VEHICLE INFORMATION RECORDING APPARATUS

• US 20140195070A1
• Filed: 01/08/2014
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Shimizu, Nobuyoshi, Katoh, Yasutoshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,373,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/013 including means for detecting collisions, impending collisions or roll-over
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0136 responsive to actual contact with an obstacle , e.g. to vehicle deformation, bumper displacement or bumper velocity relative to the vehicle monitoring crash strength in combination with passenger seat detection B60R21/01558
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/095 Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/93 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9327 Sensor installation details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93275 in the bumper area
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A vehicle information recording apparatus for a vehicle includes a collision determination section and an information management section. The collision determination section determines the presence or absence of a collision between the vehicle and an object based on (i) detection values of impact sensors which detect impacts applied to the vehicle and (ii) detection values by proximity sensors which detect an approach of the object to the vehicle. The information management section records collision data concerning the collision based on a determination result by the collision determination section. This enables a detection of a collision with an object as a recording target while reducing influence of vibration or noise.

Claims

1. A vehicle information recording apparatus for a vehicle,

the vehicle including an impact sensor that detects an impact applied to the vehicle and a proximity sensor that detects an approach of an object to the vehicle,

the vehicle information recording apparatus comprising:

a collision determination section to perform a determination of presence or absence of a collision of an object with the vehicle based on a detection value of the impact sensor and a detection value of the proximity sensor; and

an information management section to record collision data related to the collision based on a result of the determination performed by the collision determination section.

2. The vehicle information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle includes an occupant protection apparatus that protects an occupant of the vehicle at the collision; and

the collision determination section performs the determination of the presence or the absence of the collision based on the detection value of the proximity sensor when the detection value of the impact sensor is less than a threshold value that actuates the occupant protection apparatus, whereas

the collision determination section performs the determination of the presence of the collision regardless of the detection value of the proximity sensor when the detection value of the impact sensor is not less than the threshold value that actuates the occupant protection apparatus.

3. The vehicle information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle includes a plurality of the proximity sensors;

the collision determination section deduces an approach spot of the object in the vehicle based on an installed position of the proximity sensor that detects an approach of the object among the proximity sensors; and

the information management section records position information on the approach spot in addition to the collision data.

4. The vehicle information recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the vehicle includes a plurality of the impact sensors; and

the collision determination section

deduces an impact spot in the vehicle based on an installed position of the impact sensor that detects an impact applied to the vehicle among the impact sensors, and

performs the determination of the presence or the absence of the collision based on the impact spot and the approach spot.

5. The vehicle information recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the collision determination section calculates at least one of (i) a distance of the object to the vehicle or (ii) an approach speed of the object to the vehicle, using the detection value of the proximity sensor.