Imaging Apparatus and Drive Recorder System

• US 20090051515A1
• Filed: 04/12/2006
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nikon Corporation
• Inventors: Fujinawa, Nobuhiro, Mitsuhashi, Setsu, Nozaki, Hirotake
• Application Number:
  US11/918,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20090051515A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/436
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/302 combining image information with GPS information or vehicle data, e.g. vehicle speed, gyro, steering angle data
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/304 using merged images, e.g. merging camera image with stored images
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8026 in addition to a rear-view mirror system
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8033 for pedestrian protection
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/667 Camera operation mode switching, e.g. between still and video, sport and normal or high- and low-resolution modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence

Abstract

An imaging apparatus mounted on a vehicle and imaging a vicinity of the vehicle, includes a photographic lens, an image pickup device, an image processing section, an accident detection sensor, a controlling section, and a recording section. The image pickup device generates an image signal by performing photoelectric conversion of an object image based on a light flux from the photographic lens. The image processing section generates moving image data during vehicle driving based on an image signal. The accident detection sensor detects an accident occurrence based on a shock to the vehicle. The controlling section makes the image processing section generate accident image data representing an accident situation based on an output of the accident detection sensor in a manner different from that in a normal situation. Then, the accident image data is recorded in the recording section.

Claims

1. An imaging apparatus mounted on a vehicle and imaging a vicinity of said vehicle, comprising:

a photographic lens;

an image pickup device generating an image signal by performing photoelectric conversion of an object image based on a light flux from said photographic lens;

an image processing section generating moving image data during vehicle driving based on said image signal;

an accident detection sensor detecting an accident occurrence based on a shock to said vehicle;

a controlling section making said image processing section generate accident image data representing an accident situation in a manner different from that in a normal situation based on an output of said accident detection sensor; and

a recording section recording said accident image data.

2. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said image processing section generates one or more frames of still image data, an information amount per frame of which is larger than that of moving image data in a normal situation, at a predetermined timing based on an output of said accident detection sensor;

and

wherein said recording section records moving image data at an accident occurrence and said still image data as said accident image data.

3. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein said still image data is different from a frame of moving image data in a normal situation in at least one of settings for a resolution, a gradation number and an aspect ratio.

4. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein said image processing section generates multiple frames of said still image data during a photographing period for moving image data which constitutes said accident image data.

5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 4,

wherein said controlling section generates additional data representing a corresponding relationship between moving image data of said accident image data and frames of said still image data, and records the additional data in said recording section in association with said accident image data.

6. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said controlling section carries out a bracketing photography by changing a photographing condition for each frame of said still image data.

7. The imaging apparatus according claim 1, wherein said image processing section carries out at least one setting change out of increase of a resolution, increase of a gradation number and change of an aspect ratio in said moving image data, based on an output of said accident detection sensor, and generates moving image data constituting said accident image data.

8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a brakeage detection sensor detecting sudden braking of said vehicle,

wherein said controlling section instructs to start generation of said accident image data upon detecting sudden braking and makes said recording section hold said accident image data when detecting an accident occurrence within a predetermined time from said detection of sudden braking.

9. A drive recorder system comprising:

an imaging apparatus according to claim 1;

a driving state detecting section detecting a driving state of said vehicle; and

a driving state recording section recording a driving state data representing said driving state.