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. A power management system of a vehicle, the system comprising:
a DC electrical power source;
a video event recorder including a camera unit, a cable, 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 in-use detector is configured to determine whether the vehicle is in use and subsequently activate the switch responsive to vehicle ignition,
wherein the switch is configured to provide, subsequent to activation of the switch, power to the video event recorder through the power input,
wherein the switch is further configured to, subsequent to deactivation of the switch, leave the video event recorder unpowered, and
wherein the cable is arranged to supply power to the video event recorder.
2. The power management system of claim 1 , further comprising:
an on-board diagnostics system,
wherein the cable includes a terminating connector suitable for coupling with the on-board diagnostics system, and
wherein the DC electrical power sources is coupled to the on-board diagnostics system to supply direct current electrical power to the on-board diagnostics system.
3. The power management system of claim 2 , wherein the video event recorder further includes an auxiliary female connector, wherein the auxiliary female connector is arranged in parallel and configured to receive therein an on-board diagnostics system scanner.
4. The power management system of claim 2 , wherein the on-board diagnostics system includes a power bus,
wherein the DC electrical power source is coupled to the on-board diagnostics system to supply direct current electrical power thereto on the power bus of the on-board diagnostics system,
wherein the power input is electrically coupled to the power bus, and
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.
5. The power management system of claim 4 ,
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.
6. The power management system of claim 4 , further comprising a switch to disable data communications to and from the camera unit while an auxiliary scanner is detected as being coupled to the power management system.
7. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the DC electrical power source is an electrical power source of the vehicle.
8. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the in-use detector comprises one or more sensors configured to generate output signals conveying information related to physical parameters of the vehicle.
9. The power management system of claim 8 , wherein the physical parameters of the vehicle include one or more of a voltage on the power bus, a vehicle ignition parameter, or a vehicle motion parameter.
10. The power management system of claim 9 , 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.
11. The power management system of claim 10 , wherein the in-use detector determines that the vehicle is in use responsive to at least two physical parameters breaching corresponding thresholds.
12. The power management system of claim 11 , 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.
13. The power management system of claim 12 , 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.
14. The power management system of claim 8 , wherein the in-use detector includes a motion sensor.
15. The power management 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 vehicle data directly from the vehicle bus network.
16. The power management system of claim 15 , 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 network associated with the vehicle event in electronic storage.
17. A power management system of a vehicle, the system comprising:
a DC electrical power source;
a video event recorder including a camera unit, a cable, 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 in-use detector includes one or more sensors, and wherein the in-use detector is configured to determine whether the vehicle is in use and subsequently activate the switch responsive to detection, through the one or more sensors, of the vehicle being in motion,
wherein the switch is configured to provide, subsequent to activation of the switch, power to the video event recorder through the power input,
wherein the switch is further configured to, subsequent to deactivation of the switch, leave the video event recorder unpowered, and
wherein the cable is arranged to supply power to the video event recorder.
18. The power management system of claim 17 , 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.
19. The power management system of claim 18 , wherein the in-use detector determines that the vehicle is in use responsive to at least two physical parameters breaching corresponding thresholds.
20. The power management system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more sensors included in the in-use detector include a motion sensor.