WO 00/79727
`
`PCT/CA00/00712
`
`13/13
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`SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 25)
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`Page 002455
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`(12) INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(19) World Intellectual Property Organization
`International Bureau
`
`15 March 2001 (15.03.2001) I|||l|||ll|l||||Illlllllllllllllll||l|||||||l|||l|||||l|||||||||||||l||l|l|l||||
`
`(10) International Publication Number
`(43) International Publication Date
`WO 01/18491 Al
`
`(51) International Patent Classifrcationlz
`
`G0lC 22/00
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/KR00/01007
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`4 September 2000 (04.09.2000)
`
`(81) Designated States (national): AE, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ,
`BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, CH, CN, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK,
`DM, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL,
`IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV,
`MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO,
`RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, Tl", TZ, UA, UG,
`US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW.
`
`(25) Filing Language:
`
`(26) Publication Language:
`
`Korean
`
`English
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`1999/37396
`
`3 September 1999 (03.09.1999)
`
`KR
`
`(84) Designated States (regional): ARIPO patent (GH, GM,
`KE, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ, UG, ZW), Eurasian
`patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), European
`patent (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE,
`IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OAPI patent (BF, BJ, CF, CG,
`CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG).
`
`(71) Applicant and
`(72) Inventor: KIM, Gui, Ju [KR/KR]; Samick 2-cha,
`Apartment 203-901, Bongsun 2—dong, Nam—ku, Kwangju
`503-062 (KR).
`
`Published:
`With international search report.
`
`(74) Agent: JEON, Young, II; #4202, Trade Tower, World
`Trade Center, Kangnam-ku, Seoul 135-729 (KR).
`
`For two-letter codes and other abbreviations, refer to the ”Guid-
`ance Notes on Codes and Abbreviations ” appearing at the begin-
`ning ofeach regular issue ofthe PCT Gazette.
`
`
`
`(54) Title: ELECTRONIC CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE
`
`STORAGE MEANS
`
`SENSOR OF VEHICLE SPEED
`FRONT ULTRASONIC-WAVE TRANSMITTER
`FRONT ULTFIASON IC-WAVE RECEIVER
`
`
`
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`
`01/18491A1Il|||||||||||||||l|l|||||||||||||||||||||l|||l||||||||||||||||l|||l|||||||||l|||
`
`(57) Abstract: There is disclosed an electronic control apparatus for avehicle which can provide data necessary to clear up the cause
`of the accident and to find out who is responsible for the accident, by which a warning is automatically given and images and sound
`around the vehicle are recorded in real-time by an electronic control, when prevention of traffic and burglar accidents are required.
`For this, the electronic control apparatus for a vehicle according to the present is characterized in that it comprises front/rear signal
`transmitters/receivers for transmitting/receiving given signals to measure the speed of from/rear vehicles and the distance between
`his/her own vehicle and the front/rear vehicles, an image pick-up means for picking up images of the front/rear vehicles or the visual
`O field within his/her own vehicle, a microphone for collecting sound around his/her own vehicle, an electronic control unit connected
`to control the front/rear signal transrnitters/receivers, the image pickup means and the microphone, respectively, and a storage means
`%
`for storing respective information calculated under the control of the electronic control unit.
`
`Page 002456
`
`

`
`W0 01/1 8491
`
`PCT/KR00/01007
`
`ELECTRONIC CONTROL APPARATUS FOR VEHICLE
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`The invention relates generally to an electronic control apparatus for a
`
`5
`
`vehicle capable of preventing a traffic accident and a burglar accident. More
`
`particularly, the present invention relates to an electronic control apparatus for
`
`a vehicle which can provide data necessary to clear up the cause of the
`
`accident and to find out who is responsible for the accident, in a way that an
`
`electronic control unit mounted on the vehicle automatically gives a warning
`
`10
`
`and records in real—time images and sound around the vehicle, when
`
`prevention of the traffic and burglar accident is required.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`A conventional unit for preventing a vehicle burglar can give a warning
`
`against intrusion of the vehicle. However, when the owner of the vehicle is at
`
`15
`
`a long distance, there is a problem that the owner does not know instantly the
`
`intrusion when it occurred.
`
`Also,
`
`the vehicle’s traveling recording apparatus for recording the
`
`traveling of the vehicle can record only the operational state data on his/her
`
`own vehicle’s internal system traveling state data on depending on the record
`
`20 of the vehicle. Thus, when an unexpected accident occurred, it is impossible
`
`to knowlthe situation of other vehicles and the surrounding road situation.
`
`Accordingly, only with his/her own vehicle’s record, it is insufficient to
`
`prevent an unexpected accident and to find out who is responsible for the
`
`accident.
`
`Further, the misjudgment on who is responsible for the accident
`
`25 will cause not only an unfair economic damage but also the loss of manpower.
`
`Page 002457
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`W0 01/18491
`
`PCT/KR00/01007
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present
`
`invention is
`
`to solve the problems of the above
`
`conventional vehicle burglar prevention apparatus and the vehicle traveling
`
`recording apparatus.
`
`The purpose of the present invention is to provide an
`
`electronic control apparatus for preventing a traffic accident and a burglar
`
`accident, capable of performing the functions of measuring the speed and
`
`distance of front/rear vehicle, monitoring rear objects, recording images and
`
`sound of the front/rear visual field and preventing a burglar accident.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`In order to accomplish the above object, an electronic control apparatus
`
`for a vehicle according to the present invention is characterized in that it
`
`comprises front/rear signal
`
`transmitters/receivers for transmitting/receiving
`
`given signals to measure the speed of front/rear vehicles and the distance
`
`between his/her own vehicle and the front/rear vehicles, an image pick-up
`
`means for picking up images of the front/rear vehicles or the visual field
`
`within his/her own vehicle, a microphone for collecting sound around his/her
`
`own vehicle, an electronic control unit (ECU) connected to control
`
`the
`
`front/rear signal transmitters/receivers, the image pick-up means
`
`and said
`
`microphone,
`
`respectively, and a
`
`storage means
`
`for
`
`storing respective
`
`information calculated under the control of the electronic control unit.
`
`20
`
`Preferably, the electronic control apparatus for the vehicle according to
`
`the present invention further includes a direction sensing means for sensing in
`
`real-time the direction where the vehicle is located, wherein the direction
`
`sensing means is controlled by the electronic control unit and the direction
`
`information calculated by the electronic control unit is recorded on the storage
`
`25
`
`means.
`
`Page 002458
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`WO 01/18491
`
`PCT/KR00/01007
`
`More preferably,
`
`the electronic control apparatus for
`
`the vehicle
`
`according to the present invention further includes an image/sound recording
`
`reset switch for resetting the image and sound information recorded on the
`
`storage means.
`
`Further, the electronic control apparatus for the vehicle according to the
`
`present invention further includes a burglar alarm means for preventing a
`
`burglar accident.
`
`Preferably, the burglar alarm means includes a lamp or a sounder for
`
`alarming the intrusion by foreigners, and a burglar alarm fimction reset switch
`
`10
`
`for resetting a burglar alarm function.
`
`More preferably, the burglar alarm means further includes a burglar-
`
`alarm transmit antenna for transmitting, by wireless, the signal alarming the
`
`intrusion by the foreigners to the driver located at a long distance.
`
`Also, the signals of the front/rear signal
`
`transmitters/receiver are
`
`15
`
`ultrasonic waves more than 20,000 Hz.
`
`Especially, the storage means is attachable from the electronic control
`
`unit, and the storage means may be a HDD (Hard Disk Driver).
`
`Preferably,
`
`the storage means
`
`is compatible with PCs, and the
`
`information recorded on the storage means can be reproduced at the PC.
`
`20
`
`More preferably,
`
`the electronic control apparatus for
`
`the vehicle
`
`according to the present invention further includes a vehicle speed sensor, a
`
`backward switch, a door switch, a trunk switch, a start key switch, a brake
`
`switch, a sounder switch, a door lock/open switch, a trunk lock/open switch, a
`
`direction indicating light switch, a stop light, LH/RH lamps, Sounders and
`
`25
`
`flash units.
`
`Also, the electronic control apparatus for the vehicle according to the
`
`present invention may further include a crash sensor for sensing a crash, and
`
`Page 002459
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`W0 01/1 8491
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`PCT/KR00/01007
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`an image/data display monitor for displaying images picked up by the image
`
`puck-up means.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The aforementioned aspects and other features of the present invention
`
`will be explained in the following description, taken in conjunction with the
`
`accompanying drawings, wherein:
`
`Fig. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic control apparatus for a vehicle
`
`according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
`
`Fig. 2 shows the locations where the components are mounted on a
`
`vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention will be described in detail by way of a preferred
`
`embodiment with reference to accompanying drawings,
`
`in which like
`
`reference numerals are used to identify the same or similar parts.
`
`Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown a block diagram of an electronic
`
`control apparatus for a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the
`
`present invention.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`The electronic control apparatus includes front/rear ultrasonic-wave
`
`transmitters 1 and 3 for transmitting ultrasonic waves to measure the speed of
`
`20
`
`the front/rear vehicle and the distance between his/her own vehicle and the
`
`front/rear vehicle; front/rear ultrasonic-wave receivers 2 and 4 for receiving
`
`the ultrasonic waves transmitted by the front/rear ultrasonic-wave transmitters
`
`1 and 3; image pick-up means 7 and 8 for picking up images of the front/rear
`
`vehicle or the visual field within his/her own vehicle; a microphone 9 for
`
`Page 002460
`
`

`
`W0 01/1849]
`
`PCT/KR00/01007
`
`collecting sound around his/her own vehicle; an electronic control unit (ECU)
`
`5 connected to control the front/rear ultrasonic-wave transmitters 1 and 3; the
`
`front/rear ultrasonic-wave receivers 2 and 4, the image pick—up means 7 and 8
`
`and the microphone 9, respectively, for performing the functions of measuring
`
`the speed of the front/rear vehicles and the distance between them, monitoring
`
`the rear object, preventing a burglar accident, picking up images of the
`
`front/rear and the visual field within the vehicle and recording the sound; and
`
`a storage means 6 for storing individual information calculated under the
`
`control of the electronic control unit 5.
`
`Also,
`
`the electronic control apparatus further includes a direction
`
`sensing means 14 for sensing in real-time the direction at which the vehicles
`
`are located, an image/sound recording reset switch 12 for resetting image and
`
`sound information recorded on the storage means 6, a burglar alarm means for
`
`preventing a burglar, consisted of a lamp 10 or a sounder for alarming the
`
`intrusion by foreigners and a reset switch 11 for resetting a burglar alarm
`
`function, a burglar-alarm transmit antenna 13 for alarming by wireless the
`
`intrusion by the foreigners to the driver located at a long distance, a crash
`
`sensing sensor 15 and an image/data display monitor 16 for displaying the
`
`picked up images.
`
`The components to which reference numerals and a detailed description
`
`are not given include a vehicle speed sensor, various switches (backward
`
`motion, doors,
`
`trunk, starting key, brake, sounder, door lock/open,
`
`tnmk
`
`lock/open, direction lamp switches, etc.), brake lamps, LH/RH lamps,
`
`sounders, flash units etc., which are also controlled by the ECU and are not
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`Page 002461
`
`

`
`W0 0]/18491
`
`PCT/KR00/01007
`
`important for the present invention. Thus, a detailed descliption thereof will
`
`be not given for simplicity.
`Further, though not shown in the drawing, the components such as a
`
`handle steering angle sensor, a throttle body flap, an open angle sensor, an
`
`emergency light, a switch for an emergency light, a brake pedal angle switch
`
`and a headlight switch etc., may be controlled by the ECU.
`
`It is preferred that the above—mentioned components are mounted at the
`
`positions shown in Fig. 2.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`In other words,
`
`the front ultrasonic—wave transmitter 1/
`
`the front
`
`ultrasonic—wave receiver 2 for measuring the speed and distance of the front
`
`vehicle are installed on the fascia board in front of the driver’s seat. Also, the
`
`front ultrasonic—wave transmitter 3/ the front ultrasonic—wave receiver 4 for
`
`measuring the speed and distance of the rear vehicle are installed on the
`
`license plate behind the vehicle.
`
`Further, the ECU 5 and the storage means 6 are installed on the seal
`
`within the trunk and may be also installed at the bottom of the driver’s seat
`
`(not shown).
`
`The image pick-up means for picking up images of the front visual field,
`
`for example, a front infrared CCD camera 7 is mounted in the upper middle of
`
`20
`
`the front window shield within the vehicle room from which the front visual
`
`field can be obtained. Also, the image pick-up means for picking up images
`
`of the rear visual field, for example, a rear infrared CCD camera 8 is mounted
`
`in the upper middle of the rear window shield within the vehicle room from
`
`which the front visual field can be obtained.
`
`Each of the image pick-up
`
`25
`
`means may be mounted on the right of the driver—seat head support and on the
`
`Page 002462
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`

`
`WO 01/18491
`
`PCT/KR00/01007
`
`left of the assistant-seat head support (not shown). By allowing the image
`
`pick—up means to focus the rear mirror, the front and rear visual fields of the
`
`vehicle can be picked up.
`
`Also,
`
`the microphone 9 for collecting sound around the vehicle is
`
`mounted on the upper of the driver’ seat.
`
`The microphone 9 may include
`
`“on” and “off” function switches.
`
`The driver could adjust automatically or
`
`manually the front/rear infrared CCD cameras 7 and 8.
`
`Further, the lamp 10 for informing whether the burglar alarm function
`
`must be operated or not is mounted on the fascia board, and the burglar alarm
`
`fimction reset switch 11 and the image/sound recording reset switch 12 are
`
`mounted near the driver around the fascia board.
`
`The antenna 13 for alarming by wireless the intrusion by the foreigners
`
`to the driver located at a long distance may be mounted around the window
`
`shield or the rear window shield within the vehicle room. The direction
`
`sensing means 14 for sensing the direction at which the vehicle is currently
`
`located is mounted on the fascia board. The direction information sensed by
`
`the direction sensing means may be displayed on an additional display means.
`
`Also, it is preferred that the crash sensing sensor 15 is mounted at the
`
`bottom of the driver’ seat. The image/data display monitor 16 is mounted on
`
`the fascia board or at a given region on the fascia board so that the driver can
`
`easily view.
`
`The electronic control apparatus having the above components mainly
`
`have a front vehicle speed sensing function, a rear vehicle speed sensing
`
`function, a front vehicle near-distance measuring function, a rear vehicle near-
`
`distance measuring function, a rear object monitoring function, a burglar
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`Page 002463
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`

`
`WO 01/18491
`
`PCT/KR00/01007
`
`prevention sensing fimction, a front/rear visual
`
`field image and sound
`
`recording function, a vehicle direction function, and various vehicle data
`
`recording functions and image display monitoring functions. Placing the
`
`focus on those functions, the effects of the present invention will be below
`
`explained in detail.
`
`1.
`
`Front vehicle speed sensing function
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`The ECU 5 periodically controls the front ultrasonic-wave transmitter l
`
`to transmit
`
`the ultrasonic wave signal. When the front ultrasonic-wave
`
`receiver 2 receives the ultrasonic-wave signal that is transmitted by the front
`
`ultrasonic-wave transmitter 3 and is then reflected by the front vehicle, the
`
`ECU 5 uses the received ultrasonic-wave signal and the signal inputted at the
`
`vehicle speed sensor to calculate the speed of the front vehicle.
`
`Then, it records the calculated speeds of his/her own vehicle and of the
`
`front vehicle on the storage means 6.
`
`For this, the ECU 5 is consisted of a power regulator, an analog—to-
`
`digital converter, a shift register, a digital signal processor (DSP), a program
`
`processor, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a
`
`battery and a flash memory, etc.
`
`2.
`
`Rear vehicle speed sensing function
`
`The ECU 5 periodically controls the rear ultrasonic-wave transmitter 3
`
`to transmit the ultrasonic wave signal. When the rear ultrasonic-wave
`
`receiver 4 receives the ultrasonic-wave signal that is transmitted by the rear
`
`ultrasonic-wave transmitter 3 and is then reflected by the rear vehicle, the
`
`ECU 5 uses the received ultrasonic-wave signal and the signal inputted at the
`
`25
`
`vehicle speed sensor to calculate the speed of the rear Vehicle.
`
`Page 002464
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`W0 01/18491
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`PCT/KR00/01007
`
`Then, it records the calculated speeds of his/her own vehicle and of the
`
`rear vehicle on the storage means 6.
`
`3.
`
`Front vehicle near-distance measuring function
`
`If the ECU 5 determines that the rear switch on the rear gear side is
`
`“off”,
`
`it controls the front ultrasonic—wave transmitter
`
`l
`
`to transmit
`
`the
`
`ultrasonic wave signal.
`
`Thus, when the front ultrasonic—wave receiver 2
`
`receives the ultrasonic wave signal that is transmitted by the front ultrasonic
`
`wave transmitter l and is then reflected by the front vehicle, the ECU 5 uses
`
`the received ultrasonic—wave signal to calculate the distance with the front
`
`vehicle and then to record the calculated data on the storage means 6.
`
`At this time, the recorded data is compared with the reference value
`
`previously set. Thus, if danger of an accident is sensed, an alarm is operated
`
`to ring, thus inducing the driver into a safe driving. For example, if the near-
`
`distance with the front vehicle is below 10m, both the speed of his/her own
`
`vehicle and the front vehicle is over 50km/h and the speed of his/her own
`
`vehicle is faster 10km/h than that of the front Vehicle, the sounder or the
`
`emergency light is operated to warn that the driver can keep a safe distance.
`
`On the other hand, if the brake switch in his/her own vehicle is “on”
`
`while the speed of the front vehicle is below lOOkm/h,
`
`the ECU 5
`
`automatically performs the rear vehicle near-distance measuring mode that
`
`will be described later.
`
`4.
`
`Rear vehicle near-distance measuring function
`
`If the ECU 5 determines that the backward switch on the rear gear side
`
`is “off”,
`
`it controls the rear ultrasonic—wave transmitter 3 to transmit the
`
`ultrasonic wave signal. Thus, if the rear ultrasonic—wave receiver 4 receives
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`Page 002465
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`

`
`WO 01/18491
`
`PCT/KR00/01007
`
`the ultrasonic wave signal that is transmitted by the rear ultrasonic wave
`
`transmitter 3 and is then reflected by the rear vehicle, the ECU 5 uses the
`
`received ultrasonic-wave signal to calculate the distance between his/her own
`
`vehicle and the rear vehicle and then to record the calculated data on the
`
`storage means 6.
`
`Using the calculated distance and speed,
`
`the ECU 5 controls the
`
`emergency light for a safe driving as follows:
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`For example, if the near-distance with the rear vehicle is below 10m
`
`and the speed of the rear vehicle is over 100krn/h, the emergency light switch
`
`of his/her own vehicle is operated for a given time period (i.e., several - tens
`
`of seconds), so that the driver can keep a safe distance with the rear vehicle.
`
`Then, if the ECU 5 determines that the brake switch of his/her own
`
`vehicle is “on” while sensing the rear vehicle, it continues to operate the
`
`emergency light switch. Then, if the ECU 5 determines that the distance with
`
`the rear vehicle is below 10m and the speed of the rear vehicle is below
`
`30km/h, it operates the emergency light switch for a given time period (i.e.,
`
`several - tens of seconds) and then stops the operation of the emergency light.
`
`Also, if the ECU 5 determines that the speed of the rear vehicle is
`
`below 10km/h, the brake switch is “on” and the distance with the rear vehicle
`
`is below 3m, it determines that a traffic jam has occurred and thus operates the
`
`emergency light switch for a given time period (ie, several - tens of seconds).
`
`However, there is given priority to the direction indicator lamp switch
`
`or the emergency light switch operation by the driver over the emergency light
`
`control by the ECU.
`
`10
`
`Page 002466
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`W0 01/18491
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`PCT/KR00/01007
`
`In other words, if the direction indicator lamp switch or the emergency
`
`light switch is “on” while the starting key switch is “on”, there is given
`
`priority to the direction indicator lamp switch or the emergency light switch
`
`operation by the driver over the emergency light control by the ECU.
`
`If the
`
`5
`
`operation by the driver is finished, the ECU 5 resumes the emergency light
`
`control function.
`
`While performing (1) the front vehicle speed sensing ftmction,
`
`(2) the
`
`rear vehicle speed sensing fimction,
`
`(3)
`
`the front vehicle near-distance
`
`measuring function and (4) the rear vehicle near—distance measuring function,
`
`10
`
`if the ultrasonic waves same with his/her own vehicle’s ultrasonic waves are
`
`continuously received from other vehicles,
`
`the transmit/receive ultrasonic
`
`wave signals of his/her own vehicle can be changed or decoded into different
`
`signals so that the ultrasonic wave signal of his/her own vehicle can be
`
`discriminated from those of the other vehicles.
`
`'15
`
`5.
`
`Rear object monitoring function
`
`If the ECU 5 determines that the backward switch of his/her own
`
`vehicle is “on”, that is, if the Vehicle moves backwardly, it controls the rear
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`ultrasonic—wave transmitter 3 to transmit the ultrasonic wave signal. Thus, if
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`the rear ultrasonic—wave receiver 4 receives the ultrasonic wave signal that is
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`transmitted by the rear ultrasonic wave transmitter 3 and is then reflected by
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`the rear objects or persons, the ECU 5 uses the ultrasonic—wave signal to
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`calculate the distance between the objects or persons and his/her own vehicle
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`and then to record the calculated data on the storage means 6.
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`In the same manner, if there is any danger of an accident, for example if
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`the calculated distance is below 2m, the ECU 5 operates the sounder in a
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`given times and operates the emergency light for a given time period (i.e.,
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`several - tens of seconds), thus inducing the driver into a safe driving.
`6.
`Burglar prevention sensing function
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`If the driver switches the door lock/open switch‘ into a lock state within
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`a given time (i.e., 3 minutes) after turning “on” the burglar alarm fimction
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`reset switch 11 one times and then turns “off” all the switches while the
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`vehicle’s starting key is “off” and respective door switches (four in a four
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`door vehicle) are “off”, the ECU 5 operates the burglar prevention sensing
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`function. At this time, the ECY 5 outputs a control signal to flicker the
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`10
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`burglar alarm function lamp 10.
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`It is preferred that when the driver operates the burglar prevention
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`monitoring ftmction, the front/rear-infrared CCD cameras 7 and 8 are oriented
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`toward the doors so that intrusion by the foreigners can be easily picked up.
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`During the operation of the burglar prevention monitoring function, if
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`the ECU 5 senses, for example, that any of the vehicle’s door switches is “on”
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`while not sensing the open signal of the door lock/open switch or that the
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`trunk switch 15 is “on” while not sensing the open signal of the trunk
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`lock/open switch,
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`it continuously operates the sounder to warn that
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`the
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`foreigners has intruded.
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`At
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`this
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`time,
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`the ECU 5 continuously transmits the telephone-
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`originating signal
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`to the telephone,
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`the hone automation system, cellular
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`phones of the driver via the antenna 13.
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`Upon a burglar alann, for example, if the vehicle’s door switch is “on”
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`and there is no any door lock/open switch signal while the starting key switch
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`is “off” and the burglar alarm function switch is “on” one times, the front/rear
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`infrared CCD cameras 7 and 8 and the microphone 9 are operated to collect
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`the images and sound around the vehicle and then to record the collected data
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`on the storage means 6. As it is the infrared camera, the images around the
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`vehicle can be clearly picked up when the foreigners intrude into the vehicle
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`even at night.
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`Also, in a parking state, if there is any shock given to his/her vehicle by
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`persons or vehicles, for example, when the crash sensing sensor 15 transmits
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`the signal indicting that the crash has occurred to the ECU 5 while the starting
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`key switch is “oft”, the fi‘ont/rear infrared CCD cameras 7 and 8 and the
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`microphone 9 are operated to collect the images and sound around the vehicle
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`and then to record the collected data on the storage means 6.
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`If the driver wants to cancel the burglar prevention monitoring function,
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`he/she can turns “on” the reset switch 11 twice.
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`Then, the ECU 5 stops the
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`burglar prevention monitoring function, turns “off” the burglar alarm function
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`lamp 10 and stops operating the front/rear infrared CCD cameras 7 and 8 and
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`the microphone 9.
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`7.
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`Front/rear visual field image and sound recording function
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`As a result of performing the front vehicle speed sensing function and
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`the front vehicle near-distance measuring function while the vehicle travels
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`(for example, the starting key is “on”, or when the generated vehicle speed
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`sensor signal
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`is sensed or the backward switch is “off”), if the distance
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`between the front vehicle and his/her own vehicle is below a given distance
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`(for example, 10 m), the ECU 5 operates the front/rear infrared CCD cameras
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`7 and 8 and the microphone 9 to record the traveling state of the front vehicle
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`and the images of the traveling lane and its surrounding sound on the storage
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`means 6. At this time, the speed and near-distance of the front vehicle are
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`also recorded.
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`Also, as a result of performing the rear vehicle speed sensing function
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`and the rear vehicle near-distance measuring function, if the distance between
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`the rear vehicle and his/her own vehicle is below a given distance (for
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`example, 10m), the ECU 5 operates the front/rear infrared CCD cameras 7 and
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`Sand the microphone 9 to record the traveling state of the rear vehicle and the
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`images of the traveling line and its surrounding sound on the storage means 6.
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`At this time, the speed and near-distance of the rear vehicle are also recorded.
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`Also, if the burglar alarm sensing function is operated to warn that the
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`foreigners have intruded into the vehicle while the vehicle is parked (for
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`example, the starting key is “off”, or when it could not sense the generated
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`vehicle speed sensor signal or the backward switch is “off’),
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`the ECU 5
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`operates the front/rear infrared CCD cameras 7 and 8 and the microphone 9 to
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`record the images of the front/rear visual field state and its surrounding sound
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`on the storage means 6.
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`Also, as the storage capacity of the storage means 6 is limited, there is
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`provided an image/sound recording reset switch 12 for allowing the users to
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`reset the image and sound data recorded on the storage means 6, as necessary,
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`when the images of the front/rear visual field state and its surrounding sound
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`are recorded on the storage means 6 for a long time.
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`For example, if the user turns “on” the image/sound recording reset
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`switch 12 one times,
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`the ECU 5 recognizes it and then stops storing the
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`images of the front/rear visual field state and its surrounding sound. Also, if
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`the user turns “on” the image/sound recording reset switch 12 twice, the ECU
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`5 recognizes it and then resumes writing the images of the front/rear visual
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`field state and its surrounding sound. At this time, the ECU 5 invalidates the
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`contents shift-registered from the start point of the image/sound record region
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`on the storage means 6 and then controls the image and sound to be recorded
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`from the start point of the image/sound record region on the storage means 6.
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`Also, during the operation of performing the images of the front/rear
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`visual field state and its sound recording, if there is no any region on which
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`the images and sound are recorded since the image/sound regions to be
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`recorded on the storage means 6 are full, the ECU 5 controls the storage
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`means 6 to shift-register the image and sound on the image and sound
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`recording region on the storage means 6 from the start point.
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`As another example, if the image/sound recording reset switch 12 is
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`turned “on” three times in a row, the ECU recognizes it and then shift-
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`registers the state around the vehicle (front and rear visual fields) on the
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`storage means 6. At this time, for example, the image memory can record
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`one frame per second at the velocity of below 60 km. Also, as the speed of
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`the vehicle become over 60 km, the image memory will increase the number
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`of the frame to be recorded per second. Thus, the image memory records up
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`10
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`15
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`to 15 frames per second over 150 km.
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`If a traffic accident has occurred, the
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`20
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`image/sound along with the time when the accident occurred is recorded on
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`the ECU 5 or the storage means 6 based on the time when the crash sensor 15
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`senses the accident by classifying before- and after-the accident into a given
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`time (for example, ECU recording: record during 20 seconds before the
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`accident and during 20 seconds after the accident and then stop, storage
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`means: continuous recording before the accident, record during 10 seconds
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`after the accident and then stop).
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`As another example, if the image/sound recording reset switch 12 is
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`turned “on” four times continuously,
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`the images picked up by the CCD
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`cameras 7 and 8 when the vehicle travels and when it is parked is instantly
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`displayed on the image/data display monitor 16.
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`It is preferred that the storage means 6 is attachable from the ECU 5
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`and may be also connected to personal computers for reproducing the
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`recording.
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`In particular, all the information recorded on the storage means is
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`10
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`attached with year/month/day and time information. Preferably, the storage
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`means 6 may be a HDD (Hard Disk Drive).
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`Therefore, while the vehicle travels, the images of the front/rear visual
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`field state and its surrounding sound data recorded on the storage means 6 can
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`be utilized as an important data to clear up the cause of the accident and to
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`15
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`find out who is responsible for the accident. Also, while the vehicle is parked,
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`the images and sound of its surrounding state recorded on the storage means 6
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`under the control of the burglar alarm sensing fimction allow the vehicle
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`owner to easily ascertain who intruded into the vehicle when a burglar
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`accident has occurred.
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`20
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`8.
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`Vehicle direction function
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`While the ECU 5 performs the function of recording the vehicle’s
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`traveling state or the image and sound of the front/rear visual field state as
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`mentioned above, it receives the direction data on the current vehicle inputted
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`from the direction sensing means 14 and records the received data on the
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`25
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`storage means 6 along with the image and sound data.
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`The direction data of
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`the current vehicle allows clearing up the cause of the accident and finding out
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`who is responsible for the accident. The direction information sensed by the
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`direction sensing means 14 may be displayed on an additional display
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`app