Motor vehicle operation information providing system

• US 7,489,235 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2003
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
• Original Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
• Inventors: Kitagawa, Tsutomu, Hagimori, Yasumichi, Maesono, Noboru
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US10/519,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20050246079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,023 Days
• Field of Search: 340/438, 340/439, 701/35, 701/24, 701/25, 701/29
• US Class Current: 340/438
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/302 using recording means, e.g. black box
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable

Abstract

A data collection controller 4 to and from which a removable memory 12 can be attached and removed is mounted on a vehicle 1, and is connected to a predetermined data storage 3. In the data collection controller, driver codes, service route codes, and the like can be entered with code setting buttons 8 and 9, while these code data and data in the predetermined data storage can be downloaded with a download button 7 into the removable memory. The downloading is performed every time the driving of the vehicle is completed. The removable memory is collected when a predetermined time period (for example, one month) has elapsed. Driving information for each driver and each service route is analyzed based on the data recorded in the collected removable memory.

Claims

1. A driving information providing system for collecting data for the analysis of driving information about a vehicle driven by an operator, comprising:

a vehicle controller that receives detection signals carrying information about vehicle operation and operating signals from the operator, the vehicle controller generating control signals for controlling the vehicle;

a predetermined data storage for storing predetermined data selected from data appearing in the vehicle controller;

a removable memory; and

a data collection controller that receives the predetermined data from the predetermined data storage, the data collection controller including at least a code entry section for entering desired data in code, and a download section having a download button for downloading data entered in code and data in the predetermined data storage into the removable memory when the download button is actuated, the removable memory being connectable to and detachable from the data collection controller,

wherein the removable memory in which data is downloaded is collected and provided for the analysis of driving information, and

wherein the data that is entered in code in the code entry section includes a driver code that distinguishes the operator of the vehicle from other vehicle operators.

2. The driving information providing system according to claim 1, wherein data is stored in the predetermined data storage by a storage-saving-type data recording method.

3. The driving information providing system according to claim 2, wherein a frequency-accumulation-type data recording method is adopted as the storage-saving-type data recording method, the frequency-accumulation-type data recording method being a method in which every time a data value detected at predetermined intervals falls within a predetermined range of data values, a detection count for the range is accumulated and recorded.

4. The driving information providing system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of data is entered in code.

5. The driving information providing system according to claim 4, wherein data to be entered in code is at least two of driver data, service route data, sender data, goods data, loading ratio data, and data for driving time periods.

6. The driving information providing system according to claim 2, wherein a plurality of data is entered in code.

7. The driving information providing system according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of data is entered in code.

8. The driving information providing system according to claim 6, wherein data to be entered in code is at least two of driver data, service route data, sender data, goods data, loading ratio data, and data for driving time periods.

9. The driving information providing system according to claim 7, wherein data to be entered in code is at least two of driver data, service route data, sender data, goods data, loading ratio data, and data for driving time periods.

10. The driving information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the data entered in code includes data identifying different drivers.

11. The driving information providing system according to claim 1, wherein data pertaining to a given parameter of vehicle operation is stored in the predetermined data storage by a frequency-accumulation-type data recording method, in which possible values for the given parameter are divided into ranges, actual values for the given parameter are detected at predetermined time intervals, and every time an actual value that lies within one of the ranges is detected, a count value corresponding to said one of the ranges is incremented.

12. The driving information providing system according to the claim 1, wherein the detection signals received by the vehicle controller include engine-revolution detection signals and vehicle-speed detection signals.

13. The driving information providing system according to claim 12, wherein a vehicle operating signals received by the vehicle controller include at least one of acceleration operating signals, brake operating signals, and gear shift operation signals.

14. The driving information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the operating signals received by the vehicle controller include at least one of acceleration operation signals, brake operation signals, and gear shift operation signals.

15. The driving information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the operating signals received from the vehicle controller include acceleration operation signals, brake operation signals, and gearshift operation signals.

16. The driving information providing system of claim 1, wherein the code entry section comprises at least one manually operable button for entering the desired data in code.

17. A driving information providing system for collecting data for the analysis of driving information about a vehicle driven by an operator, the vehicle having a vehicle controller that receives detection signals carrying information about vehicle operation and operating signals from the operator, the vehicle controller generating control signals for controlling the vehicle, said driving information providing system comprising:

a predetermined data storage for storing predetermined data selected from data appearing in the vehicle controller;

a removable memory; and

a data collection controller that receives the predetermined data from the predetermined data storage, the data collection controller including at least a code entry section for entering desired data in code, and a download section having a download button for downloading data entered in code and data in the predetermined data storage into the removable memory when the download button is actuated, the removable memory being connectable to and detachable from the data collection controller,

wherein the removable memory in which data is downloaded is collected and provided for the analysis of driving information, and

wherein the desired data that is entered in code in the code entry section includes a driver code that distinguishes the operator of the vehicle from other vehicle operators.