Driving recorder device

Abstract

To enable recording while suppressing shortening of the life of a camera that captures video to be recorded.SOLUTION: A driving recorder device includes a first vehicle-mounted camera, a second vehicle-mounted camera, and a control unit. The first vehicle-mounted camera is configured to capture images of peripheral situations around a vehicle and detect approach of a moving object to the vehicle at least during parking on the basis of the captured images. The second vehicle-mounted camera captures images of peripheral situations around the vehicle, targeting an area closer to the vehicle than the first vehicle-mounted camera. The control unit controls recording of the images captured by the second vehicle-mounted camera. During parking, the control unit activates the second vehicle-mounted camera and starts recording in response to the detection of the approach of a moving object by the first vehicle-mounted camera.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a drive recorder device mounted on a vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a drive recorder device mounted on a vehicle typified by an automobile.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The drive recorder device has a function of detecting the approach of a moving object such as a person to the vehicle not only during vehicle travel but also during parking, and recording the video before and after the detection. Prolonging the time during which the camera that captures the video is powered on to ensure this recording function can lead to shortening the life of the camera.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a drive recorder device capable of performing recording while suppressing shortening of the life of a camera that captures the video to be recorded.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The drive recorder device according to the present disclosure includes a first in-vehicle camera, a second in-vehicle camera, and a control unit. The first in-vehicle camera is configured to image the surrounding situation of the vehicle and detect the approach of a moving object to the vehicle at least while the vehicle is parked based on the imaged video. The second in-vehicle camera images the surrounding situation of the vehicle with a range closer to the vehicle than the first in-vehicle camera as the target. The control unit controls the recording of the video imaged by the second in-vehicle camera. While the vehicle is parked, the control unit activates the second in-vehicle camera and starts recording in response to the detection of the approach of a moving object by the first in-vehicle camera.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the drive recorder device according to the present disclosure, it is possible to perform recording while suppressing a shortening of the life of the camera that images the video to be recorded.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] 1. Drive Recorder Device FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the configuration of a drive recorder device 10 according to an embodiment. The drive recorder device 10 is mounted on a vehicle 1. The drive recorder device 10 includes four forward cameras 20, four near cameras 30, and a control unit 40. Note that the number of forward cameras 20 is not limited to four, and may be three or less or five or more. Similarly, the number of near cameras 30 is not limited to four, and may be three or less or five or more.

[0011] Each of the four forward cameras 20 images the surrounding situation of the vehicle 1. More specifically, for example, the forward cameras 21, 22, 23, and 24 image the surrounding situations of the right front, left front, right rear, and left rear, respectively.

[0012] Each forward camera 20 is configured to detect the approach of a moving object (e.g., a person 2) to the vehicle 1 during a predetermined period including when the vehicle is parked, based on the imaged video. The predetermined period is, for example, the entire period during which each forward camera 20 is activated (i.e., always). More specifically, each forward camera 20 is activated by a command from the control unit 40. Then, each forward camera 20 includes a processor, detects a moving object around the vehicle 1 by analyzing the imaged video, and calculates the distance from the vehicle 1 to the moving object as a detected distance D (see FIG. 2). Then, each forward camera 20 periodically transmits the detected distance D to the control unit 40. Note that each forward camera 20 corresponds to an example of the "first in-vehicle camera" according to the present disclosure.

[0013] Each of the four surrounding cameras 30 images the surrounding situation of the vehicle 1. More specifically, the surrounding cameras 31, 32, 33, and 34 image the surrounding situations in the front, rear, right, and left directions, respectively. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the field of view (imaging range) of each of the four long-distance cameras 20 and the four surrounding cameras 30. In FIG. 2, the field of view ranges R of the cameras 20 and 30 are represented by the same numbers as the reference numerals 21 to 24 and 31 to 34 indicating the individual cameras. As shown in FIG. 2, each surrounding camera 30 images the surrounding situation of the vehicle 1 with a range closer to the vehicle 1 compared to each long-distance camera 20. Each surrounding camera 30 corresponds to an example of the "second in-vehicle camera" according to the present disclosure.

[0014] The control unit 40 is an electronic control unit (ECU) including, for example, a processor and a memory. The control unit 40 is configured to acquire the detection distance D from each long-distance camera 20. Then, during parking, the control unit 40 is configured to control the recording of the video imaged by each surrounding camera 30 based on the acquired detection distance D.

[0015] 2. Processing During Parking FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing during parking according to the embodiment. The control unit 40 starts the processing of this flowchart when receiving a signal (for example, an ignition-off signal) indicating that the vehicle 1 has parked.

[0016] In step S100, the control unit 40 (processor) activates each long-distance camera 20. More specifically, the control unit 40 transmits an activation request to each long-distance camera 20. Next, in step S102, the control unit 40 determines whether the detection distance D acquired from each long-distance camera 20 is less than a predetermined threshold value A (for example, 5 m).

[0017] When the detection distance D of any of the four long-distance cameras 20 is equal to or greater than the threshold value A (step S102; No), the process proceeds to step S104. In step S104, the control unit 40 determines whether the recording of each proximity camera 30 (see step S108 described below) has started. As a result, if the recording has not started (step S104; No), the process proceeds to step S106.

[0018] In step S106, the control unit 40 determines whether the vehicle 1 is still parked. The control unit 40 determines that the vehicle 1 is still parked, for example, while it has not received a signal indicating that the vehicle 1 starts to run (for example, an ignition-on signal). When the vehicle 1 is still parked (step S106; Yes), the process returns to step S102.

[0019] When the detection distance D of at least one of the four long-distance cameras 20 is less than the threshold value A (step S102; Yes), that is, when the approach of a moving object to the vehicle 1 is detected, the process proceeds to step S108. In step S108, the control unit 40 activates each proximity camera 30. More specifically, the control unit 40 sends an activation request to each proximity camera 30. Then, the control unit 40 starts recording the video of each proximity camera 30 (saving the video to the buffer area of the memory). The memory used for the recording is, for example, the memory of the control unit 40, but may be provided in each proximity camera 30.

[0020] When the state where the detection distance D is less than the threshold value A continues during parking after the start of recording by the process of step S108, the recording (saving the video to the buffer area) continues. On the other hand, when the detection distance D becomes equal to or greater than the threshold value A during parking after the start of recording, that is, when the detected moving object moves away from the vehicle 1 (step S102; No), the process proceeds to step S110 via step S104.

[0021] In step S110, the control unit 40 determines whether the detection distance D is longer than a predetermined threshold B (> threshold A; for example, 10 m). As a result, when the detection distance D is equal to or greater than threshold A and equal to or less than threshold B (step S110; No), the process proceeds to step S112, and the saving (recording) of the video in the buffer area is continued.

[0022] On the other hand, when the detection distance D becomes longer than the threshold B (step S110; Yes), that is, when it is determined that the detected moving object is sufficiently far from the vehicle 1, the process proceeds to step S114. The memory of the control unit 40 includes a storage memory (for example, a memory card). In step S114, the control unit 40 stores the video recorded using the buffer area in the storage memory. Next, in step S116, the control unit 40 turns off the power of each proximity camera 30.

[0023] Also, when the parking of the vehicle 1 is completed, that is, when the driving of the vehicle 1 is started (step S106; No), the process proceeds to step S118. In step S118, the control unit 40 starts the process related to normal recording during the driving of the vehicle 1. That is, the transition to normal recording is performed.

[0024] As described above, according to the drive recorder device 10 according to the present embodiment, during parking, in response to the detection of the approach of a moving object by the long - range camera 20 among the two types of long - range cameras 20 and proximity cameras 30, the proximity camera 30 is activated. Then, the recording of the video imaged by the proximity camera 30 is started. According to such a process, compared with an example in which the power of each proximity camera 30 is constantly turned on during parking in preparation for recording a moving object, the recording can be performed while suppressing the shortening of the life of the camera (proximity camera 30) by shortening the power - on time of the camera (proximity camera 30) that images the recorded video.

[0025] More specifically, among the two types of cameras included in the drive recorder device 10, the near camera 30 may have a characteristic of lower durability compared to the far camera 20 having a moving object detection function. According to the present embodiment, since each near camera 30 is activated only when a moving object (for example, a suspicious person) is detected, the energization time of the near camera 30 having lower durability compared to the far camera 20 can be shortened. For this reason, the life of the near camera 30 can be ensured well.

Explanation of Signs

[0026] 1 Vehicle, 10 Drive recorder device, 20(21~24) Far camera, 30(31~34) Near camera, 40 Control unit, R21~R24, R31~R34 Field of view

Claims

【Claim 1】 A first in-vehicle camera configured to image the surrounding situation of a vehicle and detect the approach of a moving object to the vehicle at least while parked based on the imaged video; A second in-vehicle camera configured to image the surrounding situation of the vehicle, targeting a range closer to the vehicle than the first in-vehicle camera; A control unit configured to control recording of the video imaged by the second in-vehicle camera; Comprising: While parked, the control unit activates the second in-vehicle camera and starts the recording in response to detection of the approach of the moving object by the first in-vehicle camera A drive recorder device.

Images