compartment is imaged and recorded from the interior of the vehicle, and the recording operation is stopped when the detecting device detects an impact. In the event of a car accident, the recording device can be prevented from continuing to perform the recording operation, and the recording of the situation before and after the occurrence of the accident can be recorded at least by a first terminal for power supply and an imaging device. A second terminal for transmitting and receiving signals to and from the recording device, and an interface for externally checking the state of the imaging device or the recording device.
There is an effect that the recording medium can be reliably left in the recording device housed in the protective box provided with the third terminal for the storage device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the scene outside the vehicle compartment is imaged and recorded, and the surrounding sound is collected and recorded by the micro phone. As for the situation before and after the time, as a clearer and more objective record from the viewpoint of hearing as well as sight,
At least a first terminal for supplying power, a second terminal for mutually transmitting and receiving signals between the imaging device and the recording device, and a state of the imaging device or the recording device are externally checked . And a third terminal for an interface for storing the information in a recording device housed in a protective box provided with a third terminal.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the recording device or the
Start and record recording in conjunction with operation of the NISCHON switch
Recording stop was controlled, and the detecting device detected an impact.
In some cases, the recording operation is stopped.
And forget the operation to start and / or stop recording
Battery and prevent battery drain.
There is an effect that can be.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the scene outside the vehicle compartment is imaged and recorded through the area where raindrops are removed on the windshield by the wiper, and the recording operation is stopped when the detecting device detects an impact. Therefore, in addition to the effect of claim 1, it is possible to clearly capture and record the scene outside the vehicle compartment even in rainy weather, and to clearly and objectively record the situation before and after the occurrence of the accident, at least for power supply. A first terminal, a second terminal for mutually transmitting and receiving signals between the imaging device and the recording device, and a state of the imaging device or the recording device.
Third for an interface to check externally
There is an effect that the recording medium can be reliably left in the recording device housed in the protective box provided with the terminals (1) and (2).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an arrangement of a vehicle engine, a battery, an image pickup device, a recording device, and various detection devices inside the vehicle .

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an imaging device, a recording device, and various detection devices.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a protective box.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an impact sensor and an impact detection circuit.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a mounting position of a video camera and a range where a raindrop on a windshield is removed.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a video camera.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a VTR.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Engine 5 Video camera 8 Microphone 9 Protective box 10 Recording device 11 VTR 16 Switch circuit 17 Ignition switch 18 Shock sensor 19 Shock detection circuit 84a, 84b Wiper 85 Windshield 85 CP Comparison signal ARa, ARb area

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 7/18 B60R 1/00

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image pickup device for picking up an outside scene, a recording device for recording an output signal of the image pickup device, and a protective box containing the recording device and having at least fire resistance and shock resistance. The box has at least a first terminal for power supply, a second terminal for mutually transmitting and receiving signals between the imaging device and the recording device, and an external device for controlling a state of the imaging device or the recording device. From Che
And a third terminal for an interface for locking. Wherein at the vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a detector for detecting an impact, the recording apparatus characterized by being adapted to stop the recording operation when said detecting device detects an impact Vehicle. 3. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a microphone for converting a sound into an electric signal, wherein an output signal of the microphone is recorded by the recording device. Vehicle to do. 4. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: a detection device for detecting an impact; and an ignition switch for switching an internal combustion engine between an operation state and a non-operation state, and interlocked with the operation of the recording device or the ignition switch. And a recording start operation and a recording stop operation are controlled, and the recording operation is stopped when the detection device detects an impact. 5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the imaging device is mounted at a position where the outside scene can be imaged within a wiping range of a wiper for wiping water droplets attached to a windshield.