DRIVE RECORDER, DRIVE RECORDER SYSTEM, VEHICLE-MOUNTED VIDEO RECORDING APPARATUS, AND VEHICLE-MOUNTED VIDEO RECORDING METHOD

• US 20090278933A1
• Filed: 01/15/2008
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Okada, Katsutoshi, Tonokawa, Fujio, Maeda, Munenori, Sasa, Takashi
• Granted Patent: US 9,019,377 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a drive recorder and a drive recorder system that can check the content of the image captured by an image capturing unit that outputs a video signal at a frequency not affected by LED traffic light flashing. More specifically, the invention provides a drive recorder includes an image converting unit for converting a received video signal into image information, and for outputting the image information in the form of a video signal, a storage unit for storing the converted image information, and a control unit for performing control so that the video signal is converted into the image information by using a first frequency not affected by LED traffic light flashing, and so that the image information stored in the storage unit is output in the form of a video signal by using a second frequency corresponding to a standard video signal; the invention also provides a drive recorder system comprising such a drive recorder.

Claims

1. A drive recorder comprising:

an image converting unit for converting a received video signal into image information, and for outputting said image information in the form of a video signal;

a storage unit for storing said converted image information; and

a control unit for performing control so that said video signal is converted into said image information by using a first frequency not affected by LED traffic light flashing, and so that said image information stored in said storage unit is output in the form of a video signal by using a second frequency corresponding to a standard video signal.

2. The drive recorder according to claim 1, further comprising a frequency switching unit for switching between said first frequency and said second frequency, and wherein

said control unit controls said image converting unit and said frequency switching unit so that said video signal is converted into said image information by using said first frequency, and so that said image information stored in said storage unit is output in the form of a video signal by using said second frequency.

3. The drive recorder according to claim 1, further comprising a frequency switching unit for switching among said first frequency and a plurality of said second frequencies, and wherein

said control unit controls said image converting unit and said frequency switching unit so that said video signal is converted into said image information by using said first frequency, and so that said image information stored in said storage unit is output in the form of a video signal by using a selected one of said plurality of second frequencies.

4. The drive recorder according to claim 1, wherein said image converting unit includes a first converting unit for converting said received video signal into said image information by using said first frequency and a second converting unit for outputting said image information in the form of a video signal by using said second frequency, and

said control unit controls said first and second image converting units so that said video signal is converted into said image information, and so that said image information stored in said storage unit is output in the form of a video signal.

5. The drive recorder according to claim 1, further comprising an operation unit for setting a timing with which said image information stored in said storage unit is output in the form of a video signal by using said second frequency.

6. The drive recorder according to claim 1, wherein said storage unit is a buffer memory for temporary storage or a portable recording medium.

7. A drive recorder comprising:

a storage unit for storing an image signal created based on a first video signal that is input as a video signal corresponding to a frequency not affected by LED traffic light flashing; and

a video signal switching unit for directing said first video signal to said storage unit, and for directing to a display a second video signal that is input as a video signal corresponding to a standard frequency for display.

8. The drive recorder according to claim 7, further comprising a frequency switching unit for switching between a first frequency not affected by LED traffic light flashing and a second frequency corresponding to said standard frequency, and wherein

said video signal switching unit converts said first video signal into said image signal by using said first frequency, and outputs said second video signal by using said second frequency.

9. A drive recording system comprising:

an image capturing unit for outputting a first video signal corresponding to a frequency not affected by LED traffic light flashing and a second video signal corresponding to a standard frequency;

a drive recording for converting said first video signal input thereto into image information, and for storing said image information;

a display unit for displaying said second video signal; and

a video signal switching unit for directing said first video signal from said image capturing unit to said drive recorder, and for directing said second video signal from said image capturing unit to said display unit.

10. The drive recording system according to claim 9, wherein said drive recorder includes

an image converting unit for converting said first video signal input thereto into image information, and for outputting said image information in the form of said second video signal,

a storage unit for storing said converted image information,

a frequency switching unit for switching between said frequency not affected by said LED traffic light flashing and said standard frequency, and

a control unit for controlling said image converting unit and said frequency switching unit so that said first video signal is converted into said image information by using said frequency not affected by said LED traffic light flashing, and so that said image information stored in said storage unit is output in the form of said second video signal by using said standard frequency.

11. The drive recording system according to claim 9, wherein said drive recorder includes

an image converting unit for converting said first video signal input thereto into image information, and for outputting said image information in the form of said second video signal,

a storage unit for storing said converted image information,

a frequency switching unit for switching among said frequency not affected by said LED traffic light flashing and a plurality of standard frequencies corresponding to a plurality of standard video signals, and

a control unit for controlling said image converting unit and said frequency switching unit so that said first video signal is converted into said image information by using said frequency not affected by said LED traffic light flashing, and so that said image information stored in said storage unit is output in the form of said second video signal by using a selected one of said plurality of standard frequencies.

12. The drive recording system according to claim 9, wherein said drive recorder includes

a first image converting unit for converting said first video signal input thereto into image information;

a storage unit for storing said converted image information,

a second image converting unit for outputting said stored image information in the form of said second video signal, and

a control unit for controlling said first and second image converting units so that said first video signal is converted into said image information, and so that said image information stored in said storage unit is output in the form of said second video signal.

13. The drive recording system according to claim 9, wherein said storage unit is a buffer memory for temporary storage or a portable recording medium.

14. The drive recording system according to claim 9, wherein said image capturing unit includes an image signal setting unit for making a setting as to which of said first and second video signals is to be output.

15. The drive recording system according to claim 14, wherein said drive recorder includes an operation unit for switching between said first and second video signals to be output from said image capturing unit.

16. The drive recording system according to claim 15, wherein said control unit controls said video signal switching unit and said image signal setting unit in accordance with the switching operation of said operation unit so that said first video signal output from said image capturing unit is directed to said drive recorder, and so that said second video signal output from said image capturing unit is directed to said display unit.

17. A vehicle-mounted video recording apparatus comprising:

scheme selection unit for selecting, based on vehicle location, an appropriate one of a plurality of standardized video processing schemes; and

recording unit for recording video information based on said selected video processing scheme.

18. The vehicle-mounted video recording apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said selected video processing scheme performs video processing such that a video capture cycle does not become synchronized to an LED traffic light flashing cycle and such that a period through which LED traffic lights appear to remain off in captured video is shorter than an ON period of any light in said traffic lights.

19. The vehicle-mounted video recording apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising,

location detection unit for detecting vehicle location, and

region detection unit for detecting whether said detected location is in a first commercial power region or a second commercial power region, and wherein

said scheme selection unit selects an NTSC-based video processing scheme or a PAL-based video processing scheme, whichever is appropriate to said detected region.

20. A vehicle-mounted video recording method comprising the steps of:

selecting, based on vehicle location, an appropriate one of a plurality of standardized video processing schemes; and

recording video information based on said selected video processing scheme.