JP6661860B2 - Automotive electronics and programs - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording device such as a drive recorder or a monitoring device capable of continuously recording captured images.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are known image recording apparatuses such as a drive recorder that photographs a scene in front of a vehicle and continuously records the image, and a monitoring device that photographs a predetermined monitoring area and continuously records the image. Reference 1). For example, after the ignition of the vehicle is turned on, an image recording device such as a drive recorder erases a captured image whose recording time is old and secures a free area while deleting a new captured image as long as the energized state is continued. Some are recorded sequentially. According to a drive recorder or the like that performs such a recording operation, a captured image over a predetermined period in the past up to the present can be constantly updated and maintained.

  The purpose of recording a captured image over a predetermined period in the past in this way is to identify the cause of a traffic accident or the like, or to have the employer manage the driving of a driver who is an employee. In recent years, as inexpensive drive recorders have been sold at mass retailers of car accessories, users who enjoy personal use by recording drive scenes, recording cityscapes, and the like have appeared. .

JP 2012-64126 A

  An image recording device such as a drive recorder that continuously records a captured image has a point that the use of a storage area is significantly different from that of a camera or a video camera. The point is that an image recording apparatus such as a drive recorder can perform an operation of repeatedly deleting an old captured image and recording a new captured image indefinitely as long as the power is on.

  In an image recording apparatus such as a drive recorder, when an operation of repeatedly erasing and writing is performed indefinitely in order to continuously record a captured image, in addition to the continuous recording of the captured image, other data of other data is recorded. If writing or erasing is to be executed, there is a possibility that the frequency of data access to the storage medium becomes excessive or processing cannot be performed in time. Therefore, the processes that can be performed simultaneously when an operation of repeatedly erasing and writing infinitely in order to continuously record a captured image is limited, or a specific process cannot be performed. There is a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and in an image recording apparatus capable of continuously recording a captured image, other data can be stored even during an operation of continuously recording the captured image. It is an invention to provide an image recording apparatus capable of relatively easily executing the processing relating to the image recording apparatus.
Further, conventional drive recorders such as a drive recorder equipped with only one memory card in a drive recorder for recording on a memory card have the following problems and problems.
(A) If the memory card is damaged or defective, recording cannot be performed. In particular, when continuous recording is performed, the recording is repeatedly performed by overwriting (repetition of erasure and storage) at all times during traveling, so that the possibility of damage is high. Also, there is a high possibility that the memory card will be damaged if it is removed during operation. In most cases, the drive recorder is turned on and off in conjunction with the engine key. However, depending on the vehicle, voltage fluctuations, disconnections, surges, etc. may occur, especially when the engine is started. In some cases, an abnormality occurs, causing damage or malfunction of the memory card.
(B) The main purpose of the drive recorder is to record the accident, and it is necessary to keep the record of the accident so that it does not disappear. In general, the detection of an accident is generally regarded as an accident when an impact equal to or greater than a predetermined value is detected by a G sensor or the like, and the images before and after the accident are often stored with overwriting prohibited. However, it is difficult to reliably detect only accidents, and impacts are also detected due to bumps and bumps on the road surface, driver's driving style, etc. There are very many recordings that do not need to be saved. If the sensitivity of the sensor is lowered, it is impossible to detect an accident. In addition, witnesses of dangerous driving and reckless driving, dangerous experiences that are likely to cause accidents, recording of places with good scenery, etc. are often done by manual operation and the images before and after that are overwritten and saved, and depending on the user, Record a lot without overwriting. If the memory card becomes full due to such overwriting-prohibited recording, naturally no further recording can be performed. It is necessary to take measures such as replacing the memory card, taking out / deleting images, initializing, etc.However, there are cases where it is not possible to immediately take measures due to some circumstances such as traveling or traveling, in which case the memory can not be further stored and the drive It will not function as a recorder.
(C) Generally, continuous recording and recording of events or the like for which overwriting is prohibited are generally stored in the same memory card, but the number of recordings for which overwriting is prohibited increases if no measures are taken. Maintenance / treatment should be done on a daily basis, but it is not easy. In some cases, the continuous recording area and the overwrite-protected recording area are separated in the memory card.However, the overwrite-protected recording is often prioritized and stored without dividing the area. In many cases. In this case, even if the memory card does not become full due to the overwriting-prohibited recording as in (b) above, the recording area always decreases, the recording time becomes shorter, and the time during which images can be checked retroactively becomes shorter. At the same time, there is a problem that the time required for one round of overwriting is shortened, the frequency of repetition of erasure and recording is increased, and the probability of damage or malfunction of the memory card is further increased. If the continuous recording area is always separated from the overwrite-inhibited recording area, if the overwrite-inhibited recording area is full, no further recording can be performed, and it is more likely that the area will be full than in a system without area division.
(D) The memory card may be removed from the drive recorder in order to confirm or take out the recorded image with a PC viewer or the like. If you forget to remove the card, or cannot use the removed memory card for some reason, you will not be able to record / store and run as a drive recorder if you drive without the memory card installed.
(E) When a multifunctional drive recorder is used, the amount of data and information stored in a memory card becomes extremely large, and the processing speed may be reduced or a part that cannot be processed may occur. In addition, the frequency of use of the memory card increases, and the probability of damage or malfunction of the memory card increases. If the memory card is damaged or malfunctions, all functions are often unavailable.
The present invention is, for example, an invention that aims to provide an image recording apparatus or the like that can exhibit a function as a drive recorder more continuously and can solve such a conventional problem.

(1) In an image recording apparatus including a control unit having a function of recording a captured image acquired by an imaging unit on a removable storage medium,
A plurality of medium storage units for detachably holding a storage medium are provided,
The control means, while recording a captured image on a storage medium mounted on at least one of the plurality of medium storage units, a storage medium mounted on any other medium storage unit It is preferable that the image recording apparatus has a function of executing a predetermined writing process.

  This image recording apparatus includes a plurality of the medium storage units, and can mount a plurality of storage media. The control means, while recording a captured image on a storage medium mounted on at least one of the plurality of medium storage units, a storage medium mounted on any other medium storage unit A function of executing a predetermined writing process. Therefore, the image recording apparatus can execute a predetermined writing process on another storage medium in parallel with the recording process of the captured image.

  If the predetermined writing process is performed on a storage medium different from the storage medium on which the captured image is recorded, even if the predetermined writing process is performed during the recording of the captured image, the captured image is not deleted. With respect to a storage medium to be recorded or a storage medium that executes a predetermined writing process, the possibility that the frequency of data access such as data writing or reading becomes excessive can be reduced. Thus, by executing the predetermined writing process, it is possible to suppress a possibility that a problem occurs in recording the captured image.

  In this image recording apparatus, a process in which the frequency of data access to the storage medium is relatively large can be executed as the predetermined writing process within a range in which the influence on the recording operation of the captured image is suppressed. If various writing processes can be performed during the recording of the captured image, the image recording device can be utilized not only for recording the captured image but also for recording vehicle data such as engine speed and speed, for example. Can be improved.

  In addition, as a configuration for executing another writing process during or while recording the captured image, the captured image is recorded by, for example, providing a plurality of arithmetic devices such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). May be performed at the same time as the processing for executing the other writing processing. However, even if one arithmetic unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) records the captured image, And a process for executing another writing process may be simultaneously executed in a time-division manner. For example, it is preferable to perform the writing process to another file without closing the file in which the captured image is recorded. For example, after the recording operation of the captured image by the image recording device is started and before the recording operation is completed, for example, the CPU may execute another writing process by interruption.

  For example, in an image recording apparatus including a control unit having a function of recording a captured image acquired by an imaging unit on a removable storage medium, the image recording apparatus includes a plurality of medium storage units that detachably hold a storage medium, and the control unit includes: A predetermined writing process is performed with a storage medium mounted in at least one of the plurality of medium storage units as a main and a storage medium mounted in one of the other medium storage units as a subordinate. An image recording device having a function may be provided.

(2) The control means deletes the captured image in order from the one with the oldest image capturing timing, and sequentially stores the new captured image in the free area while securing the free area of the storage area of the storage medium. It is possible to execute a control mode of recording a series of captured images over a predetermined period in the past using the storage medium,
Preferably, at least two medium storage units are provided.

Image capturing means for acquiring image information, a medium accommodating section accommodating a storage medium in a removably insertable manner, and control capable of executing control for recording an image captured by the image capturing means on a storage medium accommodated in the medium accommodating section. Means, the image recording apparatus comprising:
The control means deletes the captured images in order from the one with the oldest captured timing and sequentially stores a new captured image in the free area while securing a free area of the storage area of the storage medium, thereby making it possible to store a predetermined image in the past. It is possible to execute a control mode of recording a series of captured images over a period using the storage medium,
Preferably, the image recording apparatus is provided with at least two medium storage units.

  As described above, an image recording apparatus such as a drive recorder that continuously records captured images has a point that the use of a storage area is significantly different from that of a camera or a video camera. That is, as long as the image recording apparatus such as a drive recorder is in the energized state, for example, erasing of an old captured image and recording of a new captured image are repeated endlessly. In the case of a camera or a video camera, an old captured image is not deleted without permission by overwriting a new captured image. For example, a captured image is deleted after being read by a terminal device such as a personal computer.

  As described above, in an image recording apparatus such as a drive recorder that repeatedly erases and writes infinitely in order to continuously record a captured image, a data writing error, an erasing error, and the like occur while recording and erasing of a captured image are repeated. And the recording data in the storage area may have a defect.

  On the other hand, since the image recording apparatus includes at least two medium storage units, a plurality of storage media can be mounted. When a plurality of storage media are used, the number of executions of rewriting, erasing, and the like of data in each storage medium can be reduced and the load can be reduced as compared with the case where only one storage medium is used. Thus, the probability of occurrence of troubles such as a writing error and an erasing error when recording the captured image can be reduced, and the operation reliability can be improved.

  As described above, the image recording device is a device for continuously recording a captured image, and is a device useful for improving the stability of the recording operation of the captured image.

The number of medium storage units in the image recording apparatus may be two, but is particularly preferably three or more.
The imaging means may be an imaging camera provided with an imaging device such as a CCD or CMOS, or an imaging means using an area sensor such as a laser radar, a millimeter wave sensor, or an infrared sensor.
The image recording device is useful in application to a drive recorder, a monitoring device, and the like.
As a series of captured images, for example, as in a so-called event recording, a predetermined period including an event occurrence time point (for example, a predetermined period including a first predetermined period before the event occurrence and a second predetermined period after the event occurrence) However, it is particularly preferable that the recording be performed irrespective of the event, and that the so-called constant recording be performed.

  The control means deletes the captured images in order from the one with the oldest captured timing and sequentially stores a new captured image in the empty area while securing a free area of the storage area of the storage medium, thereby obtaining the captured image. And a control mode in which the recording image is recorded using the storage medium and a control mode in which the captured image is not erased. The image recording apparatus may be provided with at least two medium storage units.

(3) The control means uses each storage medium accommodated in any two or more medium accommodation units to record the series of captured images, and stores any one of the storage media. It is preferable that a control mode for initializing a storage area of any other storage medium can be executed while a new captured image is being recorded on the medium.
The control means uses each storage medium stored in any two or more medium storage units to record a captured image, and a new captured image is stored in any one of the storage media. It is preferable that the image recording apparatus is capable of executing a control mode for initializing a storage area of any other storage medium while recording is performed.

According to the above (3), when recording of a captured image on any of the storage media is started, recording can always be started from the initialization state. If recording is started from the initialized state, the probability of occurrence of a writing error or the like can be extremely reduced. During the initialization of one of the storage media, the captured image may be recorded in the other storage medium, so that the recording operation of the captured image does not need to be interrupted for the initialization, and the processing efficiency of the recording operation is reduced. There is no loss.
Note that the same data may be written to two or more storage media. If the same data is recorded in a physically independent storage medium, even if a trouble occurs in one storage medium, the data can be read from the other storage medium, and the reliability can be improved.

(4) In the image recording device, when two storage media are used to record the series of captured images, the two storage media are alternately used to record the series of captured images, It is preferable that a control mode for initializing a storage area of any other storage medium can be executed while a new captured image is being recorded on any one storage medium.
When two storage media are used to record a captured image, the two storage media are alternately used to record the captured image, and a new captured image is recorded in one of the storage media. It is preferable that the image recording apparatus be capable of executing a control mode for initializing a storage area of any other storage medium during the operation.
According to the above (4), by alternately initializing the two storage media, it is possible to always start recording from the initialized state when starting to record a captured image in one of the storage media.

(5) In the image recording apparatus, when the number of storage media used for recording the series of captured images is three or more, two storage media selected from the storage media are sequentially replaced. It is preferable to be able to execute a control mode for initializing the storage area of one of the other storage media while a new captured image is being recorded on one of the two selected storage media.
When three or more storage media are used to record a captured image, two storage media selected from the respective storage media are sequentially replaced, and one of the two selected storage media is replaced. The image recording apparatus may be capable of executing a control mode for initializing a storage area of any other storage medium while a new captured image is being recorded on one storage medium.

  For example, when there are the first to third storage media in the initialized state, first, the captured images are sequentially recorded in the first and second storage media, and thereafter, new captured images are stored in the third storage medium. The first and third storage media are selected when recording an image, and the first storage medium is initialized while recording a captured image on the third storage medium. After recording the captured image on the third storage medium, the first and second storage media are selected, and the second storage medium is initialized while recording the captured image on the first storage medium. After recording the captured image on the first storage medium, the second and third storage media are selected, and the third storage medium is initialized while recording the captured image on the second storage medium. By sequentially switching the two storage media to be selected in this way, it becomes possible to record a captured image for a long time using three or more storage media.

(6) File management information for managing a recording position of data in a storage area is recorded on the storage medium,
When initializing any other storage medium while a new captured image is being recorded on any one storage medium, any other storage medium is linked to the operation of recording the new captured image. It is preferable that the recorded captured image is deleted from the old one at the time of recording, and after all the captured images are deleted, the file management information is deleted to complete the initialization.

  The file management information is information for managing which data is recorded at which position in the storage area of the storage medium, and is management information necessary when reading data or the like of a recorded captured image or the like. It is good to For example, after erasing such file management information, even data before erasure becomes unreadable. If the file management information is deleted at the start of the initialization work, it becomes difficult to read the captured image recorded on the storage medium at the same time as the start of the initialization work. On the other hand, if the file management information is deleted at the end of the initialization operation, it is possible to read a recorded captured image and the like even after the initialization operation is started.

  As a mode of erasing a captured image of any other storage medium in conjunction with a recording operation of a captured image on any one storage medium, for example, a time length of a captured image newly recorded on any one storage medium is used. There is a mode in which the time and the time length of a captured image erased from any other storage medium substantially match. In this case, it is possible to suppress the degree to which the time length of the captured image readable from the storage medium varies according to the progress of the initialization work. If the file management information is erased simultaneously with the start of the initialization work, the captured image recorded on the storage medium cannot be read instantaneously. The time length of the captured image that can be read from the medium is reduced at a stretch.

(7) The control means can execute a plurality of types of control modes for recording data on the storage medium,
In at least one storage medium, setting information corresponding to any of the plurality of types of control modes is recorded,
The control means may be configured to execute control corresponding to the setting information read from the storage medium when the storage medium storing the setting information is stored in the medium storage unit.

  In this case, by accommodating the storage medium on which the setting information is recorded in the medium accommodating section, the control according to the setting information can be started immediately. By rewriting the setting information recorded on the storage medium, the operation of the image recording apparatus can be changed, which is very convenient. If the control mode of the image recording apparatus can be changed based on the setting information recorded on the storage medium, for example, it is not necessary to provide an operation unit or the like for changing the control mode in the main body of the image recording apparatus. In this case, the hardware configuration can be simplified, the cost can be reduced, and the trouble of the operating means, which is likely to cause a failure, can be avoided beforehand, and the operation reliability can be improved. Further, if it is difficult to change the setting information by an operation on the user side, for example, it is possible to suppress a possibility that a driver or the like hired by a transportation company, a taxi company, or the like changes the setting information without permission. Such a configuration is advantageous in an application where an employer such as a transportation company or a taxi company manages the driving of a driver who is an employee.

(8) an image recording device, comprising: a change operation unit that receives an operation for changing setting information recorded on the storage medium;
Warning means for warning that, when an operation of changing the setting information is received via the changing operation means, there is a possibility that the data recorded on the storage medium may be erased due to the change of the setting information. It is good to have a configuration.
In this case, the possibility that the recorded captured image or the like is inadvertently deleted by the setting information change operation can be suppressed. The risk that important captured images are erased is reduced, and the image recording apparatus is easy to use.

(9) The image recording apparatus has a built-in storage means for storing various data.
It is preferable that the control unit reads the setting information from the storage medium and stores the setting information in the storage unit when the storage medium storing the setting information is stored in the medium storage unit.
In this case, for example, even when the storage medium on which the setting information is recorded is removed, control according to the setting information can be realized. For example, when the storage medium on which the setting information is recorded is removed, the setting information of the storage unit may be recorded on another storage medium. In this case, since the setting information is recorded at two physically independent locations, security can be improved. As the storage unit, a unit using an electronic device such as a nonvolatile memory such as a flash ROM can be considered.

(10) When the control unit initializes a storage area of the storage medium on which the setting information is recorded, the control unit records the setting information stored in the storage unit again in the storage medium that has been initialized. good.
In this case, even for the storage medium on which the setting information is recorded, it is possible to perform initialization in which the entire storage area is once erased. If the setting information is recorded again after the initialization work, the original state in which the setting information was recorded can be reproduced.

(11) The control means records the series of captured images on some of the storage media contained in any two or more media storage units,
Any of the remaining storage media may be configured to execute a control mode for recording a specific image that is a captured image of a specific time section or a captured image including a specific time section of the series of captured images. good.

  If the series of captured images and the specific image are respectively recorded on independent storage media, the captured image and the specific image can be efficiently recorded. As the specific time section, for example, a time section that needs to be saved may be set. Since it is necessary to update the series of captured images recorded in the one storage medium at any time, it is not appropriate to prohibit overwriting, but for the other storage medium, the captured images are It is good to record. In this case, the captured image recorded on the other storage medium can be stored with high certainty.

Generally, when recording on a storage medium, the series of captured images is often managed, for example, on a file basis. In such a configuration, it may be difficult to create a file only in a specific time section. In this case, it is preferable to copy or move each file including a captured image in a specific time section.
The control unit records a series of captured images over a predetermined period in the past on some of the storage media stored in any two or more medium storage units, while storing the remaining storage media. Either one may be an image recording apparatus capable of executing a control mode for recording a captured image in a specific time section or a specific image which is a captured image including a specific time section in the series of captured images.

(12) The specific image may be a part of the series of captured images recorded on the part of the storage medium, which is a duplicate or a part of which is moved.
When copying a part of the series of captured images, a corresponding part of the series of captured images may be deleted or left as it is. For example, if a part of the image is recorded after being recorded as the series of captured images, the specific image can be recorded by post-processing after the series of captured images are recorded. Since it is not necessary to record both the series of captured images and the captured images in the specific time section simultaneously and in parallel, the processing load can be temporally dispersed and an excessive load can be avoided.

(13) The image recording device is an image recording device mounted on a vehicle, and includes a data acquisition unit that acquires vehicle data reflecting a situation of the vehicle,
The control unit records the series of captured images in a part of storage media among storage media stored in any two or more media storage units,
Any of the remaining storage media may be configured to execute a control mode for recording the vehicle data acquired by the data acquisition means.

  In this case, the storage medium for recording the captured image and the storage medium for recording the vehicle data are physically independent, and the captured image and the vehicle data can be efficiently recorded. For example, the vehicle data may be recorded in the overwrite protection mode. In this case, it is possible to prevent the possibility that important vehicle data is accidentally erased.

Note that, for example, a signal for synchronizing the timing of the series of captured images with the time of the vehicle data may be recorded. If such a signal is recorded, the captured image and the vehicle data can be reproduced in time synchronization.
The vehicle data includes, for example, information flowing on an in-vehicle network for transmitting vehicle control information, information obtained based on the information, and the like. For example, speed, average speed, maximum speed, 5 seconds speed, average 5 seconds speed, maximum 5 seconds speed, rotation speed, average rotation speed, maximum rotation speed, engine load, average load, maximum load, throttle opening, average throttle Opening, maximum throttle opening, ignition timing, fuel level, intake manifold pressure, maximum intake manifold pressure, MAF, INJ, cooling water temperature, maximum cooling water temperature, intake air temperature, maximum intake air temperature, outside air temperature, maximum outside air temperature, remaining fuel , Fuel flow rate, maximum fuel flow rate, fuel consumption, lifetime fuel consumption, instantaneous fuel consumption, current fuel consumption, maximum current fuel consumption, lifetime fuel consumption, average fuel consumption, ordinary road average fuel consumption, highway average fuel consumption, moving average fuel consumption, maximum moving average fuel consumption, Driving time, running time, idle time, idle ratio, mileage, lifetime mileage, 0-20km / h acceleration time, 0-20km / h average acceleration, 0-20km / h minimum acceleration, 0-40km / h acceleration time , 0-40km / h average acceleration, 0-40km / h minimum acceleration, 0-60km / h acceleration time, 0-60km / h average acceleration, 0-60km / h minimum acceleration, 0-80km / h acceleration time, 0-80km / h average acceleration, 0-80km / h minimum acceleration, 0-20km / h There are vehicle data such as running time, 20-40km / h running time, 40-60km / h running time, 60-80km / h running time, over 80km / h running time, lifetime engine running distance, lifetime engine running ratio, etc.

(14) The control means may be configured to record the specific image when a predetermined event occurs.
For example, the series of captured images is recorded while being updated as needed, regardless of the occurrence of an event. The specific image may be recorded when the predetermined event occurs. Further, for example, it is preferable that the storage medium on which the specific image is recorded is prohibited from being overwritten. In this case, the recording state of the specific image, which is the captured image when the predetermined event has occurred, can be maintained with high reliability, and the captured image can be reliably referred to later.

(15) The control means may be configured to record the vehicle data when a predetermined event occurs.
For example, the series of captured images may be recorded while being updated as needed, regardless of the occurrence of an event. Further, for example, the storage medium storing the vehicle data may be prohibited from being overwritten. In this case, the vehicle data at the time of occurrence of the predetermined event can be stored with high reliability, and the vehicle data can be reliably referred to after the fact.

(16) The image recording apparatus has a built-in storage means for storing various data,
The control unit may be configured to be able to execute a control mode in which, when a predetermined event occurs, a specific image that is a captured image in a specific time section of the series of captured images is stored in a storage area of the storage unit. .

(17) An image recording apparatus mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a data acquisition unit for acquiring vehicle data reflecting a situation of the vehicle; and a storage unit for storing various data. And
Preferably, the control means can execute a control mode for recording the vehicle data in a storage area of the storage means when a predetermined event occurs.

  In these cases, a specific image or vehicle data when the predetermined event occurs can be recorded in the storage unit. Unlike the storage medium, the storage means is built-in, so that a specific image and vehicle data can be recorded even when the storage medium is not stored in the medium storage unit.

(18) The specific image or vehicle data recorded in response to the occurrence of the predetermined event is a captured image or vehicle data of a specific time section including temporally before and after the moment when the predetermined event occurs. good.
In this case, it is possible to record a captured image or vehicle data in a specific time section including the moment when the predetermined event has occurred and starting at a point before the moment. A captured image or the like from a time point before the moment when the predetermined event occurs becomes a useful material that is useful for, for example, later analyzing the cause or progress of the event occurrence. For example, if the event is a traffic accident or the like, it is useful to identify the cause or the like of the accident. For example, if the event is that specific vehicle data indicates a specific situation, it will help to identify the behavior of the vehicle at that time and what kind of vehicle operation caused the situation to occur .

(19) It is preferable that the information processing apparatus further includes a storage operation unit that receives an operation requesting recording of the specific image or the vehicle data, and the predetermined event includes at least an operation of the storage operation unit.
In this case, a captured image in a specific time section can be recorded, triggered by an operation on the user side. When a scene or the like to be recorded appears, the user or the like of the image recording apparatus operates the storage operation unit to record a captured image of the scene.

  The storage operation means may be a real-time operation for recording the captured image, or may be an operation during later reproduction of the series of captured images. For example, in order to record a captured image by an operation during reproduction, a display unit such as a liquid crystal display for reproducing and displaying the series of captured images may be provided.

(20) The image recording apparatus includes data acquisition means for acquiring a measurement value of a predetermined physical quantity, and the predetermined event indicates that at least the measurement value of the predetermined physical quantity indicates a predetermined state. Should be included.
In this case, the captured image or vehicle data can be recorded when the measured value indicates a predetermined state. The recorded captured image and the like are useful for analyzing the cause and progress of the state after the fact.

  The mode in which the measured value indicates a predetermined state includes, for example, that the measured value exceeds a predetermined threshold, that the measured value shows a predetermined change, and that a predetermined combination condition / pattern is satisfied. And so on. The measured values include, for example, acceleration and speed in three axial directions. It should be noted that, as the predetermined event, detection of approach to a position stored in advance or the like may be set. The approach to the specific position can be detected using, for example, position information by GPS.

(21) The image recording device is an image recording device mounted on a vehicle, and includes a data acquisition unit that acquires vehicle data in which a situation of the vehicle is reflected,
The predetermined physical quantity may be a physical quantity acquired as the vehicle data.
In this case, a captured image or vehicle data when the vehicle data indicates a predetermined state can be recorded. The cause or progress of the state can be specified using the captured image or the vehicle data.

(22) In the image recording device, the display unit that indicates that data recorded in the storage area of the storage medium is being read or that data is being written to the storage area is provided in the medium storage unit. It is good to provide corresponding to.
In this case, the storage medium being accessed for data can be clearly indicated, whereby the possibility that the storage medium is inadvertently removed during data access can be suppressed. In addition, as a configuration in which the display unit is provided corresponding to the medium storage unit, for example, a display unit may be separately provided for a plurality of medium storage units, but is shared by a plurality of medium storage units. It is particularly preferable to provide a display unit.

(23) The image recording device has a built-in storage means for storing various data,
A storage area of a storage medium stored in any one of the medium storage units and a storage area of the storage unit are alternately used to record the series of captured images, and the imaging area is stored in one of the storage areas. It is preferable that a control mode for initializing the other storage area during recording of an image be executable.
A storage area of a storage medium stored in any one of the medium storage units and a storage area of the storage unit are alternately used to record a captured image, and the captured image is recorded in one of the storage areas. The image recording apparatus may be capable of executing a control mode for initializing the other storage area during the operation. In this case, even if only one storage medium is mounted, the storage medium and the storage unit are alternately used to initialize one of the storage media and record a captured image in the other. It is possible to execute the control of going.

(24) It is preferable that the control means can execute two or more types of control modes in parallel.
In this case, data of a plurality of systems can be recorded in parallel, and the function as a data logger is enhanced.
As each control mode, for example, it may be configured as a unique mode that is distinguished from other modes, but, for example, such a mode that adopts such a state, performs such processing, or includes such a function. Good to do.

(25) In the image recording apparatus, it is preferable that at least one of the medium storage units has a configuration in which an operation of inserting and removing a storage medium is different from other medium storage units.
In this case, it is possible to cause the storage medium stored in the easier-to-operate medium storage unit to be preferentially extracted. For example, the storage medium on which the setting information is recorded may be configured to be stored in the medium storage unit having the higher operation difficulty level. In this case, careless extraction of the storage medium on which the setting information is recorded can be suppressed.

(26) The control means has a function of individually executing each control of writing, reading, erasing, and initializing data with respect to each storage medium mounted in each of the plurality of medium storage units. Is also good.
If each control of writing, reading, erasing, and initializing data can be individually executed for each storage medium, the effect that the types of recording operations that can be executed in parallel in the image recording apparatus can be increased. As a result, the functions of the image recording apparatus are diversified, and the convenience is improved. For example, it is possible to record vehicle data such as engine speed and vehicle speed in another storage medium while executing recording of a captured image on a specific storage medium. Also, for example, when recording a captured image using two or more storage media, during recording of the latest captured image, a storage area of another storage medium in which the captured image of the recorded captured image is older is used. It is good to initialize. In this case, when the storage area of the storage medium in which the latest captured image is being recorded becomes full, the subsequent captured image can be continuously recorded using another initialized storage medium. If the initialized storage medium is used, a captured image can be efficiently recorded with little possibility of writing error or the like.

(27) The control unit controls the storage medium mounted in any of the medium storage units as a first storage medium for recording a new captured image by overwriting a recorded captured image,
It is preferable to have a function of controlling a storage medium mounted in any other medium storage unit as a second storage medium that does not erase a recorded captured image by prohibiting overwriting.
In this manner, if the first storage medium is a storage medium for overwrite recording, and the second storage medium is to be overwritten by prohibition of overwriting, for example, On the other hand, while the continuous recording for continuously recording the captured image is performed, the second storage medium can be used for recording a captured image to be stored particularly. The control unit controls a storage medium mounted in any one of the medium storage units as a first storage medium for recording a new captured image by overwriting a recorded captured image, while controlling the other storage medium. The image recording apparatus may have a function of controlling a storage medium mounted in the medium storage unit as a second storage medium having an area in which a recorded captured image is not erased by prohibiting overwriting. .
For example, a configuration may be employed in which data that does not prohibit overwriting is stored in the second storage medium. For example, in one of the event recordings, when the G sensor detects a predetermined impact and records before and after the impact, if the impact detection detects an accident, it is better to prohibit overwriting, but in fact, it is better to prevent overwriting such as steps on the road. In some cases, it is detected as an impact by the driving operation of the driver, and if overwriting is prohibited, unnecessary overwriting-prohibited data is accumulated more and more. In order to prevent this, in particular, it is preferable that a predetermined capacity is determined, and a configuration is provided which has a function of overwriting and recording within that range.

In particular, when a plurality of storage media (for example, a memory card) can be mounted, one of them is set as a main and the other is set as a sub, and the main storage is removed or the above-described problem or problem occurs. It is preferable to provide a configuration having a function of supplementing it with a secondary storage medium.
In this way, the device can function as a drive recorder more continuously than in the past.
In particular, the main storage medium may be configured to store an image to be saved, such as a record of an accident or a place with a good view, with a low probability of being overwritten or deleted. Further, it is preferable that the secondary storage medium be recorded at all times during traveling.In particular, for example, the secondary storage medium has a function of searching for an image that could not be recorded on the primary storage medium for some reason, It is preferable to have a function of performing at least one of transfer and copy to a storage medium to be copied.
As described above, continuous recording has a higher probability of causing damage or malfunction of storage media such as a memory card, but in this case, the image that you want to save is mainly in the main part, and the secondary Even if a failure occurs, the damage is small.
For example, it is preferable that the first storage medium in (27) to (38) is a secondary storage medium and the second storage medium is a primary storage medium.
A main storage medium is not fixed, and a plurality of storage media are sequentially used as a main storage medium, and a function is provided for initializing a storage medium as a secondary medium while recording on the main storage medium. It is good to have composition. By doing so, the probability of occurrence of breakage or malfunction can be further reduced.
In this case, it is preferable to have a function of recording both the overwriting continuous recording and the overwriting prohibition event recording on the same main storage medium.
In particular, it is preferable that the recording data that is the basis of the drive recorder is stored in the main storage medium, and the data that is not the basis of the drive recorder is stored in the secondary storage medium and separated. In this way, particularly in a multifunctional drive recorder, it is possible to prevent the processing speed from being reduced or the occurrence of a part that cannot be processed.
Further, by separating the storage medium, the frequency of use of one storage medium is reduced, and the probability of occurrence of damage or failure of the storage medium can be further reduced.

(28) A function of executing a continuous recording of sequentially recording a new captured image by overwriting the oldest captured image at the time of capturing, among the captured images recorded in the first storage medium, among the captured images recorded in the first storage medium. It is good to have.
Continuous recording by continuous recording of captured images becomes possible, and captured images in a past predetermined time range can be recorded based on the current time. For example, a captured image at the moment when an accident or the like occurs can be recorded, and evidence useful for investigating the cause of the accident can be secured.

The second storage medium for which overwriting is prohibited includes, for example, an image captured by event recording when an event occurs, an image captured by manual operation recording according to a manual operation, a still image recording, and the like. It is good to record a captured image other than the above.
If the number of mounted storage media is small and cannot be allocated to the first storage medium and the second storage medium, the mounted storage medium is treated as the first storage medium, and is constantly recorded by continuous recording of captured images. It is also possible to execute recording.

(29) The control means may have a function of recording a captured image in the second storage medium when a specific recording condition is satisfied.
In this case, the captured image obtained when the specific recording condition is satisfied can be stored with high certainty while overwriting is prohibited. In particular, if a captured image according to the establishment of a specific recording condition is recorded on a second storage medium different from the first recording medium for continuous recording, the continuous recording of the captured image on the first storage medium can be performed. Even if any trouble occurs, there is little possibility that a trouble such as reading failure will occur.
The specific recording condition may be set to, for example, an event, a manual operation by a driver, or the like. The event may be the occurrence of an accident such as the deployment of an airbag, the occurrence of sudden braking or sudden steering, or the occurrence of a large acceleration.

(30) The control means, when the first storage medium is removed in a state where the first and second storage media are mounted and the state shifts to a state where only the second storage medium is mounted, It is preferable to have a function of setting a storage area that can be overwritten on a part of the free area in the storage area of the second storage medium.
In this case, even after the first storage medium is removed and only the second storage medium is used, it is possible to perform continuous recording in which captured images are continuously recorded, thereby suppressing a decrease in the function or convenience of the image recording apparatus. it can.

  In a configuration having a function of controlling a second storage medium having an area in which a recorded captured image is not erased by overwriting prohibition, the control unit may be configured to perform the operation with the first and second storage media mounted. When the first storage medium is removed and the state shifts to the state where only the second storage medium is mounted, the first storage medium is stored in a part of the free area of the storage area of the second storage medium. It is preferable that the image recording apparatus has a function of setting a rewritable storage area for storing data corresponding to the storage.

(31) In the case where only one storage medium is mounted, the control unit may provide a storage area with a storage area that can be overwritten and a storage area that is prohibited from being overwritten, with respect to only the one storage medium. 3 may be provided with a function of controlling the storage medium.
Even if there is only one storage medium, for example, data such as a captured image for which overwriting is prohibited can be recorded separately from a captured image that is always recorded. The overwritten prohibited captured image is preferably an image captured by event recording, an image captured by manual operation recording, an image captured by still recording, or the like. Thereafter, for example, when a storage medium usable as the first or second storage medium is newly mounted, the storage medium may be handled as the first or second storage medium. In the case of handling as a first storage medium, for example, all or a part of a continuously recorded captured image recorded so as to be overwritable may be transferred to the first storage medium and recorded. In the case where the data is handled as the second storage medium, all or a part of the data such as the overwrite-protected captured image recorded on the third storage medium is transferred to the second storage medium and recorded. Is also good.

  In a configuration having a function of controlling a second storage medium having an area in which a recorded captured image is not erased due to the overwriting prohibition, the control unit is configured to perform the first operation when only one storage medium is mounted. An image recording apparatus having a function of controlling only one storage medium as a third storage medium having a storage area for data corresponding to storage of the first storage medium and the second storage medium may be provided.

(32) The control means has a function of controlling the storage medium as the second storage medium when a storage medium is newly mounted while only one storage medium is mounted. Is also good.
When the newly mounted storage medium is handled as the second storage medium, data such as a captured image can be stored with high reliability by recording the data on the second storage medium where overwriting is prohibited. When there is a large amount of data such as a captured image to be stored, the usability of mounting a storage medium serving as the second storage medium becomes possible. Further, when the stored data is taken out to an external personal computer or the like, it is only necessary to take out the second storage medium.
When there is no storage medium controlled as the second storage medium and only the storage medium controlled as the first storage medium, an area in which a part of the storage area of the first storage medium is prohibited from being overwritten. On the other hand, when a storage medium controlled as the second storage medium is newly mounted, all or a part of the data recorded in the first storage medium with overwriting prohibited is stored in the second storage medium. The data may be transferred to a medium and recorded.

(33) When a storage medium is newly mounted in a state where only one storage medium is mounted, the control means controls the storage medium as the second storage medium, and controls the third storage medium. The storage medium may have a function of recording data recorded in a storage area of the storage medium in which overwriting is prohibited in the second storage medium.
In this case, the data recorded in the storage area of the third storage medium that is prohibited from being overwritten is transferred to and recorded on the second storage medium, so that the data can be stored with high reliability. .

  Note that, even when a plurality of storage media are mounted and the first storage medium and the second storage medium can be distributed, a mode is provided in which all storage media are controlled as the first storage medium. It is also good. In this case, the storage area of the first storage medium becomes large, so that the recording time for continuously recording captured images can be lengthened. As described above, when there are a plurality of first storage media, when the amount of data recorded on any one of the storage media becomes full, the storage medium on which the captured image is continuously recorded is replaced with another first storage medium. It is better to switch to In this case, one of the plurality of first storage media is alternately used, so that the captured images can be continuously recorded efficiently. The storage medium is preferably configured so that the recorded data can be individually erased and initialized.

  In a configuration having a function of controlling a second storage medium having an area in which a recorded captured image is not erased due to the overwriting prohibition, the control unit may control the storage medium in a state where only one storage medium is mounted. When newly installed, the storage medium is controlled as the second storage medium, and the recorded data corresponding to the storage of the second storage medium in the storage area of the third storage medium is stored in the storage area. An image recording apparatus having a function of recording on the second storage medium may be used.

(34) Display means for displaying a reproduced image of the captured image recorded on the storage medium, and recording at least a portion of the captured image that is the source of the reproduced image on the second storage medium while prohibiting overwriting. The image recording apparatus may include a storage operation unit that receives an operation for performing the operation.
In this case, after checking the reproduced image in the image recording apparatus and determining whether to store the image, the original captured image of the reproduced image determined to be stored can be recorded while prohibiting overwriting. If it can be confirmed by a reproduced image, a captured image to be stored can be recorded with high certainty in a state where overwriting is prohibited. For example, a part of the captured image may be transferred to the second storage medium and recorded while the captured image recorded on the first storage medium is reproduced by the constant recording. Alternatively, the captured images before and after the location marked during reproduction may be transferred to the second storage medium and recorded.

(35) The control means, when the storage operation means is operated during the display of the reproduced image, overwrites a portion corresponding to a temporal section of the corresponding picked-up image with respect to the operated time point. It is also possible to provide a function of recording in a prohibited state on a storage medium.
In this case, by operating the storage operation means when a reproduced image to be stored is displayed, the original captured image can be recorded with high reliability in a state where overwriting is prohibited. By operating while displaying the reproduced image, there is little possibility that an image different from the captured image to be stored is erroneously recorded. The time section of the captured image to be recorded in the overwriting prohibited state is a time section that goes back a predetermined time before the operation time as a reference, a time section until a predetermined time passes based on the operation time, or It is good to set the time zone before and after the time when the operation is performed as a reference.

  The image recording device may be provided with a sensor such as a G sensor for detecting an impact or an external input function. In the case where one of the plurality of mounted storage media is used as a first storage medium and any of the plurality of storage media is used as a second storage medium, a signal input as a trigger is triggered by a sensor or an externally input signal. The captured image of the time section up to a point in time preceding the predetermined time with the time point as the reference, the captured image of the time section until the predetermined time passes with the point of time as the reference, and both of these captured images in the second It is also possible to record on the storage medium in a state where overwriting is prohibited.

  In a configuration provided with a function of controlling a second storage medium having an area in which a recorded captured image is not erased by overwriting prohibition, the control unit is configured to operate when the storage operation unit is operated during display of the reproduced image. A function of recording a portion corresponding to a temporal section based on an operation time point of a corresponding captured image on a storage medium in a state where overwriting is prohibited or including a portion corresponding to a temporal section. The image recording apparatus may be provided. In many cases, data movement or copying is performed in file units, and in addition to “a part corresponding to a temporal section based on the time of operation”, a file often includes other parts.

(36) In addition to the function of storing data, the second storage medium has a communication function of transmitting data to the outside, and the control unit controls the captured image recorded in the second storage medium. May be provided for transmitting the message to an external device.
In this case, the captured image recorded on the second storage medium can be externally transmitted in a state where overwriting is prohibited, and the captured image can be viewed at the transmission destination. Such a configuration is particularly effective when an accident occurs. For example, when a driving situation such as a drowsy driving occurs in a taxi or the like, if an image taken at that time is immediately transmitted to a taxi company, a dangerous situation can be grasped on the manager side before an accident or the like occurs. . Further, for example, when an accident occurs thereafter, if the captured image at that time is immediately transmitted, the situation can be immediately grasped on the side of the administrator, and the subsequent measures can be taken promptly.

  When a storage medium with a communication function and a storage medium without a communication function are mounted, the storage medium with a communication function is controlled as a second storage medium, and the storage medium without a communication function is used as a first storage medium. Good to control. Then, all or part of the data recorded on the second storage medium may be transmitted with priority. Here, the transmission with priority is preferably automatically transmitted.

(37) the image recording device;
It is preferable that the image recording system includes a setting change unit that changes the setting information recorded in the storage medium, and a terminal device that includes a change operation unit that receives an operation for changing the setting information.

(38) The terminal device constituting the image recording system, when receiving an operation of changing the setting information via the change operation means, warns that the recording data of the storage medium may be deleted. It is preferable that a warning means is provided.
In this case, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the recording data recorded on the storage medium is erased by an inadvertent operation. Note that, depending on the relationship between the original setting information and the changed setting information, there is a possibility that the recording data recorded on the storage medium may not be erased. It is also possible to provide a judgment means for comparing the original setting information with the changed setting information to judge the danger of erasing the recorded data and determining whether or not to warn according to the possibility. good.

(A) The descriptions of “first storage medium” and “second storage medium” described in (27) to (38) above are exchanged, and the first storage medium is mainly used and the second storage medium is It is good to make it as a substructure. For example, the following (B) to (E) may be used. Regarding (27), it is particularly preferable to adopt the following configuration (B).
(B) The control means controls the storage medium mounted in one of the medium storage units as the main first storage medium having an area in which a captured image recorded by overwriting is not erased. And controlling the storage medium mounted in any other medium storage unit as the secondary storage medium as the secondary for overwriting the recorded captured image and recording a new captured image. The image recording device may be a device that performs
The first storage medium may be configured to store data for which overwriting is not prohibited. The first storage medium may be mainly used, and the second storage medium may be used as a secondary storage medium. For example, in one of the event recordings, when the G sensor detects a predetermined impact and before and after recording, if the impact detection is an accident detection, it is better to prohibit overwriting, but in reality, In some cases, it is detected as an impact by the driving operation of the driver, and if overwriting is prohibited, unnecessary overwriting-prohibited data is accumulated more and more. In order to prevent this, it is better to determine a predetermined capacity and overwrite and record within that range.
For example, (30) is particularly preferably configured as shown in (C) below.
(C) The control means, when the second storage medium is removed in a state where the first and second storage media are mounted and the state shifts to a state where only the first storage medium is mounted, An image recording apparatus having a function of setting an overwritable storage area for storing data corresponding to the storage of the second storage medium in a part of the free area of the storage area of the first storage medium Good.
For example, with respect to (31), it is particularly preferable to adopt the following configuration (D).
(D) When the number of the attached storage media is only one, the control unit determines whether the data corresponding to the storage of the first storage medium and the storage of the second storage medium is the only one storage medium. An image recording apparatus having a function of controlling as a third storage medium having a storage area may be used.
For example, (32) is particularly preferably configured as shown in (E) below.
(E) The control means controls the storage medium as the first storage medium when the storage medium is newly mounted in a state where only one of the storage mediums is mounted, and controls the third storage medium. It is preferable that the image recording apparatus has a function of recording the recorded data corresponding to the storage of the first storage medium in the storage area of the storage medium in the first storage medium.
For example, (35) is particularly preferably configured as shown in (F) below.
The control means, when the storage operation means is operated during the display of the reproduced image, a portion corresponding to a temporal section of the corresponding captured image with respect to the operated time, or It is preferable to provide an image recording apparatus having a function of recording on a storage medium in a state where overwriting is prohibited, including portions corresponding to various sections.
In many cases, data movement or copying is performed in file units, and in addition to “a part corresponding to a temporal section based on the time of operation”, a file often includes other parts.
(39) The program may be a program for causing a computer to realize the function as the image recording apparatus.

(A) an image recording apparatus including a plurality of medium storage units for mounting storage media for recording recorded data that is data of captured images to be recorded, and recording methods and recording data types in each of the medium storage units; Good.
In the case where the recording method and the type of the recording data are distinguished for each medium accommodating section, it is preferable that the function can be varied for each medium accommodating section. When a storage medium is mounted, it is only necessary to select a medium accommodating section in accordance with recording data and the like, which facilitates use. For example, it becomes easier for the user to recognize the different recording method for each medium accommodating section, and it is possible to prevent mistakes such as removal of the storage medium being written. For example, it is preferable to use different recording methods, such as one medium accommodation unit permitting overwriting and the other medium prohibiting overwriting. It is also possible to use different recording data such as one recording medium for constant recording and the other recording for event recording.

(B) It is preferable that the image recording apparatus is provided with a plurality of medium storage sections for mounting storage media for recording the recording data, and the recording data are erased in the respective medium storage sections with different probabilities.
For example, one medium storage unit has a high probability of erasing recorded data by overwriting, and the other has a sufficient storage capacity for the amount of recorded data so that overwriting is prohibited or the probability of erasing by overwriting is low. Good to keep. In addition, even when both are overwritten, one always records data with a large amount of data such as recorded data, and the other stores data with a small amount of data such as event recording, so that the probability of erasing recorded data differs. It is good to

(C) The plurality of medium storage units may not be arranged side by side in the vertical or horizontal direction, may be different in visibility, or may be an image recording apparatus in which the order can be recognized.
In this case, it is possible to provide a difference in ease of access from the user side for each medium storage unit. For example, a storage medium / medium accommodating unit with a high frequency of attachment / detachment may be arranged in an easy-to-understand place, and a medium with low frequency of attachment / detachment in a relatively difficult-to-understand location. The storage medium / medium accommodating unit that is frequently attached and detached may be surrounded by a line around the medium accommodating unit or colored. If the frequency of attachment / detachment is low, it is better to cover it relatively hard to understand. Alternatively, printing or engraving is performed in the vicinity of the medium accommodating portion so that the order can be recognized as 1, 2,... Or A, B,. It is also possible to make the storage medium hard to be mistaken.

(D) At least one of the plurality of storage media may be an image recording device having a shape or size different from others.
In this case, an effect is obtained that mixing can be suppressed for a plurality of storage media. For example, a storage medium / medium accommodating unit with a high frequency of attachment / detachment is taken out by using a different type of SD card such as a standard type storage medium such as an SD card, and a low type storage medium such as a micro SD card. It is good to make the storage medium hard to be mistaken.

(E) In the control for providing a plurality of medium storage sections for mounting storage media for recording recorded data and initializing another storage medium while recording on one storage medium, the initialization is performed under a predetermined condition. It is preferable that the image recording apparatus be controlled so as to be performed automatically or semi-automatically.
If the initialization is performed automatically or semi-automatically, troubles such as the inability to read data recorded on the storage medium can be avoided beforehand, and data that can be recorded while maintaining high data recording efficiency in the storage medium. The volume can be kept close to the maximum.
It is desirable that the storage medium is initialized periodically.When the storage medium has been rewritten a predetermined number of times since the previous initialization, or when overwritten for a predetermined time, or overwritten with a predetermined capacity, Initialization can be performed semi-automatically, for example, automatically under predetermined conditions such as time, or by performing a confirmation operation to start initialization by displaying an alarm or voice when the initialization time has come, or by performing a confirmation operation to start initialization. It is good to carry out.

(F) At least one medium in the control for automatically initializing another storage medium while recording on one storage medium, including a plurality of medium storage units for mounting storage media for recording recorded data. It is preferable that the storage medium mounted in the storage unit is an image recording device that does not automatically initialize.
If a medium storage unit that is not automatically initialized is set, data to be stored for a long period of time can be held with high reliability. For example, the storage medium storing the event recording may not be automatically initialized. Event recording is considered to be less frequently rewritten by overwriting than regular recording, and event recording is likely to have a recording that you want to keep for a relatively long time, so event recording is stored. It is preferable that the storage medium is set not to be automatically initialized.

(G) When two storage media are provided for mounting storage media for recording video data, and one recording medium is set to perform constant recording and the other is set to perform event recording, a storage medium for constant recording is provided. It is preferable to use an image recording apparatus that temporarily controls the recording to be temporarily stored in a part of the storage medium for the event recording while the initialization is performed.
In this case, the initialization can be performed also on the storage medium that is constantly recorded, and the occurrence of troubles related to the storage medium can be suppressed. For example, if there are a plurality of storage media that perform continuous recording, initialization may be performed in order. For example, when there are two media storage units, one is used for event recording, and the automatic initialization is performed as described above. In the case of prohibition, it is preferable to control so that recording is performed for event recording at least while the recording medium for recording is always initialized.

(H) When a plurality of medium storage units for mounting storage media for recording the recording data are provided, and at least one storage medium is configured to store the event recording and the other storage medium is configured to always record the recording, When the remaining capacity of the storage medium for storing the event recording becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value, the image recording apparatus may be configured to perform control for storing the event recording in the constant recording storage medium.
In this case, for example, when the event recording is prohibited from being overwritten, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the recording cannot be performed when the storage medium is full.
It should be noted that the fact that the remaining capacity of the storage medium has become equal to or less than a predetermined value and that the event recording is being performed on the recording medium for constant recording may be notified by, for example, an alarm, sound, or display.

(I) A plurality of medium storage units for mounting storage media for recording the recording data are provided, and at least one of a main storage medium that stores at least overwrite-recorded continuous recording and an overwrite-prohibited storage of event recording is stored. Other storage media other than the main storage medium are used when the storage capacity of the main storage medium overwrite-protected has exceeded a predetermined value or when there is no storage medium in the main medium storage unit. It is preferable to use an image recording apparatus that performs control for storing data in another storage medium.

  When the recording medium is taken out and the recorded data is browsed by an external device such as a PC, it is more convenient to see all the data stored in both the regular recording and the event recording. Further, when an accident or the like is encountered, the storage medium on which the image at the time of the accident is recorded may be removed and stored. In such a case as well, it is preferable that all the data for both the continuous recording and the event recording be stored in one storage medium. However, a single storage medium does not function as an image recording apparatus when overwriting is prohibited and the capacity is full, or when the storage medium is not mounted. If a plurality of storage media are mounted, it functions even in such a case. The main storage medium may have a large capacity, and the other may have a small capacity. When a part or all of the data recorded on the main storage medium is erased and there is enough capacity, or when a new storage medium is installed, a part or all of the data stored on another storage medium All may be moved to the main storage medium.

(J) The medium storage section in which the main storage medium is to be mounted is determined, and a lamp is arranged near the medium storage section to prevent overwriting and when the capacity becomes full or when the storage medium is mounted. It is preferable to use an image recording device that blinks or lights up when it is not turned on.
In this case, it is possible to clearly display the medium storage unit that cannot support data recording, and to let the user recognize that fact. For example, when the data is stored in a storage medium other than the main storage medium, it is easy to understand by blinking the lamp of the medium storage unit in which the main storage medium is mounted. Further, for example, it is also possible to configure so that the notification is made by a display on a display, an alarm, a sound, or the like at the same time as the blinking and lighting of the lamp.

(K) A plurality of medium storage sections for mounting storage media for recording the recording data are provided, and at least one of a main recording medium and at least both a continuous recording that stores the overwriting and an event recording that stores the overwriting prohibition is stored. When the main storage medium is initialized, at least the overwrite-protected data stored in the main storage medium is copied or moved to another storage medium, and then the main storage medium is initialized. Image recording device.
With this configuration, for example, a storage medium containing overwrite-inhibited data can be initialized.

(L) A medium accommodating section for mounting a storage medium for recording the recording data, and a non-recursive memory for recording the recording data are built in, and the recording data is always stored in the storage medium. When the data capacity stored with overwriting prohibition exceeds a predetermined value, or when there is no storage medium in the main medium storage unit, or when the storage medium is initialized, it is stored in the storage medium. If an image recording device moves part or all of the data stored in the built-in memory to a storage medium when some or all of the data stored in the storage space is available or when a new storage medium is inserted, good.
In this case, only one medium accommodating section is required, and the product cost can be reduced.

(M) When initializing the storage medium, after switching storage from the storage medium to be initialized to another storage medium such as another storage medium, storage for a predetermined time or storage of a predetermined capacity is performed in another storage medium. It is preferable to use an image recording device that initializes the storage medium after the recording.
Since it is desirable to keep new data from being erased as much as possible, it is desirable to initialize after storage in a storage medium other than the storage medium to be initialized has progressed. It is desirable to initialize the memory when the other memory is full and the overwriting is started.

(N) A plurality of medium storage units may be provided, one of which may be a dummy image recording device.
Providing a dummy medium storage unit has the effect of being able to be used as a storage location for a spare storage medium. A spare storage medium may be attached to the dummy medium storage unit, and when the main storage medium is removed, it may be replaced with a spare storage medium in the dummy medium storage unit.

(O) A car navigation function may be provided, and a plurality of medium storage units may be provided in the same housing, and at least one of the storage units may be dedicated to recording data and information or data accompanying recording.
In general, a car navigation system called a PND is equipped with a medium storage unit such as a memory card slot for updating maps and software, providing music and video sources, recording TV, and storing travel routes. Often have. When the car navigation function and the drive recorder function are combined, there is a method to use both functions properly in one medium storage unit, but if the drive recorder function has the function of constantly recording the running image, It is necessary to always store the image data in the storage medium, and when data relating to the car navigation function is also stored in the storage medium, inconvenience may occur in the processing. Therefore, it is better to provide a plurality of medium storage units and at least one of them is dedicated to the drive recorder function.

(P) A radar detector function is provided, and a plurality of medium storage units are provided in the same housing, and at least one of them is preferably dedicated to recorded data and information and data accompanying the recording.
In many cases, radar detectors are used by putting data such as the location of an alarm in a memory card. For the same reason as in (o) above, it is preferable to provide a plurality of medium storage units and at least one of them is dedicated to the drive recorder function.

(Q) In (o) and (p) above, in particular, one of the plurality of medium storage units applies the above (c) and (d) and the above (i), (j) and (k) It is good to be the medium storage part which becomes the main of this. In particular, the present invention is preferably applied to recording data and information accompanying the recording and a memory card dedicated to the data.
The configurations described above can be arbitrarily combined and implemented within a range that does not cause a contradiction in the configuration.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the drive recorder according to the first embodiment ((a) is a rear side, and (b) is a front side). FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a holder on which the acceleration sensor is mounted in the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the imaging unit housed therein according to the first embodiment ((a) is a rear side, and (b) is a front side). FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electric configuration of the drive recorder according to the first embodiment. 7 is a graph illustrating a correlation between acceleration and time when a sudden brake is applied at 100 km / h. 7 is a graph illustrating a correlation between acceleration and time when a sudden brake is applied at 80 km / h. 6 is a graph illustrating an image of a threshold value set according to the magnitude of acceleration and time. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of sequential recording according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an event occurrence determination routine according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating exchange of an SD card between the drive recorder and the personal computer in the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the personal computer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a viewer screen displayed by the personal computer according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an event file sequence in the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a dialog box displayed on a monitor of a personal computer in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of another sequential recording according to the first embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of dual recording according to the second embodiment. FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram of mirror video recording in a third embodiment. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the front side of the drive recorder in the fifth embodiment. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the back side of the drive recorder in the fifth embodiment. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a mounted state of the drive recorder in the fifth embodiment. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the back side of another drive recorder in the fifth embodiment. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the back side of another drive recorder in the fifth embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described using the following examples.
(Example 1)
The drive recorder 1 as an example of the image recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 of the present embodiment includes a substantially cylindrical main body case 2 in which an imaging unit and the like are housed. The main body case 2 can be attached to, for example, a windshield of a vehicle via a mounting bracket 3.

The bracket 3 includes a holding ring externally inserted into the substantially cylindrical main body case 2 and a substantially flat mounting plate 5 circumscribing the holding ring. An end of the main body case 2 inserted into the holding ring of the bracket 3 is configured so that a substantially donut-shaped cap 4 can be screwed therein. If the cap 4 is screwed in while the rotation angle of the main body case 2 is adjusted, the main body case 2 can be fixed to the bracket 3. If the rotation angle of the main body case 2 with respect to the bracket 3 is adjusted, the depression range of the drive recorder 1 can be changed to adjust the shooting range.
The drive recorder 1 can be mounted on, for example, a front window via a mounting plate 5 so that the lens 14 of the CCD camera 13 faces a predetermined direction (generally, a front direction).

  An access hole 171 to the DC jack 16 and a USB port 172 to which a USB cable extended from a personal computer or the like can be connected are provided on the side end surface of the main body case 2 which is substantially flush with the end of the screwed cap 4. Perforated. On the opposite side end surface of the main body case 2, insertion ports 181 and 182 for inserting an SD card are provided. In particular, the drive recorder 1 of the present example has two insertion ports. On both sides of the insertion ports 181 and 182, LEDs (display units) 181A and 182A are arranged. The LED 181A turns on during data access to an SD card, which is a memory card as an example of a storage medium inserted into the insertion slot 181. The LED 182A turns on during data access to the SD card inserted into the insertion slot 182.

  The main body case 2 is a hollow case in which a camera cover 2b and a back cover 2a, which are parts obtained by dividing a substantially cylindrical shape into two vertically, are combined. On the surface of the back cover 2a, a holder 7 (FIG. 2) for rotatably holding the holder body 7a, first and second push buttons 8, 9 serving as operating means, and first and second pilot lamps Illumination blocks 10 and 11 for use are provided. The lens 14 of the CCD camera 13 is exposed on the surface of the camera cover 2b.

  An acceleration sensor 15 as data acquisition means is mounted on the holder body 7a in FIG. In the holder 7, the acceleration sensor 15 can be arranged in a horizontal direction as a reference position according to the rotation of the holder body 7a. Acceleration, which is a measurement value of a physical quantity reflecting the state of the vehicle, is measured by the acceleration sensor 15.

  An imaging unit 21 is housed inside the main body case 2. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the imaging unit 21 is a unit having a board structure in which a main board 22 and a sub board 25 are stacked. On the main board 22, a CCD camera 13, a GPS receiver 24, a DC jack 16, a power supply circuit (not shown), and the like are mounted.

  Switches 27 and 28 corresponding to the first and second push buttons 8 and 9 are disposed on the sub-board 25, and LEDs 291 and 292 corresponding to the first and second pilot lamp illumination blocks 10 and 11 are disposed. Have been. Further, a connector (not shown) for connecting a signal line extending from the acceleration sensor 15 is provided on the sub-board 25. On the front and back surfaces of the sub-board 25, SD card readers 311 and 312, which are examples of a medium storage unit for reading and writing data by mounting an SD card, are mounted. Of the two SD card readers 311 and 312, the SD card reader 311 is the master and the SD card reader 312 is the slave. In the following description, the SD card loaded in the master SD card reader 311 is called a master, and the SD card loaded in the slave SD card reader 312 is called a slave.

As shown in FIG. 4, the drive recorder 1 is electrically configured around a controller 30 which is an example of a control unit. The CCD camera 13, the acceleration sensor 15, the GPS receiver 24, the SD card readers 311, 312, and the database 32 are connected to the controller 30 respectively.
The controller 30 includes a CPU (not shown), a main memory such as a flash ROM, a ROM, or a RAM as an example of a storage unit, a timer, and the like.

  The ROM of the controller 30 stores a GPS information processing program for processing GPS information received by the GPS receiver 24, an image processing program for storing an image captured by the CCD camera 13 in a main body memory or an SD card, and detection by the acceleration sensor 15. An acceleration change calculation program that records the obtained acceleration information with time and calculates an acceleration change pattern, determines the correlation between the calculated acceleration change pattern and the existing acceleration change pattern, and based on the result, A correlation function program for determining whether or not the calculated acceleration change pattern exceeds a threshold value, and various programs such as an OS (Operation System) are stored.

The GPS receiver 24 is a receiver that detects the position information of the own vehicle at the current time according to an instruction of the controller 30. The detection timing by the GPS receiver 24 is set every second in this example. The position information to be detected is the position, speed, latitude, longitude, and altitude of the own vehicle. The GPS receiver 24 inputs the detected position information to the controller 30.
The CCD camera 13 is an imaging unit that captures an image of a scene in front through the lens 14 and acquires image data. The CCD camera 13 inputs imaging data to the controller 30 via an interface unit 33 capable of executing data compression and digital conversion.
The acceleration sensor 15 is a three-axis type sensor that detects acceleration and inclination in each of three axes (X, Y, Z), and inputs a detection value to the controller 30.
The SD card readers 311 and 312 read and write data on the SD card under the control of the controller 30.

  The data recorded on the SD card under the control of the controller 30 includes image data (image) of the CCD camera 13, position data and speed data of the GPS receiver 24, acceleration data of the acceleration sensor 15, and the like. . Each of these data is recorded in association with the recorded time. By such mutual association, the position data, speed data, and acceleration data at each time can be acquired in synchronization with the reproduction of the imaging data. Recording of imaging data in the following description means synchronously recording imaging data along with speed data, position data, acceleration data, and the like. Similarly, the recording of event data (specific image) means that image data is recorded in synchronization with speed data, position data, acceleration data, and the like.

The database 32 is a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM, for example, inside the controller 30 or external to the controller 30. In the database 32, a plurality of event occurrence determination function patterns are stored according to the speed.
The event occurrence determination pattern is a pattern obtained by combining an event occurrence determination function pattern and an event occurrence determination threshold pattern. The event occurrence determination function pattern is a multi-dimensional function represented by the relationship between the magnitude of acceleration at the time of occurrence of an event (shock, sudden start / sudden braking, sudden steering) and elapsed time, and is formed into a two-dimensional graph (curve). It is possible. As the event occurrence determination function pattern, a plurality of patterns are prepared for each event corresponding to a unique speed band.

  In the drive recorder 1 including the acceleration sensor 15 capable of detecting accelerations in three axial directions, the event occurrence determination function patterns are stored in association with three types of patterns as one set. If an ideal pattern of the event occurrence determination function pattern is shown, for example, waveforms as shown in FIGS. FIG. 5 illustrates an event occurrence determination function pattern in the X-axis direction (the traveling direction of the vehicle) in the case of sudden braking at a speed of 100 km / h. FIG. 6 illustrates a case of a speed of 80 km / h. From these patterns, it can be seen that the slower the speed, the faster the acceleration is focused.

  In the database 32, a threshold as an event occurrence determination threshold pattern is stored in association with each event occurrence determination function pattern. The threshold value is set in accordance with the tendency of each event occurrence determination function pattern using the magnitude, direction, and time of the acceleration as parameters. For example, in the case of the event occurrence determination function pattern of FIG. 5 where sudden braking is an event, a large acceleration is generated in a relatively short time, a state in which the large acceleration is maintained thereafter, and then the reverse is performed in a relatively short time. A large acceleration in the direction is occurring. It is good to set as a threshold whether it deviates from such a tendency of acceleration and time. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a threshold value is a threshold value of a sustained state A1 of a positive acceleration of 0.3 G continuing in the time of L1 and a negative acceleration A2 of 0.15 G in the time of L2 (continuation is unnecessary). Good to be. When such a threshold value is set, the continuation of the positive acceleration larger than 0.3 G continuously during the time of L1 and the negative acceleration larger than 0.15 G during the time of L2 thereafter (here, the continuous acceleration) Is unnecessary), it is determined that the threshold of the event at that speed has been exceeded.

  Note that the number of thresholds may be the same as the number of event occurrence determination function patterns, and a common threshold may be used when indicating an approximated event occurrence determination function pattern. For example, in the case of the same event, in a certain range of speed bands, there is not much difference in the pattern, so that it is possible to associate a common threshold.

  The controller 30 samples the detection value of the acceleration sensor 15 at a constant timing based on the acceleration change calculation program, calculates a function of an acceleration change pattern defined by the magnitude and time of the acceleration, and calculates a function of the acceleration function based on the correlation function program. Then, the correlation between the function of the existing acceleration change pattern and the calculated function is determined. When it is determined that there is a correlation similarity, it is determined whether or not the calculated acceleration change pattern exceeds a threshold.

  In this example, when the event is “shock”, the sensitivity is simply changed according to the level of only the magnitude of the threshold acceleration. For example, assuming that the magnitude of the acceleration of level 3 is 100%, level 4 is 120%, level 5 is 140%, and the ratio is increased or decreased based on the default. On the other hand, when the event is “sudden start / sudden braking, sudden steering”, the duration of the acceleration is changed in addition to the change in the ratio of the magnitude of the acceleration.

Next, as operations of the drive recorder 1 configured as described above, (1) an operation of recording image data on an SD card, (2) an event determining operation, and (3) an operation of recording event data will be described in this order. I do.
When the drive recorder 1 is energized in response to the turning on of the vehicle ignition, the setting information stored in the SD card is read and copied to the main body memory (RAM), and the operation according to the setting information is started. If the setting information is not stored in the SD card, the default (initial setting) setting information stored in the main memory (ROM) is stored in the master SD card and then stored in the main memory (RAM). Data is copied.

  As will be described in detail later, the setting information of the SD card can be generated using the personal computer 35. In the following description, the operation of the drive recorder 1 according to the default setting information will be described. In the default setting, an operation mode (control mode) of sequential recording for recording a series of imaging data over a long period of time using the master and slave SD cards is set. The operation modes of the drive recorder 1, which will be described later in the second embodiment, include the operation modes of dual recording and mirror recording in addition to the sequential recording.

(1) Recording operation of image data (sequential recording)
The operation of recording image data on the SD card is an operation that is continuously performed in a power-on state where no event such as an impact occurs. Under the control of the controller 30, a series of image data is recorded using two SD cards as shown in FIG. As described above, the recorded image data includes velocity data, position data (latitude / longitude), acceleration data, and the like recorded in a timely manner. The storage area of each SD card is managed for each block such as a sector. The square of each SD card in the figure schematically represents this block.

  When the two SD cards are in the initialized state, the controller 30 starts recording (recording of imaging data) from the master SD card as shown in FIG. When the storage area of the master SD card is full, recording to the slave SD card is started as shown in FIG. Thereafter, when the storage area of the slave SD card becomes full, the storage area of the master SD card is erased to generate a free area as shown in the upper part of FIG. At this time, the order of erasing is from the storage area of the SD card in which the recorded imaging data is old (the imaging timing is old), and in the order of 1, 2, 3,. Erase imaging data. The controller 30 records new image data as shown in the lower part of FIG. Thereafter, when all the image data of the master SD card is rewritten, the image data recorded on the slave SD card is erased as shown in FIG. D as in the case of the master SD card described with reference to FIG. While recording new image data.

  For example, when the vehicle ignition is turned off and the power supply is cut off in a state where the imaging data is recorded up to the 40th block in the slave SD card as shown in FIG. Thereafter, when the vehicle ignition is turned on, the recording of the imaging data is continued from the 41st block of the slave SD card.

(2) Event determination operation, (3) Event data recording operation The event determination operation is an operation realized by the controller 30 executing a predetermined event determination routine. The event data recording operation is executed in the event determination routine when it is determined that an event such as an impact, sudden start / sudden brake, sudden steering, or the like has occurred.

An example of the event occurrence determination routine will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG. In the drive recorder 1 of this example, this routine is executed at a period of about 10 ms.
The controller 30 samples the acceleration every time the step S1 is executed, thereby acquiring the acceleration pattern of the latest one second (the past one second based on the current time) and the vehicle at that time (current time). The correction of the event occurrence determination function pattern is executed according to the speed. For example, if the speed of the vehicle is 75 km / h, it is necessary to compare the event occurrence determination function pattern with the 75 km / h pattern. The controller 30 weights 75 km / h of the event occurrence determination function patterns prepared in advance based on a plurality of patterns close to the speed of the vehicle, for example, 80 km / h and 60 km / h. Calculate the event occurrence determination function pattern.

  In step S2, the controller 30 determines whether the acceleration pattern matches the corrected event occurrence determination function pattern, that is, determines the similarity between the patterns. Since both the acceleration pattern and the event occurrence determination function pattern are functions in the same dimension, the similarity between the two functions can be determined by a correlation function.

  If it is determined that the pattern does not resemble any of the event occurrence determination function patterns (S2: NO), it is determined that the pattern is not an acceleration pattern to be stored, and the process once proceeds to step S1. On the other hand, when it is determined that the pattern is similar to the event occurrence determination function pattern (S2: YES), in step S3, it is determined whether or not the speed exceeds the inherent threshold value of the event occurrence determination threshold pattern. As the threshold here, a threshold already corrected based on the threshold correction data is used.

  When the threshold value is exceeded in step S3 (S3: YES), the controller 30 determines that the event is to be saved. The controller 30 designates a specific time interval from 10 seconds before to 5 seconds after the event occurred as a reference, and selects the imaging data of the time interval from a series of imaging data recorded on the SD card. (Specific image) is copied to the main body memory (flash ROM). The imaging data copied to the main body memory (flash ROM) includes 15 seconds of event data including the time of occurrence of the event (information on the occurrence of the event. The data includes position data, speed data, and acceleration data synchronized with the imaging data. ). When the event occurs, the operation of acquiring the acceleration pattern is canceled for 5 seconds, and the routine ends (S4). The cancellation of the acquisition operation is a process for preventing the capture of duplicate event data. On the other hand, if it is determined that the event does not exceed the threshold (S3: NO), the process proceeds to step S1 assuming that the event does not exceed the threshold to be stored.

Next, (1) browsing of imaging data, (2) browsing of event data, (3) threshold setting for event determination, (4) The operation mode setting will be described in this order.
(1) Viewing of imaging data The imaging data recorded on the SD card can be taken into the personal computer 35 and viewed as shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a general electrical configuration of the personal computer 35. The personal computer 35 includes an MPU (Micro Processing Unit) 37 as a control device. The personal computer 35 has a user interface such as a data input unit such as a keyboard 42 and a mouse 43 and a data output unit (or a display unit) such as a printer 44 and a monitor 45.

  In addition to the ROM 38 and the RAM 39, the MPU 37 is connected to SD card readers / writers 361 and 362 as data interface means, the hard disk drive 40, and the like. The hard disk accommodated in the hard disk drive 40 stores a general program of the personal computer 35 and a viewer program for displaying data of acceleration patterns on the monitor 45 together with data. This personal computer 35 constitutes a drive recorder system (image recording system) in combination with the drive recorder 1.

  When a predetermined operation is performed by data input means such as the keyboard 42, the personal computer 35 starts up a viewer program to prompt insertion of an SD card, and displays a viewer screen on the monitor 45. FIG. 12 shows an example of the viewer screen 51 displayed on the monitor 45. At the top of the viewer screen 51, a menu bar 52 for executing various operations is arranged. The lower area of the menu bar 52 is divided into left and right areas by vertical lines arranged closer to the right side. In the left area occupying about 2/3 of the screen width, an image display area 53 for displaying image data, a display switching button 54, a traveling speed display area 55, an acceleration display area 56, a latitude / longitude display area in order from the top. 57, an image drive / stop button 58, and an acceleration history display area 59 are arranged. In an area on the right about 1/3 of the screen width, a playlist 60 and a map area 61 are arranged in order from the top.

  When two SD cards storing a series of imaging data are inserted, the playlist 60 displays the file numbers of the series of imaging data in a focused state. The file number is a list of numbers of the date of shooting, the start time, and the end time.

  The personal computer 35 displays an image based on the image data in response to the operation of the image drive / stop button 58 on the viewer screen 51. During the display of the image, the displays of the traveling speed display area 55, the acceleration display area 56, the latitude / longitude display area 57, the acceleration history display area 59, and the map area 61 change according to the displayed image. For the image, various operations such as reverse playback returning in the reverse direction and pause can be performed. By operating the display switching button 54, one of a pattern for displaying one screen over the entire image display area 53 and a pattern for displaying a continuous frame image (for example, 16 screens) can be selected.

(2) Viewing Event Data Event data recorded in the main body memory (flash ROM) of the drive recorder 1 can be communicated via a USB cable by a predetermined write operation using the operation buttons of the drive recorder 1. The data can be written to the connected personal computer 35. The main body case 2 may be detached from the bracket 3 and connected to the personal computer 35 or the like. Alternatively, a portable personal computer or the like may be brought into the vehicle and connected to the drive recorder 1. At the time of connection with the personal computer 35, power is supplied via the USB cable and the drive recorder 1 can operate even if the ignition of the vehicle is off.

  It is also possible to write out event data to an SD card, a USB memory, or the like. In this case, the data recorded on the SD card is overwritten according to the writing of the event data. When an SD card is used for writing event data, it is preferable to perform a predetermined writing operation after extracting an SD card on which a series of imaging data is recorded and setting another SD card. Note that when a predetermined write operation is performed, a warning that the data in the SD card will be overwritten is output before the event data is actually written.

  The personal computer 35 that has read the event data via the USB cable or the SD card stores the file number of each event data in the playlist 60 in the viewer screen 51 (FIG. 12). Are listed). The playlist 60 is a list read from the event file sequence 63 in FIG. In the playlist 60, each event data is displayed in a list in the order of chronological order. For each event data, a file name, an event name indicating the type of the event that triggered the event, and an event sensitivity level are displayed. For example, L3 means that the threshold value of the data of the file is determined at level 3 (that is, the default state).

  When any one of the file numbers is designated by operating the menu bar 52, the personal computer 35 displays the image data of the corresponding event data in the image display area 53. The image displayed at this time is a still image at the time when it is determined that the event has occurred. Along with the display of this image, data corresponding to the image is displayed in each of the traveling speed display area 55, the acceleration display area 56, and the latitude / longitude display area 57, and the map area 61 indicates the point where the image was taken. The surrounding map is displayed. The acceleration history display area 59 displays the acceleration history over the time (15 seconds in total) in which the image data of the event data is stored, and the acceleration position at the time displayed in the image display area 53 is plotted. The image operation by operating the image drive / stop button 58 and the like is the same as when browsing a series of imaging data.

(3) Threshold Setting for Event Judgment A method of setting the sensitivity level of the threshold correction data constituting the setting information in the personal computer 35 having a function as a setting change unit will be described. This operation is executed in a state where the application program is started and the viewer screen 51 is displayed in the same manner as described above. The personal computer 35 displays the dialog box 65 shown in FIG. 14 on the monitor 45 when the operation of pressing the setting button 52G (the position of the gear icon) of the menu bar 52 is detected by the data input unit.

  In the impact sensitivity setting area 66 of the dialog box 65, sliders 67a to 67c for the events of impact, sudden start / rapid braking, and sudden steering are displayed. On the user side, a desired sensitivity level can be set for each item by appropriately operating these sliders 67a to 67c using data input means. By default, all the sliders 67a to 67c and 68 are set to level 3, and this state is set to the threshold value stored in the database 32 (that is, the coefficient is set to "1"). . When the OK button icon 69 is operated, threshold correction data (sensitivity level) representing the threshold set by each of the sliders 67a to 67c is written to the SD card as setting information. In the drive recorder 1, when an SD card storing setting information is set, each event (shock, sudden start / sudden braking, sudden steering) is performed based on threshold correction data (sensitivity level) included in the setting information. Change the threshold of.

(4) Operation Mode Setting A method for setting an operation mode constituting the setting information in the personal computer 35 having a function as a setting change unit will be described. This operation is performed on a mode selection screen (not shown) switched and displayed with the viewer screen. This mode selection screen constitutes a change operation means for changing the operation mode, and the screen corresponds to each operation mode of sequential recording, dual recording (described later in the second embodiment), and mirror recording (similar). A confirm button is arranged in addition to the select button. By operating the confirm button after selecting one of the selection buttons, a desired operation mode can be selectively set. When the confirm button is operated, the personal computer 35 displays that there is a possibility that the image data recorded on the SD card may be erased due to the change of the operation mode (function by the warning means) and rewrites the setting information. The display is switched to a confirmation screen for asking the user whether the user is allowed to do so. When an operation indicating that the confirmation screen can be changed is performed, new setting information is stored in the SD card.

  The drive recorder 1 of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration can record a series of image data over a long period of time using two SD cards in the operation mode of sequential recording, for example. After the storage capacities of the two SD cards are full, the image data recorded on one of the SD cards is erased in order from the oldest one at the time of recording, and a new area is created in the empty area created by the erasure. Recording the imaging data. If new imaging data is recorded while erasing old imaging data in this way, it is possible to record imaging data for a long time by effectively utilizing the storage capacity of two SD cards. Further, when a series of imaging data is recorded on two SD cards, the frequency of data erasure and rewriting can be reduced and the load on the SD card can be reduced as compared with the case where recording is performed on one SD card. If the load on the SD card can be reduced, the probability of occurrence of troubles such as a writing error and an erasing error when recording imaging data can be reduced, and the operation reliability can be improved.

  Further, in the drive recorder 1, when an event such as an impact exceeding a threshold occurs, the imaging data (specification as event data) of a specific time section (15 seconds in this example) before and after the moment when the event occurs is specified. Image) is copied from the SD card to the main body memory (flash ROM) and recorded. When an event occurs, information for specifying the occurrence timing is temporarily stored, and then, after the calculation load or the like of the CPU has a margin, the imaging data in a specific time section is copied to the main body memory (flash ROM). It is also good. In this case, concentration of the load can be suppressed by temporally distributing the processing load of the CPU.

  The drive recorder 1 that continuously records imaging data has a point that the use of the storage area of a memory card such as an SD card is greatly different from that of a camera or a video camera. The point is that the image recording apparatus such as the drive recorder 1 repeatedly deletes old image data and records new image data indefinitely as long as the power is on. In the case of a camera or a video camera, old image data is not deleted without permission by overwriting new image data. For example, image data is deleted after being read by a terminal device such as a personal computer.

  In an image recording apparatus such as the drive recorder 1 that repeatedly erases and writes endlessly in order to continuously record image data, a data writing error and an erasing error occur while recording and erasing of image data are repeated. And there is a possibility that a defect occurs in the recording data in the storage area. On the other hand, the drive recorder 1 of the present embodiment has two medium storage units, so that a plurality of memory cards can be mounted. When a plurality of memory cards are used, the number of executions of rewriting, erasing, and the like of data in each memory card can be reduced and the load can be reduced as compared with a case where only one memory card is mounted. As a result, it is possible to reduce the probability of occurrence of troubles such as a writing error and an erasing error when recording imaging data, and to improve the operation reliability. The drive recorder 1 is a device having excellent characteristics in which the stability of the recording operation of the image data is improved.

  The recording operation of the imaging data of the present example described with reference to FIG. 8 may be changed as shown in FIG. The operation at the time of starting recording on the master SD card in FIG. 15A is the same as that in FIG. 8A. The difference lies in the control after the storage area of the master SD card is full. As shown in FIG. 15B, the image data recorded on the master SD card is erased in conjunction with the recording of the image data on the slave SD card. Here, the interlock means that the data amount of the image data recorded on the SD card of the slave and the data amount of the image data erased from the SD card of the master substantially match or a certain difference is maintained. In this state, the recording and erasing of the imaging data proceed in parallel and in synchronization.

  After that, when the storage area of the slave SD card is full, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 15C, all the image data recorded on the master SD card is erased. It is preferable that the file management information for managing the data address (recording position) of the data file stored in the storage area of the SD card be effectively left without erasing until all the image data is erased. By performing such control, it is possible to read out the image data remaining without being erased until the SD card is initialized. After erasing all the image data, it is preferable to execute the initialization format of the storage area to erase the file management information. Thereafter, as shown in the lower part of FIG. C, the erasure of the image data recorded on the slave SD card is executed in synchronization with the recording operation of the image data on the master SD card. When the SD card for storing the setting information is initialized, after the initialization, the setting information stored in the main body memory (RAM) is first copied to return to the state where the setting information is stored. good.

When the storage area of the master SD card becomes full again, as shown in FIG. 15D, the image data of the slave SD card is completely erased and initialized, and recording of the image data is started. it can.
Further, for example, when the vehicle ignition is turned off with the imaging data recorded up to block 40 of the slave SD card as shown in FIG. Recording is resumed using the recorded SD card of the slave.

  Note that three or more SD card readers may be provided. For example, the set three or more SD cards may be divided into two groups, and the same recording operation as the two SD cards of this embodiment may be applied to the SD cards of each group. In this case, by recording the same imaging data on two or more SD cards belonging to the same group, it becomes possible to read the imaging data even if any recording error occurs in one of the SD cards.

  In this example, a series of imaging data can be recorded over a long period of time using two SD cards. Instead of this configuration, a series of imaging data may be recorded using a combination of either one of the SD card and the main body memory (flash ROM). In the case of this configuration, the event data may be recorded on one of the SD cards, the event data may be recorded on the remaining SD cards, or may be recorded on the main body memory (flash ROM). .

  In this example, in order to determine the occurrence of an event, acceleration or the like is employed as a physical quantity reflecting the state of the vehicle. The physical quantity includes, for example, information flowing through an in-vehicle network for transmitting control information of the vehicle, information obtained based on the information, and the like, in addition to acceleration and the like. For example, speed, average speed, maximum speed, 5 seconds speed, average 5 seconds speed, maximum 5 seconds speed, rotation speed, average rotation speed, maximum rotation speed, engine load, average load, maximum load, throttle opening, average throttle Opening, maximum throttle opening, ignition timing, fuel level, intake manifold pressure, maximum intake manifold pressure, MAF, INJ, cooling water temperature, maximum cooling water temperature, intake air temperature, maximum intake air temperature, outside air temperature, maximum outside air temperature, remaining fuel , Fuel flow rate, maximum fuel flow rate, fuel consumption, lifetime fuel consumption, instantaneous fuel consumption, current fuel consumption, maximum current fuel consumption, lifetime fuel consumption, average fuel consumption, ordinary road average fuel consumption, highway average fuel consumption, moving average fuel consumption, maximum moving average fuel consumption, Driving time, running time, idle time, idle ratio, mileage, lifetime mileage, 0-20km / h acceleration time, 0-20km / h average acceleration, 0-20km / h minimum acceleration, 0-40km / h acceleration time , 0-40km / h average acceleration, 0-40km / h minimum acceleration, 0-60km / h acceleration time, 0-60km / h average acceleration, 0-60km / h minimum acceleration, 0-80km / h acceleration time, 0-80km / h average acceleration, 0-80km / h minimum acceleration, 0-20km / h Any of vehicle data such as running time, 20-40km / h running time, 40-60km / h running time, 60-80km / h running time, 80km / h or more running time, lifetime engine running distance, lifetime engine running ratio It is also good to adopt. These vehicle data are provided on the vehicle side in accordance with, for example, an OBD (On-board Diagnostics) -II (II is a Roman numeral “2”; hereinafter referred to as “OBD”) standard which is a vehicle inspection standard. It can be obtained via the provided OBD connector (failure diagnosis connector). In this case, a configuration for acquiring vehicle data from the OBD connector is data acquisition means.

For example, a recording button (storage operation means) for recording imaging data in a specific time section by a manual operation on the user side may be provided. In this case, the operation of the recording button is an event. By operating the record button, the image data before and after that can be recorded in the main body memory (flash ROM) or the SD card. For example, when the user passes a point of interest or encounters a traffic condition to be recorded, by operating the record button afterward, the imaging data including the point or the traffic condition is used as event data. It is convenient to be able to record. It is highly possible that a time lag occurs between the appearance of the object to be recorded and the actual occurrence of the event regarding the event of the user's operation. Therefore, when recording event data in response to an event of a user operation, a longer time section corresponding to the event data may be set. In particular, if the time section on the past side is set to be long, even if the operation of the recording button is slightly delayed, a desired landscape can be recorded as event data with high reliability.
For example, a drive recorder having a liquid crystal display capable of reproducing and displaying image data recorded on an SD card may be used. In this case, the event data can be recorded by operating the recording button during the reproduction of the image data by the drive recorder.

  In this example, the insertion slot 181 of the SD card reader 311 corresponding to the master SD card and the insertion slot 182 of the SD card reader 312 corresponding to the slave SD card are opened side by side on the side of the main body of the drive recorder 1. are doing. For example, a lid may be provided at the insertion slot 181 corresponding to the master SD card, while the insertion slot 182 corresponding to the slave SD card may be without a lid. In this case, the procedure for extracting the master SD card is more complicated than the procedure for extracting the SD card of the slave, and the SD card of the slave is preferentially extracted. Can be driven. It is possible to suppress the possibility that the master SD card on which important data such as setting information is recorded is removed, and to avoid trouble caused by unexpected removal of the master SD card.

  The drive recorder 1 may be provided with an operation button as change operation means for changing setting information (operation mode, threshold correction data, and the like). In this case, the setting information can be changed by the drive recorder 1 alone. A function of displaying the set operation mode, the operation mode of the change destination, or the like may be provided, or a reading function may be provided. Further, when the drive recorder 1 is configured to be able to change the setting information, it is preferable to add a warning unit that warns that the change of the setting information may erase the recording data of the SD card. As the warning means, a text-to-speech function may be employed. In this case, there is no need to add a display screen such as a liquid crystal display, and it is possible to suppress an increase in cost due to the setting of the warning unit.

(Example 2)
This example is an operation example of the drive recorder 1 in an operation mode other than the sequential recording described in the first embodiment. This content will be described with reference to FIG. As described in the first embodiment, the operation modes of the drive recorder 1 include (2) dual recording and (3) mirror recording in addition to (1) sequential recording in the first embodiment. This example is an operation example in the operation mode of (2) dual recording.

(2) Dual Recording Dual recording is an operation mode in which event data is recorded on a master SD card and a series of imaging data is recorded on a slave SD card, as shown in FIG. A series of temporally continuous imaging data is recorded on the SD card of the slave, and when the storage area becomes full, the imaging data with the oldest imaging timing is rewritten with new imaging data in order. On the other hand, when an event such as an impact occurs, the imaging data of a specific time section (10 seconds before the event occurs and 5 seconds after the event occurs) including the moment when the event occurs, is transferred from the SD card of the slave to the master SD card. Duplicated (data copy) is recorded. Note that, similarly to the first embodiment, the recorded imaging data includes, in addition to the imaging data, velocity data, position data, acceleration data, and the like recorded synchronously.

In the case of FIG. 16, after the recording data (event data) of the master SD card becomes full as shown at the bottom, the old recording data is erased, and a free area for recording new event data is deleted. Is secured. Instead, event data may be recorded with overwriting prohibited. When the storage area of the master SD card becomes full due to the event data, a notification may be issued to prompt the user to load an SD card having an empty storage area. Note that, for example, a permission mode in which overwriting is permitted may be set for an SD card in which overwriting is prohibited. In this case, when an important landscape that needs to be recorded appears after the storage area of the overwrite-protected SD card becomes full, imaging data of the important landscape can be recorded by setting the permission mode. .
Normally, the image data is recorded on the slave SD card, and when passing through a place to be stored, the image data is switched by a switch operation so that the image data is recorded on the overwrite-protected master SD card. You may comprise. The switch operation may be an operation of a changeover switch, or may be an operation of a switch that maintains a switching state for a predetermined time after the operation and returns to an original state as the predetermined time elapses.

  When operating in the dual recording mode, event data may be recorded in the main body memory (flash ROM) as in the first embodiment. In this case, the event data can be backed up by recording the event data in both the SD card and the main body memory (flash ROM), thereby avoiding troubles such as the inability to read the data when an event occurs. it can.

In this example, dual recording is executed using two SD cards. Alternatively, dual recording may be performed using either one of the SD cards and the main body memory (flash ROM). Further, dual recording can be executed using two or more SD cards and a main body memory (flash ROM).
The other configuration and operation and effect are the same as in the first embodiment.

  By recording a series of image data on the secondary slave memory card and recording the image data for a specific time interval according to the event occurrence on the main master memory card, a series of image data and an image for a specific time interval can be obtained. And data can be recorded efficiently. As the specific time section, for example, a time section that needs to be saved may be set. It is not appropriate to prohibit overwriting because a series of imaging data recorded on the memory card of the slave needs to be updated as needed. On the other hand, with respect to the master memory card, the imaging data may be recorded in the overwrite inhibition mode. In this case, the imaging data of a specific time section recorded upon occurrence of an event can be stored with high reliability.

  Generally, when recording on a memory card, a series of imaging data is managed, for example, on a file basis. In such a configuration, it may be difficult to create only the imaging data of a specific time section as a file. In this case, it is preferable to copy or move the data in file units including the imaging data in a specific time section.

  In the dual recording operation mode, the control controller of the drive recorder 1 controls the secondary slave memory card as the first storage medium to which overwriting is permitted, while prohibiting overwriting of the main master memory card. 2 as a storage medium. Here, the first and second numbers in the storage medium do not indicate priority or master-slave but are completely irrelevant, and the numbers may be interchanged. The secondary slave memory card is used as a storage medium for overwrite recording.If the main master memory card is prohibited from being overwritten, the image data is continuously recorded on the slave memory card in the same manner as above. While recording is performed constantly, the memory card of the master can be used for recording image data particularly to be stored.

  In the dual recording operation mode, the controller of the drive recorder 1 sequentially records new imaging data by overwriting the oldest imaging data at the time of imaging among the imaging data recorded on the memory card of the secondary slave. Perform continuous recording. As a result, continuous recording by continuous recording of imaging data becomes possible, and a captured image in a past predetermined time range can be recorded based on the current time. For example, a captured image at the moment when an accident or the like occurs can be recorded, and evidence useful for investigating the cause of the accident can be secured.

  Note that the main master memory card for which overwriting is prohibited includes, for example, image data obtained by event recording when an event occurs, image data obtained by manual operation recording according to manual operation, and still image recording. Is preferably recorded. When the number of memory cards mounted in the drive recorder 1 is small and cannot be assigned to master / slave, the mounted memory card may be treated as a secondary slave memory card and continuous recording by continuous recording of image data may be performed. good.

  In the dual recording operation mode, when specific recording conditions are satisfied, such as when the acceleration detected by the G sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold, the imaging data is recorded on the master memory card without overwriting. As a result, it is possible to reliably store the imaging data when a specific recording condition is satisfied in an overwrite-protected state. In particular, in the drive recorder 1, imaging data according to the establishment of a specific recording condition is recorded on an independent master memory card different from the slave recording memory card for continuous recording. Therefore, even if any trouble occurs during the process of continuously recording the image data on the slave memory card, it is unlikely that a trouble such as inability to read the data will be applied to the master memory card.

  The specific recording condition for recording the image data in the master memory card without overwriting may be, for example, an event, a manual operation by a driver or the like. The event may be, for example, occurrence of an accident such as deployment of an airbag, occurrence of sudden braking or sudden steering, occurrence of a large acceleration, or the like.

When the amount of data recorded on the overwrite-protected storage medium becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined value, or when the storage medium needs to be initialized, a captured image or the like may be recorded in a main body memory provided in the drive recorder. . After that, when the data capacity of the storage medium can be spared by data erasure or when a new storage medium is mounted, a part or all of the data stored in the main body memory may be moved to the storage medium. In this case, there is a possibility that the medium accommodating unit can be constituted by one, and a low-cost drive recorder can be realized.
The other configuration and operation and effect are the same as in the first embodiment.

(Example 3)
This example is an operation example of the drive recorder 1 in an operation mode other than the sequential recording described in the first embodiment. This content will be described with reference to FIG. As described in the first embodiment, the operation modes of the drive recorder 1 include (2) dual recording and (3) mirror recording in addition to (1) sequential recording in the first embodiment. This example is an operation example in the operation mode of (3) mirror recording.

(3) Mirror Recording Mirror recording is an operation mode in which the same imaging data is recorded on the master and slave SD cards as shown in FIG. The event data is recorded in the main body memory (flash ROM) as in the case of the sequential recording operation mode of the first embodiment. If the same data is recorded on both the master SD card and the slave SD card, even if a recording error occurs in one of the SD cards, a series of image data can be read from the other SD card, and the recording operation can be performed. High reliability can be secured.

In this example, mirror recording is executed using two SD cards. Instead, mirror recording may be performed using one of the SD cards and the main body memory (flash ROM). Further, mirror recording can be executed using two or more SD cards and a main body memory (flash ROM).
The other configuration and operation and effect are the same as in the first embodiment.

  The drive recorder 1 according to the first to third embodiments includes a plurality of medium storage units that detachably hold a memory card such as an SD card. The controller 30 of the drive recorder 1 controls the memory mounted on the other medium storage unit while recording the image data on the memory card mounted on at least one of the plurality of medium storage units. Various processes such as a writing process and an initialization process for a card can be executed in parallel.

  For example, if another write process is performed on another memory card different from the memory card that records the image data, even if another write process is performed during the recording of the image data, With respect to a memory card for recording imaging data or a memory card for executing other writing processing, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the frequency of data access such as data writing and reading becomes excessive. Therefore, even if another writing process is performed in parallel with the recording of the imaging data, the possibility that a problem occurs in the recording of the image in the recording of the imaging data is reduced.

  The drive recorder 1 can execute another process in which the frequency of data access to the memory card is relatively large within a range in which the influence on the recording operation of the image data is suppressed. If various writing processes can be executed during the recording of the imaging data, the drive recorder 1 can be used not only for recording the imaging data but also for recording various data, and the convenience can be improved.

  The controller 30 of the drive recorder 1 has a function of individually executing data writing, reading, erasing, and initialization control for each memory card mounted in each of the plurality of medium storage units. . If data writing, reading, erasing, and initialization can be individually performed on each memory card, there is an advantage that the types of recording operations that can be performed in parallel in the drive recorder 1 are increased. As a result, the functions of the drive recorder 1 are diversified, and the convenience is improved. For example, it is possible to record vehicle data such as engine speed and vehicle speed on another memory card while recording image data on a specific memory card. Also, for example, when recording image data using two or more memory cards, during recording of the latest image data, the storage area of another memory card in which the image data of the recorded image data is older is recorded. It is good to initialize. In this case, when the memory card in which the latest image data is being recorded becomes full, the subsequent recording of the image data can be continued using another memory card in the initialized state. If an initialized memory card is used, image data can be recorded with high reliability with little risk of writing error or the like.

(Example 4)
This example is an example of a drive recorder that executes more sophisticated dual recording based on the dual recording of the second embodiment.

(1) A configuration example in which data that is not prohibited from being overwritten is recorded on a master memory card.
For example, in one of the event recordings, when the G sensor detects a predetermined impact and records before and after the impact, if the impact detection detects an accident, it is better to prohibit overwriting, but in fact, it is better to prevent overwriting such as steps on the road. In some cases, it is detected as an impact by the driving operation of the driver, and if overwriting is prohibited, unnecessary overwriting-prohibited data is accumulated more and more. In order to prevent unnecessary overflow of the overwriting-prohibited data, it is preferable that a predetermined capacity is determined in particular, and a configuration is provided that has a function of overwriting and recording within that range.

  It is also possible to perform control to prohibit overwriting of a part of the storage area of the master memory card, while performing control to permit overwriting of the remaining part or all. For example, in one of the event recordings, when the G sensor detects a predetermined impact and records before and after the impact, if the impact detection detects an accident, it is better to prohibit overwriting, but in fact, it is better to prevent overwriting such as steps on the road. In some cases, it is detected as an impact by the driving operation of the driver, and if overwriting is prohibited, unnecessary overwriting-prohibited data is accumulated more and more. In order to prevent unnecessary overflow of overwrite-prohibited data, when overwrite-prohibited data is generated, it is temporarily recorded in an area where overwriting is allowed, and the possibility of an accident is high, for example, when the vehicle is stopped after an impact occurs. It is also possible to perform control to move the data to the overwrite-protected area when the data has become invalid.

(2) Configuration example in which mutual backup of master / slave memory cards is possible.
In the drive recorder, control is performed such that a plurality of memory cards can be mounted, one of which is set as a main master, and the other is set as a secondary slave. When either the master or slave memory card is removed or any problem or defect occurs, a configuration having a function of supplementing the function of the memory card on the other memory card side may be adopted. With this configuration, even when one of the master and slave memory cards is removed or a problem or malfunction occurs, the same function as before the occurrence of the malfunction can be maintained. .

  In particular, the main master memory card may be configured to record an image to be stored, such as a record of an accident or a place with a good view, with a low probability of being overwritten or erased. Also, it is recommended that the secondary slave memory card be recorded at all times while driving.In particular, for example, there is a function to search for images that could not be recorded on the master memory card for some reason, It is preferable to have a function of performing at least one of transfer and copy to a storage medium to be copied. In general, continuous recording has a higher probability of causing damage or failure of a storage medium such as a memory card. In the case of the dual recording mode as described above, an image to be stored is recorded on the master memory card, so that even if the slave memory card is damaged or malfunctions, the damage is reduced.

  When the master controller and the slave memory card are mounted, the controller memory of the drive recorder 1 is removed, and the slave memory card which allows overwriting is removed, and the state shifts to the state where only the overwriting-protected master memory card is mounted. A rewritable storage area may be set in a part of the free area of the storage area of the master memory card. With this configuration, even after the slave memory card is removed and only the master memory card is used, continuous recording for continuously recording image data is possible, and the convenience of the drive recorder 1 is reduced due to the reduced function. Can be suppressed.

  In a configuration having a function of controlling a second storage medium having an area in which a recorded captured image is not erased by overwriting prohibition, the control unit may be configured to perform the operation with the first and second storage media mounted. When the first storage medium is removed and the state shifts to the state where only the second storage medium is mounted, the first storage medium is stored in a part of the free area of the storage area of the second storage medium. It is preferable that the image recording apparatus has a function of setting a rewritable storage area for storing data corresponding to the storage.

  When only one memory card is mounted, the controller of the drive recorder 1 treats the memory card as a third storage medium, and sets a storage area that can overwrite the storage area and a storage area that is prohibited from being overwritten. May be executed. In this case, even if only one memory card is inserted, for example, data such as overwrite-protected imaging data can be recorded separately from imaging data for continuous recording. The overwriting-prohibited imaging data may be an image captured by event recording, an image captured by manual operation recording, an image captured by still recording, or the like. Thereafter, for example, when a memory card that can be used as a master or a slave is newly inserted, the memory card may be handled as a master or slave memory card. In the case where the memory card is handled as a rewritable slave memory card, all or a part of, for example, constantly recorded image data recorded in the original memory card controlled as the third storage medium so as to be overwritable is replaced with a new one. The data may be transferred to a slave memory card and recorded. If the memory card is to be handled as an overwrite-protected master memory card, all or a part of the image data and the like recorded in the original memory card controlled as the third storage medium with overwrite protection is transferred to a new master memory card. It is also good to transfer it to a card and record it.

  Note that, even when a plurality of storage media are mounted and the first storage medium and the second storage medium can be distributed, a mode is provided in which all storage media are controlled as the first storage medium. It is also good. In this case, the storage area of the first storage medium becomes large, so that the recording time for continuously recording captured images can be lengthened. As described above, when there are a plurality of first storage media, when the amount of data recorded on any one of the storage media becomes full, the storage medium on which the captured image is continuously recorded is replaced with another first storage medium. It is better to switch to In this case, one of the plurality of first storage media is alternately used, so that the captured images can be continuously recorded efficiently. The storage medium is preferably configured so that the recorded data can be individually erased and initialized.

  In a configuration having a function of controlling a second storage medium having an area in which a recorded captured image is not erased by overwriting prohibition, the control unit may be configured to newly mount a storage medium while only one storage medium is mounted. When this is done, the storage medium may be controlled as the second storage medium, and the data recorded in the storage area of the third storage medium in which the overwriting is prohibited may be recorded on the newly mounted storage medium. .

(3) A configuration example in which a master / slave memory card can be replaced.
Without fixing the memory card as the main master, a plurality of storage media including the main memory of the drive recorder 1 are sequentially used as the main and sub, and while recording in the main storage medium, 1 is an example of a configuration having a function of initializing a storage medium to be stored. By adopting such a configuration, the load on each storage medium can be made uniform, and the probability of occurrence of breakage or malfunction can be reduced.
In this case, it is preferable to provide a function for recording both the overwrite continuous recording and the overwrite prohibition event recording on the same main storage medium.

  In particular, recording data (imaging data) that is basic as a drive recorder is recorded on a main storage medium, and data that is not basic as a drive recorder is recorded on a secondary storage medium. Storage area). In this way, particularly in a multifunctional drive recorder, it is possible to prevent the processing speed from being reduced or the occurrence of a part that cannot be processed. Further, by separating the storage medium as described above, the frequency of use of one storage medium is reduced, and the probability of damage or failure of the storage medium can be further reduced.

  The drive recorder may control the initialization of another storage medium while recording on one storage medium so that the initialization is performed automatically or semi-automatically under predetermined conditions. If the initialization is performed automatically or semi-automatically, troubles such as the inability to read data recorded on the storage medium can be avoided beforehand, and data that can be recorded while maintaining high data recording efficiency in the storage medium. The volume can be kept close to the maximum. It is preferable that the storage medium is initialized periodically. When a predetermined number of times of rewriting have been performed since the previous initialization, when overwriting has been performed for a predetermined time, or when overwriting has been performed for a predetermined capacity, Initialization is automatically performed under predetermined conditions, such as when the initialization is performed, or when the initialization is started. It is good to carry out the conversion.

  It is preferable not to automatically initialize the overwrite-protected storage medium. If a medium storage unit that is not automatically initialized is set, data to be stored for a long period of time can be held with high reliability. For example, the storage medium storing the event recording may not be automatically initialized. Event recording is considered to be less frequently rewritten by overwriting than regular recording, and event recording is likely to have a recording that you want to keep for a relatively long time, so event recording is stored. It is preferable that the storage medium is set not to be automatically initialized.

It is preferable that the image recording apparatus be configured to control the temporary recording to be temporarily stored in a partial capacity of the event recording storage medium while the overwritable constant recording storage medium is being initialized.
In this case, the initialization can be performed also on the storage medium that is constantly recorded, and the occurrence of troubles related to the storage medium can be suppressed. For example, if there are a plurality of storage media for which continuous recording is performed, initialization may be performed in order. For example, in a case where two medium storage units are used and one is used for event recording and automatic initialization is prohibited. At least while the storage medium for constant recording is being initialized, it is preferable to control the recording for the event recording.

When the remaining capacity of the overwriting-prohibited storage medium for storing the event recording becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, control for storing the event recording in the overwriting storage medium for constant recording may be performed. In this case, for example, it is possible to prevent a possibility that the overwriting-prohibited storage medium for event recording becomes full and the captured image at the time of the event cannot be recorded. In addition, the fact that the remaining capacity of the storage medium has become equal to or less than a predetermined value or that the event recording is being performed on the recording medium for continuous recording is notified by, for example, an alarm, a sound, a display, or the like. It is possible to prompt data copy, exchange of a storage medium, and the like.
The other configuration and operation and effect are the same as in the second embodiment.

(Example 5)
This example is an example of a drive recorder 5 provided with a storage operation unit for recording a part of image data without overwriting, based on another example. This content will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The drive recorder 5 of FIGS. 18 and 19 is an electronic device that accommodates an electronic substrate (not shown) inside a housing 50 having a substantially rectangular front surface. A lens 611 of the camera unit 61 is disposed on the front of the housing 50, and a liquid crystal screen 630 of a liquid crystal display, which is an example of a display unit, and various operation buttons 505 are disposed on the rear. On the upper surface of the housing 50, a recording button 521 and a power button 523, which are examples of a storage operation unit for starting and stopping the recording operation, are arranged, and a screw for attaching the bracket 7 (see FIG. 20). A hole 501 is provided. On the side surface of the housing 50, there are provided a power supply terminal 57 for supplying power, and two card slots 55 as an example of a medium storage section for inserting a microSD card (an example of a memory card as an example of a storage medium). They are arranged in parallel.

  The drive recorder 5 can be attached to a vehicle windshield 80 or the like, for example, as shown in FIG. The bracket 7 has an attachment stay 73 attached to the windshield 80 via a double-sided tape 700 or the like, a pedestal 71 including a screw 711 corresponding to the screw hole 501 of the drive record 5, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 20, the attaching stay 73 has a spherical sliding ball 435 provided at the tip of a curved arm portion 433 extending on the back surface of a circular attaching plate 730 attached to the glass surface of the front glass 80. It is the member which was done. The pedestal 41 is a member in which an inner peripheral spherical concave portion 417 is provided on the opposite side of the pedestal surface 410 on which the screw 411 is erected. An outer peripheral screw 415 into which the outer nut 45 is screwed is provided on the outer peripheral side of the concave portion 417. If the outer circumferential nut 45 is tightened while the sliding ball 435 is accommodated in the concave portion 417, the sliding ball 435 can be tightened and fixed, whereby the angle of the attaching stay 43 with respect to the pedestal 41 can be fixed.

  In installing the drive recorder 5, for example, first, as shown in FIG. 20, the bracket 7 connecting the attaching stay 73 and the pedestal 71 is prepared by lightly tightening the outer nut 75, and the attaching plate 730 is attached using the double-sided tape 700. Affix to windshield 80. Next, the drive recorder 5 is gripped so that the screw 711 of the bracket 7 can be inserted into the screw hole 501, and the screw 711 is screwed in by rotating the drive recorder 5 itself. The screw 711 is screwed in until the housing 50 is pressed against the pedestal surface 710, thereby fixing the drive recorder 5 to the pedestal 71 of the bracket 7. After adjusting the imaging range of the drive recorder 5 to a desired range, by tightening the outer peripheral nut 75, the sliding ball 435 of the attaching stay 73 can be fixed. Thus, the mounting position of the drive recorder 2 can be fixed and the imaging range can be set to a predetermined range, and the installation of the drive recorder 2 can be completed.

  Of the two card slots 55, the card slot located on the front side of the housing 50 is a medium accommodating section for accommodating a microSD card that can be overwritten, and the card slot on the back side is a microSD card that is prohibited from being overwritten. It is a medium storage unit for storing. By fixing the positions of the memory card for continuous recording and the memory card for which overwriting is prohibited, it is possible to suppress the possibility that the user mistakes the memory card. For example, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of troubles such as the fact that a memory card that has been recorded with overwriting prohibited is always inserted into a recording card slot, and data that needs to be stored is erased by overwriting.

  The drive recorder 5 reproduces and displays the captured image recorded on the overwritable microSD card on the liquid crystal screen 630 by appropriately operating the operation button 505. When the record button 521 is operated while the reproduced image is displayed on the liquid crystal screen 630, the drive recorder 5 transfers and records a captured image including a predetermined front and back including the operation time point to the overwrite-protected microSD card. In order to suppress the concentration of the processing load, a configuration may be adopted in which the operation time is marked and transfer recording is executed later.

  In the drive recorder 5, after checking the reproduced image and determining whether or not to store the image, the original captured image of the reproduced image determined to be stored can be recorded while prohibiting overwriting. If it can be confirmed by a reproduced image, a captured image to be stored can be recorded with high certainty in a state where overwriting is prohibited. While playing back a captured image recorded on a microSD card that can be overwritten by constant recording, a part of the captured image can be transferred to a microSD card that is prohibited from being overwritten and recorded. By operating the recording button 521 while displaying the reproduced image, there is little possibility that an image different from the captured image to be stored is erroneously recorded. The time section of the captured image to be recorded in the overwriting prohibited state is a time section that goes back a predetermined time before the operation time as a reference, a time section until a predetermined time passes based on the operation time, or It is good to set the time zone before and after the time when the operation is performed as a reference.

  Note that a sensor such as a G sensor for detecting an impact or an external input function may be provided in the drive recorder 5. In the case where one of the plurality of attached storage media is used as a rewritable storage medium and one of the plurality of storage media is used as a storage medium for continuous recording that is prohibited from being overwritten, a signal input from a sensor or an external input is used as an opportunity. A captured image of a time section up to a point in time preceding a predetermined time with a signal input as a reference, a captured image of a time section until a predetermined time elapses with that point as a reference, or both of these captured images May be recorded on a storage medium which is not overwritten.

  In recording a part of a captured image without overwriting, data movement or copying is generally performed in file units in many cases. Therefore, not only a portion corresponding to a temporal section based on the time when the recording button 521 is operated, but also a file including the portion may be transferred or copied. In this case, a portion other than the portion corresponding to the temporal section is included in the data to be transferred or the like. At this time, when reproducing a part of the captured image recorded in the overwriting prohibition, control may be performed such that reproduction of a part other than a part corresponding to a temporal section can be omitted.

  In the drive recorder 5, the recording method and the type of recording data are distinguished for each card slot 55 which is an example of the medium storage unit, and the functions are different. When a memory card, which is an example of a storage medium, is inserted, the card slot 55 can be selected according to recording data and the like, so that the card can be easily used. For example, the user can easily recognize the different recording method and recording timing for each card slot 55, and it is possible to prevent mistakes such as removing the memory card during writing. As in this example, it is preferable to use a different recording method such that one card slot 55 is overwritten and the other card slot 55 is overwritten. Alternatively, one card slot 55 may be different recording data such as constant recording, and the other card slot 55 may be event recording.

  Note that the card slot 55 of the drive recorder 5 may be controlled so that the recording data is erased at a different probability. For example, one card slot 55 has a sufficient storage capacity for the amount of recording data so that the recording data is likely to be erased by overwriting and the other card slot 55 is likely to be erased by overwriting. Good to keep. In addition, even when both are overwritten, one always records data with a large amount of data such as recorded data, and the other stores data with a small amount of data such as event recording, so that the probability of erasing recorded data differs. You can also

  In the drive recorder 5, two card slots 55 are arranged side by side. Instead, one of the medium storage units is arranged on the side surface that is visible from the driver side, and the other is disposed on the side surface that is not visible to the driver. Or, it is also good to be able to understand the ranking. In this case, it is possible to provide a difference in ease of access from the user side for each medium storage unit. For example, a storage medium / medium accommodating unit with a high frequency of attachment / detachment may be arranged in an easy-to-understand place, and a medium with low frequency of attachment / detachment in a relatively difficult-to-understand location. For the storage medium / medium accommodating unit that is frequently attached and detached, the edge of the medium accommodating unit may be surrounded by a line, colored, or provided with an internal illumination for easy understanding. For example, in the case where the card slots 55 are arranged on the left and right like the drive recorder 5, the one with a low attachment / detachment frequency as shown in FIG. 21 may be covered with an opening / closing cover 558 which is an example of a lid so that it is relatively difficult to understand. . Alternatively, printing or engraving is performed in the vicinity of the medium accommodating portion so that the order can be recognized as 1, 2,... Or A, B, etc., and the storage medium / medium accommodating portion that is frequently attached and detached is taken out as 1 or A. It is also preferable to make the storage medium hard to be mistaken.

  At least one of the plurality of storage media may have a different shape or size from the others. If the sizes of the storage media are made different, an effect is obtained that mixing can be suppressed for a plurality of storage media. For example, as shown in FIG. 22, the medium accommodating portion 55 having a high attachment / detachment frequency is different from a standard type storage medium such as an SD card 555, and the lower medium accommodating portion 55A is a storage medium such as a micro SD card 555A. It is preferable that the type of the SD card is used so that the storage medium to be taken out is not easily mistaken.

  A drive recorder having a car navigation function may be used. At least one of the plurality of medium storage units included in the drive recorder may be dedicated to the recording data and the information and data accompanying the recording. In general, a car navigation system called a PND is equipped with a medium storage unit such as a memory card slot for updating maps and software, providing music and video sources, recording TV, and storing travel routes. Often have. When the car navigation function and the drive recorder function are combined, there is also a method of using both functions properly in one medium storage unit, but if the drive recorder function has the function of constantly recording the running image, It is necessary to always store the image data in the storage medium, and when data relating to the car navigation function is also stored in the storage medium, inconvenience may occur in the processing. Therefore, it is better to provide a plurality of medium storage units and at least one of them is dedicated to the drive recorder function.

A drive recorder having a radar detector function may be used. At least one of the plurality of medium storage units included in the drive recorder may be dedicated to the recording data and the information and data accompanying the recording. In many cases, radar detectors are used by putting data such as the location of an alarm in a memory card. For the same reason as in the case of the drive recorder having the car navigation function described above, a plurality of medium storage units may be provided and at least one of the medium storage units may be dedicated to the drive recorder function.
Note that the other configurations and operational effects are the same as those of the other embodiments.

(Example 6)
This embodiment is an example in which a main storage medium is set based on another embodiment. This will be described.
As in the other embodiments, the drive recorder of the present embodiment includes a plurality of medium storage units for mounting storage media for recording recorded data based on captured images. The drive recorder controls a storage medium mounted in a main medium storage unit, which is one of the plurality of medium storage units, as a main storage medium.

  In the main storage medium, at least both continuous recording that can be overwritten and event recording that is stored without overwriting are recorded. The drive recorder controls the recording of a captured image on another storage medium when the capacity of the main storage medium stored overwrite-protected has exceeded a predetermined value or when there is no storage medium in the main medium storage unit. Execute.

  When the main storage medium is taken out and the recorded data is browsed by an external device such as a PC, it is very convenient because all the stored data can be browsed, both the regular recording and the event recording. Further, when an accident or the like is encountered, the storage medium on which the image at the time of the accident is recorded may be removed and stored. In such a case as well, it is preferable that all the data for both the continuous recording and the event recording be stored in one storage medium.

  For example, when only one storage medium can be mounted, when the capacity is full due to overwriting prohibition, or when no storage medium is mounted, the function as a drive recorder becomes insufficient. If another storage medium is installed in addition to the main storage medium like the drive recorder of this example, the function as a drive recorder is realized even if the capacity of the main storage medium is full or not installed it can. The main storage medium may have a large capacity, and the other may have a small capacity. When a part or all of the data recorded on the main storage medium is erased and there is enough capacity, or when a new storage medium is installed, a part or all of the data stored on another storage medium All may be moved to the main storage medium.

  Determine the media storage section where the main storage medium is to be installed, place a lamp near the medium storage section, and blink when the capacity is full due to overwrite protection or when the storage medium is not mounted Alternatively, it may be turned on. In this case, it is possible to clearly display the medium storage unit that cannot support data recording, and to let the user recognize that fact. For example, when the data is stored in a storage medium other than the main storage, it is easy to understand if the lamp of the main storage unit is blinked. Further, for example, it is also possible to configure so that the notification is made by a display on a display, an alarm, a sound, or the like at the same time as the blinking and lighting of the lamp.

  When initializing the main storage medium, the drive recorder executes initialization after copying or moving at least overwrite-protected data stored in the main storage medium to another storage medium. By executing such initialization control, for example, a storage medium containing overwrite-protected data can be safely initialized without damaging the data.

  When there is no storage medium in the main medium storage unit or when the main storage medium is initialized, it is also possible to record a captured image or the like in a main body memory built in the drive recorder. Then, when the data in the main storage medium is erased to make room for the data capacity, or when a new storage medium is inserted, a part or all of the data stored in the main body memory is transferred to the main storage medium or It is also possible to move to another storage medium. In this case, only one medium accommodating section is required, and the product cost can be reduced.

When the storage medium is initialized, after switching the storage from the storage medium to be initialized to another storage medium such as another storage medium, storage for a predetermined time or storage of a predetermined capacity is performed in another storage medium. An image recording apparatus that initializes the storage medium later may be used.
Since it is desirable to keep new data from being erased as much as possible, it is desirable to initialize after storage in a storage medium other than the storage medium to be initialized has progressed. It is desirable to initialize the memory when the other memory is full and the overwriting is started.

Instead of this example, one of the plurality of medium storage units may be a dummy medium storage unit. Providing a dummy medium storage unit has the effect of being able to be used as a storage location for a spare storage medium. A spare storage medium can be attached to the dummy medium storage section, and when the main storage medium is removed, it can be replaced with a spare storage medium in the dummy medium storage section. The risk of loss during storage can be suppressed.
Note that the other configurations and operational effects are the same as those of the other embodiments.

(Example 7)
This embodiment is an example in which a storage medium has a communication function based on another embodiment.
A memory card controlled to prevent overwriting has a communication function of transmitting data to the outside in addition to a function of storing data. The drive recorder can execute control for transmitting a captured image recorded without overwriting to an external device.

  The drive recorder can externally transmit a captured image recorded on a memory card in a state where overwriting is prohibited, and can browse a captured image at a transmission destination. Adopting such a configuration is particularly effective when an accident occurs. For example, when a driving situation such as a drowsy driving occurs in a taxi or the like, if an image taken at that time is immediately transmitted to a taxi company, a dangerous situation can be grasped on the manager side before an accident or the like occurs. . Further, for example, when an accident occurs thereafter, if the captured image at that time is immediately transmitted, the situation can be immediately grasped on the side of the administrator, and the subsequent measures can be taken promptly.

  When a memory card with a communication function and a memory card without a communication function are inserted into the drive recorder, the storage medium with the communication function is controlled as a memory card with overwrite protection, and the storage medium without the communication function can be overwritten. It is good to control as a simple memory card. Then, all or some of the data recorded on the overwrite-protected memory card may be transmitted with priority. Here, the transmission with priority is preferably automatically transmitted.

  For example, when the G sensor detects a predetermined impact, it is preferable to record the captured images before and after that time on a memory card that is not overwritten. This captured image may be transmitted immediately to the outside. However, in some cases, an impact may be actually detected by a road surface condition such as a step on a road or a driving operation by a driver. To prevent the captured image in the normal range from being externally transmitted to the outside, for example, after recording the captured image on a memory card that is not overwritten in response to detection of an impact, the vehicle stops and the stopped state continues for a predetermined period of time. It is also possible to control so that the captured image recorded without overwriting is externally transmitted when the vehicle stops and a hazard lamp lighting operation is performed.

It should be noted that control may be performed to prohibit overwriting of a part of the storage area of the memory card having the communication function, while control may be performed to allow overwriting of the remaining part or all. For example, in one of the event recordings, when the G sensor detects a predetermined impact and records before and after the impact, if the impact detection detects an accident, it is better to prohibit overwriting, but in fact, it is better to prevent overwriting such as steps on the road. In some cases, it is detected as an impact by the driving operation of the driver, and if overwriting is prohibited, unnecessary overwriting-prohibited data is accumulated more and more. To prevent unnecessary overflow of overwrite-protected data, when the overwrite-protected data is generated, record it in an area where overwriting is permitted, for example, stop the vehicle after the occurrence of an impact, or turn on the hazard lamp It is also possible to move the data to an overwrite-protected area when the situation shifts to a situation where the possibility of an accident can be estimated to be high by an operation or the like.
Note that the other configurations, functions, and effects are the same as those of the other embodiments.

The drive recorder of each embodiment includes a plurality of medium storage units, and can mount a plurality of memory cards. This drive recorder has the following advantages over a drive recorder having only one medium storage section.
(A) For example, if a memory card is damaged or defective, recording cannot be performed. In particular, in the case of continuous recording, the recording is repeatedly performed by overwriting (repeating erasing and storing) at all times during traveling, so that the probability of damage is high. Also, there is a high possibility that the memory card will be damaged if it is removed during operation. In most cases, the drive recorder is turned on and off in conjunction with the engine key. However, depending on the vehicle, voltage fluctuations, disconnections, surges, etc. may occur, especially when the engine is started. In some cases, an abnormality occurs, causing damage or malfunction of the memory card. On the other hand, in the drive recorder of each embodiment, since a plurality of memory cards can be mounted, even if any one of the memory cards is damaged, it is possible to control the backup by another memory card. Therefore, in each of the drive recorders of the tenth example, the possibility of falling into a situation in which recording cannot be performed at all is reduced.

(B) The main purpose of the drive recorder is to record the accident, and it is necessary to keep the record of the accident so that it does not disappear. In general, the detection of an accident is generally regarded as an accident when an impact equal to or greater than a predetermined value is detected by a G sensor or the like, and the images before and after the accident are often stored with overwriting prohibited. However, it is difficult to reliably detect only accidents, and impacts are also detected due to bumps and bumps on the road surface, driver's driving style, etc. There are very many recordings that do not need to be saved. If the sensitivity of the sensor is lowered, it is impossible to detect an accident. In addition, witnesses of dangerous driving and reckless driving, dangerous experiences that are likely to cause accidents, recording of places with good scenery, etc. are often done by manual operation and the images before and after that are overwritten and saved, and depending on the user, Record a lot without overwriting. If the memory card becomes full due to such overwriting-prohibited recording, naturally no further recording can be performed. It is necessary to take measures such as replacing the memory card, taking out / deleting images, initializing, etc.However, there are cases where it is not possible to immediately take measures due to some circumstances such as traveling or traveling, in which case the memory can not be further stored and the drive It will not function as a recorder. On the other hand, the drive recorder of each embodiment can mount a plurality of memory cards. For example, when the capacity of an overwrite-protected memory card becomes full, an overwrite-protected area is set in the storage area of a memory card for continuous recording (always recording) that allows overwriting, and a captured image or the like to be saved Can also be temporarily stored. By executing such control, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation in which the overwriting-prohibited storage area becomes full and a captured image to be stored cannot be recorded. It should be noted that storage media such as memory cards are of course cheaper with smaller capacities and expensive with larger capacities. There is a technical limit in the capacity, and among the commercially available memory cards, those having a large capacity close to this limit tend to be very expensive. For example, the price of this large-capacity memory card may not be twice as large as that of a half-capacity memory card, and may be three, four, or five times as large. If a plurality of memory cards can be installed as in each embodiment, for example, the same state as mounting a memory card of twice the capacity by installing two memory cards of an inexpensive capacity Can be realized. Compared with a drive recorder in which only one memory card can be mounted, the purchase amount of the memory card for securing the same storage capacity is significantly reduced.

(C) In the case of a drive recorder in which only one memory card can be installed, it is common to always record continuous recording and recording of events and the like for which overwriting is prohibited on the same memory card. If you do not take measures, it will increase. Maintenance / treatment should be done on a daily basis, but it is not easy. In some cases, the continuous recording area and the overwrite-protected recording area are separated in the memory card.However, the overwriting-prohibited recording is often prioritized and stored without dividing the area. In many cases. In this case, before the capacity of the memory card becomes full due to the overwriting-prohibited recording, the recording area is constantly reduced, the recording time is shortened, and the time for confirming the image retroactively is shortened. At the same time, the time required for one round of overwriting is shortened, the frequency of repetition of erasure and recording is increased, and the probability of damage or malfunction of the memory card is further increased. On the other hand, if the continuous recording area is always separated from the overwrite-protected recording area, if the overwrite-protected recording area becomes full, no further recording can be performed. The timing at which recording in the recording area becomes impossible becomes earlier. On the other hand, in the drive recorder of each embodiment, since a plurality of memory cards can be mounted, for example, a memory card for which overwriting is prohibited and a memory card for continuous continuous recording can be separated. Even if an expensive large-capacity memory card is not prepared, the capacity of the overwrite-protected recording area can be secured by installing a plurality of inexpensive memory cards. Since it is possible to reliably record a captured image or the like to be stored without the need to purchase an expensive large-capacity memory card, the running cost is suppressed and the cost is reduced.

(D) In order to check or take out the recorded image with a PC viewer or the like, the memory card may be removed from the drive recorder and may be forgotten. Or the memory card may be removed for some reason. In such a case, if the drive recorder can be loaded with only one memory card, it must run without the memory card loaded, so that recording and storage cannot be performed, and it will not function as a drive recorder. On the other hand, since the drive recorder of each embodiment can mount a plurality of memory cards, even if one of the memory cards is removed, it is possible to control the backup by another memory card. For example, if the overwrite-protected memory card is removed, backup control such as providing an overwrite-protected area in a part of the storage area of the overwritable memory card can be considered. Executing such backup control does not prevent a specific function from being implemented even when the vehicle is running with a specific memory card removed, and suppresses the degree to which the function of the drive recorder is impaired. it can.

  As described above, specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail as in the embodiments. However, these specific examples only disclose examples of the technology included in the claims. Needless to say, the scope of the claims should not be interpreted in a limited manner by the configuration or numerical values of the specific examples. The scope of the claims encompasses techniques in which the above-described specific examples are variously modified, changed, or appropriately combined using known techniques, knowledge of those skilled in the art, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drive recorder 2 Main body case 8, 9 Push button 13 CCD camera 15 Acceleration sensor 181, 182 Insertion opening 181A, 182A LED
24 GPS receiver 30 Controller 311, 312 SD card reader 32 Database 35 Personal computer 361, 362 SD card reader / writer 45 Monitor

Claims (2)

In an image recording apparatus including a control unit having a function of recording a captured image obtained by the imaging unit on a removable storage medium,
A plurality of medium storage units for detachably holding a storage medium are provided,
The control means, while recording a captured image on a storage medium mounted on at least one of the plurality of medium storage units, a storage medium mounted on any other medium storage unit A first storage medium for recording a new captured image by overwriting a recorded captured image with respect to a storage medium mounted in any one of the medium storage units. On the other hand, the storage medium mounted in any other medium storage unit has a function of controlling as a second storage medium that does not delete a recorded captured image by prohibiting overwriting,
The control unit has a function of controlling a display unit to display a reproduced image of the captured image recorded on the storage medium, and at least a part of the captured image that is the source of the reproduced image is stored in the second storage medium. A control for accepting an operation for recording with prohibition of overwriting, and for prohibiting and recording overwriting of at least a part of a captured image that is a source of the reproduced image on the second storage medium when the operation is performed An image recording apparatus having a function of performing the following. A program for causing a computer to realize the function as the image recording device according to claim 1 .