Video recording device

Abstract

To allow a video to be transferred to a portable terminal in timing having no adverse effect on a driving operation of a driver.SOLUTION: A video recording device 16 causes a storage unit 22 to record a video around a self vehicle imaged by a camera 12, and causes a display unit 50 to output information presenting transfer of the video when the self vehicle is in a parking state, and any of conditions that a parking brake of the self vehicle is on (actuated), a shift position of a transmission of the self vehicle is a P-range, and a power-switch 44 of the self vehicle is off is established. The device is wirelessly connected to a smartphone 56 to transfer an un-transferred video recorded in the storage unit 22 to the smartphone 56 when information permitting transfer of the video is input via an input unit 52.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a video recording device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a data transmission system including a drive recorder that generates image data by an image data generation unit and records the image data in a recording unit, and a transmission / reception unit that wirelessly transmits the image data recorded in the recording unit to a center terminal.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The technique described in Patent Document 1 incurs costs for building and maintaining a server and communication fees for transmitting video (images). Therefore, it is conceivable to switch the video transmission destination to a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. However, when the video recording device (drive recorder) is not wirelessly connected to the mobile terminal, it is necessary to establish a wireless connection for video transfer, but during driving, the driver cannot perform an operation to permit the wireless connection. For this reason, there is a risk that the recorded video may be lost because the video cannot be transferred at an appropriate timing.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above facts, and an object thereof is to obtain a video recording device capable of transferring video to a mobile terminal at a timing that does not adversely affect the driving operation of the driver.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The video recording device according to the first aspect records the video around the host vehicle captured by the imaging unit in the recording unit, and outputs, by the output unit, information proposing transfer of the video when any one of the conditions that the host vehicle is in a stopped state, the parking brake is on, the shift position is in the P range, and the vehicle start switch is off is satisfied. When information permitting transfer of the video is input via the input unit, it includes a control unit that wirelessly connects to a mobile terminal and transfers the untransferred video recorded in the recording unit to the mobile terminal.

[0007] In the first aspect, when any one of the conditions that the driving operation of the driver is not being performed, that is, the host vehicle is in a stopped state, the parking brake is on, the shift position is in the P range, and the vehicle start switch is off is satisfied, information proposing transfer of the video is output. Then, when information permitting transfer of the video is input, it wirelessly connects to the mobile terminal and transfers the untransferred video recorded in the recording unit to the mobile terminal. Thereby, it becomes possible to transfer the video to the mobile terminal at a timing that does not adversely affect the driving operation of the driver.

[0008] The second aspect is, in the first aspect, that the control unit outputs, by the output unit, information proposing transfer of the video when any one of the conditions that the host vehicle is in a stopped state, the parking brake is on, the shift position is in the P range, and the vehicle start switch is off is satisfied and the host vehicle is located at a predetermined location.

[0009] In the second aspect, when any one of the conditions that the host vehicle is in a stopped state, the parking brake is on, the shift position is in the P range, and the vehicle start switch is off is satisfied and further the host vehicle is located at a predetermined location, information proposing transfer of the video is output. Thereby, it becomes possible to more reliably transfer the video to the mobile terminal at a timing that does not adversely affect the driving operation of the driver.

[0010] In the third aspect, in the first aspect, when any one of the conditions that the host vehicle is in a stopped state, the parking brake is on, the shift position is in the P range, and the vehicle start switch is off is satisfied, and the parking position of the host vehicle is outside the road, the control unit causes the output unit to output information proposing the transfer of the video.

[0011] In the third aspect, when any one of the conditions that the host vehicle is in a stopped state, the parking brake is on, the shift position is in the P range, and the vehicle start switch is off is satisfied, and further the parking position of the host vehicle is outside the road, information proposing the transfer of the video is output. Thereby, it becomes possible to more surely transfer the video to the mobile terminal at a timing that does not adversely affect the driving operation of the driver.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] The present disclosure has an effect that it becomes possible to transfer a video to a mobile terminal at a timing that does not adversely affect the driving operation of the driver.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an in-vehicle system 10 according to the present embodiment. The in-vehicle system 10 includes a video recording device 16 (drive recorder), and a camera 12 and an event detection sensor 14 are connected to the video recording device 16, respectively.

[0015] The camera 12 is provided on the vehicle (hereinafter referred to as the host vehicle) equipped with the in-vehicle system 10 so as to be able to image the periphery of the vehicle (for example, a first predetermined range including the front of the host vehicle and a second predetermined range including the rear of the host vehicle) as an image. The camera 12 images the periphery of the host vehicle as an image in response to an instruction from the video recording device 16, and transmits the captured image to the video recording device 16. Note that the camera 12 is an example of the imaging unit in the present disclosure.

[0016] The event detection sensor 14 is a sensor that monitors the occurrence of events such as sudden braking or an accident in which the host vehicle collides with an object, and notifies the video recording device 16 when the occurrence of an event is detected. As the event detection sensor 14, for example, an acceleration sensor that detects the acceleration applied to the host vehicle, or a motion sensor that detects the motion state of an object existing around the host vehicle from the video of the periphery of the host vehicle captured by the camera 12 or the like can be applied.

[0017] Further, the video recording device 16 is connected to a system bus 34 compliant with a standard such as CAN (Controller Area Network). The system bus 34 is communicably connected to a car navigation device 46, a vehicle control ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 36, a vehicle speed sensor 38 that detects the vehicle speed of the host vehicle, a parking brake switch 40 whose contact switches to on when the parking brake of the host vehicle is actuated, a shift position sensor 42 that detects the shift position of the transmission of the host vehicle, and a power switch 44 that is turned on when the host vehicle is running.

[0018] The car navigation device 46 includes a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) sensor 48 that measures the current position of the host vehicle, a display unit 50 capable of displaying images such as maps, and an input unit 52 through which information can be input. The display unit 50 and the input unit 52 of the car navigation device 46 are used, for example, as devices that realize the UI (User Interface) of the video recording device 16. Therefore, the display unit 50 is an example of the output unit in the present disclosure, and the input unit 52 is an example of the input unit in the present disclosure.

[0019] The vehicle control ECU 36 acquires vehicle information representing the state of the host vehicle from various sensors mounted on the host vehicle (such as a vehicle speed sensor 38, a parking brake switch 40, a shift position sensor 42, and a power switch 44), and controls the operation of each part of the host vehicle based on the acquired vehicle information.

[0020] The video recording device 16 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 18 and a memory 20 such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory). The video recording device 16 also includes a non-volatile storage unit 22 such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), a communication unit 24 that controls communication with the car navigation device 46 of the in-vehicle system 10, and a wireless communication unit 26 that controls wireless communication (wireless communication compliant with Wi-Fi in this embodiment) with a smartphone 56 or the like held by the driver of the host vehicle.

[0021] The CPU 32, the memory 20, the storage unit 22, the communication unit 24, and the wireless communication unit 26 are communicably connected to each other via an internal bus 28. The storage unit 22 stores a video transfer program 30 in advance, and is provided with a video recording area 32 for recording the video captured by the camera 12. The storage unit 22 is an example of the recording unit in the present disclosure. Note that the video recording device 16 may be configured such that the video recording area 32 is provided in a non-volatile recording medium (for example, a memory card such as a micro USB (Universal Serial Bus) card) that is detachable from the video recording device 16.

[0022] In the video recording device 16, the video transfer program 30 is read from the storage unit 22 and expanded in the memory 20, and the video transfer program 30 expanded in the memory 20 is executed by the CPU 32, so that it functions as the control unit 60 shown in FIG. 2 and performs the video transfer process described later. When the control unit 60 is notified of the occurrence of an event from the event detection sensor 14, it causes the camera 12 to image the periphery of the host vehicle, and records the video (event recording video) around the host vehicle captured by the camera 12 in the video recording area 32.

[0023] In addition, when any one of the conditions that the host vehicle is in a stopped state, the parking brake of the host vehicle is on (activated), the shift position of the transmission of the host vehicle is in the P range, and the start switch (power switch 44) of the host vehicle is off is satisfied, the control unit 60 causes the display unit 50 to output information proposing the transfer of the video. When information permitting the transfer of the video is input via the input unit 52, it wirelessly connects to the smartphone 56 and transfers the untransferred video recorded in the video recording area 32 to the smartphone 56.

[0024] Next, as the operation of this embodiment, with reference to FIG. 3, the video transfer process executed by the video recording device 16 will be described. Note that the video recording device 16 executes the video transfer process, for example, when the video captured by the camera 12 is recorded in the video recording area 32 upon notification of the occurrence of an event from the event detection sensor 14. However, the execution timing of the video transfer process is not limited to this, and for example, the video transfer process may be performed while a passenger is in the host vehicle.

[0025] In step 70 of the video transfer process, the control unit 60 acquires the vehicle speed information of the host vehicle detected by the vehicle speed sensor 38 from the vehicle control ECU 36, and determines whether the vehicle speed of the host vehicle is 0 km / h based on the acquired vehicle speed information. If the determination in step 70 is negative, the process returns to step 70, and step 70 is repeated until the determination is affirmative.

[0026] If the determination in step 70 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 72. In step 72, the control unit 60 acquires the parking brake information indicating the on / off state of the parking brake switch 40 from the vehicle control ECU 36, and determines whether the parking brake of the host vehicle is actuated based on the acquired parking brake information. If the determinations in steps 70 and 72 are affirmative, since it is highly likely that the driver of the host vehicle is not performing a driving operation, the process proceeds to step 84.

[0027] If the determination in step 72 is negative, the process proceeds to step 74. In step 74, the control unit 60 acquires the shift position information indicating the shift position of the transmission of the host vehicle detected by the shift position sensor 42 from the vehicle control ECU 36, and determines whether the shift position of the transmission of the host vehicle is in the P range based on the acquired shift position information. If the determinations in steps 70 and 74 are affirmative, since it is highly likely that the driver of the host vehicle is not performing a driving operation, the process proceeds to step 84.

[0028] Also, if the determination in step 74 is negative, the process proceeds to step 76. In step 74, the control unit 60 acquires power switch information representing the on / off state of the power switch 44 from the vehicle control ECU 36, and determines whether the power switch 44 of the host vehicle is off based on the acquired power switch information. Even if the determinations in steps 70 and 76 are affirmative, since it is highly likely that the driver of the host vehicle is not performing a driving operation, the process proceeds to step 84.

[0029] On the other hand, if the determination in step 76 is negative, since the determinations in steps 72, 74, and 76 are all negative, it is highly likely that the driver of the host vehicle is performing a driving operation. Therefore, without performing the process of proposing the automatic transfer of the video described later, the process returns to step 70 and steps 70 and subsequent steps are repeated.

[0030] In step 84, the control unit 60 determines whether there is an event recording video that has not been transferred to the smartphone 56 among the videos recorded in the video recording area 32 of the storage unit 22. If the determination in step 84 is negative, the process returns to step 70 and steps 70 and subsequent steps are repeated.

[0031] Also, if the determination in step 84 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 86. In the present embodiment, wireless communication conforming to Wi-Fi is applied as the wireless communication between the video recording device 16 and the smartphone 56. Therefore, while the video is being transferred from the video recording device 16 to the smartphone 56, the mobile communication of the smartphone 56 such as 4G or 5G will be interrupted.

[0032] Therefore, in step 86, the control unit 60 causes the display unit 50 to display a message (such as "Do you approve the automatic transfer of untransferred event recording videos to the smartphone?") proposing to automatically transfer the untransferred event recording videos to the smartphone 56 to the driver of the host vehicle. Thereby, the driver of the host vehicle inputs, via the input unit 52, information indicating whether to approve the transfer of the videos. Instead of causing the display unit 50 to display the message, a voice reading the message may be output. Also, the driver may input, by voice, information indicating whether to approve the transfer of the videos.

[0033] In the next step 88, the control unit 60 determines, based on the information input via the input unit 52, whether the automatic video transfer proposed in step 86 is approved. If the determination in step 88 is negative, the process returns to step 70 and steps 70 and subsequent steps are repeated. If the determination in step 88 is positive, the process proceeds to step 90. In step 90, the control unit 60 turns on the Wi-Fi wireless communication of the video recording device 16 in AP (Access Point) mode.

[0034] In step 92, the control unit 60 determines whether the Wi-Fi connection with the smartphone 56 is completed. If the determination in step 92 is negative, the determination in step 92 is repeated and the process waits until the Wi-Fi connection with the smartphone 56 is completed. If the determination in step 92 is positive, the process proceeds to step 94.

[0035] In step 94, the control unit 60 starts automatically transferring the untransferred event recording videos to the smartphone 56 by wireless communication compliant with Wi-Fi. In the next step 96, when the automatic transfer of the untransferred event recording videos to the smartphone 56 is completed, the process proceeds to step 98. In step 98, the control unit 60 turns off the Wi-Fi wireless communication (AP mode) of the video recording device 16. Then the process returns to step 70.

[0036] In this way, the control unit 60 causes the storage unit 22 to record the video of the surroundings of the host vehicle captured by the camera 12, and when any of the conditions that the host vehicle is in a stopped state, the parking brake of the host vehicle is on (activated), the shift position of the transmission of the host vehicle is in the P range, and the power switch 44 of the host vehicle is off is satisfied, it causes the display unit 50 to output information proposing the transfer of the video. When information permitting the transfer of the video is input via the input unit 52, it wirelessly connects to the smartphone 56 and transfers the untransferred video recorded in the storage unit 22 to the smartphone 56. Thereby, it becomes possible to transfer the video to the smartphone 56 at a timing that does not adversely affect the driving operation of the driver. Also, it is possible to prevent costs from being incurred in constructing and maintaining the server, transferring the video, etc., and since the untransferred video is automatically transferred to the smartphone 56, the trouble of the driver selecting the untransferred video can be saved.

[0037] Next, referring to FIG. 4, regarding another example of the video transfer process executed by the video recording device 16, only the parts different from FIG. 3 will be described. In the video transfer process shown in FIG. 4, when the determination in step 72 or step 74 or step 76 is affirmed, the process proceeds to step 78. In step 78, the control unit 60 acquires the current position of the host vehicle from the car navigation device 46.

[0038] Then, in step 80, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the host vehicle is located at a preset location based on the current position of the host vehicle acquired in step 78. As an example of the preset location, a location where the host vehicle is estimated to have stopped for a relatively long time, such as the driver's home, the driver's workplace, etc., can be mentioned. When the determination in step 80 is affirmed, since it is very likely that the driver of the host vehicle is not performing a driving operation, the process proceeds to step 84.

[0039] If the determination in step 80 is negative, the process proceeds to step 82. In step 8, the control unit 60 determines whether the host vehicle is located outside the road by, for example, comparing the current position of the host vehicle acquired in step 78 with map information. If the determination in step 82 is affirmative, for example, the host vehicle is in a situation of being parked in a parking lot or the like, and since it is very likely that the driver of the host vehicle is not performing a driving operation, the process proceeds to step 84. If the determination in step 82 is negative, the process returns to step 70 and steps 70 and subsequent steps are repeated.

[0040] As described above, in the video transfer process shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 60 performs the processes after step 84 when any one of the conditions that the host vehicle is in a stopped state, the parking brake of the host vehicle is on (activated), the shift position of the transmission of the host vehicle is in the P range, and the power switch 44 of the host vehicle is off is satisfied and the host vehicle is located at a predetermined location. Thereby, it becomes possible to transfer the video to the smartphone 56 at a timing that surely does not adversely affect the driving operation of the driver.

[0041] Also, in the video transfer process shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 60 performs the processes after step 84 when any one of the conditions that the host vehicle is in a stopped state, the parking brake of the host vehicle is on (activated), the shift position of the transmission of the host vehicle is in the P range, and the power switch 44 of the host vehicle is off is satisfied and the parking position of the host vehicle is outside the road. Thereby, it becomes possible to transfer the video to the smartphone 56 at a timing that surely does not adversely affect the driving operation of the driver.

[0042] In the above embodiment, the smartphone 56 is described as an example of the portable terminal, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the portable terminal may be a tablet terminal or the like.

[0043] In the above-described embodiment, the camera 12, which is an example of the imaging unit, has been described as imaging the front and rear of the host vehicle. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the camera 12 may include a camera that images the interior of the host vehicle (such as a driver monitor).

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0044] 12 Camera (imaging unit) 16 Video recording device 22 Storage unit (recording unit) 26 Wireless communication unit 36 Vehicle control ECU 38 Vehicle speed sensor 40 Parking brake switch 42 Shift position sensor 44 Power switch 50 Display unit (output unit) 52 Input unit 56 Smartphone 60 Control unit

Claims

1. A video recording apparatus including a control unit that causes a recording unit to record an image of the surroundings of the host vehicle captured by an imaging unit, and when any one of the conditions that the host vehicle is in a stopped state, the parking brake is on, the shift position is in the P range, and the vehicle start switch is off is satisfied, causes an output unit to output information proposing transfer of the image, and when information permitting transfer of the image is input via an input unit, wirelessly connects to a mobile terminal and transfers the untransferred image recorded in the recording unit to the mobile terminal.

2. The video recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the output unit to output information proposing transfer of the image when any one of the conditions that the host vehicle is in a stopped state, the parking brake is on, the shift position is in the P range, and the vehicle start switch is off is satisfied and the host vehicle is located at a predetermined location.

3. The video recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the output unit to output information proposing transfer of the image when any one of the conditions that the host vehicle is in a stopped state, the parking brake is on, the shift position is in the P range, and the vehicle start switch is off is satisfied and the parking position of the host vehicle is outside the road.

Images