Method and device for recoding vehicle data

• US 6,629,030 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2001
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Pfaff, Georg, Klausner, Markus
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Eric M.
• Application Number:
  US09/953,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20020107619A1
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 701/35, 340/438, 340/439, 369/21, 360/5
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A method for recording data from parameter values captured using sensors in a vehicle, particularly for the reconstruction of accidents, as well as a memory device and a device for recording such data, it being possible to record all relevant data continuously using low memory volume, and to save it permanently in a short period of time. For this purpose, the parameter values and/or data calculated from them are recorded at increasing time intervals for the instantaneous capturing point in time at decreasing density. A suitable storage device has a RAM (random access memory) for recording the data in each case over a certain time space and in a nonvolatile memory (such as EEPROM), to which the recorded data can be transmitted in parallel from the RAM within a few ms. An ASIC is suitable for its implementation.

Claims

1. A method for recording data from parameter values determined in a vehicle, comprising:

recording, with decreasing density, at least one of (a) the parameter values and (b) data determined from the parameter values, with an increasing time interval from an instantaneous point in time at which the parameter values are determined; and

transmitting the recorded data in parallel to a nonvolatile memory after a vehicle accident.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising recording the parameter values with a discreetly decreasing recording frequency.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating and recording representative data from the parameter values, the representative data including at least one of extreme values and mean values, for recording intervals at a low recording frequency.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising using the recorded data for reconstructing a vehicle accident.

5. A storage device for recording data from parameter values determined in a vehicle, comprising:

a first storage medium for recording data in each case over a predetermined time period; and

a second nonvolatile storage medium to which the recorded data from the first storage medium is transmitted in parrallel after a vehicle accident,

wherein a recording density is variable, dependent upon a point in time at which the parameter values are determined.

6. The storage device according to claim 5, wherein the parameter values are determined for a reconstruction of a vehicle accident.

7. The storage device according to claim 5, wherein the first storage medium is a RAM.

8. The storage device according to claim 5, wherein the second storage medium is adapted to store at least a kilobyte of data in less than 10 milliseconds.

9. A vehicle control unit for recording data from parameter values determined by at least one sensor in a vehicle for reconstructing an accident, comprising:

an ASIC including an integrated storage device, the storage device including;

a first storage medium for recording data in each case over a predetermined time period; and

a second nonvolatile storage medium to which the recorded data from the first storage medium is transmitted in parallel after a vehicle accident,

wherein a recording density is variable, dependent upon a point in time at which the parameter values are determined.

10. A device for recording data from parameter values determined in a vehicle, comprising:

at least one storage medium for recording, with decreasing density, at least one of (a) the parameter values and (b) data determined from the parameter values, with an increasing time interval from an instantaneous point in time at which the parameter values are determined, wherein the recorded data is transferred in parallel to a non-volatile memory after a vehicle accident.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the recorded data is used for reconstructing a vehicle accident.

12. A storage medium storing a computer program which when executed by a processor performs the following:

recording, with decreasing density, at least one of (a) parameter values determined in a vehicle and (b) data determined from the parameter values, with an increasing time interval from an instantaneous point in time at which the parameter values are determined, wherein the recorded data is transferred in parallel to a non-volatile memory after a vehicle accident.