Power management systems for automotive video event recorders
Video event recorders are coupled to a vehicle power source via an on-board diagnostic system including its power bus, data bus, and scanner port connector. Video event recorders are provided with a power input arranged in conjunction with a standard ODBII type “D” connector. Systems further include an extension cable between the connection and the vehicle event record to accommodate mounting needs associated with each. In advanced versions, both OBD power and data networks are coupled to the vehicle event recorded such that data relating to vehicle diagnostic systems can be captured in a triggered event along with video data. In addition, some versions are provided with special detection mechanism to determine the use state of a vehicle and adjust application of power accordingly. Thus an “in-use” detector is coupled to the vehicle and/or OBD systems to provide feedback which helps to conserve power and regulate the power connections.
1. An automotive electrical power management system of a vehicle, the system comprising:
a DC electrical power source;
an on-board diagnostics system; and
a video event recorder including a camera unit, a cable, an auxiliary female connector, and a power input,
wherein the cable includes a terminating connector suitable for coupling with the on-board diagnostics system,
wherein the cable is a video event recorder power supply line coupled to the power bus on an individual pin of the power bus, and
wherein the auxiliary female connector is arranged in parallel and configured to receive therein an on-board diagnostics system scanner,
wherein the DC electrical power source is coupled to the on-board diagnostics system to supply direct current electrical power thereto on a power bus of the on-board diagnostics system,
wherein the power input is electrically coupled to the power bus.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the DC electrical power source is an electrical power source of the vehicle.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power management module further comprises an in-use detector configured to determine whether the vehicle is in use.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the power management module further comprises a switch arranged on a power supply line between the DC electrical power source and the video event recorder, wherein the switch is configured to provide power to the video event recorder upon activation of the switch, and wherein the switch is further configured to leave the video event recorder unpowered upon deactivation of the switch.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the in-use detector is further configured to activate the switch response to determining that the vehicle is in use, and wherein the in-use detector is further configured to deactivate the switch responsive to determining that the vehicle is not in use.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the in-use detector determines that the vehicle is in use and activates the switch responsive to vehicle ignition and then at least one other physical parameter of the vehicle breaching a corresponding threshold, wherein the at least one other physical parameter is determined based on output signals generated by one or more sensors of the vehicle.
7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the in-use detector comprises one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to physical parameters of the vehicle, the physical parameters of the vehicle including one or more of a voltage on the power bus, a vehicle ignition parameter, or a vehicle motion parameter.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the in-use detector is configured to determine one or more physical parameters of the vehicle and compare individual ones of the physical parameters to corresponding threshold values for the physical parameters, and, responsive to one or more of the physical parameters breaching one or more of the corresponding threshold values, determine whether the vehicle is in use.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the in-use detector determines that the vehicle is in use responsive to at least two physical parameters breaching corresponding thresholds.
10. The system of claim 3 , wherein the in-use detector is a motion sensor.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the video event recorder is wired to a vehicle bus network of the vehicle and wherein the video event recorder receives power and vehicle data directly from the vehicle bus network.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the camera unit is configured to capture images from in and/or around the vehicle, wherein the video event recorder is configured to detect a vehicle event based on the captured images and the vehicle data from the vehicle bus network, and wherein, responsive to detecting the vehicle event, the video event recorder is configured to record images from in and/or around the vehicle and the vehicle data from the vehicle bus 25 network associated with the vehicle event in electronic storage.
13. An automotive electrical power management system comprising:
a DC electrical power source;
an on-board diagnostics system;
a video event recorder including a camera unit, a power input, and a cable; and
a power management module including an auxiliary female connector,
wherein the DC electrical power source is coupled to the on-board diagnostics system to supply direct current electrical power thereto on a power bus of the on-board diagnostics system,
wherein the power input is electrically coupled to the power bus,
wherein the power management module is electrically coupled to the power bus and arranged between the power bus and the camera unit of the video event recorder,
wherein the cable includes a terminating connector suitable for coupling with the power bus,
wherein the power management module is arranged on the cable nearer to the terminating connector than to the camera unit, or directly attached to the power bus, and
wherein the auxiliary female connector is arranged in parallel and configured to receive therein an on-board diagnostic systems scanner.
14. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a switch to disable data communications to and from the camera unit while an auxiliary scanner is detected as being connected at an auxiliary port.
15. An automotive electrical power management system comprising:
a DC electrical power source;
an on-board diagnostics system;
a video event recorder including a camera unit and a power input; and
a power management module including an in-use detector and a switch,
wherein the switch is arranged on a power supply line between the DC electrical power source and the video event recorder,
wherein the switch is configured to provide, upon activation of the switch, power to the video event recorder, and
wherein the switch is further configured to leave, upon deactivation of the switch, the video event recorder unpowered,
wherein the DC electrical power source is coupled to the on-board diagnostics system to supply direct current electrical power thereto on a power bus of the on-board diagnostics system,
wherein the power input is electrically coupled to the power bus,
wherein the power management module is electrically coupled to the power bus and arranged between the power bus and the camera unit of the video event recorder,
wherein the in-use detector is configured to determine that the vehicle is in use and subsequently activate the switch responsive to vehicle ignition.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the in-use detector comprises a comparator having a first input coupled to the DC electrical power source, a second input coupled to a reference voltage, and an output coupled to the switch.