WO2008007878A1

WO2008007878A1 - Black box system for vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2008007878A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/003311
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ik-Seon Lee
Original assignee: UBTECHNOLOGY CO Ltd
Current assignee: UBTECHNOLOGY CO Ltd
Priority date: 2006-07-10
Filing date: 2007-07-09
Publication date: 2008-01-17
Anticipated expiration: 2009-01-10

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a black box system for a vehicle. The vehicle black box includes an accident detection unit and a control unit. The accident detection unit includes a sound sensor for sensing sounds around the vehicle, a shock sensor for sensing shocks applied to the vehicle, a leaf switch for sensing the vibration of the vehicle, and a balance switch for sensing the balance of the vehicle. Further, the accident detection unit detects a signal related to a condition exceeding a predetermined threshold value as an accident sensing signal. The control unit performs control so that image data received from a camera is recorded both in volatile memory and external memory. An accident folder is created in nonvolatile memory if an event signal is input from the accident detection unit when image data is being recorded. Details of an accident are recorded in the accident folder.

Description

Description BLACK BOX SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to a black box system for a vehicle, in which the circumstances before and after a vehicle accident are reliably recorded, thereby enabling objective and accurate determination of the causes of a vehicle accident, and, more particularly, to a black box system for a vehicle which is capable of significantly improving the accuracy of detection of accidents and the stability of accident recording data. Background Art

[2] Generally, when a vehicle accident occurs, the causes of the accident are determined by inferring the details of the accident with reference to skid marks and paint marks remaining at the scene of the accident in the presence of a police officer. Cases where drivers, who do not have special knowledge, are disadvantaged due to the obscure analyses of accidents or unreasonable judgments of accidents occasionally occur. Therefore, a plurality of methods of objectively and accurately determining the causes of a vehicle accident has been proposed.

[3] Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-68682 (first prior art) discloses a black box system for a vehicle and a method of recording vehicle accidents. In this prior art, when a user's vehicle collides with another vehicle while traveling on a road, one of the pressure sensors attached to the front and rear sides of the vehicle generates an interrupt signal, and a central processing unit stops a function of refreshing memory, in which vehicle information is recorded, and orders information about circumstances at the time of the vehicle accident to be recorded in the memory, so that the scene of the vehicle accident is recorded, with the result that the record of the scene of the vehicle accident can be used for the accurate analysis of the circumstances, and the circumstances of the vehicle accident can be quickly processed at the time of occurrence of the vehicle accident, thereby providing an advantage of reducing traffic congestion, which has conventionally occurred. However, the first prior art is configured such that a vehicle accident is recorded after an impact has been sensed, so that only the circumstances after the occurrence of the vehicle accident are recorded, with the result that there is a shortcoming in that the accuracy of determination of the cause of a vehicle accident is deteriorated.

[4] Korean Utility Model Publication No. 20-341106 (second prior art) discloses a combined digital video camera and personal digital assistant, which automatically performs a recording function when a navigator operates. According to the second prior art, the combined digital video camera and personal digital assistant, containing a road and traffic information provision device, called a "navigator," and having a still image capturing function and a moving image recording function, is mounted inside a vehicle, so that road and traffic information necessary for driving can be used, and the circumstances in front of a traveling vehicle are continuously recorded in the form of image data via a camera contained in the apparatus. However, the second prior art requires a large-capacity storage space so as to continuously record images.

[5] Korean Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-58643 (third prior art) discloses a portable video recording, storage and output apparatus having multiple functions, in which the functions of a GPS navigation device, a Television (TV), a radio, a Moving Picture Expert Group audio layer- 3 (MP3) player and a digital video camera, and a hands-free feature are integrated into the multi-function. However, the third prior art has a shortcoming in that images must be continuously recorded, so that a large- capacity storage space is required.

[6] Meanwhile, vehicle black boxes for analyzing the causes of a vehicle accident using various kinds of sensors (for example, a vehicle velocity sensor, an impact sensor, and a wheel angle sensor) and a video camera were developed. Examples are disclosed in Korean Utility Model Publication No. 20-0229711 (fourth prior art) and Korean Utility Model Publication No. 20-0172344 (fifth prior art). However, the vehicle black boxes according to the fourth and fifth prior arts have a problem in that they must be equipped with expensive devices, such as various sensors and a video camera, in order to store all types of data related to accidents in various accident circumstances, so that the cost thereof is high, and thus they are not economic. Furthermore, they have a concomitant problem in that most sensors collect data related to an accident from the view point of the configuration of the sensors, the accurate point of time at which the accident is sensed cannot be checked, and thus the accuracy of detection of the accident is deteriorated. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[7] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a black box system for a vehicle, in which an inexpensive and small camera is employed, an accident detection unit is formed of a plurality of sensors in preparation for the erroneous operation of respective accident sensors, and accident recording images are simultaneously stored both in nonvolatile memory and in external memory, thereby maintaining a low price, and considerably improving the accuracy of the detection of an accident and the stability of accident recording data. [8] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be described below and will be appreciated through embodiments of the present invention. Further, the objects and advantages of the present invention can be implemented by units and combinations thereof, which are described in the claims. Technical Solution

[9] In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a black box system for a vehicle, including a camera for providing image data about surroundings around a vehicle; a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit for providing position information of the vehicle; an accident detection unit configured to include a sound sensor for sensing sounds around the vehicle, a shock sensor for sensing shocks applied to the vehicle, a leaf switch for sensing the vibration of the vehicle, and a balance switch for sensing the balance of the vehicle, and configured to detect a signal related to a condition exceeding a predetermined threshold value as an accident sensing signal; a memory unit including volatile memory, nonvolatile memory, and external memory for storing the image data; a user input unit for enabling a user to select various operation modes, including a mode related to a play key; a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) unit for displaying stored image data in response to an operation control signal received from the user input unit; and a control unit for performing control so that image data received from the camera is temporally recorded in the volatile memory and is continuously recorded in the external memory, an accident folder is created in the nonvolatile memory if an event signal is input from the accident detection unit when image data is recorded, and details of an accident, which belong to the image data temporarily recorded in the volatile memory and correspond to a designated amount of time before and after the accident, are recorded in the accident folder; wherein vehicle velocity information and time information, together with image data output from the camera, are compressed and stored in the volatile memory in the accident folder created in the nonvolatile memory of the control unit, and are associated with the position information from the GPS unit.

Advantageous Effects

[10] According to the present invention, when a vehicle accident occurs, the surrounding circumstances of the accident are recorded, so that the accurate analysis of the circumstances of the accident and a clear assignment of fault of drivers can be made, with the result that there is an advantage in that the functionality of the vehicle is maximized. In particular, in the present invention, an inexpensive and small camera is employed, an accident detection unit is formed of a plurality of sensors in preparation for the erroneous operation of respective accident sensors, and accident recording images are simultaneously stored both in nonvolatile memory and in external memory, thereby providing advantages of maintaining a low price and considerably improving the accuracy of detection of accidents and the stability of accident recording data.

Brief Description of the Drawings [11] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a black box system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; [12] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a method of recording vehicle accidents according to an embodiment of the present invention; [13] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a black box system for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention; and [14] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method of recording vehicle accidents according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[15] * Description of reference numerals of principal elements in the drawings *

[16] 101: camera 103: GPS unit

[17] 105: accident detection unit 107: memory unit

[18] 1071: volatile memory 1072: nonvolatile memory

[19] 1073: external memory 109: user input unit

[20] 111: LCD unit 113: control unit

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [21] The configurations and operations of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings below. The same reference numerals used in the drawings designate elements that perform the same functions. [22] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a black box system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes a camera

101, a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit 103, an accident detection unit 105, a memory unit 107, a user input unit 109, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) unit 111, a control unit 113, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port 115, a power supply unit 117, a microphone MIC, and a speaker SP. [23] The camera 101 captures images and provides image data about the surroundings around a vehicle in real time. It is preferred that an inexpensive and small camera be used. For example, a 1.3 M pixel-class Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) camera is applicable. [24] The GPS unit 103 provides information about the current vehicle position using

GPS information received via a satellite through a GPS antenna. [25] The accident detection unit 105 detects a signal related to a condition as an accident sensing signal when a condition exceeding a predetermined threshold value occurs. [26] In the present invention, the accident detection unit 105 is configured to include a sound sensor for sensing sounds around a vehicle, a shock sensor for sensing shocks applied to a vehicle, a leaf switch for sensing the vibration of a vehicle, and a balance switch for sensing the balance of the body of a vehicle, thereby improving the accuracy of detection of an accident.

[27] The sound sensor may be formed of a sound level meter, and generates a sensing signal based on sound decibels dB which is distinguishable according to the difference in the pitch of a sound.

[28] The shock sensor may be formed of a kind of acceleration sensor, and generates a sensing signal based on an instantaneous impact velocity.

[29] The leaf switch is a kind of sensor constructed by burying a plurality of contact springs in parallel, and generates a sensing signal based on the number of contacts.

[30] The balance switch may be formed of a leveling sensor, in which a metallic ball is disposed to be movable inside a container having an arc-shaped path, each of a pair of lead switches is arranged at a respective end of the container, and switching is performed when the ball approaches the switches, and generates a sensing signal based on the number of contacts.

[31] One or more elements of the accident detection unit 105 are mounted in the vehicle, and may be used separately or in combination. A unique threshold value is set for each of the sensors according to the type of vehicle (a freight vehicle, a bus, a Recreational Vehicle (RV), a medium-sized vehicle, or a small vehicle), and a specific event occurs when a condition exceeding the threshold value occurs.

[32] When two or more sensors are used, as in the present invention, there is an advantage in that it is possible to prevent operational error attributable to the erroneous operation of the sensors. For example, if it is assumed that the probability that a single sensor may operate erroneously is 10%, the probability that three sensors operate erroneously is 0.1%. Therefore, even if respective sensors do not have high reliability, it is possible to provide high reliability required for the detection of an accident if the sensors are combined with each other in parallel.

[33] The memory unit 107 is means for storing a control program and image data, and includes volatile memory 1071, nonvolatile memory 1072, and external memory 1073.

[34] Preferably, the volatile memory 1071 is Random Access Memory (RAM), the nonvolatile memory 1072 is flash Read-Only Memory (ROM), and the external memory 1073 may be a memory card selected from among a Multi-Media Card (MMC)-type memory card, a Secure Digital (SD)-type memory card, and a Compact Flash (CF)-type memory card. Here, since the RAM is volatile memory, all stored data is lost when a hard reset is performed due to the cutoff of power or the like. In contrast, since the flash ROM is nonvolatile memory, data stored once is not lost, even when power is cut off.

[35] In the present invention, the types of stored data include, for example, image data, audio data, shock data, vehicle position information, vehicle velocity information, and time information. Since the size of stored data is small, that is, several bytes, and the amount of data that can be collected for two to five minutes is a sufficient amount of data for the analysis of an accident, memory having a small capacity equal to or less than tens of Mbytes may be employed.

[36] The user input unit 109 enables a user to select various operation modes, including a mode related to a play key.

[37] The LCD unit 111 displays stored image data in response to an operation control signal received from the user input unit 109. For example, when a small accident, such as a minor collision, occurs, it is possible to check accident recording images via the LCD unit 111 at the scene of the accident.

[38] The control unit 113 controls the overall operation of the black box system for a vehicle. In particular, the control unit 113 performs control so that image data received from the camera 101 is temporarily recorded in the volatile memory 1071 of the memory unit 107 and image data received from the camera 101 is continuously recorded in the external memory 1073.

[39] Here, if an event signal is input from the accident detection unit 105 when image data is being recorded, an accident folder is automatically created in the nonvolatile memory 1072, and the details of an accident, which belong to the image data temporarily recorded in the volatile memory 1071 and correspond to a designated amount of time before and after the accident, are recorded in the accident folder. For example, when an accident occurs, the details of the accident, corresponding to one minute before and after the accident, are stored in the internal memory.

[40] Vehicle velocity information and time information, together with image data output from the camera 101, are compressed and stored in the accident folder of the nonvolatile memory 1072 in association with position information received from the GPS unit 103. Here, such accident folders may be created in various ways, for example, in the form of first accident/second accident/third accident, and so on.

[41] Further, when the external memory 1073 is full, the control unit 113 directs the data in the external memory to be automatically deleted, so that the image data received from the camera 101 can be continuously recorded therein.

[42] The USB port 115 is chiefly used when transmitting accident recording image data to an external computer (not shown) connected via an USB cable.

[43] The power supply unit 117 is in charge of supplying power to the black box system for a vehicle. It is preferred that the power supply unit 117 be provided with a separate rechargeable battery. That is, although the black box system for a vehicle is basically supplied with power from a vehicle battery, it is preferable that the rechargeable power source be provided in preparation of the exhaustion of the vehicle battery because the black box system for a vehicle should operate even when the vehicle battery is exhausted.

[44] FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a method of recording vehicle accidents according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[45] First, image data about the surroundings around a vehicle is received from the camera 101 in real time at step SlOO.

[46] Next, the control unit 113 performs control so that image data received from the camera 101 is temporarily stored in the volatile memory 1071 of the memory unit 107 and image data received from the camera 101 is continuously recorded in the external memory 1073 at step SI lO.

[47] Thereafter, when the image data is recorded, the control unit 113 checks whether an event signal is input from the accident detection unit 105 at step S 120.

[48] If the event signal is input from the accident detection unit 105, the control unit 113 directs an accident folder to be automatically created in the nonvolatile memory 1072, and the details of an accident, which belong to the image data temporally recorded in the volatile memory 1071 and correspond to a designated amount of time, for example, one minute before and after an accident, are recorded in the accident folder at step S130.

[49] When a condition exceeding a predetermined threshold value occurs, the accident detection unit 105 detects the signal related to the condition as an accident sensing signal. Preferably, sensing signals received from the sound sensor, the shock sensor, the leaf switch, and the balance switch are evaluated together, so that the occurrence of the vehicle accident can be more accurately determined.

[50] As described above, in the present invention, the accident detection unit is formed of a plurality of sensors in preparation for the erroneous operation of the respective accident sensors and the accident recording images are simultaneously stored both in the nonvolatile memory and in the external memory, so that the accuracy of detection of an accident and the stability of accident recording data are considerably improved.

[51] Meanwhile, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a black box system for a vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention, which is different from that of the above-described embodiment in that the camera is formed of a wireless camera.

[52] Referring to FIG. 3, the wireless camera 120 includes a wireless communication unit 121 for wirelessly communicating with a wireless communication unit 119 included in a black box system for a vehicle, and object sensors 123.

[53] The object sensors 123 are mounted at predetermined positions on the front, rear, left, and right sides of a vehicle, detect objects approaching the vehicle within a predetermined distance, and output sensing signals. [54] Preferably, if a sensing signal is received from one of the object sensors 123, not only a predetermined alarm signal but also a camera driving signal are output together, so that one of the cameras, oriented in a predetermined direction, operates and captures an object approaching the vehicle.

[55] FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a method of recording vehicle accidents according to another embodiment of the present invention, which shows the operation of the black box system for a vehicle shown in FIG. 3.

[56] First, image data about the surroundings around a vehicle are received from the camera 101 in real time at step S200.

[57] Next, the control unit 113 performs control so that image data received from the camera 101 is temporally stored in the volatile memory 1071 of the memory unit 107 and image data received from the camera 101 is continuously recorded in the external memory 1073 at step S210.

[58] Thereafter, when image data is recorded, the control unit 113 checks whether a first sensing signal is input from any of the object sensors 123 at step S220. When a first sensing signal is input from any of the object sensors 123, the control unit 113 performs an accident recording standby mode at step S230.

[59] Next, in the accident recording standby mode, the control unit 113 checks whether a second sensing signal is input from the accident detection unit 105 after a predetermined time has elapsed at step S240.

[60] At step S240, when the second sensing signal is input from the accident detection unit 105, the control unit 113 directs an accident folder to be automatically created in the nonvolatile memory 1072, and the details of an accident, which belong to the image data temporally recorded in the volatile memory 1071 and correspond to a designated amount of time before and after an accident, are recorded in the accident folder at step S250. Here, it is preferable that the control unit 113 performs control so that the details of an accident, corresponding to the designated amount of time before and after the reception of the object sensing signal, are stored in the accident folder based on the time point at which the first sensing signal was received from the object sensor 123.

[61] Since the black box system for a vehicle according to the present invention is provided to prepare for a vehicle accident, the black box system for a vehicle should be designed to have high durability, and the arrangement of the component elements thereof should be determined in view of this.

[62] Further, the black box system for a vehicle according to the present invention may be contained in various portable terminals, such as a mobile phone having a GPS function or a digital camera.

[63] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed in the drawings and the specification. Here, although specific terms have been used, they have been used only for the purpose of describing the present invention, but they have not been used to limit the meanings or the scope of the present invention disclosed in the claims. Therefore, those skilled in the art can understand that various modifications and other equivalent embodiments are possible. Accordingly, the range of technical protection of the present invention should be determined based on the technical spirit of the accompanying claims.

Claims

[1] black box system for a vehicle, comprising: a camera for providing image data about surroundings around a vehicle; a Global Positioning System (GPS) unit for providing position information of the vehicle; an accident detection unit configured to include a sound sensor for sensing sounds around the vehicle, a shock sensor for sensing shocks applied to the vehicle, a leaf switch for sensing vibration of the vehicle, and a balance switch for sensing balance of the vehicle, and configured to detect a signal related to a condition exceeding a predetermined threshold value as an accident sensing signal; a memory unit including volatile memory, nonvolatile memory, and external memory for storing the image data; a user input unit for enabling a user to select various operation modes, including a mode related to a play key; a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) unit for displaying the stored image data in response to an operation control signal received from the user input unit; and a control unit for performing control so that the image data received from the camera is temporarily recorded in the volatile memory and is continuously recorded in the external memory, an accident folder is created in the nonvolatile memory if an event signal is input from the accident detection unit when image data is being recorded, and details of an accident, which belong to the image data temporally recorded in the volatile memory and correspond to a designated amount of time before and after the accident, are recorded in the accident folder; wherein vehicle velocity information and time information, together with image data output from the camera, are compressed and stored in the volatile memory in the accident folder created in the nonvolatile memory of the control unit, and are associated with the position information from the GPS unit.

[2] The black box system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the volatile memory is Random Access Memory (RAM), the nonvolatile memory is flash Read- Only Memory (ROM), and the external memory is a memory card selected from among a Multi-Media Card (MMC)-type memory card, a Secure Digital (SD)-type memory card, and a Compact Flash (CF)-type memory card.

[3] The black box system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control unit directs the data recorded in the external memory to be automatically deleted when the external memory is full.

[4] The black box system for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the camera is a wireless camera.

[5] The black box system for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the wireless camera includes a wireless communication unit for wirelessly communicating with the black box system for a vehicle, and one or more object sensors for sensing objects present within a predetermined distance and then outputting sensing signals.

[6] The black box system for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the control unit performs an accident recording standby mode when an object sensing signal is input from any of the object sensors, and the control unit performs control so that the accident folder is created in the nonvolatile memory and then recording of an accident starts when an event signal is input from the accident detection unit in the accident recording standby mode after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[7] The black box system for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the control unit performs control so that details of an accident, which correspond to a designated amount of time before and after reception of the object sensing signal, are stored in the accident folder.