Vehicle behavior analysis system

• US 7,676,306 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Horiba Limited, Japan Automobile Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Horiba Limited, Japan Automobile Research Institute
• Inventors: Arai, Toshihiro, Kobayashi, Tatsuya, Katayama, Tsuyoshi, Ishikura, Masatomo, Ryu, Shigenori, Kubo, Noboru, Yamaguchi, Kazuki, Kitajima, Sou
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amin; Bhavesh V
• Application Number:
  US11/545,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20070173994A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 701/35
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• 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

A vehicle behavior analysis system performs an analysis of vehicle operation by displaying behavior data in an organized and analyzed form. A vehicle behavior data collecting unit records information on the vehicle'"'"'s driving as behavior data and an analysis unit analyzes a recorded content of the vehicle behavior data collecting unit. A recorded data unit obtaining part obtains the recorded data units recorded in a memory of the vehicle behavior data collecting unit and a displaying part displays the content concerning at least a predetermined item among the contents shown by obtained each recorded data unit in a form of a table sectioned for each recorded data units and arranged at a side of the analysis unit, and a risk degree calculated based on the content shown by each recorded data units is contained in the predetermined item displayed by the displaying part.

Claims

1. A vehicle behavior analysis system that is arranged on a vehicle comprising:

a vehicle behavior data collecting unit that records information on the vehicle'"'"'s driving operation as behavior data, the vehicle behavior data collecting unit including

a sampling part that samples the behavior data sequentially, and

a data recording part that records, when the sampled behavior data meets a predetermined condition, behavior data during a certain time period before and after the sampled behavior data as recorded data units in a built-in memory; and

an analysis unit for analyzing a recorded information of the vehicle behavior data collecting unit, the analysis unit including

a recorded data unit obtaining part that obtains the recorded data units containing vehicle acceleration data in the memory of the vehicle behavior data collecting unit, and

a displaying part that displays on a display contents of the recorded data units and a risk degree corresponding to the recorded data units in a table, wherein the risk degree is calculated from an acceleration value at a time of a peak acceleration shown by the vehicle acceleration data and an acceleration value during a substantial acceleration applying period, the substantial acceleration applying period containing the time of the peak acceleration.

2. The vehicle behavior analysis system described in claim 1, wherein

the recorded data units contain at least information on a position of the vehicle and/or a recorded image of a driving condition of the vehicle, and

the analysis unit further comprises an input receiving part that receives an input for selecting one of the recorded data units, wherein the displaying part displays a map showing a place where the recorded data units are recorded and/or the recorded image contained in the recorded data units on the same display.

3. The vehicle behavior analysis system described in claim 1, further comprising a risk degree calculating part that calculates the risk degree.

4. The vehicle behavior analysis system described in claim 3, wherein

the acceleration applying period is derived from derivative value data obtained by conducting differentiation once or multiple times on the vehicle acceleration data.

7. The vehicle behavior analysis system described in claim 1 further including a casing for housing the vehicle behavior data collecting unit, a Local Area Network (LAN) transmitter and receiver, a GPS receiver, a camera, and an acceleration sensor, wherein the casing is of a compact configuration for mounting directly by adhesion at any portion of a windshield of the vehicle without obstructing a drivers'"'"'s view.

8. The vehicle behavior analysis system described in claim 7 wherein the casing is configured in an egg-shaped form with a surface part of a generally elliptical shape with an adhesive portion.

9. The vehicle behavior analysis system described in claim 8 wherein the camera is mounted in the casing with an adjustable image reception area positioned within the generally elliptical shape to aim the camera through the windshield of the vehicle.

5. An analysis unit for analyzing a recorded content of a vehicle behavior data collecting unit that comprises:

a recorded data unit obtaining part that obtains recorded data units containing vehicle acceleration data from a memory of the vehicle behavior data collecting unit comprising a sampling part that sequentially samples behavior data as information concerning the vehicle'"'"'s driving operation, and a data recording part that records, when the sampled behavior data meets a predetermined condition, behavior data during a certain time period before and after the sampled behavior data as recorded data units in the memory; and

a displaying part that displays on a display contents of the recorded data units and a risk degree corresponding to the recorded data units in a table, wherein the risk degree is a calculated value from an acceleration value at a time of a peak acceleration shown by the vehicle acceleration data and an acceleration value of a substantial acceleration applying period, the substantial acceleration applying period containing the time of the peak acceleration.

6. The analysis unit described in claim 5, wherein

the recorded data units contain at least information on a position of the vehicle and/or a recorded image of a driving condition of the vehicle, and

further comprises an input receiving part that receives an input for selecting one of the recorded data units shown in the table, and the displaying part displays a map showing a place where the selected recorded data unit is recorded and/or the recorded image contained in the recorded data unit on the same display.

10. A vehicle behavior analysis system that is arranged on a vehicle traveling along a road comprising:

a vehicle behavior data collecting unit that records information on the vehicle'"'"'s driving operation along the road as behavior data, the vehicle behavior data collecting unit including

a sampling part that samples the behavior data sequentially,

a data recording part that records, when the sampled behavior data meets a predetermined condition, behavior data during a certain time period before and after the sampled behavior data as recorded data units in a built-in memory, and

a casing for housing the vehicle behavior data collecting unit, a Local Area Network (LAN) transmitter and receiver, a GPS receiver, a camera, and an acceleration sensor, wherein the casing is of a compact configuration for mounting directly by adhesion at any portion of a windshield of the vehicle without obstructing a driver'"'"'s view; and

an analysis unit for analyzing a recorded information of the vehicle behavior data collecting unit, the analysis unit including

a recorded data unit obtaining part that obtains the recorded data units containing vehicle acceleration data in the memory of the vehicle behavior data collecting unit, and

a displaying part that displays on a display contents of the recorded data units and a risk degree corresponding to the recorded data units in a table, wherein the risk degree is calculated from an acceleration value at a time of a peak acceleration shown by the vehicle acceleration data and an acceleration value during a substantial acceleration applying period, the substantial acceleration applying period containing the time of the peak acceleration.