Vehicle video recording apparatus and control method thereof

Abstract

An apparatus for a vehicle may include: a first battery; a second battery; a camera configured to record a surrounding environment of the vehicle; and a control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to: receive first state of charge (SOC) information of the first battery and second SOC information of the second battery; selecting one of the first battery and the second battery based on the first SOC information and the second SOC information; and controlling the camera to record the surrounding environment of the vehicle based on the selected battery.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to vehicle video recording equipment and methods for controlling vehicle video recording equipment. Background Technology

[0002] The content described in this background section is only for enhancing the understanding of the background of this disclosure and should not be construed as an endorsement that it is prior art already known to those skilled in the art.

[0003] Vehicle video recording equipment is a device that records video of, for example, a vehicle in motion or while parked.

[0004] Vehicle video recording equipment can also be called driving video recording equipment because it is used to capture images of accidents and other incidents while a vehicle is in motion.

[0005] To acquire video, a vehicle video recording device may include a controller, a memory for storing the video, and a camera for recording the video.

[0006] Vehicle video recording devices can store video of the surrounding environment while the vehicle is in motion, as well as the vehicle's driving data at that time. Furthermore, if a predefined event is detected, video can be recorded based on preset settings even when the vehicle is parked.

[0007] Vehicle video recording devices were initially offered as external devices, called "black boxes" (or dashcams), which could be built into the vehicle before leaving the factory.

[0008] Such built-in cameras may have an advantage over external cameras because they can access the main vehicle's driving data and interwork with other controllers, so their application is expected to increase.

[0009] Vehicle video recording equipment can continuously record and record events while driving and parked, and can interoperate with audio video navigation (AVN) systems to facilitate system setup and viewing of stored images.

[0010] While there is a need for continuous recording during extended periods of parking for customers who don't drive their vehicles daily or park for long periods, the recording time provided by vehicle video recording devices may not meet this requirement. Therefore, vehicle video recording devices with extended recording times are being considered to better accommodate scenarios involving prolonged parking. Summary of the Invention

[0011] According to this disclosure, an apparatus for a vehicle is provided, the apparatus may include: a first battery; a second battery; a camera configured to record the vehicle's surrounding environment; and a control circuit configured to: receive first state of charge (SOC) information of the first battery and second SOC information of the second battery; select one of the first battery and the second battery based on the first SOC information and the second SOC information; and control the camera to record the vehicle's surrounding environment based on the selected battery.

[0012] In the aforementioned device, the first battery may include a parking-lithium battery configured to be charged by power supplied by a second or third battery, wherein the parking-lithium battery is dedicated to recording the vehicle’s surrounding environment.

[0013] In the aforementioned device, the second battery may include a battery with an output voltage in the range of 11 volts to 13 volts.

[0014] The aforementioned device may also include a third battery, wherein the third battery may include a main battery configured to provide driving power to the vehicle.

[0015] In the aforementioned device, the control circuit is further configured to: provide power to the camera using a second battery based on first SOC information, wherein the first SOC information indicates that the SOC of the first battery is less than or equal to a first set value; and charge the second battery using power from a third battery based on second SOC information, wherein the second SOC information indicates that the SOC of the second battery is less than or equal to a second set value.

[0016] In the aforementioned device, the control circuit is further configured to charge the first battery using power from the second battery, based on the completion of charging the second battery using the third battery.

[0017] In the aforementioned device, the control circuit is further configured to charge the second battery until the second SOC information indicates that the SOC of the second battery reaches a third set value.

[0018] In the aforementioned device, the control circuit is further configured to: determine the available recording time based on the first SOC information after the second battery has been charged, wherein the first SOC information indicates the SOC of the first battery.

[0019] In the aforementioned device, the control circuit is also configured to control the camera to record using power from one of the first and second batteries, based on the available recording time.

[0020] In the aforementioned device, the control circuit is also configured to obtain the SOC value of the first battery via local area network communication.

[0021] According to this disclosure, an apparatus for a vehicle is provided, the apparatus may include: a first battery; a second battery; a camera configured to record the vehicle’s surroundings; and control circuitry configured to: control the camera to start recording using power from the first battery; and charge the first battery using the second battery based on the first battery’s state of charge (SOC) being below a set value.

[0022] In the aforementioned device, the first battery may include a battery with an output voltage in the range of 11 volts to 13 volts.

[0023] In the aforementioned device, the second battery may include a main battery configured to provide driving power to the vehicle.

[0024] In the aforementioned device, the control circuit is further configured to obtain the SOC value of the first battery by receiving a Controller Area Network (CAN) signal from the central communication unit.

[0025] According to this disclosure, a method performed by an apparatus for a vehicle is provided, the method comprising: determining the state of charge (SOC) of a first battery and the SOC of a second battery; controlling a camera of the vehicle to begin recording using power from the first battery; controlling the power supply from the second battery to the camera based on the SOC of the first battery being less than or equal to a first preset value; charging the second battery using power from a third battery based on the SOC of the second battery being less than or equal to a second preset value; charging the first battery using power from the second battery; determining an available recording time based on the completion of charging the second battery and based on the SOC of the first battery; and controlling the camera to record using power from one of the first and second batteries based on the available recording time.

[0026] In the above method, the first battery may include a parking lithium battery configured to be charged by power provided by a second or third battery, and the parking lithium battery is dedicated to video recording.

[0027] In the above method, the second battery may include a battery with an output voltage in the range of 11 volts to 13 volts.

[0028] In the above method, the third battery may include the main battery configured to provide driving power to the vehicle.

[0029] In the above method, charging the second battery with power from the third battery may include charging the second battery until the state of charge (SOC) of the second battery reaches a third set value.

[0030] According to this disclosure, a method performed by a device for a vehicle is provided, the method comprising: receiving state of charge (SOC) information of a plurality of batteries of the vehicle; selecting one battery from the plurality of batteries based on the SOC information; controlling a camera to record the environment around the vehicle using power from the selected battery; switching to another battery from the plurality of batteries to continue recording based on the SOC of the selected battery dropping below a threshold; and controlling the charging of the selected battery using power from the other battery from the plurality of batteries based on the SOC of one of the batteries dropping below a power threshold.

[0031] The effects of this disclosure are not limited to those described above. Other effects not described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 An example of a vehicle video recording device according to this disclosure is shown.

[0033] Figure 2 An example of a parking recording time update operation of a vehicle video recording device powered by a first battery and a second battery, according to this disclosure, is shown.

[0034] Figure 3 This illustration shows an example of a parking recording time update operation of a vehicle video recording device powered by a second battery in the absence of a first battery, according to an example of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figure 4 An example of a parking recording time update operation of a vehicle video recording device powered by a first battery and a second battery, according to this disclosure, is shown.

[0036] Figure 5 This illustration shows an example of a parking recording time update operation of a vehicle video recording device powered by a second battery in the absence of a first battery, according to an example of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0037] In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments should not be construed as limiting the scope of this disclosure, but rather as including all variations, equivalents, and substitutions within the concept and technical scope of this disclosure.

[0038] As used in this specification, the terms "module" or "unit" refer to software and / or hardware components, and a "module" or "unit" performs certain operations / functions / actions. However, a "module" or "unit" should not be construed as limited to software or hardware. A "module" or "unit" may be configured to reside in addressable storage media or to execute on one or more processors. Thus, by way of example, a "module" or "unit" may include at least one of the following components: such as software components, object-oriented software components, class components and task components, processes, functions, properties, procedures, subroutines, program code segments, drivers, firmware, microcode, circuits, data, databases, data structures, tables, arrays, or variables. The functionality provided in a component, "module," or "unit" may be combined into a smaller number of components, "modules," or "units," or further divided into additional components, "modules," or "units."

[0039] In this disclosure, a "module" or "unit" can be implemented as a processor and a memory. "Processor" should be broadly understood to include general-purpose processors, central processing units (CPUs), microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs), microcontrollers, state machines, etc. In some contexts, "processor" can refer to application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). For example, "processor" can refer to a combination of processing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a combination of multiple microprocessors, a combination of one or more microprocessors with a DSP core, or any other such combination. Furthermore, "memory" should be broadly understood to include any electronic component capable of storing electronic information. "Memory" can refer to various types of processor-readable media, such as random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, magnetic or optical data storage devices, and registers. The memory can be in electronic communication with the processor when the processor can read information from the memory and / or record information into the memory. The memory integrated into the processor is in electronic communication with the processor.

[0040] One or more features described herein can be provided as a computer program stored in a computer-readable recording medium for execution on a computer. The medium may persistently store a computer-executable program or may temporarily store a program for execution or download. Furthermore, the medium can be a variety of recording or storage devices in the form of a single hardware device or multiple combined hardware devices, and is not limited to media directly connected to a computer system, but may also be distributed over a network. Examples of such media include magnetic media (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, or magnetic tapes), optical recording media (e.g., CD-ROMs or DVDs), magneto-optical media (e.g., floppy disks), ROM, RAM, or flash memory, configured to store program instructions. Other examples of such media include media or storage media managed by application stores that distribute applications or various other sites or servers that provide or distribute software.

[0041] In a hardware implementation, the processing unit for performing the technology may be implemented in one or more ASICs, DSPs, digital signal processing devices, programmable logic devices, field-programmable gate arrays, processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, electronic devices, or computers or combinations thereof to perform the functions described in this disclosure.

[0042] Although this document may use terms including ordinal numbers (such as "first", "second", etc.) to describe the elements, the elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish the elements from one another.

[0043] The term “and / or” is used to include any combination of the multiple items to which it refers. For example, “A and / or B” can include all three cases, such as “A”, “B”, and “A and B”. For the purposes of this application and claims, the exemplary wording “at least one of A; B; or C” or “at least one of A, B, or C” means “at least one A, or at least one B, or at least one C, or any combination of at least one A, at least one B, and at least one C”. Furthermore, exemplary wording used herein, such as “A, B, or C”, “at least one of A, B, and C”, “at least one of A, B, or C”, etc., can refer to each listed item or all possible combinations of the listed items. For example, “at least one of A or B” can refer to (1) at least one A; (2) at least one B; or (3) at least one A and at least one B.

[0044] When an element is described as "joined" or "connected" to another element, that element can be directly joined or connected to the other element. However, it should be understood that there can be another element between them. Conversely, when an element is described as "directly joined" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements between them.

[0045] The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” also include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms “comprising” and / or “including” as used herein specify the presence of the stated feature, integer, step, operation, element, and / or component, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0046] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) shall have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. Terms (e.g., those defined in common dictionaries) shall be interpreted as consistent with their meaning in the relevant field and in the context of this disclosure, and shall not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly defined herein.

[0047] Furthermore, terms such as "unit," "control unit," "control device," or "controller" are merely widely used terms to refer to elements that control specific functions, rather than referring to general functional units. For example, each controller may include: a communication device for communicating with other controllers or sensors to control the functions assigned to it; a memory for storing the operating system (OS), logic commands, input / output information, etc.; and one or more processors for performing the determination, calculation, computation, decision-making, and other operations required to control the functions assigned to it.

[0048] Additionally, the processor may include semiconductor integrated circuits and / or electronic devices that perform at least one or more operations such as comparison, determination, calculation, and decision-making to achieve programmed functions. The processor may be, for example, any one or a combination of a computer, microprocessor, central processing unit (CPU), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), electronic circuit, and logic circuit.

[0049] The processor can be electrically connected to the memory, and the processor can load data from the memory and write data back to the memory. The memory and processor can be integrated together or physically separated.

[0050] Various examples of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0051] Figure 1 An example of a vehicle video recording device according to this disclosure is shown (e.g., suitable for electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, or plug-in hybrid vehicles equipped with parking monitoring capabilities).

[0052] refer to Figure 1According to one example of this disclosure, a video recording device for a vehicle (or simply "vehicle video recording device" herein) may include a first battery 10, a second battery 20, a third battery 30, a controller 40, a camera 50, and an audio-video navigation (AVN) system 60 (e.g., a central in-vehicle infotainment system that allows users to configure, monitor in real time, or play back video, etc.).

[0053] The first battery 10 may include a parking-lithium battery module (P-LBM) that can receive power from the second battery 20 to charge it and can provide power to the vehicle's video recording equipment when the vehicle is parked (e.g., during long-term parking at an airport parking lot, weekend trips, or long-term storage).

[0054] The second battery 20 is a 12-volt (V) battery or a battery with an operating range of 11 to 13 volts (V), which can be charged by receiving power from the third battery 30, which may include an electric vehicle absorbent glass mat (eAGM) battery, and can provide power to the vehicle video recording equipment when the vehicle is parked (e.g., at night, in urban environments, or when P-LBM is unavailable).

[0055] The third battery 30 (which is a high-voltage battery that provides power to drive the electric motor that generates power for the electric vehicle) can be charged while the vehicle is in motion and can provide power to various electronic components of the vehicle, such as infotainment systems, HVAC or drivetrain control units.

[0056] In addition to vehicles powered solely by electric motors (e.g., battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), the electric vehicles described herein may also include hybrid vehicles that use power from both electric motors and internal combustion engines.

[0057] If the second battery 20 is charged using the third battery 30, a low-voltage DC-DC converter (LDC) located in the vehicle can be used to convert the high-voltage output from the third battery 30 to a low voltage of 12V and provide that voltage to charge the second battery 20 until it reaches the state of charge (SOC) required for auxiliary charging completion (or simply "auxiliary charging completion SOC") (e.g., 92%, 95%, or other manufacturer-defined target SOC, etc.). The LDC can be integrated into the vehicle's power distribution circuitry or implemented as a separate circuit, depending on the vehicle's architecture (e.g., centralized, partitioned, or modular platform, etc.).

[0058] The controller 40 can obtain the SOC value of the first battery 10 via a local interconnect network (LIN) with the first battery 10. The controller 40 can also receive SOC information from the second battery 20 via a controller area network (CAN) signal from a central communication unit (CCU) (not shown).

[0059] Based on the SOC information of the first battery 10 and the second battery 20 obtained as described above, the controller 40 can select one battery between the first battery 10 and the second battery 20 to receive power and instruct the camera 50 to record (e.g., in parking mode, monitoring trigger, or motion detection).

[0060] The controller 40 can also instruct the initiation of a record using power received from the first battery 10, and provide instructions to receive power from the second battery 20 in response to the SOC value of the first battery 10 being less than or equal to a set value, and to use the third battery 30 to assist in charging the second battery 20 in response to the SOC value of the second battery 20 being less than or equal to another set value (e.g., 5% for the first battery, 80% for the second battery, etc.). These thresholds can be predefined, dynamically adjusted, or set via the AVN system according to user preferences (e.g., based on energy-saving mode, long-term monitoring mode, or default factory settings, etc.).

[0061] Although the instruction to use the third battery 30 to assist in charging the second battery 20 is omitted in the figure, the controller 40 may send a signal requesting battery assistance to the vehicle controller (e.g., vehicle control unit (VCU)), and the vehicle controller authorized to send the signal may instruct the second battery 20 to assist in charging while discharging the power stored in the third battery 30 into the second battery 20 (e.g., during deep parking discharge, emergency operation, or long-term recording).

[0062] The controller 40 can also instruct the second battery 20 to provide auxiliary charging to the first battery 10 while the third battery 30 is providing auxiliary charging to the second battery 20. In this case, using the third battery 30 to provide auxiliary charging to the second battery 20 may include charging the second battery 20 until the SOC value of the second battery 20 reaches a set value (e.g., 93% SOC, a programmable recharge threshold, or a vehicle-specific target).

[0063] If the auxiliary charging of the second battery 20 is completed, the controller 40 can determine the available recording time by checking the SOC of the first battery 10, and can provide instructions based on the available recording time (e.g., 5 hours, 15 hours, or up to 120 hours, etc.) to record by receiving power from one of the batteries selected between the first battery 10 and the second battery 20.

[0064] Camera 50 may include, but is not limited to, a front-facing camera and a rear-facing camera. A front-facing camera may be installed to capture images of the area in front of the vehicle, and a rear-facing camera may be installed to capture images of the area behind the vehicle (e.g., lane entrances, parking lanes, or roadside environments).

[0065] For example, a front-facing camera can be mounted on the windshield near the rearview mirror inside the vehicle cabin, while a rear-facing camera can be mounted on the rear window or rear bumper of the vehicle cabin.

[0066] For example, the front and rear cameras can support any of the following image qualities: High Definition (HD), Full High Definition (FHD), and Quad High Definition (QHD). It should be understood that the front and rear cameras do not need to have the same image quality, and cameras used for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in vehicles (such as lane departure warning, pedestrian detection, or traffic sign recognition) can be used.

[0067] The aperture value of the camera 50 can be F2.0 or lower, preferably F1.6 or lower. A lower aperture value allows more light to be collected, which is beneficial for recording brighter images. In addition, image calibration techniques can be applied to minimize noise and light loss, which is beneficial for achieving clear recording in dark environments (such as underground parking lots, night streets, or tree-lined alleys).

[0068] The AVN system 60 can communicate with the controller 40 via the vehicle controller or be directly connected to the controller 40. The screen of the AVN system 60 can be used as a user interface (UI) to receive various setting parameters of the vehicle video recording device from the user (e.g., setting the parking time, switching the battery usage mode, or selecting the video quality).

[0069] Figure 2 An example of the parking recording time update operation of a vehicle video recording device powered by a first battery and a second battery is shown in accordance with this disclosure (e.g., in an electric vehicle platform including both P-LBM and 12VeAGM batteries).

[0070] refer to Figure 2 The first battery 10 is shown as P-LBM, and the second battery 20 is shown as eAGM. The recording time of the vehicle video recording device can be set to 120 hours, and the available parking recording time (also referred to herein as "available parking recording time") can be determined based on the initial SOC of the first battery 10 (e.g., P-LBM) and the second battery 20 (e.g., eAGM) (e.g., based on SOC levels, such as 70% for P-LBM and 85% for eAGM). Figure 2This illustrates an example scenario where the available parking recording time is 15 hours, based on the initial State of Charge (SOC) of the first battery 10 (P-LBM) and the second battery 20 (eAGM). If the initial SOC of the first battery 10 and the second battery 20 allows for 15 hours of recording, the vehicle video recording device can initiate parking recording by receiving power from the first battery 10. Then, if the SOC of the first battery 10 is less than or equal to a set value (e.g., below 5%, or less than 1 hour of remaining available recording time), the vehicle video recording device can switch to the second battery 20 and use its power for parking recording. However, if the available recording time of the second battery 20 does not meet the threshold (e.g., due to low SOC, deteriorating battery health, or recent usage history), the vehicle video recording device does not switch to the second battery 20 and can end recording as is. When recording is performed using the second battery 20 (which is a 12V low-voltage battery), if the SOC value of the second battery 20 drops below a set value (e.g., below 80%, such as during long recording periods or multiple activation cycles), the high-voltage battery auxiliary charging function of the third battery 30 can be used to charge the second battery 20 (which is a 12V low-voltage battery) (e.g., automatically triggered via LDC operation if enabled in vehicle settings). In this case, the second battery 20 can be used to auxiliary charge the first battery 10, and once the SOC of the first battery 10 is fully charged, parking recording resumes using the power provided by the first battery 10. Auxiliary charging can continue until the SOC value of the second battery 20 (i.e., the 12V low-voltage battery) is greater than or equal to a set value (e.g., 92% or a programmable threshold defined by the vehicle manufacturer). When auxiliary charging is complete, parking recording can continue using the power of the first battery 10 (e.g., P-LBM). This process can be repeated multiple times (e.g., up to 10 or more charging cycles, depending on vehicle settings, user preferences, or environmental conditions) until the target recording time is met.

[0071] Figure 3 This illustration shows an example of the parking recording time update operation of a vehicle video recording device powered by a second battery in the absence of a first battery, according to an example of this disclosure (e.g., in a configuration that does not include a dedicated auxiliary battery such as a P-LBM, etc.).

[0072] Figure 3An example operating scenario ① is illustrated, where the recording time of the vehicle video recording device is set to 20 hours, and parking recording using a high-voltage battery is enabled. The vehicle video recording device can receive B+ power from the second battery 20 (i.e., a 12V low-voltage battery) for parking recording ②. If the SOC of the second battery 20 (i.e., the 12V low-voltage battery) is lower than a set value (e.g., below 80%, such as after prolonged inactivity, discharge in cold weather, or high camera load), the third battery 30 (which is a high-voltage battery) can provide auxiliary charging to the second battery 20 until the SOC is greater than or equal to a set value (e.g., above 92%, which depends on a predefined charging threshold or user settings, etc.). Auxiliary charging can be used for, for example, approximately 30 minutes (e.g., depending on vehicle type, ambient temperature, or battery health, etc.). It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the recording time, auxiliary charging SOC value, etc., described herein are provided as examples only and can be used in various forms (e.g., user-defined settings, adaptive thresholds, or specific area regulations, etc.). Reference Figure 3 It can be verified that by continuously extending the parking recording time while the third battery 30 (which is a high-voltage battery) assists in charging the second battery 20 (which is a 12V low-voltage battery) up to 10 times (③ to ⑤) (e.g., through a loop triggered by SOC drop, event-based wake-up, or recording duration limit, etc.), the recording can continue until the target recording time (e.g., 120 hours or 5 full days of monitoring, etc.).

[0073] Figure 4 This illustration shows an example of a vehicle video recording device powered by a first battery and a second battery, according to the present disclosure, of a parking recording time update operation (e.g., a system installed in an EV that uses P-LBM and 12VeAGM for long-term recording operations, etc.).

[0074] refer to Figure 4 In step S101, when the accelerator pedal (ACC) is turned off and vehicle start is turned off, the vehicle can enter parking mode (e.g., in a garage, at a public charging station, or in an outdoor parking lot, after the ignition switch is turned off). In step S102, the controller 40 can check the SOC values ​​of the first battery 10 and the second battery 20. In step S103, it can determine the available parking recording time based on their respective SOC values ​​(e.g., based on historical discharge data, a preset threshold, or real-time system parameters). If the available parking recording time meets the threshold, it can check in step S104 whether parking recording using the power of the first battery 10 is available. If the available parking recording time does not meet the threshold in step S113 (e.g., because the power of both batteries is insufficient to sustain the required time), parking recording can be terminated.

[0075] In step S104, it is checked whether parking recording is available using the power of the first battery 10. If parking recording is available, parking recording can be performed in step S105 by receiving power from the first battery 10. If parking recording is not available using the power of the first battery 10, the SOC of the second battery 20 can be checked in step 107 (e.g., in cases where the P-LBMSOC is too low to continue operation).

[0076] In step S105, the vehicle video recording device can record while parked by receiving power from the first battery 10. After the recording has been completed for a set time in step S106, the recording can be stopped in step S112. If the recording has not been completed for a set time (e.g., due to unexpected power consumption, external motion triggering, or continuous sensor activity), the SOC of the second battery 20 can be checked in step S107.

[0077] After checking the SOC of the second battery 20 in step S107, if parking recording is available (e.g., yes in S108), the vehicle video recording device can perform parking recording by receiving power from the second battery 20. If parking recording with the second battery 20 is not available (e.g., no in S108) (e.g., if the SOC drops below a critical cutoff value or if recharging from the high-voltage battery is disabled, etc.), parking recording can be terminated in step S112.

[0078] In step S109, the vehicle video recording device can record using the power provided by the second battery 20. If the recording has been completed for the set time (e.g., yes in S110), the recording can be stopped in step S112. If the recording has not been completed for the set time (e.g., no in S110) (e.g., due to early depletion of the second battery, unexpected surge in power consumption, or continuous sensor triggering), the state of charge (SOC) of the first battery can be checked in step S111. By switching and supplying power while checking the SOC between the first battery 10 and the second battery 20, the vehicle video recording device can repeat the above process until the target recording time is met.

[0079] Figure 5 An example of parking recording time update operation of a vehicle video recording device powered by a second battery in the absence of a first battery is shown, according to an example of this disclosure (e.g., in a vehicle model that omits a dedicated P-LBM or in a simplified system configuration, etc.).

[0080] refer to Figure 5In step S201, the vehicle can first enter a parking mode. Then, in step S202, the vehicle video recording device can perform parking recording by receiving B+ power from the second battery 20. In this case, the vehicle video recording device can record until the SOC of the second battery 20 reaches a predefined threshold (e.g., 80%). The SOC value is provided as an example and can vary depending on circumstances (e.g., vehicle model, user-defined preferences, or ambient temperature). In step S203, the vehicle video recording device can then check whether auxiliary charging of the second battery 20 is available. If auxiliary charging is available (e.g., yes in S203), parking recording can continue in step S205 while the second battery is being auxiliary charged using the third battery 30 (which is a high-voltage battery). Optionally or additionally, if auxiliary charging of the second battery 20 is unavailable (e.g., no in step S203), parking recording can continue in step S204 until the SOC of the second battery 20 reaches another predefined threshold (e.g., 65%). The SOC values ​​described herein are provided as examples and can vary depending on factors such as battery life, software updates, or manufacturer presets.

[0081] While the third battery 30 is used for auxiliary charging, the vehicle video recording device can continue recording while parked. If the recording has been completed for a set parking time (e.g., yes in S206), such as the duration selected by the user (e.g., 24 hours, 72 hours, or 120 hours), the recording can be terminated in step S207. If the recording has not been completed for a set time (e.g., no in S206), the operation can continue until the recording is finished.

[0082] Examples of this disclosure provide a method for controlling multiple batteries to increase the parking recording time of a vehicle video recording device.

[0083] The technical challenges to be addressed by this disclosure are not limited to those described above. Other undescribed technical challenges will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description.

[0084] According to at least one example of this disclosure, a video recording device for a vehicle may include: a first battery; a second battery; a third battery; a camera configured to record video around the vehicle; and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to: receive state of charge (SOC) information of the first battery and the second battery; select one of the first battery and the second battery based on the SOC information; and control the camera to perform recording.

[0085] In at least one example, the first battery may include a parking lithium-ion battery module (P-LBM) configured to be charged by power supplied by a second or third battery and used only for vehicle video recording equipment.

[0086] In at least one example, the second battery may include the vehicle’s 12-volt (12V) low-voltage battery.

[0087] In at least one example, the third battery may include a high-voltage main battery configured to provide driving power to the vehicle.

[0088] In at least one example, the controller may be configured to: use a second battery in response to the SOC value of the first battery being less than or equal to a first set value, and use a third battery to charge the second battery in response to the SOC value of the second battery being less than or equal to a second set value.

[0089] In at least one example, the controller can be configured to charge the first battery using the second battery if charging the second battery using the third battery is complete.

[0090] In at least one example, the controller is also configured to charge the second battery until the state of charge (SOC) of the second battery reaches a third set value.

[0091] In at least one example, the controller can be configured to determine the available recording time based on the SOC of the first battery if charging of the second battery is complete.

[0092] In at least one example, the controller can be configured to control the camera to record using power from one of the first and second batteries, based on the available recording time.

[0093] In at least one example, the controller can be configured to obtain the SOC value of the first battery via communication with a local interconnect network (LIN).

[0094] According to at least one example of this disclosure, a video recording device for a vehicle may include: a second battery; a third battery; a camera configured to record video around the vehicle; and a controller, wherein the controller is configured to: control the camera to start recording using power from the second battery; and charge the second battery using the third battery if the state of charge (SOC) of the second battery is below a set value.

[0095] In at least one example, the second battery may include the vehicle's 12V low-voltage battery.

[0096] In at least one example, the third battery may include a high-voltage main battery configured to provide driving power to the vehicle.

[0097] In at least one example, the controller can be configured to acquire the SOC value of the second battery by receiving a Controller Area Network (CAN) signal from the Central Communication Unit (CCU).

[0098] According to at least one example of this disclosure, a method for controlling a video recording device for a vehicle may include: determining the state of charge (SOC) of a first battery and a second battery; controlling a camera to start recording using power from the first battery; controlling power supply from the second battery to the camera if the SOC of the first battery is lower than or equal to a first preset value; charging the second battery using a third battery if the SOC of the second battery is lower than or equal to a second preset value; charging the first battery using the second battery; determining an available recording time based on the SOC of the first battery if charging of the second battery is complete; and controlling the camera to record using power selected from one of the first and second batteries based on the available recording time.

[0099] In at least one example, the first battery may include a parking lithium-ion battery module (P-LBM) configured to be charged by power supplied by a second or third battery and used only for vehicle video recording equipment.

[0100] In at least one example, the second battery may include the vehicle's 12V low-voltage battery.

[0101] In at least one example, the third battery may include a high-voltage main battery configured to provide driving power to the vehicle.

[0102] In at least one example, using a third battery to assist in charging a second battery may include charging the second battery until its SOC reaches a third set value.

[0103] According to at least one example of this disclosure, the parking recording time of a vehicle video recording device can be significantly increased.

[0104] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this disclosure may be implemented in other specific ways without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of this disclosure. Therefore, the foregoing detailed description should not be construed as limiting in any way, but rather as exemplary. The scope of this disclosure shall be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all variations or modifications within the equivalents of this disclosure are included within its scope.

[0105] The methods described in this article can be produced as computer-executable programs, and these programs can be stored in computer-readable recording media. Computer-readable recording media may include, for example, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), optical disc ROM (CD-ROM), magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage device, flash memory drive, or solid-state drive (SSD), and may also be implemented in the form of carrier waves or wireless signals (e.g., internet-based transmissions, satellite communications, Bluetooth, or near-field communication (NFC)).

[0106] Non-transient computer-readable recording media can be distributed across networked computer systems, enabling computer-readable code to be stored and executed in a distributed manner. Furthermore, the functional programs, code, and code segments used to implement the methods described herein can be readily derived by a programmer with ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure pertains.

[0107] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this disclosure may be implemented in other specific ways without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of this disclosure.

[0108] Therefore, the above detailed description should not be construed as limiting in any way, but rather as illustrative. The scope of this disclosure shall be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all variations or modifications within the equivalents of this disclosure are included within its scope.

Claims

1. An apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: First battery; Second battery; A camera configured to record the vehicle's surroundings; and The control circuit is configured as follows: Receive the first state of charge information of the first battery and the second state of charge information of the second battery; Based on the first state of charge information and the second state of charge information, select one of the first battery and the second battery; and Based on the selected battery, the camera is controlled to record the vehicle's surrounding environment.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The first battery includes: A parking lithium battery configured to be charged by power provided by a second or third battery, wherein the parking lithium battery is dedicated to recording the vehicle’s surrounding environment.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The second battery includes: A battery with an output voltage ranging from 11 volts to 13 volts.

4. The device according to claim 1 further includes a third battery, wherein, The third battery includes: The main battery is configured to provide driving power for the vehicle.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The control circuit is further configured to: based on the first state of charge information, indicate that the state of charge of the first battery is less than or equal to a first set value, and use the second battery to provide power to the camera; and Based on the second state of charge information, indicating that the state of charge of the second battery is less than or equal to a second set value, the second battery is charged using power from the third battery.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The control circuit is also configured to: The second battery is charged using power from the third battery, and the first battery is then charged using power from the second battery.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The control circuit is also configured to: The second battery is charged until the second state of charge information indicates that the state of charge of the second battery has reached a third set value.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The control circuit is also configured to: After the second battery is fully charged, the available recording time is determined based on the first state of charge information, wherein the first state of charge information indicates the state of charge of the first battery.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein, The control circuit is also configured to: Based on the available recording time, the camera is controlled to use power from one of the first and second batteries for recording.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein, The control circuit is also configured to: The state of charge (SOC) value of the first battery is obtained via local area network communication.

11. An apparatus for a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: First battery; Second battery; A camera configured to record the vehicle’s surroundings; and The control circuit is configured as follows: Control the camera to begin recording using power from the first battery; and When the state of charge of the first battery drops below a set value, the first battery is charged using power from the second battery.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein, The first battery includes: A battery with an output voltage ranging from 11 volts to 13 volts.

13. The device according to claim 11, wherein, The second battery includes: It is configured as the main battery that provides driving power to the vehicle.

14. The device according to claim 11, wherein, The control circuit is also configured to: The state of charge (SOC) value of the first battery is obtained by receiving a Controller Area Network (CAN) signal from the central communication circuit.

15. A method performed by a device for a vehicle, the method comprising the following steps: Determine the state of charge of the first battery and the state of charge of the second battery. The camera controlling the vehicle begins recording using power from the first battery; Based on the fact that the state of charge of the first battery is less than or equal to a first set value, the power supply from the second battery to the camera is controlled. Based on the fact that the state of charge of the second battery is less than or equal to a second set value, the second battery is charged using power from the third battery; The first battery is charged using power from the second battery; Based on the completion of charging the second battery and based on the state of charge of the first battery, the available recording time is determined; and Based on the available recording time, the camera is controlled to use power from one of the first and second batteries for recording.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, The first battery includes: A parking lithium battery configured to be charged by power supplied by a second battery or a third battery, wherein the parking lithium battery is dedicated to video recording.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein, The second battery includes: A battery with an output voltage ranging from 11 volts to 13 volts.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein, The third battery includes: It is configured as the main battery that provides driving power to the vehicle.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein, Charging the second battery using power from the third battery includes the following steps: The second battery is charged until its state of charge reaches a third set value.

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