U.S. patent number RE48,624 [Application Number 15/586,759] was granted by the patent office on 2021-07-06 for event data recorder with low power consumption.
This patent grant is currently assigned to PIXART IMAGING INC.. The grantee listed for this patent is PixArt Imaging Inc.. Invention is credited to En-Feng Hsu, Ming-Tsan Kao.
United States Patent |
RE48,624 |
Hsu , et al. |
July 6, 2021 |
Event data recorder with low power consumption
Abstract
An event data recorder (EDR) is configured to operate in a
driving mode and a parking mode. In the driving mode, the EDR is
configured to perform high quality video recording using an
image-capturing circuit. In the parking mode, the EDR is configured
to periodically activate the image-capturing circuit for event
detection and start to perform low quality video recording after
detecting a specific event.
Inventors: |
Hsu; En-Feng (Hsin-Chu,
TW), Kao; Ming-Tsan (Hsin-Chu, TW) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PixArt Imaging Inc. |
Hsin-Chu |
N/A |
TW |
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Assignee: |
PIXART IMAGING INC. (Hsin-Chu
County, TW)
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Family
ID: |
48172034 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/586,759 |
Filed: |
May 4, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
13589193 |
Aug 20, 2012 |
9025037 |
May 5, 2015 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Oct 31, 2011 [TW] |
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100139568 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07C
5/0866 (20130101); H04N 5/225 (20130101); H04N
5/772 (20130101); H04N 5/23241 (20130101); H04N
2201/3253 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07C
5/08 (20060101); H04N 5/77 (20060101); H04N
5/225 (20060101); H04N 5/232 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;348/143-160 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1450794 |
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Mar 2011 |
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201178086 |
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Apr 2011 |
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201178086 |
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Apr 2011 |
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Jul 2011 |
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Jul 2011 |
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JP |
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Other References
Life should be easy and simple (Jason, Sammy & Jasper), "FineVu
CR-200HD (Mar. 26 adjusted)", link:
http://blog.yam.com/hylind/article/35715136, Mar. 26, 2011, table 1
in p. 14. cited by applicant .
Life should be easy and simple (Jason, Sammy & Jasper), "FineVu
CR-200HD (Mar. 26 adjusted)", link:
http://blog.yam.com/hylind/article/35715136, Mar. 26, 2011, table 1
in p. 18. cited by applicant .
Lexus9, "An introduction for a newly baught event data recorder and
the after-parking recording function", link:
http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=397&t=1964069, Jan.
15, 2011. cited by applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Tran; Henry N
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hauptman Ham, LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An event data recorder (EDR), comprising: a built-in power
supply; an image-recording module, comprising: an image-capturing
circuit .[.configured to perform.]. .Iadd.performing .Iaddend.a
first video recording function in a driving mode and .[.perform.].
.Iadd.performing .Iaddend.a second video recording function or a
photograph function in a parking mode; a module timing circuit only
configured to periodically activate the image-capturing circuit in
the parking mode for performing the photograph function; and a
processing circuit .[.configured to detect.]. .Iadd.detecting
.Iaddend.a specific event according to an image obtained by the
image-capturing circuit when performing the photograph function and
.[.output.]. .Iadd.outputting .Iaddend.a wakeup signal when
detecting the specific event; a control module configured to
activate the image-capturing circuit for performing the second
video recording function when receiving the wakeup signal; and a
system timing circuit configured to provide a reference clock
signal according to which the image-capturing circuit performs the
first or the second video recording function, wherein the module
timing circuit and the system timing circuit are different
circuits; .Iadd.wherein the module timing circuit and the system
timing circuit are different circuits; .Iaddend.wherein when the
event data recorder is powered by an external power supply coupled
to the event data recorder, the event data recorder is operated in
the driving mode, and when the external power supply is no longer
available to provide power to the event data recorder, the event
data recorder is powered by the built-in power supply and is
operated in the parking mode.
2. The EDR of claim 1, further comprising: a memory module for
storing a data obtained by the image-capturing circuit when
performing the first or the second video recording function.
3. The EDR of claim 1, wherein the module timing circuit consumes
less power than the system timing circuit.
4. The EDR of claim 1, wherein the control module is further
configured to calibrate the module timing circuit according to the
system timing circuit.
5. The EDR of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit consumes less
power than the control module.
6. The EDR of claim 1, wherein the image-capturing circuit consumes
less power when operating in the parking mode than when operating
in the driving mode.
7. The EDR of claim 1, further comprising a transmitting interface
for transmitting the wakeup signal.
8. An image-recording module, comprising: an image-capturing
circuit .[.configured to perform.]. .Iadd.performing .Iaddend.a
video recording function in a driving mode or .[.perform.].
.Iadd.performing .Iaddend.a photograph function in a parking mode;
a module timing circuit configured to periodically activate the
image-capturing circuit in the parking mode for performing the
photograph function; and a processing circuit .[.configured to
determine.]. .Iadd.determining .Iaddend.whether the image-capturing
circuit should further perform the video recording function in the
parking mode according to photos obtained when the image-capturing
circuit performs the photograph function, wherein a quality of the
video recording function in the driving mode is higher than a
quality of the photograph function in the parking mode; wherein
when an event data recorder comprising the image-recording module
is powered by an external power supply coupled to the event data
recorder, the image-recording module is operated in the driving
mode, and when the external power supply is no longer available to
provide power to the event data recorder, the event data recorder
is powered by a built-in power supply and the image-recording
module is operated in the parking mode.
9. An image-recording module, comprising: a module timing circuit
configured to provide a module clock signal; and an image-capturing
circuit .[.configured to:.]. .[.receive.]. .Iadd.receiving
.Iaddend.the module clock signal in a parking mode; .[.perform.].
.Iadd.performing .Iaddend.a photograph function only based on the
module clock signal; and .[.receive.]. .Iadd.receiving .Iaddend.a
system clock signal external to the image-recording module for
performing a second video recording function when a specific event
is detected according to images captured using the photograph
function; wherein when an event data recorder comprising the
image-recording module is powered by an external power supply
coupled to the event data recorder, the image-recording module is
operated in a driving mode, and when the external power supply is
no longer available to provide power to the event data recorder,
the event data recorder is powered by a built-in power supply and
the image-recording module is operated in the parking mode.
10. The image-recording module of claim 9, wherein the
image-capturing circuit .[.is.]. further .[.configured to:.].
.[.perform.]. .Iadd.performs .Iaddend.a first video recording
function in the driving mode when receiving the system clock signal
or .[.perform.]. .Iadd.performs .Iaddend.the second video recording
function in the parking mode; and .[.perform.]. .Iadd.performs
.Iaddend.the photograph function in the parking mode when not
receiving the system clock signal.
11. An event data recorder (EDR), comprising: a built-in power
supply; a power supply module configured to receive external power
from an external power supply coupled to the event data recorder or
built-in power from the built-in power supply; an image-recording
module, comprising: a module timing circuit configured to provide a
module clock signal; an image-capturing circuit .[.configured
to:.]. when receiving a system clock signal external to the
image-recording module, .[.perform.]. .Iadd.performing .Iaddend.a
first image-capturing function in a driving mode according to the
system clock signal; and when not receiving the system clock
signal, .[.perform.]. .Iadd.performing .Iaddend.a second
image-capturing function in a parking mode according to the module
clock signal; and a processing circuit .[.configured to enable.].
.Iadd.enabling .Iaddend.the image-capturing circuit for performing
a second video recording function in the parking mode when
determining that a difference between an image parameter of
consecutive photos obtained when the image-capturing performs a
photograph function is larger than a threshold value in the parking
mode; and a control module configured to send the system clock
signal to the image-recording module when the power supply module
receives the external power; wherein when the power supply module
receives the external power, the event data recorder is operated in
the driving mode, and when the external power supply is no longer
available to provide power to the power supply module, the power
supply module receives the built-in power and the event data
recorder is operated in the parking mode.
12. The event data recorder of claim 11, wherein the first
image-capturing function is a first video recording function.
13. The event data recorder of claim 11, wherein the second
image-capturing function is the second video recording function or
the photograph function.
.Iadd.14. An event data recorder (EDR), comprising: a built-in
power supply; an image-recording module configured to perform a
first video recording function in a driving mode and perform a
second video recording function or a photograph function in a
parking mode, the image-recording module configured to output a
wakeup signal when detecting a specific event; and a control module
configured to activate the image-recording module for performing
the second video recording function when receiving the wakeup
signal; wherein when the event data recorder is powered by an
external power supply coupled to the event data recorder, the event
data recorder is operated in the driving mode, and when the
external power supply is no longer available to provide power to
the event data recorder, the event data recorder is powered by the
built-in power supply and is operated in the parking
mode..Iaddend.
.Iadd.15. An event data recorder (EDR), comprising: a battery power
supply; an image-recording module configured to perform a first
video recording function in a power supply mode and perform a
second video recording function or a photograph function in a
battery supply mode, the image-recording module configured to
output a wakeup signal when detecting a specific event; and; a
control module configured to activate the image-recording module
for performing the second video recording function when receiving
the wakeup signal, wherein when the event data recorder is powered
by an external power supply coupled to the event data recorder, the
event data recorder is operated in the power supply mode, and when
the external power supply is no longer available to provide power
to the event data recorder, the event data recorder is powered by
the battery power supply and is operated in the battery supply
mode..Iaddend.
.Iadd.16. An event data recorder (EDR), comprising: a battery power
supply; an image-recording module configured to perform a first
video recording function in a power supply mode and perform a
second video recording function or a photograph function in a
battery supply mode, the image-recording module configured to
output a wakeup signal when detecting a specific event caused by
difference between an image parameter of two consecutive photos;
and a control module configured to activate the image-recording
module for performing the second video recording function when
receiving the wakeup signal, wherein when the event data recorder
is powered by an external power supply coupled to the event data
recorder, the event data recorder is operated in the power supply
mode, and when the external power supply is no longer available to
provide power to the event data recorder, the event data recorder
is powered by the battery power supply and is operated in the
battery supply mode..Iaddend.
.Iadd.17. An event data recorder (EDR), comprising: a built-in
power supply; an image-recording module configured to perform a
first video recording function in a first mode and perform a second
video recording function or a photograph function in a second mode,
the image-recording module configured to output a wakeup signal
when detecting a specific event; and a control module configured to
activate the image-recording module for performing the second video
recording function or the photograph function when receiving the
wakeup signal, wherein the event data recorder is powered by an
external power supply coupled to the event data recorder when the
event data recorder is operated in the first mode, and the external
power supply is no longer available to provide power to the event
data recorder when the event data recorder is powered by the
built-in power supply and is operated in the second mode..Iaddend.
Description
.Iadd.CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS.Iaddend.
.Iadd.This application is a broadening reissue of U.S. Pat. No.
9,025,037, issued on May 5, 2015, which is a U.S. Utility patent
application Ser. No. 13/589,193, filed on Aug. 20, 2012, which is
based upon and claims the benefit of priority to Taiwanese Patent
Application No. 100139568, filed on Oct. 31, 2011. The disclosures
of the above-listed applications are hereby incorporated by
reference herein in their entirety..Iaddend.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an event data recorder, and
more particularly, to an event data recorder which reduces power
consumption in the parking mode.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An event data recorder or EDR is a device installed in automobiles
to record information related to vehicle, such as crashes,
accidents or thefts. Police, crash investigators, and others can
download the data from the EDR's memory to help them better
understand what happened to the vehicle and how the safety systems
performed, and in some cases, help establish culpability. An EDR
normally provides two operational modes: the driving mode and the
parking mode.
FIG. 1 is a functional diagram of a prior art EDR 100. The EDR 100
includes a screen 110, a memory module 120, a timing circuit 130, a
control module 140, an image-recording module 150, a power supply
module 160, and a transmitting interface 170. The image-recording
module 150 is configured to perform video recording function. The
screen 110 may display real-time images or previously recorded
images. The memory module 120 is configured to store image data or
the settings of the EDR 100. The timing circuit 130 is configured
to provide reference clock signals for operating the EDR 100. The
control module 140 is configured to control the operation of each
device in the EDR 100. The transmitting interface 170 may be used
for transmitting DATA, CSB, I2C and CLK signals.
In the driving mode, all devices in the EDR 100 are activated and
the power supply module 160 may be provided by a car cigarette
lighter. In the parking mode, the power supply module 160 may be
provided by built-in or installed batteries of the EDR 100 or an
automotive battery. Therefore, the operational time of the prior
art EDR 100 is limited in the parking mode. The EDR 100 may fail to
record events which occur after the automotive battery becomes
flat, which also makes it difficult or unable to start the car.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an event data recorder having an
image-recording module and a control module. The image-recording
module includes an image-capturing circuit configured to perform a
first video recording function in a first mode and perform a second
video recording function or a photograph function in a second mode;
a module timing circuit configured to periodically activate the
image-capturing circuit in the second mode for performing the
photograph function; and a processing circuit configured to detect
a specific event according to an image obtained by the
image-capturing circuit when performing the photograph function and
output a wakeup signal when detecting the specific event. The
control module is configured to activate the image-capturing
circuit for performing the second video recording function when
receiving the wakeup signal.
The present invention also provides an image-recording module
including an image-capturing circuit configured to perform a video
recording function in a first mode or perform a photograph function
in a second mode; a module timing circuit configured to
periodically activate the image-capturing circuit in the second
mode for performing the photograph function; and a processing
circuit configured to determine whether the image-capturing circuit
should further perform the video recording function in the second
mode according to photos obtained when the image-capturing circuit
performs the photograph function.
The present invention also provides an image-recording module
including a module timing circuit configured to provide a module
clock signal; and an image-capturing circuit configured to receive
an external system clock signal and perform a first image-capturing
function accordingly in a first mode; and receive the module clock
signal and perform a second image-capturing function accordingly in
a second mode.
The present invention also provides an event data recorder
including a built-in power, a power supply module configured to
receive an external power or the built-in power, an image-recording
module, and a control module. The image-recording module includes a
module timing circuit configured to provide a module clock signal;
and an image-capturing circuit configured to perform a first
image-capturing function according to the external system clock
signal when receiving the external system clock signal and perform
a second image-capturing function according to the module clock
signal when not receiving the external system clock signal. The
control module is configured to send the system clock signal to the
image-recording module when the power supply module receives the
external power.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt
become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading
the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that
is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a functional diagram of a prior art event data
recorder.
FIG. 2 is a functional diagram of an event data recorder according
to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 2 is a functional diagram of an EDR 200 according to the
present invention. The EDR 200 includes a screen 210, a memory
module 220, a timing circuit 230, a control module 240, an
image-recording module 250, a power supply module 260, and a
transmitting interface 270. The screen 210 may be a liquid crystal
display capable of displaying real-time images or previously
recorded images. The memory module 220, which may include a buffer
memory, a built-in memory/hard disc, or a module capable of
communicating with an external memory/hard disc, is configured to
store image data or the settings of the EDR 200. The timing circuit
230 may be a crystal oscillator configured to provide reference
clock signals for operating the EDR 200. The control module 240 may
be a back-end chip configured to control the operation of each
device in the EDR 200. The image-recording module 250 may include
one or multiple image-capturing circuits 20, a timing circuit 23,
and a processing circuit 24.
The transmitting interface 270 includes a plurality of channels,
via which the control module 240 and the image-recording module 250
may communicate with other. The image-recording module 250 may
transmit a data signal DATA and a wakeup signal MD to the control
module 240 via the transmitting interface 270. The control module
240 may transmit a serial data/address signal I2C (inter-integrated
circuit), a chip select bus signal CBS and a clock signal CLK to
the image-recording module 250 via the transmitting interface
270.
The EDR 200 is configured to determine its operational mode
according to the presence of an external power: the EDR 200 may
operate in the driving mode when the power supply module 260 is
able to receive an external power; the EDR 200 may operate in the
parking mode when the power supply module 260 is unable to receive
an external power.
In the driving mode, all devices in the EDR 200 are activated and
the power supply module 260 may be provided by a car cigarette
lighter. The image-recording module 250 is configured to perform
video recording function according to the serial data/address
signal I2C, the chip select bus signal CBS and the clock signal CLK
received from the control module 240. The control module is
configured to display images on the screen 210 according to the
data signal DATA, store the data signal DATA in the memory module
220, or simultaneously perform the above two actions.
In the parking mode, all devices in the EDR 200 are first
de-activated and the power supply module .[.160.]. .Iadd.260
.Iaddend.may be provided by the built-in or installed batteries of
the EDR 200, or by an automotive battery. Next, the timing circuit
23 of the image-recording module 250 is configured to periodically
activate the image-capturing circuit 20 for detecting environmental
changes around the car, based on which the processing circuit 24 is
configured to determine whether a specific event has occurred. Upon
detecting the specific event, the processing circuit 24 may send
the wakeup signal MD for activating the control module 240, which
may in turn activate other devices in the EDR 200 for performing
video recording function.
In the driving mode according to the embodiment of present
invention, the image-capturing circuit 20 may perform high quality
video recording function, such as recording 30 HD-quality (1280*720
resolution) frames per second. In the parking mode according to the
embodiment of present invention when no specific event is detected,
the image-capturing circuit 20 may only perform low quality
photograph function periodically, such as taking a VGA-quality
(640*480 resolution) photo every 30 seconds. In the parking mode
according to the embodiment of present invention when the specific
event is detected, the image-capturing circuit 20 may perform low
quality video recording, such as recording 15 HD-quality frames per
second or 30 VGA-quality frames per second. Compared to the high
quality video recording function in the driving mode, the low
quality photograph function and the low quality video recording
function consume less power, thereby capable of increasing the
operational time of the image-capturing circuit 20 in the parking
mode.
The specific event may be any environmental change which occurs
around the car, such as an approaching pedestrian or vehicle. In
the EDR 200 according to the embodiment of the present invention,
the processing circuit 24 may be a low power signal processing
circuit with event detection function. For example, the processing
circuit 24 may compare two consecutive photos taken by the
image-capturing circuit 20 in the parking mode. If the difference
between an image parameter (such as luminance or chrominance) of
the two consecutive photos is larger than a predetermined value,
the processing circuit 24 may determine that the specific event has
occurred around the car.
In the EDR 200 according to the embodiment of the present
invention, the timing circuit 23 may be a low power crystal
oscillator capable of providing reference clock signals for
operating the image-recording module 250. Compared to the timing
circuit 230, the timing circuit 23 only needs to provide low
efficiency operation and thus consumes less power since the
image-capturing circuit 20 does not require highly accurate timing
control when performing low quality photograph function in the
parking mode.
In the driving mode, the EDR 200 according to the embodiment of the
present invention may also perform timing calibration. For example,
the control module 240 may send the clock signal CLK generated by
the timing circuit 230 to the image-recording module 250. The
timing circuit 23 may thus adjust its output accordingly.
Therefore, the timing circuits 23 and 230 may be synchronized when
the EDR 200 enters the parking mode next time.
The present invention may provide a low power and multi-mode EDR.
Data recorded in the driving mode may be used for investigating any
driving incident. Data recorded in the parking mode when detecting
a specific event may be used for understanding any incident near
the parking location.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous
modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made
while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the
above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes
and bounds of the appended claims.
* * * * *
References