Electronic device

Abstract

To provide a drive recorder capable of photographing an image in an appropriate direction without obstructing a field of view even without performing mounting work by a specialist.SOLUTION: The drive recorder 1 is provided with a main body case 20 for housing a liquid crystal display 13 on the back face of a half mirror 11, and a camera unit 30 is attached to the back face side at the left end on the driver's seat side so that the lens faces the front of the vehicle. The camera unit 30 is rotatable up and down and left and right so that the lens can be directed to any one of six positions of P1 to P6, and the lens body and the lens holder are provided with fitting irregularities for selectively fixing the direction of the lens at these six positions. A room mirror is attached so as to be clamped from above and below by upper and lower clampers 51,52 on the back.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device or the like that captures images of the situation in a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, there are known drive recorders that are attached to the inner surface of the windshield (Patent Document 1) and drive recorders that are integrated into the rearview mirror (Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Non-patent literature]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-321423 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-193057 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The type of drive recorder that is attached to the windshield, as in Patent Document 1, has problems such as difficulty in locating an installation location and obstructing visibility, while the drive recorder that is integrated into the rearview mirror, as in Patent Document 2, has problems such as requiring installation work by a professional.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an electronic device or the like that is capable of capturing an image in an appropriate direction without obstructing the field of view and without requiring installation work by a professional. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The electronic device of the present invention, which has been made to achieve the above-mentioned object, is preferably configured as follows: (a) an electronic device having a camera, which includes an attachment portion for attachment to a vehicle accessory that is installed so that the facing angle to the driver's seat can be changed, and a protruding portion that protrudes beyond a predetermined side position of the vehicle accessory when attached, the protruding portion having a protruding portion that protrudes in a direction different from the protruding direction of the protruding portion, and the protruding portion is equipped with the camera and a means for changing the shooting direction of the camera. In this way, it is possible to provide an electronic device or the like that can capture images in an appropriate direction without obstructing the field of view and without requiring installation work by a professional. Since these vehicle accessories are installed as necessary items, even if the protruding portion of the vehicle accessory extends beyond a predetermined side position when attached to the vehicle accessory, it does not significantly obstruct the field of view. Furthermore, because the angle of the electronic device attached to the vehicle accessory can be changed relative to the driver's seat, the angle of the electronic device also changes as the angle of the vehicle accessory is adjusted, but the camera's imaging direction can be aimed in the desired direction. In particular, since the camera and the means for changing the camera's imaging direction are provided on a protruding portion that protrudes in a direction different from the protruding direction, even if the camera and the means for changing the camera's imaging direction are large, they do not significantly obstruct the field of view. The camera may be a camera that captures the situation in the vehicle, particularly a camera that captures the situation inside the vehicle cabin, for example, the situation of the driver, or a camera that captures the situation outside the vehicle cabin, for example, the situation around the outside of the vehicle, and particularly a camera that captures the area in front of the vehicle. The vehicle equipment may be, for example, an item installed in the vehicle cabin. It may also be, for example, an item that is pre-installed in the vehicle itself. In particular, it may be an item that is pre-installed in the vehicle itself and installed in the vehicle cabin. For example, a rearview mirror may be used. The predetermined end position may be an end of the vehicle accessory that is least likely to interfere with driving the vehicle. For example, if the vehicle accessory is a rearview mirror, the predetermined end position may be any of the top, left, and right ends of the rearview mirror. For example, in the case of a rearview mirror, an end that extends beyond the bottom end toward the top, left, or right end is preferable because it is less likely to interfere with driving the vehicle. Furthermore, the predetermined end position may be an end that is least likely to interfere with the view in the direction of imaging by the camera. For example, in the case of a rearview mirror, the top end position may be an end other than the top end because a smoked area or the like at the top of the windshield is likely to interfere with the view in the direction of imaging by the camera. The mounting unit may be configured to be mountable to the same type of vehicle equipment installed in a plurality of different vehicle models. In particular, the mounting position may be adjustable to accommodate vehicle equipment of a size ranging from the largest size compatible to the smallest size compatible among vehicle equipment of the same type. The compatible size may be determined to be a size that can accommodate vehicle equipment of as many vehicle models as possible. The protruding direction of the protruding portion should preferably be a direction that does not include a component of the protruding direction of the protruding portion. This makes it particularly unlikely to interfere with driving. For example, it should preferably be a direction perpendicular to the protruding direction of the protruding portion. This makes it particularly unlikely to interfere with driving and also prevents the protruding portion from hitting electronic devices. (b) The mounting portion is configured to be mounted by covering at least a portion of one side of the vehicle equipment, and the protruding portion protrudes to a position beyond the surface opposite to the one side of the vehicle equipment, and at least a portion of the means for changing the shooting direction of the camera is provided at the position beyond. In this way, the means for changing the camera's shooting direction is less likely to hit the vehicle equipment. In particular, if the entire means for changing the camera's shooting direction is configured to be located at the above-mentioned exceeding position, the means for changing the camera's shooting direction will not hit the vehicle equipment, for example. In particular, (c) when the protruding portion is configured to include an arm portion connecting a portion having the means for changing the shooting direction of the camera with a portion that leads to the protruding portion, and at least a portion of the means for changing the shooting direction of the camera has a portion that protrudes beyond the arm portion in the direction opposite to the protruding direction, the means for changing the shooting direction of the camera is less likely to hit vehicle equipment. For example, the protruding portion may be configured to include a spherical portion having the camera and the means for changing the shooting direction of the camera, and an arm portion that supports the spherical portion with a width smaller than the diameter of the spherical portion, and the sphere may be configured to have a portion that protrudes beyond the arm portion in the direction opposite to the protruding direction. (d) The means for changing the shooting direction of the camera may be configured to have a semi-fixed structure that can change the direction of the camera in the up, down, left, and right directions and can fix the direction of the camera when the camera is shooting. In this way, when the angle at which the vehicle equipment faces the driver's seat is changed, the orientation of the camera can be easily readjusted. (e) It has a portion that covers one side of the vehicle equipment, and the mounting unit is configured to mount the covering portion to the vehicle equipment, and the outer surface of the covering portion has a function equivalent to the function of the covered portion of the vehicle equipment, and it is preferable that the inside of the covering portion, on the protruding side of the center of the covering portion, is provided with a circuit for processing the video signal of the camera. In this way, the electronic device can realize a function equivalent to that of the covered part of the vehicle accessory, and deterioration of the video signal of the camera, for example, can be prevented. In particular, it is preferable to have a circuit for processing the video signal of the camera only on the side of the protruding direction from the center of the covered part. For example, if the vehicle accessory is a rearview mirror, the equivalent function may be a mirror function. In particular, (f) the circuit may be configured to include a control board having at least two of a processing unit that processes the video signal of the camera, a display unit that displays the video signal of the camera, a recording unit that records the video signal of the camera, and an input unit that inputs control instructions for the video signal of the camera. In particular, it is preferable to configure a control board that includes a processing unit that processes the camera's video signal, a display unit that displays the camera's video signal, a recording unit that records the camera's video signal, and an input unit that inputs control instructions for the camera's video signal, to be located inside the covering part, only on the protruding side of the center of the covering part. (g) The means for changing the shooting direction of the camera may be configured to change the shooting direction of the camera in a direction that corrects the deviation of the shooting direction of the camera from the vehicle traveling direction caused by the angle between the vehicle equipment, which is installed so that the facing angle to the driver's seat can be changed, and the vehicle traveling direction when the vehicle is in operation. (h) The mounting unit is configured to be mountable to the same type of vehicle equipment installed in vehicles of a plurality of different vehicle models, and the mounting unit has two clamping sections that clamp the vehicle equipment from above and below to mount it, and the length from the center position of the two clamping sections in the left-right direction to the left end of the electronic device is approximately the same as the length from the center position of the two clamping sections in the left-right direction to the right end of the electronic device, and when mounted on the vehicle equipment so that the center position of the two clamping sections is the center position of the vehicle equipment in the left-right direction, it is preferable that the protruding portion is configured to be in a position close to the vehicle equipment when mounted on a vehicle equipment of the largest size that can be accommodated among the vehicle equipment of the same type. This makes it easy to fix the same type of vehicle equipment installed on multiple different vehicle models at the center of the vehicle equipment without hitting the largest compatible vehicle equipment, thereby preventing the electronic device from being attached unevenly to the vehicle equipment during installation. The protrusion length should be as small as possible, for example, as much as is necessary to support the camera and the means for changing the camera's shooting direction from a predetermined end position of the largest compatible vehicle accessory of the same type, which prevents the electronic device from hitting the vehicle accessory and is particularly unlikely to interfere with driving. For example, the configuration shown in Figure 16 may be used. Figure 16 shows a configuration that can be attached to the same type of rearview mirror installed in multiple different vehicle models. The attachment unit has two clamping sections that clamp the rearview mirror from above and below, and the length from the center of the two clamping sections in the lateral direction to the left edge of the electronic device and the length from the center of the two clamping sections in the lateral direction to the right edge of the electronic device are approximately the same, 142.5 mm. The device is attached to the rearview mirror so that the center of the two clamping sections is the center of the rearview mirror in the lateral direction. This is the largest compatible size rearview mirror of the same type, with a lateral width of 24 cm. In this case, a 22.5 mm protrusion is formed on the right side of the rearview mirror, and the protrusion that protrudes from this protrusion toward the back of the main unit is positioned close to the rearview mirror as shown. In this case, the protrusion should be long enough to support the camera at the position where it meets the rear of the rearview mirror, and in some cases, a recess may be provided on the outer surface of the inside of the camera to avoid interference. Of course, a sufficient space may be provided between the rearview mirror and the protrusion so that it is not wasted. (i) More specifically, the following configuration may be used: Of course, what is assumed to be the driver's seat in the following example may be assumed to be the passenger's seat. The drive recorder of the present invention, which has been made to achieve the above-mentioned object, is a drive recorder that is attached to a vehicle accessory that is installed so that the facing angle toward the driver's seat can be changed, and is characterized by comprising: a main body that can be attached to the vehicle accessory and has a protruding portion that protrudes toward the driver's seat when attached; and a lens holder that rotatably holds a lens body on the back side of the protruding portion, and is configured so that the lens body and the lens holder can be engaged and disengaged at multiple rotational positions within a predetermined range by means of matable concave and convex portions.

[0007] An example of a vehicle accessory that is installed so that the angle of view of the driver's seat can be changed is a rearview mirror.

[0008] Therefore, more specifically, it can be a drive recorder that has a lens body installed on the back side of a main body that is attached to a rearview mirror so as to face the front of the vehicle, and is characterized in that (1) the main body has a protruding portion that protrudes on the driver's seat side of the rearview mirror, (2) a lens holder that rotatably holds the lens body on the back side of the protruding portion, and (3) the lens body and the lens holder are configured to be engageable and disengageable at multiple rotational positions within a predetermined range by uneven portions that can form pairs between them.

[0009] In addition to the rearview mirror, other vehicle equipment that can change the angle of view of the driver's seat include, for example, a car navigation system that is attached to the front grille and a car television that is hung from the ceiling. Since the dashcam is attached to these vehicle equipment, it can be installed later. Therefore, there is no need to ask a professional to install the dashcam.

[0010] These vehicle accessories are installed as necessary items, so even if there is a protruding portion connected to them on the driver's seat side, it does not significantly obstruct the field of view. However, as the structure allows the angle to be changed relative to the driver's seat as described above, the angle of the main body attached to the vehicle accessories also changes as the angle of the vehicle accessories is adjusted, and the imaging direction of the lens body changes.

[0011] However, according to the present invention, the lens body can be rotated relative to the lens holder provided on the back of the protruding portion to change the imaging direction, allowing the imaging direction to be adjusted to an optimal direction. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the lens body and the lens holder are configured to be engageable and disengageable at multiple rotational positions within a predetermined range, so that the angle of the lens body can be adjusted after adjusting the angle of the vehicle accessories, and the lens body can be fixed in a state facing the optimal direction. Once fixed, the lens body cannot be rotated without releasing the engagement of the concave and convex portions, so the imaging direction will not be changed inadvertently. Furthermore, because the lens body is located on the back of the protruding portion located on the driver's seat side, the above-mentioned rotation operation can be easily performed by reaching out from the driver's seat.

[0012] Here, when the object to be attached is a rearview mirror, it is also preferable to adopt the following configuration: (4) the main body has an area that covers the front of the rearview mirror and is equipped with a half mirror on the front, and the back of the half mirror houses an emissive display device that emits light to display the image captured by the lens body.

[0013] By accommodating an emissive display device on the rear of the half mirror, when adjusting the angle of the lens body after adjusting the angle of the rearview mirror, an image can be displayed on the emissive display device, and the lens body can be rotated to view the changing image, allowing the optimum position to be selected. Furthermore, if the emissive display device is turned off, the entire half mirror can be used for rearview confirmation.

[0014] In this case, it is particularly preferable to employ the following configuration: (5) the light-emitting display device is accommodated in front of the protruding portion.

[0015] This is because positioning the lens body and the emissive display device on the driver's side of the rearview mirror makes it easier to see the image when rotating the lens body. Another advantage is that the protruding portion can accommodate electronic circuits and other components, making it possible to achieve a compact design.

[0016] A drive recorder that is equipped with a half mirror and is attached to a rearview mirror may further adopt the following configuration: (6) the main body is equipped with clamp members that clamp the rearview mirror from above and below.

[0017] By clamping the rearview mirror from above and below with the clamp members, the weight of the dashcam can be supported by the rearview mirror. In addition, since the top and bottom edges of the rearview mirror are long enough, it is possible to install multiple clamp members spaced apart on the left and right, ensuring a stable installation.

[0018] Furthermore, these drive recorders of the present invention may also adopt the following configuration: (7) the lens holder and the lens body are configured so that their spherical surfaces face each other and the lens body can rotate along the spherical surface.

[0019] This is because the operation of rotating from one mating position to another follows the spherical surface, allowing for smooth operation. Note that in the present invention, by allowing mating and disengagement at multiple positions, the imaging direction can be adjusted by selecting multiple angular positions while still allowing for smooth movement, allowing for quick positioning.

[0020] In this case, (8) it is also preferable to adopt a configuration in which one of the lens holder and the lens body has a rotation axis that rotates the lens body along the spherical surface, and the other has an axis holding groove that supports the rotation axis in a state in which it can move in a predetermined direction.

[0021] By moving the rotation shaft along the shaft holding groove, the angle can be changed within a regulated range. By changing the angle within this regulated range, the direction of rotation during adjustment is determined, making it easier to adjust the imaging direction.

[0022] In this case, it is preferable that the concave and convex portions are formed so as to support the rotation shaft at any one of a plurality of positions within the shaft holding groove.

[0023] By providing such a configuration, positioning in a direction along the shaft holding groove can be determined in multiple stages, and angle adjustment in that direction can be completed quickly.

[0024] When the structure also includes supporting these pivot shafts in the shaft holding grooves, it is preferable to further adopt the following structure: (10) the concave and convex portions are formed so as to fit at a position where the spherical cover body is rotated a predetermined angle around the pivot shaft while the pivot shaft is supported at a predetermined position within the shaft holding groove.

[0025] By providing such a configuration, it is possible to determine multi-stage positioning in a direction intersecting the axis holding groove, and angle adjustment in that direction can be completed quickly. In addition, when (9) and (10) are provided, multi-stage positioning in the orthogonal direction is possible, which increases the number of angle adjustment positions, and for example, it becomes possible to quickly rotate the lens body to the upper left, lower left, upper right, lower right, etc. in multiple stages in the left-right direction and multiple stages in the up-down direction.

[0026] More specifically, these drive recorders of the present invention may also have the following configuration: (11) the lens holder has a spherical holding portion with an approximately spherical inner surface; (12) the lens body has a spherical cover body with an approximately spherical outer surface; and (13) at least one of the uneven portions on the inner surface of the spherical holding portion and the uneven portions on the outer surface of the spherical cover body is configured to perform a clicking action due to elastic deformation, thereby allowing the fitting positions of each other to be changed.

[0027] By adopting this configuration, the lens body fits securely into the lens holder, preventing it from falling out during angle adjustment. Furthermore, because the lens is engaged and disengaged with a click action, even if the lens body is engaged in the lens holder, you can easily tell that positioning is complete by the click you feel in your hand.

[0028] In this case, (13) the spherical holding portion may further have a configuration in which the spherical holding portion has a window opening on the front side of the vehicle that corresponds to the outlines of the plurality of fitting / disengaging positions within the predetermined range.

[0029] By providing window openings corresponding to the outlines of multiple engagement / disengagement positions within a specified range, the lens body can be rotated so that no dead zones where photography is impossible are created, even when the lens body is fitted into the lens holder.

[0030] In a drive recorder in which these lens bodies are fitted into a lens holder, (14) it is also preferable to adopt a configuration in which the spherical cover body has a rotation axis that protrudes outward on the center line of the sphere that constitutes the spherical surface, and the spherical holding portion has an axis holding groove that allows the rotation axis to slide along a predetermined direction.

[0031] More specifically, in a drive recorder in which these lens bodies are fitted into a lens holder, it is preferable to further adopt the following configuration: (14) the spherical cover body has a rotation axis that protrudes outward on the center line of the sphere that constitutes the spherical surface, and the spherical holding portion has an axis holding groove that allows the rotation axis to slide along a predetermined direction.

[0032] By adopting such a configuration, when manufacturing the spherical cover body by injection molding, there is no need to make it thick, to make it a split assembly shape, or to use a split mold as a core, making manufacturing easier.

[0033] In this case, (15) it is preferable that the spherical cover body has a lever portion that forms part of the spherical surface and has an elastic lever portion that has an uneven portion formed on the lens body side.

[0034] Because the spherical cover body is located on the inside, the lever part elastically deforms inward to release the uneven part, and then elastically returns to the outside, allowing the uneven part to fit together, and the fitting and disengagement by clicking can be achieved by utilizing the elastic deformation of the lever part.

[0035] In a drive recorder in which these lens bodies are fitted into a lens holder, more specifically, (16) the spherical holding portion may also be configured to have a plurality of holder-side concave and convex portions that can fit into the lens body-side concave and convex portions at a plurality of sliding positions of the rotation axis within the axis holding groove.

[0036] By adopting such a configuration, the lens body can be rotated along the shaft holding groove for positioning.

[0037] In a drive recorder in which these lens bodies are fitted into a lens holder, more specifically, (17) the spherical holding portion may also be configured to have a plurality of holder-side concave and convex portions that can engage with the lens body-side concave and convex portions for a plurality of rotation angles when the lens body cover is rotated around the rotation axis at a predetermined position within the axis holding groove.

[0038] By adopting this configuration, the lens body can be rotated in a direction intersecting the shaft holding groove for positioning.

[0039] The drive recorder of the present invention may further adopt the following configuration: (18) the main body has an operation switch on the front side of the protruding portion. This is because the operation switch is also located on the driver's seat side, and the drive recorder itself can be easily operated from the driver's seat.

[0040] The drive recorder of the present invention may further have the following configuration: (19) the main body is provided with a storage medium mounting section on the driver's seat side of the protruding section, which allows the storage medium to be easily attached and detached from the driver's seat.

[0041] The drive recorder of the present invention may further adopt the following configuration: (20) the main body is provided with a power connector on the rear side of the protruding portion, because the power connector can be easily attached and detached from the driver's seat.

[0042] The drive recorder of the present invention may further employ the following configuration: (21) the main body is provided with a microphone on the underside of the main body, since sound can also be recorded.

[0043] The drive recorder of the present invention may further employ the following configuration: (22) the lens holder has a curved arm that shifts the lens body toward the driver's seat relative to the base of the lens holder, which can reduce the amount of protrusion of the main body from the object to which it is attached.

[0044] In this case, it is also preferable to adopt a configuration (23) in which a power connector is provided near the base of the bent arm, on the opposite side of the base from the driver's seat. This is because the base of the arm acts as a guard, making it less likely that the power connector will be accidentally touched and the power cord will be disconnected when changing the angle of the object to which it is attached or the orientation of the lens body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0045] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a drive recorder that can capture images in an appropriate direction without obstructing the field of view and without requiring installation work by a professional. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0046] [Figure 1] 1 shows the drive recorder of Example 1, where (A) is a front view, (B) is a perspective view seen from the front, (C) is a perspective view seen from the rear, (D) is a front view of the camera unit with the shooting direction facing forward, and (E) is a perspective view showing how the orientation of the lens body is changed. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are six-view diagrams of a drive recorder according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B show a drive recorder according to a first embodiment, in which FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 1B is a side view illustrating the mounting state of upper and lower clampers. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B show a camera unit of a drive recorder according to a first embodiment, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view seen from the mounting portion side, FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view, and FIG. 1C is an exploded perspective view of a lens body. [Figure 5] 1A to 1C are six-view diagrams of the lens cover of the drive recorder of the first embodiment, with the state viewed from the front side of the vehicle being the front side. [Figure 6] 3A and 3B are explanatory diagrams showing the rotation range of the lens body of the drive recorder of the first embodiment and the movement during rotation. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the installation procedure of the drive recorder of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure of recording and reading data in the drive recorder of the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation procedure in a moving image recording mode in the drive recorder of the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation procedure for changing settings in a moving image recording mode in the drive recorder of the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation procedure for changing system settings in the drive recorder of the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation procedure etc. in a still image recording mode in the drive recorder of the first embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation procedure in a playback mode in the drive recorder of the first embodiment. [Figure 14]FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the procedure for changing the playback mode setting and formatting an SD card in the drive recorder of the first embodiment. [Figure 15] 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an adjustment range of the angle of incidence of light on a lens in the drive recorder of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a bottom view showing the state of the drive recorder mounted on the rearview mirror of the largest compatible size among the same type of rearview mirrors installed in a plurality of different vehicle models. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] Hereinafter, a drive recorder that is attached to a rearview mirror and used will be described as an embodiment of the present invention. [Example]

[0048] Example 1 is a drive recorder suitable for use by being attached to the rearview mirror of a right-hand drive vehicle. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, drive recorder 1 has a half mirror 11 covering almost the entire front surface as seen from inside the vehicle cabin, an operation button 12 on the right edge of the front surface, and a main body case 20 accommodating a 2.5-inch full-color TFT liquid crystal display 13 on the back of the half mirror immediately to the left of operation button 12. The top 12a of operation button 12 is a power button, and green and red LEDs are provided on the back side, so that the green LED lights up when the power is on and the red LED lights up when recording.

[0049] A camera unit 30 is attached to the rear side of the main body case 20 at the left end, which is the driver's seat side, with its lens facing forward of the vehicle. A speaker sound output hole 41 is provided directly below the camera unit 30, and a DC jack 42 is provided below and inside the speaker sound output hole 41. A microphone sound input hole 43 is provided at the center bottom surface of the main body case 20, and upper clampers 51, 51 and lower clampers 52, 52 are provided facing each other at the top and bottom of the rear surface, approximately symmetrically left and right about the center in the width direction. Furthermore, a microSD card insertion slot 45 is provided on the side surface of the main body case 20 on the driver's seat side.

[0050] 3, the main body case 20 is composed of a bottom case 21 located on the rear side, and a top case 22 that is fixed to the front of the bottom case 21 from the rear side with screws. A printed wiring board 14 is housed between the bottom case 21 and the top case 22. The aforementioned operation buttons 12 and 2.5-inch full-color TFT LCD display 13 are mounted on the front side of the printed wiring board 14, and an SD slot 16, speaker 17, etc. are mounted on the rear side. A microcomputer circuit is also provided on the back side of printed wiring board 14. This microcomputer circuit serves as a processing unit that processes the camera's video signal, LCD display 13 serves as a display unit that displays the camera's video signal, SD slot 16 serves as a recording unit for the camera's video signal, and operation button 12 serves as an input unit that inputs control instructions for the camera's video signal; in this embodiment, printed wiring board 14 is provided with these "processing unit," "display unit," "recording unit," and "input unit."

[0051] An opening for exposing the operation buttons 12 is provided at the right end of the top case 22, and a button cover 23 is attached. A display film 18, on which the functions of each operation button are printed and which has a transparent portion that transmits LED light, is attached to the front of the button cover 23. A half mirror 11 is attached to the front side of the area of ​​the top case 22 to the left of the button cover 23. A display window 22a is provided in the top case 22, in a portion facing the liquid crystal display 13 at the right end of the area where the half mirror 11 is attached.

[0052] An opening 21a is formed at the right end (driver's seat side) of the bottom case 21 for passing a cable connecting the printed wiring board 14 and the camera unit 30, and a protrusion 21b is formed on the right side surface of the opening 21a, which constitutes the aforementioned SD card insertion port 45. In addition, an air vent 21c is provided on the left side of the rear cover 21.

[0053] A lower back projection 21d that projects rearward is formed on the lower back surface of the bottom case 21 at a position approximately one-quarter of the way from the left to the right, and an inverted L-shaped metal fitting 24 is attached from the front side so that a protruding portion 24a projects toward the upper back surface above the lower back projection 21d. This inverted L-shaped metal fitting 24 is connected to a hook 21e formed on the lower front surface of the bottom cover 21 by a coil spring 25, and is attached in a downwardly biased state. Rubber bodies that constitute the above-mentioned upper clamper 51 and lower clamper 52 are attached to the protruding portion 24a of the inverted L-shaped metal fitting 24 and the lower back projection 21d of the bottom case 21, respectively.

[0054] In addition to these, cushion members 26 and 27 are housed inside the main body case 20, and a microphone 18 is also housed in the center of the bottom.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 4, the camera unit 30 is made up of a lens body 60 and a lens holder 70 that holds the lens body 60 rotatably.

[0056] The lens body 60 is an assembly in which a camera body 62 is housed inside a hemispherical lens cover 61, and a printed wiring board 63 is attached to close the opening side of the lens cover 61.

[0057] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the lens cover 61 has protruding pivot shafts 64L, 64R that pass through the center of the sphere. Beneath each of the left and right pivot shafts 64L, 64R are levers 65L, 65R, each formed by two cuts extending forward from the opening of the hemisphere. The outer surfaces of the left and right levers 65L, 65R are provided with hemispherical convex portions 66L, 66R. The lens cover 61 is manufactured as an injection-molded synthetic resin, and the levers 65L, 65R are elastically deformed by pressure. A circular ring-shaped lens frame 67 protrudes forward from the front end of the lens cover 61.

[0058] 4, the lens holder 70 is configured so that when the halves of the left member 71 and the right member 72 are assembled, a spherical holding portion 73 is formed on the front side of the vehicle and an attachment arm portion 74 is formed on the main body case 20 side. When the left member 71 and the right member 72 are assembled, the arm portion 74 is a bent arm that supports the holding portion 73 at a position shifted toward the driver's seat relative to the base side.

[0059] Slide grooves 75L, 75R are formed in the vertical center of the inner surface of the holding portions 73L, 73R of the left and right members 71, 72, extending over a predetermined range and projecting outward to a predetermined depth. Six hemispherical recesses 76L, 76R are formed in the inner surface below the slide grooves 75L, 75R, projecting outward. The six hemispherical recesses 76L, 76R are arranged in a zigzag pattern, with the distance from the slide grooves 75L, 75R slightly varying. The left and right members 71, 72 are also manufactured by synthetic resin injection molding.

[0060] Furthermore, notches 77L, 77R are provided at the front ends of the holding portions 73L, 73R of the left member 71 and the right member 72 so as to form a horizontally elongated rectangular lens window 77 having rounded corners as shown in FIG. 1(D) when assembled. Notches 78L, 78R are provided at the base sides of the arm portions 74L, 74R of the left member 71 and the right member 72 so as to form an insertion opening 78 through which a cable connected to the connector block 68 on the lens body 60 side can be inserted when assembled. A circular recess 79 recessed inward is formed near the base of the holding portion of the left member 71. This recess 79 helps to avoid interference with the rearview mirror when attached. Here, the cable connecting printed wiring board 14 and camera unit 30 is inserted into camera body 30 through insertion port 78 and connected to connector block 68 of printed wiring board 63 on the camera body 62 side. By locating printed wiring board 14 on the side where camera unit 30 is attached, noise can be suppressed.

[0061] The outer diameter of the lens cover 61 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the hold portion 73 of the lens holder 70, so that, when assembled, the lens cover 61 can be rotated inside the hold portion 73. At this time, the lens cover 61 is assembled so that its rotation shafts 64L, 64R fit into the slide grooves 75L, 75R of the hold portion 73. At this time, the lens frame 67 of the lens cover 61 fits into the lens window 77 of the hold portion 73. The convex portions 66L, 66R on the outer surfaces of the lever portions 65L, 65R fit into one of six recesses 76L, 76R on the inner surface of the hold portion 73. Note that the initial assembly position is such that the lens frame 67 is positioned at the center of the lens window 77, as shown in FIG. 1(D), and the rotation shafts 64L, 64R are positioned at the longitudinal center of the slide grooves 75L, 75R. Furthermore, the convex portions 66L, 66R on the lens cover 61 side are fitted into the third from the front of the six concave portions 76L, 76R.

[0062] By rotating the lens cover 61 in the left-right direction, the rotation shafts 64L, 64R move from one end to the other of the slide grooves 75L, 75R. The lens cover 61 also rotates in the up-down direction around the rotation shafts 64L, 64R. With these operations, in this embodiment, the lens frame 67 can be fixed at one of six positions P1 to P6 shown in FIG. 1(E).

[0063] The rotational movement of the lens cover 61 when fixing it at the six positions P1 to P6 is shown in Fig. 6. When the convex portions 66L, 66R on the lens cover 61 are fitted into the third from the front end of the six concave portions 76L, 76R of the holding portion 73, the P1 position is achieved, with the lens frame 67 positioned above the center of the lens window 77.

[0064] When the lens cover 61 is rotated from the initial position P1 toward the driver's seat, the left-side convex portion 66L of the lens cover 61 fits into the front-most of the six recessed portions 76L of the left member 71, and the right-side convex portion 66R of the lens cover 61 fits into the second-from-the-rear of the six recessed portions 76R of the right member 72, thereby realizing the P2 position in which the lens frame 67 is located at the upper left of the lens window 77.

[0065] When the lens cover 61 is rotated from the initial position P1 in a direction away from the driver's seat, the left convex portion 66L of the lens cover 61 fits into the second-from-the-rear of the six recessed portions 76L of the left member 71, and the right convex portion 66R of the lens cover 61 fits into the front-most of the six recessed portions 76R of the right member 72, thereby realizing the P3 position in which the lens frame 67 is located to the upper right of the lens window 77.

[0066] When the lens cover 61 is rotated downward from the initial position P1, the convex portions 66L, 66R on the lens cover 61 are fitted into the fourth of the six recessed portions 76L, 76R from the front end, and the P4 position is realized, with the lens frame 67 below the center of the lens window 77.

[0067] When the lens cover 61 is rotated downward from the upper left position P2, the left convex portion 66L of the lens cover 61 fits into the second from the front of the six recessed portions 76L of the left member 71, and the right convex portion 66R of the lens cover 61 fits into the rearmost of the six recessed portions 76R of the right member 72, thereby realizing the P5 position in which the lens frame 67 is at the upper left of the lens window 77.

[0068] When the lens cover 61 is rotated downward from the upper right position P3, the left convex portion 66L of the lens cover 61 fits into the rearmost of the six recessed portions 76L of the left member 71, and the right convex portion 66R of the lens cover 61 fits into the second from the front of the six recessed portions 76R of the right member 72, thereby realizing the P6 position in which the lens frame 67 is located at the upper left of the lens window 77.

[0069] Next, the installation procedure for the drive recorder 1 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. First, the upper clamper 51 is placed against the upper edge of the rearview mirror 81, and the main body is rotated forward while being pulled slightly downward. At this time, the coil spring 25 that is biasing the upper clamper 51 downward expands, allowing the lower clamper 52 to easily position below the rearview mirror 81. Then, when the force that was pulling the main body downward is released, the coil spring 25 contracts, and the drive recorder 1 is installed such that the upper clamper 51 and the lower clamper 52 clamp the rearview mirror 81 from above and below. Note that because the upper and lower clampers 51 and 52 are made of rubber, the elastic deformation of the rubber also acts to firmly yet softly clamp the rearview mirror 81 from above and below.

[0070] When mounting the drive recorder 1, the center of the main body is aligned with the center of the rearview mirror 81. The width of the drive recorder 1 is longer than the width of the rearview mirror 81, and is set to a width such that the camera unit 25 is positioned to protrude on the driver's seat side of the rearview mirror 81. The amount of protrusion on the opposite side of the driver's seat is also set to the same extent, and the air vent 21c is also mounted to be positioned in the protruding portion of the rearview mirror 81 on the opposite side of the driver's seat.

[0071] As a result, the front of the rearview mirror 81 is covered and hidden, but since the front of the drive recorder 1 is made up of the half mirror 11, this half mirror 11 functions as a mirror for checking behind the vehicle, which is the role of the rearview mirror 81. Therefore, the orientation of the drive recorder 1 is adjusted so that rearward checking through this half mirror 11 is appropriate. This orientation adjustment is performed by utilizing the fact that the rearview mirror 81 has a mechanism that allows it to adjust its orientation.

[0072] The power supply is secured by connecting one end of a power cord 83 to the cigarette lighter socket 82 and the other end to the DC jack 42 .

[0073] Once power is secured in this way, the operation button 12 is operated to set the drive recorder 1 to recording mode. The image captured by the camera is then displayed on the liquid crystal display 13 housed behind the half mirror 11, and can be seen from the driver's seat through the half mirror 11. If the image seen at this time is not from the direction that should be recorded by the drive recorder 1, the lens cover 61 can be rotated left and right and up and down as described above to adjust the camera orientation to the most appropriate position among P1 to P6.

[0074] In this way, the drive recorder 1 can be installed with the camera facing in the optimal shooting direction without obstructing the driver's field of vision.

[0075] 8(A), in the drive recorder 1 of this embodiment, a micro SD card 84 is inserted into the SD card insertion slot 45, and captured data is recorded on the micro SD card 84. The data recorded in this manner can be read by the computer 85 by removing the micro SD card 84 and inserting it into a reader / writer 86 connected to the computer 85.

[0076] The drive recorder 1 of the embodiment is configured to continuously record video from engine start to engine stop on the micro SD card 84. As shown in Fig. 8(B), the recording method is configured such that the video is divided into files, each of which has a maximum length of 15 minutes, and if the recording time exceeds the card capacity, the oldest file is overwritten on a file-by-file basis.

[0077] As shown in Figure 8(C), the drive recorder 1 of the embodiment is configured to be able to perform "one-touch recording" by pressing the "REC" button during continuous recording, which moves the video in set file units to the "SWEVT" folder on the microSD card as an overwrite-protected file.

[0078] The drive recorder 1 of the embodiment is configured to be able to continuously record video like a video camera by selecting the "video recording mode." In the video recording mode, as shown in Figure 9(A), [1] video recording mode icon, [2] file division time, [3] viewfinder, [4] zoom magnification, [5] date, [6] time, [7] recording time / remaining recording time, [8] resolution, [9] file protect icon,

[10] microSD icon, and

[11] recording mark are displayed on the LCD display 13 (see circled numbers in the figure).

[0079] Here, [7] Recording time / remaining recording time displays the current recording time when recording, and the remaining recording time with the current settings when recording is stopped. Also, [9] File protect icon is displayed on the one-touch recorded file mentioned above.

[10] Micro SD icon indicates that a Micro SD card is inserted, and

[11] Record mark flashes while recording video.

[0080] To record video in this video recording mode, first make sure the power is on, then press the "MODE OK" button to change to video recording mode, and press the "REC" button to start video recording, as shown in Figure 9(B). Note that the viewfinder can also be hidden during video recording, in which case the "MODE OK" button should be pressed while the viewfinder is displayed during video recording.

[0081] Next, we will explain how to change settings in video recording mode. As shown in Figure 10(A), press the "MENU" button to stop video recording, press the "MODE OK" button to select video recording mode, and then press the "MENU" button to display the video recording mode settings menu. The settings menu will be the screen shown in Figure 10(B).

[0082] "Resolution" allows you to select the resolution from 1080P (1920 x 1082), 1080P (1440 x 1080), 720P (1280 x 720), VGA (640 x 480), and QVGA (320 x 240). The default setting is 720P.

[0083] "Recording file structure" allows you to select the length of time to split and store the video file from 5-minute, 10-minute, or 15-minute units. The default setting is 5 minutes.

[0084] "Audio Recording" can be switched off or on. The default setting is on. "Continuous Recording Overwrite" can also be switched off or on. When the overwrite setting is on and there is insufficient space on the microSD card, old files will be deleted one by one to make way for new files, as mentioned above. The default setting is on.

[0085] To select a setting item, use the "∧ VOL+" and "∨ VOL-" buttons. These buttons are also used to increase and decrease values. To confirm a setting item, press the "MODE OK" button. Pressing the "MENU" button will exit the setting screen and return to the previous mode on the setting screen (for example, video recording mode).

[0086] Next, we will explain how to change the system settings. As shown in Figure 11(A), press the "MENU" button to stop video recording, press the "MODE OK" button to select video recording mode, press the "MENU" button again to display the video recording mode settings menu, and then press the "MODE OK" button again to display the system settings menu. The system settings menu will be the screen shown in Figure 11(B).

[0087] The system settings menu includes "Date / Time," "Operation Sound," "Flickerless Function," "Default Settings," and "Version." Just as when changing video recording mode settings, you can use the "∧ VOL+," "∨ VOL-" and "MODE OK" buttons to select the desired item and change the setting. The "Operation Sound" setting is on by default and can be switched off. The flickerless function is used to match the commercial frequency of the region in which it is used, and can be set to 50Hz in Eastern Japan or 60Hz in Western Japan. The default setting is 60Hz.

[0088] When setting "Date / Time," use the "∧ VOL+," "∨ VOL-" buttons and the "MODE OK" button on the screen shown in FIG. 11(C) to change the item and increase or decrease the value.

[0089] The drive recorder 1 of the embodiment is configured to be able to select a "still image recording mode" in addition to the aforementioned "video recording mode." By selecting the "still image recording mode," still images can be taken like a digital camera.

[0090] In the still image recording mode, as shown in Figure 12(A), [1] still image recording mode icon, [2] viewfinder, [3] zoom magnification, [4] number of shots that can be taken, and [5] microSD icon are displayed on the LCD display 13 (see the circled numbers in the figure).

[0091] Here, [4] the number of shots that can be taken indicates the number of still images that can be compressed using the remaining capacity of the microSD card. [3] The zoom magnification ranges from 1.0x to 4.0x and can be increased or decreased using the "∧ VOL+" and "∨ VOL-" buttons. Note that the zoom returns to 1.0x when the power is turned off or when switching to another mode.

[0092] To record a still image in this still image recording mode, first make sure the power is on, then, as shown in Figure 12(B), if video recording is in progress, press the "MENU" button to stop video recording, press the "MODE OK" button to switch to still image recording mode, and press the "REC" button to start still image recording. In this embodiment, the resolution of the still image is fixed at 2592 x 1944.

[0093] Next, we will explain how to play back recorded files. As shown in Figure 13(A), press the "MENU" button to stop video recording, and then press the "MODE OK" button to switch to playback mode. After that, select a recording file using the "∧ VOL+" and "∨ VOL-" buttons, and then press "REPLAY". Press the "C" button to play. The video playback screen will be the screen shown in FIG. 13(B). The still image playback screen will be the screen shown in FIG. 13(C).

[0094] As shown in Figure 13(B), the video playback screen displays [1] video icon, [2] recorded video, [3] video playback operation icon, [4] file number, [5] file resolution, [6] recording date, [7] recording time, and [8] file protection icon on the LCD display 13 (see circled numbers in the figure).

[0095] As shown in Figure 13(C), the still image playback screen displays [1] still image icon, [2] recorded image, [3] operation icon, [4] file number, [5] file resolution, [6] recording date, [7] recording time, and [9] recording date and time on the LCD display 13 (see the circled numbers in the figure). Note that [9] recording date and time is the recording date and time written in the recording file.

[0096] Next, we will explain how to change the playback mode settings. As shown in Figure 14(A), press the "MENU" button to stop video recording, and then press the "MODE OK" button to select playback mode. Press the "MENU" button again to display the playback mode settings menu. The playback mode settings menu will be the screen shown in Figure 14(B).

[0097] The settings available in playback mode are "Volume," "Erase," and "Format." "Volume" sets the playback volume of recorded files, operation sounds, and startup sounds, and can be set to Off or 1 to 8. The default setting is 6. "Erase" deletes recorded files, and you can choose to delete the current file or all files. Note that overwrite-protected files cannot be erased. "Format" initializes the microSD card. Performing "Format" will also erase overwrite-protected files.

[0098] To initialize a microSD card, use the "∧ VOL+" and "∨ VOL-" buttons to select "Format" as shown in Figure 14(C), and then press the "MODE OK" button. This will switch to the format screen as shown in Figure 14(D). On this screen, select "SD card" and press the "MODE OK" button, and the screen will switch to a confirmation message screen as shown in Figure 14(E). Formatting will only begin when you use the "∨ VOL-" button to select "Confirm" and then press the "MODE OK" button.

[0099] As described above, according to this embodiment, the angle of light incident on the camera lens can be changed by 20° to the left, 20° to the right, and 10° downward, as shown in Fig. 15. This makes it possible to set the optimal shooting direction by attaching the camera to the rearview mirror, adjusting the angle of the rearview mirror, and then changing the direction of the camera lens.

[0100] Moreover, this operation can be performed from the driver's seat, so the driver can easily perform it after adjusting the rearview mirror. Furthermore, since the angle is adjusted by selecting from P1 to P6 rather than arbitrarily changing the angle, the angle adjustment operation can be performed quickly and easily. At this time, the driver can easily tell that the lens body is firmly fixed by feeling a clicking action.

[0101] In addition, the lens direction can be adjusted while the image is displayed on the LCD display behind the half mirror, allowing for reliable work, and since the LCD display is on the driver's seat side, the screen can be viewed while looking at what is in front of you.

[0102] Although the embodiments for carrying out the invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0103] The present invention can be used as an in-vehicle device for recording vehicle accidents and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0104] 1 Drive recorder, 11 Half mirror, 12 Operation buttons, 13 LCD display, 17 Speaker, 18 Microphone, 20 Main unit case casing, 21 bottom case, 21d bottom projection, 22 top case, 22a display window, 24 inverted L-shaped bracket, 24a projection, 25 coil spring, 30 camera unit, 42 DC jack, 45 SD card slot, 51 upper clamper, 52 lower clamper, 60 lens body, 61 lens cover, 62 camera body, 63 printed circuit board, 64L, 64R rotating shaft, 65L, 65R lever Bar portion, 66L, 66R... hemispherical convex portion, 67... lens frame, 70... lens holder, 71... left member, 72... right member, 73... holding portion, 74... mounting arm portion, 75L, 75R... slide groove, 76L, 76R... hemispherical recess portion, 77... lens window, 81... rearview mirror, 82... cigarette lighter socket, 83... power cord, 84... micro SD card, 85... computer, 86... reader / writer.

Claims

1. a main body provided on the front side with a half mirror portion that transmits light from a display portion disposed inside; a mounting portion for mounting the main body on a vehicle rearview mirror; a camera unit provided on the main body for capturing an image of a scene ahead of the vehicle; an input unit provided on the front side of the main body, for detecting a user's operation and inputting a control instruction for a video signal of the camera unit; Equipped with The device has a function for setting the video recording of the front of the vehicle captured by the camera unit by detecting the operation of the user of the input unit. An electronic device characterized by:

2. Having a function to stop video recording of the area in front of the vehicle captured by the camera unit upon detection of the user's operation of the input unit.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1,

3. Having a function for selecting a commercial frequency for the area in which the electronic device is used by detecting the user's operation of the input unit.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 or 2,

4. Having a function of playing back video captured and recorded by said camera unit upon detection of said user's operation of said input unit.

4. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:

5. Having a function for setting the zoom magnification by detecting the operation of the user of the input unit.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein:

Images