JP5294964B2 - In-car video recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle video recording apparatus that records video in a vehicle, and more particularly to a technique for holding image data of recorded important scenes by reliably recording only important scenes inside the vehicle.

  For example, what is disclosed in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2 is known as an in-vehicle image recording apparatus for capturing an image inside a taxi vehicle. In each of the above-mentioned patent documents, a video of the driver when the taxi vehicle is traveling is recorded, and this is useful for evaluating the customer service attitude and the like based on the recorded image. In each of the above-described patent documents, the presence of a passenger is detected using a seating sensor or the like, and when it is detected that the passenger is riding, video recording is started using this detection signal as a trigger.

  In recent years, in order to monitor the behavior of taxi passengers, an in-vehicle video recording device has been proposed in which the vicinity of the rear seat is photographed with a camera mounted inside the taxi vehicle and the photographed image is recorded. In such an in-vehicle video recording device, for example, on the basis of a tariff state signal output from a taximeter, recording of image data is started when triggered by switching from “empty vehicle” to “actual vehicle”. , The recording of the image data is terminated, whereby the image data of the time zone in which the passenger is riding is recorded.

JP 2007-140614 A JP 2007-141213 A

  However, when image data is recorded by detecting the presence of a passenger using a seating sensor or the like, only a scene after the passenger gets on and sits down is recorded. Furthermore, when recording image data using a signal indicating “empty vehicle” output from a taxi meter or a signal indicating a vehicle other than an empty vehicle such as “actual vehicle”, for example, exchange of destinations between the driver and passengers, etc. During the running period (after the taxi vehicle door is closed and the actual vehicle switch of the taxi meter is pressed), the “empty vehicle” is not switched to the “real vehicle”, and therefore image data is not recorded. For this reason, there is a drawback in that blank time is available for recording image data, and important scenes inside the vehicle cannot be recorded.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve such a conventional problem, and the object of the present invention is to reliably record only important scenes inside the vehicle, thereby recording image data of the recorded important scenes. It is an object to provide an in-vehicle video recording apparatus that can hold the information and can be used for analyzing the situation.

To achieve the above object, the invention according to the claims 1, in the vehicle video recording apparatus that records by capturing an image of the cab in a vehicle, a photographing means for photographing an image of the cab in the vehicle, in the imaging means First recording means for cyclically recording photographed image data, second recording means for recording part of the image data recorded in the first recording means, and the taxi vehicle is in a state other than an empty vehicle When a signal indicating that the door of the taxi vehicle has been opened or when a signal indicating that the door of the taxi vehicle has been opened is recorded in the first recording means, going back a first predetermined time from this point. When the image data is recorded in the second recording means and a signal indicating that the taxi vehicle is in an empty state is input, the second recording time is elapsed after a second predetermined time has elapsed from this point. hand And control means for performing control to end the recording of the image data to which comprising the.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the image recording condition is satisfied, the image data is recorded from the time when the image recording condition is satisfied to the first predetermined time (for example, 10 seconds), and the image recording condition is not satisfied. If it becomes, the recording of the image data is finished. Therefore, since only the important scenes inside the vehicle are reliably recorded, the capacity of the recording medium can be used efficiently and the recorded image data of the important scenes can be held, which can be used for analyzing the situation.

If the image recording condition is not satisfied, the recording of the image data is ended after a second predetermined time (for example, 1 minute) has elapsed from the time when the image recording condition is not satisfied. Therefore, when the in-vehicle video recording device of the present invention is applied to a taxi, since it is possible to record after the passenger gets off, only the driver's cheating (for example, only the passenger getting on and off scenes are recorded, Monitoring when there is no video, etc.) and the behavior of passengers after getting off.

Furthermore, based on one of the signals that the signal indicating that the taxi vehicle is in a state other than an empty vehicle has been input or the signal indicating that the door of the taxi vehicle has been opened, In order to start recording image data, there is no need for a special sensor to be retrofitted or specific operation by the driver, and when a passenger is on the scene (for example, a scene where the driver may be attacked) You can record without. Further, since one continuous video record is made for each passenger, the recorded contents can be managed for each taxi business, and the record search on the analysis software becomes easy.

1 is a block diagram schematically showing a vehicle equipped with an in-vehicle video recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the taximeter connected to the vehicle image recording device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an in-vehicle video recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation of the in-vehicle video recording device concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a timing chart figure which shows a time change of various signals which operate with an in-vehicle picture recording device concerning one embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a taxi vehicle 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as “vehicle”) on which an in-vehicle video recording device 11 (hereinafter referred to as “drive recorder”) according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 captures an image of the inside of the vehicle 10 and records the captured image data. The vehicle 10 performs operations related to the operation of the vehicle 10 and displays data related to the operation. A taximeter 12 and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 13 are provided.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the taximeter 12, and as shown in the figure, the taximeter 12 sets an in-vehicle display 32 for displaying information related to taxi travel such as a toll, and an empty vehicle state such as waiting for passengers. An empty vehicle switch 33, an actual vehicle switch 34 set at the time of renting, an additional switch 35 set at the time of extra driving, an incoming vehicle switch 36 set when picking up passengers, a payment switch 37 set when receiving a fee, and A charter switch 38 that is set during charter operation is provided. The driver can set the current driving state of the vehicle 10 by selecting a desired switch among the switches 33 to 38.

  Further, the taximeter 12 is connected to the window display 31, and information on the operation status set by the taximeter 12 is displayed on the window display 31. For example, when the empty vehicle switch 33 is pressed, the characters “empty vehicle” are displayed on the window display 31.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the drive recorder 11. As shown in the figure, the drive recorder 11 includes a CPU (control means) 20 for controlling the entire drive recorder 11 and controlling recording and stopping of image data in a memory card 29 described later.

  Connected to the CPU 20 are a power source 21, a backup battery 22, a camera 23, a clock 24, a microphone 25, an SD-RAM (first recording means) 26, a ROM 27, and a buffer memory 28. . The buffer memory 28 is further connected to a memory card 29 (for example, a CF memory; second recording means). Further, a tariff state signal is supplied to the CPU 20 from the taximeter 12 (see FIG. 1), and a door opening / closing signal is supplied when the door of the vehicle 10 is opened / closed.

  The power source 21 stabilizes a voltage output from a battery (not shown) mounted on the vehicle 10 and supplies the stabilized voltage to the CPU 20. The backup battery 22 is used as an auxiliary power source when voltage supply from the battery is stopped.

  The camera 23 is installed in the vehicle 10 near, for example, a room mirror, and captures an image near the rear seat.

  The clock 24 is a radio clock, for example, and outputs accurate time data. The microphone 25 detects sound inside the vehicle 10.

  The SD-RAM 26 has a function of cyclically storing image data photographed by the camera 23 and sound data detected by the microphone 25. For example, the SD-RAM 26 has a capacity for recording image data for about 5 minutes, and when image data of an amount exceeding about 5 minutes is supplied, the oldest image data is sequentially erased and a new one is added. Write image data. In other words, when the image data is continuously input for about 5 minutes or more, the image data for the latest about 5 minutes is recorded, and the image data input before about 5 minutes is deleted. Hereinafter, when there is no need to distinguish between image data and audio data, these are collectively referred to as “image data”.

  The ROM 27 stores a system program for controlling the entire drive recorder 11.

  The buffer memory 28 has a function as a buffer that outputs part of the image data stored in the SD-RAM 26 to the memory card 29.

  The memory card 29 records the image data output from the buffer memory 28. That is, desired image data is recorded and saved from the image data recorded in the SD-RAM 26.

  Next, the operation of the drive recorder 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 and the timing chart shown in FIG.

  First, the operation of the drive recorder 11 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the ignition of the vehicle 10 is turned on, the CPU 20 (see FIG. 3) mounted on the drive recorder 11 activates the camera 23 and starts capturing an in-vehicle image by the camera 23. Furthermore, the microphone 25 is operated, and the detection of the sound inside the vehicle by the microphone 25 is started (step S11).

  Next, the CPU 20 records the image data picked up by the camera 23 and the sound data detected by the microphone 25 in the SD-RAM 26 (step S12). As described above, the SD-RAM 26 has a maximum recordable time (for example, 5 minutes). If the recorded image data exceeds the recordable maximum time, the oldest image data is stored. Overwrite and save new image data. That is, image data recorded before the maximum recordable time is sequentially deleted.

  Thereafter, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the data recording condition is satisfied (step S13). In the present embodiment, either the tariff state signal of the taximeter 12 is set to a state other than “empty vehicle” or the door of the vehicle 10 is opened as the data recording condition. Accordingly, any of the actual vehicle switch 34, the premium switch 35, the reception switch 36, the payment switch 37, or the charter switch 38 of the taximeter 12 shown in FIG. When the tariff state signal indicating the state is input, or when the signal indicating that the door of the vehicle 10 is opened is determined, it is determined that the data recording condition is satisfied.

  When determining that the data recording condition is satisfied, the CPU 20 determines whether or not two seconds or more have elapsed since the data recording condition was satisfied based on the time signal output from the clock 24 ( Step S14). In other words, the CPU 20 does not indicate that the tariff state signal indicating that the vehicle 10 is in a state other than the empty state due to the passage of 2 seconds or more, or the signal indicating that the door of the vehicle 10 is opened is an erroneous signal due to noise or the like. Judge that.

  If the CPU 20 determines that 2 seconds or more have passed since the data recording condition is satisfied, the image data stored in the SD-RAM 26 from 10 seconds before the door opening time (first predetermined time). Audio data is recorded on the memory card 29 (step S15). That is, the CPU 20 records the image data / audio data stored in the SD-RAM 26 on the memory card 29 from the time point when the data recording condition is established, based on the time signal output from the clock 24.

  On the other hand, if the CPU 20 determines that the data recording condition is not satisfied, or if it is determined that two seconds or more have not elapsed since the data recording condition is satisfied, the process returns to step S11.

  Next, the CPU 20 determines whether or not the same condition is continuously established (step S16). The same condition is when a tariff state signal indicating that the vehicle 10 is in a state other than an empty vehicle is input after the data recording condition is satisfied, or a signal indicating that the door of the vehicle 10 is opened is input. This is the case.

  If the CPU 20 determines that the same condition is continuously established, or if it is determined that 2 seconds have not elapsed under the end setting condition, the CPU 20 continues recording for a long time (step S20).

  On the other hand, if the CPU 20 determines that the same condition is not continuously satisfied, the CPU 20 determines whether or not 2 seconds have passed under the end setting condition (step S17). In this embodiment, after the data recording condition is satisfied, the end setting condition is set when the data recording condition is not satisfied due to the input of a tariff state signal indicating that the vehicle is in an empty state.

  When determining that the end setting condition is satisfied for 2 seconds or more, the CPU 20 records the image / audio data for one minute (second predetermined time) based on the time signal output from the clock 24 (step S18). . In other words, a tariff state signal indicating that the vehicle is in an empty state is input, and when 2 seconds have elapsed, it is determined that the tariff state signal indicating that the vehicle is in an empty state is not an erroneous signal due to noise or the like. One minute of image data / audio data is recorded on the memory card 29 from the set condition.

  Thereafter, the CPU 20 ends the long time recording (step S19).

  Next, with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. 5, the operation along the actual operation of the vehicle 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the driver presses an empty switch 33 provided on the taximeter 12 (see FIG. 2), the taximeter 12 is set to an “empty” state.

  At this time, when the door is opened to place a passenger on the vehicle 10 at time t1 shown in FIG. 5 (b), the memory card 29 is obtained at time t0 going back 10 seconds from time t1 shown in FIG. 5 (e). Recording of image data to the camera is started. That is, when the door of the vehicle 10 is opened (when the image recording condition is satisfied), the image data from the time t0 that goes back for 10 seconds from this time point is read out from the SD-RAM 26 and recorded in the memory card 29. Start.

  After that, when the door is closed at time t2 shown in FIG. 5B (when the image recording condition is not satisfied), the image data stored in the SD-RAM 26 is kept until one minute has elapsed from this point. Continue recording.

  Thereafter, at a time t3 shown in FIG. 5A, the driver pushes the actual vehicle switch 34 (a switch other than the empty vehicle) provided in the taximeter 12 (see FIG. 2) to drive the vehicle 10.

  When the actual vehicle switch 34 is pressed (when the image recording condition is satisfied), the recording of image data to the memory card 29 is started 10 seconds before, as described above. In most cases, the actual vehicle switch 34 is pushed within one minute after the door is closed (within the time during which image data recording is continued). Until then, the recording of the image data is performed.

  Next, when the vehicle 10 arrives at the destination, the door is opened at time t4 shown in FIG. 5B, and the door is closed at time t5 after the passenger gets off. At this time, since the actual vehicle switch 34 (a switch other than the empty vehicle) is kept on in the taximeter 12, the recording of the image data on the memory card 29 is continued regardless of whether the door is opened or closed.

  When the empty switch 33 is pressed at time t6 shown in FIG. 5A after the passenger gets off (when the image recording condition is not satisfied), the recording of the image data is continued for one minute from this point. The recording of the image data ends at time t7 shown in FIG.

  From the above, the image of the time zone from time t0 10 seconds before the door of the vehicle 10 is opened to time t7 when one minute elapses after the passenger 10 gets off the vehicle 10 and the empty switch 33 is pressed. Data can be recorded on the memory card 29. Therefore, for example, when some trouble occurs between the driver of the vehicle 10 and the passenger, the situation at this time can be reliably recorded and stored.

  Thus, in the in-vehicle video recording apparatus according to the present embodiment, when a preset image recording condition is satisfied (for example, when a tariff state signal signal indicating that the vehicle 10 is in a state other than an empty vehicle is input) Or a signal indicating that the door of the vehicle 10 has been opened), image data recording starts 10 seconds before the image recording condition is satisfied. Therefore, an image immediately before the passenger gets into the vehicle 10 can be recorded. When the image recording condition is not satisfied (when the tariff state signal indicating that the vehicle is in an empty state is input after the image recording condition is satisfied), the recording of the image data is ended. Therefore, it is possible to record the image data inside the vehicle after the door of the vehicle 10 is closed until the empty switch 33 of the taximeter 12 is pressed. For this reason, it is possible to efficiently use the capacity of the memory card and retain the recorded image data of important scenes, so that it can be used for analysis of the situation at this time when trouble occurs in the vehicle. Become.

  Further, when the preset image recording condition is not satisfied (when the tariff state signal indicating that the vehicle is in an empty state is input after the image recording condition is satisfied), the image recording condition is not satisfied. After one minute has elapsed from the point in time, the recording of the image data is terminated. Therefore, since recording after the passenger gets off is possible, it is possible to monitor the driver's fraud and to recognize the behavior of the passenger after getting off.

  Furthermore, it is possible to record a necessary scene where a passenger is riding without a special time and a special operation to be added by a driver without a blank time. Further, since one continuous video record is made for each passenger, the recorded contents can be managed for each taxi business, and the record search on the analysis software becomes easy.

  The in-vehicle image capturing device of the present invention has been described based on the illustrated embodiment, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the configuration of each part is replaced with an arbitrary configuration having the same function. be able to.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, a taxi is described as an example of the vehicle, but the present invention can also be applied to other vehicles. In this case, the data recording condition is not either a tariff state signal indicating that the vehicle 10 is in a state other than an empty vehicle or a signal indicating that the door of the vehicle 10 is opened. Alternatively, a signal for detecting that an occupant is on the vehicle other than the driver's seat can be used by either one of the door opening / closing signals.

  In the above-described embodiment, when a preset image recording condition is satisfied, recording of image data is started 10 seconds (first predetermined time) from the time when the image recording condition is satisfied, In the case where the image recording condition is not satisfied, the case where the recording of the image data is finished after one minute (second predetermined time) has elapsed from the time when the image recording condition is not satisfied has been described. The predetermined time 1 and the second predetermined time can be changed as appropriate. For example, the first predetermined time may be 20 seconds, and the second predetermined time may be 30 seconds.

  The present invention is extremely useful for recording and storing in-vehicle images when trouble occurs between a driver and a passenger in a taxi vehicle, for example.

10 Taxi vehicles 11 Drive recorder (in-vehicle video recording device)
12 Taximeter 13 ECU
20 CPU
21 Power supply 22 Backup battery 23 Camera 24 Clock 25 Microphone 26 SD-RAM
27 ROM
28 Buffer memory 29 Memory card 31 Wind display 32 In-car display 33 Empty car switch 34 Actual car switch 35 Additional switch 36 Pick-up switch 37 Payment switch 38 Charter switch

Claims (1)

In the in-vehicle video recording device that captures and records images in taxi vehicles,
Photographing means for photographing images in the taxi vehicle;
First recording means for cyclically recording image data photographed by the photographing means;
Second recording means for recording part of the image data recorded in the first recording means;
When a signal indicating that the taxi vehicle is in a state other than an empty vehicle is input, or when a signal indicating that the door of the taxi vehicle is opened, the process goes back to the first predetermined time from this point. The image data recorded in the first recording means is recorded in the second recording means, and when a signal indicating that the taxi vehicle is in an empty state is input, a second predetermined value is started from this point. Control means for performing control to end recording of the image data in the second recording means after a lapse of time ;
An in-vehicle video recording apparatus comprising:

Images