JPH09198858A - In-vehicle image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to record only necessary image information immediately before an accident by adopting a constituting to stop an image recording according to the output signal from a collision sensor. SOLUTION: The on-vehicle image recorder comprises an imaging unit 1 having an imaging lens and an imaging element, a camera circuit 2 for converting the signal of the image photoelectrically converted by the unit 1 into a video signal, an image recording unit 3 for recording the video signal output from the circuit 2, and a collision sensor 4 for sensing the impact to output a signal. The unit 3 sequentially overwrites information, and replaces the old image information with new image information to constitute with a small memory capacity. The image recording is stopped by the output signal from the sensor 4 to make it possible to record only necessary image information immediately before an accident.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus for recording an image captured by a video camera, and more particularly to an image recording apparatus mounted on an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A system in which a video camera is mounted on an automobile and a front view is imaged to help prevent a collision,
It is described in JP-A-5-113482.

[0003]

However, the present invention is useful after a collision accident or the like has occurred. After a collision accident, it is necessary to share fair guarantees corresponding to the cause, but in reality, the cause is often determined by the memory of the parties and is ambiguous. As a result, there is a problem that the guarantee sharing becomes unfair.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device which can clarify the cause of an accident.

[0005]

An on-vehicle image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a photographing lens, an image pickup section which photoelectrically converts an image formed by the image pickup lens, and a photoelectric conversion in the image pickup section. It is composed of a camera circuit for converting a signal of the captured image into a video signal, an image recording unit for recording the video signal output from the camera circuit, and a collision sensor for detecting an impact and outputting a signal.

By stopping the image recording by the output signal from the collision sensor, it becomes possible to record only the necessary image information immediately before the accident.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

The on-vehicle image recording apparatus of the present invention comprises an image pickup section 1 comprising an image pickup element for photoelectrically converting an image formed by a photographing lens and an image pickup lens, and a signal of the image photoelectrically converted by the image pickup section into a video signal. And a camera circuit 2 for converting the image signal, an image recording section 3 for recording a video signal output from the camera circuit, and a collision sensor 4 for detecting a shock and outputting a signal. The image recording unit 3 is a semiconductor memory or
It is composed of a hard disk, etc., sequentially overwrites information, replaces old image information with new image information, and can be configured with a small memory capacity.By stopping the image recording by the output signal from the collision sensor, it is possible to An in-vehicle image recording device capable of recording only necessary image information can be provided.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention. 2 is different from FIG. 1 in that the radar unit 5
Is the newly added point. The radar unit 5 has a function of measuring a distance to an obstacle with a laser or radio waves,
The alarm data depending on the distance to the obstacle is sent to the image recording unit 3. If the operation of the imaging unit 1, the camera circuit 2, the image recording unit 3 and the like is started by the alarm data, the recording operation is performed only in a dangerous state, and power saving can be achieved. Further, the display unit 6 is provided so that it can be used as an image monitor.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention. 3 is different from FIG. 1 in that the camera circuit 2 and the image recording unit 3 are wirelessly connected. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, an RF converter 7 that modulates a high-frequency signal with image information and sends it out and an RF receiver 8 that receives and demodulates the sent wireless signal are newly provided. With such a configuration, installation is easier than in the case where the image pickup unit 1 and the camera unit 2 are provided outside the vehicle and the image transmission with the image recording unit 3 provided inside the vehicle is connected by a cable.

If a spread spectrum system that resists interference is used as a wireless communication system, it is possible to provide an in-vehicle image recording device suitable for in-vehicle installation with a lot of noise.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 4 is different from FIG. 1 in that the collision sensor 4 is not used, and the calculation unit 12 and the output unit 13 are newly added.
Is provided. The image pickup unit 1 includes a lens unit 10 and C
Comprising a CD (solid-state image sensor) 11, the distance information obtained from the lens unit 10 is calculated by the calculation unit 12 to obtain the distance, recording is started in an emergency, and recording is ended immediately before a collision. By doing so, the collision sensor becomes unnecessary.
If an alarm is sounded from the output unit 13 in an emergency, it can be used as an alarm radar.

[0013]

According to the present invention, the image recording is stopped by the output signal from the collision sensor.
An in-vehicle image recording device that records only necessary image information immediately before an accident can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Imaging part, 2 ... Camera circuit, 3 ... Image recording part, 4 ... Collision sensor, 5 ... Radar part, 6 ... Display part, 7 ... RF converter, 8 ... RF receiving part.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A camera for converting a signal of an image photoelectrically converted by the image pickup unit into a video signal, and an image pickup unit including an image pickup element for photoelectrically converting an image formed by the image pickup lens. A circuit, an image recording unit that records the video signal output from the camera circuit, and a collision sensor that detects a shock and outputs a signal, and stop the image recording by the output signal from the collision sensor. Characteristic vehicle-mounted image recording device. 2. The vehicle-mounted image recording device according to claim 1, wherein the image recording unit is composed of a semiconductor memory or a hard disk. 3. An image pickup section comprising an image pickup lens, an image pickup element for photoelectrically converting an image formed by the image pickup lens, and a camera for converting a signal of the image photoelectrically converted by the image pickup section into a video signal. A circuit, an image recording unit that records the video signal output from the camera circuit, a collision sensor that detects a shock and outputs a signal, and measures the distance to an obstacle,
An in-vehicle image recording device comprising a radar section that outputs a signal, wherein image recording is started by an output signal from the radar section and image recording is stopped by an output signal from the collision sensor. 4. An image pickup section comprising an image pickup lens, an image pickup element for photoelectrically converting an image formed by the image pickup lens, and a camera for converting a signal of the image photoelectrically converted by the image pickup section into a video signal. A circuit, an RF converter that modulates and sends out a high-frequency signal with a video signal output from the camera circuit, an RF receiving unit that receives the sent wireless signal and demodulates it into a video signal, and records the video signal. An in-vehicle image recording device, comprising: an image recording unit for performing an impact and a collision sensor that detects a shock and outputs a signal, and stops the image recording by an output signal from the collision sensor. 5. An in-vehicle image recording device according to claim 4, wherein a spread spectrum system is adopted as a wireless transmission system. 6. An image pickup section comprising an image pickup lens, an image pickup element for photoelectrically converting an image formed by the image pickup lens, and a camera for converting a signal of the image photoelectrically converted by the image pickup section into a video signal. A circuit, an image recording unit that records the video signal output from the camera circuit, and a calculation unit that calculates the risk situation of a collision based on the distance information signal to the obstacle output from the imaging unit. An in-vehicle image recording device characterized in that image recording is stopped by an output signal from the section.