US 5,581,464 A · Recording of operational events in an automotive vehicle

Abstract

An apparatus and method for recording operational events in an automotive radar system. The invention provides an Event Recording Apparatus (ERA) that records selectable vehicle performance, operational status, and/or environment information, including information useful for accident analysis and updated software for use by a system processor capable of reading data from the ERA. The preferred embodiment of the ERA comprises a non-volatile solid-state memory card, a memory card adapter located in a vehicle, and a microprocessor, either as part of the memory card or embedded in a system within the vehicle, for controlling the storage of data within the memory card. The ERA is configured to store such vehicle information as the closing rate between the recording vehicle and targets located by the vehicle's radar system, distance between the recording vehicle and targets, vehicle speed, and such vehicle operational status and environment information as braking pressure, vehicle acceleration or deceleration, rate of turning, steering angle, hazard levels determined from a radar system processor, target direction, cruise control status, vehicle engine RPM, brake temperature, brake line hydraulic pressure, windshield wiper status, fog light status, defroster status, and geographic positioning information. In addition, the ERA can be configured to function as a common trip monitor, recording distance travelled, average speed, miles-per-gallon, fuel remaining, compass direction of travel, etc. The device can also record vehicle maintenance information, such as oil temperature, engine temperature, transmission fluid temperature, and engine timing.

Claims28

Dependent claims

An event recording apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle having at least one data generating means, each for sensing an environmental or an operational parameter of the automotive vehicle and for generating corresponding data values, comprising:

(a) a removable recording device including a non-volatile memory means for storing data, and a first interface means for transmitting data from the memory means and for receiving data for storage in the memory means;
(b) an interface adapter, adapted to removably receive the removable recording device and mounted in the automotive vehicle, and including a second interface means for transmitting data to the first interface means of the removable recording device;
(c) controller means fixed within the vehicle and, coupled to the interface adapter and to said at least one data generating means, for receiving data values from said at least one data generating means, and transmitting said received data values through the interface adapter for storage in the removable recording device, the controller means including means for reading data from the removable recording device;
wherein the data read from the removable recording device comprises at least one program to be executed only by the fixed controller means.

1 more element

An event recording apparatus for use in an automotive vehicle environment, comprising:

(a) a removable recording device including non-volatile memory means for storing data, and a first interface means for transmitting data from the memory means and for receiving data for storage in the memory means;
(b) an interface adapter, adapted to removably receive the removable recording device and mounted in an automotive vehicle, and including a second interface means for transmitting data to the first interface means of the removable recording device and for receiving data from the first interface means of the removable recording device;
(c) at least one data generating means, mounted in an automotive vehicle, each for sensing an environmental or an operational parameter of the automotive vehicle and for generating corresponding data values;
(d) controller means, fixed within the vehicle and coupled to the interface adapter and to said at least one data generating means, for receiving data values from said at least one data generating means and transmitting said received data values through the interface adapter for storage in the removable recording device, the controller means including means for reading data from the removable recording device;
wherein the data read from the removable recording device comprises at least one program to be executed only by the fixed controller.

2 more elements

A method for recording events relating to an automotive vehicle having at least one data generating means, each for sensing an environmental or an operational parameter of the automotive vehicle and for generating corresponding data values, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a removable data storage card including non-volatile memory means for storing data, and a first interface means for transmitting data from the memory means and for receiving data for storage in the memory means;
(b) providing an interface adapter, adapted to removably receive the recording device and mounted in the automotive vehicle, and including a second interface means for transmitting data to the first interface means of the recording device and for receiving data from the first interface means of the recording device;
(c) receiving data values from said at least one data generating means;
(d) transmitting said received data values through the interface adapter;
(e) storing the transmitted data in the recording device;
(f) reading a computer program from the recording device;
and
(g) executing the program only in a controller fixed within the vehicle.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Recording of operational events in an automotive vehicle

Life of this patent

Recording of operational events in an automotive vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28