Electronic devices and systems

Abstract

To provide an electronic apparatus and the like, which have a good appearance from the outside of a vehicle.SOLUTION: An electronic apparatus 10, which can be arranged in a vehicle, includes: an outer surface 22; a part-to-be-connected 36 that is provided on the outer surface 22 and to which a connection part 38a of a cable 38 is connected; and a screening part 34a for screening the connection part 38a so that the connection part 38a connected to the part-to-be-connected 36 can hardly be visually recognized from the outside of the vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electronic device, a system, and the like. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, in electronic devices installed in vehicles, cables are connected to the housings of the electronic devices (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4712858 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, in conventional electronic devices, the connection portion of the cable connected to the housing of the electronic device is easily visible from outside the vehicle, which makes the appearance of the electronic device from outside the vehicle less attractive.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide an electronic device, a system, etc. having a configuration different from conventional ones, for example, to provide an electronic device, a system, etc. having a good appearance from the outside of a vehicle.

[0006] The purpose of the present invention is not limited to this, and the applicant intends to obtain rights for configurations that achieve the effects achieved by the components disclosed in the specification and drawings, etc., through divisional applications, amendments, etc. For example, the specification discloses problems in which the phrase "can be" is read as "the problem is...." Each problem is described as an independent problem, and the applicant intends to obtain rights for configurations that solve each problem separately through divisional applications, amendments, etc. Even if the problem is implicitly understood from the description in the specification, the applicant intends to include part of the configuration described in the specification in the scope of the patent claim through amendments or divisional applications. The applicant also discloses configurations that solve problems that combine these independent problems, and the applicant intends to obtain rights for these configurations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) One aspect of the present invention is an electronic device that can be placed in a vehicle, the electronic device comprising: an outer surface portion; a connection receiving portion provided on the outer surface portion and to which a cable connection portion is connected; and a shielding portion that shields the connection portion so that the connection portion connected to the connection receiving portion is difficult to see from outside the vehicle.

[0008] In this way, when the electronic device is placed in the vehicle, the cable connection portion is shielded by the shielding portion, making the connection portion less visible from outside the vehicle, thereby improving the appearance of the electronic device from outside the vehicle.

[0009] (2) The vehicle may be provided with an imaging unit that captures an image of a first direction outside the vehicle using an imaging lens provided on the outer surface portion, and the shielding portion may be configured to make the connection portion less visible from the first direction side.

[0010] In this way, when placing an electronic device in a vehicle, the imaging lens is usually positioned near the vehicle glass and pointed toward the outside of the vehicle in order to capture images of the outside of the vehicle.However, when viewed through the vehicle glass from the first direction outside the vehicle, the cable connection part is shielded by the shielding part, making the connection part difficult to see from outside the vehicle, thereby improving the appearance of the electronic device from outside the vehicle.

[0011] (3) The outer surface portion has a first side portion facing a first direction and a second side portion facing a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the electronic device is provided with an imaging lens for imaging the outside of the vehicle, and the shielding portion may shield the connection portion so that the connection portion is difficult to see when viewed from the direction of the imaging lens facing the outside of the vehicle.

[0012] In this way, when placing electronic equipment in a vehicle, the imaging lens is usually positioned near the vehicle window and pointed toward the outside of the vehicle in order to capture images of the outside of the vehicle; however, when viewed through the vehicle window from the direction in which the imaging lens faces toward the outside of the vehicle, the cable connection part is shielded by the shielding part, making the connection part difficult to see from outside the vehicle, improving the appearance of the electronic equipment from outside the vehicle.

[0013] (4) The cable may be a first cable, the connection portion may be a first connection portion, the connection receiving portion may be a first connection receiving portion, and the electronic device may further include a second connection receiving portion provided on the second side portion to which a second connection portion of a second cable is connected, and the first connection receiving portion and the second connection receiving portion may be arranged offset from each other in the first direction.

[0014] In this way, the first connection receiving portion and the second connection receiving portion are arranged offset from each other in the first direction, making it possible to prevent interference between the first cable and the second cable.

[0015] (5) The first connection receiving portion may be configured to be located above the second connection receiving portion and closer to the shielding portion in the first direction than the second connection receiving portion when placed in a vehicle, and the shielding portion may be positioned to avoid the upper side of the first connection receiving portion.

[0016] In this way, the first cable connected to the first connection receiving portion can be extended upward from a position closer to the shielding portion (for example, a position closer to the windshield), making the first cable less noticeable and facilitating the routing of the first cable.

[0017] (6) The electronic device may further include a substrate disposed inside the electronic device and facing the first direction, and the first connection receiving portion and the second connection receiving portion may be disposed on opposite substrate surfaces of the substrate in the first direction.

[0018] In this way, since the first connection receiving portion and the second connection receiving portion are respectively provided on opposite substrate surfaces in the first direction, it is possible to position the first connection receiving portion and the second connection receiving portion offset from each other in the first direction.

[0019] (7) The cable may be a first cable, the connection portion may be a first connection portion, the connection receiving portion may be a first connection receiving portion, and the electronic device may further include a second connection receiving portion provided on the second side portion to which a second connection portion of a second cable is connected, and the first connection portion may be larger than the second connection portion.

[0020] In this way, the larger of the multiple cable connection portions is made less visible by the shielding portion, improving the appearance of the electronic device from outside the vehicle.

[0021] (8) The first side surface portion may have a central plane portion facing the first direction, a first surface portion formed on the central plane portion in a third direction that intersects the first direction and the second direction and inclined in the opposite direction to the first direction toward the third direction, and a second surface portion formed on the first side surface portion in the opposite direction to the third direction and inclined in the opposite direction to the first direction toward the opposite direction to the third direction.

[0022] In this way, when placing an electronic device in a vehicle, the first side portion on which the imaging lens is mounted is usually positioned near the vehicle glass, facing the outside of the vehicle, and is easily visible from outside the vehicle.However, since the first side portion that is easily visible from outside the vehicle has a sleek outer shape, the appearance of the electronic device from outside the vehicle is improved.

[0023] (9) The imaging lens may be provided on the central plane portion.

[0024] In this way, the imaging lens is provided on the central plane portion of the first side surface portion facing the first direction, so when the electronic device is placed in a vehicle, the imaging lens can be directed forward in the first direction.

[0025] (10) The electronic device may further include an information presentation unit that is provided on the first side surface and presents information.

[0026] In this way, when placing an electronic device in a vehicle, the first side portion on which the imaging lens is provided is usually positioned near the vehicle glass, facing the outside of the vehicle, and is easily visible from outside the vehicle.However, since the information presentation unit is provided on the first side portion that is easily visible from outside the vehicle, the effectiveness of presenting information is enhanced.

[0027] (11) The cable may be a first cable, the connection portion may be a first connection portion, the connection receiving portion may be a first connection receiving portion, and the electronic device may further include a second connection receiving portion provided on the second side portion to which a second connection portion of a second cable is connected, and an attachment portion provided on the second side portion to which a storage medium is attached.

[0028] In this way, while in a vehicle occupants normally remain seated in the same seat, in the electronic device, the first connection receiving portion, the second connection receiving portion, and the mounting portion are provided on the same second side portion, so when the electronic device is placed in the vehicle, it is easy to connect or disconnect the first connection portion of the first cable to the first connection receiving portion, connect or disconnect the connection portion of the second cable to the second connection receiving portion, and mount or remove the recording medium from the mounting portion.

[0029] (12) The electronic device may further include a mounting portion provided on the second side surface portion into which a storage medium is mounted, a third side surface portion formed on the opposite side of the second direction from the second side surface portion, and an operation portion provided on the third side surface portion for instructing the electronic device to start recording.

[0030] In this way, in a vehicle, passengers usually remain seated in the same seat, and since the electronic device has the operation unit and the mounting unit respectively on the second side surface portion and the third side surface portion that are provided on opposite sides in the second direction, erroneous operation of the operation unit and the mounting unit is prevented when the electronic device is placed in a vehicle. In a case where a user wants to operate the operation unit to start recording urgently, even though the user may be in a hurry, it is possible to reduce the risk of accidentally removing the storage medium mounted in the mounting unit and to give an instruction to start recording.

[0031] (13) The electronic device may further include a recess provided on the second side surface portion, recessed in the opposite direction to the second direction, where the connection receiving portion is provided and the connection portion connected to the connection receiving portion is accommodated, and an antenna provided inside the electronic device, and the antenna may be positioned on the opposite side of the recess in a third direction that intersects the first direction and the second direction.

[0032] In this way, by providing a recess to accommodate the connection part, a space is created on the opposite side of the third direction, and by placing the antenna in this space, the space inside the electronic device can be effectively utilized and the electronic device can be made smaller, thereby improving the appearance of the electronic device.

[0033] (14) The electronic device may further include a storage means provided inside the electronic device, and the storage means may be positioned at a position different from a position on the opposite side of the recess in a third direction that intersects the first direction and the second direction.

[0034] In this way, although a storage means such as a supercapacitor can be relatively large in size, by providing the storage means at a position other than the opposite side of the third direction of the recess in which the connection portion is housed, the relative positions of the storage means and the antenna can make effective use of the internal space of the electronic device, thereby making it possible to miniaturize the electronic device.

[0035] (15) The electronic device may further include a power storage means provided inside the electronic device, and a protection portion provided inside the electronic device to protect the power storage means from heat.

[0036] In this way, although the electricity storage means exemplified by a supercapacitor may be susceptible to heat, the protection portion can protect the electricity storage means from heat.

[0037] (16) The electronic device may further include an antenna provided inside the electronic device and a storage means provided inside the electronic device, and the storage means may be positioned offset from the ground plane of the antenna to the opposite side of the antenna.

[0038] In this way, it is possible to suppress interference of the power storage means with the radio waves of the antenna, whereas a power storage means such as a supercapacitor is usually made of metal and interferes with the radio waves of the antenna.

[0039] (17) The connection portion may be reversible between a first connection orientation and a second connection orientation and connectable to the connection receiving portion, the cable may further have a cable portion extending from the connection portion in an extension direction intersecting the connection direction of the connection portion, and the electronic device may further include a regulating portion that regulates the connection orientation of the connection portion relative to the connection receiving portion to one of the first connection orientation and the second connection orientation.

[0040] In this way, even if a configuration is adopted in which the connection portion of the cable can be connected by being flipped between a first connection orientation and a second connection orientation relative to the connection receiving portion, it is possible to regulate the extension direction of the cable relative to the electronic device by regulating the connection orientation of the connection portion of the cable relative to the connection receiving portion using the regulating portion.

[0041] (18) The restricting portion may be configured by a recess in which the connection receiving portion is provided and the connection portion connected to the connection receiving portion is housed, and the recess may constitute the shielding portion.

[0042] In this way, the recess in which the connection receiving portion is provided and the connection portion connected to the connection receiving portion is housed can function both as a shielding portion that shields the connection portion so that it is difficult to see from outside the vehicle, and as a regulating portion that regulates the connection direction of the cable connection portion relative to the connection receiving portion.

[0043] (19) The connection portion may be connectable to the connection receiving portion by reversing the connection direction, and the cable may further have a cable portion extending from the connection portion in an extension direction that intersects the connection direction of the connection portion to the connection receiving portion.

[0044] In this way, the connection portion of the cable can be reversed and connected to the connection receiving portion, so the extension direction of the cable can be reversed relative to the electronic device, making it possible to properly position the cable relative to the electronic device when placing the electronic device in a vehicle.

[0045] (20) The shielding portion may be a first shielding portion, and the electronic device may further include a second shielding portion that shields the connection portion connected to the connection receiving portion so that the connection portion is less visible from inside the vehicle.

[0046] In this way, when the electronic device is placed in a vehicle, the second shielding portion makes the cable connection portion less visible from inside the vehicle, improving the appearance of the electronic device from both outside and inside the vehicle.

[0047] (21) A system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first electronic device that is any one of the electronic devices described above, and a second electronic device, and the connection receiving portion is connected to a connection portion of a cable for electrically connecting the first electronic device and the second electronic device.

[0048] In this way, when the first electronic device is placed in a vehicle, the shielding portion shields the connection portion of the cable for electrically connecting it to the second electronic device, making the connection portion less visible from outside the vehicle, thereby improving the appearance of the first electronic device from outside the vehicle.

[0049] (22) The first electronic device and the second electronic device may each be an image capturing device for capturing an image of the outside of the vehicle.

[0050] In this way, when the first electronic device and the second electronic device are each an on-board imaging device, the shielding portion of the first electronic device shields the connection portion of the cable for electrically connecting to the second electronic device, making the connection portion less visible from outside the vehicle, thereby improving the appearance of the first electronic device from outside the vehicle.

[0051] Further, the imaging device may have the following configuration. (A) It is desirable to provide an imaging device that includes an imaging unit having an imaging lens and is configured to be mountable to a vehicle at a position to the right of the imaging lens as viewed from inside the vehicle. In this way, the imaging device is less noticeable when viewed from outside the vehicle, and the appearance of the imaging device from outside the vehicle can be improved.

[0052] (B) It is preferable to provide an imaging device that can be attached in a first position and a second position in which the images captured by the imaging unit are inverted relative to each other. This can improve the user's flexibility in attaching the imaging device. For example, the same usability can be provided to the user regardless of whether the vehicle in which the imaging device is installed is a right-hand drive vehicle or a left-hand drive vehicle. The first position is an orientation in which the imaging device is attached to the vehicle at a position to the left of the imaging lens as viewed from inside the vehicle, and the second position is an orientation in which the imaging device is attached to the vehicle at a position to the right of the imaging lens as viewed from inside the vehicle. A configuration that can be attached in either the first position or the second position may be, for example, a configuration that allows the imaging device to function properly regardless of whether it is attached in the first position or the second position, such as a configuration that can capture images in the same shooting direction or a configuration that allows an information display unit (e.g., a logo) provided on the housing to be visible from a predetermined direction (e.g., outside or inside the vehicle). The mutually inverted relationship may be, for example, a vertically inverted relationship, i.e., a relationship in which the top-to-bottom direction of the captured image is inverted, or a horizontally inverted relationship, i.e., a relationship in which the left-to-right direction of the captured image is inverted.

[0053] (C) When the imaging device is mounted in the first position, the orientation of the surface on which a predetermined operation button, a predetermined connector, or a storage medium mounting portion is provided may be reversed from that when the imaging device is mounted in the second position. In this way, a predetermined operation button, a predetermined connector, or a storage medium mounting portion that may be used by a user in a vehicle can be positioned in a location that is convenient for the user. The orientation of the surfaces that are reversed from side to side is particularly preferable. In this way, for example, regardless of whether the vehicle in which the imaging device is mounted is a right-hand drive vehicle or a left-hand drive vehicle, the position of the predetermined operation button, a predetermined connector, or a storage medium mounting portion can be positioned in a convenient location as seen by the user.

[0054] (D) It is preferable that the camera has a function of adjusting at least one of the vertical and horizontal directions of the image depending on whether the camera is attached in the first attitude or the second attitude. In this way, regardless of whether the camera is attached in the first attitude or the second attitude, a captured image with the vertical and horizontal directions of the image adjusted can be obtained.

[0055] (E) It is preferable that the camera has a function of associating identification information corresponding to whether the camera is attached in the first position or the second position with the captured image. In this way, it is possible to identify whether the camera was attached in the first position or the second position when the image was captured based on the identification information. For example, an external device such as a playback device can obtain a captured image with the up / down and left / right directions of the image adjusted based on this identification information, regardless of whether the camera is attached in the first position or the second position.

[0056] (F) It is preferable that the camera has a function of changing processing based on a sensor possessed by the camera depending on whether the camera is attached in a first attitude or a second attitude. In this way, processing based on a sensor possessed by the camera can be performed appropriately regardless of whether the camera is attached in the first attitude or the second attitude. The sensor is preferable to be a sensor whose output value changes depending on the attitude of the camera, such as an acceleration sensor or a gyro sensor.

[0057] (G) The predetermined connector may be a connector of a standard that can be connected by being reversed in a predetermined direction. In this way, the cable can extend in the same direction whether the camera is attached in the first position or the second position. The predetermined direction may be, in particular, an up-down direction. If the connector is such that the cable extends upward whether the camera is attached in the first position or the second position, the cable extending downward can be prevented from entering the user's field of view.

[0058] (H) It is preferable that the event recording button be located on the underside of the housing of the image capture device, to the right of the center in the left-right direction when the image capture lens is facing forward. This makes it particularly easy for the driver in the driver's seat of a right-hand drive vehicle to operate the event recording button, and also makes it possible for the passenger in the passenger seat to operate the event recording button. In particular, if the image capture device is located on the opposite side of the rearview mirror as seen from inside the vehicle, the presence of the image capture device becomes less noticeable and the above-mentioned effects can be achieved.

[0059] (I) The event recording button should preferably be shaped to protrude downward from the bottom surface of the housing of the image capturing device. This makes the event recording button easier to operate, and can prevent, for example, user operation errors.

[0060] The inventions described in (1) to (22) and (A) to (I) above can be combined arbitrarily. For example, a configuration may be created by adding at least a portion of the configuration of at least one of the inventions described in (2) and subsequent paragraphs to all or a portion of the configuration of the invention described in (1). In particular, an invention may be created by adding at least a portion of the configuration of at least one of the inventions described in (2) and subsequent paragraphs to the invention described in (1). Furthermore, any configuration may be extracted from the inventions described in (1) to (22) and (A) to (I) and combined. The applicant of this application intends to obtain rights to inventions including these configurations. Furthermore, even if a description is made of "in the case of..." or "when...," it is not intended to describe a configuration limited to that case or time. These are merely examples of better configurations, and the applicant intends to obtain rights to configurations other than these cases or times. Furthermore, any descriptions that specify an order are not limited to this order. Configurations in which some parts are deleted or the order is changed are also disclosed, and the applicant intends to obtain rights to such configurations. [Effects of the Invention]

[0061] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an electronic device and a system having a configuration different from the conventional ones, and for example, it is possible to improve the appearance of the electronic device when viewed from outside the vehicle. The effects of the present invention are not limited to these, and effects achieved by the components disclosed in the specification and drawings, etc. are also disclosed, and the applicant intends to obtain rights to the components that achieve these effects through divisional applications, amendments, etc. For example, in this specification, statements such as "can..." clearly state the effects that are achieved, and there are also parts that demonstrate the effects even without the statement "can...". Furthermore, there are effects that can be understood from the components even without such statements. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0062] [Figure 1] 1A is a perspective view showing a drive recorder according to a first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the drive recorder according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear. [Figure 2] FIG. 1A is a front view showing a drive recorder according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a rear view showing the drive recorder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1A is a right side view showing a drive recorder according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a left side view showing the drive recorder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1A is a plan view showing a drive recorder according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a bottom view showing the drive recorder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1A is an exploded perspective view showing the drive recorder of the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front, and FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view showing the drive recorder of the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear. [Figure 6] 1A is an exploded front view showing a drive recorder according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an exploded rear view showing the drive recorder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1A is an exploded right side view showing a drive recorder according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an exploded left side view showing the drive recorder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] 1A is an exploded plan view showing a drive recorder according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an exploded bottom view showing the drive recorder according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 1 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of a drive recorder according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 10] 1 is a front view showing the internal structure of a drive recorder according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 11] 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the drive recorder according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along line XI-XI in FIG. 10. [Figure 12] 10(a) is a perspective view showing a drive recorder according to a second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front, and FIG. 10(b) is a perspective view showing the drive recorder according to the second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear. [Figure 13]FIG. 6(a) is a front view showing a drive recorder according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6(b) is a rear view showing the drive recorder according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] 10(a) is a right side view showing a drive recorder according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is a left side view showing the drive recorder according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] 10(a) is a plan view showing a drive recorder according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is a bottom view showing the drive recorder according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] 10(a) is an exploded perspective view showing a drive recorder according to a second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front, and FIG. 10(b) is an exploded perspective view showing the drive recorder according to the second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear. [Figure 17] 10(a) is an exploded front view showing a drive recorder according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is an exploded rear view showing the drive recorder according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] 10(a) is an exploded right side view showing a drive recorder according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is an exploded left side view showing the drive recorder according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] 10(a) is an exploded plan view showing a drive recorder according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is an exploded bottom view showing the drive recorder according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] 10(a) is a perspective view showing a drive recorder according to a third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front, and FIG. 10(b) is a perspective view showing the drive recorder according to the third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear. [Figure 21] 10(a) is a front view showing a drive recorder according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is a rear view showing the drive recorder according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] 10(a) is a right side view showing a drive recorder according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is a left side view showing the drive recorder according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] 10(a) is a plan view showing a drive recorder according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is a bottom view showing the drive recorder according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] 10(a) is an exploded perspective view showing a drive recorder according to a third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front, and FIG. 10(b) is an exploded perspective view showing the drive recorder according to the third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear. [Figure 25] 10(a) is an exploded front view showing a drive recorder according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is an exploded rear view showing the drive recorder according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] 10(a) is an exploded right side view showing a drive recorder according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is an exploded left side view showing the drive recorder according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27] 10(a) is an exploded plan view showing a drive recorder according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is an exploded bottom view showing the drive recorder according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] 10(a) is a front view of a drive recorder according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is a rear view of the drive recorder according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 29] 10(a) is a front view of a drive recorder according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is a rear view of the drive recorder according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 30] 10(a) is a front view of a drive recorder according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10(b) is a front view of the drive recorder according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 31] 10(a) is a perspective view showing a drive recorder according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front, and FIG. 10(b) is a perspective view showing the drive recorder according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the rear. [Figure 32] 6A to 6C are six-view diagrams of a drive recorder according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 33] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a bracket of a drive recorder according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 34] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the installation positions of a drive recorder and a rear camera mounted on a vehicle. [Figure 35] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of how a cable connection portion of a drive recorder can be visually recognized. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0063] First, the background to the conception of the present invention will be explained. FIG. 34 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the installation positions of a drive recorder and a rear camera mounted on a vehicle. FIG. 34 shows a side view of a vehicle 80. In this figure, the vehicle 80 is a four-wheeled automobile, but is not limited to a four-wheeled automobile and may be any moving vehicle on which a drive recorder can be installed. Examples of vehicles include large transport vehicles with four or more wheels, such as automobiles, buses, and trucks, motorcycles, two-wheeled vehicles such as bicycles, and other vehicles. The vehicle may also be a transportation vehicle, such as a train, monorail, or linear motor car.

[0064] The drive recorder 70 shown in FIG. 34 is an imaging device disposed on the front side of the vehicle 80. In this example, the drive recorder 70 is disposed on the front side of the interior of the vehicle 80 (i.e., the passenger compartment) and attached to a predetermined location such as the windshield. The drive recorder 70 captures images of the area in front of the vehicle 80. The rear camera 72 is an imaging device disposed on the rear side of the vehicle 80. In this example, the rear camera 72 is disposed on the front side of the interior of the vehicle 80 and attached to a predetermined location such as the rear windshield. The rear camera 72 captures images of the area behind the vehicle 80. The drive recorder 70 and the rear camera 72 are connected via a cable 90. The cable 90 is a cable for electrically connecting the drive recorder 70 and the rear camera 72. The cable 90 includes, for example, a power line for supplying power from the drive recorder 70 to the rear camera 72 and a signal line for transmitting various data. The rear camera 72 operates by receiving power via the cable 90. The rear camera 72 has a function of capturing images and a function of outputting image data representing the captured images to the drive recorder 70 via the cable 90. The drive recorder 70 has a function of capturing images, a function of recording image data representing the captured images, and a function of recording image data received from the rear camera 72.

[0065] Fig. 35 is a diagram illustrating an example of how a connection portion of a cable of a drive recorder is visible from the front side of a vehicle. Fig. 35 shows the drive recorder 70 as viewed from the front side of a vehicle 80 through the windshield. In the case shown in Fig. 35, a connection portion 90a of a cable 90 that is connected to the drive recorder 70 is visible from the front side of the vehicle 80. Furthermore, since the drive recorder 70 is expected to be placed on or near the windshield of the vehicle 80, the connection portion 90a of the cable 90 may be conspicuously visible from the front side of the vehicle 80.

[0066] It has been found that in the case of in-vehicle imaging devices such as drive recorders, customers' product selection criteria include not only the functionality and price of the imaging device, but also its appearance. With this background, the inventor came up with the idea for the present invention.

[0067] Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In this embodiment, the electronic device (corresponding to the first electronic device) installed in the vehicle is a drive recorder 10. The drive recorder 10 is an example of an imaging device installed in the vehicle. The installation position of the drive recorder 10 may be the same as the installation position described with reference to FIG. 28 . The drive recorder 10 is also connected to a rear camera 72 (corresponding to the second electronic device) via a cable (in this embodiment, an Ethernet cable 38, which will be described later, is used). Like the cable 90, the Ethernet cable 38 may include a power line for supplying power from the drive recorder 10 to the rear camera 72 and a signal line for transmitting various data between the drive recorder 10 and the rear camera 72. Instead of or in addition to the rear camera 72, an imaging device that captures images of the left rear, right rear, or side of the vehicle may be connected to the drive recorder 10. However, in this embodiment, a case in which the drive recorder 10 and the rear camera 72 are connected will be described as a representative example.

[0068] A drive recorder 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, the housing of the drive recorder 10 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape, and includes an upper surface 12, a lower surface 14, a front surface 16, a rear surface 18, a left surface 20, and a right surface 22 as outer surfaces facing the up, down, front, rear, left, and right directions. In this embodiment, the front surface 16, the right surface 22, and the left surface 20 correspond to the first side surface, the second side surface, and the third side surface, respectively, and the front, right, and up directions correspond to the first direction, the second direction, and the third direction, respectively. In this specification, the left and right directions are defined as viewed from the front.

[0069] A bracket 24 for mounting the drive recorder 10 on the windshield of the vehicle is disposed on the upper surface 12 of the drive recorder 10. The bracket 24 is mounted, for example, at the top end portion in the vertical direction and the center portion in the horizontal direction of the windshield.

[0070] An imaging lens 28 of an imaging unit 26 for capturing images of the exterior of the vehicle is disposed on the front surface 16 of the drive recorder 10. The front surface 16 is shaped like a semi-cylindrical fish. In this embodiment, the front surface 16 has a central flat surface 16a facing forward in the vertical center, an upper side surface 16b sloping upward toward the rear in the upper portion, and a lower side surface 16c sloping downward toward the rear in the lower portion. While the upper side surface 16b and the lower side surface 16c may each be configured as linearly inclined surfaces, in this embodiment they are configured as curved surfaces. In this embodiment, the upper side surface 16b corresponds to a first surface, and the lower side surface 16c corresponds to a second surface. Furthermore, the upper edge of the upper side surface 16b and the lower edge of the lower side surface 16c are chamfered. The imaging lens 28 is disposed on the central flat surface 16a. An advertisement display unit for displaying advertisements is also provided on the central flat surface portion 16a. The advertisement display unit is not shown in the drawings. In the advertisement display unit, for example, the company name or company mark (e.g., logo) of the manufacturer of the drive recorder 10 is directly drawn on the central flat surface portion 16a, or a sticker on which the company name or company mark is drawn is affixed to the central flat surface portion 16a. The company name or company mark may be affixed to the central flat surface portion 16a using a member such as double-sided tape. In this embodiment, the advertisement display unit corresponds to the information display unit.

[0071] When the drive recorder 10 is attached to the windshield of the vehicle, the imaging lens 28 is located near the windshield and faces forward outside the vehicle. Similarly, the front surface 16 on which the imaging lens 28 is located is located near the windshield and faces forward outside the vehicle.

[0072] An LCD (liquid crystal display) 30 for displaying images is disposed on the rear face 18 of the drive recorder 10, and various LEDs (shown as circles) and operation buttons 32 are arranged in a vertical direction on the left side of the LCD 30 (the right side when viewed from the rear). The various LEDs are an example of light-emitting bodies, and emit light in a manner according to the state of the drive recorder 10. The operation buttons 32 are an example of an operation unit that accepts user operations. The LCD 30 is an example of a display unit that displays images. The display unit may be a display unit that uses a display method other than a liquid crystal display.

[0073] A groove 34 is formed in an upper portion of the right surface 22 of the drive recorder 10. The groove 34 is recessed inward, i.e., toward the left, extends upward, and opens upward at the top surface 12. A camera connector 36 is disposed at the bottom of the groove 34, and a connector portion 38a of an Ethernet cable 38 is connected to the camera connector 36. In this embodiment, the camera connector 36 corresponds to the connection receptacle and the first connection receptacle, and the Ethernet cable 38 and its connector portion 38a correspond to the cable, the first cable, the connection portion, and the first connection portion. When the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is connected to the camera connector 36, the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is accommodated in the groove 34, and the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is sandwiched between the front wall portion 34a and the rear wall portion 34b that form the groove 34.

[0074] Connector portion 38a of Ethernet cable 38 is larger than connector portion 42a of power cable 42, which will be described later. For example, the portion of connector portion 38a that is exposed to the outside when connected to camera connector 36 (e.g., the portion that the user holds in their hand when connecting) is larger than the portion of connector portion 42a that is exposed to the outside when connected to power connector 40 (e.g., the portion that the user holds in their hand when connecting).

[0075] The front wall portion 34a of the groove 34 shields the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 so that the connector portion 38a is difficult to see from outside the vehicle when the drive recorder 10 is attached to the windshield of the vehicle and the drive recorder 10 is viewed through the windshield from the front where the imaging lens 28 outside the vehicle faces. In this embodiment, the front wall portion 34a corresponds to the shielding portion and the first shielding portion. Furthermore, the rear wall portion 34b of the groove 34 shields the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 so that the connector portion 38a is difficult to see from inside the vehicle when the drive recorder 10 is attached to the windshield of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the rear wall portion 34b corresponds to the second shielding portion.

[0076] Shielding the connector portion means blocking the line of sight to the connector portion. Shielding the connector portion to make it less visible means, for example, that at least a portion of the connector portion is invisible when viewed from the front of the vehicle, but it is preferable that the entire connector portion is invisible. Furthermore, it is even better if the connector portion is not only less visible when viewed from the front of the vehicle, but also less visible when viewed from diagonally forward of the vehicle.

[0077] The camera connector 36 and the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 are compliant with the USB Type-C standard. In this embodiment, the camera connector 36 is female and the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is male, but the female and male types may be reversed. The connector portion 38a is also called a plug, bushing, or the like. The connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is L-shaped, and a cable portion 38b extends from the connector portion 38a in an extension direction perpendicular to the connection direction of the connector portion. In this embodiment, the cable portion 38b corresponds to the cable part. Here, because the camera connector 36 and the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 are compliant with the USB Type-C standard, the L-shaped connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 can be connected to the camera connector 36 by being flipped upside down between an upward connection orientation and a downward connection orientation. In this embodiment, when the L-shaped connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is connected to the camera connector 36 in an upward connection orientation, the L-shaped connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 does not interfere with the lower wall portion 34c that forms the groove 34, and can be connected to the camera connector 36. On the other hand, when the L-shaped connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is connected to the camera connector 36 in a downward connection orientation, the L-shaped connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 interferes with the lower wall portion 34c that forms the groove 34, and cannot be connected to the camera connector 36. In this manner, the lower wall portion 34c of the groove 34 restricts the connection orientation of the L-shaped connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 to the camera connector 36, either in an upward connection orientation or a downward connection orientation, and restricts the extension direction of the Ethernet cable 38 to an upward orientation relative to the drive recorder 10. In this embodiment, the lower wall portion 34c corresponds to the restricting portion.

[0078] A power connector 40 is disposed in the center of the right surface 22 in the vertical direction. A connector portion 42a of a power cable 42 is connected to the power connector 40. In this embodiment, the power connector 40 corresponds to the second connection receptacle, and the power cable 42 and its connector portion 42a correspond to the second cable and second connection portion. The power connector 40 and the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42 are compatible with the mini USB standard. In this embodiment, the power connector 40 is female and the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42 is male, but the female and male types may be reversed. The connector portion 42a of the power cable 42 is L-shaped, and a cable portion 42b extends from the connector portion 42a in an extension direction perpendicular to the connection direction of the connector portion 42a. When the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42 is connected to the power connector 40, the power cable 42 extends upward.

[0079] On the right surface portion 22, the camera connector 36 and the power connector 40 are arranged offset from each other in the front-to-rear direction, with the camera connector 36 arranged on the front side and the power connector 40 arranged on the rear side.

[0080] A card slot 46 into which an SD card 44 is inserted is provided in the lower portion of the right surface portion 22. The SD card 44 inserted into the card slot 46 can be ejected from the card slot 46 by pressing the SD card 44 inward, i.e., to the left. In this embodiment, the SD card 44 and the card slot 46 correspond to the recording medium and the mounting portion, respectively. The card slot 46 is provided on the same surface as the power connector 40.

[0081] An emergency event recording button 48 is provided on the lower part of the left side surface 20 of the drive recorder 10. In this embodiment, the event recording button 48 corresponds to an operation unit for instructing the start of recording.

[0082] 9, the drive recorder 10 incorporates a circuit board 52. The circuit board 52 has a front circuit board surface 52a facing forward and a rear circuit board surface 52b facing rearward. The camera connector 36 is disposed on the front circuit board surface 52a of the circuit board 52, and the power connector 40 is disposed on the rear circuit board surface 52b of the circuit board 52. A processor (an example of a control device) (not shown) that controls the drive recorder 10 is mounted on the circuit board 52.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 10 , the drive recorder 10 includes a built-in GPS antenna 54 and a supercapacitor 56. The GPS antenna 54 is located below the groove 34. The supercapacitor 56 is cylindrical, extends vertically, and is located to the left of the groove 34 and the GPS antenna 56. In this embodiment, the groove 34 corresponds to the recess. The GPS antenna 54 is an antenna compatible with GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems), such as the Global Positioning System (GPS). The drive recorder 10 acquires location information and the like based on signals received by the GPS antenna 54. The supercapacitor 56 is also called an electric double-layer capacitor and corresponds to the power storage means of the drive recorder 10. The supercapacitor enables the drive recorder 10 to perform processing to prevent operational malfunctions, such as damage to files (e.g., video data), even if the power supply to the drive recorder 10 is unintentionally interrupted. The supercapacitor 56 is charged, for example, when the drive recorder 10 is powered on.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 11 , the drive recorder 10 is provided with an imaging unit 26 for capturing images of the exterior of the vehicle. The imaging unit 26 captures images using an imaging lens 28. The imaging unit 26 has an imaging element, such as a CCD or CMOS, and generates multicolor image data represented by, for example, red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color components. A cloth member 58 is wrapped around the supercapacitor 56 to protect the supercapacitor 56 from heat generated by the imaging unit 26 and the like. In this embodiment, the cloth member 58 corresponds to the protective portion. The supercapacitor 56 is made of metal and is positioned away from the GPS antenna 54 with respect to the ground surface 54a of the GPS antenna 54. Specifically, the central axis C of the supercapacitor 56 is positioned away from the GPS antenna 54 with respect to the ground surface 54a of the GPS antenna 54.

[0085] The drive recorder 10 of this embodiment has the following advantages. When the drive recorder 10 is attached to the windshield of a vehicle, the imaging lens 28 is positioned near the windshield and faces forward outside the vehicle, and when viewed from the front where the imaging lens 28 faces outside the vehicle, the front wall portion 34a of the groove 34 shields the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 connected to the camera connector 36, making it difficult to see the connector portion from outside the vehicle. This improves the appearance of the drive recorder 10 from outside the vehicle.

[0086] Here, connector portion 38a of Ethernet cable 38 is larger than connector portion 42a of power cable 42, and front wall portion 34a of groove 34 shields connector portion 38a of Ethernet cable 38, which is larger than connector portion 42a of power cable 42, making it less visible from outside the vehicle. This improves the appearance of drive recorder 10 from outside the vehicle.

[0087] In the conventional design, for example, the connector portion is recessed into the connector (in other words, the connector is inserted into a hole). In contrast, in the drive recorder 10, a mechanical component is added to the connector portion so that the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is sandwiched between the front wall portion 34a and the rear wall portion 34b, thereby realizing the function of a shielding component and preventing the internal components, such as the circuit board 52, from being seen when the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is removed.

[0088] Furthermore, when the drive recorder 10 is attached to the windshield of a vehicle, the front surface 16 on which the imaging lens 28 is disposed is positioned near the windshield and faces forward outside the vehicle, making it easily visible from outside the vehicle. The front surface 16, which is easily visible from outside the vehicle, has a sleek, semi-cylindrical shape, improving the appearance of the drive recorder 10 from outside the vehicle. The upper side surface 16b and the lower side surface 16c may each be configured as linearly inclined surfaces, but by being curved as described above, they have a rounded shape, which is expected to make the appearance of the drive recorder 10 more appealing to customers. Furthermore, since the advertising display unit is disposed on the front surface 16, which is easily visible from outside the vehicle, the advertising display unit stands out, enhancing the advertising effectiveness of the advertising display unit. For example, if the advertisement presentation unit presents an advertisement that identifies the manufacturer of the drive recorder 10, the user of the drive recorder 10 and other third parties can have the impression that the drive recorders of that manufacturer are cool and small.

[0089] In addition, since the imaging lens 28 is arranged on the central flat surface 16a facing forward in the front portion 16, when the drive recorder 10 is attached to the windshield of the vehicle, the imaging lens 28 can be directed forward.

[0090] Furthermore, in the drive recorder 10, a groove 34 recessed inward, i.e., toward the left, is disposed in the upper portion of the right side surface 22, and inside the drive recorder 10, a GPS antenna 54 is disposed below the groove 34, and a cylindrical supercapacitor 56 extending in the vertical direction is disposed to the left of the groove 34 and the GPS antenna 54. If the supercapacitor 56 were disposed below the groove 34, the board 52 would become longer in the vertical direction, resulting in an increase in the size of the drive recorder 10. However, in this embodiment, the above-described arrangement makes effective use of the space inside the drive recorder 10, thereby enabling the drive recorder 10 to be made smaller and improving the appearance of the drive recorder 10.

[0091] Furthermore, when the drive recorder 10 is attached to the windshield of the vehicle, the rear wall portion 34b of the groove 34 shields the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 connected to the camera connector 36, making it difficult to see the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 from inside the vehicle. This improves the appearance of the drive recorder 10 from inside the vehicle.

[0092] The drive recorder 10 has a built-in circuit board 52 facing the front-to-rear direction, and the camera connector 36 and the power connector 40 are disposed on a front circuit board surface 52a and a rear circuit board surface 52b, which are opposite to each other in the front-to-rear direction, respectively, of the circuit board 52, so that the camera connector 36 and the power connector 40 are arranged offset from each other in the front-to-rear direction. Here, when the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 and the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42 are connected to the camera connector 36 and the power connector 40, respectively, the cable portion 38b of the Ethernet cable 38 and the cable portion 42b of the power cable 42 extend upward. However, because the camera connector 36 and the power connector 40 are arranged offset from each other in the front-to-rear direction, the cable portion 38b of the Ethernet cable 38 and the cable portion 42b of the power cable 42 are also arranged offset from each other in the front-to-rear direction, making it possible to prevent interference between the Ethernet cable 38 and the power cable 42. In particular, the camera connector 36 is located above the power connector 40, and the camera connector 36 is located at the front and the power connector 40 is located at the rear (i.e., the camera connector 36 is located closer to the front wall portion 34a), and the front wall portion 34a is located away from the upper side of the camera connector 36. In this way, the Ethernet cable 38 can be extended upward from a position closer to the front wall portion 34a (for example, a position closer to the windshield), making the Ethernet cable 38 less noticeable and facilitating routing of the Ethernet cable 38.

[0093] The L-shaped connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 can normally be connected to the camera connector 36 by flipping the connection direction up and down between an upward connection direction and a downward connection direction, but the lower wall portion 34c of the groove 34 restricts the connection direction of the L-shaped connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 to the camera connector 36 to an upward connection direction, so it is possible to restrict the extension direction of the Ethernet cable 38 to the drive recorder 10 to an upward direction.

[0094] In the drive recorder 10, the lower wall portion 34c of the groove 34 restricts the cable portion 38b of the Ethernet cable 38 from extending upward. This prevents the cable portion 38b extending downward from obstructing the field of view of the driver or other occupants, and prevents an occupant from getting caught on the Ethernet cable 38, causing the Ethernet cable 38 to become detached from the drive recorder 10. Furthermore, because the lower wall portion 34c of the groove 34 is configured to restrict the extending direction of the cable portion 38b, the groove 34 can function as both a shielding portion and a restricting portion.

[0095] In the front seats inside the vehicle, the driver and other passengers remain seated in the driver's seat and passenger seat, respectively, but because the camera connector 36, power connector 40, and card slot 46 are arranged on the same right surface 22 of the drive recorder 10, when the drive recorder 10 is attached to the windshield of the vehicle, it is easy to connect or disconnect the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 to the camera connector 36, connect or disconnect the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42 to the power connector 40, and insert or eject the SD card 44 into or from the card slot 46. In particular, because the camera connector 36, power connector 40, and card slot 46 are arranged on the right surface 22 of the drive recorder 10, when the drive recorder 10 is attached to the upper end portion in the vertical direction and the center portion in the horizontal direction of the windshield, operations can be easily performed from the passenger seat on the right side (left side when viewed from the rear) in a right-hand drive vehicle.

[0096] Furthermore, the card slot 46 is provided on the right side 22 of the drive recorder 10, and the emergency event recording button 48 is provided on the left side 20, preventing erroneous operation of the card slot 46 and the event recording button 48. In particular, the emergency event recording button 48 is easily erroneously operated because it is operated in an emergency. Also, if the card slot 46 is mistakenly operated instead of the event recording button 48 and the SD card 44 is ejected, it will become impossible to record the recorded data on the SD card 44, even though an event is to be recorded in an emergency. However, this prevents such erroneous operation.

[0097] Although the supercapacitor 56 is generally sensitive to heat, the supercapacitor 56 is wrapped in a cloth member 58 to protect the supercapacitor 56 from heat, making it possible to protect the supercapacitor 56 from heat from the imaging unit 26, etc.

[0098] The supercapacitor 56 is made of metal and will interfere with the radio waves of the GPS antenna 54. However, since the supercapacitor 56 is positioned on the opposite side of the GPS antenna 54 from the ground surface 54a of the GPS antenna 54, it is possible to suppress interference of the supercapacitor 56 with the radio waves of the GPS antenna 54.

[0099] A first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described. In the first embodiment, the camera connector 36, the power connector 40, and the card slot 46 are disposed on the same right surface 22 of the drive recorder 10, and the event recording button 48 is disposed on the left surface 20. In contrast, in this modified example, the camera connector 36, the power connector 40, and the card slot 46 are disposed on the same left surface 20 of the drive recorder 10, and the event recording button 48 is disposed on the right surface 22. Therefore, particularly when the drive recorder 10 is attached to the top edge portion in the vertical direction and the center portion in the horizontal direction of the windshield, it is easy to connect or disconnect the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 to or from the camera connector 36, connect or disconnect the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42 to or from the power connector 40, and insert or eject the SD card 44 into or from the card slot 46 from the driver's seat on the left side (the right side when viewed from the rear) of a right-hand drive vehicle.

[0100] A second modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described. In the first embodiment, a cloth member 58 is wrapped around the supercapacitor 56 to protect the supercapacitor 56 from heat from the imaging unit 26, etc. In this modified example, a protective layer made of a cotton member, an air layer, etc. is interposed between the imaging unit 26 and the supercapacitor 56 to protect the supercapacitor 56 from heat from the imaging unit 26, etc. In this embodiment, the protective layer corresponds to the protected portion.

[0101] A third modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described. In the first embodiment, the central axis of the supercapacitor 56 is disposed so as to be offset from the ground substrate 52 on the opposite side to the GPS antenna 54. In contrast, in this modification, a larger portion of the supercapacitor 56, more preferably the entire supercapacitor 56, is disposed so as to be offset from the ground substrate 52 on the opposite side to the GPS antenna 54. This makes it possible to further suppress interference of the supercapacitor 56 with radio waves from the GPS antenna 54.

[0102] A fourth modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described. In the first embodiment, a bracket 24 for mounting the drive recorder 10 on the windshield of the vehicle is provided on the upper surface 12 of the drive recorder 10. In this modification, an appropriate mounting portion for mounting the drive recorder 10 on the dashboard or another mounting portion of the vehicle is provided on the lower surface 14 of the drive recorder 10.

[0103] Hereinafter, a fifth modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The drive recorder 10 does not need to have a rear wall portion 34b for making the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 less visible from inside the vehicle. Even with this configuration, the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 connected to the camera connector 36 is shielded from outside the vehicle, improving the appearance of the drive recorder 10 from outside the vehicle. Furthermore, the absence of the rear wall portion 34b makes it easier for the user to see the camera connector 36 and the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 from the rear side of the drive recorder 10. This makes it easier for the user to connect or disconnect the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 to the camera connector 36.

[0104] A sixth modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The drive recorder 10 may include a shielding portion that shields the connector portion of a cable other than the Ethernet cable 38 so that the connector portion is less visible from outside the vehicle.

[0105] First, the drive recorder 10 may be provided with a shielding portion that shields the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42 so that the connector portion 42a is less visible from outside the vehicle, instead of the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38. In this case, for example, the positions of the camera connector 36 and the power connector 40 may be reversed.

[0106] Second, the drive recorder 10 may include a shielding portion that shields the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 and the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42 so that both the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 and the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42 are less likely to be visible from outside the vehicle. In this case, for example, the power connector 40 may be disposed in a position where the connector portion 42a is recessed inward, i.e., toward the left, on the right side surface 22 of the drive recorder 10, similar to the connector portion 38a. In this way, both the connector portion 38a and the connector portion 42a are less likely to be visible from outside the vehicle, improving the appearance of the drive recorder 10 from outside the vehicle.

[0107] Third, the drive recorder 10 may include a shielding portion that shields connectors other than the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 and the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42 so that the connectors are less visible from outside the vehicle. An example of such a connector is a connector portion of a cable for connecting to an in-vehicle device installed in the vehicle. An example of such an in-vehicle device is a detector (e.g., a radar detector, a laser detector, etc.) that has a function of supporting safe driving by issuing a warning when it detects that the vehicle is in a predetermined proximity to a speed control point. Other examples of in-vehicle devices include a car navigation device and a display device. In this way, even if the drive recorder 10 is used in conjunction with the in-vehicle device and a large number of cables are unavoidably required, the cables are less visible from outside the vehicle, improving the appearance of the drive recorder 10 from outside the vehicle.

[0108] A seventh modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The information presenting unit may be configured as follows, for example.

[0109] First, the information presentation unit on the front portion 16, which is easily visible from outside the vehicle, may present the following information. For example, the information presentation unit may display an image (picture) that simulates the appearance of the drive recorder 10. This allows a third party to easily understand the actual appearance of the drive recorder 10 from the image, which can serve as a clue when purchasing a drive recorder of the same model or manufacturer at a store. For example, the information presentation unit may present information about the interior of the vehicle. For example, the information presentation unit may display a message such as "There is a baby on board" or a pet (e.g., an image of a pet on board, its paws, etc.). For example, the information presentation unit may display a predetermined character. For example, the information presentation unit may display a mascot character of the company that manufactures and sells the drive recorder 10. For example, the information presentation unit may present information (e.g., a logo) about an artist or other person with whom the manufacturer of the drive recorder 10 collaborates.

[0110] Second, the information presenting unit may be provided on the mounting surface of the bracket 24. In this example, the bracket 24 is mounted on a light-transmitting surface such as a windshield. The mounting surface is the surface of the bracket 24 that faces the light-transmitting surface and is fixed to the light-transmitting surface. In this case, the above-mentioned advertisement or other information may be drawn on the mounting surface, or the shape of the double-sided tape attached to the mounting surface may be cut to have a shape that serves to present the above-mentioned advertisement or other information.

[0111] Third, the information presentation unit may present (i.e., display) information using a light-emitting element such as an LED or a display unit such as a liquid crystal display. In this case, the information presentation unit may also display the above-mentioned advertisements or other information, or may present the operating status of the drive recorder 10 as information such as "Drive recorder monitoring recording in progress."

[0112] An eighth modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The location where the GPS antenna 54 was installed may be replaced with another antenna instead of or in addition to the GPS antenna 54. For example, if the drive recorder 10 has the function of transmitting or receiving a wireless signal, an antenna used for such transmission or reception may be installed. For example, the antenna may be an antenna for wireless communication with a device located inside or outside the vehicle. For example, the antenna may be an antenna for wireless communication using LTE, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), or other methods. The antenna may be an antenna for receiving a wireless signal (e.g., microwave) for determining whether the vehicle and the speed enforcement point are in a predetermined proximity relationship.

[0113] A ninth modification of the first embodiment of the present invention will now be described. The drive recorder 10 is not limited to one that captures images in front of the vehicle, but may also capture images in the rear, left rear, right rear, or side of the vehicle. Regardless of the installation position of the drive recorder 10, the drive recorder 10 usually has an imaging lens positioned near the vehicle window and directed toward the outside of the vehicle in order to capture images outside the vehicle. Therefore, when viewed through the vehicle window from the direction in which the imaging lens faces toward the outside of the vehicle, the cable connection parts are shielded by the shielding parts, making the connection parts difficult to see from outside the vehicle. Therefore, improving the appearance of the drive recorder 10 from outside the vehicle is very significant.

[0114] A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 12 to 19 , in this embodiment, a notch 62 is used instead of the groove 34 of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the notch 62 is formed in an upper portion of the right side surface 22 of the drive recorder 10. The notch 62 is recessed inward, i.e., leftward, and extends upward, opening upward in the top surface 12 and forward in the front surface 16. The camera connector 36 is disposed at the bottom of the notch 62. When the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is connected to the camera connector 36, the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is accommodated in the notch 62. In this embodiment, a rear wall portion 62b and a lower wall portion 62c of the notch 62 correspond to the second shielding portion and the restricting portion, respectively, and the notch 62 corresponds to the recessed portion.

[0115] In this embodiment, the cutout 62 that houses the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is open forward in the front surface 16, so that the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 can be held and moved while being observed through the forward opening. This makes it easy to connect or disconnect the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 to or from the camera connector 36.

[0116] Furthermore, this embodiment may be advantageous in terms of reducing the cost of molds for manufacturing the drive recorder 10. Furthermore, two cables, the Ethernet cable 38 and the power cable 42, extend upward, and the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 overlaps the cutout portion 62 on the front side of the drive recorder 10 when viewed from the front side outside the vehicle, making such a cutout of the drive recorder 10 less noticeable. In particular, if the front side of the cutout portion 62 and the connector portion 38a are similar in color (for example, both are achromatic), more preferably the same color (for example, both are black), the connector portion 38a is less visible from outside the vehicle, improving the appearance of the drive recorder 10 from outside the vehicle.

[0117] A first modification of the second embodiment of the present invention will now be described. In this modification, the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is provided with a molded portion that is molded to be flush with the outer surface of the front portion 16 when connected to the camera connector 36. When the drive recorder 10 is attached to the windshield of the vehicle, the front portion 16 is easily visible from outside the vehicle. However, when the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is connected to the camera connector 36, the molded portion of the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is flush with the outer surface of the front portion 16, creating an integrated appearance, improving the appearance of the drive recorder 10 from outside the vehicle. For example, if the front portion of the drive recorder 10 is cut out to form a cutout portion 62, and the mold of the connector portion 38a is made to match the shape of the front portion of the drive recorder 10, a beautiful curve can be created.

[0118] The drive recorder 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention may also be appropriately combined with the configurations of the modifications described in the first embodiment.

[0119] A third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 to 27, in this embodiment, the housing of the drive recorder 10 has a generally columnar (or cylindrical) shape, and is formed as an outer surface with a peripheral surface 64, a left surface 20 facing left and right, and a right surface 22 facing left and right. The peripheral surface 64 is formed with a front flat surface 64a located at the front and facing forward, and a rear flat surface 64b located at the rear and facing rearward.

[0120] An imaging lens 28 is disposed on the front flat surface 64a of the peripheral surface 64, toward the left of the center in the left-right direction, and an advertising display unit (not shown) is disposed toward the right of the center. Various LEDs and operation buttons 32 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction on the left side of the rear surface 18 of the peripheral surface 64 (the right side when viewed from the rear). For example, when viewing the drive recorder 10 from the rear, the LED on the left indicates the power on / off state, and the LED to the right of that indicates the recording state. The circle further to the right is a microphone hole.

[0121] A hole 66 recessed inward, i.e., toward the left, is formed in the right surface portion 22. A camera connector 36 is disposed at the bottom of the hole 66. A power connector 40 is also disposed on the right surface portion 22. The camera connector 36 and the power connector 40 are disposed at the same position in the up-down direction but offset from each other in the front-to-back direction, with the power connector 40 disposed on the front side and the camera connector 36 on the rear side. A card slot 46 and an event recording button 48 are disposed on the left surface portion 20.

[0122] The bracket 24 of this embodiment includes a ring portion 24A and a fixing plate 24B. The ring portion 24A and the fixing plate 24B are connected via a connecting portion that stands on the outer circumferential surface of the ring portion 24A. The housing of the drive recorder 10 is fitted inside the ring portion 24A. A thread groove (not shown) is formed in a portion of the housing of the drive recorder 10 that is closer to the camera connector 36 and the power connector 40 than the portion facing the ring portion 24A. A fastening member 25 is attached to this portion. The fastening member 25 is a flat, disk-shaped member. A thread groove (not shown) that fits the thread groove formed in the housing is formed inside the fastening member 25. A circular through-hole is formed in the center of the fastening member 25. The portion of the housing where the thread groove is formed is fitted into this through-hole. When the fastening member 25 is loosened, the housing can rotate relative to the ring portion 24A. When the fastening member 25 is fastened, the housing is prevented from rotating relative to the ring portion 24A. Double-sided tape or other adhesive material is attached to the upper surface of the fixing plate 24B. The drive recorder 10 is fixed and attached to an attachment location such as the windshield by adhering the fixing plate 24B to the attachment location. During attachment, the user loosens the fastening member 25 and brings the upper surface of the fixing plate 24B into contact with the attachment location. Next, the user adjusts the orientation of the housing by rotating the housing along the inner surface of the ring portion 24A. Because the housing has a cylindrical shape, the direction of rotation of the housing is around the axis of this cylinder. Once the adjustment of the orientation of the housing is complete, the user tightens the fastening member 25.

[0123] The connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is larger than the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42, and when the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42 and the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 are connected to the power connector 40 and the camera connector 36, respectively, the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 enters the hole 66 facing inward, i.e., toward the left, but the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 protrudes outward, i.e., toward the right, more than the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42. Therefore, when the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42 and the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 are separated from the power connector 40 and the camera connector 36, respectively, they are separated in the order of the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 and the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42.

[0124] The camera connector 36 and the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 are compliant with the USB Type-C standard. The connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is L-shaped, and a cable portion 38b extends from the connector portion 38a in an extension direction perpendicular to the connection direction of the connector portion. The connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 can be connected to the camera connector 36 by flipping it upside down between an upward connection direction and a downward connection direction, and the connection direction is not restricted. When the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is connected to the camera connector 36 with the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 facing upward, the Ethernet cable 38 extends upward with respect to the drive recorder 10. When the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is connected to the camera connector 36 with the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 facing downward, the Ethernet cable 38 extends downward with respect to the drive recorder 10.

[0125] In this embodiment, the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 can be connected to the camera connector 36 in a vertically inverted manner between an upward connection orientation and a downward connection orientation. This allows the direction in which the Ethernet cable 38 extends from the drive recorder 10 to be inverted vertically, making it possible to appropriately position the Ethernet cable 38 when the drive recorder 10 is attached to the windshield of the vehicle. In particular, when attaching the drive recorder 10 to the upper end portion of the windshield in the vertical direction, the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is connected to the camera connector 36 in an upward connection orientation so that the Ethernet cable 38 extends upward. When attaching the drive recorder 10 to the lower end portion of the windshield in the vertical direction, the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38 is connected to the camera connector 36 in a downward connection orientation so that the Ethernet cable 38 extends downward. This improves the routing of the Ethernet cable 38 and makes the Ethernet cable 38 less visible from outside the vehicle, thereby improving the appearance of the drive recorder 10 from outside the vehicle.

[0126] Furthermore, even when taking into account the length of the connector portion 38a (bush portion) of the Ethernet cable 38 into account, it is longer in the axial direction of the drive recorder 10 than the connector portion 42a of the power cable 42. Therefore, the order of unplugging the connector portion 38a is to unplug the connector portion 42a. If the connector portions 38a and 42a were of the same standard, such as mini USB, the lengths of both connector portions (bush portions) in the axial direction of the drive recorder 10 would be the same or nearly the same. Therefore, since one of the connector portions 42a is inserted into the drive recorder 10 but is adjacent to the other, it is necessary to unplug the connector portion 42a, which is not inserted deep inside the drive recorder 10, before unplugging the connector portion 38a. In this way, the order of unplugging the connector portions 38a and 40a is determined by the standard of the connector portions 38a and 40a.

[0127] The drive recorder 10 according to the third embodiment of the present invention may also be appropriately combined with the configurations of the modifications described in the first embodiment.

[0128] A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 28 and 29. The fourth embodiment describes an embodiment of an imaging device that can be mounted in a first position and a second position in which the images captured by the imaging unit are inverted relative to each other. Such an imaging device provides users with increased flexibility in mounting the imaging device. The inverted position may be, for example, a vertically inverted position, i.e., a position in which the top and bottom directions of the captured images are inverted, or a horizontally inverted position, i.e., a position in which the left and right directions of the captured images are inverted. The fourth embodiment is also an embodiment of an imaging device that can be mounted such that the bracket position on the drive recorder is opposite to that of the third embodiment in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction). The physical configuration of the drive recorder 10 of the fourth embodiment of the present invention may be the same as the physical configuration of the drive recorder 10 of the third embodiment. In this embodiment, the drive recorder 10 is configured to be mountable in a different position from that of the drive recorder 10 of the third embodiment.

[0129] In the third embodiment, as shown in Figures 20 to 27, the drive recorder 10 is installed in an orientation (an example of a first orientation) in which the camera connector 36, the power connector 40, and the Ethernet cable 38 and the power cable 42 connected thereto are located on the passenger seat side, and the card slot 46 and the event recording button 48 are located on the driver's seat side. In addition to this orientation, as shown in Figures 28(A) and 28(B), the drive recorder 10 may be configured to be installable in an orientation (an example of a second orientation) in which the camera connector 36, the power connector 40, and the Ethernet cable 38 and the power cable 42 connected thereto are located on the driver's seat side, and the card slot 46 and the event recording button 48 are located on the passenger seat side. This allows the user greater freedom in installing the drive recorder 10. The drive recorder 10 can perform its functions regardless of the mounting position, and it is preferable that it can shoot in the same shooting direction (for example, the forward direction), and that the information display unit (for example, a logo) provided on the housing can be viewed from a predetermined direction (for example, outside or inside the vehicle). However, the shooting direction, shooting range, and the direction of the information displayed by the information display unit (for example, the vertical direction) may differ depending on the mounting position, as long as the functions of the drive recorder 10 can be performed.

[0130] The drive recorder 10 may be installed in the positions shown in FIGS. 20 to 27 in a right-hand drive vehicle and in the position shown in FIG. 28 in a left-hand drive vehicle. When the drive recorder 10 is installed in the latter position in a left-hand drive vehicle, the SD card 44 can be easily inserted and removed from the card slot 46 and the event recording button 48 can be easily operated from the driver's seat, just as when the drive recorder 10 is installed in the former position in a right-hand drive vehicle. Furthermore, the Ethernet cable 38 and the power cable 42 can be easily inserted and removed from the camera connector 36 and the power connector 40 from the passenger seat. In this way, the same usability can be provided to the user regardless of whether the vehicle in which the drive recorder 10 is installed is a right-hand drive vehicle or a left-hand drive vehicle. Furthermore, this embodiment advantageously allows the event recording button 48, the camera connector 36, the power connector 40, and the card slot 46 to be positioned in a location convenient for the user.

[0131] Furthermore, when the drive recorder 10 is installed in the position shown in FIG. 28 , the bracket 24 is located on the right side and the imaging lens 28 is located on the left side when viewed from inside the vehicle. The effects of this configuration are explained below. A user may want to install the drive recorder 10 so that it is hidden on the left side of the rearview mirror when viewed from inside the vehicle. In this case, if the bracket 24 is located on the right side when viewed from inside the vehicle, when the bracket 24 is attached to the black ceramic portion at the top of the vehicle's windshield as the installation position, the imaging lens 28 can be positioned outside the black ceramic portion (in this example, outside the left side when viewed from inside the vehicle). This makes the presence of the drive recorder 10 less noticeable when viewed from outside the vehicle, enabling a smart installation that improves the appearance of the drive recorder 10. Because right-hand drive vehicles are widely used in Japan, this installation method makes the presence of the drive recorder 10 less noticeable from the driver's seat side in many vehicles.

[0132] 20 to 27 and the case shown in FIG. 28, the up / down and left / right directions of the image captured by the imaging unit 26 are inverted (i.e., opposite directions). Therefore, the control unit (not shown) of the drive recorder 10 may have a function to adjust the up / down and left / right directions of the captured image depending on whether the drive recorder 10 is mounted in the first mode shown in FIGS. 20 to 27 or the second mode shown in FIG. 28. In this manner, the drive recorder 10 can be mounted in either mode. Specifically, regardless of the position in which the drive recorder 10 is mounted, a captured image with the up / down and left / right directions adjusted can be obtained. The first mode and the second mode may be manually set by the user or may be determined by the control unit (not shown) of the drive recorder 10. In the latter case, the control unit may detect the position of the drive recorder 10 using an acceleration sensor or other sensor included in the drive recorder 10 and set the drive recorder 10 to either the first mode or the second mode.

[0133] Instead of or in addition to the function of adjusting the vertical and horizontal directions of the captured image depending on whether the drive recorder 10 is in the first mode or the second mode, the control unit of the drive recorder 10 may associate identification information identifying whether the drive recorder 10 is installed in the first mode or the second mode (in other words, in which position) with the recorded data and record it. The association with the recorded data may be, for example, embedded in the recording file or image data, or managed as external data such as a data table. A playback device that plays back images based on this recorded data may have a function to adjust the vertical and horizontal directions of the played-back image based on the identification information associated with the recorded data. In this way, regardless of the position in which the drive recorder 10 is installed, the playback device can display the image after appropriately adjusting the vertical and horizontal directions of the image. The playback device may be, for example, an external device to the drive recorder 10, such as a personal computer. However, the playback device is not limited to this, and may be understood as the drive recorder 10 having a function to play back recorded data. The function of adjusting the vertical and horizontal directions of the image to be played back based on such identification information may be incorporated into a program that plays back recorded data (for example, a program called a viewer).

[0134] When the drive recorder 10 is equipped with a three-axis acceleration sensor, the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions of these three axes are reversed (i.e., inverted) depending on whether the drive recorder 10 is installed in the first mode or the second mode. Therefore, the control unit of the drive recorder 10 may have a function for changing the processing based on the acceleration sensor depending on whether the drive recorder 10 is installed in the first mode or the second mode. For example, the control unit may perform the processing based on the acceleration sensor by reversing the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions depending on whether the drive recorder is installed in the first mode or the second mode. The processing based on the acceleration sensor may include a process for determining the occurrence of an event based on the measured acceleration, a process for displaying the measured acceleration, and the like. Here, the processing based on the acceleration sensor in the drive recorder 10 has been described, but the processing based on the acceleration sensor may also be changed in a similar manner in an external device such as the playback device described above.

[0135] Furthermore, if the drive recorder 10 is equipped with a three-axis gyro sensor, the front-to-back, left-to-right, and up-to-down directions of these three axes are reversed (i.e., inverted) depending on whether the drive recorder 10 is installed in the first mode or the second mode. Therefore, the control unit of the drive recorder 10 may have a function for changing the processing based on the gyro sensor depending on whether the drive recorder 10 is installed in the first mode or the second mode. For example, the control unit may perform the processing based on the gyro sensor by reversing the front-to-back, left-to-right, and up-to-down directions depending on whether the drive recorder 10 is installed in the first mode or the second mode. Examples of the processing based on the gyro sensor include processing for displaying the measured attitude. Here, the processing based on the gyro sensor in the drive recorder 10 has been described, but the processing based on the gyro sensor may also be changed in a similar manner in an external device such as the playback device described above.

[0136] Although the above description has been given of the case where an acceleration sensor or a gyro sensor is used as the sensor, it is preferable to use a sensor that outputs a value that changes depending on the mounting orientation of the drive recorder 10.

[0137] If the drive recorder 10 is configured to have a display unit as described in the first or second embodiment, the image displayed on this display unit may be inverted upside down depending on whether the drive recorder 10 is installed in the first mode or the second mode.

[0138] Furthermore, as described above, if the camera connector 36 and the connector portion 38a of the Ethernet cable 38, and the connector portion 42a of the power connector 40 and the power cable 42 are designed to be reversible between an upward and downward connection orientation, the Ethernet cable 38 and the power cable 42 can be attached in either orientation, ensuring that the extension direction of the cable faces upward. This prevents the cable from extending downward from coming into the user's field of vision. To enable connector connection in either orientation, the USB Type-C standard may be adopted, for example, and the top and bottom pins may be symmetrical. For example, signal lines for transmitting signals may be provided on both the board 52 side and the cable side of the drive recorder 10. To minimize the cable thickness, the cable side may have signal lines on only one side. To reduce voltage drop, it is preferable to provide power lines for the ground (GND) and power supply on both the board 52 side and the cable side of the drive recorder 10. It is preferable to transmit signals on both sides using the connector pattern on the board 52 side of the drive recorder 10. Note that the power cable 42 and the Ethernet cable 38 are not limited to a configuration that is standardized to enable connection by flipping up and down between an upward connection direction and a downward connection direction, and even when a cable with a straight extension direction is used for the power cable 42 or the Ethernet cable 38, the cable can be prevented from extending downward. Alternatively, an R-angle cable that extends upward may be used.

[0139] Furthermore, it is preferable that an object (e.g., silk-screened object) formed on the surface of the housing of the drive recorder 10 is formed vertically or diagonally so that the object can be seen regardless of the orientation of the drive recorder 10. For example, the up-down direction of the object is such that the side where the camera connector 36 and the Ethernet cable 38 are arranged is at the top and the side where the card slot 46 and the event recording button 48 are arranged is at the bottom. The object may be, for example, the name or company mark (e.g., logo) of the manufacturer of the drive recorder 10, but the object may also be understood as the information presentation unit described above.

[0140] 29(a) and 29(b), the drive recorder 10 may be mounted on the upper surface of a vehicle dashboard or a platform inside the vehicle. In this case, the drive recorder 10 is preferably mounted on the upper surface with the mounting surface of the bracket 24 facing the upper surface. In this case, it is preferable that the Ethernet cable 38 and the power cable 42 extend downward. Furthermore, in combination with the configuration described in FIG. 28, the drive recorder 10 may be configured so that it can be mounted in an orientation in which the camera connector 36, the power connector 40, and the Ethernet cable 38 and the power cable 42 connected thereto are located on the driver's seat side, and the card slot 46 and the event recording button 48 are located on the passenger seat side.

[0141] The drive recorder 10 may be mounted on the rear side of the vehicle (e.g., on the rear window) so as to capture images of the area behind (i.e., the rear side of) the vehicle. In this case, as shown in FIG. 30(a), the drive recorder 10 may be mounted in a position (an example of a third position) in which the camera connector 36, the power connector 40, and the Ethernet cable 38 and the power cable 42 connected thereto are located on the passenger side, and the card slot 46 and the event recording button 48 are located on the passenger side. In this manner, depending on the shape of the vehicle, a driver who gets out of the driver's seat can quickly insert or remove the SD card 44. Alternatively, the driver can reach out from the driver's seat to remove the SD card 44 or press the event recording button 48. In addition to this mounting, as shown in FIG. 30(b), the drive recorder 10 may be mounted in a position (an example of a fourth position) in which the camera connector 36, the power connector 40, and the Ethernet cable 38 and the power cable 42 connected thereto are located on the driver's seat, and the card slot 46 and the event recording button 48 are located on the passenger side. In this way, depending on the shape of the vehicle, it is possible to easily remove the SD card 44 from the sidewalk side when parking on a road. The processes related to the first and second modes described above may be executed as processes related to the third and fourth modes, respectively.

[0142] The control unit of the drive recorder 10 described in the fourth embodiment may be, for example, a computer including a processor and a memory. The processor may include, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a micro processing unit (MPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA). The memory may be a main storage device including, for example, a random access memory (RAM) and a read-only memory (ROM). The processor temporarily stores a program read from the ROM in the RAM. The RAM provides a working area for the processor. The processor may perform various controls by temporarily storing data generated during program execution in the RAM while performing arithmetic processing. A program for realizing the functions of the control unit may be provided via a network, a storage medium, or the like.

[0143] A drive recorder 10 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 31 and 32. FIG. 31(a) shows the drive recorder 10 as viewed from the lower left side of the front side (the front surface portion 16 side). FIG. 31(b) shows the drive recorder 10 as viewed from the lower right side of the rear side (the rear surface portion 18 side). FIG. 32 is a six-view diagram of the drive recorder 10 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 32 shows the drive recorder 10 with the bracket 24 removed. In this embodiment, components denoted with the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment described above are components that perform the same functions as those in the first embodiment. However, their specific configurations, specifications, etc. may differ.

[0144] An LCD 30 is provided on the rear surface 18 of the drive recorder 10. The size of the display area of ​​the LCD 30 is larger than that of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the LCD 30 is configured as a 3-inch horizontally long LCD (with an aspect ratio of 16:9). If a small display area size of the LCD 30 is sufficient, for example, an aspect ratio of 4:3 may be acceptable. However, the inventors have found that a 3-inch 4:3 LCD has a square appearance, appears large, and gives an old-fashioned impression, so a 3-inch 16:9 LCD was selected.

[0145] When viewed from the bottom surface 14 or top surface 12, the front surface 16 of the drive recorder 10 is significantly cut away from the rectangular parallelepiped shape to form a curved surface, making it appear compact. The side design of the drive recorder 10 is designed to be as curved as possible, making it appear thin to the user when viewed from the side (i.e., from the left surface 20 or right surface 22), and the user does not feel the thickness of the drive recorder 10 compared to its actual thickness. This improves the appearance of the drive recorder 10 from outside the vehicle. This shape of the drive recorder 10 was chosen because it was thought to be easier to complete the final design, and ultimately, the curved sides make it possible to finish the design better.

[0146] More specifically, when the drive recorder 10 is mounted on a vehicle and viewed from the front, the front surface 16 has a central plane 16d, an upper side surface 16e, and a lower side surface 16f. The central plane 16d faces forward. The upper side surface 16e is formed above the central plane 16d and slopes upward toward the rear. The lower side surface 16f is formed below the central plane 16d and slopes downward toward the rear. When viewed left and right, the drive recorder 10 is formed such that the vertical dimension of the central plane 16d decreases and the vertical dimensions of the upper side surface 16e and lower side surface 16f increase toward the center. The boundary between the central plane 16d and the upper side surface 16e and the boundary between the central plane 16d and the lower side surface 16f form smooth curves. The boundary line between the central plane portion 16d and the upper side surface portion 16e, and the boundary line between the central plane portion 16d and the lower side surface portion 16f are symmetrical in the vertical direction. The imaging lens 28 is provided in the center of the central plane portion 16d in the vertical direction and in the center of the left and right direction. The reason for this is that symmetry was a major consideration. The cylindrical portion on which the imaging lens 28 is provided is provided over almost the entire central plane portion 16d in the vertical direction.

[0147] The event recording button 48 is located on the underside 14, to the right of the center in the left-right direction when the imaging lens 28 is facing forward. As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32 , the event recording button 48 is located to the left of the center when viewed from the front side 16, in other words, to the right of the center when viewed from the rear side 18. In this way, the event recording button 48 is located on the driver's seat side of a right-hand drive vehicle when the drive recorder 10 is positioned toward the center of the vehicle width. The driver in the driver's seat can easily operate the event recording button 48. Furthermore, if the event recording button 48 were located on the left side 20, which is the side facing the driver's seat, it would be difficult for the passenger in the passenger seat to press it. However, by locating the event recording button 48 on the underside 14, the passenger in the passenger seat can easily press the event recording button 48. Furthermore, to make the presence of the drive recorder 10 less noticeable, a user may place the drive recorder 10 on the opposite side of the rearview mirror as viewed from inside the vehicle, so that the rearview mirror hides the drive recorder 10 when viewed from the driver's seat and also hides it when viewed from the passenger seat. Taking such a placement into consideration, the event recording button 48 is located on the underside 14 of the drive recorder 10, in a position visible from below the rearview mirror. Furthermore, protrusions are provided on the left and right sides of the event recording button 48 to prevent accidental operation. The event recording button 48 is shaped to protrude downward from the underside 14 (for example, a downward-convex arc shape), making it easier to operate the event recording button 48.

[0148] On the rear surface 18, to the right of the LCD 30, operation buttons 32 are arranged in a row in the vertical direction. The operation buttons 32 are circular in the first embodiment described above, but in this embodiment, they are rectangular. By making the operation buttons rectangular in this way, the multiple operation buttons are arranged in a strip-shaped area having a longitudinal direction in the vertical direction, which makes it easier to expand the display area of ​​the LCD 30 in the horizontal direction while suppressing an increase in the horizontal dimension of the drive recorder 10.

[0149] The upper surface portion 12 and the upper side surface portion 16e are provided with a joint rail 122. The joint rail 122 is configured to allow a bracket (a bracket 24 described later) for mounting the drive recorder 100 at a predetermined mounting position on the vehicle to be detachably mounted thereon.

[0150] Figure 33 is a diagram showing the configuration of the bracket 24 of this embodiment. Figure 33(a) is a diagram of the bracket 24 viewed from the front, diagonally upward right direction. Figure 33(b) is a diagram of the bracket 24 viewed from the side. Figure 33(c) is a diagram of the bracket 24 viewed from the front, diagonally downward right direction. The bracket 24 is an example of a mounting member for mounting the drive recorder 10 to a vehicle.

[0151] The bracket 24 is an attachment member that uses a ball joint mechanism. In the bracket 24, a flat base portion 2410 has an attachment surface 2411 that is attached to a predetermined portion of the vehicle. The attachment surface 2411 is attached to, for example, the windshield. The base portion 2410 is inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the support of the ball stud 2420. An adhesive member such as double-sided tape may be attached to the attachment surface 2411, and the bracket may be attached to the windshield or the like of the vehicle via the adhesive member.

[0152] The ball stud 2420 is a portion of the base portion 2410 that rises from the surface opposite the mounting surface 2411. The ball portion 2421 of the ball stud 2420 is attached to the socket portion 2430. The nut 2440 is detachably attached to the periphery of the socket portion 2430. A thread groove is formed on the outer periphery of the socket portion 2430. The nut 2440 that fits into the thread groove is attached to the outer periphery of the socket portion 2430. With the ball portion 2421 of the ball stud 2420 attached to the socket portion 2430, before the nut 2440 is tightened, the socket portion 2430 can rotate in a desired direction along the circumferential surface of the ball portion 2421, thereby changing the posture and position of the base portion 2450. When the nut 2440 is tightened, the posture and position of the base portion 2450 are fixed.

[0153] The base portion 2450 is a portion that is formed as a pair with the socket portion 2430 and is used for mounting the bracket 24 on the drive recorder 10. The base portion 2450 has a pair of guide rails 2451 on its underside. The pair of guide rails 2451 are configured to be slidable along the joint rails 122 of the drive recorder 10. A claw-shaped tip portion 2452 is provided at the tip of the base portion 2450. The tip portion 2452 is hooked onto the joint rails 122 near the end of the front side of the drive recorder 10, thereby mounting the bracket 24 to the drive recorder 10.

[0154] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the structures expressly described in the specification, but also encompasses combinations of various aspects of the invention disclosed herein. While the structures of the invention sought to be patented are specified in the accompanying claims, it is the intention of the present inventors to claim structures disclosed herein that are not currently specified in the claims.

[0155] The present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above-described embodiments. The components of each of the above-described embodiments and variations may be arbitrarily selected and combined. Furthermore, any component of each embodiment or variation may be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the Summary for Solving the Problems of the Invention or any component embodying any component described in the Summary for Solving the Problems of the Invention. The present invention also intends to obtain rights to these configurations through amendments or divisional applications of this application. Even if a description is made of "in the case of..." or "when...," this does not mean that the configuration is limited to that case or time. Configurations that are not limited to those cases or times are also disclosed, and the present invention intends to obtain rights to them. Furthermore, any descriptions that specify an order are not limited to this order. Configurations in which some parts are deleted or the order is changed are also disclosed, and the present invention intends to obtain rights to them.

[0156] Furthermore, we intend to obtain rights to the overall design or partial design by converting the application to a design registration. The drawings depict the entire device in solid lines, but they also include partial designs claimed for parts of the device. For example, a partial design can be a partial design for a part of the device, or a part of that part. A partial design can be a part of the device, or a part of that part. We intend to obtain rights to not only the overall design, but also partial designs in which any part of the solid line portion of the drawing is drawn as a broken line. Furthermore, all of the modules, components, and parts inside the device's casing shown in the drawings are subject to independent commerce, and we intend to similarly obtain rights to them by converting the application to a design registration. [Explanation of symbols]

[0157] 10: Drive recorder 16: Front portion 16a: Central flat portion 16b: Upper side portion 16c...Lower side part 20...Left side part 22...Right side part 28...Imaging lens 34...Groove part 34a...Front wall part 34b...Back wall part Lower wall part...34c 36...Camera connector 38...Ethernet cable 38a...Connector part 38b...Cable part 40...Power connector 42...Power cable 42a...Connector portion 42b...Cable part 44...SD card 46...Card slot 48...Event recording button 52...Circuit board 52a...Front circuit board surface 52b...Rear circuit board surface 54...GPS antenna 54a...Ground plane 56...Supercapacitor 58...Cloth member 62...Notch portion 62b...Rear wall portion 62c...Lower wall portion 70...Rear camera 80...Vehicle

Claims

1. An electronic device that can be placed in a vehicle, An outer surface; a connection receiving portion provided on the outer surface portion and to which a connecting portion of a cable is connected; a shielding portion that shields the connection portion so that the connection portion connected to the connection receiving portion is less visible from outside the vehicle; Equipped with the outer surface portion has a first side surface portion facing a first direction and a second side surface portion facing a second direction intersecting the first direction, the electronic device includes an imaging lens provided on the first side surface portion for capturing an image of an area outside the vehicle; the shielding portion shields the connection portion so that the connection portion is less visible when viewed from the outside of the vehicle in a direction toward the imaging lens, the cable is a first cable; the connection portion is a first connection portion, the connection receiving portion is a first connection receiving portion, the electronic device further includes a second connection receiving portion provided on the second side surface portion and to which a second connection portion of a second cable is connected; the first connection receiving portion and the second connection receiving portion are arranged to be shifted from each other in the first direction, the first connection receiving portion is configured to be located above the second connection receiving portion and closer to the shielding portion in the first direction than the second connection receiving portion when the first connection receiving portion is disposed in the vehicle; the shielding portion is disposed so as to avoid an upper side of the first connection receiving portion; electronic equipment.

2. An electronic device that can be placed in a vehicle, An outer surface; a connection receiving portion provided on the outer surface portion and to which a connecting portion of a cable is connected; a shielding portion that shields the connection portion so that the connection portion connected to the connection receiving portion is less visible from outside the vehicle; Equipped with the outer surface portion has a first side surface portion facing a first direction and a second side surface portion facing a second direction intersecting the first direction, the electronic device includes an imaging lens provided on the first side surface portion for capturing an image of an area outside the vehicle; the shielding portion shields the connection portion so that the connection portion is less visible when viewed from the outside of the vehicle in a direction toward the imaging lens, the cable is a first cable; the connection portion is a first connection portion, the connection receiving portion is a first connection receiving portion, the electronic device further includes a second connection receiving portion provided on the second side surface portion and to which a second connection portion of a second cable is connected; the first connection receiving portion and the second connection receiving portion are arranged to be shifted from each other in the first direction, the electronic device further includes a substrate disposed inside the electronic device and facing the first direction; the first connection receiving portion and the second connection receiving portion are provided on substrate surfaces opposite to each other in the first direction, electronic equipment.

3. The first connection portion is larger than the second connection portion.

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

4. The first side portion is a central plane portion facing the first direction; a first surface portion formed closer to a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction than the central plane portion and inclined toward the third direction in a direction opposite to the first direction; a second surface portion formed on the first side surface portion on a side opposite to the third direction and inclined toward a direction opposite to the third direction and toward a direction opposite to the first direction, The electronic device according to claim 1 .

5. The imaging lens is provided on the central plane portion.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4.

6. The electronic device further includes an information presentation unit provided on the first side surface portion and presenting information. The electronic device according to claim 1 .

7. The electronic device further includes a mounting portion provided on the second side portion and into which a storage medium is mounted. The electronic device according to claim 1 .

8. The electronic device comprises: a third side surface portion formed on the opposite side of the second direction with respect to the second side surface portion; an operation unit provided on the third side surface for instructing the electronic device to start recording; 8. The electronic device according to claim 7.

9. An electronic device that can be placed in a vehicle, An outer surface; a connection receiving portion provided on the outer surface portion and to which a connecting portion of a cable is connected; a shielding portion that shields the connection portion so that the connection portion connected to the connection receiving portion is less visible from outside the vehicle; Equipped with the outer surface portion has a first side surface portion facing a first direction and a second side surface portion facing a second direction intersecting the first direction, the electronic device includes an imaging lens provided on the first side surface portion for capturing an image of an area outside the vehicle; the shielding portion shields the connection portion so that the connection portion is less visible when viewed from the outside of the vehicle in a direction toward the imaging lens, The electronic device includes: a recess provided in the second side surface portion, recessed in a direction opposite to the second direction, in which the connection receiving portion is provided and the connection portion connected to the connection receiving portion is accommodated; an antenna provided inside the electronic device, the antenna is disposed on a side of the recess opposite to a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction. electronic equipment.

10. The electronic device further comprises a power storage means provided inside the electronic device, the storage means is disposed at a position different from a position on the opposite side of the recess in a third direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction, 10. The electronic device according to claim 9.

11. The electronic device comprises: a power storage means provided inside the electronic device; a protection portion provided inside the electronic device to protect the power storage means from heat, The electronic device according to claim 1 .

12. An electronic device that can be placed in a vehicle, An outer surface; a connection receiving portion provided on the outer surface portion and to which a connecting portion of a cable is connected; a shielding portion that shields the connection portion so that the connection portion connected to the connection receiving portion is less visible from outside the vehicle; an antenna provided inside the electronic device; a power storage means provided inside the electronic device; Equipped with the storage means is disposed on the opposite side of the antenna with respect to the ground plane of the antenna, electronic equipment.

13. An electronic device that can be placed in a vehicle, An outer surface; a connection receiving portion provided on the outer surface portion and to which a connecting portion of a cable is connected; a shielding portion that shields the connection portion so that the connection portion connected to the connection receiving portion is less visible from outside the vehicle; Equipped with the connection portion is connectable to the connection receiving portion by being flipped between a first connection orientation and a second connection orientation, the cable further includes a cable portion extending from the connection portion in an extension direction intersecting the connection direction of the connection portion, the electronic device further includes a restricting portion that restricts a connection orientation of the connection portion with respect to the connection receiving portion to one of the first connection orientation and the second connection orientation. electronic equipment.

14. The restricting portion is configured by a recess in which the connection receiving portion is provided and the connection portion connected to the connection receiving portion is accommodated, and the recess constitutes the shielding portion. The electronic device according to claim 13.

15. An electronic device that can be placed in a vehicle, An outer surface; a connection receiving portion provided on the outer surface portion and to which a connecting portion of a cable is connected; a shielding portion that shields the connection portion so that the connection portion connected to the connection receiving portion is less visible from outside the vehicle; Equipped with the connection portion can be connected to the connection receiving portion by reversing the connection orientation, The cable further includes a cable portion extending from the connection portion in an extension direction intersecting a connection direction of the connection portion to the connection receiving portion. electronic equipment.

16. An electronic device that can be placed in a vehicle, An outer surface; a connection receiving portion provided on the outer surface portion and to which a connecting portion of a cable is connected; a shielding portion that shields the connection portion so that the connection portion connected to the connection receiving portion is less visible from outside the vehicle; Equipped with the shielding portion is a first shielding portion, The electronic device further includes a second shielding portion that shields the connection portion connected to the connection receiving portion so that the connection portion is less visible from inside the vehicle. electronic equipment.

17. A first electronic device which is an electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 16; a second electronic device; and Equipped with a connecting portion of a cable for electrically connecting the first electronic device and the second electronic device is connected to the connection receiving portion; system.

18. The first electronic device and the second electronic device are each a photographing device for photographing the outside of a vehicle.

20. The system of claim 17.

Images