Patent ID: 8427291
Filing Date: 2013-04-23
Classification: B60Q,B60R,G07C

Abstract:
1. An information recording apparatus comprising: a storage portion configured as a ring buffer so as to endlessly store thereinto at least one of image information and sound information of the interior or exterior of a vehicle, the information being acquired by an acquisition portion, an abnormal condition detection portion configured to detect the presence of an abnormal condition of the vehicle based on a signal from a sensor configured to detect an abnormal condition, a recording portion composed of nonvolatile memory configured to record thereinto the information stored in the storage portion, a control portion configured to cause the storage portion to store thereinto the information acquired by the acquisition portion for a first time period from a detection of occurrence of the abnormal condition of the vehicle by the abnormal condition detection portion, and when the abnormal condition detection portion has detected the abnormal condition of the vehicle again during the first time period from the detection of occurrence of the abnormal condition of the vehicle, the control portion, having thus concluded that the abnormal condition is an actual theft, is configured to cause the storage portion to store thereinto the information acquired by the acquisition portion for a second time period that is longer than the first time period from a previous detection of occurrence of the abnormal condition of the vehicle, and is configured to cause the recording portion to record thereinto the information stored in the storage portion for the second time period, and when the abnormal condition is newly detected by the abnormal condition detection portion after the first time period has elapsed but before a third time period longer than the first time period elapses, the control portion is configured to cause the recording portion to record thereinto the information stored in the storage portion at a time of the previous detection of occurrence of the abnormal condition together with the information stored in the storage portion at a time of the newly detected occurrence of the abnormal condition.