Patent Application
20240073358
This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-135123 filed on Aug. 26, 2022, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a vehicle monitoring system, a vehicle, and a vehicle monitoring method.
A vehicle monitoring system that records an image of surroundings of a vehicle captured by a camera in response to an impact while the vehicle is parked is known (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2020-136790 (JP 2020-136790 A).
There is a demand for realizing a vehicle monitoring system that records an image of surroundings of a vehicle captured by a camera in response to an impact while the vehicle is parked using an acceleration sensor provided in the vehicle.
However, when a device that detects the impact is constantly activated while the vehicle is parked, power consumption of a battery of the vehicle during parking may increase.
An embodiment of the present disclosure has been made in view of the above issue, and realizes a vehicle monitoring system using an acceleration sensor provided in a vehicle while power consumption of a battery of the vehicle during parking is suppressed.
In order to solve the above issue, a vehicle monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: an acceleration sensor mounted on a vehicle and operated with a first power supply constantly supplied from a battery of the vehicle; and a monitoring control device that operates with the first power supply, activates one or more devices that record an image of surroundings of the vehicle when the acceleration sensor detects an acceleration equal to or greater than a predetermined value while the vehicle is parked, and causes the one or more devices to record the image.
According to the embodiment of the present disclosure, the vehicle monitoring system can be realized using the acceleration sensor provided in the vehicle while power consumption of the battery of the vehicle during parking is suppressed.
Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like signs denote like elements, and wherein:
Hereinafter, the present embodiment (embodiment of the present disclosure) will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the present specification and the drawings, constituent elements having substantially the same functional configuration are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof will be omitted.
The multimedia device 110 is, for example, a navigation Electronic Control Unit (ECU having a car navigation function, or an electronic control device (first electronic control device) such as a multimedia ECU. The multimedia device 110 according to the present embodiment includes an acceleration sensor 111 and a multimedia processing unit 112.
The acceleration sensor 111 is a sensor that operates with a constant supply power supply (hereinafter referred to as a first power supply 12) that is constantly supplied from the battery 11 of the vehicle 10, and measures acceleration. The acceleration sensor 111 may be included in, for example, an acceleration sensor, an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) including an angular velocity (gyro) sensor, or the like.
The multimedia processing unit 112 provides a navigation function using the acceleration sensor 111 when a second power supply 13 (such as an accessory power source of the vehicle 10) different from the first power supply is supplied.
Further, the multimedia processing unit 112 includes a setting unit 113 that changes the setting of the acceleration sensor 111 to a setting for parking when the vehicle is parked. For example, the setting unit 113 sets the acceleration sensor 111 necessary for detecting an impact of the vehicle 10. When the acceleration sensor 111 is included in the inertial measurement device or the like, the setting unit 113 may stop the operation of the angular velocity sensor among the acceleration sensor 111 and the angular velocity sensor included in the inertial measurement device.
The monitoring control device 100 is an electronic control device that operates with a first power supply that is constantly supplied from the battery 11 of the vehicle 10. Preferably, the monitoring control device 100 is realized by a small-scale microcomputer with low power consumption, a storage medium storing a program for the monitoring control device 100, and the like. In the example of
The monitoring control unit 101 operates with the first power supply, and activates the image output device 130 and the recording device 140 when the acceleration sensor 111 detects an acceleration of a predetermined value or more while the vehicle 10 is parked. As a result, the image output device 130 and the recording device 140 record an image of the surroundings of the vehicle 10.
The battery monitoring unit 102 estimates the remaining amount of the battery 11 based on the state of the battery 11 detected by the battery sensor 120. For example, the battery sensor 120 transmits information of the battery 11 such as a charging current, a discharging current, a voltage, or a temperature of the battery 11 to the battery monitoring unit 102 as a state of the battery 11. Further, the battery monitoring unit 102 calculates the remaining amount (available battery capacity) of the battery 11 based on the state of the battery 11 received from the battery sensor 120.
For example, when the acceleration sensor 111 detects an impact of a predetermined value or more while the vehicle 10 is parked, the battery monitoring unit 102 calculates the remaining amount of the current battery 11 by any of the following methods, for example.
During parking of the vehicle 10, the battery sensor 120 is stopped, and the battery monitoring unit 102 acquires the state of the battery 11 from the battery sensor 120 when the vehicle 10 starts parking. In addition, when the acceleration sensor 111 detects an acceleration of a predetermined value or more during parking, the battery monitoring unit 102 calculates the current remaining battery capacity of the battery 11 based on the remaining battery capacity at the time of starting parking, the elapsed time from the start of parking, the power consumption at the time of parking, and the like.
During parking of the vehicle 10, the battery sensor 120 is stopped, and the battery monitoring unit 102 activates the battery sensor 120 to acquire the state of the battery 11 when the acceleration sensor 111 detects an acceleration of a predetermined value or more during parking. Further, the battery monitoring unit 102 calculates the current remaining battery capacity of the battery 11 based on the acquired state of the battery 11.
The battery sensor 120 is constantly activated while the vehicle 10 is parked by using the battery sensor 120 that consumes less power. The battery monitoring unit 102 acquires the state of the battery 11 from the battery sensor 120 when the acceleration sensor 111 detects an acceleration of a predetermined value or more during parking, and calculates the remaining battery capacity of the current battery 11 based on the acquired state of the battery 11. Note that the battery monitoring unit 102 may acquire the remaining battery capacity of the current battery 11 by a method other than the methods 1 to 3.
The image output device 130 is a device that outputs a video of the periphery of the vehicle 10. As an example, the image output device 130 is an electronic control device such as a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM) or an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) that generates a video around the vehicle 10 using a front image, a rear image, a right side image, a left side image, and the like captured by a plurality of cameras. Note that the image output device 130 is an example of a third electronic control device. As another example, the image output device 130 may be one or more cameras or the like that photograph the periphery of the vehicle 10.
The recording device 140 is an electronic control unit (fourth electronic control unit) that records, in the storage device 141 or the like, an image of the periphery of the vehicle 10 output by the image output device 130.
The image output device 130 and the recording device 140 stop the operation while the vehicle 10 is parked, and start up in response to an activation signal or the like from the monitoring control device 100. The activated image output device 130 and the recording device 140 stop the operation again after recording the video around the vehicle for a predetermined period of time.
The system configuration of the vehicle monitoring system 1 shown in
The monitoring control device 100 includes, for example, a hardware configuration of a computer as illustrated in
CPU 311 is, for example, a processor that executes various processes by executing predetermined programs stored in a storage medium such as the memory 312 or the storage device 313. The memory 312 includes, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM which is a volatile memory used as a work area of a CPU 311 and the like, and a Read Only Memory (ROM in which programs for starting a CPU 311 and the like are stored in advance. The storage device 313 is, for example, a large-capacity nonvolatile storage device such as a flash ROM. Note that CPU 311, the memory 312, the storage device 313, and the like may be realized by one device such as the microcomputer 301.
The communication OF 302 includes, for example, a network interface for connecting the computer 300 to an in-vehicle network of the vehicle 10 and communicating with other electronic control units (ECU). The input/output I/F 303 are interfaces for connecting external devices to the computer 300. For example, the acceleration sensor 111, the battery sensor 120, and the like are connected to the input/output I/F 303 of the computer 300 included in the monitoring control device 100. The bus 304 is connected to each of the above-described components, and transmits, for example, an address signal, a data signal, various control signals, and the like.
The multimedia device 110 includes, for example, an acceleration sensor 111 that operates with a first power supply that is constantly supplied from the battery 11, and a computer 300 as illustrated in
The computer 300 included in the multimedia device 110 operates when the second power supply 13, which differs from the first power supply, is supplied, and for example, the acceleration sensor 111 is connected to the input/output I/F 303. The computer 300 included in the multimedia device 110 implements the multimedia processing unit 112, the setting unit 113, and the like described with reference to
The image output device 130 has, for example, a hardware configuration of the computer 300 as shown in
As an example, the recording device 140 has a hardware configuration of the computer 300 including the storage device 141. In this case, the storage device 141 and the storage device 313 may be the same device. As another example, the recording device 140 may be an external storage device or the like including the storage device 141. The recording device 140 is connected to the first power supply 12 that is constantly supplied from the battery 11, and has a power switch that supplies power to the computer 300 or the like included in the recording device 140 in response to an activation signal or the like from the monitoring control device 100.
The battery 11 is a battery included in the vehicle 10. The battery sensor 120 is attached to the battery 11 so as to be able to detect the state of the battery 11, for example.
Next, a flow of processing of the vehicle monitoring method according to the first embodiment will be described.
In S401, when the second power supply 13 of the vehicle 10 is turned ON, the vehicle monitoring system 1 executes the processes after S402.
In S402, when the multimedia processing unit 112 is activated by the second power supply 13, the setting unit 113 determines whether the activation is the first activation. For example, the setting unit 113 determines that the activation is the first time when the initial setting is not performed for the acceleration sensor 111 in the multimedia device 110. When the start is the first time, the setting unit 113 shifts the process to S403. On the other hand, if it is not the first activation, the setting unit 113 shifts the process to S404.
In S403, the setting unit 113 performs initial setting on the acceleration sensor 111. For example, the setting unit 113 writes the setting for the navigation function and the setting for the parking time to the acceleration sensor 111.
When shifting to S404, the setting unit 113 sets the setting of the acceleration sensor 111 for the navigational function.
In S405, the acceleration sensor 111 starts providing sensor data for the navigation function to the multimedia processing unit 112. As a result, the multimedia processing unit 112 can use the sensor information provided from the acceleration sensor 111 for positioning the vehicle 10.
In S501, when the second power supply 13 of the vehicle 10 is turned OFF, the vehicle monitoring system 1 executes the processes after S502.
In S502, the setting unit 113 switches the setting of the acceleration sensor 111 to the setting for parking.
In S503, the multimedia device 110 turns OFF the power of the multimedia processing unit 112.
In S504, the acceleration sensor 111 starts providing sensor data for parking to the monitoring control device 100.
By the processes of
In S601, when the acceleration sensor 111 detects an impact during parking of the vehicle 10, the vehicle monitoring system 1 executes S602 and subsequent processes.
In S602, the monitoring control unit 101 of the monitoring control device 100 determines whether or not the detected acceleration exceeds a set value (a predetermined value or more). Here, it is assumed that a value for determining whether or not the vehicle monitoring system 1 records an image of the surroundings of the vehicle 10 is set in advance in the monitoring control unit 101.
When the detected acceleration exceeds the set value, the monitoring control unit 101 shifts the process to S603. On the other hand, when the detected acceleration does not exceed the set value, the monitoring control unit 101 stops executing the processing after S603, and ends the processing in
In S603, the monitoring control device 100 checks the remaining battery capacity of the battery 11 of the vehicle 10. For example, when the detected acceleration exceeds the set value, the monitoring control unit 101 of the monitoring control device 100 inquires of the battery monitoring unit 102 about the remaining battery level. In response to this, the battery monitoring unit 102 calculates the current remaining battery capacity of the battery 11 by any of the above-described methods 1 to 3, and notifies the monitoring control unit 101 of the calculated remaining battery capacity.
As another example, when the detected acceleration exceeds the set value, the battery monitoring unit 102 of the monitoring control device 100 may calculate the current remaining battery capacity of the battery 11 and notify the monitoring control unit 101 of the calculated remaining battery capacity.
In S604, the monitoring control unit 101 of the monitoring control device 100 determines whether or not the next start of the engine can be performed even if recording is performed with the present remaining battery capacity. For example, the monitoring control unit 101 stores in advance the remaining battery capacity capable of sufficiently starting the engine of the vehicle 10 and the battery capacity consumed in one recording. In addition, when the value obtained by subtracting the battery capacity consumed in one recording from the current remaining battery capacity is equal to or more than the remaining battery capacity that can sufficiently start the engine of the vehicle 10, the monitoring control unit 101 determines that the next engine start is possible even if the recording is performed.
If the next start of the engine is allowed even after the recording, the monitoring control unit 101 shifts the process to S605. On the other hand, when recording is performed, the monitoring control unit 101 shifts the process to S608 when the next start-up cannot be performed.
In S605, the monitoring control unit 101 of the monitoring control device 100 activates the image output device 130 and the recording device 140. For example, the monitoring control unit 101 outputs an activation signal to the image output device and the recording device 140.
In S606, the image output device 130 and the recording device 140 record a video of the surroundings of the vehicles 10 for a predetermined period of time. For example, the recording device 140 stores video data of the surroundings of the vehicle 10 output by the image output device 130 with a time stamp or the like attached to the storage device 141.
In S607, the vehicle monitoring system 1 stops the image output device 130 and the recording device 140 after the recording is completed. For example, the monitoring control unit 101 of the monitoring control device 100 may set (negate) the activation signal that is set (asserted) to be valid in S605 to be invalid, and stop the image output device 130 and the recording device 140. Alternatively, the image output device 130 and the recording device 140 may autonomously stop the operation after the recording is finished.
On the other hand, when shifting from S604 to S608, the monitoring control unit 101 of the monitoring control device 100 records only the detection of the impact and stops the recording. For example, the monitoring control unit 101 ends the process of
Preferably, the monitoring control unit 101 stores data indicating that an impact has been detected, and causes the recording device 140 to store the stored data the next time the recording device 140 is activated.
According to the processes of
In the first embodiment, an example in which the vehicle monitoring system 1 is realized using the acceleration sensor 111 for the navigation function (for positioning) included in the multimedia device 110 has been described. However, this is an example, and the vehicle monitoring system 1 according to the present embodiment may use another acceleration sensor included in the vehicle 10.
For example, when the vehicle 10 includes an intrusion detection system that detects an intrusion into the vehicle 10, the vehicle monitoring system 1 may be realized by using an acceleration sensor for the intrusion detection system.
The intrusion detection device 702 is, for example, an electronic control device (second electronic control device) such as a body ECU that provides an intrusion detection function of warning by sound and light when an unauthorized intrusion into the vehicle 10 is detected using the acceleration sensor 111, the ultrasonic sensor, or the like.
The acceleration sensor 701 for an intrusion detection system is basically configured to detect an acceleration of the vehicle 10 in order to detect an intruder even during parking of the vehicle 10. Therefore, the vehicle monitoring system 1 according to the second embodiment does not need to include the setting unit 113 that performs the setting processing of the acceleration sensor described with reference to
The acceleration sensor 701 is, for example, an acceleration sensor mounted in advance in the vehicle 10 for an intrusion detection system. The acceleration sensor 701 is connected to, for example, the first power supply 12 constantly supplied from the battery 11 so as to be able to detect an impact of the vehicle 10 even when the vehicle 10 is parked. In addition, the acceleration sensor 701 according to the present embodiment is configured to output sensor information indicating the detected acceleration to the monitoring control device 100 in addition to the intrusion detection device 702.
The system configuration of the vehicle monitoring system 1 shown in
In the vehicle monitoring system 1 according to the second embodiment, when the vehicle 10 is parked, the processing at the time of parking described with reference to
As described above, the vehicle monitoring system 1 according to the present disclosure may detect an impact (acceleration) during parking of the vehicle 10 by using various acceleration sensors included in the vehicle 10.
As described above, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to realize the vehicle monitoring system 1 by using the acceleration sensor included in the vehicle while suppressing the power consumption of the battery of the vehicle during parking. Further, according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to eliminate the dedicated acceleration sensor of the vehicle monitoring system 1.
Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications, changes, or applications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure described in the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-135123 | Aug 2022 | JP | national |
