JP6962531B2 - In-vehicle devices and drive recorders - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a drive recorder and an in-vehicle optional component.

A drive recorder that stores vehicle status information (front image, vehicle speed, sudden acceleration / deceleration, etc.) before and after a vehicle accident will provide useful information for verification in the event of a vehicle collision. In particular, it is widely installed in transportation vehicles such as trucks and commercial vehicles such as taxis and buses, and is also being installed in general vehicles.

In the event of an accident or sudden braking, this drive recorder can store a forward image for a certain period before and after the occurrence and driving data showing the driver's driving operation (brake operation, turn signal operation, driving route, etc.). It is composed. To briefly explain the configuration for storing video data, the CCD camera constantly captures the vehicle and surrounding conditions from the driver's viewpoint (field of view), and the captured video is stored in a temporary storage memory such as a ring buffer. Remember. The video stored in the temporary storage memory is sequentially updated to the latest one, and the past video data is retained for the set time. On the other hand, the drive recorder is equipped with a sensor that detects an accident such as an acceleration sensor or an impact generated at the time of sudden braking or sudden steering, and when the output value of the sensor exceeds the threshold value, from the time when the threshold value is exceeded (impact detection). The video of the previous fixed period is read from the temporary storage memory and stored in the non-volatile memory (SD memory card, etc.), and after the threshold is exceeded, the video of the CCD camera captured after that is directly or temporarily stored in the non-volatile memory. By storing the data via the storage memory, it has a function of storing the video and the traveling data for a predetermined time before and after the impact in the non-volatile memory (SD card).

Then, when an accident occurs, it is possible to clearly testify the legitimacy of the driver based on the vehicle status information (video, etc.) of the own vehicle stored in the non-volatile memory. In addition, when the drive recorder detects a rough and dangerous driving operation such as sudden steering wheel or sudden braking, it may give a certain tension to the driver by issuing a warning sound or the like to alert the driver. can.

Since this drive recorder captures and stores an image of the front of the vehicle, it is usually attached to the windshield of the vehicle or the like. Specifically, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a mounting member having a mounting surface inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the main body is provided on the upper surface of a flat rectangular main body containing a CCD camera, a sensor, or the like. Adhesive tape, double-sided adhesive tape, suction cups, etc. provided on the mounting surface are used to bond and fix the windshield in place.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-193057 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-321423

Improvements and developments for conventional drive recorders can reliably record images in the event of an accident, collect and record as much information as possible accurately, and provide unnecessary information due to malfunction even though no accident has occurred. The main purpose is to improve the original functions of the drive recorder, such as preventing the recording of information. And this kind of drive recorder may be worth its existence when an accident actually occurs, and it is installed in vehicles that drive relatively frequently, such as taxis and other commercial vehicles, and usually drives less. The fact is that it is not often installed in the vehicles of general drivers who do not do this.

On the other hand, once an accident occurs, if there is a drive recorder, the situation at the time of the accident can be objectively confirmed, which is useful for the above-mentioned general driver. Therefore, there is a problem that the drive recorder should be widely used and installed in as many vehicles as possible.

If the drive recorder and optional parts for vehicles such as radar detectors are retrofitted after purchasing the vehicle, it is necessary to fix them to the vehicle for each device, and it is necessary to wire the power cable etc. for each device. There is a problem that it takes time to install and the appearance of the inside of the car may be spoiled.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention: It was configured with optional parts. By connecting the in-vehicle optional parts, for example, in normal driving and other situations, the functions of the in-vehicle optional parts operate, and in the case of many in-vehicle optional parts, the user usually has the value of existence. Can be experienced. Then, once an accident occurs, the original drive recorder function of the drive recorder main body can record necessary information and perform appropriate processing based on the objective information at the time of the accident.

(2) A mounting bracket including a ring portion rotatably mounted on the drive recorder main body and a mounting member connected to the outside of the ring portion is provided, and the ring portion includes the drive recorder main body and the drive recorder main body. It is preferable that the parts are sandwiched and fixed between the vehicle-mounted optional parts.

In the embodiment, the ring portion is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the drive recorder main body and is arranged so as to be exposed to the outside. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and all or a part of the ring portion is the drive recorder main body. The configuration housed inside may be adopted. In addition, in combination with connecting the mounting member to the outside of the ring portion, if the ring portion is mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the drive recorder main body and is configured to be exposed to the outside, the configuration is simplified and the exposed ring portion is exposed. It is preferable because it is easy to adjust the relative angular position between the ring portion and the drive recorder main body by holding and rotating the outer peripheral surface. Further, the rotatable angle is the entire circumference of 360 degrees in the present embodiment, but it may be a predetermined angle range. Further, if the shape of the drive recorder main body is based on a cylindrical shape as a whole as in the embodiment, it is preferable in appearance because of the uniformity of the design with the ring portion, but it is not always necessary to make it a cylindrical shape, and it is optional. Can take the shape of. Further, if the ring portion is attached to one end side of the drive recorder main body as in the embodiment, the angle can be easily adjusted and fixed, but a layout in which the ring portion is installed from the center may be adopted. ..

In the present invention, since the ring portion is rotatably attached to the drive recorder main body, the ring portion and the drive recorder main body are relatively rotated before being fixed to the drive recorder main body, and the drive recorder main body and the ring portion are rotated. The relative angular position of the (bracket) can be set to the desired state. Then, by fixing in that state, the relative angular position between the mounting member fixed to the windshield or the like by adhesion or the like and the drive recorder main body can be changed and adjusted, and it is different while adopting a single unit configuration. Can be mounted on vehicles (with different windshield angles). Further, in the present invention, such fixing can be performed by connecting the optional parts for vehicles to the drive recorder main body, and moreover, it can be performed by a simple operation of pinching, which is preferable.

(3) A mounting bracket including a ring portion rotatably mounted on the drive recorder main body and a mounting member connected to the outside of the ring portion, and the drive recorder with the ring portion and the in-vehicle optional parts. It is preferable to provide a fixing member for fixing to the main body. The fixing member corresponds to the nut member 40 in the embodiment. It is preferable to fasten the fixing member to the drive recorder main body by using a screw mechanism like a nut member because it can be realized with a simple configuration, but it is fixed by using a spring or by an appropriate locking mechanism. You may do so. Further, it is not limited to the one in which the ring portion is sandwiched and fixed between the fixing member and the drive recorder main body as in the embodiment. For example, a screw (bolt) extending from the outside to the inside of the ring portion is used. Various mechanisms can be adopted, such as fixing with screws. Further, in the embodiment, the fixing member is connected to the drive recorder main body in a state where the target detection unit, which is an optional component for automobiles, is housed in the nut member, which is a fixing member, so that the ring portion is sandwiched and fixed. Although the vehicle-mounted optional parts are also sandwiched and fixed, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration may be adopted in which the vehicle-mounted optional parts are connected to the outside of the fixing member. Further, the fixing member and the vehicle-mounted optional component may be integrated in advance.

(4) The fixing member may sandwich the ring portion with the main body to fix the ring portion. This is preferable because it is possible to easily switch between fixing the ring portion (positioning by stopping rotation) and releasing (rotating and adjusting the angle). In particular, if the pinching force can be adjusted, temporary fixing can be performed in a lightly tightened state, and position adjustment work can be performed more easily. In particular, if they are connected by a screw mechanism as in the embodiment, the distance between the main body and the fixing member can be narrowed by fastening the screws, and the mounting bracket can be firmly fixed with a simple configuration. be able to. Although it is a screw thread that constitutes a screw mechanism, in the present embodiment, a male screw is formed on the main body side and a female screw is formed on the nut portion side that is a fixing member, but of course, the reverse arrangement is also possible. ..

In each of the above inventions (2) to (4), unevenness is formed on at least a part of the facing surfaces of the drive recorder main body and the ring portion facing each other, and the ring portion is formed by the fixing member or an in-vehicle optional component. When is fixed, it is advisable to make the unevenness match. The rotation of the mounting bracket can be suppressed to some extent by the tightening force between the fixing member or the like and the drive recorder main body, but the rotation can be suppressed more reliably by providing unevenness at an appropriate position. Further, in the embodiment, the unevenness is continuously formed over the entire circumference, but it may be arranged discretely. However, it is preferable to form them continuously because the rotation angle can be finely adjusted.

(5) The in-vehicle optional parts may be attached to the left side or the right side of the drive recorder main body in the installed state in the vehicle. This configuration is preferable because the vehicle-mounted optional parts do not get in the way, especially when the drive recorder is attached to the windshield. That is, since there is no space in the upper direction of the drive recorder body and the downward direction obstructs the field of view, it is preferable to attach it to either the left or right side (of course, it can be attached to both).

(6) When connecting the in-vehicle optional parts to the drive recorder main body, it is preferable that they are electrically connected by the connectors provided on both of them. In this way, some functions can be incorporated into or combined with the other device (drive recorder body / in-vehicle optional parts), increasing the flexibility of the layout of the parts to be mounted and being efficient. By arranging it in, the overall size can be reduced. The number of connectors is arbitrary, and may be one or a plurality of connectors.

(7) It is preferable that at least one of the connector provided in the vehicle-mounted optional component and the connector provided in the drive recorder main body has a cable. In this way, there is a margin of rotation between the in-vehicle optional parts and the drive recorder body by the length of the cable, and a space is secured between the two during installation (at least for the cable length, there is no cable). Since it can be made wider than the above, it is preferable because the connector connection work becomes easy.

(8) The connector provided on the vehicle-mounted optional component and the connector provided on the drive recorder main body are a male connector and a female connector fixedly installed on the facing surfaces of the vehicle-mounted optional component and the drive recorder main body, respectively. By connecting these two connectors, the relative angular positions of the vehicle-mounted optional parts and the drive recorder main body may be positioned. In this way, by connecting the in-vehicle optional parts to the drive recorder main body, the mutual rotation angle positions are defined, so that the user does not need to perform any special positioning work and the radio waves are contained in the in-vehicle optional parts. Even if the installation direction of the receiver or shooting device is important, it can be set to an appropriate position and orientation.

(9) The connector shall have at least one of a power supply line and a signal line. In the embodiment, both the power supply line and the signal line are included, but of course, only one of them may be included.

(10) The connector may include a signal line, and may have a function of sending an event signal from the in-vehicle optional component to the drive recorder main body and performing event processing together with input information on the drive recorder main body side. In the embodiment, the event signal may be a reception signal of various radio waves in the target detection unit, or may be video data captured from the main body 10'for expansion. In the embodiment, the event processing is performed by the control unit on the main body 10 side to determine the presence or absence of the target object to be notified based on the received radio wave, and if it exists, notify / alarm the existence of the target object. It may generate and record images as a stereo camera.

(11) The connector may include a signal line and may have a function of setting an in-vehicle optional component by a function setting signal output from the drive recorder main body. In this way, it is not necessary to provide a setting switch or the like on the vehicle-mounted optional component side, and the size can be reduced.

(12) An external power supply port is provided on the side surface of the vehicle-mounted optional component, and the vehicle-mounted optional component and the electronic device in the drive recorder main body can be operated by the external power supply supplied from the power supply port. It is good to say. In this case, the charge / discharge circuit is mounted inside together with the rechargeable battery (secondary battery), and it does not prevent the function of operating by discharging from the secondary battery when there is no supply from the external power source. In particular, when the optional parts for vehicles are not supplied with an external power source when the vehicle is stopped, such as a security device, it is preferable to provide a secondary battery. Of course, when there is no external power supply, it is possible to supply from the primary battery, so the secondary battery is not always essential. Further, the secondary battery may be installed at any position of the drive recorder main body, the optional parts for vehicles, or both of them.

(13) The drive recorder main body is provided with a card slot for mounting a memory card for storing recorded data, and the outlet of the card slot is set on the end surface opposite to the mounting bracket. It is good. In this way, it becomes easy to attach and remove a memory card such as an SD card to the card slot.

(14) It is preferable to arrange the operation switch on the front surface of the drive recorder main body and arrange the volume operation unit for adjusting the volume of the speaker built in the drive recorder main body on the side surface of the drive recorder main body or the vehicle-mounted optional component. .. In this way, the frequently used switch comes to the front, so that it is easy to operate.

(15) The vehicle-mounted optional component may include a radio wave receiving unit, and the receiving surface of the antenna of the radio wave receiving unit and the operating direction of the volume operating unit may be arranged in parallel. In this way, the orientation of the radio wave receiving unit can be estimated from the operating direction of the volume operating unit, and the orientation and posture of the radio wave receiving unit can be easily adjusted, which is preferable.

(16) The GPS antenna built in the drive recorder main body may be arranged so as to be tilted diagonally upward. The arrangement tilted diagonally upward means that the antenna surface of the GPS faces diagonally upward based on the basic posture of the main body (standard posture when the in-vehicle device is installed in the vehicle). In this way, for example, even if the orientation of the main body (for example, the orientation of the camera when the camera is built in) is downward, the GPS antenna can obtain good GPS reception sensitivity.

(17) The in-vehicle optional component includes a radio wave receiving unit, and a positioning mechanism provided between the in-vehicle optional component and the drive recorder main body sets a relative angular position between the two. The orientation of the antenna of the radio wave receiving unit may be specified. This is preferable because the user can automatically set the position at an appropriate position without being aware of the orientation of the radio wave receiving unit.

(18) It is preferable to flatten the installation surface of the switch formed on the surface of the drive recorder main body so that the camera's field of view faces the side opposite to the installation surface. (19) In this case, it is more preferable that the flat surface and the direction of the field of view are set to be orthogonal to each other. When a camera is installed and a drive recorder is used to shoot the front, it is difficult to directly check the direction of the camera facing the front from the inside of the car. However, the installation surface of the switch (which faces the inside of the car because it is operated by the driver, etc.) is made flat, and the camera's field of view is directed to the opposite side of the flat surface, so the installation surface (flat). Since the orientation of the camera with respect to the surface) is known, the orientation of the camera can be estimated from the orientation of the installation surface. At this time, if the direction of the camera is orthogonal to the flat surface as in the invention of (19), for example, if the installation surface is parallel to the vertical direction, the camera faces the horizontal direction. , The direction can be guessed more easily. However, even if they are not always orthogonal, there is no problem because it can be estimated if the direction of the camera with respect to the installation surface is determined.

(20) It is preferable that other in-vehicle optional parts can be connected to the non-connected side of the in-vehicle optional parts with the drive recorder main body. (21) The in-vehicle optional component is a target detection unit that detects a target existing in the surroundings, or (22) is a drive recorder main body for expansion, and is used in a camera built in these two drive recorder main bodies. Based on this, various devices can be applied, such as providing a function of recording as a stereo camera, (23) any of an indoor photographing device, a security device, and a doze prevention device.

Further, since the inclination of the windshield differs depending on the type of vehicle, there is a problem that if the mounting structure is one fixed, it cannot be mounted depending on the vehicle. The invention disclosed in Patent Document 2 proposes a technique of detecting the posture of the main body and correcting the image taken by the CCD camera on the premise that the mounting posture of the main body of the drive recorder is changed. .. Then, although it is possible to prepare a plurality of types of mounting members (mounting jigs) according to the inclination of the windshield and mount the drive recorder using a mounting jig suitable for the vehicle to be mounted, such a configuration is applicable. If a plurality of types of mounting members are sold as a set, it is not preferable to purchase a mounting jig that is unnecessary for the user. Therefore, according to the inventions (2), (3), etc., in order to rotatably mount the ring portion of the mounting bracket, the relative rotation angle relationship between the mounting member of the mounting bracket and the main body is changed. It is possible to handle different types of vehicles with a single unit configuration.

(24) The in-vehicle optional component of the present invention is an in-vehicle optional component that can be connected to the drive recorder main body for configuring the drive recorder according to any one of (1) to (23) above. be.

Since the in-vehicle optional parts are connected to the drive recorder main body, they are referred to as "in-vehicle optional parts" in the sense that they are options for the drive recorder main body. All devices that meet the requirements of each claim connected to the drive recorder body are included.

In the present invention, in many cases, various services can be provided on a daily basis by the optional parts for vehicles, and a useful drive recorder can be popularized in the event of an accident.

It is an external perspective view which shows one preferable embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view which shows one preferable embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view which shows one preferable embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view which shows one preferable embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view which shows one preferable embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the mounting bracket 30. It is an exploded front view which shows one preferable embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows one preferable embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view which shows one preferable embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded perspective view which shows one preferable embodiment of this invention. (A) is a perspective view showing a main body of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a perspective view showing a main body from which the first case has been removed. (A) is a view showing a state in which the first case and the CCD camera are removed in a side view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and (b) is a side view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention. be. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the 1st case, the mounting bracket and the nut member were removed in one preferred embodiment of this invention. It is an exploded front view which shows one preferable embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the case from the state of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which removed the nut member and the case in one preferred embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows one preferable embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the other preferable embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the other preferable embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the drive recorder according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the drive recorder of the present embodiment includes a cylindrical main body 10, and a mounting bracket 30 is mounted on one end side of the main body 10 in the axial direction, and a nut that serves the mounting bracket 30 as a fixing member. A configuration is adopted in which the member 40 is fixed.

The main body 10 is configured by abutting the first case 11 and the second case 12, which are divided into two (half) in the front and rear. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 and the like, the outer dimensions of the one end portions 11a and 12a of the first case 11 and the second case 12 are formed to be one size smaller, and the one end portions 11a and 12a and the shaft of the main body are formed. A step is formed with the central portion in the direction. A triangular wavy (saw blade-shaped) tooth portion 17 is formed on the wall surface where the step is formed. Further, a male screw 18 is formed on the outer peripheral surface on the distal end side of the one end portions 11a, 12a of the first case 11 and the second case 12.

The mounting bracket 30 is erected on the outer peripheral surface of the ring portion 31 and the ring portion 31 having an inner diameter substantially matching (slightly larger) with the outer diameters of the one end portions 11a and 12a of the first case 11 and the second case 12. It is provided with a connecting pillar portion 32 and a mounting plate 33 provided at the tip of the connecting pillar portion 32. As shown in FIG. 6, the mounting plate 33 is arranged so as to be obliquely inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the diameter direction of the ring portion 31.

Further, on one surface of the ring portion 31 (the surface facing the main body 10), a tooth portion 34 is formed over the entire circumference thereof. The tooth portions 34 are set to have the same dimensional shape so as to match the tooth portions 17 formed on the main body 10. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the width D of the ring portion 31 is substantially the same as the width D1 of the flat portion (unformed region of the male screw 18) of the one end portions 11a, 12a of the first case 11 and the second case 12. I have to. Of course, it may be set wider than D1 (D1 <D), but in that case, it should be set shorter than the width D2 to the tip including the male screw 18 (D1 <D <D2).

Then, the nut member 40 is attached to the male screw 18. The nut member 40 has a cylindrical shape having a predetermined length with both ends open, and a female screw matching the male screw 18 is formed on the inner peripheral surface 41 at one end thereof. As a result, when the ring portion 31 is attached to the one end portions 11a, 12a of the first case 11 and the second case 12, the ring portion 31 has one end of the first case 11 and the second case 12 with its central axis as the center of rotation. It can be rotated in the forward and reverse directions relative to the portions 11a and 12a. Then, the rotation is suppressed by engaging the tooth portion 17 provided on the main body 10 with the tooth portion 34 provided on the ring portion 31.

On the other hand, when the ring portion 31 is attached to the one end portions 11a, 12a of the first case 11 and the second case 12 as described above, the male screw 18 projects outward from the ring portion 31. Therefore, the nut member 40 is attached to the protruding male screw 18. Then, as shown in FIG. 8 and the like, by firmly fastening the female screw of the nut member 40 and the male screw 18 of the main body 10, the distance between the nut member 40 and the stepped portion forming the tooth portion 17 of the main body 10 is formed. The ring portion 31 can be sandwiched between the main body 10 and the nut member 40 with a predetermined force. In the state of being firmly fastened in this way, the tooth portions 17 and 34 mesh with each other to suppress the rotation of the ring portion 31 and thus the mounting bracket 30, and in the state where the nut member 40 is loosened, the rotation is allowed. Therefore, the relative angular positional relationship between the main body 10 and the mounting bracket 30 can be set (adjusted) at an arbitrary position and fixed at that position. That is, when the surface (direction) parallel to the joint surface of the first case 11 and the second case 12 is the basic vertical direction of the main body 10, the angle formed by the vertical direction and the mounting plate 33 of the mounting bracket 30 is set. Can be changed.

Double-sided tape (not shown) and other adhesive members are attached to the upper surface of the mounting plate 33, and the double-sided tape is used to adhere and fix the double-sided tape to the windshield of the vehicle. Therefore, the drive recorder of the present embodiment can be adjusted according to the angles (25 to 75 degrees) of various windshields. That is, the mounting plate 33 is parallel to the angle of the windshield, but as described above, the relative angle of the main body 10 with respect to the mounting plate 33 (mounting bracket 30) can be adjusted, so that the angle of the mounting plate 33 (windshield) Regardless of, the basic vertical direction of the main body 10 can be made parallel to, for example, a vertical plane (relative to the ground). Of course, the angle formed by the main body 10 in the basic vertical direction and the vertical plane with respect to the ground can be set to an appropriate angle. Therefore, one drive recorder can be mounted on different types of vehicles.

Further, by firmly fastening the nut member 40, the tooth portions 17 of the main body 10 and the tooth portions 34 of the mounting bracket 30 are firmly engaged with each other and their rotation is reliably prevented. Even if an impact is applied to the body 10, the orientation and posture of the main body 10 can maintain the basic posture when the drive recorder is attached to the windshield (as long as the mounting plate 33 does not peel off from the windshield) and firmly fix it. can.

Furthermore, although not shown, it is preferable to adopt a configuration in which a packing made of an elastic body such as rubber is arranged inside the nut member 40 (on the side of the main body 10). In this case, the inner diameter of the packing should be set to be substantially the same as or slightly wider than the outer diameter of the male screw 18 of the main body 10, and the outer diameter of the packing should be set to be one size smaller than the outer diameter of the ring portion 31. The wall thickness of the packing 50 is made uniform over the entire circumference. In the present embodiment, the width D of the ring portion 31 is substantially the same as the width D1 of the flat portions (unformed region of the male screw 18) of the one end portions 11a and 12a of the first case 11 and the second case 12. When the ring portion 31 is attached to the one end portions 11a and 12a, the tip of the flat portion of the one end portion 11a and 12a and the end surface of the ring portion 31 on the nut member 40 side are substantially flush with each other. One surface of the packing can be in contact with the main body 10 and the ring portion 31 beyond the male screw 18, and the other surface of the packing is in contact with the inner surface of the nut member 40.

When the width D of the ring portion and the lengths D1 and D2 of the one end portions 11a and 12a are set so that D1 <D <D2, the packing has a ring shape (doughnut shape) having a uniform thickness. Instead, it is preferable to provide an annular convex portion that fits into the stepped portion between D and D1 with respect to the ring portion.

By additionally arranging the packing in this way and utilizing the elastic force of the packing, in addition to the effect of tightening the ring portion by narrowing the distance between the fixing member and the main body, the elastic force of the packing improves the tightening force. Can be done. Therefore, for example, the distance between the fixing member and the main body is set to be slightly wider than the width of the ring (the distance when this is slightly widened is appropriately changed depending on other factors such as the thickness of the packing), and the elastic force of the packing is increased. If the ring portion is fixed by using it, temporary fixing can be performed. By exerting the temporary fixing effect in this way, for example, when installing in a vehicle, the main body must always be supported by hand without packing, but with packing, the hand can be released. When adjusting the angle, for example, it is difficult to check the angle by supporting it by hand with the ring part pressed against the main body, but it is temporarily fixed by packing, so it is supported by hand. Even if this is not done, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the angle can be fixed at that angle in a temporarily fixed state. Therefore, even in a narrow space such as the inside of a vehicle, it has an excellent effect of being easy to install and adjust.

Furthermore, when a rubber material is used as the packing, in addition to the above-mentioned temporary fixing effect, it also exerts a vibration prevention effect and a non-slip effect, so that it is possible to prevent the nut member 40 from loosening due to vibration, and only when installing an in-vehicle device. It is more preferable because it exerts an excellent effect on stability during use. That is, it is possible to prevent unnecessary recording triggered by vibration as a drive recorder, and it is possible to more reliably record an accident image at the time of an impact. Of course, this packing does not necessarily have to be provided.

Further, in the present embodiment, the target object detection unit 50 is arranged in the tubular nut member 40. The target object detection unit 50 receives various radio waves emitted from the target object to be detected, notifies a predetermined alarm according to the content of the received radio waves, acquires the current position, and obtains the current position of the current position. If there is alarm / information to be notified in the surroundings, the notification is given according to the type of the information.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the target object detection unit 50 is configured by incorporating a predetermined component inside the columnar case 51. The outer diameter R1 of the case 51 is set to be substantially equal to the inner diameter of the nut member 40 or smaller by an appropriate size, and can be stored inside the nut member 40. When the target object detection unit 50 is housed in the nut member 40, the nut member 40 and the target object detection unit 50 are arranged so that their central axes are substantially aligned with each other, and are relative to the central axis. It is rotatable to. That is, even if the target object detection unit 50 does not rotate and holds its position, the nut member 40 can rotate.

The other end of the nut member 40 (the tip side not connected to the male screw 18 of the main body 10) is provided with a flange portion 42 protruding toward the center side. The inner diameter R2 of the flange portion 42 is set smaller than the outer diameter R1 of the case 51 of the target detection unit 50. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10 and the like, when the target object detection unit 50 is housed in the nut member 40, the tip surface 51a of the case 51 is exposed to the outside from the other end of the nut member 40, but the case 51 The peripheral edge of the tip surface 51a of the nut comes into contact with the flange 42 and is prevented from moving further forward (in the direction of protruding from the nut member 40). Therefore, the target object detection unit 50 housed in the nut member 40 is prevented from being detached from the opening at the other end of the nut member 40 to the outside.

Therefore, when the nut member 40 is fastened to the male screw 18 of the main body 10, the target object detection unit 50 in the nut member 40 is maintained in a state of being housed inside. As described above, in the present embodiment, the nut member 40 and the target object detection unit 50 can rotate relative to each other. Therefore, when the nut member 40 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions for fastening / disengaging the nut member 40, the target is rotated. The object detection unit 50 can be operated regardless of whether or not it is in a rotatable state.

Further, the tip surface 51a of the case 51 of the target object detection unit 50 is provided with objects to be operated by the user, such as a volume dial 53 and a DC jack 55. As described above, since the other end of the nut member 40 is opened and the tip surface 51a of the case 51 is exposed to the outside, the volume dial 43 and the like are also exposed. By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to install the operation target of the user in the limited space of the present device, and as a result of attracting the user's attention during the operation, it is easy to check whether the nut member 40 is loose. Can be done.

In the present embodiment, the nut member 40 and the target object detection unit 50 are made of separate members, but both are integrally formed, that is, the nut member is coaxially formed on the other end surface 51b side of the case 51 of the target object detection unit 50. Is rotatably connected. As a result, the target detection unit 50 can be attached to or detached from the main body 10 by rotating the nut member portion in the forward and reverse directions.

Next, the arrangement structure of each component mounted in the main body 10 and the external exposure structure of the component will be described. As shown in FIG. 11, a CCD camera 13, a GPS antenna 14, a first connector 15, a power supply circuit, and the like are mounted on the first case 11 side. A circular opening 11b is formed at a predetermined position (opposite position of the CCD camera 13) of the first case 11, and the CCD camera 13 is exposed to the outside through the opening 11b.

Further, the GPS antenna 14 is arranged at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical direction of the main body 10 (a surface (direction) parallel to the joint surface of the first case 11 and the second case 12) so as to face diagonally upward. (See FIG. 12 (a), etc.). Thereby, for example, even when the field of view of the CCD camera 13 is set to face diagonally downward when mounted on a truck or the like, good GPS reception sensitivity can be obtained.

Further, the first connector 15 is arranged parallel to the axial direction of the main body 10 and protrudes outward from one end side of the main body 10. That is, a window hole 11d is formed at a predetermined position on the end surface (side surface orthogonal to the axial direction) of one end portion 11a of the first case 11, and the first connector 15 is exposed to the outside through the window hole 11d (tip). Is protruding). The first connector 15 is connected to the target detection unit 50, and the circuit in the main body 10 and the circuit in the target detection unit 50 are conductive.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11B and the like, a locking claw 12c is provided at a predetermined position on the joint surface of the second case 12. A locking recess is formed on the joint surface of the first case 11 at a position corresponding to the locking claw 12c, and when the first and second cases 11 and 12 are butted against each other, the locking claw 12c is formed. And the recesses mesh with each other to position and prevent misalignment (particularly axial movement).

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, man-machine interfaces such as a switch unit 20, a display unit 21, and an SD card slot 22 and a control circuit are mounted on the second case 12 side. The control circuit is a circuit for realizing the basic functions of the drive recorder, and is based on a detection signal from an impact detection sensor such as an acceleration sensor (not shown) or a memory of an image taken by the CCD camera 13. Data such as captured images are stored in non-volatile memory. Further, although not shown, an output device such as a speaker is also mounted. For example, the operation sound of the switch unit 20 and various messages (guides, alarms, etc.) are notified from the speaker. Further, on the second case 12 side, electronic components and electronic circuits for realizing the functions of an acceleration sensor and other drive recorders for detecting a collision or the like are incorporated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 12B, the first case 11 and the second case 12 have flat surfaces 11e and 12e whose surfaces opposite to the joint surface are parallel to the joint surface. Therefore, both flat surfaces 11e and 12e are set in parallel. Then, the CCD camera 13 is exposed to the outside from the flat surface 11e of the first case 11 (the circular opening 11b is formed on the flat surface 11e), and the direction of the field of view of the CCD camera 13 is the flat surface. The direction is set to be orthogonal to 11e.

On the other hand, the switch unit 20 and the display unit 21 are arranged on the flat surface 12e of the second case 12. When the drive recorder is attached to the windshield, the first case 11 (CCD camera 13) is installed so as to face the front surface of the vehicle, and the second case 12 is installed so as to face the inside of the vehicle. Therefore, it is difficult for a user such as a driver in the vehicle to directly confirm the orientation of the CCD camera 13. However, in the present embodiment, since the flat surface 11e of the first case 11 and the flat surface 12e of the second case 12 are set to be parallel to each other, the flat surface 12e of the second case 12 facing the inside of the vehicle is set. Is the direction of the flat surface 11e of the first case 11 and thus the direction of the CCD camera 13, so the direction of the CCD camera 13 is estimated by looking at the directions of the switch unit 20 and the display unit 21 (flat surface 12e). Therefore, the orientation of the CCD camera 13 can be easily adjusted.

Furthermore, the SD card slot 22 is arranged on the side surface opposite to the one end portion 12a of the second case 12 (see FIG. 11 and the like). In this way, among the man-machine interfaces, the frequently used ones such as the switch unit 20 are arranged on the front side, and the infrequently used ones such as the volume dial 23 and the SD card slot 22 are arranged on the side surface. , The operability is improved. Further, since the SD card slot 22 is arranged on the side surface, there is no front crow, roof, etc. in the insertion / removal direction of the SD card 60, and the SD is irrespective of the inclination angle of the windshield to which the drive recorder is attached or the orientation of the drive recorder. The card 60 can be easily attached and detached. Moreover, since the SD card slot 22 is arranged on the side surface opposite to the mounting bracket 30, the SD card 60 can be more easily mounted and taken out from the SD card slot 22.

Further, in the structure of the present embodiment, the SD card slot 22 is located on the right side when viewed from the driver because the CCD camera 13 faces the front of the vehicle and the second case 12 is located on the driver side. , The mounting bracket 30 (volume dial 53, DC jack 55) is located on the left side when facing (see FIG. 3). Then, the main body 10 (one end portion 11a, 12a) and the mounting bracket 30 (ring portion 31) can be relatively rotated 360 degrees by loosening the nut member 40. Therefore, when the main body 10 is rotated 180 degrees and the top and bottom are reversed from the state shown in FIG. 1 and the like, when the drive recorder is attached to the windshield, the SD card slot 22 is viewed from the driver's point of view. The mounting bracket 30 (volume dial 53, DC jack 55) is located on the left side when facing the left side. Therefore, it can be mounted upside down and can be used for both right-hand drive and left-hand drive. Further, it is also possible to easily attach the mounting bracket 30 to a plurality of vehicles in advance and mount one main body on the plurality of vehicles for use.

As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the target object detection unit 50, which is an optional component, is connected to the first connector 15 and is linked with the circuit in the main body 10. That is, although not shown, a through hole is provided at a predetermined position (position facing the first connector 15) of the other end surface 51b of the case 51, and the tip of the first connector 15 passes through the through hole to the case 51. It is inserted into the inside of the case 51 and is linked to the receiving connector portion provided inside the case 51. Further, a second connector 52 is provided on the target detection unit 50 side, and the second connector 52 is connected to the main body 10. In the present embodiment, the circuits in the main body 10 and the circuits in the target detection unit 50 are linked by using the first and second connectors 15 and 52, but the number of connectors is arbitrary and the circuit is installed. The position to do is also arbitrary.

Further, in the present embodiment, the first connector 15 provided on the main body 10 is integrated with the main body, and when the main body 10 is fixed, the first connector 15 also retains its position. Similarly, the second connector 52 provided in the case 51 of the target object detection unit 50 is also fixedly installed with respect to the case 51. Therefore, by linking the first connector 15 and the second connector 52 to the corresponding counterparties, the main body 10 and the target detection unit 50 are integrated, and the connecting portion becomes two places, so that the main body 10 and the main body 10 are connected. Both of the target detection units 50 are suppressed from relatively rotating and moving, and both of them rotate integrally around the central axis of the main body 10. In particular, if the tip of the connector (the part to be connected) is a relatively rigid one such as a pin and it is directly connected to the female connector of the other party, the connection makes it more integrated and relative rotational movement. Is definitely deterred. Even if the main body 10 and the target object detection unit 50 are integrated in this way, the nut member 40 can rotate and move relative to the target object detection unit 50, so that the nut member 40 is the main body 10 It can be tightened or released from the male screw 18.

Then, assuming that the main body 10 and the target object detection unit 50 do not rotate relatively (even if they rotate, the angle is narrow) as described above, the rotation angle position of the target object detection unit 50 with respect to the main body 10 is constant. Can be. As will be described later, since the target detection unit 50 is provided with a radio wave receiving unit, the radio wave receiving unit is oriented appropriately in order to receive radio waves from a predetermined direction such as in front of the vehicle or above the vehicle with high sensitivity. However, it can be set to an appropriate angle position without adjusting the position of the user.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, in the case 51, the target detection unit 50 includes a microwave receiving antenna 56 for receiving microwaves as a radio wave receiving unit, a receiving circuit unit 57, a volume dial 53, and a DC. It is equipped with a jack 55. Further, a radio reception antenna unit for receiving radio of a predetermined frequency may be built in.

As described above, the DC jack 55 is arranged so as to be arranged parallel to the axial direction of the case 51 and to be exposed to the outside from one end side of the case 51. That is, a window hole 51c is formed at a predetermined position on the tip surface 51a of the case 51, and the DC jack 55 is exposed to the outside through the window hole 51c. By attaching a DC plug (not shown) attached to one end of a power cable connected to a cigar socket, for example, the drive recorder of the present embodiment can supply power from a vehicle battery to the DC jack 55. And. In this way, since the power cable is pulled out from the side of the drive recorder (target detection unit 50), the power cable can be hidden in the rearview mirror by attaching the drive recorder to the side or near the rearview mirror. It can be made and can be beautiful in appearance.

Similarly, the volume dial 53 is arranged on one end (tip surface 51a of the case 51) side of the target detection unit 50, and a part of the volume dial 53 is externally provided from the vertical slit 51f provided on the tip surface 51. It protrudes and can be rotated. The volume dial 53 provided in the target detection unit 50 adjusts the output level of the speaker mounted in the main body 10, and information based on the operation on the volume dial 53 via the second connector 52 or the like described above is provided. It is sent to the inside of the main body 10.

Further, the electric power supplied from the DC jack 55 is used to supply power to the device in the target detection unit 50, and is also transmitted to the main body 10 side via the second connector 52, and is a circuit in the main body 10. It is also used to supply power to. Further, when a rechargeable secondary battery is mounted in the main body 10, the secondary battery is charged by the electric power supplied via the second connector 52 described above by the rechargeable power supply circuit, and the secondary battery is charged from the vehicle side. During the period when the power supply is cut, it is preferable to supply power to the circuit in the main body 10 by discharging from the secondary battery. In this case, the power supply to the circuit in the target detection unit 50 may also utilize the discharge from the secondary battery. This is to prevent the target object detection unit 50 from becoming larger and the nut member 40 from becoming larger when the power supply circuit including the secondary battery is mounted in the target object detection unit 50.

Further, the target detection unit 50 is equipped with a radio wave reception function which is unnecessary because of the drive recorder function and is not mounted in the main body 10, and it is determined whether or not an alarm is necessary based on the acquired information. The control unit that controls to issue an alarm when necessary, the output unit that actually issues an alarm to the outside, and the like may be used in combination with those mounted on the main body 10. By doing so, it is possible to reduce the size of the target detection unit 50 and the size of the entire drive recorder.

Specifically, the control unit (MPU) mounted in the main body 10 has a target unit detection / notification function in addition to the original function of the drive recorder. In addition, information (position information, type, etc.) about the target is also stored in the storage means (EEPROM, SD card 60, etc. installed in the SD card slot 22) in the main body 10. The control unit accesses the storage means based on the current position detected by the GPS antenna 14 in the main body 10, determines whether or not there is a target to be detected around the current position, and if it exists, a predetermined value. Issue an alarm. In the case of the present embodiment, the type and direction of the target object, the remaining distance, and the like are notified by voice from the speaker, and a message is output to the display unit 21 as characters or marks. Further, when a desired microwave is received by the microwave receiving antenna 56 mounted in the target detection unit 50, an alarm indicating that the microwave has been received is issued. Further, when the radio receiving antenna unit receives the radio of a predetermined frequency, an alarm to that effect is given. The predetermined frequency includes, for example, the frequency of the radio wave used by the emergency vehicle to notify the position of the own vehicle in the car locator system, the frequency used for the emergency radio, and the like.

In the above-described embodiment, the first and second connectors 15 and 52 are separately directly connected to the connectors (not shown) provided on the other side, but one of the first connector 15 and the second connector 52 or Both may be equipped with a cable. In that case, when connecting the connector with a margin of cable length, the work can be performed with a slight gap between the main body 10 and the target detection unit 50, so that the connector connection work can be easily performed. In this case, if necessary, a positioning mechanism between the main body 10 and the target detection unit 50 may be separately provided. That is, for example, a protrusion is provided on one or both of the other end surface 51b of the target detection unit 50 and the tip surface of the main body 10 facing the other end surface 51b, and a recess is provided at a position facing the protrusion to connect the above connector. It can be positioned by fitting the protrusion and the recess after the process. Further, a part of the substrate mounted in the target object detection unit 50 is projected outward from the other end surface 51b of the case 51, and the protruding portion is inserted into the rear portion provided at a predetermined position on the main body 10 side. It may be positioned. In particular, since the board on which the microwave receiving circuit unit 57 is mounted is parallel to the microwave receiving antenna 56, the position (orientation) of the board is the same as the direction of the microwave receiving antenna 56, so that radio waves are received. It is preferable because the orientation of the part can be adjusted and set directly.

Further, a configuration in which the first connector 15 and the second connector are connected (the main body 10 and the target detection unit 50 are linked by one connector) can be adopted. In that case, for example, by providing a cable to the second connector 52, it is possible to connect even in the state of the present embodiment in which the pull-out position of the second connector 52 is eccentric. Of course, for example, the pull-out position (installation position) of the second connector may be set to a position facing the first connector 15 near the center of the other end surface 51b, and both may be directly connected.

Further, since the target object detection unit 50 is an optional component, it is of course possible to adopt a configuration in which the optional component is not attached. In this case, in order to provide a function of adjusting the volume and receiving power supply from the vehicle, a basic unit equipped with a volume dial 53 mounted in the case 51 of the target detection unit 50, a DC jack 55, and the like is prepared. , The basic unit may be integrated with the main body by the nut member 40. That is, if the parts mounted in the case 51 of the target object detection unit 50 from which the parts necessary for detecting the target object such as the radio wave receiving unit are removed are used as the basic unit, the nut member 40 can also be used. Further, since the volume dial 53 and the like are smaller in size than the radio wave receiving unit, the axial length of the basic unit may be shortened to reduce the size of the drive recorder as a whole. Of course, the nut member and the basic unit may be integrally formed.

Further, the volume is adjusted by using the remote controller by operating the switch unit 20 provided in the main body 10 and by providing the operation signal transmission / reception function by the remote controller, and the DC jack is on the opposite side of the main body 10 (SD card slot). When arranged on the side where 22 is provided), the first connector 15 is used for communication with the optional member or power supply from the main body side to the optional member side when the optional member is present. When an option such as the target object detection unit 50 is not mounted, a nut member having a short width may be mounted to fix only the mounting bracket 30.

16 and 17 show another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the optional parts connected to the main body 10 are different. That is, two main bodies according to the above-described embodiment are prepared, one main body 10 is equipped with a mounting bracket 30, the other main body 10'is turned upside down, and the CCD camera 13 is positioned on the same surface side. In this state, both main bodies 10 and 10'are connected and integrated via the connecting member 70. At this time, although the main body 10'has the same configuration as the main body 10, a dedicated main body may be prepared as the main body for expansion.

The connecting member 70 has female threads on both sides in the axial direction, and both ends can rotate freely with each other. As a result, both ends of the connecting member 70 can be independently rotated and connected to the male threads 18 of the main bodies 10 and 10'opposed to each other. Then, in the state where both main bodies 10 and 10'are connected, the shooting area and the shooting direction of the CCD cameras provided on both main bodies 10 and 10'are set to be fixed at positions that match as much as possible.

The connecting member 70 connects the first connector 15 provided on the main bodies 10 and 10', and although not shown, a DC jack is provided at a predetermined position of the connecting member 70 from the vehicle side via the DC jack. It has a power supply function for supplying the supplied power to the main bodies 10 and 10', respectively. This power supply function includes a connector connected to a connector portion connected to the second connector of the target detection unit 50, a DC jack, and wiring for connecting the DC jack and the connector.

The image captured by the CCD camera 13 of the added main body 10'is sent to the main main body 10 side via the first connector 15 connecting member 70. Then, on the main body 10 side, it is possible to record as a stereo camera based on the image captured by the own CCD camera 13 and the transmitted image. A stereo camera is preferable because it is useful for accident analysis because the distance can be obtained from the difference between the images of both cameras. When the control unit of the main body 10 is operating alone, it functions as an ordinary drive recorder, records necessary information in the event of an accident, and recognizes that the added main body 10'is connected. Has a function of operating as a stereo camera for recording. Whether or not the added main body 10'is connected can be recognized by the function of confirming whether or not the optional parts are connected and, if so, the type of the optional parts. That is, the other party can be confirmed by communicating (establishing the connection) with the other party connected via the first connector. Further, the added main body 10'sends the image captured as described above to the other party, but may further have a function of recording in its own non-volatile memory. In that case, the added main body 10'side functions as a normal drive recorder, and even if there is a problem in recording with the stereo camera on the main body 10 side, information as a normal drive recorder can be secured.

When recording data on the SD card in each of the main units 10 and 10', the data of the two recorded SD cards is read out by a PC, and based on the data for synchronization such as the shooting time data included in both data, It is advisable to synchronize the data of two videos and the like for playback.

Note that the two main units 10 and 10'start and end recording with different sensors, respectively.
A deviation in the recording range may occur, but this deviation can be dealt with by correcting it based on time information or the like and performing appropriate correction processing such as creating a stereo image based on frames captured at the same time. ..

Further, the inside of the connecting member 70 may be provided with a through hole penetrating from the main body 10 side to the main body 10'side, and the electrical connection may be made via a cable passing through the through hole. Further, the main body 10 may be fixed so that the front of the vehicle is photographed and the main body 10'is directed to the rear side of the vehicle or the interior of the vehicle. In this way, it is possible to shoot in a plurality of directions at the same time. Since the main body 10 can be easily attached and detached, for example, one main body is usually attached to two cars and used, and two main bodies are combined into one car only when a stereo image is required. It can be easily reattached and used. Further, in the main body 10 and 10', information on the mounting angles of both (for example, information output by the acceleration sensor provided in the main body 10) is recorded in the SD card, and the information of the SD card is taken in by the PC. With the application software (viewer) of the PC, the mounting direction of each main body is displayed (illustrated) based on the information on the mounting angles of the two main bodies, and the image recorded by the function of the drive recorder and the vehicle behavior are displayed. May be combined and displayed based on the information on the mounting angles of the two main bodies.

Optional parts are not limited to the above-mentioned target detection device and the second drive recorder. For example, a camera recording device for indoor photography (countermeasures against taxi robbery, etc.), a security device, a doze prevention device, etc. Various things can be incorporated.

Furthermore, the connection of options is not limited to one for the main body, and a similar structure is provided on the side opposite to the main body side of the unit for options, and a plurality of options (types). It is good to be able to connect the same or different ones).

10,10'Main body 13 CCD camera 20 Switch part 22 SD card slot 30 Mounting bracket 31 Ring part 33 Mounting plate 40 Nut part (fixing member)
50 Target detection unit

Claims (6)

It is an in-vehicle device
The first part with the display and
A camera that is a second portion located on one side of the first portion when the display unit is viewed from the front and is capable of changing the relative posture with respect to the first portion. The second part to have and
Have,
The first portion is an in-vehicle device having a camera that faces in a direction different from that of the display unit. It is an in-vehicle device
The first part with the display and
A camera that is a second portion located on one side of the first portion when the display unit is viewed from the front and is capable of changing the relative posture with respect to the first portion. The second part to have and
Have,
The second portion is an in-vehicle device that can be attached to and detached from the first portion. It is an in-vehicle device
The first part with the display and
A camera that is a second portion located on one side of the first portion when the display unit is viewed from the front and is capable of changing the relative posture with respect to the first portion. The second part to have and
Have,
The operation unit operated by the user is an in-vehicle device provided in each of the first portion and the second portion. The first portion further has a camera pointing in a direction different from that of the display unit.
The in-vehicle device according to claim 2 or 3. The second portion can be attached to and detached from the first portion.
The in-vehicle device according to claim 1 or 3. A drive recorder having the in-vehicle device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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