JP6235456B2 - In-vehicle electronic devices - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to an in-vehicle electronic device mounted on an automobile.

  In recent years, an increasing number of vehicles are equipped with drive recorders (event data recorders). Drive recorders are often not mounted on automobiles as standard. For this reason, an accessory socket in the automobile is often used to power the drive recorder.

JP 2014-75035 A

  There are cars that always supply power to the accessory socket. In such a car, even if the car is not driven, the drive recorder consumes battery energy. When the remaining capacity of the battery is small, the remaining capacity of the battery may become zero due to the energy consumption of the battery by the drive recorder.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle electronic device capable of suppressing a decrease in the remaining capacity of a battery of an automobile even when the battery is mounted on an automobile that is always supplied with power from an accessory socket. .

According to the embodiment, the vehicle-mounted electronic device that can be mounted on the automobile is supplied with electric power from the power supply section via the car plug by inserting a car plug into the controller and the power supply section of the automobile. Attached to the automobile, a power detection unit for detecting whether or not , a battery, switching means for switching to one of the power from the car plug or the power from the battery and supplying a driving power to the in-vehicle electronic device And an acceleration sensor . When the controller detects that power is being supplied through the car plug by the power detection unit and determines that the vehicle is driving based on a detection value of the acceleration sensor Controls the switching means to supply power from the car plug to the in-vehicle electronic device, and records the driving behavior of the in-vehicle electronic device. When the controller detects that power is not supplied through the car plug by the power detection unit, or when power is supplied through the car plug by the power detection unit. If it is determined that the vehicle is not in operation based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor, the switching means is controlled to supply power from the battery to the vehicle-mounted electronic device. The vehicle-mounted electronic device is set in a standby state.

The perspective view which shows an example of the external appearance of the drive recorder of embodiment. The block diagram which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of the vehicle-mounted electronic device of embodiment. The block diagram which shows an example of the functional structure of firmware. 6 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of processing executed by the in-vehicle electronic device according to the embodiment. 6 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of processing executed by the in-vehicle electronic device according to the embodiment. 6 is an exemplary flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of processing executed by the in-vehicle electronic device according to the embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a drive recorder according to an embodiment. The drive recorder 1 can be mounted on an automobile. The drive recorder 1 includes a camera holder 2 and a camera body (vehicle-mounted electronic device) 3. The camera holder 2 is also called a pedestal or a support mechanism. The camera holder 2 has a pasting surface 4 for attaching the drive recorder 1 to an installation target. The affixing surface 4 is provided with, for example, a double-sided tape or a screw hole for screwing. The camera holder 2 may be attached to any place as long as it can be attached, for example, a ceiling surface or a side surface.

  The camera body 3 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is also referred to as a camera unit. The camera body 3 is attached to the camera holder 2 so as to be rotatable about a rotation part 5 provided on the side surface of the camera holder 2. In the example of FIG. 1, the camera body 3 is attached to the camera holder 2 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. A lens 6 for photographing a subject to be photographed is provided at the tip of the camera body 3. The camera body 3 has a function of photographing a photographing target within a shootable range (angle of view) through the lens 6 and recording this as an image or video. Note that the imaging apparatus 1 may include a display that displays an image or video captured by the camera body 3.

  A car plug 7 is connected to the camera body 3. The automobile has a power supply unit that supplies power to an external device. The power feeding unit includes an accessory socket. The car plug 7 can be inserted into an accessory socket provided in the automobile. The car plug 7 acquires power from the accessory socket and supplies it to the camera body 3. The camera body 3 can drive the camera body 3 using the power acquired by the car plug 7. Further, a battery such as a secondary battery is provided in the camera body 3, and the camera body 3 can be driven using electric power supplied from the battery.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of the camera body 3.
As shown in FIG. 2, the camera body 3 includes a camera 101, a microcontroller 111, a nonvolatile memory 121, an acceleration sensor 122, a GPS (Global Positioning System) antenna module 123, a mobile wireless communication unit 124, an LED 131, a speaker 132, A card slot 133, a battery 141, a switching unit 142, a power generation unit 143, a power detection unit 151, and the like are provided.

  The microcontroller 111 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 111A, a RAM (Random Access Memory), and the like. Further, the microcontroller 111 includes various I / Os. The CPU 111 </ b> A is a processor that controls various components in the camera body 3. For example, the CPU 111A executes firmware (FW) 200 loaded from the nonvolatile memory 121 to the RAM 111B.

  The camera 101 records the captured image or video in the nonvolatile memory 121 or the nonvolatile memory in the memory card inserted into the card slot 133 via the lens 6.

The acceleration sensor 122 measures the acceleration of the camera body 3. For example, the camera body 3 is installed in an automobile, and the acceleration sensor 122 measures the acceleration of the automobile in which the camera body 3 is installed. The GPS antenna module 123 includes an antenna and a GPS module. The antenna receives signals received from several GPS satellites. The signal from the GPS satellite includes time data by an atomic clock mounted on the satellite, information on the ephemeris (orbit) of the satellite, and the like. The GPS module calculates the current position of the camera body 3 based on the received signal.

  The mobile radio communication unit 124 performs radio communication complying with a mobile communication standard such as W-CDMA, for example.

  The switching unit 142 supplies one of the power supplied from the battery 141 and the power acquired by the car plug 7 to the power generation unit 143 in response to a request from the firmware 200. The power generation unit 143 generates drive power for driving the camera body 3 using one of the power supplied from the battery 141 and the power acquired by the car plug 7, and uses the generated drive power as the camera Supply to various components in the main body 3.

  The car plug 7 has a socket insertion detection unit 7A. The socket insertion detection unit 7A detects whether the car plug 7 is inserted into an automobile accessory socket. The socket insertion detection unit 7A outputs a signal corresponding to the detection result to the microcontroller 111.

  The power detection unit 151 detects whether the car plug 7 acquires power from the car socket. The power detection unit 151 outputs a signal corresponding to the detection result to the microcontroller 111.

  There are cars that always supply power to the accessory socket. In such a car, even if the car is not driven, the drive recorder consumes battery energy. When the remaining capacity of the battery is small, the remaining capacity of the battery may become zero due to the energy consumption of the battery by the drive recorder. A configuration and a method for suppressing a decrease in the remaining battery capacity even when the battery is mounted in an automobile that is always supplied with power from the accessory socket will be described below.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the firmware 200.

  The firmware 200 includes a socket insertion determination unit 201, a power acquisition determination unit 202, a driving determination unit 203, a notification processing unit 204, a switching control unit 205, a driving behavior recording processing unit 206, and the like.

  The socket insertion determination unit 201 determines whether the car plug 7 is inserted in an accessory socket provided in the automobile based on the signal output from the socket insertion detection unit 7A. When it is determined that the car plug 7 is inserted into an accessory socket provided in the automobile, the power acquisition determination unit 202 determines whether the car plug 7 acquires power. In other words, the power acquisition determination unit 202 determines whether power is supplied to the camera body 3 from the power supply unit of the automobile. When it is determined that the car plug 7 is acquiring power, the driving determination unit 203 determines whether the vehicle is being driven.

  When it is determined that the car plug 7 is not inserted into the accessory socket provided in the automobile, the notification processing unit 204 notifies the owner (driver) that the car plug 7 is not inserted into the accessory socket. For example, the notification processing unit 204 notifies the owner that the car plug 7 is not inserted into the accessory socket by using the mobile wireless communication unit 124 to transmit a mail to a predetermined mail address. The predetermined mail address is, for example, an owner's mail address. In addition, for example, the notification processing unit 204 notifies the driver (owner) that the car plug 7 is not inserted into the accessory socket by blinking the LED 131. For example, the notification processing unit 204 outputs a sound from the speaker 132 to notify the driver (owner) that the car plug 7 is not inserted into the accessory socket.

  In response to a request from the power acquisition determination unit 202 or the operation determination unit 203, the switching control unit 205 sets the power supplied to the power generation unit 143 to the power supplied from the battery 141 and the power acquired by the car plug 7. Switch between. The power generation unit 143 generates drive power using the power supplied from the battery 141.

  In response to a request from the driving determination unit 203, the driving behavior recording processing unit 206 records the driving behavior of the automobile in, for example, the nonvolatile memory of the memory card 300 inserted into the card slot 133. The driving behavior of the automobile includes, for example, an image or video taken by the camera 101. The driving behavior of the automobile includes the position and time acquired from the GPS antenna module 123. The driving behavior of the automobile includes the speed calculated from the position and time acquired from the GPS antenna module 123.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by the in-vehicle electronic device 3.

  First, when the camera body 3 is powered on, the switching control unit 205 requests the switching unit 142 to switch the power supply source to the battery 141. The switching unit 142 switches the power supply source to the battery 141 (step B11).

  The socket insertion determination unit 201 determines whether the car plug 7 is inserted into the accessory socket based on the signal from the socket insertion detection unit 7A (step B12). If it is determined that the car plug 7 is not inserted in the accessory socket (No in Step B12), the notification processing unit 204 uses the wireless communication unit to address the e-mail address set for the owner's mobile phone, for example. The owner (driver) is notified that the plug 7 is not inserted into the accessory socket (step B17). The notification processing unit 204 notifies the owner (driver) that the car plug 7 is not inserted into the accessory socket by blinking the LED or outputting sound from the speaker.

  When the car plug 7 is not inserted into the accessory socket, the owner (driver) records the driving behavior by notifying the owner (driver) that the car plug 7 is not inserted into the accessory socket. It becomes possible to know what cannot be done. Therefore, the owner (driver) can be encouraged to correctly attach the car plug 7 to the accessory socket.

  When it is determined that the car plug 7 is inserted in the accessory socket (Yes in step B12), the power acquisition determination unit 202 determines whether the car plug 7 acquires power based on the signal from the power detection unit 151. Is determined (step B13). When it is determined that the car plug 7 does not acquire power (No in Step B13), the switching control unit 205 requests the switching unit 142 to switch the power supply source to the battery 141. The switching unit 142 switches the power supply source to the battery 141 (step B18). The switching control unit 205 puts the camera body 3 into a standby state (step B19).

When it is determined that the car plug 7 is acquiring power (Yes in Step B13), the driving determination unit 203 determines whether the vehicle is being driven based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor 122 (Step B14). . For example, if the vehicle is traveling , accelerations in the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, the traveling direction, and the like are detected. Further, if the automobile is driven by the engine, even if the automobile is stopped, acceleration due to vibration caused by the engine is detected. Further, in the case of an automobile having an idling stop function or an electric automobile, since there is no engine, acceleration is hardly detected even when the vehicle is stopped. Therefore, when almost no acceleration is detected, the driving determination unit 203 determines whether the vehicle is driven according to the time when the acceleration is hardly detected.

  When it is determined that the vehicle is not being driven (No in Step B13), the switching control unit 205 requests the switching unit 142 to switch the power supply source to the battery 141. The switching unit 142 switches the power supply source to the battery 141 (step B18). The switching control unit 205 puts the camera body 3 into a standby state (step B19).

  When it is determined that the automobile is being driven (Yes in Step B14), the switching control unit 205 requests the switching unit 142 to switch the power supply source to the car plug 7. The switching unit 142 switches the power supply source to the car plug 7 (step B15). The power supply generation unit 143 generates a drive power supply using electric power supplied from the car plug 7 (power supply unit of the automobile). Then, the driving behavior recording processing unit 206 performs processing for recording the driving behavior of the automobile (step B16).

  When it is determined that the car plug 7 has acquired power, and it is determined that the car is not being driven, by generating a drive power source for driving the camera body 3 using the power from the battery, Even in an automobile that constantly supplies power to the accessory socket, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the remaining capacity of the battery of the automobile.

  As described above, whether a vehicle is being driven between an automobile that has the idling stop function disabled or has no idling stop function and an automobile or electric vehicle that has the idling stop function enabled. The judgment method is different. In the following, a description will be given of a procedure for a vehicle in which the idling stop function is disabled or does not have an idling stop function, and a processing procedure of a vehicle or an electric vehicle in which the idling stop function is enabled. . The processing may be selected depending on the setting, or the processing in the case of an automobile or an electric vehicle in which the idling stop function is set to be valid may be preferentially selected.

[Automobile with idling stop function disabled or without idling stop function]
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing executed by an in-vehicle electronic device mounted on a vehicle in which the idling stop function is disabled or does not have the idling stop function.

  Since Step B11, Step B12, and Step B13 are the same as the previous description, the description is omitted.

When it is determined that the car plug 7 is acquiring power (Yes in Step B13), the driving determination unit 203 determines whether the engine is started based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor 122 (Step B24). . For example, if the automobile is running, accelerations such as up and down directions, left and right directions, and traveling directions are detected. Moreover, if the engine is started, even if the automobile is stopped, acceleration due to vibration caused by the engine is continuously detected.

  When it is determined that the engine has not been started (No in Step B24), the switching control unit 205 requests the switching unit 142 to switch the power supply source to the battery 141. The switching unit 142 switches the power supply source to the battery 141 (step B18). The power generation unit 143 generates drive power using the power supplied from the battery 141. The switching control unit 205 puts the camera body 3 into a standby state (step B19).

  When it is determined that the engine has been started (Yes in Step B24), the switching control unit 205 requests the switching unit 142 to switch the power supply source to the car plug 7. The switching unit 142 switches the power supply source to the car plug 7 (step B15). The power supply generation unit 143 generates a drive power supply using electric power supplied from the car plug 7 (power supply unit of the automobile). Then, the driving behavior recording processing unit 206 performs processing for recording the driving behavior of the automobile (step B16).

[Vehicles with idling stop function enabled or electric vehicles]
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of processing executed by a vehicle on which the idling stop function is effectively set or a vehicle-mounted electronic device mounted on an electric vehicle.

  Since Step B11, Step B12, Step B21, and Step B22 are the same as the previous description, the description is omitted.

If the car plug is determined to obtain the power (Yes in step B 13), the operation determination unit 203, based on the detected value of the acceleration sensor (step of determining whether an automobile is traveling B34A). For example, if the automobile is running, accelerations such as up and down directions, left and right directions, and traveling directions are detected. If it is determined that the traveling (Yes in step B 34 A), the switching control unit 205, requesting switching the power supply to the car plug 7 to the switching unit 142. The switching unit 142 switches the power supply source to the car plug 7 (step B15). The power supply generation unit 143 generates a drive power supply using electric power supplied from the car plug 7 (power supply unit of the automobile). Then, the driving behavior recording processing unit 206 performs processing for recording the driving behavior of the automobile (step B16).

When it is determined not to be traveling (No in Step B 34 A), the operation determination unit 203 determines whether elapsed without a judgment thirds of setting time, for example from a running (step B34b) .

If it is determined that has not passed a set time from the determined not to be traveling (No in step B34b), returns to the process from step again B 34 A.

If it is determined that the set time has elapsed from the determined not to be traveling (Yes in step B34b), the switching control unit 205, requesting switching the power supply to the battery 141 to the switching unit 142. The switching unit 142 switches the power supply source to the battery 141 (step B 18 ). The power generation unit 143 generates drive power using the power supplied from the battery 141 . Then, the switching control unit 205 puts the camera body 3 in a standby state (step B19) .

  The power generation unit 143 is supplied from the battery 141 when the power detection unit 151 detects that the car plug 7 has acquired the first power and the driving determination unit 203 determines that the vehicle is not driven. By generating the drive power source using the electric power, it is possible to prevent the remaining capacity of the battery of the automobile from being reduced even when the drive recorder 1 is mounted in an automobile in which power is always supplied from the accessory socket. become.

  In the above embodiment, the driving determination unit 203 determines whether or not the vehicle is being driven. However, the driving determination unit 203 may determine whether or not the vehicle system is activated. When the automobile system is activated, there is a high possibility that the owner (driver) is in the vehicle. In addition, if the automobile system is activated, there is a high possibility that the automobile is being driven. When it is detected by the power detection unit 151 that the car plug 7 has acquired the first power, and the driving determination unit 203 determines that the vehicle system is not activated, the power generation unit 143 is connected to the battery 141. You may make it produce | generate a drive power supply using the supplied electric power.

  Note that the processing of the present embodiment can be realized by a computer program. Therefore, the computer program can be installed and executed on a computer through a computer-readable storage medium storing the computer program. Similar effects can be easily realized.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 ... Camera body (electronic device), 7 ... Car plug, 7A ... Socket insertion detection part, 101 ... Camera, 111 ... Microcontroller, 111A ... CPU, 111B ... RAM, 121 ... Non-volatile memory, 122 ... Acceleration sensor, 123 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... GPS antenna module 124 ... Mobile wireless communication part 131 ... LED, 132 ... Speaker, 133 ... Card slot, 141 ... Battery, 142 ... Switching part, 143 ... Power supply generation part, 151 ... Power detection part, 200 ... Firmware , 201 ... socket insertion determination unit, 202 ... power acquisition determination unit, 203 ... driving determination unit, 204 ... notification processing unit, 205 ... switching control unit, 206 ... driving behavior record processing unit.

Claims (6)

An in-vehicle electronic device that can be mounted on a car,
A controller,
A power detection unit that detects whether power is supplied from the power supply unit via the car plug by inserting a car plug into the power supply unit of the vehicle;
Battery,
A switching means for supplying driving power to the vehicle-mounted electronic apparatus is switched to one of the power from the power or the battery from the car plug,
An acceleration sensor attached to the automobile,
The controller is
When the power detection unit detects that power is being supplied through the car plug and determines that the vehicle is in operation based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor, the car Controlling the switching means to supply power from the plug to the in-vehicle electronic device, and recording the driving behavior of the in-vehicle electronic device,
When the power detection unit detects that power is not supplied through the car plug, or the power detection unit detects that power is supplied through the car plug. However, when it is determined that the automobile is not in operation based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor, the switching means is controlled to supply power from the battery to the in-vehicle electronic device, and the in-vehicle type An in- vehicle electronic device that puts the electronic device in a standby state . A wireless communication unit;
2. The in-vehicle electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller transmits a mail indicating that the car plug is not inserted into the power feeding unit to a predetermined mail address using the wireless communication unit. If the vehicle does not have an idling stop function, or the idling stop function is set to invalid,
The controller is
When the power detection unit detects that power is being supplied through the car plug and determines that the automobile engine is started based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor, Controlling the switching means to supply power from the car plug to the in-vehicle electronic device, and recording the driving behavior of the in-vehicle electronic device,
When the power detection unit detects that power is not supplied through the car plug, or the power detection unit detects that power is supplied through the car plug. However, when it is determined that the engine of the automobile is not started based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor, the switching unit is controlled to supply the electric power from the battery to the in-vehicle electronic device, Put the vehicle-mounted electronic device in a standby state
The in-vehicle electronic device according to claim 1. When the vehicle is an electric vehicle, or when the idling stop function of the vehicle is set to be effective,
The controller is
When the power detection unit detects that power is being supplied through the car plug and determines that the automobile is running based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor, the car Controlling the switching means to supply power from the plug to the in-vehicle electronic device, and recording the driving behavior of the in-vehicle electronic device,
When the power detection unit detects that power is not supplied through the car plug, or the power detection unit detects that power is supplied through the car plug. However, when it is determined that the vehicle is not running based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor and a set time has elapsed, the switching means is configured to supply power from the battery to the in-vehicle electronic device. Control to place the in-vehicle electronic device in a standby state
The in-vehicle electronic device according to claim 1. A controller,
A power detection unit that detects whether power is supplied from the power supply unit via the car plug by inserting a car plug into the power supply unit of the automobile;
Battery,
Switching means for switching to one of the electric power from the car plug or the electric power from the battery and supplying a driving power;
An acceleration sensor attached to the vehicle;
A method for controlling an in-vehicle electronic device that can be mounted on a car equipped with
When the power detection unit detects that power is being supplied through the car plug and determines that the vehicle is in operation based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor, the car Controlling the switching means to supply power from the plug to the in-vehicle electronic device, and recording the driving behavior of the in-vehicle electronic device,
When the power detection unit detects that power is not supplied through the car plug, or the power detection unit detects that power is supplied through the car plug. However, when it is determined that the automobile is not in operation based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor, the switching means is controlled to supply power from the battery to the in-vehicle electronic device, and the in-vehicle type A control method for placing an electronic device in a standby state . A controller,
A power detection unit that detects whether power is being supplied from the battery of the vehicle through the car plug by inserting a car plug into the power supply unit of the vehicle;
Battery,
Switching means for switching to one of the electric power from the car plug or the electric power from the battery and supplying a driving power;
An acceleration sensor attached to the vehicle;
A program that is executed by a computer that can be installed in an automobile equipped with
When the power detection unit detects that power is being supplied through the car plug and determines that the vehicle is in operation based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor, the car A procedure for controlling the switching means to supply power from a plug to the computer and recording the operation behavior of the computer;
When the power detection unit detects that power is not supplied through the car plug, or the power detection unit detects that power is supplied through the car plug. However, when it is determined that the vehicle is not in operation based on the detection value of the acceleration sensor, the switching unit is controlled to supply power from the battery to the computer, and the computer is set in a standby state. A program for causing the computer to execute a procedure for

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