DRIVE RECORDER

• US 20100171829A1
• Filed: 09/26/2008
• Published: 07/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Yago, Mariko, Motojima, Masahiro, Tonokawa, Fujio, Uetani, Tetsuya, Morimoto, Ryuichi, Ishimizu, Atsushi, Maeda, Munenori
• Granted Patent: US 8,421,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a drive recorder that can record all video information required and only what is required. More particularly, the invention provides a drive recorder for recording video information received from an image capturing unit onto a recording medium, includes an acceleration sensor which outputs acceleration information representing an acceleration applied to a vehicle, and a control unit which, determines that a recording condition holds and records video information captured for a first predetermined period of time before the occurrence of the recording condition and video information captured for a second predetermined period of time after the occurrence of the recording condition on the recording medium when the acceleration information equals or exceeds a threshold, wherein after the recording condition holds, the control unit does not record newly captured video information on the recording medium when the acceleration information again becomes equal to or exceeds the threshold in less than a third predetermined period of time which is shorter than the second predetermined period of time.

Claims

1. A drive recorder for recording video information received from an image capturing unit onto a recording medium, comprising:

an acceleration sensor which outputs acceleration information representing acceleration applied to a vehicle; and

a control unit which determines that a recording condition holds and records video information captured for a first predetermined period of time before the occurrence of said recording condition and video information captured for a second predetermined period of time after the occurrence of said recording condition on said recording medium when said acceleration information equals or exceeds a threshold,

wherein after said recording condition once holds, said control unit does not record newly captured video information on said recording medium when said acceleration information again becomes equal to or exceeds said threshold in less than a third predetermined period of time which is shorter than said second predetermined period of time.

2. The drive recorder according to claim 1, wherein after said recording condition once holds, said control unit extends the length of time to record said video information on said recording medium when said acceleration information again becomes equal to or exceeds said threshold within a period of time not shorter than said third predetermined period of time but shorter than said second predetermined period of time.

3. The drive recorder according to claim 2, wherein while the length of time to record said video information on said recording medium is extended, said control unit does not records newly captured video information on said recording medium when said acceleration information again becomes equal to or exceeds said threshold during said extended time.

4. The drive recorder according to claim 2, wherein while the length of time to record said video information on said recording medium is extended, said control unit does not further extend the length of time to record said video information on said recording medium when said acceleration information again becomes equal to or exceeds said threshold during said extended time.

5. A drive recorder for recording video information received from an image capturing unit onto a recording medium, comprising:

an acceleration sensor which outputs acceleration information representing an acceleration applied to a vehicle; and

a control unit which determines that a recording condition holds and records video information captured for a first predetermined period of time before the occurrence of said recording condition and video information captured for a second predetermined period of time after the occurrence of said recording condition on said recording medium when said acceleration information equals or exceeds a threshold,

wherein after said recording condition once holds, said control unit does not record newly captured video information on said recording medium when said acceleration information again becomes equal to or exceeds said threshold within said second predetermined period of time, and records newly captured video information on said recording medium when said recording condition again holds after said second predetermined period of time has elapsed.

6. A drive recorder for recording video information received from an image capturing unit onto a recording medium, comprising:

an acceleration sensor which outputs acceleration information representing an acceleration applied to a vehicle; and

a control unit which, determines that a recording condition holds and records video information captured for a first predetermined period of time before the occurrence of said recording condition and video information captured for a second predetermined period of time after the occurrence of said recording condition on said recording medium when said acceleration information equals or exceeds a threshold,

wherein after said recording condition once holds, said control unit continues the recording of said video information on said recording medium even after said second predetermined period of time has elapsed when said acceleration information again becomes equal to or exceeds said threshold within said second predetermined period of time.

7. A drive recorder for recording video information received from an image capturing unit onto a recording medium, comprising:

an acceleration sensor which outputs acceleration information representing an acceleration applied to a vehicle; and

a control unit which, determines that a recording condition holds and records said video information on said recording medium when said acceleration information, after once dropping to or below a first threshold, exceeds a second threshold which is greater than said first threshold.