Vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data

• US 20060217858A1
• Filed: 11/10/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shing CHUN Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Shing CHUN Company Limited
• Inventors: Peng, Kuei-Snu
• Granted Patent: US 7,853,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/12 in graphical form

Abstract

The present invention discloses a vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data, wherein a primary processor processes the received vehicle operational-activity signals and audio/video signals to obtain images with the acquired data embedded thereon in the form of numbers, texts, symbols, or diagrams. In cooperation with a global positioning system, the present invention can plot a moving-track diagram. The primary processor records the vehicle running status and then converts it into files and stores it in a memory. When the user plays the files afterward, he can obtain audio, video, operational-activity, and running-status information simultaneously. The connected external computer can use softwares to plot a time-coordinate vehicle running-information diagram and a space-coordinate moving-track diagram. Accordingly, the present invention provides a vehicle running-data recording device, which can record vehicle running information and can present it in situ, in order to implement the clarification of the accident liability and protect the rights and interests of the driver.

Claims

1. A vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data, comprising:

an input interface, having multiple operational-activity signal input ports, and receiving multiple operational-activity signals;

at least one communication interface, connected to a vehicle-operational computer or a global positioning system, and receiving multiple running-status signals from both of them;

an audio/video processor, receiving external audio signals and video signals, and compressing/decompressing said audio signals and said video signals, and outputting digital audio signals and digital video signals;

a primary processor, connected to said input interface, said communication interface, and said audio/video processor, and processing said running-status signals, said operational-activity signals, said digital audio signals, and said digital video signals;

at least one memory, connected to said primary processor, and storing data, and having multiple data-storage sections; and

a data-transfer interface, transferring data to an external device.

2. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 1, wherein said data-storage sections include:

a temporary storage section, a general storage section, and an abnormality storage section.

3. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 1, further comprising an operational panel, which is connected to said primary processor and functions as a human-machine interface.

4. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 1, wherein said operational panel is an external one.

5. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 1, wherein said operational panel is a separate wired remote-control operational panel or an infrared wireless remote-control operational panel.

6. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 1, further comprising an audio/video output port, which is connected to said audio/video processor and outputs said digital audio signals and said digital video signals to a vehicle audio/video device.

7. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 1, wherein said external device is an external storage device or a computer.

8. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 7, wherein said computer has a time-coordinate software, a space-coordinate moving-track diagram software, and an audio/video decompression and play software.

9. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 1, wherein said data-transfer interface is at least one of the group of SD (secure digital memory) interface, CF (Compactflash) interface, USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) network interface and wireless transmission interface.

10. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 1, wherein said input interface is a D/I input contact.

11. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 1, wherein said communication interface is at least one of the group of RS-232 interface, RS-422 interface, RS-485 interface, TTL (Transistor-Transistor Logic) level interface and industrial communication interface.

12. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 1, wherein said operational-activity signals are created by electromechanical devices of a running vehicle, and said electromechanical device is at least one of the group of accelerator, brake, handbrake, turn light, alarm light, headlight, secondary light, refuel indicator, oil pressure warning light, radiator thermometer.

13. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 1, wherein said running-status signal is at least one of the group of ABS activity signal, front/rear collision signal, air bag initiation signal, accelerator operation signal, normal turning signal, turning speed of the steering wheel, hood opening signal, roof vent opening signal, window opening signal, trunk opening signal, distance detected by the back radar, signal of abnormal turning at high speed, vehicle speed, radiator temperature, oil temperature, and oil pressure—

the vehicle running-status signals that can be quantified.

14. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 1, wherein said video signals are input from multiple external cameras.

15. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 14, wherein said cameras capture the environmental pictures of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 1, wherein said audio signals are input from an audio receiver.

17. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 16, wherein said audio receiver is a vehicle compartment pickup.

18. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 1, wherein said primary processor is realized with an integrated circuit.

19. The vehicle running-data recording device capable of recording moving tracks and environmental audio/video data according to claim 1, wherein said primary processor is disposed inside a rigid, impact-resistant and fireproof casing in order to protect the equipment and the stored data from damage during an incident.