Vehicle motion detection and recording method and apparatus

• US 6,266,588 B1
• Filed: 03/01/1999
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inthinc Technology Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Independent Witness Incorporated (ORBCOMM Incorporated)
• Inventors: McClellan, Scott B., Pungor, Andras, Russon, Verlin G., Henderson, Robert M., Lyons, Mike J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANCHO, RONNIE M
• Application Number:
  US09/259,782
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 701/35, 340/438, 340/439, 340/441, 340/459, 734/89, 736/51, 735/03, 736/61, 360/5, 360/6, 180/274, 180/282
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/127 for acceleration values
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for recording vehicle motion. The self-contained vehicle motion recorder apparatus is a sealed unit that contains at least a power source, and controller, sensor and recording devices. The controller device includes a power consumption manager that manages and conserves the overall power consumption of the apparatus. A sensor device is further included in operable communication with the controller device that produces signals that represent the vehicle'"'"'s motion as a function of time. Additionally, a recording element is provided in operable communication with the controller for storing data that corresponds to the signals. A communication interface is further provided such that data may be read from the apparatus and commands and data may be written into the apparatus, from an external device.

Claims

1. A self-contained vehicle motion recorder apparatus free from interconnections with any of the subsystems of the vehicle and comprising:

a sealed housing;

a power source contained in said housing;

a controller device including a power consumption manager contained in said housing for managing power consumed by the controller device;

a sensor device in operable communication with said controller device and contained in said housing, operative to produce signals as a function of time representative of a vehicle'"'"'s motion; and

a recording device in operable communication with said controller for storing data corresponding to said signals and contained in said housing.

2. The recorder apparatus of claim 1 wherein said power consumption manager is in operable association with a power source and a microprocessor.

3. The recorder apparatus of claim 2 wherein said power consumption manager operates said controller device in a high power consumption state while a predetermined event is detected.

4. The recorder apparatus of claim 3 wherein said power consumption manager operates said controller device in a low power consumption state, compared to said high power consumption state, prior and subsequent to detection of said predetermined event.

5. The recorder apparatus of claim 3 wherein said power consumption manager operates said controller device in a low power consumption state, compared to said high power consumption state, when said predetermined event is not detected.

6. The recorder apparatus of claim 3 wherein said power consumption manager operates said controller device in a stop mode prior and subsequent to detection of said predetermined event.

7. The recorder apparatus of claim 4 wherein said power consumption manager periodically operates said controller device at a predetermined clock speed to update a timing device.

8. The recorder apparatus of claim 4 wherein said predetermined event is at least one acceleration at a predetermined acceleration threshold.

9. The recorder apparatus of claim 4 wherein said sensor device includes a plurality of sensors operative to produce said signals.

10. The recorder apparatus of claim 9 wherein said sensor device includes at least two sensors for monitoring acceleration in at least two directions.

11. The recorder apparatus of claim 9 wherein said sensor device includes four sensors for monitoring acceleration in different directions, wherein at least two sensors are oriented in a same direction and separated by a predetermined distance, whereby angular acceleration is detected.

12. The recorder apparatus of claim 9 wherein said sensors are accelerometers.

13. The recorder apparatus of claim 9 wherein said recording device includes a first recording element suitable for storing data corresponding to said signals generated over a predetermined period of time immediately prior and subsequent to detection of said predetermined event, said first recording element in operable communication with said controller device and contained in said housing.

14. The recorder apparatus of claim 13 wherein said recording device further includes a second recording element suitable for storing data corresponding to said signals in a power independent manner in operable communication with said sensor device and said controller device and contained in said housing.

15. The recording apparatus of claim 14 wherein said second recording element is a nonvolatile memory.

16. The recorder apparatus of claim 13 further including an interface for externally accessing data stored in the recorder apparatus.

17. The recording apparatus of claim 16 wherein said interface provides wireless access to said data.