Abstract
To provide a rearview mirror-type front/rear simultaneous video recording device for Motorcycles, etc. that does not spoil the appearance of the vehicle, with a function inside the rearview mirror housing that enables simultaneous recording of the front and rear views of the vehicle, while eliminating the complicated wiring process that can otherwise cause hesitation to use it. As a tool to promote more useful use, a waterproof video recording device body, in which a control unit for recording images and sound recording means and information communication functions are installed inside the rearview mirror housing, and two cameras for taking front and rear images are built in. The shape of the housing can be selected from either a rearview mirror with a built-in camera lens or that with an exposed lens, and the video recording device can be installed quickly and easily without any wiring other than for the power supply.
Claims
1-4. (canceled)
5. A waterproof, front/rear simultaneous and continuous video recording apparatus for use with motorcycles, motorized tricycles, side-wheeled motorcycles, and motorized bicycles, which consists of a main body of a video recording device that records video and audio, a front shooting camera, and a rear shooting camera inside a rearview mirror housing, and is characterized in that the front shooting camera and the rear shooting camera do not overlap when viewed in a front/rear direction, and are arranged so that they do not protrude locally on a periphery of a rearview mirror housing.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 The figure illustrates the camera-exposed (naked type, moped type) front/rear integrated simultaneous video recording device pertaining to this invention.
[0021] FIG. 2 The figure illustrates the simultaneous video recording device of the camera-embedded type (naked type, moped type) front/rear integrated type pertaining to this invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 The figure illustrates the camera-exposed type (cowl-mounted type) front/rear integrated simultaneous video recording device pertaining to this invention.
[0023] FIG. 4 The figure illustrates a camera embedded type (cowl-mounted type) front/rear integrated simultaneous video recording device pertaining to this invention.
[0024] FIG. 5 The figure illustrates a front/rear integrated simultaneous video recording device of the camera-embedded type (naked type, moped type, cowl-mounted type) that changes the external appearance of the rear-view mirror pertaining to this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0025] The following description of the embodiment of the invention is based on the examples of embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings. These drawings are used to illustrate the technical features that may be employed by the invention.
[0026] The configuration, shape, etc. of the described device is merely an illustrative example, and the invention is not to be construed as limited thereto, but may be subject to various changes, modifications, and improvements based on the applicant's knowledge, to the extent not departing from the scope of the invention. [0027] (1) The rearview mirror-type video recording device of this form shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrates the outline drawing of a suitable embodiment. They are classified as naked type, motorized bicycle type, and cowl-mounted type, and their use is divided into those for the right lane and those for the left lane, which can be arbitrarily selected as either left or right, since this device is intended for users not only in Japan but also in other countries where traffic zones are different from those in Japan. [0028] (2) In the Patent Literature 4, images captured by the camera unit and imported into the recording unit can be viewed on an LCD monitor. However, if the vehicle and driving conditions can be viewed more realistically by using a multifunctional mobile terminal or other device, it is possible to arouse interest in the vehicle and driver's situation. With the video recording device of this invention, the recorded image of the rear shown by the rear camera 1 in FIGS. 1 to 4 shows the driver's own image, which enables more realistic reproduction of the situation on the spot, and can also be used for a recreational application where the image can be checked casually according to the use. [0029] (3) The rear-view mirror-type front/rear integrated simultaneous video recording system shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is compatible with the vehicle inspection system (automobile inspection and registration system) of Japan, but may be flexibly adapted according to the traffic classification of other countries. When mounted on vehicles such as Motorcycles, etc., the mirror meets the standards set forth in Section 224 (rearview mirrors, etc.) of the Notification that prescribes detailed safety standards for road vehicles. In the case of Japan, for example, noting that the safety standards for rearview mirrors of motorcycles have been changed, for all vehicles manufactured on or after Jan. 1, 2007, and for all rearview mirrors for vehicles with type approval on or after Jan. 1, 2005, the area of the mirror surface to be used shall be 69 square centimeters or more, and for circular items, the size of the mirror surface shall be 94 mm or more and 150 mm or less in diameter. In the case of an external shape other than circular (e.g., square or oval), the mirror surface is less than 120200 mm (or 200120 mm) in size and can conceal a circle of 78 mm in diameter, thus satisfying all safety standards. [0030] (4) The rearview mirror-type video recording device shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is equipped with a video recording main unit A shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, which executes various processes inside its housing, a front-facing camera 4 and a rear-facing camera 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, and the main unit and cameras have waterproof functions. The voice input is used, for example, to collect and record sounds before and after a collision or the driver's voice in the event of an accident. However, if the user wants to record voice from any location, for example, a microphone with an external input function may be used to record the user's voice. [0031] (5) The camera 4 for frontward shooting and the camera 1 for rearward shooting, shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, are placed in the effective space inside the housing, and the user can choose between a housing with the lens part of the camera for shooting exposed and a housing with the lens part of the camera for shooting not exposed. [0032] (6) The cameras used in this video recording device employ a wide-angle lens, can record the images they capture, and have a function to output the recorded video information. These two cameras are integrated in the housing as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, and have the function of simultaneously capturing a wide range of images, necessary and sufficient for both the front and rear. [0033] (7) The cameras built into the housing of the rearview mirror-type video recorder shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 are generally located in the positions shown in the figures so that the video recording main device A shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 does not interfere with them inside the housing. The front camera section shown by camera 4 for the rearward direction in FIGS. 1 to 5 is arranged to bring the angle of view closer to the driver's line of sight by placing it close to the connecting part of the stay where it is mounted so that it does not affect the range of the forward-facing images. The mirror-side photographing section for photographing rearward, shown by camera 1 in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, has a camera lens at the outer end of the housing to ensure a good view of the rearward photographing record and to allow the driver to check the driver's situation. [0034] (8) When adopting the rearview mirror-type video recording device in claims 2 and 4 of this invention, the rear-facing camera 1 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 is not only equipped with a function to fix the shooting direction, but is also installed so that the lens is not exposed. The mirror surface 2 shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 is used with a magic mirror (one-way mirror) so that the shooting camera is built within the mirror surface and the appearance inherent to the vehicle is not compromised. The front section shown by camera 1 for the rearward direction in FIGS. 2 and 4 is designed to be flush with the housing as much as possible so that the tip of the lens does not protrude significantly. [0035] (9) When adopting the rearview mirror-type video recording device in claim 3 of this invention, the rearward camera 4 shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 is not only equipped with a function to fix the shooting direction, but is also installed so that the lens part of the rearward camera is exposed, and the camera lens is partially exposed from the mirror surface 2 shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 to avoid damaging the original appearance of the vehicle as much as possible. The front section shown by camera 4 for the rearward direction in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is designed to be built into the housing except for the camera lens. [0036] (10) The recording medium for recording images employed in this video recording device is a micro SD card, etc., because even if the camera is damaged by a fall or other impact, the recording medium itself, which is built into the main body of the recording device, is unlikely to be physically damaged. In this case, in the rearview mirror-type video recording device of this invention, the card slot, which is the storage location for the video recording medium shown in micro SD card (slot) 8 shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, is mounted on the bottom side of the rearview mirror. The micro SD card slot section is designed to use a waterproof lid 9 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 to ensure that water does not enter the slot. [0037] (11) The method of supplying electricity to the video recording device is by connecting it to the attached waterproof power connector 7 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. In this case, there are two methods of supplying electricity: one is to connect the power line attached to the device to a DC12V power source installed in the vehicle or a DC5V power source from a mobile battery or USB port, and the other is to use a simple storage battery that continues recording for a certain period of time after the power is shut off. The waterproof power connector 7 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 can be exposed on the outside of the housing to allow power supply, or it can be connected directly to the housing. The cowl-type video recording device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 employs a method of extending the wiring of the power connector into the cowl and connecting it inside the cowl to supply power, in which case the cowl mounting stay 6 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is connected to a mounting hole already existing on the Motorcycle, etc. [0038] (12) As a function to be incorporated in this invention, for example, the images simultaneously captured by the camera 4 for the forward direction and the camera 1 for the rear direction shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, respectively, can be set and displayed in the required operation settings by using a dedicated application program with a multi-function mobile terminal or the like, and should have a function to display a reference screen and adjust the angle of view by various operations and to manage video records. [0039] (13) The wireless network communication device used in this invention is satisfied by [WIFI] (registered trademark), [LTE] (registered trademark), or short-range wireless communication [Blue tooth (registered trademark)] method, etc., and the application method of saving a copy of the recorded video of the drive recorder taken during driving to cloud storage can also be adopted. [0040] (14) For the rearview mirror-type video recording device shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, in order to enable users of Motorcycles, etc. to easily use the rearview mirror of this form, bolt nuts 6 for 10 mm or 8 mm mirrors shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are selected according to the diameter compatible with the motorcycle being used to mount and fix the rearview mirror-type. Also, it can be easily used for cowl-mounted type in the same way, and is fixed using the stay existing on the motorcycle being used. [0041] (15) The installation method of the rearview mirror-type video recording device of this invention is to install the rearview mirror with built-in video recording device on the vehicle according to the normal replacement procedure, and to supply power after fixing the shooting direction of the means of photography.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0042] FIG. 1 [0043] 1 Rear camera [0044] 2 Mirror surface [0045] 3 78 mm coverage circle [0046] 4 Front camera [0047] 5 Waterproof buffer material [0048] 6 Bolt nut for 10 mm or 8 mm mirror [0049] 7 Power connector DC12V, DC5V (waterproof type) [0050] 8 Micro SD card (slot) [0051] 9 Waterproof lid [0052] A Video recording device [0053] FIG. 2 [0054] 1 Rear camera [0055] 2 Mirror surface [0056] 3 78 mm coverage circle [0057] 4 Front camera [0058] 5 (omitted) [0059] 6 Bolt nut for 10 mm or 8 mm mirror [0060] 7 Power connector DC12V, DC5V (waterproof type) [0061] 8 Micro SD card (slot) [0062] 9 Waterproof lid [0063] A Video recording device [0064] FIG. 3 [0065] 1 Rear camera [0066] 2 Mirror surface [0067] 3 78 mm coverage circle [0068] 4 Front camera [0069] 5 Waterproof buffer material [0070] 6 Stay for cowl attachment [0071] 7 Power connector DC12V, DC5V (waterproof type) [0072] 8 Micro SD card (slot) [0073] 9 Waterproof lid [0074] A Video recording device [0075] FIG. 4 [0076] 1 Rear camera [0077] 2 Mirror surface [0078] 3 78 mm coverage circle [0079] 4 Front camera [0080] 5 (omitted) [0081] 6 Stay for cowl attachment [0082] 7 Power connector DC12V, DC5V (waterproof type) [0083] 8 Micro SD card (slot) [0084] 9 Waterproof lid [0085] A Video recording device [0086] FIG. 5 [0087] 1 Rear camera [0088] 2 Mirror surface [0089] 3 78 mm coverage circle [0090] 4 Front camera [0091] 5 (omitted) [0092] 6 Bolt nut for 10 mm or 8 mm mirror [0093] 7 Power connector DC12V, DC5V (waterproof type) [0094] 8 Micro SD card (slot) [0095] 9 Waterproof lid [0096] A Video recording device
