Devices and programs, etc.

Abstract

The present invention provides a device and program that can determine the connection of electronic devices to a connector without requiring any time. [Solution] The drive recorder 10 includes an identification unit 40 that performs identification processing to identify each connector in the following states: waterproof cap connected state with a cap attached to the connector, cable connected state with an electronic device connected to the connector, and unconnected state with nothing connected to the connector; and a notification control unit 42 that provides notification when there is a connector identified by the identification unit 40 as being in an unconnected state.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus, a program, and the like.

Background Art

[0002] In an apparatus provided with a connector to which an electronic device such as a camera is connected, connection determination between the electronic device and the connector is performed (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, various conventional systems and the like have a variety of problems. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a program, and the like that can perform connection determination of an electronic device to a connector without taking time.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The object of the present invention is not limited thereto, and the applicant intends to obtain rights through divisional applications, amendments, etc., for configurations that aim to obtain the effects derived from the components of the configuration disclosed in this specification and the drawings, etc. For example, problems that can be described in this specification as "~is possible" or "~is feasible" are disclosed in this specification. Each problem is described independently, and the applicant intends to obtain rights to each configuration for solving each problem independently through divisional applications, amendments, etc. Even if a problem is implicitly understood from the description in the specification, the applicant intends to include a part of the configuration described in this specification in the claims through amendment or divisional application. Furthermore, configurations that solve problems by combining these independent problems are also disclosed, and the applicant intends to obtain rights to them.

[0006] (1) An apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a connector to which an electronic device can be connected, and a function to identify whether or not a cap is attached to each connector in a first state.

[0007] This method identifies the first state in which the cap is attached to the connector, allowing for quick determination of whether an electronic device is connected to the connector.

[0008] (2) An apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a function for identifying the first state, a second state in which an electronic device is connected to the connector, and a third state in which nothing is connected to the connector, and a function for providing notification when the third state is identified.

[0009] This configuration allows for the identification of three states: a first state where a cap is attached to the connector, a second state where an electronic device is connected to the connector, and a third state where nothing is connected to the connector. Furthermore, if a connector is identified as being in the third state, a notification is issued, thus contributing to the quick determination of whether an electronic device is connected to a connector. For example, the system could be configured to identify not only the second state where an electronic device is connected to the connector, but also the first state where a cap is fitted to the connector as an appropriate state, while identifying the third state where nothing is connected to the connector as an inappropriate state.

[0010] (3) The cap may be a waterproof cap.

[0011] This method helps prevent the connector from corroding due to water.

[0012] (4) The function for making the identification may make the identification a first number of times when identifying that the state is the first state, and a second number of times less than the first number of times when identifying that the state is the third state.

[0013] In this way, multiple identification processes are performed only on connectors that are identified as being in the third state, which contributes to more accurate determination of the connection of electronic devices to the connector without requiring extra time.

[0014] (5) When the cap is attached to the connector, a specific line becomes electrically conductive, and the function of identification may identify the connection status of the connector based on the conductive state.

[0015] This method helps to easily identify the connection status of the cap.

[0016] (6) A switch that switches on and off in response to attachment of the cap to the connector may be provided, and the function of performing the identification may identify the connection state of the connector based on the on or off state of the switch.

[0017] This configuration contributes to easily identifying the connection state of the cap.

[0018] (7) An optical sensor that detects brightness corresponding to attachment of the cap to the connector may be provided, and the function of performing the identification may identify the connection state of the connector based on a detection result of the optical sensor.

[0019] This configuration contributes to easily identifying the connection state of the cap.

[0020] (8) A camera that captures an image of an attachment portion of the cap to the connector may be provided, and the function of performing the identification may identify the connection state of the connector based on an imaging result of the camera.

[0021] This configuration contributes to easily identifying the connection state of the cap.

[0022] (9) The function of performing the identification may identify that the connector, to which the cap is connected via a single cable or a cable formed by connecting a plurality of cables, is in the first state.

[0023] This configuration contributes to identifying the connection state between the cap and the connector even when the cap is connected to the connector via a cable.

[0024] (10) A plurality of the connectors may be provided, and a function may be provided that, when the electronic device to be a terminal is connected to any one of the plurality of connectors, notifies of the connector to which the electronic device to be a terminal is connected.

[0025] This configuration contributes to allowing the user to confirm the electronic device that is set as the termination.

[0026] (11) Information related to the present apparatus may be transmitted to the electronic device connected via the connector, and information corresponding to the transmitted information may be received from the electronic device.

[0027] This configuration contributes to acquiring information of the electronic device corresponding to the apparatus.

[0028] (12) The electronic device may be configured such that an operating voltage thereof is settable, the operating voltage set for the electronic device connected to the connector may be read, and the read voltage may be applied to the electronic device.

[0029] This configuration contributes to the electronic device being supplied with the optimal operating voltage.

[0030] (13) The electronic device may be provided with a USB port.

[0031] This configuration contributes to enabling connection of another electronic device via the electronic device connected to the connector.

[0032] (14) A lock portion that prevents the cable connected to the connector from coming out of the connector may be provided, and whether the lock portion is fixed at a predetermined position may be identified.

[0033] This configuration contributes to enabling more reliable detection that the cable is connected to the connector.

[0034] (15) A program according to one aspect of the present invention causes a computer to execute the functions of the apparatus described above.

[0035] This configuration contributes to performing connection determination of the electronic device with respect to the connector without requiring time.

[0036] (16) The housing comprises a first circuit board located inside and a removable lid, the lid of which may contain electronic components connected to the first circuit board by wiring.

[0037] This approach eliminates the need to purchase new equipment when expanding the functionality of a device. Instead, it allows for simple and low-cost expansion of the device's capabilities by replacing the existing device's cover with a cover containing the necessary electronic components for the functional expansion.

[0038] (17) The electronic component may include a second substrate.

[0039] This approach contributes to expanding the functionality of the device in a simple and low-cost manner.

[0040] (18) The lid may be provided with a cover that covers and protects the electronic component, and the cover may have guides formed therein for guiding the wiring between the electronic component and the first substrate.

[0041] This helps prevent the wiring connecting the electronic components to the first circuit board from being pinched between the lid and the housing.

[0042] (19) The cover may be formed by a plurality of regions of different heights.

[0043] This approach helps to create an appropriate cover shape depending on the configuration of the electronic components and the wiring connected to them.

[0044] (20) A heat sink may be provided between the lid and the electronic component to dissipate the heat generated by the electronic component.

[0045] This method helps to dissipate the heat generated by the electronic components without affecting the first substrate.

[0046] (21) The lid may have an opening formed in a position corresponding to the heat sink.

[0047] This method helps to dissipate the heat generated by electronic components to the outside of the device.

[0048] (22) The housing may have a removable cover on which the electronic components are not located.

[0049] This approach contributes to expanding the functionality of the device in a simple and low-cost manner.

[0050] (23) The housing and the lid may be connected by a string.

[0051] This helps prevent the lid from falling off the casing.

[0052] The inventions described in (1) to (23) above can be combined in any way. For example, one may combine all or part of the configuration of the invention described in (1) with at least part of the configuration of at least one of the inventions described in (2) and onward. In particular, it is preferable to combine the invention described in (1) with at least part of the configuration of at least one of the inventions described in (2) and onward. Alternatively, one may extract any configuration from the inventions described in (1) to (23) and combine the extracted configurations. The applicant of this application intends to obtain rights to inventions that include these configurations. Furthermore, even if there are descriptions such as "in the case of..." or "when...", these are not meant to be descriptions that limit the configuration to that case or time. These are merely examples of better configurations, and the applicant intends to obtain rights to configurations that do not fall under these cases or times. Also, even if there is a sequence of descriptions, it is not limited to that order. Configurations with some parts deleted or the order rearranged are also disclosed, and the applicant intends to obtain rights to them as well. [Effects of the Invention]

[0053] According to the present invention, it is possible to determine whether an electronic device is connected to a connector without requiring any time.

[0054] Furthermore, the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described herein. Effects derived from the components disclosed in this specification and the drawings are also disclosed, and the applicant intends to obtain rights to such components through divisional applications, amendments, etc. For example, phrases such as "can do" or "is possible" in this specification are descriptions that clearly indicate the effects to be achieved, and there are components that demonstrate effects even without such descriptions. Moreover, there are effects that can be grasped by the component even without such descriptions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0055] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is an external view of the drive recorder of this embodiment, where (A) is a front view, (B) is a left side view, (C) is a right side view, (D) is a top view, (E) is a bottom view, and (F) is a rear view. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a top view of the drive recorder in this embodiment with a cap attached to the connector. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a functional block diagram relating to the connector connection identification function in the drive recorder of this embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the connector connection identification process in the drive recorder of this embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an external view of the internal connector of the drive recorder in this embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows the external view of a drive recorder of another embodiment, where (A) is a front view, (B) is a left side view, (C) is a right side view, (D) is a top view, (E) is a bottom view, and (F) is a rear view. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows the external view of a drive recorder of another embodiment, where (A) is a front view, (B) is a left side view, (C) is a right side view, (D) is a top view, (E) is a bottom view, and (F) is a rear view. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows the external view of a drive recorder of another embodiment, where (A) is a front view, (B) is a left side view, (C) is a right side view, (D) is a top view, (E) is a bottom view, and (F) is a rear view. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows the external view of a drive recorder with expandable functionality; (A) is a top perspective view showing the normal state with the cover attached to the housing, and (B) is a top view showing the normal state with the cover removed from the housing. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows the external view of the drive recorder with the expansion cover replaced. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is an external view of the underside of the expansion cover. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is an external view of the underside of the expansion cover with the inner cover removed. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is an external view of the inner cover. [Figure 14] Figure 14 shows the external view of the heatsink, where (A) is a front perspective view of the heatsink and (B) is a rear perspective view of the heatsink. [Figure 15] Figure 15 shows the external view of the SD card holder, where (A) is a front perspective view of the SD card holder and (B) is a rear perspective view of the SD card holder. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0056] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are just one example of the present invention, and the content of the present invention should not be interpreted as being limited based on the following description.

[0057] Figure 1 is an external view of a drive recorder 10, which is an example of the device of this embodiment. Figure 1(A) is a front view, Figure 1(B) is a left side view, Figure 1(C) is a right side view, Figure 1(D) is a top view, Figure 1(E) is a bottom view, and Figure 1(F) is a rear view. The drive recorder 10 is installed in a vehicle, for example, and an electronic device such as a camera is connected to the connector 12. The drive recorder stores images captured by the camera connected to the connector 12. Note that the electronic device connected to the connector 12 is not limited to a camera; for example, a display may be connected. Furthermore, the device to which the electronic device is connected via the connector 12 may be a device other than a drive recorder.

[0058] The top surface 10A of the drive recorder 10 is provided with a media opening for inserting an SD card. The media opening is double-sealed by a waterproof cover with a waterproof structure and a security cover 14 that seals the media opening on the outside of the waterproof cover. The waterproof cover is provided with a convex handle 16 that protrudes outward from the opening surface of the media opening. The security cover 14 has an opening, and this handle 16 protrudes outward through the opening of the security cover 14. Due to the elasticity of the waterproof cover, the waterproof cover and the security cover 14 are configured not to separate easily.

[0059] The drive recorder 10 shown in Figure 1 is equipped with multiple connectors 12A to 12J on its bottom surface 10B. The multiple connectors 12 do not need to be of the same type; they may be of different types. Each of the multiple connectors 12 is assigned a number to distinguish it from the others.

[0060] In the drive recorder 10 shown in Figure 1, the six connectors 12A to 12G from the left are connected to electronic devices that operate with relatively low power, such as cameras. Connectors 12H and 12I are connected to electronic devices that operate with relatively high power, such as displays. The rightmost connector 12J is connected to a power supply. Note that Figure 1 shows the state where cables 20 are connected to all of connectors 12A to 12J.

[0061] The drive recorder 10 of this embodiment is provided with a locking part 22 that prevents the cable 20 connected to the connector 12 from coming out of the connector 12. The locking part 22 of this embodiment is structured to hold down half the circumference of the cable 20 connected to the connector 12, and is formed so that one locking part 22 can be used for all connectors 12.

[0062] More specifically, the locking portion 22 of this embodiment is provided on the lower side of the front surface 10C of the drive recorder 10 so as to correspond to connectors 12A to 12H. The locking portion 22 consists of a flat portion 22A parallel to the front surface 10C of the drive recorder 10 and a locking plate 22B provided at the lower end of the flat portion 22A in a direction perpendicular to the flat portion 22A.

[0063] The locking plate 22B extends from the front to the back of the drive recorder 10 and has seven semicircular notches 22C that correspond to cables 20A to 20G. The cables 20 connected to the connector 12 fit into these notches 22C, preventing the cables 20 from coming out of the connector 12. The locking part 22 is fixed to the drive recorder 10 by fastening the flat part 22A to the drive recorder 10 with screws 22D.

[0064] As shown in Figure 2, the drive recorder 10 of this embodiment is designed so that the user can connect the cap 30 to the connector 12 to which the camera is not connected. In other words, the standard use of the drive recorder 10 of this embodiment is to connect the cap 30 to the connector 12 to which no electronic device is connected. Figure 2 shows the drive recorder 10 with the locking part 22 removed.

[0065] The caps 30 include waterproof caps 30A and non-waterproof caps 30B. Waterproof caps 30A prevent rainwater from entering the connector. Non-waterproof caps 30B do not have a waterproof function. By making all the caps 30 connected to the connector 12 waterproof caps 30A, the waterproofness of the drive recorder 10 is maintained. Furthermore, the caps 30 are distinguished by a combination of color, shape, or material between waterproof caps 30A and non-waterproof caps 30B. In the identification process described in detail later, the drive recorder 10 simply recognizes whether the caps 30 are connected or not as a machine, and it is difficult for a person to see the difference from the outside. However, because waterproof caps 30A and non-waterproof caps 30B are distinguished by a combination of color, shape, or material, the user can easily visually confirm the type of cap 30 connected to the connector 12.

[0066] The following is an example of a waterproof cap 30A.

[0067] (1) Examples of shapes • Straight type: A straight shape along the axial direction of connector 12. • L-shaped: The connector is bent at a 90-degree angle from connector 12. Effective in places with limited space. • With cap: The cap 30 that covers the tip of connector 12 is connected to cable 20. This helps prevent loss. • Screw-type: Secured to connector 12 with screws. Offers high waterproof performance. (The screw portion can also be used to identify the connector's attachment.) • Bayonet type: A type that is fixed by rotating with a bayonet mechanism. Easy to attach and detach. • Push-on type: Designed to be attached simply by pushing it in. Convenient, but may have inferior waterproofing performance. • Extendable / bellows type: Flexible shape that can accommodate the bending of 20 cables. • Split type: The connector 12 is attached by sandwiching it between the connectors. It can be added later without removing the cable. • Umbrella type: A shape that covers the connector 12 like an umbrella. Highly effective in preventing water droplets from entering.

[0068] (2)Material • Rubber (EPDM, silicone rubber, etc.): Excellent flexibility, weather resistance, and water resistance. • Thermoplastic elastomers (TPE, TPU): They have the elasticity of rubber, but are as easy to mold as plastic. • Plastics (polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), nylon (PA), etc.): Excellent chemical and oil resistance. • Metals (aluminum, stainless steel, etc.): Excellent durability and pressure resistance. Used when high strength is required, such as in screw-type connections. • Fluoropolymer (PTFE): Excellent chemical and heat resistance. Used in special environments. • Composite materials: By combining multiple materials, the advantages of each are utilized.

[0069] (3) Others: • O-ring / gasket: Placed between cap 30 and connector 12 to enhance waterproofing. • Grease: Applying it during installation enhances waterproofing. • A screw-type metal cap 30 is combined with an O-ring.

[0070] When the waterproof cap 30A is not attached to the connector 12, it is stored in a device such as the drive recorder 10. An example of how to store it in the device is given below.

[0071] (1) Cable attachment: Attach a short cable or string to the waterproof cap 30A, and secure the cable or string to the device housing or nearby cables. This is simple and inexpensive. It significantly reduces the risk of loss. Using a retractable coiled cable improves handling.

[0072] (2) Clips / Holders: Dedicated clips or holders are attached to the device housing of the waterproof cap 30A, and the waterproof cap is stored there. The waterproof cap 30A can be stored in an organized manner. Easy to attach and detach. By attaching the clips / holders to an inconspicuous place on the device, the aesthetic appearance can be prevented from being spoiled.

[0073] (3) Magnet: A magnet is attached to the waterproof cap 30A and held in place by attracting it to the metal part of the device housing. This makes attachment and detachment very easy and requires no tools. The magnet may also be embedded in the waterproof cap 30A.

[0074] (4) Slots / recesses: The device housing is provided with slots or recesses that can accommodate the waterproof cap 30A. This completely conceals the waterproof cap 30A, thus maintaining aesthetics. By placing cushioning material at the bottom of the slots / recesses, damage to the waterproof cap 30A can be prevented.

[0075] (5) The waterproof cap 30A is stored by attaching it to a location that is separate from the connector 12 and has the same shape as the connector 12. For example, a row of locations that have the same shape as the connector 12 is provided (alongside the row of connector 12). There is no need to make the waterproof cap 30A a special shape for storage.

[0076] (6) The device determines the storage status of the waterproof cap 30A. For example, it determines whether the waterproof cap 30A is attached to the "location with the same shape as the connector 12" as described above. The device provides notification according to the storage status.

[0077] The drive recorder 10 of this embodiment has a connector connection identification function that identifies whether or not an electronic device is connected to the connector 12. Conventional connector connection identification functions repeatedly performed the identification process for connectors that were not connected to an electronic device in order to prevent misidentification of the connection of an electronic device (hereinafter referred to as "retries").

[0078] The connector connection identification function of this embodiment performs an identification process to identify each connector 12 into three states: a first state in which a cap 30 is connected to the connector 12, a second state in which an electronic device such as a camera is connected to the connector 12, and a third state in which nothing is connected to the connector 12. If there is a connector 12 identified as being in the third state, an alert is issued. In the following description, the first state will be referred to as the waterproof cap connected state, the second state as the cable connected state, and the third state as the unconnected state, and the above alert will be referred to as an error alert.

[0079] The waterproof cap connection state is when the waterproof cap is attached to connector 12. The cable connection state is when a cable is connected to connector 12. The disconnected state is when nothing is connected to connector 12.

[0080] In other words, in a main unit (such as a dashcam) that can connect to multiple electronic devices (such as cameras), the following (1) to (3) are identified. (1) The waterproof cap 30A is attached to the connector 12 ((1) Waterproof cap connected state). (2) The state in which the cable is connected to connector 12 ((2) Cable connected state). (3) The state in which nothing is connected to connector 12 ((3) unconnected state).

[0081] The system will detect if (1) the waterproof cap is connected and (2) the cable is connected as normal, and if (3) the connection is not made, it will detect an abnormality and issue an error alert. If (1) the waterproof cap is connected, no error alert will be issued. Conventionally, if (2) the cable is not connected, an error alert will be issued immediately, but in this idea, even if (2) the cable is not connected, an error alert will not be issued immediately (if (1) the waterproof cap is connected). There are also errors due to loose connections. It may also be possible to announce which connection state is being used. When (2) the cable is connected, the system will read the camera ID, etc., and begin the recognition process. When (2) the cable is connected, the system will read the camera ID, etc., and begin the recognition process.

[0082] According to the connector connection identification function of this embodiment, not only the cable connection state in which an electronic device is connected to the connector 12, but also the waterproof cap connection state in which the cap 30 is connected to the connector 12 is considered an appropriate state. On the other hand, the unconnected state in which nothing is connected to the connector 12 is considered an inappropriate state. For connectors 12 in an inappropriate state, the presence or absence of an electronic device connection is determined multiple times, whereas for connectors 12 in an appropriate state, the presence or absence of a connection is not determined multiple times. An error notification is issued if there are any connectors 12 identified as being in an unconnected state.

[0083] Thus, the drive recorder 10 of this embodiment reduces the frequency of retries to connectors 12 to which no electronic device is connected by ensuring that the connector 12 to which the cap 30 is attached is in the appropriate state. As a result, the drive recorder 10 can determine whether an electronic device is connected to the connector 12 without taking any time.

[0084] Figure 3 is a functional block diagram relating to the connector connection identification function in the drive recorder 10 of this embodiment.

[0085] The drive recorder 10 comprises an identification unit 40, a notification control unit 42, a terminal camera detection unit 44, a device information transmission / reception unit 46, and an operating voltage control unit 48. The functions of the identification unit 40, notification control unit 42, terminal camera detection unit 44, device information transmission / reception unit 46, and operating voltage control unit 48 are realized, for example, by a computer built into the drive recorder 10 executing a program. This program is stored in a storage medium readable by the computer built into the drive recorder 10.

[0086] The storage medium for storing the programs to perform each of the above functions may be a storage medium of various storage types, such as semiconductor storage medium, optical storage medium, or magnetic storage medium. Furthermore, the storage medium that can be read by the computer may be a storage medium built into a device that implements the program-based functions, a storage medium attached externally to the device, a storage medium of a server connected to the device via a telecommunications line (e.g., wired and / or wireless), or other storage medium.

[0087] Furthermore, the functions of the identification unit 40, notification control unit 42, terminal camera detection unit 44, device information transmission / reception unit 46, and operating voltage control unit 48 may be implemented by one or more hardware elements, one or more software elements, or a combination thereof. In addition, each function may be implemented by a single device that is physically or logically coupled, or by two or more devices that are physically or logically separated.

[0088] The identification unit 40 performs identification processing to identify the waterproof cap connection status, cable connection status, and disconnection status for each connector 12. Details of the identification processing will be described later.

[0089] The notification control unit 42 issues an error notification if there is a connector 12 identified by the identification unit 40 as being disconnected. The error notification is issued, for example, by at least one of the LED 50 and speaker 52 of the drive recorder 10. When the error notification is issued by the LED 50, the LED 50 corresponding to the disconnected connector 12 lights up. When the error notification is issued by the speaker 52, the speaker 52 outputs an audio message indicating the identification number of the disconnected connector 12. Alternatively, the error notification may be issued by displaying information about the disconnected connector 12 on a display that can communicate with the drive recorder 10. If there are no disconnected connectors 12, no error notification is issued.

[0090] Next, the flow of the connector connection identification process will be explained with reference to the flowchart in Figure 4. The connector connection identification process is executed, for example, when the power of the drive recorder 10 is turned on. Also, when the power of the drive recorder 10 is turned on, power is supplied from the power supply unit 54 to the camera connected to the connector 12, and the camera's power is turned on.

[0091] First, in step 100, after the power of the drive recorder 10 is turned on, the identification unit 40 identifies the waterproof cap connected state, cable connected state, and disconnected state for each connector 12. Here, the state of connectors 12 identified as having the waterproof cap connected state and connectors 12 identified as having the cable connected state is determined by a single identification process. On the other hand, the state of connectors 12 identified as being disconnected is not determined by a single identification process.

[0092] In the next step 102, the identification unit 40 determines whether there are any disconnected connectors 12. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to step 104; otherwise, the connector connection identification process ends. In the example in Figure 2, connectors 12A and 12B are connected by cables, and connectors 12C to 12F are connected with waterproof caps. On the other hand, connector 12G is disconnected. Once a connector 12 is connected by a cable, the process of reading and recognizing the ID of the camera connected via connector 12 begins.

[0093] In step 104, the identification unit 40 retries the identification process for the disconnected connector 12 a predetermined number of times. The predetermined number of times is a number set in advance, for example, 3 times. In the example in Figure 2, the connector 12G is subjected to the predetermined number of retries.

[0094] In the next step 106, the identification unit 40 determines whether the connector 12 remains disconnected after a predetermined number of retries. If the determination is positive, the process proceeds to step 108; otherwise, the connector connection identification process ends. A negative determination occurs when the connector 12, after retries, is identified as being in a waterproof cap connection state or a cable connection state.

[0095] In step 108, the notification control unit 42 issues an error notification for the connector 12 that has been determined to be in a disconnected state, and terminates the connector connection identification process. The error notification is, for example, issued by an audio signal or by lighting an LED, indicating the identification number of the connector that has been determined to be in a disconnected state.

[0096] In this way, the identification unit 40 confirms the identification of a connector 12 that it has identified as being in a disconnected state by performing the identification process multiple times, and confirms the identification of a connector 12 that it has identified as being in a waterproof cap connected state or a cable connected state without performing the identification process multiple times.

[0097] In other words, even if connector 12 is identified as being disconnected, there is a possibility that communication between the camera or other device connected to connector 12 and the drive recorder 10 may be temporarily impaired, resulting in a connection error. Therefore, according to the identification unit 40 of this embodiment, multiple identification processes are performed only on connector 12 identified as being disconnected, allowing for more accurate determination of the connection of electronic devices to connector 12 without requiring significant time.

[0098] Thus, the drive recorder 10 of this embodiment does not issue an error notification if the waterproof cap is connected. In other words, even if the cable is not connected, an error notification will not be issued immediately if the waterproof cap is connected. The notification may not only issue an error notification, but also indicate which connection state is currently in place.

[0099] Furthermore, while the drive recorder 10 of this embodiment checks whether a camera is connected to all connectors 12, connectors 12 with a waterproof cap 30A attached do not require camera communication retries. As a result, the time required for camera connection confirmation and retries when the drive recorder 10 is powered on is reduced. In other words, the drive recorder 10 of this embodiment repeatedly retries (detecting the cable 20 and the waterproof cap 30A) for connectors 12 to which neither the cable 20 nor the waterproof cap 30A is connected, and if neither is detected in the end, it identifies it as a disconnected state. However, in the drive recorder 10 of this embodiment, the waterproof cap 30A is connected to connectors 12 to which no cable is connected by default (a disconnected state where neither is connected is an error), so the above retries are rarely performed. In contrast, in conventional technology, nothing is connected to connectors to which no cable is connected by default, so the above retries are performed as a matter of course.

[0100] The difference between this embodiment and the configuration described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-089471 (prior art), in which the connection status after the terminal is detected is not checked. In Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-089471 (prior art), nothing is connected to unused connectors, whereas in the drive recorder 10 of this embodiment, waterproof caps are connected to all unused connectors.

[0101] Therefore, while it is necessary to check that a camera is connected to every connector, connectors with waterproof caps do not require camera communication retries. As a result, the time required for camera connection checks and retries when the power is turned on is reduced.

[0102] In the drive recorder 10 of this embodiment, if nothing is connected to the connector, it will repeatedly retry (detecting the cable, detecting the waterproof cap), and if neither (the cable nor the waterproof cap) can be detected, it will determine that it is in "(3) disconnected state". However, in the drive recorder 10 of this embodiment, a waterproof cap is connected to the connector to which no cable is connected by default (because "(3) disconnected state" where neither is connected is an error), so the above retries are rarely performed.

[0103] In contrast, with conventional technology, it is assumed that nothing is connected to a connector that does not have a cable connected, so the above retry is performed as a matter of course. This means that conventional technology does not report an error even if a cable is not connected.

[0104] Next, we will describe the details of the identification process for connector 12.

[0105] First, when a camera is connected to connector 12, the drive recorder 10 and the camera can communicate. That is, the identification unit 40 identifies a connector 12 that has established communication with the camera as being in a cable-connected state. On the other hand, for connectors 12 that cannot establish communication, the identification unit 40 identifies them as being in a waterproof cap-connected state or a disconnected state. Methods for identifying the waterproof cap-connected state include, for example, continuity identification, switch identification, light identification, and shooting identification. The identification unit 40 identifies a connector 12 that is neither in a waterproof cap-connected state nor a cable-connected state as being in an unconnected state.

[0106] The identification process can be performed, for example, by simply setting up two lines and distinguishing the continuity state of these three lines for detection. The three lines are (1) A line connection, (2) B line connection, and (3) A and B line connection. Alternatively, for example, devices with established communication are identified as connectable devices, while those without established communication are identified by the state of a single continuity line.

[0107] Furthermore, the drive recorder 10 has a function to identify when nothing is attached. In Example 1, when the mounting portion of the cap 30 is properly fitted into the device, a conductive line is provided for detection. For example, in the above example, two lines (2 bits) are used to assign both lines to be disconnected (0). However, it is not limited to this, and the presence of the cap 30 can also be identified when the above A and B lines are disconnected. In Example 2, when the mounting portion of the cap 30 is properly fitted into the device, a switch is provided for detection. In Example 3, when the mounting portion of the cap 30 is properly fitted into the device, a light sensor provided in a darkened area is used for detection. In Example 4, the mounting portion of the cap 30 is positioned within the camera's shooting range and detected by image recognition.

[0108] Alternatively, a lamp may be installed on the conductive wire of the cap 30 so that its illumination can be recognized from the outside. This allows for the integration of human and machine recognition. For example, the color and illumination pattern of the lamp could be different for the waterproof cap 30 and the non-waterproof cap 30. The lamp should be illuminated only for a predetermined time after power is turned on.

[0109] The details of the identification process are explained individually below.

[0110] (Condition identification) Continuity identification is an electrical method of identifying a state, for example, by electrically short-circuiting. Specifically, when the cap 30 is connected to the connector 12 of the drive recorder 10, a specific line becomes electrically conductive, and the identification unit 40 identifies the connection state of the connector 12 based on the conductivity state. In order to perform continuity identification, a conductive line is formed in the connector 12 that becomes conductive when the cap 30 is connected to the connector 12. That is, a connector 12 in which the conductive line is conductive is identified as being in the waterproof cap connection state, and a connector 12 in which the conductive line is not conductive is identified as being in the disconnected state.

[0111] The conductive lines may be made different for, for example, the waterproof cap 30A and the non-waterproof cap 30B, so that the type of cap 30 connected to the connector 12 can be identified. For example, if conductivity is detected only on conductive line A, the identification unit 40 identifies that the waterproof cap 30A is connected to the connector 12. If conductivity is detected only on conductive line B, the identification unit 40 identifies that the non-waterproof cap 30B is connected to the connector 12.

[0112] Furthermore, if both conductive lines A and B are conductive, the identification unit 40 may identify that the connector 12 is in a cable connection state. In this configuration, the identification unit 40 may identify the cable connection state without establishing communication.

[0113] (Switch identification) The drive recorder 10 is equipped with a switch that switches on and off depending on whether the cap 30 is connected to the connector 12, and the identification unit 40 identifies the connection status of the connector 12 based on whether the switch is on or off. Specifically, a connector 12 with the switch turned on is identified as having the waterproof cap connected, and a connector 12 with the switch remaining off is identified as being disconnected.

[0114] In terms of switch identification, the connector 12 may be equipped with two switches, for example, in different installation positions, to identify the type of cap 30 connected to the connector 12. For example, if only switch A is turned on, the identification unit 40 identifies that a waterproof cap 30A is connected to the connector 12. If only switch B is turned on, the identification unit 40 identifies that a non-waterproof cap 30B is connected to the connector 12. Alternatively, if both switches A and B are turned on, the identification unit 40 may identify that the connector 12 is in a cable connection state. Furthermore, the waterproof cap 30A and the non-waterproof cap 30B may be identified by the same switch, while the identification determination of the electronic device may be performed by different switches.

[0115] (Light discrimination) The drive recorder 10 is equipped with a light sensor that detects brightness corresponding to the connection of the cap 30 to the connector 12, and the identification unit 40 identifies the connection status of the connector 12 based on the detection result of the light sensor. In this embodiment, the light sensor, as an example, includes a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit, and when the cap 30 is not connected to the connector 12, the light-receiving unit detects light from the light-emitting unit, while when the cap 30 is connected to the connector 12, the light-receiving unit does not detect light from the light-emitting unit. As a result, the connector 12 in which the light-receiving unit does not detect light is identified as being in a waterproof cap connected state, and the connector 12 in which the light-receiving unit detects light is identified as being in a disconnected state.

[0116] (Photo identification) The drive recorder 10 is equipped with a camera that photographs the connection portion of the cap 30 to the connector 12, and the identification unit 40 identifies the connection status of the connector 12 based on the camera's image. The camera may be provided for each connector 12 so as to include the connection portion of the cap 30 in its field of view, or it may be provided to accommodate multiple connectors 12.

[0117] The identification unit 40 identifies whether the waterproof cap is connected or not for each connector 12 by performing image recognition on the image captured by the camera. The identification unit 40 may also identify the type of cap 30 connected to the connector 12 by identifying the color of the cap 30. Alternatively, the identification unit 40 may identify whether the connector 12 is connected to a cable by identifying the difference between the cable 20 to which the camera is connected and the cap 30.

[0118] (Other identification methods) A magnet may be provided in the cap 30, and a magnetic sensor may be provided in the connector 12, with identification performed using the detection result of the magnetic sensor. Specifically, a magnet may be embedded in the cap 30, and a magnetic sensor (such as a Hall element) may be installed near the connector 12. When the cap 30 is attached to the connector 12, the magnet approaches the magnetic sensor, and the attachment status is determined by detecting the change in the magnetic field. Identification using a magnetic sensor is non-contact, resulting in less mechanical wear.

[0119] An RFID tag is embedded in the cap 30, and an RFID reader is installed near the connector 12. When the cap 30 is attached to the connector 12, the RFID reader reads the tag and obtains the tag ID and related information. RFID identification is contactless, can identify multiple caps 30 individually, and can also record information about the cap 30 (e.g., manufacturing date, maintenance history).

[0120] Furthermore, for continuity identification, a lamp such as an LED may be provided on the continuity line provided on the cap 30. That is, when the cap 30 is connected to the connector 12, the lamp provided on the cap 30 lights up, so the user can confirm that the cap 30 is connected to the connector 12 not only by identification by the drive recorder 10 but also by visual inspection. Note that the color and pattern of the lamp may differ depending on the type of cap 30. Pattern of illumination refers to, for example, whether or not it flashes and the flashing interval. The lamp may also light up immediately after the drive recorder 10 is started and turn off after a predetermined time has elapsed. The predetermined time is, for example, 10 minutes.

[0121] (Cable connection detection) A cable 20 may be connected to the connector 12, and a cap 30 may be connected to the end of this cable 20. In this case, the identification unit 40 may identify that the connector 12 to which the cap 30 is connected via a single cable 20 or a cable 20 connected to multiple cables 20 is in a waterproof cap connected state.

[0122] In this case, for example, similar to the continuity identification described above, a conductive line is formed on the cable 20 that becomes conductive when the cap 30 is connected to the cable 20. That is, a cable 20 with a conductive line is identified as being connected to the waterproof cap, and a cable 20 with a non-conductive line is identified as being disconnected. However, this is not limited to this, and switch identification, optical identification, photographic identification, etc., may also be used to identify the connector 12 to which the cap 30 is connected via the cable 20.

[0123] Furthermore, the cable 20 connected to the connector 12 may be extended by connecting multiple cables. A cap 30 or electronic device may be connected to the end of this extended cable 20, and connector connection identification processing may also be performed on the extended cable 20. Note that a resistor may be connected to the cable 20, and the identification unit 40 may determine the number of extended cables 20 or the length of the connected cables 20 by detecting the change in resistance value according to the number of cables 20. Alternatively, a signal-emitting chip may be attached to the end of the cable 20, and the identification unit 40 may determine the number of connected cables 20 and the appropriateness of the cable 20 connection by detecting the signal from the chip. The identification unit 40 may also determine the presence and type of electronic device connected to the cable 20 by detecting a signal from the electronic device connected to the cable 20.

[0124] In this configuration, the drive recorder 10 may notify the identification process for the connector 12, as well as the number (length) of cables 20 connected to the connector 12 and information related to electronic devices connected via the cables 20. Furthermore, if the length of the cables 20 connected to the connector 12 and the electronic devices to be connected are pre-configured, the drive recorder 10 may notify the user if the determination result differs from the pre-configured information.

[0125] The following are some ideas for identification methods. 1. A device that has a function to identify whether a waterproof cap is attached, whether a non-waterproof cap is attached, or whether a connectable device such as a camera is connected (e.g., a dashcam). Non-waterproof caps can also be used. Example 1: Simply set up two lines and detect by distinguishing the conduction state of these three lines. The three are, for example, (1) to (3) below: (1) Line A connection (for example, the state in which the first nodes of the detection circuit are electrically connected (conductive state)), (2) Line B connection (for example, the state in which the second nodes of the detection circuit are electrically connected (conductive state)), (3) Line A and B connection. Example 2: Devices with established communication are identified as connectable devices, while those without established communication are identified by the state of a single conductive wire.

[0126] 2. A device that also has a function to identify when nothing is attached. • Example 1: When the cap is properly fitted into the device, a conductive line is provided to detect this. For example, in Example 1 above, two lines (2 bits) are used, and both lines are assigned a disconnected state (0). Alternatively, lines A and B may be disconnected. Example 2: A switch is installed to detect when the cap is properly fitted into the device. Example 3: When the cap is properly fitted into the device, a light sensor located in a darkened area is used to detect this. Example 4: Detect the cap by positioning the cap's mounting area within the camera's field of view using image recognition.

[0127] 3. When a waterproof cap and a non-waterproof cap are attached to the device, they must be clearly recognizable as different from one another by a person looking at them from the outside (by any combination of shape, color, or material). In the case of item 1 above, the device simply recognizes itself as a machine, and it is difficult for a person to see the difference from the outside.

[0128] 4. A lamp is installed on the conductive wire of the cap (waterproof or non-waterproof cap) so that its illumination can be recognized from the outside. This allows for the synchronization of human and machine recognition. (It is recommended to use different lamp colors and illumination patterns for waterproof and non-waterproof caps. The lamp should only be illuminated for a predetermined time after power-on.)

[0129] Next, we will explain the other features of the dashcam 10.

[0130] (Detection of terminal camera) A camera designated as the termination point (hereinafter referred to as the "termination camera") may be connected to the connector 12 of the drive recorder 10. When the drive recorder 10 detects the termination camera, it does not perform identification processing on the subsequent connectors 12. However, the user may forget that the termination camera is connected to the drive recorder 10 and connect a camera to a connector 12 after the one where the termination camera is connected. In such a case, the drive recorder 10 will not recognize the connected camera, resulting in the user wasting time trying to figure out why the camera is not being recognized.

[0131] Therefore, the drive recorder 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a terminal camera detection unit 44. The terminal camera detection unit 44 notifies the connector 12 to which the terminal camera is connected (hereinafter also referred to as "terminal notification") when the terminal camera is connected to the connector 12. The determination by the terminal camera detection unit 44 may be made when the drive recorder 10 is started up, or when the user presses the confirmation button 56 provided on the drive recorder 10.

[0132] The termination notification by the termination camera detection unit 44 is performed, for example, by the illumination of a lamp on the termination camera or by the output of a sound from a buzzer on the termination camera. Alternatively, the termination notification by the termination camera detection unit 44 may be performed by at least one of the LED 50 and speaker 52 of the drive recorder 10. When the termination notification is performed by the LED 50, the LED 50 corresponding to the connector 12 to which the termination camera is connected illuminates. When the termination notification is performed by the speaker 52, the identification number of the connector 12 to which the termination camera is connected is output as an audible signal. If no termination camera is connected, a notification that no termination camera is connected may be given. In addition, if a termination camera is connected to a connector 12, connectors 12 to which connector connection identification processing is not performed may be notified. Furthermore, even if a termination camera is connected to a connector 12, the drive recorder 10 may perform connector connection identification processing for all connectors 12 each time the drive recorder 10 is started a predetermined number of times (for example, once every 10 times).

[0133] In this case, the prior art, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-089471, does not detect cameras after the terminal camera. This leads to a problem where, if you forget about this mechanism and add a new camera later, it will not be recognized, resulting in wasted time trying to figure out the cause (the "why isn't it being recognized?" problem). Alternatively, if you forget that the camera is treated as a terminal camera and connect another camera to the next terminal, it will not be recognized.

[0134] Therefore, it would be good to have a function that indicates that a camera corresponding to the terminal camera is connected. For example, it would be good to display this when the device is started up. It would be good to have a confirmation button on the device, and when it is pressed, it would be good to light up a lamp on the terminal camera or sound a buzzer on the terminal camera. In the case of partial termination as described in the above publication, it would be good to light up a lamp on the partial termination camera or sound a buzzer on the partial termination camera. It would also be good to display the number of connections to be skipped (the number of connections that will not be detected by cameras) and to provide a display or audio output that indicates which connections (connectors (connections) will not be detected by cameras) will be skipped. For example, it would be good to display or output an audio such as "Skip 4 and 5" or "Skip 10 through 15".

[0135] (Information transmission and reception according to the dashcam) The camera acquires information related to the connected drive recorder 10 (hereinafter referred to as "dash recorder information") from the connected drive recorder 10 via connector 12. The camera then returns information (hereinafter referred to as "camera information") corresponding to the type of dash recorder information to the connected drive recorder 10. In other words, the camera is equipped with a function that acquires information about the type of connected drive recorder and returns different information depending on the type of drive recorder.

[0136] For example, if there is a camera that can be connected to a new drive recorder 10 with a predetermined function added and an older drive recorder 10 that does not have the predetermined function, the camera will acquire information (e.g., model number) of the connected drive recorder 10. The camera will then identify the function that the drive recorder 10 has from the model number and send information corresponding to that function, such as image data corresponding to the resolution it can process, to the drive recorder 10.

[0137] Therefore, the drive recorder 10 is equipped with a device information transmission / reception unit 46. The device information transmission / reception unit 46 transmits drive recorder information to the camera connected via the connector 12 and receives camera information from the camera corresponding to the transmitted drive recorder information. With this configuration, the camera actively transmits camera information corresponding to the drive recorder 10, and the drive recorder 10 can acquire information from the camera.

[0138] Furthermore, the camera may receive the result of the connector connection identification process performed by the drive recorder 10 and notify the identification result. Alternatively, the camera itself may have a connector connection identification function and notify the result of the connector connection identification process. By having the camera have a function to notify the result of the connector connection identification process, for example, when the camera and the drive recorder 10 are connected by a very long cable 20, the user can recognize the identification result at the camera's location.

[0139] (Setting the operating voltage for the camera) Cameras are generally said to be connectable to various devices such as dashcams. In China in particular, there are many products that use USB cameras as dashcams. Some of these cameras allow the operating voltage to be set through negotiation with the connected device. Also, some devices such as dashcams allow the supply voltage to the camera to be set through negotiation with the camera.

[0140] Therefore, the camera connected to the drive recorder 10 in this embodiment has a configurable operating voltage. The drive recorder 10 reads the operating voltage set on the camera connected to the connector 12 and applies the read operating voltage to the camera. The camera's operating voltage can be set by the user using a DIP switch or the like. For example, the operating voltage setting may be changed according to the length of the cable 20 connecting the drive recorder 10 and the camera. Also, as explained in the cable 20 connection determination above, the drive recorder 10 may determine the length of the cable 20 to which the camera is connected and output an appropriate voltage according to the length of the cable 20. This allows the camera to receive the optimal operating voltage from the drive recorder 10.

[0141] More specifically, the camera can be connected to various models (of dashcams), and the camera's operating voltage can be set through negotiation with the device (like USB Type-C). Some devices can set the supply voltage to the camera through negotiation. When the camera determines that it is connected to a device that can set the supply voltage to the camera through negotiation, it will receive the optimal voltage supply from the camera side. In Example 1, the highest operating voltage is good when the cable is long. In Example 2, the lowest operating voltage is good when the cable is long (short). The voltage supplied to the camera side should be configured to be user-configurable (e.g., via a DIP switch).

[0142] (Electronic devices equipped with a USB port) The camera in this embodiment may be provided with a USB port. That is, the dashcam camera is provided with a USB power output port. The available power is set based on the relationship between the available power of the power supply and power line and the power consumption of the dashcam camera. For example, by providing a USB port on the camera, the user can use other electronic devices via the camera connected to the connector. More specifically, for example, if the camera is an in-vehicle camera, the user can use USB-powered devices such as lamps, fans, and vacuum cleaners from the location of the in-vehicle camera using the wiring for the in-vehicle camera. This makes it easy to use USB-powered devices (lamps, fans, vacuum cleaners, etc.) from the location of the rear camera using the existing wiring for the rear camera. Furthermore, the camera may be provided with a USB hub function so that another camera can be connected and the video from the other camera is sent to the dashcam via this camera.

[0143] Furthermore, the USB port provided on the camera may also function as a USB hub. For example, the camera may transmit video from another camera connected via its USB port to the drive recorder 10. The drive recorder 10 is configured to transmit and receive control signals and data with other electronic devices connected to the camera's USB port to accommodate this.

[0144] Furthermore, the power supplied by the drive recorder 10 to a camera equipped with a USB port is set based on the relationship between the available power supply determined by the power source and power line and the power consumption of the connected camera.

[0145] Furthermore, when two or more cameras are connected to a single camera via a USB port, the increased number of cameras may prevent the drive recorder 10 from processing high-resolution images such as 4K. In such cases, the drive recorder 10 may reduce the image quality of multiple cameras during recording.

[0146] (Type of news report) The type of cap 30 connected to connector 12, the presence and type of electronic equipment connected to connector 12, etc., are pre-set, and if the identification result of connector 12 differs from the settings, the notification control unit 42 may notify that the identification result and the settings differ.

[0147] (Identification of internal connectors) As shown in Figure 5, the connector 12 of the drive recorder 10 may have an internal connector 13 provided inside the drive recorder 10 (10N). The example in Figure 5 shows an internal connector 13 corresponding to the connector 12J shown in Figure 1. The internal connector 13 is located inside the housing of the drive recorder 10 and is not visible from outside the housing. The cable 20 inserted through an insertion hole provided in the outer wall of the housing is connected to the internal connector 13.

[0148] In the example shown in Figure 5, cable 20 is connected to connector 12J, but cable 20 may not be connected to connector 12J, and instead, a cap 30 or electronic device may be connected to the internal connector 13, and connector connection identification processing may be performed on the internal connector 13. In other words, the identification unit 40 may perform the same identification processing on the internal connector 13 as on the external connectors 12A to 12J. Note that the internal connector 13 shown in Figure 5 is just an example, and the internal connector 13 may be provided in correspondence with other connectors 12 other than connector 12J, or the internal connector 13 may be provided without corresponding to any connector 12.

[0149] In this embodiment, the drive recorder 10 may have a cable extending from the cap 30 so that the user can visually confirm that the cap 30 is connected to the internal connector 12, and when the cap 30 is attached to the internal connector 12, the cable may protrude from the insertion hole to the outside of the housing. The cable extending from the cap 30 only needs to be able to be inserted through the insertion hole, and may be, for example, a rod-shaped member. The user can confirm that the cap 30 is connected to the internal connector 12 by visually checking this cable.

[0150] (Cable lock detection) The identification unit 40 may also identify whether the locking unit 22 is fixed in a predetermined position on the drive recorder 10. The predetermined position is the position where the locking unit 22 prevents the cable 20 connected to the connector 12 from coming out of the connector 12.

[0151] Methods for identifying that the locking part 22 is fixed in a predetermined position include determining whether electrical conductivity has occurred when the locking part 22 is fixed in a predetermined position, as in the continuity identification method described above, and identifying when a switch provided on the drive recorder 10 turns on when the locking part 22 is fixed in a predetermined position, as in the switch identification method described above. Another identification method is to provide a magnet on the locking part 22 and a magnetic sensor on the drive recorder 10, and determine whether the magnetic sensor has detected magnetism when the locking part 22 is fixed in a predetermined position.

[0152] Furthermore, a screw 22D is used to fix the locking part 22 to the drive recorder 10. Therefore, the identification unit 40 may identify whether or not the screw 22D is tightened. For example, when the tip of the screw 22D turns on the switch as the screw 22D is tightened, the identification unit 40 identifies that the locking part 22 is fixed in the predetermined position. Alternatively, the screw 22D may be a magnetic screw, and the identification unit 40 may identify that the locking part 22 is fixed in the predetermined position by detecting the magnetism of the screw 22D with a magnetic sensor.

[0153] Furthermore, although the locking part 22 in this embodiment locks multiple cables 20 with a single unit, it is not limited to this, and one locking part 22 may lock one cable 20. In this configuration as well, it is possible to identify whether each locking part 22 is fixed in a predetermined position using the same identification method as described above.

[0154] Alternatively, the locking mechanism may be applied to the cap 30 and the locking mechanism may be identified as to whether or not the cap 30 is attached to the drive recorder 10 by identifying whether or not the locking mechanism is applied to the cap 30 and whether or not the locking mechanism is fixed in a predetermined position.

[0155] (Other forms of dashcams) In the example shown in Figure 1, multiple connectors 12 are provided on the bottom surface 10B of the drive recorder 10, but the position of the connectors 12 on the drive recorder 10 may be in other positions. Figures 6 to 8 show examples of external views of drive recorders of other embodiments. Figures 6(A), 7(A), and 8(A) are front views, Figures 6(B), 7(B), and 8(B) are left side views, Figures 6(C), 7(C), and 8(C) are right side views, Figures 6(D), 7(D), and 8(D) are top views, Figures 6(E), 7(E), and 8(E) are bottom views, and Figures 6(F), 7(F), and 8(F) are rear views.

[0156] The drive recorder 60 shown in Figure 6 has connectors 12H to 12J on the right side of the top surface 60A and connectors 12A to 12G on the bottom surface 60B. In addition, the drive recorder 60 has a security cover 14 and a handle 16 on the left side of the top surface 60A.

[0157] The drive recorder 62 shown in Figure 7 is equipped with connectors 12 in two layers, upper and lower. More specifically, connectors 12A-12D and 12H-12J are provided on the upper surface 62A of the drive recorder 62. A connector arrangement section 63 is provided on the front surface 62C of the drive recorder 62. The connector arrangement section 63 is convex relative to the front surface 62C of the drive recorder 62 and is equipped with connectors 12E-12G facing the direction of the upper surface 62A of the drive recorder 62. In this way, all connectors 12 of the drive recorder 62 are facing the same direction. The drive recorder 62 in Figure 7 is also equipped with a security cover 14 and a handle 16 on the lower surface 62B. Furthermore, the drive recorder 62 is equipped with locking parts 22 on the connectors 12A-12D on the left side of the upper surface 62A and on the connectors 12E-12G provided on the connector arrangement section 63.

[0158] Furthermore, connectors 12A to 12D (the first group of connectors) and connectors 12E to 12G (the second group of connectors) are arranged vertically when viewed from the connection direction, and the center of each connector 12 in the second group of connectors is positioned so as not to overlap vertically with the center of each connector 12 in the first group of connectors (in a so-called staggered pattern). In other words, the cable arrangement is staggered in two layers.

[0159] The drive recorder 64 shown in Figure 8 is equipped with five connectors 12A-12D and 12J on its top surface 64A, and five connectors 12E-12G, 12H and 12I on its bottom surface 64B. In addition, the drive recorder 64 is equipped with a security cover 14 and a handle 16 on its left side surface 64D.

[0160] (Enhancement of dashcam functionality) Next, we will describe the expandable drive recorder 70 with reference to Figures 9-15.

[0161] Figure 9 is an external view of the expandable drive recorder 70. Figure 9(A) is a top perspective view showing the normal cover 72 attached to the housing 74, and Figure 9(B) is a top view showing the normal cover 72 removed from the housing 74. The drive recorder 70 has cables 20 connected to multiple connectors and has functions such as connector connection identification, similar to the drive recorder 10 described above.

[0162] The overview of the drive recorder 10 of this embodiment will now be described. In the drive recorder 10 of this embodiment, a circuit board is housed in a box-shaped case, and the box-shaped case is closed with a lid. For example, an AI circuit board for human detection can be added to such a drive recorder 10. The addition of the AI ​​circuit board is done by replacing the original lid with a lid that has the AI ​​circuit board built in.

[0163] As a result, the AI ​​board is integrated simply by replacing the lid (although wiring connections are also required), making it user-replaceable. In this process, wiring is connected from the AI ​​board in the lid to the board inside the case, so to prevent the wiring from coming loose or being damaged when removing the lid after replacement, the case and lid are connected with a string (a string shorter than the wiring). A rib (a guide to direct the direction of the cable) is also provided inside the lid (the cover that hides the circuit board) to prevent the cable from being pinched during assembly.

[0164] The details of the drive recorder 10 of this embodiment will be described below. The drive recorder 70 is normally fastened between a cover 72 and a housing 74 by screws 73, and the normal cover 72 can be opened and closed relative to the open portion of the housing 74. Unlike the expansion cover 100 which will be described later, the normal cover 72 does not have a circuit board or the like placed on it. A circuit board 76 is placed on the housing 74, and a cable 20 is connected to it via a connector. The circuit board 76 is provided with an inner cover 78 to protect the circuit board 76.

[0165] Multiple holes 80 are formed on the front side of the standard lid 72, and an LED display unit 82 is provided. The multiple holes 80 are formed to correspond to the speaker located on the back side of the standard lid 72. The area 84 in Figure 9(B) corresponds to the area of ​​the speaker located on the standard lid 72.

[0166] The LED display unit 82 is formed in accordance with the positions of the LEDs 50 arranged on the circuit board 76. A light-transmitting milky white sticker is attached to the LED display unit 82, which diffuses the light from the LEDs 50. Note that the number of LEDs 50 shown in Figure 9 etc. is just an example, and as described above, multiple LEDs 50 corresponding to each of the connectors 12 may be provided in order to display the identification result by the connector connection identification function on the LEDs 50. The LED display unit 82 is a notification unit and displays, for example, "recording" or "power".

[0167] The cable 20, which is connected to a connector inside the housing 74, passes through the cable opening 86 and the tube 88, is pulled out from the housing 74 to the outside, and is connected to a camera or the like.

[0168] In the past, when a user of a drive recorder wanted to enhance its functionality, it was sometimes necessary to replace the drive recorder itself. This replacement was necessary, for example, when a new function could not be achieved through a software update and required the addition of a new circuit board equipped with a processing unit. However, replacing a drive recorder imposes costs and labor burdens on the user. Some drive recorders, as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-160583, consist of a housing containing a circuit board and a lid, with the lid covering the open portion of the housing.

[0169] Therefore, in order to expand the functionality of the drive recorder 70 in this embodiment, the standard cover 72 shown in Figure 9 can be replaced with the expansion cover 100 shown in Figure 10. The expansion cover 100 is taller than the standard cover 72 because it houses the expansion board 102.

[0170] Figure 11 is an external view of the back surface 100A of the expansion cover 100. Figure 12 is an external view of the expansion cover 100 with the inner cover 104, which covers and protects the expansion board 102 placed on the expansion cover 100, removed. Figure 13 is an external view of the inner cover 104.

[0171] An expansion board 102 equipped with a new computing device 106 is placed on the back surface 100A of the expansion cover 100. In this embodiment, the expansion board 102 is, for example, a board with built-in AI for detecting people from images captured by a camera. The computing device 106 is covered by a shielding case 108 to prevent malfunctions caused by electromagnetic waves.

[0172] The expansion board 102, which is placed on the expansion cover 100, and the board 76, which is placed on the housing 74, are connected by wirings 110 and 112 that are connected to the expansion board 102. For this reason, the above-described connector connection identification process may also be performed on the connectors of the board 76 and the expansion board 102 to which the wirings 110 and 112 are connected.

[0173] The speaker 52, which is connected to the circuit board 76, is positioned on the expansion cover 100. Waterproof double-sided tape is provided around the periphery of the speaker 52, and this tape is used to attach the speaker 52 to the back surface 100A of the expansion cover 100. The speaker 52 is also attached to the expansion cover 100 by multiple screws 114 spaced evenly around its periphery. The speaker attached to the normal cover 72 may also be attached to the normal cover 72 with waterproof double-sided tape, but it is not necessarily required to be attached with waterproof double-sided tape.

[0174] Furthermore, the wiring 116 for connecting the speaker 52 to the circuit board 76 is bent at a sharp angle from the speaker 52 and then guided by the guide 118. This ensures that the position of the wiring 116 is maintained even if the wiring 116 of the speaker 52 is pulled to connect to the circuit board 76.

[0175] Furthermore, by replacing the standard cover 72 with the expansion cover 100, various electronic components such as speakers and display units (LCDs, LEDs, etc.) (components electrically connected to the circuit board 76) may be replaced. Replacement would occur in cases of malfunction or when performance needs to be changed.

[0176] Furthermore, a light guide portion 120 is formed on the back surface 100A of the expansion cover 100 to guide light from the LED 50 provided on the housing 74 to the front surface of the expansion cover 100. The light guide portion 120 is provided at a position corresponding to the LED 50 on the housing 74, and a cylindrical space is formed to guide the light from the LED 50. In addition, the length and diameter of the light guide portion 120 for the LED 50 can be changed by replacing the normal cover 72 with the expansion cover 100.

[0177] As described above, the drive recorder 70 of this embodiment includes a housing 74 on which an expansion cover 100, in which an expansion board 102 is placed, can be attached and detached. The expansion cover 100 houses the expansion board 102, which is connected to a board 76 by wiring 110 and 112. With this configuration of the drive recorder 70, the functionality of the drive recorder 70 can be expanded easily and at low cost by replacing the normal cover 72 of an existing drive recorder 70 with an expansion cover 100 in which an expansion board 102 for function expansion is placed.

[0178] Furthermore, the position of the expansion board 102 in the expansion cover 100 and the position of the board 76 in the housing 74 are different in the vertical direction. Specifically, the position of the expansion board 102 is above the space in the housing 74 where the connector and cable 20 are connected. This makes it difficult for heat generated from the expansion board 102 to be transferred to the board 76.

[0179] Furthermore, to prevent the expansion cover 100 from falling off the housing 74, the expansion cover 100 and the housing 74 may be tied together with a string (not shown). The string is tied to a hook 122 provided on the inner cover 104 on the expansion cover 100 side.

[0180] The string is designed to prevent the wiring from being severed even if the extension cover 100 is removed from the housing 74 with excessive force. In other words, the string is designed to extend fully before the wiring is fully extended during the process of separating the extension cover 100 from the housing 74. To effectively achieve this function, it is preferable that the wiring and the string be located close together. For example, if the wiring is connected to the left side of the housing 74 and the extension cover 100, and the string is connected to the right side of the housing 74 and the extension cover 100, the cover may open on the left side even after the string has fully extended, using the right side (where the string is attached) as a pivot point, potentially causing the wiring to be fully extended.

[0181] Furthermore, a waterproof gasket is sandwiched between the expansion cover 100 and the housing 74. While the waterproof performance of the drive recorder 70 with the expansion cover 100 attached and the drive recorder 70 with the standard cover 72 attached are considered equivalent, it is not limited to this, and the drive recorder 70 with the standard cover 72 attached may be considered to have relatively higher waterproof performance than the drive recorder 70 with the expansion cover 100 attached.

[0182] (Inner cover configuration) Next, the details of the inner cover 104 provided in the expansion cover 100 of this embodiment will be described. The inner cover 104 is provided to cover and protect the expansion board 102. The wiring 110, 112 connected to the connector of the expansion board 102 is guided through the gaps 130, 132 formed in the inner cover 104 to the front of the inner cover 104, i.e., to the board 76 side.

[0183] In this embodiment, the inner cover 104 is formed by multiple regions 104A to 104D with different heights, as distinguished by dashed lines in Figure 13. Here, height refers to the height from the back surface 100A of the expansion cover 100. This allows the inner cover 104 to be shaped appropriately according to the configuration of the expansion board 102 and the wiring 110, 112, etc., connected to the expansion board 102.

[0184] Area 104A is the highest point and is L-shaped, along the two sides of the expansion cover 100B. Area 104A is located above the placement of the fins 152 of the heatsink 150 (described later) and the thick wiring 113 connected to the expansion board 102.

[0185] Region 104B is the next highest point after region 104A, is located approximately in the center of the expansion cover 100B, and is situated above the arithmetic unit 106. A hook 122 to which a string is tied is formed in region 104B.

[0186] Region 104C is the lowest point and is located above the planar region 156 of the heatsink 150, which will be described in detail later.

[0187] Region 104D is at the same height as region 104A and is located above the speaker 52. Therefore, a gap 134 is formed in region 104D to allow the speaker 52 wiring 116 to be routed out.

[0188] In this embodiment, the inner cover 104 does not necessarily need to have all of regions 104A to 104D, as long as it can protect the expansion substrate 102. For example, it may be formed of regions 104A, 104B, and 104C.

[0189] Furthermore, wires 110 and 112 are wound around the inner cover 104 to absorb length errors of a few centimeters and to prevent them from coming loose from the connector. Wire 113, which is relatively thicker than wires 110 and 112, is positioned to follow the inner surface of the expansion cover 100 without being bent significantly. For this reason, wire 113 is not wound around the inner cover 104.

[0190] Here, routing the wires 110 and 112 to connect them to the circuit board 76 can be time-consuming. If the routing of the wires 110 and 112 is improper, the wires 110 and 112 may be pinched between the expansion cover 100 and the housing 74 when the housing 74 is closed with the expansion cover 100. In addition, the wires 110 and 112 may be routed to an inappropriate position different from their intended location.

[0191] Therefore, the inner cover 104 of this embodiment has guides 140, 142, and 144 formed therein for guiding the wiring 110 and 112 between the expansion board 102 and the board 76. The wiring 110 and 112 are bent in advance to an appropriate angle and orientation so that they are guided by the guides 140, 142, and 144, and are pulled out from the expansion board 102 to the inner cover 104.

[0192] Guide 140 is a slope adjacent to the gap 130 for leading the wiring 110 from the expansion board 102 to area 104A. The slope, which is guide 140, is inclined towards the front of the inner cover 104, from the edge of the expansion cover 100 toward the center of the expansion cover 100. Guide 140 of this shape guides the wiring 110 taken out from the edge of the expansion board 102 toward the center of the expansion cover 100. After passing the slope, which is guide 140, the wiring 110 is bent at approximately 90° along the edge of the expansion cover 100 adjacent to the gap 130, as shown in Figure 11.

[0193] Guide 142 is a groove formed in the vicinity of region 104A where it is in contact with regions 104B and 104C. Wiring 112 is pulled out from the gap 132 between region 104A and region 104C toward region 104C, i.e. toward the center of the expansion cover 100. Then, wiring 112 is wound over region 104C toward guide 142. Guided by guide 142, wiring 112 moves outward from the center of the expansion cover 100B.

[0194] Guide 144 is formed in the vicinity of the edge opposite to the edge where guide 142 is formed in region 104A, and is erected perpendicular to region 104A. Guide 144 acts as a barrier to cause the wiring 112, which extends outward from the center of the expansion cover 100, to fold back towards the center of the expansion cover 100 at the edge of the expansion cover 100. This prevents the wiring 112 from being pinched between the expansion cover 100 and the housing 74.

[0195] Furthermore, a guide 148 is formed in region 104C to guide the wiring 146, which is drawn out from between region 104A and region 104C, in a straight line on region 104C. The function of the cover (in this case, the inner cover 104) that hides the circuit board (in this case, the expansion board 104) is solely to guide the cables. If it is not necessary to guide the cables, the cover that hides the circuit board does not need to be installed. Furthermore, even if no additional circuit board is added, simply having a cover with a guiding function is effective because it can guide the cables.

[0196] (Heat sink configuration) In this embodiment, a heat sink 150 is provided between the expansion cover 100 and the expansion board 102 to dissipate heat generated by the expansion board 102. Figure 14 is an external view of the heat sink 150, where Figure 14(A) is a front perspective view and Figure 14(B) is a rear perspective view.

[0197] The heatsink 150 is joined to the back surface 100A of the expansion cover 100 at its back surface 150B. The dimensions of the heatsink 150 are determined according to the dimensions of the expansion board 102, but the heatsink 150 in this embodiment is elongated vertically as an example. The heatsink 150 not only dissipates heat but also functions as an electrical shield and ground. Furthermore, the wiring 110, 112, 113, 146, etc. connected to the expansion board 102 are routed so as not to come into contact with the heatsink 150.

[0198] In this embodiment, the heat sink 150 has an expansion substrate 102 positioned in the substrate placement area 154 on its front surface 150A. A fin 152 is formed on the short side of the front surface 150A of the heat sink 150. The fin 152 is formed near the computing unit 106 positioned in the substrate placement area 154 and on the end side of the expansion cover 100. The heat from the fin 152 is dissipated into the air layer between the fin 152 and the expansion cover 100.

[0199] Furthermore, the heat sink 150 has a planar area 156 formed on the opposite side of the fin 152, with the substrate placement area 154 in between. The planar area 156 is flat and has the function of dissipating heat from the computing unit 106.

[0200] Furthermore, a heat dissipation section 158 with multiple uneven surfaces is formed on the back surface 150B of the heat sink 150 to increase its surface area. An opening 160 is formed in the expansion cover 100 at a position corresponding to the heat sink 150, and the heat dissipation section 158 is located in this opening 160. As a result, the heat dissipation section 158 comes into contact with the outside air, allowing heat from the expansion board 102 to be released into the outside air.

[0201] More specifically, the opening 160 is slit-shaped, and the heatsink 150 is positioned on the expansion cover 100 such that the protrusion of the heat dissipation section 158 aligns with the slit-shaped opening. The height of the protrusion of the heat dissipation section 158 is slightly lower than the surface of the expansion cover 100B. This prevents people from touching the heat dissipation section 158 of the heatsink 150, which is expected to become hot.

[0202] Furthermore, waterproof double-sided tape 162 is attached around the heat dissipation portion 158 of the heat sink 150, and the heat sink 150 is fixed to the back surface 100A of the expansion cover 100 by the double-sided tape 162. In addition, the heat sink 150 is also fixed to the expansion cover 100 by screws at equal intervals on its sides.

[0203] Thus, the heatsink 150 is not integrated with the expansion cover 100B or the expansion board 102. This makes it easy to mount a heatsink 150 with enhanced heat dissipation capabilities on the expansion cover 100, for example, a thicker heatsink 150 or a heatsink 150 with an air-cooling fan, if the amount of heat generated by the computing unit 106 located on the heatsink 150 is greater.

[0204] (SD card holder configuration) Figure 15 is an external view of the SD card retainer 170, where Figure 15(A) is a front perspective view and Figure 15(B) is a rear perspective view. The SD card retainer 170 is used for both the expansion cover 100 and the normal cover 72. The SD card retainer 170 has a structure that fastens and secures the cover to the main body.

[0205] An opening 172 is formed on the side 170A of the SD card holder 170. A handle 16, which is formed to protrude from the side of the housing 74, is inserted into the opening 172. A knob 174 for removing the SD card holder 170 from the drive recorder 70 is formed on the lower side of the opening 160 of the SD card holder 170. The knob 174 has an anti-slip surface 176 made up of multiple small protrusions.

[0206] The SD card retainer 170 is secured to the expansion cover 100 or the normal cover 72 by a screw 180. The upper end of the screw 180 is provided with a handle 182 to allow the user to rotate the screw 180 with their fingers.

[0207] Thus, because the SD card holder 170 has a screw 180 with a handle 182 and a knob 174, even if the drive recorder 70 is installed in a recessed area of ​​the vehicle that is difficult for the user to see, the SD card holder 170 can be easily removed from or attached to the drive recorder 70.

[0208] Furthermore, a recessed portion 184 extending in the vertical direction is formed on the back end of the side surface 170A of the SD card holder 170. The vertical direction is the same direction in which the screw 180 extends. A protruding portion is formed on the housing 74 to correspond to the recessed portion 184. When attaching the SD card holder 170 to the drive recorder 70, the protruding portion is connected to the recessed portion 184, allowing the SD card holder 170 to be fixed in the correct position without being at an angle to the drive recorder 70. As a result, even if the drive recorder 70 is installed in a recessed area of ​​the vehicle, for example, the SD card holder 170 can be easily attached to the drive recorder 70.

[0209] Furthermore, a vertically extending rib 186 is formed on the front end of the side surface 170A of the SD card holder 170. This prevents the side surface 170A of the SD card holder 170 from becoming distorted, making it easy to attach the SD card holder 170 to the drive recorder 70.

[0210] Furthermore, the fastener placement area 190 on the expansion cover 100 where the SD card fastener 170 is positioned is concave. The concave fastener placement area 190 is formed so that the upper surface of the handle 182 of the SD card fastener 170 and the surface of the expansion cover 100 are almost flush. As a result, when attaching the drive recorder 70 with the expansion cover 100 to a vehicle, the handle 182 does not obstruct the attachment.

[0211] The SD card retainer 170 can be the same for both the expansion cover 100 and the standard cover 72. For this reason, the retainer placement area 190 is concave. In other words, the retainer placement area 190 is concave in order to allow the same retainer to be used for both the expansion cover 100 and the standard cover 72, and to ensure proper size matching.

[0212] Furthermore, a projection 188 extending in the left-right direction is formed on the back side of the upper surface 170A of the SD card holder 170. The SD card holder 170 is then attached to the expansion cover 100 or the normal cover 72 with the projection 188 hooked onto a step formed in the holder placement section 190.

[0213] Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations explicitly described in the specification, but also includes combinations of various aspects of the present invention disclosed herein. While the configurations for which patent protection is sought are specified in the appended claims, we intend to include configurations disclosed herein that are not currently specified in the claims in the future.

[0214] The present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the embodiments above. The components of each embodiment and modification described above can be arbitrarily selected and combined. Furthermore, any component of each embodiment and modification can be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the means for solving the invention, or any component that embodies any component described in the means for solving the invention. The present application intends to obtain rights to these as well through amendments or divisional applications. Even if there is a description such as "in the case of..." or "when...", it is not meant to be a configuration that is limited to that case or time. Configurations that do not fall under these cases or times are also disclosed, and the present application intends to obtain rights to them. Also, even if there is a sequence of descriptions, it is not limited to that order. Configurations with some parts deleted or the order rearranged are also disclosed, and the present application intends to obtain rights to them.

[0215] In this specification, any expressions similar to "at least one of A or B," "at least one of A and B," "at least one of A or B," or "at least one of A and B" may be interpreted as "only A of A and B," "only B of A and B," or "both A and B."

[0216] Furthermore, by converting to a design registration application, we intend to acquire rights to the overall design or a partial design. The drawing depicts the entire device with solid lines, but it is a drawing that includes not only the overall design but also partial designs claimed for parts of the device. For example, it is a drawing that includes not only a partial design for a part of the device's components, but also a partial design for a part of the device that is unrelated to any component. A part of the device may be a component of the device, or a part of a component. We intend to acquire rights to the overall design, as well as to any partial design where any part of the solid lines in the drawing is represented by dashed lines. In addition, all modules, components, parts, images, etc. inside the device's casing that are shown in the drawing are also subject to independent trade, and similarly, we intend to acquire rights to them by converting to a design registration application. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0217] 10. Dashcam (device) 12 connectors 30 caps 74 cabinets 76 Circuit board (first circuit board) 100 Expansion Lid (Lid) 102 Expansion board (second board) 104 Inner cover (cover) 110 Wiring 112 Wiring 150 Heatsink

Claims

1. Equipped with connectors to which electronic devices can be connected, A device having a function to identify whether or not the connector is in a first state in which a cap is attached.

2. The function includes identifying the first state, the second state in which an electronic device is connected to the connector, and the third state in which nothing is connected to the connector. A function to provide notification when the third state described above is identified, The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the cap is a waterproof cap.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the identification function performs the identification a first number of times when identifying that the state is the first state, and performs the identification a second number of times less than the first number of times when identifying that the state is the third state.

5. When the cap is attached to the connector, a specific line becomes electrically conductive. The function for performing the aforementioned identification identifies the connection status of the connector based on the conductivity state. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2.

6. The device includes a switch that turns on and off depending on whether the cap is attached to the connector, The function for performing the aforementioned identification identifies the connection status of the connector based on whether the switch is on or off. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2.

7. The connector is equipped with a light sensor that detects brightness corresponding to the attachment of the cap to the connector, The function for performing the aforementioned identification identifies the connection status of the connector based on the detection result of the optical sensor. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2.

8. The system includes a camera for photographing the portion of the connector to which the cap is attached, The function for performing the aforementioned identification identifies the connection status of the connector based on the camera's shooting results. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2.

9. The function for performing the aforementioned identification identifies the connector to which the cap is attached via a single cable or a cable to which multiple cables are connected as being in the first state. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2.

10. The connectors are provided in multiple locations, The system includes a function to notify the connector to which the terminal electronic device is connected when the terminal electronic device is connected to any of the aforementioned multiple connectors. The apparatus according to claim 2.

11. The device transmits information related to this device to the electronic device connected via the connector, and receives information from the electronic device corresponding to the transmitted information. The apparatus according to claim 2.

12. The aforementioned electronic device is configured to allow setting of the operating voltage. The operator reads the operating voltage set on the electronic device connected to the connector, and applies the read voltage to the electronic device. The apparatus according to claim 2.

13. The device according to claim 2, wherein the electronic device is provided with a USB port.

14. The connector is equipped with a locking mechanism that prevents the cable connected to the connector from coming out of the connector. The locking part identifies whether or not it is fixed in a predetermined position. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2.

15. A program that causes a computer to perform the functions of the apparatus described in claim 1 or claim 2.

16. The device has a housing in which a first circuit board is placed inside and the lid is removable. The cover is configured such that electronic components connected to the first substrate by wiring are arranged on it. The apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the aforementioned electronic component is a second substrate.

18. The lid is provided with a cover that covers and protects the electronic components. The cover has guides formed in it for guiding the wiring between the electronic component and the first substrate. The apparatus according to claim 16.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the cover is formed by a plurality of regions of different heights.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein a heat sink for dissipating heat generated by the electronic component is provided between the lid and the electronic component.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the lid has an opening formed at a position corresponding to the heat sink.

22. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the housing has a removable cover on which the electronic components are not arranged.

23. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the housing and the lid are connected by a string.

Images