Recording device

Abstract

To provide a recording device capable of suppressing recording capacity of picked-up image data of an on-vehicle camera from increasing and efficiently recording data.SOLUTION: The present invention relates to a recording device that records picked-up images of an on-vehicle camera imaging a scene outside a vehicle, and comprises: a radio communication signal detection which detects a short-range radio communication signal from a portable information terminal outside the vehicle capable of short-range radio communication; and a recording part which records picked-up images of the on-vehicle camera when the radio communication signal detection part detects the short-range radio communication signal and does not record the picked-up images of the on-vehicle camera when the radio communication signal detection part does not detect the short-range radio communication signal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a recording device for an in-vehicle camera. [Background technology]

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2009-083815 is a known technical document relating to a recording device. This publication discloses a drive recorder device for recording the positions and movements of nearby pedestrians and other vehicles before and after a traffic accident caused by the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-083815 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there is a limit to the capacity for recording image data such as an image of the front of the vehicle. If the above-mentioned conventional drive recorder device were to record continuously, there would be a problem that the recording capacity of the image data would become too large. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One aspect of the present invention is a recording device that records images captured by an on-board camera that captures images of the outside of a vehicle, the recording device including a wireless communication signal detection unit that detects a short-range wireless communication signal from a portable information terminal outside the vehicle that is capable of short-range wireless communication, and a recording unit that records the images captured by the on-board camera when the wireless communication signal detection unit detects the short-range wireless communication signal, and A certain amount of time has passed since you stopped using the service. In this case, the vehicle is provided with a recording unit that does not record images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, an increase in the recording capacity of image data captured by an in-vehicle camera can be suppressed, and data can be recorded efficiently. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing a recording device of an in-vehicle camera according to an embodiment; [Diagram 2] 1 is a plan view showing an example of a situation in which a short-range wireless communication signal outside the vehicle is detected; [Diagram 3] 10A is a timing chart showing an example of whether a short-range wireless communication signal is detected, and FIG. 10B is a timing chart showing an example of ON / OFF of recording of captured images. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a recording start process of a captured image. [Diagram 5] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a recording end process of a captured image. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a recording device 1 of an in-vehicle camera according to one embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the recording device 1 is mounted on a vehicle M. The vehicle M may be a passenger car or a cargo vehicle. The type of the vehicle M is not particularly limited. A pedestrian P shown in Fig. 1 is a pedestrian walking in front of the vehicle M while holding a mobile information terminal T.

[0010] [Recording device configuration] As an example, the recording device 1 includes an in-vehicle camera 2, a short-range wireless communication detection device 3, a GNSS [Global Navigation Satellite System] device 4, a display device 5, a vehicle speed sensor 6, a gyro sensor 7, a map database 8, a data recording unit 9, and a multimedia processing device 10.

[0011] The vehicle-mounted camera 2 is an imaging device that captures images of the external situation of the vehicle M. The vehicle-mounted camera 2 is provided, for example, on the back side of the windshield of the vehicle M, and captures images in front of the vehicle M. The vehicle-mounted camera 2 may be composed of multiple cameras. The multiple cameras may be provided to capture images in front, behind, left and right of the vehicle M. The vehicle-mounted camera 2 transmits captured images relating to the external situation of the vehicle M to the multimedia processing device 10. The vehicle-mounted camera 2 may be a monocular camera or a stereo camera.

[0012] The short-range wireless communication detection device 3 detects short-range wireless communication from a portable information terminal T. The portable information terminal T is, for example, a smartphone. The portable information terminal T does not have to be carried by the pedestrian P as long as it is outside the vehicle. The portable information terminal T may be, for example, a portable information terminal owned by the driver of another vehicle. The portable information terminal T is not particularly limited as long as it is a portable information terminal that transmits short-range wireless communication.

[0013] The short-distance wireless communication is, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark). The short-distance wireless communication is not limited to Bluetooth. The short-distance wireless communication may be, for example, wireless communication having a communication range of 50 m or less, wireless communication having a communication range of 30 m or less, or wireless communication having a communication range of 20 m or less.

[0014] The GNSS device 4 receives signals from a plurality of positioning satellites to measure the position (e.g., latitude and longitude) of the vehicle M. The GNSS device 4 is, for example, a GPS [Global Positioning System] device. The GNSS device 4 transmits the measured position information of the vehicle M to the multimedia processing device 10.

[0015] The display device 5 is, for example, a display device. The display device 5 is provided on the dashboard of the vehicle M or the like, and displays navigation information and the like. The display device 5 displays various types of information in response to a control signal from the multimedia processing device 10.

[0016] The vehicle speed sensor 6 is a detector that detects the vehicle speed of the vehicle M. The vehicle speed sensor 6 is provided, for example, on the wheels of the vehicle M or on a drive shaft that rotates integrally with the wheels, and a wheel speed sensor that detects the rotation speed of the wheels is used. The vehicle speed sensor transmits the detected vehicle speed information (wheel speed information) to the multimedia processing device 10.

[0017] The gyro sensor 7 is a detector that detects a yaw rate around the vertical axis of the center of gravity of the vehicle M. The gyro sensor 7 transmits the detected yaw rate of the vehicle M to the multimedia processing device 10.

[0018] The map database 8 is a database that stores map information. The map database 8 is formed, for example, in a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) mounted on the vehicle M. The map information includes road position information, road shape information (for example, curves, types of straight sections, curvature of curves, etc.), intersection and branch point position information, and structure position information. The map database 8 may be formed in a server that can communicate with the vehicle M.

[0019] The data recording unit 9 is a database that records images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera 2. The data recording unit 9 is formed, for example, in a HDD [Hard Disk Drive] mounted on the vehicle M. The data recording unit 9 records the images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera 2 in association with position information of the vehicle M. The data recording unit 9 may be formed in a server capable of communicating with the vehicle M.

[0020] The multimedia processing device 10 is, for example, a car navigation system or an audio device. The multimedia processing device 10 is an electronic control unit having a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage unit such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0021] Next, a description will be given of the functional configuration of the multimedia processing device 10. The multimedia processing device 10 has a vehicle position information acquisition unit 11, a wireless communication signal detection unit 12, and a recording unit 13.

[0022] The vehicle position information acquisition unit 11 acquires the position information of the vehicle M from the measurement results of the GNSS device 4. The vehicle position information acquisition unit 11 may acquire the position information of the vehicle M by odometry using the detection results of the vehicle speed sensor 6 and the gyro sensor 7 and the map information of the map database 8. The vehicle position information acquisition unit 11 may acquire the position information of the vehicle M by SLAM [Simultaneous Localization and Mapping] technology using the position information of fixed obstacles such as utility poles included in the map information of the map database 8 and an image of an object included in the captured image of the in-vehicle camera 2. The vehicle position information acquisition unit 11 may acquire the position information of the vehicle M by other well-known methods.

[0023] The wireless communication signal detection unit 12 detects a short-range wireless communication signal from a portable information terminal T outside the vehicle that is capable of short-range wireless communication, via the short-range wireless communication detection device 3. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of a situation in which a short-range wireless communication signal outside the vehicle is detected. FIG. 2 shows a transmission range Dp of a short-range wireless communication signal of the portable information terminal T held by a pedestrian P and a reception range Dc of a short-range wireless communication signal of a vehicle M. As shown in FIG. 2, the wireless communication signal detection unit 12 detects a short-range wireless communication signal from the portable information terminal T outside the vehicle at a timing when the transmission range Dp of the short-range wireless communication signal of the portable information terminal T held by the pedestrian P overlaps with the reception range Dc of the short-range wireless communication signal of the vehicle M.

[0024] The wireless communication signal detection unit 12 may exclude portable information terminals inside the vehicle that are capable of short-range wireless communication and that are carried by the driver or passengers from the detection targets by performing recognition and registration (pairing, etc.) of the portable information terminals inside the vehicle. If the wireless communication signal detection unit 12 can distinguish between portable information terminals inside the vehicle and portable information terminals outside the vehicle by other methods, it may detect only portable information terminals outside the vehicle by excluding portable information terminals inside the vehicle from the detection targets.

[0025] The recording unit 13 records the images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera 2 in the data recording unit 9. When recording an image captured by the vehicle-mounted camera 2, the recording unit 13 records the image in association with position information of the vehicle M. When the wireless communication signal detection unit 12 detects a short-range wireless communication signal, the recording unit 13 turns on recording of the images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera 2. When the wireless communication signal detection unit 12 does not detect a short-range wireless communication signal, the recording unit 13 turns off recording of the images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera 2.

[0026] When the wireless communication signal detection unit 12 detects a short-range wireless communication signal, the recording unit 13 may turn off recording of images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera 2 when a certain time has elapsed since the wireless communication signal detection unit 12 stopped detecting the short-range wireless communication signal.

[0027] Specifically, Fig. 3(a) is a timing chart showing an example of the presence or absence of detection of a short-range wireless communication signal. The horizontal axis indicates time, and the vertical axis indicates the presence or absence of detection of a short-range wireless communication signal. In Fig. 3(a), a short-range wireless communication signal is detected three times. The detection timings of the short-range wireless communication signal are indicated as p1, p2, and p3. The short-range wireless communication signal is detected for one second at detection timing p1, and for two seconds at detection timings p2 and p3. With the start time of detection timing p1 as a reference, the detection time of detection timing p1 is from 0 to 1 second, the detection time of detection timing p2 is from 4 to 6 seconds, and the detection time of detection timing p3 is from 10 to 12 seconds.

[0028] Fig. 3(b) is a timing chart showing an example of ON / OFF of recording of captured images. The horizontal axis is time, and the vertical axis is recording ON / OFF. As shown in Fig. 3(b), when a certain time (here, 5 seconds) or more has elapsed since the recording unit 13 stopped detecting a short-range wireless communication signal, the recording unit 13 turns off recording of captured images of the vehicle-mounted camera 2. Here, the recording unit 13 turns on recording at 0 seconds and turns off recording at 17 seconds.

[0029] [Processing of recording device] Next, the process of the recording device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 4 is a flow chart showing an example of the recording start process of the captured image. The recording start process of the captured image is executed while the vehicle M is traveling, for example.

[0030] 4, the recording device 1 determines in S10 whether or not the wireless communication signal detection unit 12 has detected a short-range wireless communication signal from a portable information terminal T. The wireless communication signal detection unit 12 detects a short-range wireless communication signal from a portable information terminal T outside the vehicle via the short-range wireless communication detection device 3. If it is determined that a short-range wireless communication signal has been detected (S10: YES), the recording device 1 proceeds to S11. If it is determined that a short-range wireless communication signal has not been detected (S10: NO), the recording device 1 ends this processing.

[0031] In S11, the recording device 1 turns on the recording of the images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera 2 using the recording unit 13. The recording unit 13 associates the images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera 2 with the position information of the vehicle M and starts recording them in the data recording unit 9. Thereafter, the recording device 1 ends this processing.

[0032] 5 is a flow chart showing an example of a captured image recording end process, which is executed when the recording of captured images is ON.

[0033] 5, in S20, the recording device 1 determines whether or not a short-range wireless communication signal from the portable information terminal is detected by the wireless communication signal detection unit 12. If the recording device 1 determines that a short-range wireless communication signal is not detected (S20: YES), the recording device 1 proceeds to S21. If the recording device 1 does not determine that a short-range wireless communication signal is not detected (S20: NO), the recording device 1 ends this processing.

[0034] In S21, the recording device 1 determines whether or not a certain time has passed since the recording unit 13 stopped detecting a short-range wireless communication signal. If it is determined that a certain time has passed since the recording device 1 stopped detecting a short-range wireless communication signal (S21: YES), the recording device 1 proceeds to S22. If it is determined that a certain time has passed since the recording device 1 stopped detecting a short-range wireless communication signal (S21: YES), the recording device 1 proceeds to S22. If it is not determined that a certain time has passed since the recording device 1 stopped detecting a short-range wireless communication signal (S21: NO), the recording device 1 ends this processing.

[0035] In S22, the recording device 1 switches off the recording of images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera 2 by the recording unit 13. The recording unit 13 stops recording of images captured by the vehicle-mounted camera 2 to the data recording unit 9.

[0036] According to the recording device 1 of the present embodiment described above, when a short-range wireless communication signal is detected from a portable information terminal T outside the vehicle such as a pedestrian P, the captured image of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is recorded, and when a short-range wireless communication signal is not detected, the captured image of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 is not recorded, thereby making it possible to suppress an increase in the recording capacity of the captured image data of the vehicle-mounted camera 2 and to perform data recording efficiently. As a result, the recording device 1 does not endlessly record information about driving scenes where nothing is visible around the vehicle, and can effectively record information that captures pedestrians.

[0037] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. The present invention can be embodied in various forms including the above-mentioned embodiment and various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0038] For example, the vehicle position information acquisition unit 11, the wireless communication signal detection unit 12, and the recording unit 13 do not have to be included in the multimedia processing device 10. One or more of the vehicle position information acquisition unit 11, the wireless communication signal detection unit 12, and the recording unit 13 may be included in an on-board ECU [Electronic Control Unit], or the ECU may have all of the functions. Alternatively, the GNSS device 4 may have the function of the vehicle position information acquisition unit 11, the short-range wireless communication detection device 3 may have the function of the wireless communication signal detection unit 12, and the data recording unit 9 may have the function of the recording unit 13.

[0039] The recording device 1 is not limited to direct communication between devices (so-called peer-to-peer communication). The recording device 1 can also be implemented via a server. For example, implementation via a server can be considered by using a narrow cell such as a picocell or femtocell in a mobile communication network. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1...recording device, 2...on-board camera, 3...short-range wireless communication detection device, 4...GNSS device, 5...display device, 6...vehicle speed sensor, 7...gyro sensor, 8...map database, 9...data recording unit, 10...multimedia processing device, 11...vehicle position information acquisition unit, 12...wireless communication signal detection unit, 13...recording unit.

Claims

[Claim 1] A recording device that records an image captured by an on-board camera that captures an image of the outside of a vehicle, a wireless communication signal detection unit that detects a short-range wireless communication signal from a portable information terminal outside the vehicle that is capable of short-range wireless communication; a recording unit that records an image captured by the vehicle-mounted camera when the wireless communication signal detection unit detects the short-range wireless communication signal, and does not record the image captured by the vehicle-mounted camera when a certain period of time has elapsed since the wireless communication signal detection unit stopped detecting the short-range wireless communication signal; and A recording device comprising:

Images