Drive recorder and power supply control method

Abstract

To provide a dashboard camera that maximizes the effectiveness and longevity of a charge amount.SOLUTION: A dashboard camera 10 includes: an ambient information acquisition unit 18 that acquires information on the periphery of a vehicle including image data obtained by capturing the periphery of the vehicle; a sign detection unit 30 that detects a sign of an abnormality occurrence based on the information on the periphery of the vehicle; and a power control unit 54 that controls a charge amount of a power supply of the dashboard camera. The power control unit 54 controls the charge amount of the power supply to a predetermined suppression charge amount that is lower than the maximum chargeable amount during normal times, and increases the charge amount of the power supply from the suppression charge amount when the sign of the abnormality occurrence is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive recorder and a power supply control method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, rechargeable batteries have been used as power sources for various devices, but to prevent deterioration of rechargeable batteries and extend their lifespan, There is a known technique for keeping the charge level at 40% to 80% in order to save battery power (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2009-274677 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if you keep the battery charge at 80%, you are not making the most of the battery's capacity. There were times when I couldn’t do it.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to maximize the effect of the charge amount. The present invention aims to provide a drive recorder and a power supply control method that achieve both a shorter battery life and a longer operating life. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, a drive recorder of one embodiment of the present invention includes a surrounding information acquisition unit that acquires information about the surroundings of the vehicle including image data captured around the vehicle, a warning sign detection unit that detects signs of an abnormality based on the information about the surroundings of the vehicle, and a power supply control unit that controls the charging amount of the power supply in the drive recorder, and under normal circumstances, controls the charging amount of the power supply to a predetermined suppressed charging amount that is lower than the maximum chargeable amount, and when a warning sign of an abnormality is detected, increases the charging amount of the power supply above the suppressed charging amount.

[0007] Another aspect of the present invention is a power supply control method, which includes a surrounding information acquisition step of acquiring information about the surroundings of the vehicle including image data of the surroundings of the vehicle, a sign detection step of detecting a sign of an abnormality based on the information about the surroundings of the vehicle, and a power supply control step of controlling a charge amount of a power supply in a drive recorder, in which the charge amount of the power supply is controlled to a predetermined suppressed charge amount that is lower than a maximum chargeable amount under normal circumstances, and when a sign of an abnormality is detected, the charge amount of the power supply is increased above the suppressed charge amount.

[0008] Any combination of the above components or any of the components or expressions of the present invention may be used as a method, an apparatus, a system, or the like. Mutually interchangeable systems, programs, etc. are also valid aspects of the present invention. . Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a drive recorder and a power supply control method that achieve both maximization of the effect of the charge amount and an extension of the life span. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a drive recorder. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic circuit configuration of a drive recorder. [Diagram 3] 13 is a flowchart showing a power supply control process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Specific numerical values ​​and the like shown in the embodiment are merely examples for facilitating understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In this specification and the drawings, elements having substantially the same functions and configurations are given the same reference numerals to omit repeated explanations, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not illustrated. In the embodiment described below, a drive recorder is mainly exemplified as a power supply control device, but the power supply control device may be realized as a power supply control device for electronic devices other than a drive recorder. When a sign of an abnormality is detected, such as damage to a vehicle and a drive recorder main body installed in the vehicle due to an accident, or the power supply cable to the drive recorder main body is pulled out or broken, the power supply control device increases the charge amount of the standby power supply to prepare for the abnormality.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic functional configuration of a drive recorder 10. In terms of hardware, each functional block is made up of a computer's CPU, memory, and other components. This can be realized by elements and mechanical devices, and in terms of software, by computer programs, etc. However, here they are depicted as functional blocks realized through the cooperation of these components. Therefore, these functional blocks are implemented by combining hardware and software. Those skilled in the art will recognize that this can be accomplished in a variety of ways.

[0013] The drive recorder 10 includes a surrounding information acquisition unit 18, a sign detection unit 30, a recording control unit 20, and time memory unit 22, communication unit 24, operation reception unit 26, main power supply 50, standby power supply 52, power supply control unit 5 4, a display control unit 28, and an audio output unit 29. The surrounding information acquisition unit 18 acquires information about the surroundings of the vehicle. The surrounding information acquisition unit 18 acquires information on the surroundings by combining the image acquisition unit 12, the voice acquisition unit 14, and the vehicle information acquisition unit 16. The image acquisition unit 12 is a part of the vehicle information acquisition unit 16. Alternatively, the image acquisition unit 12 may be included in the vehicle information acquisition unit 16. The recorder 10 is mounted on a moving object such as a vehicle, a ship, or an aircraft. The operation reception unit 26 receives and transmits information to and from the device via a wireless communication connection. The display control unit 28 controls the display of the captured image on the display device 49. The display device 49 is, for example, a monitor provided in the navigation device 11. Alternatively, the display device 49 may be built into the drive recorder 10. 9 controls the audio output to a speaker 47 that outputs recorded audio, warning sounds, etc. The speaker 47 is, for example, a speaker provided in the navigation device 11 or a vehicle. As a modified example, the drive recorder 10 may be configured to include a built-in speaker 47. The drive recorder 10 and the navigation device 11 are connected to each other by wireless communication via a communication unit 24. It can be a synchronous connection or a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver / Transmitter) Alternatively, the connection may be a wired communication connection such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus).

[0014] The image acquisition unit 12 acquires image data of the surroundings of the vehicle as information about the surroundings of the vehicle. Specifically, the video captured by the front camera 40 and the rear camera 42 installed in the vehicle is The front camera 40 captures the surroundings of the vehicle, particularly the area in front of the vehicle. The rear camera 42 is configured to capture the surroundings of the vehicle, particularly the rear of the vehicle. The front camera 40 is configured to capture both the front and interior of the vehicle. Alternatively, the camera may be configured to capture images of the front and sides of the vehicle and the interior of the vehicle, and may be configured to capture images of the entire 360° surroundings. It may be configured with one all-around camera capable of capturing images in all directions, or with multiple cameras capturing images in the front, back, and sides. The front camera 40 and the rear camera 42 may be built in the drive recorder 10. The rear camera 42 may be integrated into the driving recorder 10 or may be separate from the driving recorder 10. The camera also transmits rear images to the navigation device 11. The camera 11 is used as both the camera and the surveillance camera 11.

[0015] The image acquisition unit 12 acquires vehicle information related to the running of the vehicle from the front camera 40 and the rear camera 4 2 may acquire images taken by the image acquisition unit 12, and the image acquisition unit 12 may be regarded as a part of the vehicle information acquisition unit 16. The image acquisition unit 12 acquires an image from the front camera 40 and also acquires an image from the rear camera The display control unit 28 acquires an image from the vehicle 42. While the vehicle information indicating that the vehicle is parked outside the parking space is being acquired, the image from the front camera 40 The vehicle information indicating that the gear is in reverse is acquired. While the image is being acquired, the image from the rear camera 42 is displayed on the display device 49.

[0016] The voice acquisition unit 14 acquires voice data acquired by a microphone 44 provided in the vehicle. The microphone 44 is configured to collect sound from inside and outside the vehicle. The camera may be built in the drive recorder 10 or may be separate from the drive recorder 10. The navigation device 11 may be integrated with the rear camera 40 or rearview camera 42. When the microphone 44 is built into the navigation device 11, the microphone The voice acquisition unit 14 is used for voice recognition operation of the vehicle operation device 11. The information may be obtained by voice through a microphone 44, and the voice obtaining unit 14 may be a vehicle information obtaining unit. It may be considered as part of 16.

[0017] The vehicle information acquisition unit 16 acquires information about the surroundings of the vehicle from an in-vehicle device 46 installed in the vehicle. The vehicle information relating to the running of the vehicle is acquired. Specific examples of the in-vehicle device 46 include a vehicle speed sensor, a steering angle sensor, and the like. Sensors, accelerator operation amount sensors, brake operation amount sensors, acceleration sensors, gyro sensors , radar sensor, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), location information sensor (e.g., GNSS; Global Navigation Satellite System), passenger seating sensors, etc. The vehicle information acquisition unit 16 includes, but is not limited to, various control E From CU (Electronic Control Unit) to CAN (Controller Area Network) and other in-vehicle The vehicle information may be acquired via a network, or the vehicle information may be acquired via a navigation device 11. Alternatively, both pieces of information may be acquired from a position information sensor built into the navigation device 11. The vehicle information acquisition unit 16 may acquire the user's mobile phone number via the communication unit 24. The sensors built into the mobile phone, such as the acceleration sensor, gyro sensor, and location information sensor, The vehicle information acquisition unit 16 may acquire information detected by the driving recorder 10. For example, the vehicle may acquire information about the vehicle's running from a sensor built into the vehicle. The camera 10 may have built-in sensors such as an acceleration sensor and a position information sensor. The camera 40, rear camera 42 and microphone 44 are regarded as one of the in-vehicle devices, and the vehicle information acquisition unit 16 may be configured to include the image capture unit 12 and the audio capture unit 14.

[0018] The vehicle information acquisition unit 16 acquires information on the vehicle status, information on the operation of the vehicle, etc. information about the vehicle's speed, information about the vehicle's position, information about obstacles around the vehicle The vehicle driver information, information on the operation status of the vehicle's driving support function, etc. are obtained from the vehicle-mounted device 46. The various information acquired by the information acquisition unit 16 is analyzed by an indicator detection unit 30 (to be described later) to detect the surroundings of the vehicle. Unlike detecting surrounding objects, this information is detected by sensors other than cameras. The acquisition unit 16 acquires information about the vehicle state, for example, information indicating the open / closed state of doors and windows. The vehicle information acquisition unit 16 may acquire, as information regarding the operation of the vehicle, Information indicating that an operation to open or close a door or window has been performed may be acquired. The unit 16 may include, as information on obstacles around the vehicle, information on the presence of other vehicles within a certain range around the vehicle. Whether or not there are obstacles such as pedestrians, bicycles, fallen objects, or structures on the lane you are traveling The vehicle information acquisition unit 16 may acquire information indicating whether or not an occupant is present in the vehicle. The vehicle information acquisition unit 16 may acquire information indicating whether or not the driving assistance function of the vehicle is enabled. Regarding the operating status, information on whether the autonomous driving function or remote control function is on or off, Information regarding whether a particular driving assistance function is in operation may be obtained. For example, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) ntrol) and Lane Keeping Assistance System (LKAS) These include, but are not limited to, the following.

[0019] The traffic information acquisition unit 17 receives information about the surroundings of the vehicle from the vehicle information provided by the vehicle traffic information acquisition unit 17. Traffic information is acquired via computer, broadcast waves, mobile phone communication, etc. The unit 17 acquires traffic information from the navigation device 11 or the vehicle through the communication unit 24. Good too.

[0020] The sign detection unit 30 determines, based on the information about the surroundings of the vehicle acquired by the surrounding information acquisition unit 18, The sign detection unit 30 detects a sign of an abnormality occurring in the vehicle. The system includes one or more of an analysis unit 34, a voice analysis unit 36, a traffic information analysis unit 38, etc. The image analysis unit 32 detects an object to the vehicle based on the image analysis of the image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 12. The image analysis unit 32 detects various objects from the image. The image recognition pattern for outputting the image is stored in advance, and the image recognition pattern is used to The image recognition pattern is used to detect objects in the image using a specific image recognition algorithm. , for example, by machine learning such as deep learning. The image analysis unit 32 For example, accidents such as vehicle collisions, collisions, rollovers, falls, etc., or violent behavior by drivers of nearby vehicles. It detects the occurrence of troubles such as dangerous driving, as well as the approach of pedestrians, motorcycles, or obstacles. The object detected by the image analysis unit 32 may be, for example, another vehicle approaching the vehicle, a person, an animal, or the like. The sign detection unit 30 detects fallen objects on the road, obstacles such as buildings, falling rocks, etc. The communication unit 24 acquires information on occurrence of an abnormality, such as earthquakes, lightning, etc., by means of communication, vehicle-to-vehicle communication, etc. Information on the occurrence of disasters, violent acts, dangerous driving, and other troubles occurring around the vehicle A sign of an abnormality may be detected based on the above.

[0021] The vehicle information analysis unit 34 detects the occurrence of an abnormality based on the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit 16. The vehicle information analysis unit 34 detects the signs of a vehicle accident by analyzing, for example, the vehicle's running speed, acceleration, access Based on operational information such as steering, braking and steering, it detects sudden starts, sudden stops, sharp turns, etc. By recognizing sudden changes in vehicle behavior, the system can prevent accidents and accidents such as stepping on the accelerator instead of the brake. In other words, the vehicle information analysis unit 34 may detect a sign of a driving speed exceeding a predetermined value. When vehicle information such as driving speed and acceleration is recognized, signs of abnormality are detected. The analysis unit 34 detects the approach of objects around the vehicle and the vehicle speed based on information from the vehicle's radar sensor and other sources. The vehicle information analysis unit 3 may detect signs of abnormality by detecting deviations from the line. 4 is a voice command indicating the pressing of a save start button provided on the drive recorder 10 or the start of saving. When the operation reception unit 26 receives a command, this may be detected as a sign of an abnormality. .

[0022] The voice analysis unit 36 ​​detects an abnormality based on the voice analysis of the voice data acquired by the voice acquisition unit 14. The voice analysis unit 36 ​​detects, by voice analysis, for example, braking sounds, crash sounds, etc. The system detects abnormalities such as accidents by recognizing voices, shouts, etc., and also detects abnormalities such as vehicle collisions and collisions. It recognizes the sounds of collisions, rollovers, and falls and detects the occurrence of accidents and other abnormalities. 6. When the recognized braking sound, horn, shouting, etc. is louder than a specified value, It may also be possible to detect signs of an abnormality such as an accident.

[0023] The traffic information analysis unit 38 detects the occurrence of an abnormality based on the traffic information acquired by the traffic information acquisition unit 17. Signs of abnormal occurrence are detected based on whether the possibility is relatively high or not. For example, traffic information analysis The analysis unit 38 detects, based on traffic information, a traffic jam, an accident, or the like at the current location or ahead in the traveling direction. If a collision or other abnormality is detected, the system determines that there is a possibility of the occurrence of the abnormality and takes it as a sign of the abnormality. and detect it.

[0024] The sign detection unit 30 includes an image analysis unit 32, a vehicle information analysis unit 34, a voice analysis unit 36, and a traffic information A sign of an abnormality may be detected by combining the results of analysis of various information by the analysis unit 38. In this case, the more analysis results that are combined, the higher the probability or likelihood of an abnormality occurring. For example, it is possible to detect sudden braking based on vehicle information. At the same time, if loud braking noise is detected through audio information, the risk of an accident is high. The system detects sudden deceleration caused by sudden braking with high accuracy as a sign of an abnormality. When the sign detection unit 30 detects a sign of an abnormality, the sign detection unit 30 notifies the user that the sign has been detected. The symptom detection unit 30 transmits information indicating the occurrence of an abnormality to the power supply control unit 54. Sometimes, the signs are classified into levels according to the type, danger, and probability of occurrence of the abnormality. For example, when a low-risk abnormality is detected, When a warning is issued, the system will initially send information indicating that a "small" warning sign has been detected, and later If a medium-level abnormality is detected, information indicating that a "medium" level warning sign has been detected If a high-risk level abnormality is detected later, a warning sign of a high-risk level is detected. Whenever the level increases, the power supply control unit 5 transmits information indicating that the power supply has been turned on. Alternatively, the request may be sent to 4.

[0025] The event detection unit 27 detects image data acquired by the image acquisition unit 12 and audio acquired by the audio acquisition unit 14. Based on the voice data to be transmitted and the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit 16, each of the predetermined Detect the occurrence of a seed event (hereinafter referred to as a "trigger event"). Trigger Event is assumed to be a serious event such as a vehicle accident or trouble, and if such an event occurs or is detected, This is a save trigger event that triggers saving image data as overwrite-prohibited data. The event detection unit 27 detects, as a trigger event, a collision, a contact, a rollover, a fall, etc. of a vehicle. Detect accidents, violent behavior by drivers of nearby vehicles, dangerous driving, and other problems. The event detection unit 27 detects, for example, images captured by the front camera 40 and the rear camera 42. Based on a predetermined recognition pattern, image data and voice data acquired by the microphone 44 are processed. The occurrence of an accident or trouble may be detected by image recognition or voice recognition. 7, for example, information on the vehicle's running speed and acceleration, accelerator, brake and steering Recognizes sudden changes in vehicle behavior, such as sudden starts, sudden stops, and sharp turns, from various operational information The event detection unit 27 may detect the occurrence of a trigger event by detecting the front camera 4. 0, a predetermined recognition pattern is obtained from image data of the rear camera 42 and information from a radar sensor of the vehicle, etc. Based on the vehicle's surroundings, the system can recognize the approach of objects around the vehicle and deviation from the lane while driving. The event detection unit 27 may detect the occurrence of a trigger event. The operation reception unit 26 receives a voice instruction indicating the start of saving or the pressing of a save start button provided at the input unit 20. When the user attaches the switch, this may be detected as the occurrence of a trigger event.

[0026] The trigger event detected by the event detection unit 27 is the same as the event detected by the symptom detection unit 30. The trigger event may overlap at least partially with the anomaly prediction. The trigger for saving the data is to detect a critical event at a time when it is highly likely that the event has already occurred. In contrast, the signs of abnormality detected by the sign detection unit 30 are merely signs of abnormality that are described later. This is merely an opportunity to start charging the standby power source 52, and even if charging is started based on a misconception, Since there are few cases where an abnormality occurs, it is a good idea to start charging if there is even the slightest possibility of an abnormality occurring. Therefore, the abnormality occurrence sign detected by the sign detection unit 30 may not actually indicate the occurrence of a serious event. In many cases, the possibility of an abnormality occurring is not necessarily a trigger event. The precursor detection unit 30 detects the precursor of an abnormality as follows: The event detector 27 detects the trigger event more frequently than the trigger event, or For example, the precursor detection unit 30 and the event detection unit 31 may be used to detect the precursor detection unit 30 before the event. When the vehicle acceleration sensor 27 detects a sign of an abnormality based on the acceleration of the vehicle, the sign detection unit 30 is a threshold value that is lower than the trigger event detected by the event detection unit 27. It is preferable to detect a sign of an abnormality by using the above-mentioned method.

[0027] The recording control unit 20 constantly captures images using the front camera 40 or the rear camera 42. Image data acquired by the acquisition unit 12, and sound constantly collected by the microphone 44 and acquired by the voice acquisition unit 14 The voice data acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit 16 and a part or all of the vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit 16 are The recording control unit 20 temporarily stores the image data stored in the temporary storage unit 22. The image data and audio data are recorded on the recording medium 48 using a ring buffer system.

[0028] The temporary storage unit 22 is a flash memory or a solid state drive (SSD). It is made up of non-volatile memory such as a volatile memory (DRAM) or non-volatile memory such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM). The recording medium 48 may be, for example, an SD card (registered trademark). The memory card is inserted into a slot provided in the drive recorder 10. The recording medium 48 is configured to be removable from the drive recorder 10. Even if it is configured with secondary storage devices such as solid-state drives or hard disk drives, Alternatively, the navigation device 11 may include an auxiliary storage device as such an auxiliary storage device. In addition, the voice data to be stored in the temporary storage unit 22 and the voice data to be recorded on the recording medium 48 may be used. The audio data is stored or recorded in the form of video data combined with the image data. However, depending on the mode selected by the user, silent image data without audio data may be generated. In some cases, video data may be stored or recorded as the data. The concept of "image data" may or may not include audio data, although this will not be explained in detail. There may be cases like this.

[0029] The image data stored in the temporary storage unit 22 is divided into predetermined time segments such as MPEG2-TS. Alternatively, the video data may be stored as streaming video data recorded on the recording medium 48. The image data to be stored may be in the same format as the image data to be stored in the temporary storage unit 22, or in a different format. It may also be in a more highly compressed format, such as the MP4 format.

[0030] The recording control unit 20 stores image data in a temporary storage unit 22 and a recording medium in a ring buffer system. 48, the data recorded in the temporary storage unit 22 and the recording medium 48 becomes full. When the number of images reaches 1, the oldest data is overwritten. The attribute of the information is temporarily recorded in the temporary storage unit 22 and the recording medium 48.

[0031] When the event detection unit 27 detects the occurrence of a trigger event, the recording control unit 20 In this case, at least the trigger event is detected from the image data recorded on the recording medium 48. Set the image data for the period including the timing to a non-overwritable save format. The non-overwritable attribute can be written, for example, in a predetermined flag included in the image data. You can set it to "0", or you can overwrite it to a management file such as an index that is independent of the image data. The original image data itself may be set to overwriteable or non-overwriteable by writing an attribute. When writing attributes, for example, the start of the storage period for which the original image data cannot be overwritten You can write information indicating the start and end positions. In this case, the part other than the part to be saved, i.e. That is, when overwriting the overwritable part with other data later, The rest of the file is overwritten so that the end of the file is cut out and remains. The part to be saved is cut out from the original image data and saved separately as an independent file. By doing so, it is possible to distinguish between overwritable and non-overwritable. If the part to be cut out spans multiple image data, it is cut out from each image data and linked. You may save the file. If you save it separately as an independent file, you can overwrite it. By recording in a specific area, such as a specific folder, different from the area where the data was recorded, The specification may be such that a distinction is made between overwritable and non-overwritable. Data can be deleted or changed to overwriteable attributes by explicit user action. The overwrite protection state will be maintained until

[0032] The display control unit 28 displays on the display device 4 the fact that a sign of an abnormality or a trigger event has been detected. The driver and passengers are visually notified by displaying the information on the screen of the vehicle navigation system 11 or the vehicle navigation device 12. The voice output unit 29 may notify the operator that a sign of an abnormality or a trigger event has been detected. The driver or passenger may be notified audibly. In the above, visual and auditory notifications have been exemplified, but in a modified example, notifications may be made by touch, for example, A notification mode may be realized in which the warning ring is vibrated to alert the driver.

[0033] The main power supply 50 is, for example, an ACC power supply (accessory power supply) that receives power from a vehicle. The standby power supply 52 is an auxiliary power supply that is configured, for example, by an electric double layer capacitor. The control unit 54 monitors the voltages of the main power supply 50 and the standby power supply 52, and controls the main power supply 50 and the standby power supply 52. The power supply control unit 52 controls which of the auxiliary power sources 52 supplies power to each component of the drive recorder 10. Like a typical rechargeable battery, a double layer capacitor will not charge if its charge level drops below its maximum charge capacity. By limiting the charge to a certain amount, for example 80%, deterioration can be delayed and the battery life extended. Therefore, the power supply control unit 54 controls the charging of the standby power supply 52 during normal operation. The power supply control unit 54 monitors the charge amount and controls it to maintain the suppressed charge amount at 80%. If the charge level of the standby power supply 52 is lower than 80%, the standby power supply 52 is charged to increase its charge level. If the charge level of the standby power supply 52 is higher than 80%, the standby power supply 52 is turned on until it falls to 80%. As a modified example, the power supply control unit 54 sets the standby power supply 52 in a use state when the charge level of the standby power supply 52 is less than 80%. If it is high, you can let it discharge naturally until it reaches 80%.

[0034] When a sign of an abnormality is detected, the power supply control unit 54 reduces the amount of charge in the standby power supply 52. After increasing the charging amount beyond the suppressed charging amount, the power supply control unit 54 When the battery reaches a predetermined state where no abnormality signs are detected, the charging amount is reduced and returned to the normal charging amount. The details regarding the control of charging will be described later.

[0035] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration of the drive recorder 10. In this figure, in particular, the power supply control The main power supply 50 outputs a DC voltage of 12 V, for example. The first voltage converter 56 converts the voltage from the main power supply 50 into, for example, a 5V DC voltage. The power output from the first voltage converter 56 is supplied to the selection circuit 62. The power supply voltage is supplied to a load 64 including a system circuit 66 and the power supply control unit 54 via the load 64. The hardware components electrically driven in the drive recorder 10 are The system circuit 66 may be composed of a CPU, a GPU, a RAM, a ROM, a communication module, etc. These configurations are often combined into a single chip to form a SoC (System on Chip). The system circuit 66 functions as the surrounding information acquisition unit 18 and the sign detection unit 30 in FIG. In addition, a recording control unit 20, an event detection unit 27, a temporary storage unit 22, a communication unit 24, an operation reception unit, The display control unit 28 also functions as at least one of the following: .

[0036] The standby power supply 52 is normally charged at a reduced charge amount by the current from the charging circuit 60. The battery is charged to 80%. The standby power supply 52 is connected to a plurality of electric double layer capacitors. For example, an electric double layer capacitor having an output voltage of 2.5 V at the maximum charge level may be used. When two capacitors are connected in series, the output voltage of the standby power supply 52 at its maximum charge level is In other words, the maximum charging voltage is 5.0V, and the suppressed charging of the electric double layer capacitor is 80% of that. The output voltage at this power supply is 4.0 V. The voltage from the standby power supply 52 is supplied to the second voltage converter 5 8 and then supplied to a load 64 via a selection circuit 62. In this case, a rechargeable battery such as a lithium ion battery or an alkaline storage battery is used as the backup power supply 52. The second voltage converter 58 converts the voltage from the standby power supply 52 into a DC voltage of, for example, 5V. It is a DC / DC converter.

[0037] The power supply control unit 54 controls the output voltage of the main power supply 50, the output voltage of the first voltage converter 56, and the output voltage of the standby power supply A microcomputer monitors the charging voltage of the charger 52 and controls the charging circuit 60 and the selection circuit 62. The power supply control unit 54 controls the charge amount of the standby power supply 52 to 80%, which is the suppressed charge amount. If the battery voltage is less than the threshold voltage, the charging circuit 60 is controlled, and the standby power supply is supplied with power from the charging circuit 60. When the charge level of the standby power supply 52 reaches 80%, the power supply control unit 54 In this state, the standby power supply 52 is caused to hold charge and maintain a charge level of 80%.

[0038] When the voltage output from the main power supply 50 becomes abnormal for some reason, the power supply control unit 54 When the voltage from the main power supply 50 falls below a threshold voltage, for example 6V, or when When the voltage from the voltage converter 56 falls below a threshold voltage, for example, 4 V, the selection circuit 62 is controlled. The power supply from the main power supply 50, i.e., the first voltage converter 56 to the load 64 is controlled by the standby power supply 5 2, i.e., the power supply is switched to that from the second voltage converter 58. Although it depends on the capacity of the standby power source 52, as an example, the charge amount of the standby power source 52 is set to the suppressed charge amount of 8 When the load 64 is at 0%, the standby power supply 52 can supply power to the load 64 for about 5 seconds. If the standby power source 52 is charged to its maximum charge level of 100%, i.e., the maximum charging voltage, For example, the standby power supply 52 can supply power to the load 64 for about 8 seconds. Even though it is a power supply, the difference between 5 seconds and 8 seconds is large, and it took a long time for load 64 to completely lose power. In the few seconds you need to save image data or back up your data, The longer the grace period, even by one second, the more advantageous it is for the backup to be completed. In the case of a serious accident, the image data must be saved securely. The main purpose of the device is to prevent the drive recorder 10 from being damaged in an accident and the image data being lost. It is desirable to avoid situations where you cannot save data as much as possible. When a warning sign is detected, the power supply control unit 54 increases the charge amount of the standby power supply 52. Even if a serious accident occurs and the drive recorder 10 is damaged, In order to increase the reliability of processing, we need to secure even one second more grace period for image data storage. do.

[0039] The power supply control unit 54 receives information indicating a sign of an abnormality from the system circuit 66 (sign detection unit 30). When the standby power source 52 receives the suppression information, the standby power source 52 is operated in the main power supply 51 in order to increase the charge amount beyond the suppression charge amount. The standby power supply 52 is charged by the power supply 50, i.e., the charging circuit. Power supply control unit 54 is connected to a system circuit 66 via, for example, SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) communication. The power supply control unit 54 receives information indicating a sign of an abnormality from the CPU of the standby power supply 52. When the battery reaches the maximum charge level of 100%, charging stops and the standby power supply 52 The charge amount of the standby power supply 52 is maintained at 100%. The time required to increase from 0.1% to 100% depends on the capacity of the standby power supply 52 and the power supply from the charging circuit 60. The charging time depends on the charging current value to the standby power supply 52, but is, for example, about 2 seconds. When the charge level of the standby power supply 52 is increased to 100%, the standby power supply 52 is The charging current value of the standby power supply 52 may be temporarily increased to perform quick charging. If a serious accident occurs during or after the increase and the main power supply 50 is cut off, As described above, the power supply control unit 54 controls the power supply from the main power supply 50, i.e., the first voltage converter 56, to the load 64. The power supply is switched from the standby power supply 52, i.e., the second voltage converter 58 to the load 64. In this way, the charge amount of the standby power supply 52 is increased when a sign of an abnormality is detected. By increasing the load, the load can be reduced by 50% from the main power supply due to a serious cause such as a collision or accident. In the event of a power loss to the 64, the image data must be saved before that happens. You can increase your sexuality.

[0040] If a predetermined increase release condition is met without a power interruption of the main power supply 50, the power supply control unit 5 4 is a charge amount 8 that is again suppressed by supplying power from the standby power source 52 to the load 64. The power of the standby power supply 52 is consumed until it reaches 0%. The condition is that a certain waiting time, for example 10 seconds, has elapsed since the sign of failure was no longer detected. This standby time is at least for the time required to charge the standby power supply 52 to between 80% and 100%. It is preferable that the time be longer than the time required for the increase (eg, 2 seconds).

[0041] The power supply control unit 54 receives information indicating the level of the abnormality along with the abnormality occurrence indication. In this case, different controls may be performed depending on the level. For example, the power supply control unit 54 may control the charging circuit 6 If the level of the warning is "high" for 0, the standby power supply 52 starts charging immediately. If the level is "medium", the backup power supply 52 starts charging after 1 second. If the level is "low", the backup power supply 52 starts charging after 2 seconds. For example, the power supply control unit 54 may control the charging circuit 60 to If the level is "high", the maximum charge of the standby power supply 52 is set to 100%, and if the level is "medium", If so, the maximum charge amount of the standby power supply 52 is set to 95%, and if the level is "low", the standby power supply 52 The maximum charge amount of the standby power supply 52 is set to 90%. For example, the power supply control unit 54 may detect the level of the warning as "high". If the level is "Medium", the waiting time for the condition to be released is 10 seconds, if the level is "Medium", the waiting time is 9 seconds, if the level is "Medium", the waiting time is 10 seconds, if the level is "Medium", the waiting time is 9 seconds, If the level of the warning is "low", the waiting time is set to 8 seconds. If the level is "high", the charging of the standby power supply 52 is maximum fast charging, and if the level is "medium", Charging of the standby power supply 52 is set to medium fast charging, and if the level is "low", the standby power supply 52 is The battery is then charged in a different way, such as by using a normal charger.

[0042] In addition, it is important to consider the following points when determining whether an abnormality is occurring: If the pressure is too low, abnormalities may occur frequently, even though they are unlikely to actually occur. As a result, the standby power supply 52 is repeatedly charged beyond the suppressed charge amount. Also, if the waiting time for the increase release condition is set too long, the standby power supply 5 The time that the standby power supply 52 is charged to the maximum charge level is also increased. Therefore, the scope of targets to be recognized as signs of abnormal occurrence and the increase cancellation The standby time of the conditions is determined based on experimental verification to maximize the effectiveness and extend the life of the standby power supply 52. An appropriate value is set that can achieve both the above and the above.

[0043] 3 is a flowchart showing the power supply control process. If the output voltage of the first voltage converter 56 is not equal to or lower than the threshold value (N in S10), the main power supply 50 That is, the first voltage converter 56 is used to power the load 64 (S12), and the main power supply 50 or When it is detected that the output voltage of the first voltage converter 56 has dropped to a threshold value or less (S10 Y) power supply to the load 64 using the main power supply 50 is provided by the standby power supply 52, i.e., the second voltage conversion Then, the power supply is switched to that using the power supply device 58 (S22), and the flow returns to the beginning.

[0044] In step S12, during the power supply from the main power source 50 to the load 64, the precursor detection unit 30 detects an abnormality. If no warning sign is detected (N in S14), and the charge amount of the standby power supply 52 is the suppressed charge amount of 80 %, (Y in S16), charge the standby power supply 52 (S18), and then start the process again. Back. The charge amount of the standby power supply 52 is not less than 80%, which is the suppressed charge amount (N in S16), and If it is over 0% (Y in S20), use the standby power supply 52 to reduce the charge to 80%. The charge amount of the standby power supply 52 is reduced by using the power supply (S22), and the flow returns to the beginning. If the charge amount does not exceed 80%, which is the limit of the charge amount (N in S20), the charge amount of the standby power supply 52 is appropriate. Therefore, S22 is skipped and the flow returns to the beginning. In S20, the threshold value for determining the charge amount of the backup power source 52 may have a certain margin. For example, in S16 If the charge level of the standby power supply 52 is 79% or more (N in S16), that is, It may be determined that charging of the standby power supply 52 is unnecessary, and if the charge amount of the standby power supply 52 exceeds 82% in S20, If the charge amount of the standby power supply 52 is not sufficient (N in S20), that is, the charge amount of the standby power supply 52 is determined to be appropriate. Good too.

[0045] When the symptom detection unit 30 detects a symptom of an abnormality (Y in S14), the standby power supply 52 If the charge level of the standby power supply 52 is less than 100%, which is the maximum charge level (Y in S24), Then, the flow returns to the beginning of the process (S18). If it is not less than 0%, i.e., 100% (N in S24), skip S18. Then, the flow returns to the beginning. After that, if an abnormality actually occurs and the main power supply 50 or the first voltage conversion When the output voltage of the load regulator 56 falls below the threshold (Y in S10), the load regulator 52 The power supply is switched to the 64 (S22), and the battery is charged to 100%, which is the maximum charge at that point. If the battery is charged, it can supply power to the load 64 for about 8 seconds. If no abnormality actually occurs after the warning is issued and the warning is no longer detected, the specified waiting time will elapse. Until the power supply 52 is turned on (Y in S14), the charge level of the standby power supply 52 is less than 100%, which is the maximum charge level. As long as the standby time elapses (Y in S24), the standby power supply 52 is charged (S18). After the addition / removal condition is met (N in S14), the charge amount of the standby power supply 52 is reduced to the suppressed charge amount of 8. It is not less than 0% (N in S16), but it is more than 80% (Y in S20), so it will remain at 80% until then. Then, the standby power supply 52 is used (S22).

[0046] As described above in the embodiment, the effect of the charge amount of the standby power supply 52 can be maximized and the battery life can be extended. In particular, in the unlikely event that a serious accident occurs, the drive recorder Even if the data reader 10 is damaged, there is a grace period for processing such as saving image data. By securing even one second more time, the reliability of the process can be improved. Even if a power outage does not occur, the system can detect the signs of such an event in advance, ensuring the reliability of backup power supply. In addition, it is possible to improve the condition of the prediction and the waiting time after the charge amount is increased. By optimizing the above, it is possible to reduce unnecessary charging and suppress deterioration of the standby power supply 52. Cut.

[0047] The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. These embodiments are merely examples. The fact that various modifications are possible in the combination of each component and each treatment process, and that such modifications It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 10 Drive recorder, 12 Image acquisition unit, 14 Audio acquisition unit, 16 Vehicle information information acquisition unit, 17 traffic information acquisition unit, 18 surrounding information acquisition unit, 30 sign detection unit, 32 image analysis unit, 34 vehicle information analysis unit, 36 voice analysis unit, 38 traffic information analysis unit analysis section, 50 main power supply, 52 standby power supply, 54 power supply control section.

Claims

1. A drive recorder, a surrounding information acquisition unit that acquires information about the surroundings of the vehicle including image data of the surroundings of the vehicle; a sign detection unit that detects a sign of an abnormality occurring based on information about the surroundings of the vehicle; a power supply control unit that controls a charge amount of a standby power supply, the standby power supply being charged with power from the main power supply; Equipped with The power supply control unit controls the charge amount of the standby power supply to a predetermined suppressed charge amount lower than a maximum chargeable amount under normal circumstances, and when a sign of an abnormality is detected, increases the charge amount of the standby power supply above the suppressed charge amount, and when the charge amount is increased, controls the charge amount of the standby power supply to the suppressed charge amount under one of the conditions that no interruption of the main power supply has occurred. Drive recorder.

2. The sign detection unit detects the sign based on at least one of disaster occurrence information, voice information, traffic information, and violent behavior information or dangerous driving information around the vehicle. The drive recorder according to claim 1 .

3. A method for controlling a power supply of a drive recorder, comprising: a surrounding information acquisition step of acquiring information about the surroundings of the vehicle including image data of the surroundings of the vehicle; a sign detection step of detecting a sign of an abnormality occurring based on the information about the surroundings of the vehicle; a power supply control step of controlling a charge amount of a standby power supply, the standby power supply being charged by electric power from the main power supply; Equipped with The power supply control step is characterized in that the charge amount of the standby power supply is normally set to a predetermined suppressed charge amount lower than a maximum chargeable amount, and when a sign of an abnormality is detected, the charge amount of the standby power supply is increased to a value higher than the suppressed charge amount, and when the charge amount is increased, the charge amount of the standby power supply is set to the suppressed charge amount under one of the conditions that no interruption of the main power supply has occurred. Power control method.

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