Vehicle operation data recording apparatus

An apparatus for use with an automotive vehicle having an ignition switch and an internal combustion engine to record vehicle operation data, the apparatus comprising:

• first memory means having a memory area having a predetermined capacity for storing values of at least one vehicle operating condition;
• second memory means;
• and
• a control unit for reading existing values of the vehicle operating condition into said memory area of said first memory means at uniform intervals of time to produce engine operation data stored in said first memory means, said control unit including first means for producing a command signal when said vehicle stops before said engine stops, second means for transferring the vehicle operation data from said first memory means to said second memory means a predetermined time after the command signal is produced so that the transferred vehicle operation data include the vehicle operating condition values read for the predetermined time before the command signal is produced and the vehicle operating condition values read for the predetermined time after the command signal is produced.

An apparatus for use with an automotive vehicle having an ignition switch and an internal combustion engine to record vehicle operation data, the apparatus comprising:

• first memory means having a memory area having a predetermined capacity for storing values of at least one vehicle operating condition;
• second memory means having a predetermined number of memory areas each having a predetermined number of memory sections;
• and
• a control unit for reading existing values of the vehicle operating condition into said memory area of said first memory means at uniform intervals of time to produce engine operation data stored in said first memory means, said control unit including first means for producing a first command signal when said vehicle stops, second means for producing a second command signal when a predetermined time has elapsed after the first command signal is produced, third means for producing a third command signal when said engine stops, fourth means responsive to the third command signal for selecting one of said memory areas of said second memory means, fifth means responsive to the second command signal for selecting one of said memory sections of the selected one of said memory areas of said second memory means, sixth means responsive to the second command signal for transferring the vehicle operation data from said first memory means to the selected one of said memory sections of the selected one of said memory areas of said second memory means so that the transferred vehicle operation data include the vehicle operating condition values read for the predetermined time before the first command signal is produced and the vehicle operating condition values read for the predetermined time after the first command signal is produced.