JP7519723B2 - Systems etc. - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to, for example, a system.

In the description of drive recorders in Patent Document 1, for example, paragraph [0002] states that "images of the vehicle and the surrounding environment from the driver's field of vision are captured, and the captured image data is stored in a temporary storage memory." For example, paragraph [0006] states that "Instead of recording only a specified period of time around the time of a vehicle accident, some drive recorders capture images of the surrounding environment at all times and record the captured image data."

Patent Publication 2013-225179

The drive recorder disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a relatively narrow angle of view and captures a certain range in front of the vehicle, as shown in FIG. 8 of Patent Document 1, which shows a vehicle ahead as an example of an image captured by the forward monitoring camera. Paragraph [0077] of Patent Document 1 indicates that the in-vehicle monitoring camera is configured with a lens with a narrower angle of view than the forward monitoring camera. As such, conventional drive recorders have various issues, such as the narrow range that is captured being limited to the front, and the range of images recorded being insufficient. Therefore, the objective is to provide something that is better than conventional drive recorders.

The purpose of the invention of this application is not limited to this, and the applicant intends to obtain rights for configurations that aim to obtain effects from parts of the configuration disclosed in this specification and drawings, etc., through divisional applications, amendments, etc. For example, this specification discloses problems in which the phrase "can be" is read as "the problem is." Each problem is described as an independent one, and the applicant intends to obtain rights for the configuration for solving this problem alone through divisional applications, amendments, etc. Even if the problem is implicitly understood from the description in the specification, the applicant intends to include part of the configuration described in this specification in the scope of the patent claim through amendments or divisional applications. Problems that combine these independent problems are also disclosed.

(1) A device that is later installed in a vehicle and is equipped with a camera that captures images of the area outside the vehicle other than the area in front of the vehicle, and a means for outputting the images captured by the camera to a recording unit that records the images.

By retrofitting a device or system with such a configuration to a vehicle, even if the vehicle does not originally have such a device or system, it can record even if the vehicle is hit by a vehicle from a direction other than the front. The recording unit to which the video is output may be configured to be fixed or detachably mounted on the housing in which the camera is mounted, but it is preferable not to provide it on the housing in which the camera is mounted. By not mounting the recording unit on the housing in which the camera is mounted, it is possible to further miniaturize the housing of the camera, which is preferable because it does not obstruct the driver's field of vision. If the recording unit is not mounted on the housing in which the camera is mounted, the recording unit may be mounted, for example, in a housing separate from the housing and placed on the vehicle, but it is better to use the cloud. Shooting the area outside the vehicle includes shooting the outside of the vehicle through the interior of the vehicle, for example.

"Installed later on the vehicle" may refer to, for example, after the vehicle is shipped from the manufacturer's factory, and more preferably, after it is purchased from a dealer. A "camera that photographs areas outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle" may not, for example, primarily photograph the front, and may not include a camera whose optical axis direction, central axis direction, or center of the photographing means faces the front of the vehicle, and in particular may not include the front in its photographing area. Furthermore, a "camera that photographs areas outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle" may include, for example, a camera that photographs areas outside the vehicle other than the front, including the front. In such a case, the camera that photographs areas outside the vehicle other than the front may be a camera that photographs a larger area other than the front than the front of the vehicle, and in the case of a 360-degree camera, it may be installed in a position where it photographs more of the rear, such as the rear of the passenger compartment.

When the camera that captures images of the area outside the vehicle other than the area in front of the vehicle captures the area behind the vehicle, the system functions as, for example, a drive recorder with a rear-view recording function. For example, the camera that captures the rear view can be made compact with a resolution of, for example, 1 to 2 million pixels. Furthermore, it is preferable to widen the camera's angle of view so that it can capture a wider area.

(2) It is preferable to provide a means for detecting danger based on images captured by a camera that captures areas outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle, and outputting the detected danger to the notification unit. In this way, the driver is looking ahead while driving and is therefore unable to focus on or check the situation outside the vehicle other than in front, but the driver is notified of danger occurring in directions other than the front, making it easier for the driver to take measures to avoid the danger.

The danger to be detected may be, for example, the approach of surrounding vehicles such as a following vehicle. In this way, for example, the presence of a vehicle approaching from behind can be detected and a notification such as an alert can be given. For example, since a driver cannot keep his or her eyes on the rear while driving, for example, if the driver is looking ahead and is notified of the approach of a following vehicle, the alert can be used as an opportunity to view the rear through a rearview mirror or the like and check the situation.

Detection of vehicles approaching from behind may be performed, for example, based on the distance between the vehicle and surrounding vehicles behind the vehicle. For example, a reference distance may be set, and an alert may be issued when the surrounding vehicles approach at or below the reference distance. In addition, this approach-based alert may be conditioned, such as being issued only when the vehicle is traveling at a certain speed or above. For example, in order to alert the vehicle of a vehicle approaching to a certain degree while traveling, it is necessary to set the reference distance to an appropriate length. In this case, for example, if the vehicle is stopped temporarily in a traffic jam, at an intersection, or waiting for a traffic light, and a following vehicle approaches, it may be cumbersome to have an alert sound every time this occurs, which may render the system useless. However, if an alert is issued when the vehicle is traveling at a certain speed or above, an alert will not be issued during such a stop, when the vehicle is slowing down to stop, or when the vehicle is traveling at a low speed due to a traffic jam.

In addition to the above, the condition may be set to multiple reference distances according to the vehicle speed, which is the traveling speed of the vehicle. In this way, for example, by making the reference distance at the speed corresponding to traveling on a highway longer than the reference distance at the speed corresponding to traveling on a general road, it is possible to notify the following vehicle when the vehicle approaches while traveling on a highway, even if the following vehicle approaches at a relatively large distance compared to when traveling on a general road. In addition, for example, if the reference distance is set to be short when the vehicle speed is 0 or low, it is possible to achieve the same effect as the above-mentioned alert limited to traveling at a certain speed or above, such as not notifying or notifying the following vehicle when the vehicle is temporarily stopped in a traffic jam, at an intersection, waiting for a traffic light, etc. The judgment of whether or not the reference distance is the reference distance may be based on a direct measurement such as XX m, but it is also preferable to base it on something equivalent to XX m, such as the size of the vehicle in the captured image.

The danger to be detected may be, for example, tailgating by a surrounding vehicle. Tailgating may be detected, for example, based on changes in the distance between the vehicle and the following vehicle, or based on driving patterns such as the vehicle's movement and behavior in video footage captured by a camera. For example, when determining based on changes in the distance between the vehicles, tailgating may be determined to be the case if the vehicle suddenly closes the distance between the vehicles. For example, when determining the driving pattern as one in which the vehicle approaches suddenly, and then swerves left and right after approaching, tailgating or dangerous driving may be detected.

In addition to the function of issuing an alert in the event of aggressive driving, or instead of the alert function, it would be good to have a function of saving still images or videos in a dedicated folder, for example, when a vehicle approaches suddenly. By saving the images or videos in a dedicated folder, the user can easily check the license plate number of the aggressive vehicle at a later time by playing back the still images or videos saved in the dedicated folder.

The function to detect and alert the above-mentioned "aggressive driving" and "approach of following vehicles, etc." can be implemented, for example, using a function similar to the active safety forward collision prevention alert.

The dangers to be detected may be, for example, moving objects such as a child rushing out, or collisions with fixed objects. For example, it may be possible to detect a child rushing out when reversing the vehicle and give a notification/alert.

The notification unit may be a device that outputs sound such as a speaker, or may be a visual device such as a display monitor, but it is more preferable to use sound. Notification using sound is good because, for example, the driver can know the notification even in a situation where he is looking ahead and not looking at the display monitor. When using a monitor means such as a display monitor as the notification unit, the monitor means may be placed in a position where the driver can see it while driving, and may be a dedicated one, but it is more preferable to use a monitor means of another device. For example, the driver does not need to constantly or frequently see images of areas outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle, such as the rear, while driving forward. When there is a monitor means of another device, if a dedicated monitor means is installed separately from that, not only will there be multiple monitor means, which may be a nuisance, but there will also be a problem that it is difficult to instantly know which monitor means to look at. Therefore, by using the monitor means of another device, the problem can be solved. The monitor means of the other device may be, for example, the monitor means of a system such as a drive recorder that takes images in different directions. For example, if a system such as a drive recorder that records in different directions records the front, it is a good idea to display an alert on a monitor that normally outputs the image being recorded in front, when a vehicle behind suddenly approaches due to aggressive driving. The alert displayed in such a case may be a notice consisting of text, figures, or other patterns, but it is more preferable to display the image being recorded of the aggressive vehicle.

(3) It is preferable that the housing that mounts the camera that captures the area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle does not have a monitor, but has a notification means that notifies people inside the vehicle that it is operating. In this way, it is possible to make the device smaller by not having a monitor. Without a monitor, the user is uncertain as to whether the device is operating or not, which makes the user anxious, but by providing a notification means that notifies people inside the vehicle that it is operating, such anxiety is eliminated. The notification means may be, for example, a light-emitting body such as an LED or a speaker that outputs sound, but it is preferable to use a light-emitting body such as an LED because it can be confirmed at an appropriate time. The notification means may be provided separately from the housing that mounts the camera, but it is preferable to provide the notification means in the housing. In this way, it is preferable that the housing or a separate body that mounts the camera that captures the area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle, such as a rear camera, only has an operation lamp, and that no monitor is provided.

(4) The camera that photographs the area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle photographs the rear of the vehicle, and the housing that mounts the camera that photographs the area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle may include a mounting part that is mounted on the ceiling inside the vehicle on the rear glass side of the vehicle. In this way, even if the vehicle is a type that has a back door that opens and closes on the rear side of the vehicle, such as a hatchback type, or a glass hatch type that opens and closes the rear glass, the housing maintains its mounted state and does not move even if the back door or rear glass is opened and closed. Therefore, for example, when a predetermined wiring is performed on the housing, the wiring can be routed inside the vehicle without loosening. In contrast, when the housing is attached to the rear glass or the like, the housing also moves together with the opening and closing of the back door or rear glass. Therefore, for example, when wiring is performed on the housing, problems arise in wiring, such as leaving the wiring loose to prevent the wiring from being cut because the wiring is pulled when opening, but by mounting it on the ceiling, there is no need to worry about this. The camera that records the rear of the vehicle can be a standalone device, but it is better to install a rear camera in a 2-channel or higher type drive recorder on the ceiling inside the vehicle.

The mounting part may be, for example, a mounting jig with various mechanisms and structures, or in a simple configuration, the surface of the housing may be attached to the ceiling using an adhesive such as double-sided tape.

(5) The camera that captures the area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle should be capable of capturing images at night when the vehicle's lights are not illuminated. The area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle is not illuminated by the vehicle's lights, but by using a camera capable of capturing images at night, it is possible to capture images, for example, brightly and beautifully, even at night. For example, the rear and sides of the vehicle are dark and difficult to record at night because there are no vehicle lights, but this problem can be solved. Capable of capturing images at night means that other vehicles, such as following vehicles, and other objects, can be captured at night in a manner that allows them to be identified. For example, in the case of a vehicle, capturing images in a manner that allows them to be identified should be possible with an accuracy that allows the vehicle to be identified by recognizing the license plate. Even if the license plate information cannot be identified, it is acceptable to capture information that can identify the vehicle, such as the model and color, but it is more preferable to have an accuracy that allows the license plate information to be identified. A configuration that allows night-time capture can be achieved by, for example, setting the brightness of the image quality captured by the camera for nighttime use, using a highly sensitive camera that can capture images even in low illuminance, or using an infrared camera or a night vision camera.

(6) A housing that mounts a camera that captures an area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle may include a mounting portion that is attached to the outside of the vehicle. Privacy glass such as smoked glass may be used for glass other than the windshield, but by installing the camera on the outside of the vehicle, the outside of the vehicle can be clearly captured regardless of whether it is privacy glass or not. A small rear camera that is attached to the outside of the vehicle is preferable because it can be installed in various vehicles regardless of whether the rear window at the rear is privacy glass or not. It is preferable to install the camera in an inconspicuous location on the outside of the vehicle, as this makes it less likely to be stolen. In addition, the camera may be made small and attached to, for example, the fixing bolt of the license plate, and a shape that imitates the fixing bolt is preferable because it is less noticeable.

(7) It is preferable to provide a function for changing the shooting conditions according to the type of glass of the vehicle within the shooting range of the camera that shoots the area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle when the camera is installed inside the vehicle cabin. The camera shoots the scenery outside the vehicle through the glass, and by shooting under shooting conditions according to the type of glass when shooting, it is possible to shoot beautifully in any direction. For example, one system can be used as a system for shooting forward and a system for shooting backward, depending on the application.

The shooting conditions should be such that, for example, the brightness of the image quality can be adjusted, so that appropriate image quality can be captured for both a windshield made of transparent glass and a rear window made of privacy glass or the like.

(8) The vehicle may include a monitor means for outputting an image captured by a camera capturing an area outside the vehicle other than the area in front of the vehicle, the monitor means being configured separately from a housing in which the camera capturing an area outside the vehicle other than the area in front of the vehicle is mounted, and the monitor means being installed in a position visible to the driver.

In this way, video captured of areas outside the vehicle other than the area in front of the vehicle is output to a monitor means installed in a position visible to the driver, so the driver can view video of areas outside the vehicle other than the area in front of the vehicle by looking at the monitor means. Therefore, for example, if the direction in which the camera captures the image is an area outside the vehicle rearward, even if the vehicle does not originally have a back view monitor, the back view monitor function is fulfilled. Also, for example, if the direction in which the camera captures the image is an area outside the vehicle diagonally forward, even if the vehicle does not originally have a side view monitor, the side view monitor function is fulfilled.

Furthermore, even if a vehicle is originally equipped with a back view monitor and/or side view monitor, if the shooting direction and viewing angle of the onboard camera for those monitors are misaligned, the monitor originally installed in the vehicle and the monitor means will display images of different areas, either partially or entirely, which is advantageous because it allows the driver to know a wider range of the situation outside the vehicle.

The monitor means configured separately may be a dedicated one, but it is more preferable to use the monitor means of another device. The monitor means of another device may be, for example, the monitor means of a system such as a drive recorder that captures images in a different direction. If the system such as a drive recorder that captures images in a different direction captures the front, for example, the image currently being captured of the front may be output to the monitor means, and when the vehicle is reversing, the image output to the monitor means may be automatically switched to the image captured by the rear camera. In this way, it serves as a substitute for a backup camera.

In addition, when a left/right turn or lane change is detected from, for example, turn signal information or steering angle information, it is preferable to have a function to automatically switch the image output to the monitor means to one captured by the side camera, and in particular, it is preferable to link the switching to the vehicle speed. For example, when the turn signal information indicates a right/left turn while the vehicle speed is 0 and the vehicle is temporarily stopped, it is highly likely that the vehicle is stopped to turn right or left at an intersection, etc., so it is preferable to automatically switch and output the image of the direction of the turn. In this way, it is possible to confirm the situation in the direction of travel, for example, even at intersections with poor visibility. In addition, for example, when the vehicle is slowly driving without turning on the turn signal and gradually changing its course based on steering angle information of the steering wheel, it is preferable to automatically switch to an image of a camera capturing an area outside the vehicle in the direction of the change of course. When the vehicle is gradually changing its course to the left or right while slowly driving, it is highly likely that the vehicle is moving to the side for parking, etc., so the area outside the vehicle in the direction of the move can be displayed on the monitor means to allow the vehicle to move to the side safely. For example, when parking a car on a narrow road, there is a demand to park as close to the left or right as possible. However, if there is a gutter with an opening at the top, there is a risk that the driver will not be able to park close enough to the side of the road due to concerns that the tires will fall into the gutter or run over the curb installed on the side of the road. However, since the situation in the direction of the approach can be confirmed on the video, the driver can appropriately approach the side of the road. This is useful because even drivers who have no sense of the vehicle's width can check the area around the front and rear tires and get a sense of the vehicle's width. It is particularly useful to have the automatic switch performed when the car is approaching the side of the road opposite the driver's seat (for example, the left side in the case of a right-hand drive vehicle). In this way, the blind spot opposite the driver's seat (for example, the left side of a right-hand drive vehicle) can be confirmed on the monitor without switching operations.

In addition, for example, the area outside the vehicle other than the area in front of the vehicle that is photographed by the camera may be an area that includes the vehicle's tires. In this way, it becomes a tire monitoring camera. Such a system is particularly preferable to install on large vehicles. For example, when starting off, it is possible to visually check whether there are any foreign objects (e.g. people, objects, etc.) around the tires, and whether there are any abnormalities in the air pressure. This can be checked "visually" from the driver's seat, without using equipment such as a TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System).

(9) It is advisable to provide a notification means for notifying people outside the vehicle that the system is in operation. In this way, for example, people in following vehicles or people approaching the vehicle can be notified that the system is in operation. For example, when driving at night, it is possible to appeal to following vehicles that a system for recording video, such as a drive recorder, is installed, which can discourage following vehicles from engaging in dangerous driving such as tailgating, and thus prevent such dangerous driving from occurring in the first place.

The notification means may be, for example, a light-emitting means such as an LED. This is advantageous because it is possible to easily inform those around that the camera is in operation with a simple configuration. The light-emitting means may be provided separately from the housing in which the camera is mounted, for example, but it is better to provide the light-emitting means in the housing in which the camera is mounted. By providing the light-emitting means in the same housing as the camera, people outside the vehicle can intuitively understand that the camera is in operation and taking pictures, which is advantageous.

(10) A housing that mounts a camera that captures an area outside the vehicle other than the area in front of the vehicle is attached to the rear of the vehicle interior via a ball joint bracket, and the bracket preferably includes a fixing means for fixing the camera so that the orientation of the camera that captures an area outside the vehicle other than the area in front of the vehicle does not change even if a biasing force is applied to the housing after positioning using the ball joint. In this way, for example, even if luggage comes into contact with the housing in which the camera is mounted when the back door is closed, the orientation of the camera does not change, and the desired direction can be captured.

Systems that do not have such a fixing means maintain their position using the friction of a ball joint, so if a force greater than a certain level is applied to the housing after positioning, there is a risk that the orientation of the housing and therefore the camera will change. Users who are not conscious of systems such as drive recorders, beginners, etc., may not notice or even care if a force is applied to the housing due to carelessness, for example, causing the orientation of the camera to change, and may therefore drive the vehicle with the camera in a changed orientation, resulting in a useless system that cannot capture the desired area.

The fixing means should be one that physically fixes the housing so that its orientation does not change. For example, a physical lock such as a pin can be used, and by inserting the pin or the like to prevent rotation, etc., this can be achieved with a simple configuration. It is preferable to provide a double fixing mechanism, such as a ball joint and a separate fixing means. In particular, by fixing using frictional force with a ball joint, the attitude of the housing and therefore the orientation of the camera can be aligned to the desired state, and the fixing means should reliably fix the housing so that its orientation does not change physically. For example, if the solid means is a member such as a fixing pin that passes between the male and female parts that make up the ball joint, this can be achieved with a simple configuration and physically locks the housing.

(11) The housing that mounts the camera that captures the area outside the vehicle other than the area in front of the vehicle may be connected to a second housing that mounts a monitor, and the orientation of the camera that captures the area outside the vehicle other than the area in front of the vehicle may be changed while the two are connected. In this way, the orientation of the camera can be changed relative to the orientation of the monitor. For example, the monitor may be installed in a position that is easy for the driver to see, and the camera may be configured to capture the desired direction by changing the orientation of the camera.

The configuration that allows the camera orientation to be changed may be, for example, a configuration in which the housing rotates relative to the second housing and the camera rotates together with the housing, or, for example, a configuration in which the housing is fixedly connected to the second housing and the camera rotates when part of the housing rotates.

When the housing in which the camera is mounted is configured to rotate relative to the second housing in which the monitor is mounted, for example, a mechanism for maintaining the angle at a predetermined angle may be provided on the contact surface between the housing and the second housing. The number of cameras mounted on the housing may be multiple, for example, two cameras, and the two cameras may be configured to be rotatable back and forth, for example, within the range in which the angle can be adjusted. When two cameras are provided, for example, images captured by the two cameras may be recorded simultaneously on one recording unit.

(12) A housing that mounts a camera that captures an area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle and a main unit are rotatably connected at the center of rotation via a connection member, and the connection member constitutes a means for electrically connecting the camera and the equipment in the main unit. In this way, the electrical connection can be made without using an FPC or electric wire, and the connection is not broken even when the device is rotated continuously, so the connection member is less likely to break. The connection member is preferably provided with an electrical connection means and a function for rotating the device, and is preferably a pin jack or the like, which can be realized with a simple configuration. For example, when a pin jack is used, the device can be electrically connected by simply inserting it, and can be rotatably connected, which has good productivity. In addition, when a pin jack/pin plug is used as the connection member, the pin plug (male) and pin jack (female) provided on the housing and the main unit, respectively, can be directly connected to integrate the housing and the main unit, and the pin plug and pin jack can be connected via a connection cable to separate the housing and the main unit, which is preferably a system of two integrated cameras. When another camera is mounted on the main unit, when the former pin jack or the like is used for direct connection, it becomes an integrated two-camera system.

(13) A housing that mounts a camera that captures an area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle and another housing that has a means for outputting to a recording unit that records the image can be connected by a general-purpose cable that transmits audio and video signals. In this way, by using a general-purpose cable, for example, a general-purpose product that is compatible with the general-purpose cable or a backup camera made by another company can be used for the housing that mounts a camera that captures an area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle. For example, by using a housing that mounts a camera that is compatible with 24V vehicles such as trucks, it can be compatible with 24V vehicles such as trucks. The general-purpose cable can be, for example, an RCA cable. By being compatible with trucks, it becomes a useful product for corporations.

It is also advisable to provide the separate housing with an output terminal for connecting with a general-purpose cable for transmitting audio and video signals. In this case, by adopting a configuration in which a monitor means, for example, is connected to the output terminal, the image captured by the camera can be output to the monitor means while also being output to the recording unit, and the image can be recorded on the recording unit side. The monitor means used in this case can also be a general-purpose product, which is preferable because it provides more room for selection of equipment to be used when configuring the system, and because the desired system configuration can be realized by using a general-purpose product even when a dedicated product is not available.

For example, in the case of a system equipped with multiple cameras that take pictures in different directions, some of the multiple cameras can be added using a general-purpose cable, which is advantageous because it can be used for vehicles that require additional interior or external cameras.

(14) The vehicle is provided with a first mode for recording images taken while the vehicle is in operation and a second mode for recording images taken while the vehicle is parked, and the first and second modes are recorded with different recording settings, and a function for automatically switching the recording settings in response to the vehicle state switching between the operating state and the parked state is provided. In this way, the vehicle can be recorded with a recording setting suitable for each situation while the vehicle is in operation and while parked. For example, while the vehicle is in operation, such as while driving, the image taken by the camera is output to the recording unit based on a predetermined recording setting A, and when the vehicle switches to a parked state, such as when the engine is turned off, the image taken by the camera is output to the recording unit based on an appropriate recording setting B while the vehicle is parked. Also, when the vehicle switches to an operating state, such as when the engine is started from a parked state, the recording setting is automatically switched to A, and the image taken by the camera is output to the recording unit based on the recording setting A. In the embodiment, the first mode corresponds to a driving mode, and in the embodiment, the second mode corresponds to a parking mode and a parking monitoring mode.

It would be good if the recording settings for the first and second modes could be set, for example, from the system main unit, and it would also be good if the power supply time, for example while the vehicle is parked, could be changed and set from the system main unit.

The system may also be provided with a motion detection function that detects objects moving in the vicinity. With the motion detection function, for example, objects such as people moving around the vehicle can be detected, so that, for example, people approaching the vehicle can be detected. In particular, when the motion detection function is activated while the vehicle is parked, it is possible to detect a person approaching the vehicle and record using this as a trigger. The ON/OFF setting of this motion detection function may be performed by manual switching, but it is preferable to provide a function that automatically switches ON/OFF once the setting is performed. For example, the motion detection function may be switched OFF when a state in which the vehicle can be driven is detected due to driving or engine start, and the motion detection function may be switched ON when parking, such as when the engine is stopped. In this way, for example, events such as driving with the motion detection function turned ON and not being able to record normally, or parking with the motion detection function turned OFF and not being able to record based on motion detection do not occur, and the cumbersomeness of manual switching settings is also eliminated.

For example, in a system equipped with cameras that capture images in different directions, such as the front and rear, it is a good idea to provide a motion detection function for each of the different directions, and it is even more preferable to be able to set whether or not to activate the motion detection function for each camera.

(15) It is preferable to provide a first system including a camera that captures an image of an area outside the vehicle other than the area in front of the vehicle and a first recording unit that records the image captured by the camera, and a second system that is a device that is later installed on the vehicle and includes a camera that captures an image in a direction different from that of the first system and a second recording unit that records the image captured by the camera.

In this way, images from different directions can be captured by each camera, and the captured images can be recorded in the first and second recording units, respectively.

The camera of the second system that captures an image in a different direction from the first system may be one that captures an area other than the "area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle" such as the front of the vehicle or the interior of the vehicle, unlike the first system, but it is more preferable for it to capture an "area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle" like the first system. In this way, it is possible to capture an image in a different direction of the "area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle". There may be only one second system, but it is more preferable to have multiple second systems.

Power may be supplied to the first system and the second system separately, but it is preferable to use, for example, a direct power cord that is split into two so that power can be supplied to the first system and the second system simultaneously.

In addition, for example, if the first system and/or second system is installed at the rear of the vehicle and power is supplied from the vehicle battery, the battery is usually installed at the front of the vehicle, so wiring must be run from the front/front of the vehicle to the rear/rear, resulting in a problem of very high installation costs. Some vehicle models have power sources and accessories available in the trunk, so it is advisable to supply power from a power source installed in the trunk to the system located at the rear. This is advantageous as it eliminates the need for wiring from the front to the rear.

(16) It is preferable to have a function for simultaneously displaying the image captured by the first system and the image captured by the second system on the same monitor. In this way, images captured at the same time from different directions can be compared on the same screen.

It is good to display the images simultaneously when playing back the recorded footage, and more preferably in real time. For example, when playing back the recorded footage, it is good because if there is a chain reaction accident, for example, it is possible to check whether the accident was caused by the driver or whether the driver was hit from behind. If it is performed in real time, it is good because it allows the driver to view images from different directions and drive while checking the surrounding situation. In particular, even if the vehicle is not equipped with an on-board camera that captures the surrounding situation, it is possible to realize a function to capture the surroundings as a retrofit, which is good because it allows the driver to drive while checking the safety of the surroundings when, for example, moving the vehicle backwards, changing the direction of travel, or driving on a road with poor visibility.

The monitor may be, for example, a monitor provided in either the first system or the second system, but it is preferable that the monitor be a monitor of another device such as a smartphone. In the case of a separate device such as a smartphone, it is preferable that the monitor be placed at the hand of a user such as a driver, for example, so that the user can view the monitor up close, and that a large screen size can be used. The connection between the first system and/or the second system and the monitor may be a wired connection method, but a wireless connection method is more preferable, and in the case of a wireless connection method, it is more preferable to use Wi-Fi.

(17) The first system and the second system, which are installed in different locations in the vehicle, may be capable of communicating with each other, and one system may output images captured by the other system to a recording unit based on the operating status of the other system. The first system and the second system more reliably output images to the recording means when a situation occurs that requires recording.

For example, the operating status of one of the first and second systems may be positive, such as "one system outputs a trigger," or negative, such as "the image being captured by one system disappears."

For example, the first and second systems can be set to record an event when an impact of a certain magnitude or greater is applied as a trigger, and the trigger sensitivity can be set. For example, if the impact on the vehicle is weak and only one of the systems detects the impact, the other system cannot record the event associated with the impact if each system is operating independently, but the other system can record in response to a trigger from one system. Also, the systems can send video signals to each other for monitoring, and if one system's video suddenly stops coming in, this can be used as a trigger to record even if no impact is detected. If the video suddenly stops coming in, there is a risk of an abnormality, so this can be used as an opportunity to record with the other system. In this way, trigger coordination between the first and second systems located in different locations can be achieved more reliably when recording is necessary.

When connecting the first system and the second system for communication, a wired system may be used, but a wireless system is better. A wireless system, like the power supply described above, does not require wiring, can be easily and inexpensively installed in the vehicle, and fits neatly inside the vehicle cabin. In the case of a wireless connection system, it is best to connect via wireless LAN.

(18) The first system and the second system may be configured to simultaneously record in the corresponding first recording unit and second recording unit based on a trigger from a terminal capable of communicating with each of the first and second systems. In this way, when an event occurs, the first and second systems each record video in response to a trigger from a terminal, making it possible to record video from different directions when the event occurs.

The terminal may be, for example, a smartphone, and the trigger from the smartphone may be output based on the output of a sensor such as a G sensor, a gyro sensor, or a GPS mounted on the smartphone. An app that can set what sensor is triggered when it is in what state and to which system it is triggered should be installed on the smartphone. The conditions for triggering should be able to be a combination of multiple sensors. The trigger from the smartphone may be based on communication. The trigger from communication may be sent to a specific system when, for example, a specific pattern occurs in IFTTT, when a phone call is made, or when a specific condition is met in information on the web (for example, when the temperature at the current location exceeds 35 degrees). The app may be used to attach any tag (for example, it is preferable to be able to attach multiple tags), and the tag information may be associated with the trigger and sent to the system. The system may start recording the event based on the trigger, and record the video to be recorded in association with the tag sent.

(19) In the case of a system that is installed on the rear side of a vehicle, such as on the rear window of the vehicle, it is preferable to provide a touch panel LCD, for example. In this way, various settings and commands can be operated by touching the touch panel LCD. For example, if the system is installed on the rear side of the vehicle, such as on the rear window, there may not be any interior lights in the vehicle, and the system may be installed in the dark, for example at night. Even in such a case, since a touch panel LCD is used, a certain degree of brightness can be ensured and settings can be made by touching the desired location.

If a touch panel LCD is provided, the entire system housing becomes larger, which may get in the way when the driver looks rearward, but owners of foreign cars, for example, tend to prefer a relatively large appearance, so this is particularly useful for systems such as drive recorders intended to be installed in foreign cars. Also, by providing a touch panel LCD monitor, a certain amount of size is ensured, making it easier for drivers of following vehicles to recognize its presence. Therefore, regardless of whether or not a notification means for people outside the car, such as a lamp indicating that the car is in operation, is installed, it is good because it has the same effect as sticking a warning sticker saying, for example, "Drive recorder installed/Drive recorder in operation."

Also, for example, an omnidirectional drive recorder such as the Q-01, one of the applicant's products, has a function of capturing images of the entire surroundings, for example, a 720-degree range, which is a horizontal range of 360 degrees and a vertical range of 360 degrees, when installed. When such an omnidirectional drive recorder is attached to the windshield, for example, the camera's capture area is, for example, the front of the vehicle or the interior of the vehicle, which is good for checking the rear of the interior, but has limitations for recording following vehicles. Therefore, it is good to make an omnidirectional drive recorder that can also capture the rear of the interior compatible with a rear camera. By installing a rear camera on the rear window, etc. and capturing images of the rear area outside the vehicle, following vehicles can be recorded, and the above problem can be solved.

It is also preferable that various types of drive recorders, not limited to spherical drive recorders, have a function for connecting an additional camera. In this way, by connecting an additional camera, it is possible to capture and record an area different from the direction captured by the camera mounted on the main body of the drive recorder. It is preferable that the drive recorder has a function for recording in two channels or multiple channels and has a connection part for the additional camera.

In the case of a system having multiple units with cameras, the multiple units may be connected to each other using a wired method, but it is more preferable to use a wireless communication method, for example, connecting using a wireless LAN, which does not require wiring. For example, if the multiple units are relatively far apart, such as one unit being placed at the front of the passenger compartment, such as on the windshield or dashboard, and another unit being placed at the rear of the vehicle, it is preferable to use a wireless LAN. The multiple units may be in the form of a drive recorder each equipped with a control unit and an output function to a recording unit, or a camera unit in which a control unit is implemented in one unit and the other unit is controlled by the control unit.

For example, in vehicles such as taxis that are often driven during the day and are at risk of being involved in accidents, a drive recorder that records the exterior of the vehicle can be installed, and the recorded footage can be used as evidence if the vehicle is involved in an accident. If an additional camera that can record the interior or rear of the vehicle is connected to such a drive recorder, it is possible to record interactions with passengers and the rear of the vehicle. For example, if the interior of the vehicle is also to be recorded, the drive recorder and additional camera can be attached, for example, near the top center of the windshield, the front center of the ceiling inside the vehicle, or on the rear-view mirror, and configured to record from the side of the rear-view mirror.

It would be good if the device, which is later installed in the vehicle, had the functionality to acquire and hack images captured by the vehicle's onboard camera. Devices with such functionality could use the images captured by the onboard camera.

The device may be provided with a means for outputting the images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera to a recording unit that records the images. In this way, the device can record images of the outside of the vehicle, for example, like a drive recorder, without using a separate camera.

In addition, it is preferable for a device that is later installed in a vehicle, such as a drive recorder equipped with a camera, to have a function for acquiring images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera. In this way, by acquiring images from a vehicle-mounted camera that captures an area different from that of the installed camera, it is possible to avoid the need to separately prepare an option such as an additional camera and perform wiring, etc., which is preferable.

The onboard camera to be connected should be a rear-view camera that takes pictures of the rear of the vehicle, such as a rear-view monitor. Because the rear-view camera faces downward, it cannot take pictures of distant areas behind the vehicle, but it can adequately capture images of approaching vehicles (for example, in the event of a tailgating or rear-end collision).

For example, in a system such as a drive recorder, if the external shape is a special shape other than rectangular, it is good to make a collaboration product with a character that matches the external shape. For example, there is a problem that the lens facing the inside of the vehicle is conspicuous in devices and products such as a spherical drive recorder, making the passengers aware that they are taking pictures, and the spherical presence of the lens part is conspicuous and may give a rough impression. For example, as described above, if a system having an external shape that is not rectangular in part or in whole is made into a collaboration product with a character that matches the external shape, the above-mentioned impression can be softened and the product can be made easy for users to use and implement, and the above-mentioned problem can be solved. For example, in the case of a system whose camera part has a spherical external shape such as a spherical drive recorder, it is good to use characters such as "Medama Oyaji (Kitaro)", "Mike Wazowski (Monsters, Inc.)", balls for ball games (soccer, basketball, golf, baseball, etc.), etc., and the spherical part of the camera part can be shaped to resemble a character to make the collaboration product.

When an SD card is used as a recording unit for recording images captured by a camera, it is advisable to provide the system with an SD alert function. For example, if the SD card format is not performed for a long period of time, a large number of bad sectors may exist, which may hinder event recording using the G sensor and prevent recording. Therefore, it is advisable to configure the system to issue an alert after a certain period of use. For example, even if the instruction manual states that it is preferable to "format the SD card every 1 to 2 weeks," people who use it for commuting or work and people who drive on Sundays use it differently, so there is little need to format it at the same time for everyone, and the timing at which a large number of bad sectors occur is also different. Therefore, it is advisable to use the usage time as a standard and issue an alert to encourage formatting when the usage time reaches a set standard time. If the SD card is automatically formatted, there is a problem that images recorded without the user's knowledge may be erased, so it is advisable to issue an alert to encourage formatting instead of automatic formatting. The usage time may be calculated based on the recording time or GPS log, for example.

A viewer for a system having a camera that captures images of an area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle, system A that outputs the images captured by the camera to a recording unit, and system B that is a device that is later installed on the vehicle and captures images in a different direction from system A and outputs the images captured by the camera to a recording unit, and preferably has a function to display the installation positions of systems A and B, for example the installation positions of the cameras in each system.

This viewer may have, for example, an edit mode and a viewing mode. In the edit mode, for example, a diagram or shape of a car may be displayed, and when the position where the camera is installed in the car diagram is clicked, a frame for the camera position may be drawn. The drawn frame may be associated with a particular camera using a color or other means. The viewing mode may have a function for playing back and displaying footage captured by one or more specified cameras, and may have a function for displaying the frame of a triggered camera in a conspicuous manner, for example by flashing, during playback in the viewer. The color of the frame may be the same as the color of the frame on the graph or playback screen.

The installation position can be displayed, for example, by displaying a top view of the car on the viewer, and displaying the part of the car diagram that corresponds to the camera position so that it is clear that it is the camera position. This is good because it makes it easy to see where the camera is installed. For example, it is good because it makes it possible to understand the approximate area that is being photographed by the camera from its installation position.

The camera position can be displayed, for example, by displaying a specific figure or icon at the corresponding position. The viewer can be a PC viewer, a web viewer, an app, or any other type of viewer.

The inventions (1) to (19) above can be combined in any way. For example, at least a portion of the configuration of at least one of the inventions (2) and after may be added to all or a portion of the configuration of the invention shown in (1). In particular, it is preferable to add at least a portion of the configuration of at least one of the inventions (2) and after to the invention shown in (1). The applicant intends to obtain patent rights, design rights, etc. for those including these configurations by filing amendments, divisional applications, or applications for conversion to design registration applications, etc.

For example, it is possible to capture areas outside the vehicle other than the front, and the range of recorded images is wide and sufficient. The effects of the invention of this application are not limited to this, and the effects achieved from the configuration parts disclosed in this specification and drawings, etc. are also disclosed, and it is the intention to obtain rights to the configuration that achieves said effects by divisional applications, amendments, etc. For example, in this specification, parts that state "can..." are descriptions that clearly state the effect achieved, and there are parts that show the effect even without the description "can...". Also, there are effects that can be understood from the configuration even without such descriptions.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a drive recorder that is an example of a system according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a drive recorder having a danger notification function. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a drive recorder equipped with a monitor means. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another embodiment of a drive recorder equipped with a monitor means. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one form of a ceiling-mounted drive recorder. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a drive recorder of a general-purpose cable connection type. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a drive recorder in which a case body equipped with a camera and a case body equipped with a monitor are connected together. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the drive recorder. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another form of a drive recorder in which a case body equipped with a camera and a case body equipped with a monitor are connected together. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one form of a drive recorder with an additional camera. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one form of a drive recorder with an additional camera. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one form of a drive recorder with an additional camera. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a system including a plurality of drive recorders. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a smartphone linked to the system.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. These drawings are used to explain the technical features that may be adopted by the present invention. The configurations and shapes of the devices described are merely illustrative examples, and the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited thereto. Various changes, modifications, and improvements may be made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[Basic configuration of drive recorder]
1 shows a drive recorder, which is one form of on-board equipment and is a preferred embodiment of a system constituting the system of the present invention. This drive recorder 1 is not an on-board device or equipment that is installed in a vehicle when it is shipped from a vehicle manufacturer's factory or when it is purchased from a vehicle dealer, but is equipment that is installed in the vehicle 2 later. This drive recorder 1 includes, for example, a drive recorder main body 4 that implements a predetermined function, and this drive recorder main body 4 is attached to, for example, the rear window 3 of the vehicle 2 using a predetermined bracket 5.

The drive recorder main body 4 has a flat rectangular case body 10, in which a camera 11, a first LED 12, a second LED 13, a control unit 14, a card slot 15, a microphone 16, an abnormality detection sensor 17, a power supply unit 18, etc. are mounted.

The case body 10 has a flat rectangular shape and is held in an upright suspended position via the bracket 5. Since the drive recorder body 4 of this embodiment does not have a monitor, it is preferable to make the case body 10 accordingly smaller.

The bracket 5 has a connecting member at one end that connects to the top surface of the case body 10, and an attachment surface at the other end that is attached to the rear glass 3. The attachment surface is provided with a fastener such as a double-sided adhesive tape or a sticky sheet, and the bracket 5 is attached and fixed at a predetermined position on the rear glass 3 using the fastener. The bracket 5 also has a connecting part in the middle that can be adjusted to change the angle and direction, such as a ball joint, and has the function of changing and adjusting the orientation of the case body 10, as well as fixing it in a desired position.

The shooting range of the camera 11, when attached to the vehicle 2 using the bracket 5, is set to include the area behind the vehicle, which is one of the areas outside the vehicle other than the area in front of the vehicle. More preferably, the optical axis and field of view of the lens of the camera 11 should be set to face directly behind the vehicle 2. The angle of view and field of view of the camera 11 should be a predetermined angle of 180 degrees or less, and more preferably an obtuse angle so that shooting is performed in a wide angle range. When the drive recorder main body 4 is installed in the desired position as described above, it is preferable that the front side of the vehicle based on the camera 11 does not fall within the shooting range.

The camera 11 may be capable of taking nighttime photographs when the vehicle 2's lights are not illuminated. The camera 11's shooting range is the rear of the vehicle, an area that is not illuminated by the lights mounted on the vehicle. The camera 11 capable of taking nighttime photographs can take bright, clear photographs, for example, even at night. As the camera 11 capable of taking nighttime photographs, for example, a highly sensitive camera capable of taking photographs even in low light using STARVIS (registered trademark), an infrared camera, a night vision camera, or the like may be used. For example, the camera 11 may have different shooting modes based on the surrounding brightness, such as a daytime shooting mode and a nighttime shooting mode, and may have a function for switching between the modes by setting. The switching function may be performed manually, for example, but may also have a function for automatically switching based on the surrounding brightness, time information, etc.

When using special cameras such as infrared cameras and night vision cameras as cameras capable of shooting at night, a separate camera for shooting during bright daylight hours can be prepared and switched between, but it is better to use a highly sensitive camera that can shoot in low light and can be used for both night and day shooting, or a camera with a function to switch the brightness of the image quality shot by the camera between daytime and nighttime, so that one camera can be used both day and night.

The rear window 3 is often made of privacy glass such as smoked glass. The camera 11, which can take nighttime photographs, is good because it can see through the privacy glass and take clear photographs.

The number of pixels of the camera 11 may be high precision, but it is preferable to set it to, for example, about 1 to 2 million pixels. By limiting the number of pixels to this level, the camera 11 and therefore the drive recorder main body 4 can be made smaller.

The first LED 12 is placed on a specified surface of the case body 10 on which the camera 11 is not installed. The surface on which it is installed should be the surface facing the interior of the vehicle when the drive recorder body 4 is attached to the vehicle 2, i.e., the surface opposite the surface on which the camera 11 is installed. This opposite surface is the surface that faces the driver when visually checking the rear of the vehicle, for example, through the vehicle's rearview mirror or while facing directly backwards, and is a surface that is easily within the driver's field of vision and easy to see.

The first LED 12 constitutes a notification means for notifying people inside the vehicle, such as the driver, that operation is in progress. This first LED 12 operates to light up while the drive recorder main body 4 is in operation. Such lighting is controlled by the control unit 14. Since the first LED 12 lights up during operation, it is advantageous for a user inside the vehicle, such as the driver, to be able to confirm that operation is in progress even without a monitor. In particular, by using a light-emitting body such as an LED, the user can be able to confirm that operation is in progress at an appropriate timing.

The light can be lit continuously or flashing, but it is best to leave it lit continuously. Flashing it is noticeable and can be annoying to drivers, but lit continuously without flashing avoids these problems.

The second LED 13 is disposed on the surface (e.g., the front surface) of the case body 10 on which the camera 11 is installed. This second LED 13 constitutes a notification means for notifying people outside the vehicle that the drive recorder body 4 is in operation. The second LED 13 operates to light up while the drive recorder body 4 is in operation. Such lighting is controlled by the control unit 14.

The microphone 16 collects sounds around the drive recorder main body 4. When the drive recorder main body 4 is attached to the rear window 3, the microphone 16 collects, for example, the voices of people inside the vehicle and other sounds generated inside the vehicle, as well as impact sounds when an object collides with the vehicle 2.

The card slot 15 is a device into which a memory card 19 such as a micro SD card or an SD card can be detachably attached, and which reads and writes data from and to the attached memory card 19. For example, in accordance with instructions from the control unit 14, images captured by the camera 11 and sounds collected by the microphone 16 are recorded on the memory card 19.

The abnormality detection sensor 17 is, for example, an acceleration sensor or a six-axis sensor, and detects the state of the vehicle, such as the impact applied to the vehicle 2, the acceleration of the vehicle, and the inclination of the vehicle. The abnormality detection sensor 17 is not limited to the above examples, and may be, for example, a proximity sensor that detects the approach of an object or other events that trigger the recording of various types of video.

The power supply unit 18 has a function of supplying a power supply voltage to devices and the like provided in the drive recorder main body 4 to operate them. The power supply unit 18 has a jack 18a, for example, on the case main body 10 for detachably attaching an adapter terminal of a power adapter that can be connected to a battery mounted in a vehicle (not shown), and electrically connects a specified power supply circuit to the jack 18a. The power supply circuit is built into the case main body 10 and supplies a power supply voltage of a desired voltage value to each device. As a result, the drive recorder main body 4 operates by receiving power from the battery of the vehicle 2.

The control unit 14 is a microcomputer equipped with a CPU, ROM, RAM, non-volatile memory, I/O, etc., and is connected to each of the above-mentioned units as shown in FIG. 1(e). The control unit 14 controls the operation of the output devices (first LED 12, second LED 13, card slot 15, etc.) based on information input from the various input devices (camera 11, microphone 16, abnormality detection sensor 17, etc.) and outputs predetermined information, etc.

The functions of the drive recorder main body 4 of this embodiment are stored in the NAND Flash memory of the control unit 14 as firmware executed by the CPU of the control unit 14, for example, and are realized by the CPU of the control unit 14 executing this. The firmware stored in the NAND Flash memory can be updated with new firmware stored in the memory card 19.

The control unit 14 records, for example, video data captured by the camera 11 and audio data collected by the microphone 16. For this recording, while continuous recording is performed when the vehicle 2 is in a drivable state, such as when the engine is running, video and audio for a certain period before and after the event occurs are recorded as separate data if an event condition is met. Both the continuous recording data and the separate data at the time of the event occurrence are recorded on the memory card 19. Furthermore, when continuous recording is not performed, the control unit 14 of the drive recorder temporarily records video and audio for a certain period of time in a buffer memory or the like, and when the event condition is met, records video and audio for a certain period of time before and after the event occurs on the memory card 19 using the temporarily recorded data, etc.

When the vehicle 2 is parked with the engine turned off, it operates in parking monitoring mode and records video data captured by the camera 11, etc., on the memory card 19 according to the set operating conditions. The set operating conditions may, for example, be to record images captured at a predetermined time interval, or to record video data continuously for a predetermined time when the anomaly detection sensor 17 detects an abnormality.

The control unit 14 may control the first LED 12 to be continuously lit when a specific device is operating normally, for example when the camera 11 starts recording. The control unit 14 may also control the second LED 13 to blink when a specific device is operating normally, for example when the camera 11 starts recording. The conditions for continuously lighting the first LED 12 and the conditions for blinking the second LED 13 may be the same, but it is better if they are different, and if they are different, it is better to relax the conditions for the second LED 13. The first LED 12 that notifies the driver, etc., is lit when the drive recorder main body 4 is operating normally, but it is good to make the second LED 13 blink even if it is not operating normally, because this can be used to intimidate regardless of whether it is operated or not.

According to the above-described embodiment, even if the vehicle is not originally equipped with an on-board device for photographing and recording the rear view, images of the scenery behind the vehicle, following vehicles, etc. can be recorded on the memory card 19. The user can check the recorded video data, for example, by removing the memory card 19, inserting it into a card reader connected to a PC, and displaying it on a monitor using a viewer installed on the PC.

The drive recorder 1 of this embodiment is used while attached to the rear window 3, so that the camera 11 captures a large image of the scenery behind the vehicle without capturing, for example, the driver or passengers inside the vehicle. Therefore, even if the resolution of the camera 11 is somewhat low, the video data captured by the camera 11 clearly shows, for example, the following vehicle and the license plate of that following vehicle. For example, if the vehicle is hit by a following vehicle, the situation of the collision can be recorded. The resolution of the camera 11 should be set to a level that allows the number on the license plate to be deciphered and the model of the following vehicle to be recognized.

In this embodiment, since the case body 10 does not have a monitor means, for example, the driver cannot directly check whether the camera 11 is operating by looking at the monitor means. In this embodiment, when a specific device is operating normally, such as when the camera 11 starts recording, the first LED 12 is continuously lit, so that, for example, the driver can confirm that the drive recorder body 4 is operating normally by checking that the first LED 12 is lit. In particular, in this embodiment, the first LED 12 is arranged on the surface opposite to the surface on which the camera 11 is installed, so that, for example, when the driver visually checks the rear of the vehicle through the vehicle's rearview mirror or while facing backwards, the first LED 12 naturally comes into the driver's field of view and the driver can easily confirm that the camera is operating. In this way, without a monitor, it is unclear whether the camera is operating, which makes the user anxious, but by providing a notification means for notifying people in the vehicle that the camera is operating, such anxiety is eliminated.

The second LED 13 lights up during operation, so it can notify people in following vehicles or people approaching the vehicle that the system is operating. In particular, the use of light-emitting elements such as LEDs is advantageous because it uses a simple configuration that clearly notifies those around that the system is operating.

In particular, for example, at night, the light emitted by the second LED 13 is conspicuous, and therefore, for example, when driving, it is possible to appeal to the driver of a following vehicle that the vehicle is equipped with a system for recording images, such as a dashcam, and this can discourage the driver of the following vehicle from engaging in dangerous driving such as tailgating, thereby preventing such dangerous driving from occurring in the first place. In this embodiment, the camera 11 is provided in the same housing as the case body 10 in which the camera 11 is mounted, so that people outside the vehicle can intuitively understand that the camera 11 is operating and taking images, which is advantageous.

The second LED 13 may be provided separately from the case body 10 in which the camera 11 is mounted, for example, but it is better to provide it in the case body 10 in which the camera 11 is mounted, as in this embodiment. By providing it in the same case body 10 as the camera 11, people outside the vehicle can intuitively understand that the camera 11 is operating and taking pictures, which is an appealing feature.

The operation of the first LED 12 and/or the second LED 13 may be configured to be performed in conjunction with the power being turned on/off, without being performed by the control unit 14. However, as in the above-described embodiment, it is more preferable that the control unit 14 is configured to control the operation of a specific device in the drive recorder main body 4.

(Modification of Means for Informing People in the Vehicle)
In the above-described embodiment, the first LED 12 is used as an internal means for informing people inside the vehicle, but a light-emitting body other than an LED may be used, and even if it is not a light-emitting body, it may be, for example, a speaker that outputs sound. If a light-emitting body such as an LED is used as in the embodiment, it is preferable because it can be confirmed at an appropriate timing.

In the above embodiment, the notification means may be provided separately from the case body 10 in which the camera 11 is mounted, but it is preferable to provide it in the same case body 10 as in the embodiment. By providing it in the same case body, it is advantageous because it allows the driver to intuitively understand that the drive recorder main body 4 is operating normally.

(Danger warning function)
Fig. 2 shows another embodiment in which a danger notification function is added to the basic configuration shown in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, the drive recorder main body 4 may include, for example, a notification unit 20, and the control unit 14 may have a function of detecting danger based on the image captured by the camera 11 and outputting the detection result to the notification unit 20. In this way, the driver looks ahead while driving and cannot look at or check the situation outside the vehicle other than the front, but since the driver is notified of danger occurring in a direction other than the front, the driver can easily take measures to avoid the danger.

If the imaging range of the camera 11 is the rear of the vehicle as in the above-described embodiment, for example, when the control unit 14 detects the approach of a following vehicle based on the captured video data, it outputs an alert from the notification unit 20.

The notification unit 20 may be, for example, a speaker. By using a speaker, the dimensions of the case body 10 can be made smaller than when a display function such as a monitor is used, while still being mounted in the same case body 10. When the notification unit 20 is a speaker, the control unit 14 controls the notification unit 20 to output a voice alert such as "A following vehicle is approaching" or an alert using an alarm sound such as a "beep" when it detects, for example, the approach of a following vehicle.

The control unit 14 may detect the approach of surrounding vehicles, such as a following vehicle, based on the image captured by the camera 11, for example, based on the size of the following vehicle in the captured image. For example, it may detect the approach when the area or dimensions of the following vehicle in the captured image data exceeds a set value. In this way, the approach can be detected without providing a separate sensor for detecting the approach.

In this way, although the driver cannot keep his/her eyes on the rear at all times while driving, for example, if the driver is looking ahead and is notified of the approach of a following vehicle, the alert can be used as a trigger to check the rear through the rearview mirror or the like to confirm the situation, which is advantageous. Sound alerts are particularly advantageous because they can be heard no matter which direction the driver is looking.

(Modification of approach warning alert function)
The control unit 14 may have a function for detecting the approach of a following vehicle based on the magnification rate per unit time of the following vehicle in the captured video data, instead of or in addition to the above-mentioned function of detecting the approach of the following vehicle when the size of the following vehicle exceeds a set value. When used in combination with the size-based approach detection function, when a sudden approach is detected, a highly urgent warning different from the normal size-based approach warning may be issued.

The drive recorder main body 4 may, for example, be provided with a sensor that measures the distance between the vehicle and the following vehicle, and the control unit 14 may have a function for detecting a vehicle approaching from behind based on the distance between the vehicle and the following vehicle. This is advantageous because it allows the approach of the following vehicle to be detected more accurately. The approach warning based on the distance between the vehicles may, for example, be provided by setting a reference distance and issuing an alert when the distance between the vehicle and the following vehicle falls below the reference distance.

(Approach warning alert function that takes vehicle speed into account)
The approach-based alert in the above-described embodiment and modified example may have a function of controlling the warning operation based on the vehicle speed. For example, the control unit 14 may issue a normal approach warning when the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a reference speed, and may not issue an approach warning or may issue a light approach warning when the vehicle speed does not reach a certain speed.

In this way, if an alert sounds every time a following vehicle approaches while the vehicle is temporarily stopped due to a traffic jam, intersection, or waiting for a traffic light, it may be cumbersome and bothersome. However, in this embodiment, an approach warning alert is not issued when the vehicle is traveling at a certain speed or less, or if an alert is issued, it is only a minor alert. Therefore, a normal approach warning alert is not issued during such a temporary stop, when the vehicle is decelerating to stop, or when the vehicle is traveling at a low speed due to a traffic jam. For example, it is possible to set the alert to be issued when a following vehicle approaches within 20 meters while the vehicle is traveling at a speed of 40 km or more. In addition, it is possible to further provide a highway mode in which an alert is only issued when the vehicle is traveling at a speed of 70 km or more, and to make it possible to switch between this and a general mode in which an alert is issued when the vehicle is traveling at a speed of 40 km or more. In this way, it is possible to accommodate users who wish to only drive on highways without an alert being issued on general roads.

When the approach detection is provided with a function for determining the distance between vehicles and comparing it with a reference distance, it is preferable to set multiple reference distances according to the vehicle's speed. For example, the faster the vehicle's speed is, the longer the reference distance should be. In this way, for example, by setting the reference speed corresponding to the speed when traveling on a highway longer than the reference distance corresponding to the speed when traveling on a general road, it is possible to notify the following vehicle even if the following vehicle approaches at a relatively large distance when traveling on a highway compared to when traveling on a general road.

As another example of multiple installations, the reference distance when the vehicle's speed is 0 or low can be set shorter than the reference distance when the vehicle is traveling at a normal speed. In this way, when the vehicle is temporarily stopped in a traffic jam, at an intersection, waiting at a traffic light, etc., no warning or a light warning will be given even if the distance between the vehicle and the following vehicle becomes short, but an approach warning will be given if the vehicle gets close enough to cause a collision.

(Variation of the danger to be detected: tailgating)
The danger to be detected may be, for example, tailgating by a surrounding vehicle. The control unit 14 extracts a following vehicle based on, for example, video data captured by the camera 11, analyzes the driving pattern of the extracted following vehicle, such as the behavior of the movement, and outputs a warning alert for tailgating if the driving pattern matches the set driving pattern for tailgating. The set driving pattern for tailgating may be, for example, a driving pattern in which the following vehicle approaches suddenly and then swings left and right after approaching. In addition, if a sensor that detects the distance between the following vehicle and the following vehicle is provided, the control unit 14 may output a warning alert for tailgating if the change in the distance between the following vehicle is greater than a set value.

(Function to record following vehicles driving dangerously)
In addition to the above-mentioned function of alerting the danger, or instead of the function of alerting, it is preferable to have a function of saving still images or videos in a dedicated folder, for example, when a vehicle approaches suddenly, etc. When the still images or videos are saved in the dedicated folder, the user can later check the license plate number, etc., of the vehicle that has been tailgating by playing back the still images or videos saved in the dedicated folder.

(Modification of danger notification)
The control unit 14 may have a function of detecting a moving object such as a child jumping out or approaching a fixed object, and notifying the risk of a collision. With such a function, for example, by notifying/alerting a child jumping out or approaching various installed objects when the vehicle is backing up, the driver has an opportunity to, for example, step on the brakes and check the rear again, and can avoid a collision or contact accident. For example, even if a vehicle is not equipped with a sensor that detects approach to obstacles such as people or objects, such as a corner sensor or a back sensor, it is possible to detect and notify the approach to such obstacles.

(Modification of the Notification Unit)
In the above-described embodiment and modified examples, the notification unit 20 outputs sound from a speaker or the like, but may also be visually based on a monitor or the like. However, as described above, it is more preferable to use sound. Notification using sound is preferable because it allows the driver to know the notification even when, for example, the driver is looking ahead and not looking at a display monitor or the like.

When a monitor is used, it is preferable to configure it separately from the case body 10 in which the camera 11 is mounted, and place it in a position where it can be seen by the driver while driving. The position where the driver can see it may be, for example, on the dashboard. The case body 10 is provided with a communication unit, which is a communication interface for wired and/or wireless communication, and is connected to a separate monitor so as to be able to communicate data. In this embodiment, the case body 10 in which the camera 11, the control unit 14, and the communication unit are mounted is attached to the rear window 3 at the rear of the vehicle 2, and the monitor is placed in the front of the vehicle 2. Therefore, the communication connection between the communication unit mounted on the case body 10 and the monitor may be a wired connection method, but a wireless connection method is more preferable, and in the case of a wireless connection method, it is more preferable to use a wireless LAN or Wi-Fi.

Danger alerts using a monitor can be, for example, notifications consisting of letters, figures, or other patterns, but it is also good to display them along with the video being filmed. In this way, following vehicles that are tailgating or approaching will be displayed on the monitor, so you can check the status of following vehicles that are driving recklessly.

The monitor can be a dedicated one, but it is more preferable to use the monitor means of another device. If there is a monitor for another device, installing a dedicated monitor in addition to that would result in multiple monitors, which could be inconvenient, and would also create the problem of it being difficult to immediately know which monitor means to look at. Therefore, by using the monitor means of another device, this problem can be solved.

(Without a recording unit)
It is preferable not to mount a recording unit on the case body 10 in which the camera 11 is mounted. This makes it possible to further reduce the size of the case body 10, which is advantageous because it does not obstruct the driver's field of vision.

If the recording unit is not mounted in the case body 10, the recording unit may be mounted, for example, in a housing separate from the case body 10 and placed in a vehicle, etc., but it is better to mount it in the cloud.

(Embodiment with monitor means)
As shown in Fig. 3, the drive recorder of this embodiment includes a monitor device 21 that outputs the video captured by the camera 11. The monitor device 21 is configured separately from the drive recorder main body 4, and may be installed in a position visible to the driver, such as on the dashboard of the vehicle 2. The drive recorder main body 4 and the monitor device 21 are connected by a predetermined communication method. The predetermined communication method may be a wired communication method or a wireless communication method, and is more preferably a wireless communication method.

In this way, the control unit 14 outputs the image of the area behind the vehicle to the monitor device 21 installed in a position visible to the driver, so the driver can see the image behind the vehicle by looking at the monitor device 21. Therefore, for example, even if the vehicle does not originally have a back view monitor, the back view monitor function can be exercised. Also, even if the vehicle originally has a back view monitor, if there is an area where the shooting direction and viewing angle of the on-board camera for the back view monitor differs from the shooting direction and viewing angle of the camera 11 of the drive recorder main body 4, the back view monitor originally installed in the vehicle and the monitor device 21 will display images of different areas, either partially or entirely, which is advantageous because it allows the driver to know the situation outside the vehicle over a wider range.

In addition, the image data of the rear of the vehicle captured by the camera 11 may be constantly output to the monitor device 21, but it is preferable to display it when a display condition is met. The display condition may be, for example, when a reverse signal is input to the vehicle. In this way, the image of the rear of the vehicle is displayed on the monitor device 21 when the vehicle is moving backwards. It is also preferable to display it when an alert is required, as described above.

The monitor device 21 configured separately from the drive recorder main body 4 may be a dedicated one, but it is more preferable to use a monitor from another device. The monitor from another device may be, for example, a monitor from a system such as a drive recorder that captures images in a different direction. If the monitor is, for example, a monitor from a drive recorder that captures the front, it may be equipped with a function that normally outputs images captured of the front to the monitor, and automatically switches the image output to the monitor to the image captured by the rear camera when the vehicle is reversing by inputting a reverse signal from the vehicle.

(Another embodiment with monitoring means)
4 shows another embodiment of a drive recorder equipped with a monitor device 21 that outputs an image captured by the camera 11. In this embodiment, the monitor device 21 is mounted on the case body 10 in which the camera 11 is mounted. The monitor device 21 faces the surface opposite to the mounting surface of the camera 11, and when the drive recorder body 4 is attached to a predetermined rear position in the vehicle cabin, the monitor device 21 faces forward in the vehicle cabin.

In this way, when mounting the drive recorder main body 4 in a specified position, such as on the rear window 3 of the vehicle, the image captured by the camera 11 is output to the monitor device 21, and the orientation of the case main body 10, and therefore the imaging range of the camera 11, can be checked while looking at the monitor device 21.

When the case body 10 in which the camera 11 is mounted is equipped with the monitor device 21, the case body 10 becomes large. For example, owners of foreign cars tend to prefer a relatively large appearance, so this is particularly suitable for a drive recorder intended to be installed in a foreign car. Furthermore, by providing the monitor device 21, a certain degree of size is ensured for the case body 10, making it easier for drivers of following vehicles to recognize its presence. Therefore, regardless of whether or not a notification means for people outside the vehicle, such as the second LED 13, is installed, the same effect as attaching a warning sticker such as "Drive recorder installed/Drive recorder in operation" is achieved, which is good.

The monitor device 21 may also be provided with, for example, a touch panel LCD. This allows various settings and commands to be made by touching the touch panel LCD. For example, if the drive recorder 1 is installed on the rear side of the vehicle, such as on the rear window 3, there may not be any interior lights installed in the vehicle, and the system may be installed in the dark, for example at night. Even in such a case, a certain degree of brightness is ensured by using the touch panel LCD, and settings can be made by touching the desired location.

(Ceiling attachment type)
5 shows another embodiment. The drive recorder of this embodiment is for capturing images of the rear of a vehicle 2, and a case body 10 mounting a camera 11 for capturing images of the area behind the vehicle is configured to be attached to the ceiling 6 inside the vehicle cabin on the rear window side of the vehicle via a bracket 5 having an attachment portion to be attached to the ceiling 6 inside the vehicle cabin.

The bracket 5 has a connecting member at one end that connects to the top surface of the case body 10, and a mounting surface at the other end that is fixed to the ceiling 6. The mounting surface is equipped with a fastener such as double-sided adhesive tape or a sticky sheet, and the bracket 5 is attached and fixed to a predetermined position on the ceiling 6 using the fastener. The bracket 5 also has a connecting part in the middle that can be adjusted to change the angle and direction, such as a ball joint, and has the function of changing and adjusting the orientation of the case body 10, as well as fixing it in a desired position.

In this way, for example, when the drive recorder main body 4 is attached to the ceiling 6 inside the vehicle, in the case of a type with a back door 7 that opens and closes on the rear side of the vehicle, such as a hatchback type, or a glass hatch type with a rear glass portion that opens and closes, even if the back door 7 or rear glass is opened or closed, the drive recorder main body 4 maintains its position suspended and fixed to the ceiling 6 and does not move together with the back door 7, etc. Therefore, for example, when a specific wiring such as a power cable or a communication cable is connected to the case body 10 of the drive recorder main body 4, the wiring can be routed inside the vehicle without slackening.

The mounting part may be a mounting jig with various mechanisms and structures, such as the bracket 5 in this embodiment, but in a simple configuration, the top surface of the case body 10 may be attached to the ceiling using an adhesive material such as double-sided tape. However, it is preferable to use a mounting material such as a specified bracket 5, as this allows for reliable fixation.

The camera that records the rear of the vehicle may be a single camera, but it is preferable to install a rear camera in a 2-channel or higher type drive recorder on the ceiling inside the vehicle. Also, when a drive recorder that records 360 degrees around the vehicle in the horizontal direction, such as a spherical drive recorder, is placed on the rear side of the vehicle, it may be attached to the rear window 3, but it is more preferable to attach it to the ceiling as in this embodiment.

(External mounting type)
In the various embodiments and modifications described above, the case body 10 with the camera 11 mounted thereon is attached inside the vehicle cabin, but for example, the drive recorder 1 may include a mounting part for mounting the case body 10 at a predetermined position outside the vehicle 2. This mounting part may be provided directly on the case body 10, or may be a bracket or other fixing member separate from the case body.

For example, privacy glass such as smoked glass is often used for vehicle glass other than the windshield, such as the rear glass 3. If the case body 10 equipped with the camera 11 is installed inside the vehicle as in the above-mentioned embodiment, the image captured by the camera 11 may be difficult to see, or it would be preferable to use a camera 11 that can capture clear images even through privacy glass. However, by installing the camera outside the vehicle, it is possible to capture clear images of the outside of the vehicle regardless of whether there is privacy glass or not, which is advantageous. A small rear camera that can be installed outside the vehicle in this way is advantageous because it can be installed in various vehicles regardless of whether the rear window at the rear is made of privacy glass or not.

When mounting the case body 10 on the outside of the vehicle, it is preferable to mount it in an inconspicuous location. Mounting it in an inconspicuous location is preferable because it is less likely to be stolen. An inconspicuous location is preferably a location 1 that is partially hidden by vehicle parts, such as the side or back of the license plate. Also, for example, the camera can be made small and mounted on the fixing bolt of the license plate, and a shape that resembles the fixing bolt is preferable because it is less noticeable.

(Shooting mode change type)
The drive recorder main body 4 may have a function for changing the shooting conditions according to the type of glass of the vehicle. When the case main body 10 with the camera 11 mounted thereon is placed inside the vehicle, the camera 11 shoots the scenery outside the vehicle through the glass, and by shooting under shooting conditions according to the type of glass, the camera can shoot beautiful images in any direction.

The shooting conditions may be, for example, adjustable in terms of image quality brightness, and the camera may be equipped with a mode setting switching function so that images can be shot with appropriate image quality for both a windshield made of transparent glass and a rear windshield made of privacy glass or the like.

In this way, when the drive recorder main body 4 is attached to a specific rear position in the vehicle cabin, and the camera 11 is used to capture the area behind the vehicle through the rear window 3, the area behind the vehicle can be captured clearly by switching to a mode with shooting conditions that correspond to smoked glass, etc. On the other hand, when the drive recorder main body 4 is attached to a specific front position in the vehicle cabin, and the camera 11 is used to capture the area behind the vehicle through the windshield, the area ahead of the vehicle can be captured clearly by switching to a mode with shooting conditions that correspond to transparent glass, etc. In this way, by providing a function for switching shooting conditions, for example, one drive recorder can be used as a drive recorder for capturing the front and a drive recorder for capturing the rear.

In addition, in the above example, there is a two-stage switch between transparent glass and privacy glass, but it would be more preferable to have two-stage switch between privacy glass of different densities, or three or more stages.

(Modification of Ball Joint Type Bracket)
When a ball joint type bracket 5 is used as the bracket 5 for mounting the case body 10 in which the camera 11 is mounted at a predetermined position inside the vehicle, as in the above-mentioned embodiments and modified examples, it is preferable to provide a fixing means for fixing the case body 10 so that the orientation of the camera 11 does not change even if a spring force is applied to the case body 10 after the drive recorder body 4 is mounted at a predetermined position inside the vehicle and the camera orientation and other positions are determined.

For example, a normal ball joint uses the frictional force generated in the joint portion that serves as the connecting part to fix the relative angle of the rods connected to both sides of the joint portion in a desired state, and the relative angle changes when a force exceeding that frictional force is applied. This allows the position of the case body 10 and therefore the camera 11 to be adjusted in the desired direction so that they face the appropriate shooting area. And when fixed by the fixing means, for example, even if a force greater than the frictional force that fixes the joint portion is applied, the joint portion does not move and the direction of the camera 11 that shoots the area behind the vehicle does not change. Therefore, for example, even if luggage comes into contact with the case body 10 on which the camera 11 is mounted when the back door is closed, the direction of the camera 11 does not change, and the desired direction can be photographed.

Users who are not conscious of the drive recorder, such as beginners, may not notice or even care if the orientation of the camera 11 changes due to, for example, carelessness or other reasons, when a biasing force is applied to the case body, and so may drive the vehicle with the camera in a changed orientation, resulting in a useless system that cannot capture the desired area. In particular, drive recorders that capture the rear of the vehicle and do not have a monitor cannot check the captured image on the spot, but this type of drive recorder, whose camera orientation does not change, is advantageous because it is possible to set the desired area at first and then not have to check it afterwards.

The fixing means should be something that physically fixes the device so that its orientation does not change. For example, a physical lock such as a pin can be used, and this can be achieved with a simple configuration by inserting the pin to prevent rotation, etc.

A drive recorder mounted using a ball joint bracket equipped with a fixing means other than frictional force is not limited to rear-view recording as described above, but may be applied to drive recorders and other systems that record in various directions. For example, when applied to a drive recorder that records the view in front of the vehicle, the drive recorder is attached to a specified position above the windshield. In such a case, for example, a sunshade may be placed on the windshield when parking in summer, and even if the sunshade hits the drive recorder when installing or removing it, the orientation of the camera does not change, which is advantageous.

(General-purpose cable connection type)
As shown in Figure 6, a camera unit housing 31 that mounts a camera 11 that captures images of the area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle and another housing 32 that is equipped with a means for outputting images captured by the camera 11 to a recording unit that records the images are preferably connected by a general-purpose cable 33 that transmits audio and video signals.

In this way, by using the universal cable 33, for example, a camera unit that mounts the camera 11 that captures the area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle can be made using a general-purpose product that is compatible with the universal cable or a backup camera made by another company. For example, by using a camera unit that is compatible with 24V such as a truck, it can be compatible with the drive recorder of a 24V vehicle such as the truck. The universal cable 33 may be, for example, an RCA cable.

Furthermore, for example, the housing 31 only needs to be equipped with at least the camera 11, and if the first LED 12, the control unit 14, the card slot 15, the notification unit 20, etc. in the various embodiments described above are implemented in a separate housing 32, the housing 31 can be made even smaller.

Furthermore, it is advisable to provide an output terminal for connecting to, for example, another housing 32 with a general-purpose cable for transmitting audio and video signals. In this case, by adopting a configuration in which a general-purpose monitor means, for example, is connected to the output terminal, the image captured by the camera 11 can be output to the monitor means while also being output to a recording unit such as the memory card 19, and the image can be recorded on the recording unit side. The monitor means used in this case can also be a general-purpose product, which is preferable as it provides a wider range of options for the equipment used when configuring the system.

For example, in the case of a system equipped with multiple cameras that take pictures in different directions, some of the multiple cameras can be added using a general-purpose cable, which is advantageous because it can be used for vehicles that require additional interior or external cameras.

(Drive recorder with parking monitoring mode)
The drive recorder may have a first mode for recording images taken while the vehicle is in operation and ready to run, such as when the engine is running, and a second mode for recording images taken while the vehicle is parked. The first mode is a mode for recording images and the like in a normal drive recorder, and may have, for example, a continuous recording mode for recording at all times, or an event recording mode for recording when a specific event occurs. The second mode is a parking monitoring mode, and may have, for example, a mode for recording periodically regardless of the occurrence of a specific event, such as the continuous recording mode of the first mode, or a mode for recording at the occurrence of a specific event, such as the approach or intrusion of a person or vandalism on the vehicle. In this case, it is preferable to have a function for suppressing battery consumption by making the sampling time longer than that of the first mode when recording periodically. It is more preferable to have a function for switching between multiple sampling times by setting. In this way, the drive recorder of this embodiment has a function for recording with different recording settings in the first mode and the second mode. The drive recorder main body may have this setting switching function, and the setting may be switched from the drive recorder main body.

Furthermore, this drive recorder is adapted to acquire information on the vehicle's ACC, and the control unit 14 has a function to determine whether the current vehicle state is in operation or parked, a function to switch between the first mode and the second mode depending on the vehicle state, and a function to switch the recording settings to those corresponding to each mode when switching. In this way, recording can be performed with recording settings appropriate for each situation, whether the vehicle is in operation or parked.

It is also preferable that the recording settings for the first and second modes can be set, for example, from the drive recorder main unit 4. Furthermore, it is also preferable that the drive recorder main unit has a function for changing and setting the time that power is supplied to the drive recorder from the vehicle's battery while the vehicle is parked. In this way, various settings can be easily changed by operating the drive recorder main unit.

(A drive recorder in which a case body equipped with a camera is connected to a second case body equipped with a monitor, and the direction of the camera can be changed.)
7 shows a drive recorder in which a case body 10 equipped with a camera 11 that captures an area other than the front of the vehicle is connected to a second case body 42 equipped with a monitor 41. In this example, the second case body 42 has a flat, substantially rectangular outer shape, and the monitor 41 is arranged on one wide surface. This second case body 42 is attached to a predetermined position of the vehicle by a bracket or the like (not shown), and when attached, the monitor 41 faces the interior of the vehicle and is set in a position that allows the driver to view the monitor 41.

The case body 10 is connected to one of the left and right sides of the second case body 42 via a predetermined rotation mechanism, and is attached so as to be rotatable forward and backward within a predetermined angle range within a plane along that side. The case body 10 can be rotated by the rotation mechanism, for example, with the position of the second case body 42 fixed. The drive recorder is equipped with a fixing means that can fix the relative angular position with the second case body 42 at a desired position. This results in a configuration in which the orientation of the camera 11 can be changed with the case body 10 and the second case body 42 connected, and the orientation of the camera 11 can be changed relative to the orientation of the monitor 41. For example, the monitor 41 can be installed in a state where it is easily visible to the driver, and the orientation of the camera 11 can be changed to capture the desired direction.

The device equipped with the monitor 41 of this embodiment may be, for example, the housing of another device, and the device may be, for example, a drive recorder that captures the view ahead of the vehicle. In this configuration, the second case body 42 is the body of the drive recorder for capturing the view ahead, and is equipped with a camera 43 on the side opposite to the side equipped with the monitor 41. Inside the second case body 42, a control unit is provided for displaying the image captured by the camera 43 on the monitor 41 and recording the captured image, etc., on a memory card 44. The left and right sides of the second case body 42 on the side on which the case body 10 is not attached are equipped with a card slot 46 and a power jack 47. A connector 49 provided on one end of a power cable 48 may be connected to this power jack 47, and power may be supplied from the vehicle battery connected to the other end of the power cable 48.

The mounting positions of the case body 10, card slot 46, and power jack 47 relative to the second case body 42 should be such that the mounting surface of the case body 10 is on the left side of the monitor 41, and the card slot 46 and power jack 47 are on the right side, as shown in the figure. This is advantageous because it makes it easier for drivers of right-hand drive vehicles, which are mainly sold in Japan, to insert and remove the memory card 44.

A power supply line and a communication line may be provided at the connection between the case body 10 and the second case body 42, and power may be supplied to the devices in the case body 10 from the power supply circuit side of the second case body 42, or communication may be performed between the devices mounted in the case body 10 and the devices mounted in the second case body 42. For example, video data captured by a camera may be sent to the second case body 42 and displayed on the monitor 41 or recorded in a recording means. In addition, the operation of the devices in the case body 10 may be controlled by a control unit mounted in the case body 10, or may be controlled based on commands from a control unit in the second case body 42.

A first LED 12 is provided on the surface of the case body 10 on which the camera 11 is located. When this first LED 12 is lit, for example, during recording, it displays, for example, an image captured by the camera 43 that captures the forward direction on the monitor 41, and even when an image captured by the camera 11 that captures areas other than the forward direction is not displayed, the operating state of the camera 11, for example, whether it is in a recording state or not, can be known.

In this embodiment, the fixing means is, as shown in FIG. 7(b), a triangular wave-shaped irregularity 45 is formed continuously or discretely on the circumference of a circle with the same center and the same diameter on the opposing surfaces of the case body 10 and the second case body 42, and the angle is fixed at the position where the irregularities mesh with each other, which is a simple configuration that can be realized. Also, by arranging a continuous triangular wave shape as shown in the figure, the angle can be finely positioned by the pitch interval of the triangle's peaks and valleys, but for example, a hemispherical or other recess can be formed at a predetermined angle pitch on one side, and a protrusion that matches the recess can be formed on the other side, and the protrusion can be matched with one of the recesses to change the orientation in relatively large angle units (for example, 10 degrees, 15 degrees, ...), but it is preferable to change and fix it at a fine pitch as in the embodiment.

The specified angle range may be one rotation such as 360 degrees, but it is better to set it to a specified acute angle, and the range of rotational movement may be configured so that, for example, the angle between an imaginary line indicating the up and down directions based on the center of rotation of the case body 10 and the second case body 42 is 0 degrees, and the case body 10 and the second case body 42 are both standing up, and from that reference position, the case body 10 tilts forward from the reference position and the field of view of the camera 11 faces diagonally downward, rotating forward and backward within a specified angle range (see FIG. 7(b), etc.), allowing positioning and angle adjustment.

In particular, when the second case body 42 to which the case body 10 equipped with the camera 11 is attached is a drive recorder that captures the forward view, the mounting position of the second case body 42 is often near the upper side of the windshield of the vehicle 2. If the case body 10 is tilted diagonally upwards while mounted in such an upward position, the shooting area of the camera 11 will include much of the ceiling inside the vehicle. Therefore, the case body 10 is raised so that the field of view of the camera 11 faces horizontally toward the rear of the vehicle, making it suitable for switching the shooting range, such as shooting the outside rear of the vehicle through the interior of the vehicle, or tilting it forward to mainly capture the interior of the vehicle.

In this embodiment, the camera 11 captures the interior of the vehicle and the area outside the vehicle behind the vehicle through the interior, so the captured area is an area that is not illuminated by the vehicle's lights, at least while the vehicle is moving. Therefore, it is recommended that the camera 11 be an infrared camera or a highly sensitive camera that can capture images even in low light, such as STARVIS (registered trademark).

It is also possible to mount a memory card on the case body 10 side so that the video captured by the camera 11 can be recorded on the memory card on the case body 10 side, but as in this embodiment, it is preferable to simultaneously record the video of the area other than the forward area captured by the camera 11 and the video of the area in front of the vehicle captured by the camera 43 on a single memory card 44 that is removably attached inside the second case body 42. When recording the video captured by both cameras on a single memory card 44, it is preferable to record each in a different folder.

In addition, in this embodiment, it is preferable to have a function for selecting the display mode of the monitor 41 between "single screen display" and "dual screen display" from a setting menu. In the case of "single screen display," for example, a forward image captured by the camera 43 is displayed, and in the case of "dual screen display," for example, as shown in FIG. 8, a forward image 36 captured by the camera 43 is displayed overlaid on the display, and an image 37 of the non-forward area captured by the camera 11 is displayed in a small area of the display. The small area can be switched by settings, and for example, the driver's side can be set as the initial position as shown in the upper right corner of the figure.

In Figure 9, a first camera unit 51 for capturing images of areas other than the forward direction and a second camera unit 52 for capturing images of the area in front of the vehicle are arranged side by side on the lower side of a second case body 42 equipped with a monitor 41.

The first camera unit 51 has a main body 51b equipped with a camera 51a attached to the second case main body 42 via a first attachment part 51c. The camera 51a is arranged so that it faces the same side as the monitor 41, i.e., the interior of the vehicle. The main body 51b and the first attachment part 51c may be separate and detachable, or may be an integrated unit that cannot be detached, but it is preferable that at least the camera 51a rotates within a predetermined angle range so that the viewing direction of the camera 51a can be changed and adjusted. The center of rotation may be, for example, parallel to the direction in which the cameras are lined up left and right, and the camera 51a may be rotated back and forth.

The second camera unit 52 has a main body 52b equipped with a camera 52a attached to the second case main body 42 via a second attachment portion 52c. The camera 52a is positioned so that it faces the side opposite the monitor 41, i.e., the front of the vehicle. The main body 52b and the second attachment portion 52c may be separate and detachable, or may be an integrated unit that cannot be detached, but it is preferable that at least the camera 52a rotates within a predetermined angle range and the viewing direction of the camera 52a can be changed and adjusted. The center of rotation may be, for example, parallel to the left-right arrangement, and the camera 52a may be rotated back and forth.

Even in this configuration, it is preferable to use a highly sensitive camera such as an infrared camera or STARVIS (registered trademark) that can capture images even in low light conditions as the camera 51a. It is also preferable to have a function for recording images captured by the cameras 51a and 52a onto a single memory card and for displaying the two images simultaneously on a monitor.

(Drive recorder with additional camera)
10 to 12 , a housing 61 that mounts a camera 11 that captures an image of an area outside the vehicle other than the area in front of the vehicle and a main unit 62 are rotatably connected at the center of rotation via a connecting member. If the housing 61 and the main unit 62 are both cylindrical and have the same diameter, then by connecting the sides of the housing 61 and the main unit 62 together, they will have a continuous cylindrical shape as a whole.

In this embodiment, the main unit 62 is also provided with a camera 63. This camera 63 photographs an area different from that of the camera 11. For example, the camera 63 mounted on the main unit 62 may photograph the area in front of the vehicle, and the camera 11 mounted on the housing 61 may photograph the area outside the vehicle behind the vehicle through the interior of the vehicle.

The main unit 62 is attached to, for example, the side opposite the connection surface of the housing 61 by attaching a bracket 64 to the side, and is attached to the vehicle's windshield or other predetermined position via the bracket 64. The main unit 62 is equipped with a mechanism that allows the relative angle to the bracket 64 to be changed around the central axis of the main unit 62 as the rotation center, and fixes it at a predetermined angle position. This makes it possible to change and adjust the orientation of the camera 63 by rotating it up and down while it is attached to a predetermined position such as the windshield via the bracket 64.

The side of the main unit 62 to which the bracket 64 is attached is provided with a card slot 65. The side opposite the side with the card slot 65 serves as the connecting surface of the housing 61. This connecting surface is formed so that a cylindrical peripheral wall 66 extends axially along its outer periphery. As a result, a recess 67 is formed on the inside of the peripheral wall 66, and a pin jack 69 is provided at the center of the rear surface 68 of the recess 67. The inner peripheral surface at the tip side of the peripheral wall 66 is provided with triangular wave-shaped irregularities 70 along the circumferential direction.

The housing 61 in which the camera 11 is mounted has an overall cylindrical outer shape, with the outer diameter of the side end 71, which is the connecting side, being smaller, and this side end 71 with the smaller outer diameter is inserted into the recess 67 of the main unit 62. A pin plug 73 to be inserted into a pin jack 69 is protrudingly positioned at the center of the tip surface of the side end 71. When the side end 71 is mounted in the recess 67, the pin plug 73 is inserted into the pin jack 69, and they are mechanically and electrically connected. The pin jack 69, the pin plug 73, etc. constitute the connecting member.

When the pin plug 73 is inserted into the pin jack 69, and the main unit 62 and the housing 61 are forced to rotate relatively around the central axis, the main unit 62 and the housing 61 rotate around the central axis. As a result, for example, when the angular position of the main unit 62 is fixed, the housing 61 rotates, and the orientation of the camera 11 mounted on the housing 61 changes in the vertical direction.

The equipment inside the housing 61 and the equipment inside the main unit 62 are electrically connected by a connecting member consisting of a pin jack 69 and a pin plug 73, and even if the relative angle between the housing 61 and the main unit 62 is changed by rotating it and continues to rotate, the wires will not break and it is not easily damaged. By locating the pin jack in the center of the cylinder, two integrated cameras are achieved without using FPCs/electrical wires, etc.

A positioning protrusion 74 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the side end 71 of the housing 61 at the rear side. The positioning protrusion 74 fits into the valley of a triangular wave-shaped irregularity 70 provided on the tip side of the peripheral wall 66 of the main unit 62, and the rotation angle is positioned and fixed.

When a pin jack and a pin plug are used as connection members as in the main body, as described above, it is possible to directly connect the pin plug 73 and the pin jack 69 provided on the housing 61 and the main unit 62, respectively, to integrate the housing and the main unit, or to connect the pin plug 73 and the pin jack 69 via a connection cable 75 as shown in FIG. 12, for example, to separate the housing 61 and the main unit 62. This is advantageous because it increases the freedom to set the direction of the field of view of the camera 11 on the housing 61.

By lengthening the connection cable 75, the main unit 62 can function as a drive recorder that records images in front of the vehicle, while the housing 61 in which the camera 11 is mounted can be placed, for example, near the rear window and function as a camera for recording images from behind.

The bracket 80 for mounting the housing 61 to the rear window or the like may include, for example, a ring-shaped mounting portion 81 and an attachment portion 82 provided on the outer periphery of the mounting portion 81, as shown in FIG. 10. The mounting portion 81 has a shape similar to that of the peripheral wall 66 of the main unit 62, and includes triangular wave-shaped irregularities 83 along the circumferential direction on the inner circumferential surface of one edge in the axial direction. When the side end 71 of the housing 61 is inserted into the mounting portion 81, the triangular wave-shaped irregularities 83 fit into the positioning protrusions 74 provided on the side end 71, and the position in the rotational direction is fixed.

In addition, the outer peripheral surface of the side end 71 is provided with a guide groove 76 extending in the circumferential direction at a position one step back from the tip side, and a cut groove 77 connecting the tip of the side end 71 and the guide groove 76. In addition, a guide protrusion 84 protruding toward the center is provided at a predetermined position on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting part 81 of the bracket 80. When the mounting part 81 is mounted to the side end 71 of the housing 61, this guide protrusion 84 advances through the cut groove 77 provided in the side end 71 and reaches the guide groove 76, and then moves along the guide groove 76. As the guide protrusion 84 moves along the cut groove 77 and the guide groove 76, the mounting part 81 moves forward and backward in the axial direction relative to the side end 71 of the housing 61, and rotates around the central axis. During the rotational movement, the triangular wave-shaped unevenness 83 moves relative to the circumferential direction while climbing over the positioning protrusion 74, and the fitting rotation angle is fixed at the valley part of the triangular wave-shaped unevenness 83 and positioning is performed. Although the explanation is out of order, as shown in FIG. 12, a guide protrusion 78 similar to this guide protrusion 84 is provided at a predetermined position on the inner circumferential surface of the peripheral wall 66, and when connecting the housing 61 and the main unit 62, it is preferable to position and fix the guide protrusion 84 in the guide groove 76 via the cut groove 77.

One side of, for example, double-sided tape or other adhesive member is attached to the mounting portion 82 of the bracket 80, and the other side of the adhesive member is attached to, for example, the rear window, thereby mounting the bracket 80 and thus the housing 60 at a predetermined position on the rear window 3. Note that the mounting position of the bracket 80 is not limited to the rear window, and it may be mounted, for example, on the ceiling near the rear window or any other location of the vehicle.

The bracket 80 and/or the positioning protrusion 74 of the housing 61 are preferably made of an elastically deformable material such as resin. In this way, for example, with the bracket 80 attached to the side end 71 of the housing 60, the bracket 80 can be fixed to the rear glass or the like, and the housing 60 can be rotated in this state relative to the bracket 80 to adjust the angular position and fix it at the desired angle.

The connection structure using the pin jack 69 and pin plug 73 may be used, for example, in the connection portion when rotatably connecting the case body 10 equipped with a camera to the second case body equipped with the above-mentioned monitor.

(An embodiment in which multiple drive recorders equipped with cameras record individually)
13, this system includes a first camera 85 that captures an image of an area outside the vehicle other than the area in front of the vehicle, a first drive recorder 87 that includes a first recording unit 86 that records the image captured by the first camera 85, and a second drive recorder 90 that includes a second camera 88 that captures an image in a different direction from the first camera 85 and a second recording unit 89 that records the image captured by the second camera 88. Both the first drive recorder 87 and the second drive recorder 90 are devices that are installed in the vehicle later.

In this embodiment, images from different directions can be captured by each camera, and the captured images can be recorded in the first recording unit 86 and the second recording unit 89, respectively. The first recording unit 86 and the second recording unit 89 can both be memory cards such as SD cards, and the memory cards can be removable. The first drive recorder 87 does not have a monitor, but can have an LED or the like that indicates the operating status.

The second camera 88 equipped in the second drive recorder 90 may be different from the first drive recorder 87 in that it captures an area other than the "area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle", such as the front of the vehicle or the interior of the vehicle, but it is more preferable that it captures the "area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle" like the first drive recorder 87. In this way, it is possible to capture images in different directions of the "area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle". Also, although one second drive recorder 90 is used in the illustrated example, it is more preferable to have multiple second drive recorders 90.

Power may be supplied to the first drive recorder 87 and the second drive recorder 90 separately, but it is preferable to use, for example, a direct power cord 91 with one end branched so that power can be supplied to the first drive recorder 87 and the second drive recorder 90 simultaneously.

In addition, for example, if the first drive recorder 87 or the second drive recorder 90 is installed at the rear of the vehicle and is powered by the vehicle battery, when the drive recorder is installed in a vehicle that has a power source (accessories) in the trunk, it is recommended that the power be supplied from the power source installed in the trunk.

As shown in FIG. 14, it is preferable to have a function for simultaneously displaying images captured by the first drive recorder 87 and images captured by the second drive recorder 90 on the same monitor. In this way, images captured at the same time from different directions can be compared on the same screen.

The monitor may be, for example, a monitor provided in the second drive recorder 90, but it is preferable to use a monitor of another device such as a smartphone 92. In the case of a separate device such as a smartphone 92, it is preferable to use a device with a large screen size that can be placed at the hand of a user such as a driver and viewed up close. It is preferable to use a wireless connection method for connecting the first drive recorder 87 or the second drive recorder 90 to the smartphone, and if a wireless connection method is used, it is more preferable to use Wi-Fi.

It is good to display the images simultaneously when playing back the recorded footage, and more preferably in real time. For example, when playing back the recorded footage, it is good because if there is a chain reaction accident, for example, it is possible to check whether the accident was caused by the driver or whether the driver was hit from behind. If it is performed in real time, it is good because it allows the driver to view images from different directions and drive while checking the surrounding situation. In particular, even if the vehicle is not equipped with an on-board camera that captures the surrounding situation, it is possible to realize a function to capture the surroundings as a retrofit, which is good because it allows the driver to drive while checking the safety of the surroundings when, for example, moving the vehicle backwards, changing the direction of travel, or driving on a road with poor visibility.

As an example of video display, as shown in FIG. 14(a), the display screen of the smartphone 92 can be used vertically and divided into two sections, top and bottom, with the videos captured by the first drive recorder 87 and the second drive recorder 90 being output and displayed in each of the upper and lower sections.

Figure 14 (b) shows an example of a setting screen for wirelessly connecting a first drive recorder (e.g., a rear camera) and a second drive recorder (e.g., a front camera) to a smartphone 92. In this embodiment, a connection is attempted using the Wi-Fi connection function of the smartphone 92. When communication is established, the control unit of the smartphone displays the video sent from the corresponding drive recorder in a video display area provided at the top of the display screen.

(Embodiment of a system in which multiple drive recorders equipped with cameras work together)
In this system, a first drive recorder and a second drive recorder installed in different locations of a vehicle are configured to be able to communicate with each other, and one drive recorder is configured to output images captured by the other drive recorder to a recording unit based on the operating status of the other drive recorder.

With this configuration, the first drive recorder and the second drive recorder more reliably output video to the recording means when a situation occurs that requires recording. Communication between the drive recorders may be wired communication, but it is preferable to use wireless communication.

For example, the first drive recorder and the second drive recorder are equipped with an event recording mode that triggers event recording when an impact of a certain magnitude or greater is applied. In such a case, when one drive recorder detects an impact, it notifies the other drive recorder. As a result, one drive recorder performs event recording using the impact it detects as a trigger, and the other drive recorder performs event recording using the notification it receives as a trigger. This allows event recording to be performed by both drive recorders, even if, for example, the impact applied to the vehicle is weak and only one system detects the impact.

In addition, each drive recorder periodically sends video signals to the other drive recorder for monitoring, and if the video from the other drive recorder becomes unreadable, this is used as a trigger to start event recording even if no impact is detected. By coordinating triggers between the first and second drive recorders located in different locations in this way, recording can be more reliably performed when necessary.

(Linking multiple drive recorders with smartphones)
The first drive recorder and the second drive recorder each include a camera and a recording unit that records images captured by the camera, etc. In this embodiment, the first drive recorder and the second drive recorder each communicate with a terminal such as a smartphone.

When certain conditions are met, the terminal simultaneously sends a recording instruction trigger to the first and second drive recorders connected via communication. When the first and second drive recorders receive the trigger, they use it as an opportunity to perform event recording. In this way, when an event occurs, the first and second drive recorders each record video based on the trigger from the terminal, making it possible to record video from different directions when the event occurred.

For example, if the terminal is a smartphone, it is preferable to configure it so that a trigger is output based on the output of sensors such as a G sensor, gyro sensor, GPS, etc. implemented in the smartphone. It is particularly preferable that the conditions for issuing a trigger can be a combination of multiple sensors. It is also preferable to install an app on the smartphone that can set what sensor will send a trigger when in what state. The user uses the app to set the trigger output conditions.

Triggers from a smartphone can be based on communication. For example, triggers from communication can be sent to a specified drive recorder when a specified pattern occurs in IFTTT, when a phone call is received, or when specified conditions are met in information on the web (for example, when the temperature at the current location exceeds 35 degrees). The app can be used to attach any tag (for example, it is preferable to be able to attach multiple tags) to the trigger, and the tag information can be associated with the trigger and sent to the system. The system can start recording the event based on the trigger, and record the video to be recorded by associating it with the tag sent.

In the above-mentioned system, a trigger is sent simultaneously to the first drive recorder and the second drive recorder, but it may also be sent to a specific drive recorder depending on the conditions. For example, it is preferable to have a function for specifying the drive recorder to which the output is to be sent in the settings by the above-mentioned app.

(Memory card alert function)
In the above-mentioned embodiments and modifications, an example is described in which a memory card such as an SD card is used as a recording unit for recording images captured by a camera. A large number of bad sectors are generated in memory cards such as SD cards as they are used, so they need to be formatted. Therefore, the drive recorder of this embodiment has a function of issuing an alert when a certain period of use has elapsed.

For example, the frequency of use differs between someone who uses the drive for commuting or work and someone who drives on Sundays, so the timing at which a large number of bad sectors occur due to use also differs. In this embodiment, the usage time is used as the standard, and an alert is issued to encourage formatting when the usage time reaches the set standard time. Therefore, for example, if the drive is used frequently, alerts will occur at relatively fast intervals, and if the drive is not used often, the intervals between alerts will be longer. The timing will be slower, and the alert will occur at a time appropriate to each usage situation.

This embodiment is characterized by outputting an alert without automatically formatting. If the device is automatically formatted, there is a problem that recorded video may be erased without the user's knowledge, but this is not the case with this embodiment. The usage time may be calculated based on the recording time or GPS log, for example.

(Embodiment of a system equipped with a camera that captures images other than those behind the vehicle: Side camera)
For example, in a system including a monitor device 21 separate from a case body 10 including a camera 11 as shown in Fig. 3, the case body 10 may be attached to a predetermined position on the vehicle so that the area outside the vehicle diagonally forward of the vehicle is within the shooting range of the camera 11, and the monitor device 21 may be installed in a position visible to the driver, such as on the dashboard of the vehicle 2. In this way, an image of the area outside the vehicle diagonally forward of the vehicle is output to the monitor device 21. Therefore, even if a vehicle does not originally have a side view monitor, the function of a side view monitor can be exhibited by using this system.

This system has a function for acquiring vehicle information such as turn signal information and steering angle information for detecting left/right turns, lane changes, etc., and the control unit 14 has a function for not outputting to the monitor device 21 images captured by the camera 11 capturing images diagonally ahead of the vehicle under normal circumstances, and for automatically switching the images output to the monitor device 21 to those captured by the camera 11 when it detects a state in which the direction of travel changes to the side captured by the camera 11, such as a left/right turn or lane change, based on the acquired vehicle information. In particular, when the monitor device 21 uses a monitor of another device, it is preferable to output and display images associated with the operation of the other device under normal circumstances, and to display the camera image when the above-mentioned conditions are met. The camera image may be displayed together with the image normally displayed, but it is preferable to switch to the camera image screen and display it.

In particular, it would be good to have a function that links this switching to the vehicle's speed. For example, when the vehicle's speed is zero and the turn signal information indicates a right or left turn while the vehicle is stopped, the function that links this to the vehicle's speed would automatically switch and output the image of the direction of the turn. This is good because it allows the driver to check the situation in the direction of travel even at intersections with poor visibility, for example.

In addition, the function linked to the vehicle speed may be, for example, automatically switched to the image of the camera capturing the area outside the vehicle in the direction of the change of course when the vehicle is slowly moving without turning on the blinker and gradually changing course based on the steering angle information of the steering wheel. If the vehicle is gradually changing course to the left or right while slowly moving, it is highly likely that the vehicle is moving to the side for parking or the like, so the area outside the vehicle in the direction of the movement can be displayed on the monitor means to allow the vehicle to move to the side safely. For example, when parking a vehicle on a narrow road, there is a demand to park as close to the left or right as possible, but if there is a gutter with an opening at the top, for example, there is a risk that the vehicle cannot move to the side sufficiently due to concerns that the tire will fall into the gutter or run over a curb installed on the side of the road. However, since the situation in the direction of the movement can be confirmed by the image, the vehicle can be moved to the side appropriately. Even a driver who does not have a sense of the vehicle width can check the area around the front and rear tires and can confirm the sense of the vehicle width. In particular, it is preferable to have the automatic switching performed when the vehicle is moving to the opposite side of the driver's seat (for example, the left side in the case of a right-hand drive vehicle). This way, you can check the blind spot on the opposite side of the driver's seat (for example, the left side of a right-hand drive vehicle) on the monitor without having to switch between the two.

This system does not necessarily have to have a function to record the video captured by the camera, but it is good to have a recording function. By recording the captured video, for example, if an object is hit while turning right or left, it is possible to verify the situation at the time, such as whether the object was hit from the other side or whether the object was a stationary object, and it is also good because it allows the driving condition at the time to be checked later even if there is no collision or falling off the wheel.

(Embodiment of a system equipped with a camera that captures images other than those behind the vehicle: tire monitoring camera)
In addition, in a system equipped with a monitor device 21 separate from the case body 10 in which the camera 11 is mounted, for example, the case body 10 may be attached to a predetermined position on the vehicle so that the area including the vehicle's tires is within the shooting range of the camera 11, and the monitor device 21 may be installed in a position visible to the driver, such as on the dashboard of the vehicle 2. In this way, a tire monitoring camera is formed. It is particularly preferable to mount it on a large vehicle. For example, when starting, it is possible to visually check whether there are any foreign objects (e.g., people, objects, etc.) around the tires, and whether there are any abnormalities in the air pressure. It is possible to check "visually" while in the driver's seat without using equipment such as TPMS. It is particularly good as a product for large vehicles.

(Additional rear camera)
For example, when an omnidirectional drive recorder having a function of capturing images of the entire surroundings, such as a 720-degree range consisting of a 360-degree horizontal range and a 360-degree vertical range, is installed on the windshield, for example, the camera's capturing area will be, for example, the front of the vehicle or the interior of the vehicle, which is good for checking the rear of the interior, but has limitations in recording following vehicles.

Therefore, it would be a good idea to make a spherical drive recorder that can also record the interior rear view compatible with a rear camera. A rear camera is connected to the spherical drive recorder and installed on the rear window, etc. This rear camera can capture images of the rear area outside the vehicle and record following vehicles, solving the above problem.

It is also preferable to provide a function for connecting an additional camera to various types of drive recorders, not limited to omnidirectional drive recorders. In this way, by connecting an additional camera, it is possible to capture and record an area different from the direction captured by the camera equipped in the main body of the drive recorder. The drive recorder is preferably provided with a function for recording in two channels or multiple channels, and a connection section for the additional camera. The connection between the additional camera, such as the rear camera, and the drive recorder may be a wired method using a connection cable, but it is more preferable to use a wireless communication method such as a wireless LAN.

For example, in vehicles such as taxis that are often driven during the day and are at risk of being involved in accidents, etc., by equipping them with a drive recorder that records the exterior of the vehicle, the recorded footage can be used as evidence in the event of an accident, etc. If an additional camera that can record the interior or rear of the vehicle is connected to such a drive recorder, it is possible to record interactions with passengers and the rear of the vehicle, etc. For example, if the interior of the vehicle is also to be recorded, the drive recorder and additional camera can be attached, for example, near the upper center of the windshield, the front center of the ceiling inside the vehicle's cabin, or on the rear-view mirror, and configured to record from the side of the rear-view mirror. In particular, it is recommended to configure it to record from the side adjacent to the rear-view mirror.

(Using footage from an in-vehicle camera)
It is preferable that the device be later installed in the vehicle and have a function to acquire and hack the video captured by the vehicle-mounted camera. The device with such a function can use the video captured by the vehicle-mounted camera.

The device may be provided with a means for outputting the images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera to a recording unit that records the images. In this way, the device can record images of the outside of the vehicle, for example, like a drive recorder, without using a camera.

In addition, it is preferable for a device that is later installed in a vehicle, such as a drive recorder equipped with a camera, to have a function for acquiring images captured by an on-board camera mounted on the vehicle. In this way, by acquiring images from an on-board camera that captures an area different from that of the installed camera, it is possible to avoid the need to separately prepare an option such as an additional camera and perform wiring, etc., which is preferable.

The onboard camera to be connected should be a rear-view camera that takes pictures of the rear of the vehicle, such as a rear-view monitor. Because the rear-view camera faces downward, it is not sufficient for taking pictures of distant objects behind the vehicle, but it can adequately capture images of approaching vehicles (for example, in the event of a tailgating or rear-end collision).

(Driving recorders with special external shapes, etc.)
For example, in a system such as a drive recorder, if the external shape is a special shape that is not rectangular, it is a good idea to make it a collaboration product with a character that matches the external shape. For example, there is a problem that the lens facing the inside of the car cabin is spherical and stands out, making the passengers aware that they are taking pictures, and the spherical presence of the lens part stands out and may give a rough impression. Therefore, for example, if a system that has an external shape that is not rectangular in part or in its entirety is made into a collaboration product with a character that matches the external shape, the above-mentioned impression can be softened and the product can be made easy for users to use and implement, which is good because it solves the above-mentioned problem.

For example, in the case of a spherical driving recorder with a spherical camera section, characters such as "Medama Oyaji (Kitaro)", "Mike Wazowski (Monsters, Inc.)", or balls for ball games (soccer, basketball, golf, baseball, etc.) can be used, and the spherical camera section can be shaped to resemble a character to create a collaborative product.

(Viewer)
A viewer for a system having a first system such as a camera that captures images of an area outside the vehicle other than the front of the vehicle and a drive recorder that outputs the images captured by the camera to a recording unit, and a second system that is a device that is later installed on the vehicle and captures images in a direction different from the first system and outputs the images captured by the camera to a recording unit, and it is preferable that the viewer has a function to display the installation positions of the first system and the second system, for example the installation positions of the cameras in each system.

This viewer may, for example, have an edit mode and a viewing mode. In the edit mode, for example, a diagram or shape of a car may be displayed, and when the position where the camera is installed is clicked on the diagram of the car, a frame for the camera position may be drawn. The drawn frame may be associated with a particular camera using a color or other means. The viewing mode may have a function for playing back and displaying video captured by one or more specified cameras, and may have a function for, for example, blinking the frame of a triggered camera when the video is played back on the viewer. The color of the frame may be the same as the color of the frame on the graph or playback screen.

The installation position can be displayed, for example, by displaying a top view of the car on the viewer, and displaying the part of the car diagram that corresponds to the camera position so that it is clear that it is the camera position. This is good because it makes it easy to see where the camera is installed. For example, it is good because it makes it possible to understand the approximate area that is being photographed by the camera from its installation position.

The camera position can be displayed, for example, by displaying a specific figure or icon at the corresponding position. The viewer can be a PC viewer, a web viewer, an app, or any other type of viewer.

The above-mentioned embodiment, modified examples, and various other forms have been described using a drive recorder that mainly captures images of areas outside the vehicle other than the front, but the invention is not limited to drive recorders and may be applied to various devices and systems. In addition, some or all of the components and elements of the above-mentioned embodiment, modified examples, and various other forms may be applied to or combined with a drive recorder or other system that mainly captures images in front of the vehicle.

In addition, for example, in a two-camera type drive recorder equipped with a camera that captures the front of the vehicle and a camera that captures the rear of the vehicle, it is desirable to have a function that at least one of issuing an alarm or recording when the size of an area that can be regarded as a vehicle in an image captured by the rear camera becomes large enough to be determined as an approach. The size of the object to be determined may be, for example, at least one of width, height, and area.

It is also advisable to provide a function that issues an alarm or records when the size of the area that can be regarded as a vehicle in the image captured by the camera in front of the vehicle becomes large enough to be judged as an approach.

The function of detecting the approach of a following vehicle or a vehicle ahead is not limited to being based on images captured by a specific camera as described above, but may be based on a sensor that measures the distance between vehicles, or may be a combination of these, but it is preferable to use images captured by a camera.

It is preferable to have a function for separately setting the criteria for detecting the approach of a following vehicle and the criteria for detecting the approach of a preceding vehicle, and to set them as different criteria. The detection criteria should be distance, as this allows for more accurate judgment, but they are not limited to directly calculating the distance, and it is more preferable to configure the system to detect the approaching state based on something that changes in response to the calculated distance using a simple method, without adding any special sensors, etc. The thing that changes in response to the distance should be, for example, the size of the area that can be considered to be a vehicle in the image captured by the camera described above.

If the device has a function to issue an alarm or record when an object approaches, it is a good idea to have a function to set the conditions for the alarm and recording separately.

If the device has a function to issue an alarm or record when an object approaches, it is a good idea to provide a function to set whether or not to issue an alarm and record.

It is preferable that only the camera unit that captures the front view is provided with a recording function, and that the camera unit that captures the rear view is connected to the camera unit that captures the front view. In this case, it is preferable that the camera unit that captures the front view has a setting function for setting the camera unit that captures the rear view and for setting processing based on the image captured by the camera that captures the rear view. The camera that captures the rear view operates according to the settings made by that setting function.

It is recommended that the front approach record and rear approach record be recorded on the same recording medium, and that when recording on the same recording medium, the front approach record and rear approach record be recorded in separate folders.

It is a good idea to record the front approach record and the rear approach record as separate types so that they can be displayed in the viewer.

It is preferable to provide a function for issuing an alarm when an approach is detected while the vehicle is stopped. It is preferable to provide a function for suppressing the approach alarm issued while the vehicle is moving when an approach is detected while the vehicle is not stopped. Suppressing the approach alarm may mean, for example, issuing a less severe alarm than usual, but it is preferable to not issue an alarm at all.

It is preferable to have a function for recording video captured by a camera when it is detected that a leading vehicle has started moving but the vehicle itself has not started moving within a predetermined time, as a trigger. Detection of a leading vehicle starting or stopping can be performed, for example, based on the size of an area that can be regarded as a vehicle in an image captured by a camera that captures the front.

The image captured by the camera is recorded when it is detected that the preceding vehicle has started moving but the vehicle itself has not started moving within a specified time, and the image recorded may be, for example, an image from a camera capturing the view ahead. If a camera capturing an image other than the view ahead is provided, the image captured by the camera capturing an image other than the view ahead may be recorded. The camera capturing an image other than the view ahead may be, for example, a camera capturing an image of the interior of the vehicle, and may in particular capture an image of the driver. In this way, the driver's condition for not noticing the start of the preceding vehicle can be checked later, and the cause, for example, that the driver did not notice while facing forward or was looking away and did not notice can be ascertained, and information that will contribute to safe driving thereafter can be provided.

The video to be recorded using the detection that the vehicle ahead has started moving but the vehicle itself has not started moving within a specified time as a trigger should be a specified period before and after the trigger.

It is preferable to have a function to issue an alarm when it is detected that the vehicle ahead has started moving but the vehicle itself has not started moving within a predetermined time. This function to issue an alarm should be provided together with a function to record video captured by a camera, triggered by the detection that the vehicle ahead has started moving but the vehicle itself has not started moving within a predetermined time, and more preferably, a function to record the issuance of an alarm and the timing of the issuance.

The front camera and rear camera should have approximately the same number of pixels. The front camera and rear camera should also have approximately the same sensitivity characteristics. Desirably, both cameras should use the same model number of image sensor. A function should be provided that prevents recorded video from being overwritten when a determination is made that there is a possibility of dangerous driving. When the engine is off, it is preferable not to judge the possibility of dangerous driving. When the engine is off, it is preferable not to detect and judge whether or not the vehicle is tailgating.

In the configurations of the above-mentioned embodiment, modified examples, and other forms, some of the elements of the configuration may be used from devices and equipment mounted on the vehicle, or from other devices and equipment installed on the vehicle later. For example, as already explained, information from an on-board camera equipped on the vehicle may be used, but for example, sensor information such as a sensor mounted on the vehicle that measures the distance to the vehicle ahead or a corner sensor that determines the distance to surrounding objects may be used, an on-board monitor mounted on the vehicle as a monitor that outputs images captured by the camera may be used, or some or all of other devices and equipment installed on the vehicle later may be used. In this way, for example, the number of devices and equipment installed in a limited space can be reduced, which is preferable because, for example, the number of objects that the driver must visually check while driving can be reduced.

Although various aspects of the present invention have been described above using embodiments and modified examples, it should be noted that these embodiments and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are provided to aid in the understanding of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations explicitly described in the specification, but includes combinations of various aspects of the present invention disclosed in this specification. The configurations of the present invention for which a patent is sought are specified in the claims attached to the application, but it is hereby stated that even if a configuration is not currently specified in the claims, the configurations disclosed in this specification may be claimed in the future. The applicant intends to obtain rights to such portions and combinations by filing amendments, divisional applications, applications for conversion to design registration applications, etc.

The present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above-mentioned embodiments. The components of each of the above-mentioned embodiments and variations may be arbitrarily selected and combined. Any of the components of each of the embodiments and variations may be arbitrarily combined with any of the components described in the means for solving the invention or any of the components that embody any of the components described in the means for solving the invention. We intend to obtain rights to inventions with these configurations through amendments to this application or divisional applications, etc.

1: Drive recorder 2: Vehicle 3: Rear window 4: Drive recorder body 5: Bracket 6: Ceiling 7: Back door 10: Case body 11: Camera 12: First LED
13: Second LED
14: Control unit 15: Card slot 16: Microphone 17: Abnormality detection sensor 18: Power supply unit 19: Memory card 20: Notification unit 21: Monitor device 41: Monitor 42: Second case body 43: Camera 44: Memory card 46: Card slot 51: First camera unit 52: Second camera unit

Claims (4)

A function to output and display the images captured by the first and second drive recorders on the smartphone's display screen ,
A program for causing a computer to realize a function of sending a recording instruction trigger to the first drive recorder and the second drive recorder based on the communication content of a smartphone, having the first drive recorder and the second drive recorder receive the trigger, and causing an event recording in response to the trigger. The program according to claim 1 ,
A function of sending a recording instruction trigger to the first drive recorder and the second drive recorder based on the communication content of the smartphone, causing the first drive recorder and the second drive recorder to receive the trigger and record an event based on the trigger.
The program includes at least one of the following communication contents of the smartphone: when a specified pattern occurs in IFTTT, when a phone call is received, and when specified conditions are met in web information. The program according to claim 1 or 2 ,
A program for causing a computer to realize a function of sending a recording instruction trigger to the first drive recorder and the second drive recorder based on the output of multiple sensors implemented in a smartphone, having the first drive recorder and the second drive recorder receive the trigger, and causing an event recording in response to the trigger. 4. The program according to claim 1,
A program for causing a computer to realize a function of attaching a tag to a trigger on a smartphone, sending a recording instruction trigger and the tag to the first drive recorder and the second drive recorder, causing the first drive recorder and the second drive recorder to receive the trigger and the tag, and causing the first drive recorder and the second drive recorder to record an event that has been stored in association with the tag.

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