KR200424807Y1 - A camera for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a vehicle camera, and installed in front and / or rear of the vehicle in order to store the driving information of the vehicle or to secure the necessary evidence in the event of an accident, the memory built-in vehicle camera according to the present invention, the video or Shooting unit for taking a still image; A storage unit which stores a moving image or a still image captured by the photographing unit; When the storage capacity of the storage unit is full, the controller and power for sequentially storing the moving image or still image photographed by the photographing unit in the deleted space while deleting the moving image or still image stored in the storage unit in chronological order It characterized in that it comprises a power supply for supplying.

Vehicle, car, camera, car accident, evidence, memory, storage

Description

A camera for automobile

1 is a block diagram of a memory-equipped vehicle camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a perspective view of a memory-equipped vehicle camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a state diagram of use of a memory-equipped vehicle camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a block diagram of a memory-insertable vehicle camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a perspective view of a memory-insertable vehicle camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

100: car camera with built-in memory

110,210: photographing unit 120,220: control unit

130,230 input unit 140,240 power unit

150: storage unit 160: communication unit

170: USB cigar jack 172: power plug insertion hole

174: cigar jack plug 176,276: fixing member

180,280: stand

200: memory camera

250: memory insertion unit 290: external memory card

The present invention relates to a vehicle camera, and more particularly, to a vehicle camera installed in the front and / or rear of the vehicle to store the driving information of the vehicle or to secure the necessary evidence in the event of an accident.

As vehicles increase rapidly, traffic accidents are increasing day by day.

When a traffic accident occurs, it is important to know the exact accident situation because the responsibility of the injured vehicle and the damaged vehicle is largely divided according to the location of responsibility.

In general, when an accident occurs, the parties in the accident usually talk orally or paint the camera to show the direction and location of the vehicle.

In this case, since the accident situation is only the location of the vehicle after the accident, it is not possible to check whether the traffic light is turned on. Such time information should be relied on by the witness's statement, but there is no way if the witness rejects the witness's statement because of annoyance. In addition, because the witness's statement is also subjective, there is a problem that objective information cannot be obtained.

The present invention is derived to solve the problems according to the prior art described above, the purpose of providing a vehicle camera that can be used as evidence in the event of an accident by recording the peripheral information according to the driving of the vehicle as a still image and / or video It is done.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle camera that can provide accident witness information through file transfer when installed in a vehicle other than the accident party.

In order to achieve the above object, a vehicle camera according to an embodiment of the present invention, a photographing unit for photographing the outside as a video or a still image, a storage unit for storing a video or a still image taken by the photographing unit, the storage unit When the storage capacity is full, the controller for sequentially storing the moving image or still image taken by the photographing unit in the deleted space while deleting the moving image or still image stored in the storage unit in time order, and supplying power It may include a power supply.

In the present invention, the storage unit may be a built-in storage unit built in the vehicle camera, or any one or more of an external storage unit inserted into the camera as an external memory card.

The storage unit may be a nonvolatile memory whose contents are not deleted even when power supply is interrupted.

In the present invention, the control unit may further include a communication unit capable of communicating with the computer, the communication unit may be configured as a communication port according to the USB communication protocol.

According to the present invention, a cigar jack plug inserted into a cigar jack of a vehicle, a USB plug is inserted, and receives power from the cigar jack plug, and includes a power plug insertion port for supplying power to the inserted USB plug according to USB communication protocol. Further comprising a USB cigar jack, the communication port of the communication unit may be inserted into the power plug insertion port to receive power.

In the present invention, the power supply unit may be inserted into the cigar jack of the vehicle to receive power from the vehicle.

In addition, in the present invention, the control unit further includes an input unit for receiving a user's command, and when the input unit is operated, the control unit reverses from a still image of the moment when the input unit is operated or the moment when the input unit is operated. The video for a predetermined time may be stored in the storage unit.

In the following, embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following description of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the terms to be described later are terms set in consideration of functions in the present invention, and these terms may vary depending on the intention or custom of the producer producing the product, and the definition of the terms should be made based on the contents throughout the present specification.

(First embodiment)

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

1 is a block diagram of a memory-equipped vehicle camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a memory-equipped vehicle camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the memory-equipped vehicle camera 100 according to the first embodiment may include a photographing unit 110, a control unit 120, an input unit 130, a power supply unit 140, a storage unit 150, and the like. It consists of a communication unit 160.

The photographing unit 110 captures the outside of the vehicle as a video or a still image (unless otherwise described below, a 'video or a still image' is referred to as an 'image'). The photographing unit 110 preferably includes an infrared photographing function so that photographing can be performed at low illumination due to driving conditions of the vehicle.

The controller 120 controls operations of the photographing unit 110 and the storage unit 150 based on the command input from the input unit 130. Basically, the control unit 120 stores the image photographed by the photographing unit 110 in the storage unit 150, and when the storage capacity of the storage unit 150 becomes full, the previously stored image information is deleted in chronological order. It is in charge of a control function to store newly photographed image information.

The input unit 130 receives a user's command. For example, when the user presses one of the buttons constituting the input unit 130, the still image at that moment may be stored in the storage unit 150. Alternatively, the amount of time before the predetermined time (for example, 1 to 5 minutes) may be stored in the storage unit 150 separately.

The storage unit 150 stores the image data photographed by the photographing unit 110. The storage unit 150 may be configured as a nonvolatile memory whose contents are not deleted even when power supply is interrupted.

The power supply unit 140 supplies power required for the operation of the device.

The communication unit 160 provides a path for downloading image information stored in the storage unit 150 from an external device such as a computer.

Here, the power supply unit 140 and the communication unit 160 preferably conforms to the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard. As is well known, the USB specification has the advantage of being able to supply power and transfer data. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 2, the power supply unit 140 and the communication unit 160 perform external communication with the power input through the power supply / communication plug 142. The power / communication plug 142 is inserted into a cigar jack that is basically provided in the vehicle and is inserted into a power plug insertion hole 172 of the USB cigar jack 170 having the cigar jack plug 174 supplied with the vehicle's power. However, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, and it should be noted that the communication unit 160 may perform communication conforming to the RS0232C standard, and the power supply unit 140 may be directly connected to a power signal line synchronized with the ACC of the vehicle. .

In the memory built-in vehicle camera 100 having such a configuration, a stand 180 formed at a lower portion thereof is coupled to the fixing member 176.

Hereinafter, an example of using the memory-equipped vehicle camera 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

3 is a state diagram of use of a memory-equipped vehicle camera according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Prior to the description of this use example, it is assumed that the input unit is composed of three buttons, one button being a still image storage button, the other being a moving image storage button, and the other being a recording lock button. Also, the photographing unit records a moving image, but assumes that it is possible to selectively capture a still image. In addition, it is assumed that the storage unit has a basic storage area capable of storing 20 minutes of moving images and a temporary storage area capable of storing 10 minutes of moving images or 100 still images.

First, a memory built-in vehicle camera 100 is installed on the front windshield and the rear windshield of the vehicle 10, respectively. However, the present invention is not particularly limited thereto, and may be installed only on any one of the windshield or the rear glass, and may be installed toward the glass located on the side of the vehicle.

In the first step, the borrower inserts the cigar jack plug 174 into the cigar jack of the vehicle, and inserts the power / communication plug 142 into the power plug insertion hole 172. As a result, power required for the memory-equipped vehicle camera 100 is supplied.

In the second step, as the vehicle is driven, the video captured by the photographing unit 110 is stored in the basic storage area of the storage 150.

In the third step, when a 20 minute video is recorded in the basic storage area of the storage unit 150 and the basic storage area becomes full, the controller 120 deletes the first video, and newly photographs the recording unit 110. Saved video. As a result, the last 20 minutes of video captured by the photographing unit 110 is stored. Such storage time can be increased or shortened according to user requirements or manufacturer's circumstances.

In the fourth step, when the owner witnesses the accident, the still image at the time when the input unit 130 is operated by operating the input unit 130 or the video for the past 3 minutes from this point is stored in the temporary storage area of the storage unit 150. Stored. The image stored in the temporary storage area can be uploaded to the police station site using a computer, etc., and then used as witness evidence.

In the fifth step, when the owner becomes the accident party, the record lock button of the input unit 130 is operated. As a result, the control unit 120 does not store the captured video after the time when the recording lock button is operated in the storage unit 150, and prevents the contents of the storage unit 150 from being updated any more.

In a sixth step, the owner separates the memory-equipped vehicle camera 100 from the vehicle 10 and connects the power / communication plug 142 to the USB port of the computer.

In step 7, the image data stored in the storage unit 150 is copied (or moved) to the storage device of the computer. As a result, the vehicle driving state at the time of the accident is stored as video data, and objective and accurate accident information is stored.

Second Embodiment

Hereinafter, a memory-insertable vehicle camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

Figure 4 is a block diagram of a memory-insertable vehicle camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a memory-insertable vehicle camera according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, the memory insertion-type vehicle camera 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention has a memory insertion unit instead of the communication unit 160 and the storage unit 150, compared to the memory-embedded vehicle camera 100 according to the first embodiment. 250, and is substantially the same except that the external memory card 290 is inserted into the memory inserting portion 250 as a storage device.

As a result, when the user transfers the image information stored by the photographing unit 210 to a computer or the like, only the external memory card 290 can be connected to the computer, and thus there is an advantage of convenience. In addition, since the external memory card 290 having various capacities can be used, it is possible to increase or decrease the shooting time according to the user's convenience.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be noted that the present invention is not particularly limited only to the above-described embodiments, and as necessary, various modifications and changes can be made by those skilled in the art within the spirit and spirit of the appended claims.

As described above, according to the present invention, an external camera including a driving state of a vehicle may be photographed and stored to provide a vehicle camera that may be utilized as objective evidence when an accident occurs.

In addition, according to a user's selection, it is possible to store a still image or a moving image in the temporary storage area of the storage unit to provide a vehicle camera that can easily back up the necessary data.

According to the present invention, the storage unit may be configured as a built-in or external type or a mixed structure thereof, to provide a vehicle camera that can be applied according to the user's requirements.

In order to communicate with a computer, a communication unit such as a communication port according to the USB communication protocol may be additionally included to transmit the stored contents from the camera to the outside.

In addition, the cigar jack plug, the USB cigarette jack including a power plug insertion port receives power from the vehicle, it is possible to transfer data to the outside by the USB port.

Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, since the power supply unit is inserted into the cigar jack of the vehicle, it is also possible to receive power from the vehicle.

In addition, according to the present invention further includes an input unit for receiving a user's command, it is possible to store a still image of the moment when the input unit is operated or a video for a predetermined time in reverse from the moment the input unit is operated in the storage unit do.

According to the present invention, the structure of the camera is simple, and basically, the controller stores the image taken by the photographing unit in the storage unit, but when the storage capacity of the storage unit becomes full, the previously stored image information is deleted while the new order is stored in time sequence. Since it is responsible for a control function for storing the captured image information, the memory capacity of the storage unit does not have to use a large capacity, and since power is transmitted from the vehicle, it provides a vehicle camera having low manufacturing cost and low maintenance cost.

In addition, since the storage unit uses a nonvolatile memory, the stored contents are not deleted even when the power supply is interrupted, and thus the data may be stably stored even when the vehicle is suddenly turned off due to an accident.

Meanwhile, in the existing vehicle black box, various configurations such as a collision detection sensor are required to store the contents of the vehicle crash, and the accident contents are recorded only when an accident such as a collision occurs. Signal violations and accidents of other vehicles were not recorded.

However, according to the present invention, not only self accidents but also other accidents can be recorded, providing not only the necessary evidence when an accident occurs, but also the possibility of inadvertent accidents or violation of traffic signals due to concern that such devices are installed in other vehicles. This has the effect of reducing the likelihood of doing so.

In addition, since the device is formed of a simple structure, unlike the existing expensive black box, the manufacturing cost is low, so that the general public can be easily mounted on the vehicle, the possibility of generalization is high, thereby increasing the possibility of crime prevention. It is easy to provide evidence in case of an accident so that a valid accident judgment can be obtained.

Claims (8)

Shooting unit for photographing the outside as a video or still image; A storage unit which stores a moving image or a still image captured by the photographing unit; A controller configured to sequentially store a moving image or a still image captured by the photographing unit in the deleted space while deleting a moving image or a still image stored in the storage unit in a time sequence when the storage capacity of the storage unit becomes full; And A power supply unit for supplying power; characterized in that, the vehicle camera. The vehicle camera of claim 1, wherein the storage unit is at least one of a built-in storage unit embedded in the vehicle camera or an external storage unit inserted into the camera as an external memory card. The vehicle camera of claim 2, wherein the storage unit is a nonvolatile memory in which stored contents are not deleted even when power supply is interrupted. The method of claim 2, The control unit further comprises a communication unit capable of communicating with the computer, the vehicle camera. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication unit, A vehicle camera, characterized in that configured as a communication port according to the USB communication protocol. According to any one of claims 1 to 5, The control unit further comprises an input unit for receiving a command of the user, When the input unit is in operation, the control unit stores a still image at the moment when the input unit is operated or a video for a predetermined time inversely from the moment when the input unit is operated, the vehicle camera. The method of claim 6, A cigar jack plug inserted into the cigar jack of the vehicle; The USB plug is inserted, and further includes a USB cigarette lighter including a power plug insertion port for receiving power from the cigar jack plug and supplying power to the inserted USB plug according to the USB communication protocol, The communication port of the communication unit is characterized in that the vehicle is inserted into the power plug insertion port to receive power. The method of claim 6, wherein the power supply unit, Inserted into the cigar jack of the vehicle, characterized in that powered from the vehicle, a vehicle camera.

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