Abstract:
A traffic accident recording system, wherein a recording unit is provided along a road, comprising a TV camera for continously obtaining visual images of a certain section of the road and a storage unit for continuously storing the visual images from the TV camera, and an accident recognition unit provided in a vehicle which upon occurrence of an accident transmits a trigger signal to the recording unit so that the storage unit retains visual images of the section of the road whereat the accident occurred at specified time durations before, during and after the occurrence of the accident. Thereafter, the stored visual images can be accessed and stored for later use. Also devices are provided for periodically discarding visual images not used.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates to a system for recording traffic accidents, for example, using TV cameras to obtain visual images of vehicle accidents and storing such visual images for immediate and/or later use. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     The prior art is deficient in recording and storing visual images of vehicle accidents. Suggestions have been made to use a collision sound to start visual recording of an accident, such as using a microphone located besides a road to pick up the collision sound. But, such a suggested approach is not sufficiently accurate to detect traffic accidents since it would depend on the loudness and frequency components of the sound of the collision and would also require a multiplicity of microphones. 
     A vehicle traffic congestion increases, studies need to be conducted on various aspects of traffic accidents. Unfortunately, visual recordings of actual accidents in real time which can be captured with appropriate exact timing do not exist in large numbers. By observing prior actual accidents, substantial information on causes and remedies can be obtained. However, currently, such studies are hampered by insufficient amount of such stored images of prior vehicle accidents. It would also be helpful to resolution of disputes involving traffic accidents and the like if actual real time visual images of accidents were available. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a system for accurately recording and storing visual images of vehicle accidents in real time. 
     The foregoing and other objects are attained by the invention, wherein an accident recognition unit is disposed on a vehicle so that upon occurrence of an accident, such as involving the vehicle, the unit transmits a trigger signal to recording unit provided along the side of the road on which the vehicle is traveling, which recording unit uses a TV camera to continuously obtain visual images of a selected portion of the road and a storage unit which stores the visual images obtained by the TV camera. The recording unit receives the trigger signal to control the storage unit to store and transmit to a central control the visual images of the selected portion of the road, where the vehicle is involved in an accident, for a selected time before, during and after the accident. The trigger signal can be sent to the central control which then sends a signal to a particular recording unit to commence the same procedure. In this manner, an accurate, real time, visual image of the selected road area before, during and after the accident for a desired time duration of each period, is obtained. In this manner, a plurality of such vehicle accidents and visual images thereof can be stored at a central location for later use, research, study, and, for example, as testimony in a trial where issues involving the accident need to be resolved. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view depicting an illustrative embodiment of the invention encompassing the system. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram depicting details of the recording unit. 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting details of the traffic accident recognition unit. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIG. 1 shows a road  1 , in which a traffic accident  8  has occurred between two vehicles. One vehicle, at least, although both vehicles can have the units, contains a traffic accident recognition unit  2 , which supplies a trigger signal  5 , to a recording unit  3 . 
     The recording unit  3 , shown in greater detail in FIG. 2, comprises a tV camera  13 , which is connected to an image storage unit  12 , which is controlled by signal receiver and controller  14  or control center  4 , and is connected to a network server  11 , and thereto to a network  10 , as depicted. Controller  14  is labeled “RCVR” in the drawing for convenience only and is not to be taken as limiting thereof. The server  11  is also connected for sending signals to controller  14 . 
     The network  10  may be wired or wireless, such as accessed by a cellular phone, radio waves, infrared waves, microwaves, etc. The receiver and controller  14  receives directly or through a network the trigger signals  5  from transmitter  25  of accident recognition unit  2  disposed in the vehilce or from a control center  4  sent through a network  10  (see FIG.  1 ). Also, signals for suitable use are sent from server  11  to controller  14 , as depicted by the interconnection. 
     The TV camera may be a closed circuit TV camera, readily available on the market and known as a CCTV, etc. The camera  13  scans continuously a predetermined image recording area  7  (see FIG. 1) so that an accident occurring in that area  7  will be picket up by the camera  13 . It is also possible to periodically scan in a manner that would be sampling of data with result of nearly total coverage, as known in the sampling art. A plurality of recording units  3  are provided so that a desired amount of coerage of a raod is obtained. In some congested areas, for example, one may desire to place a unit each X feet, whereas in rural areas one may desire to place a unit each mile and/or at intersections, etc. The placement of units may depend on the type of research being conducted on occurrence of accidents, causes, and on policy of traffic management, etc. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a control center  4  may be used with communication between the control center  4  and the recording unit being through a network  10 , which may be wired or wireless. Advantageously, the control center  4  may receive the trigger signal directly from the accident recognition unit  2  disposed in the vehicle, and then through communication through network  10 , inform one or more recording units  3  of the accident and control the retaining of visual images prior to, during and after the accident for selected time periods, respectively. Then, through suitable instructions, the recording unit  3  will send the data to the control center  4  for storage or other usage. Also, the trigger signal  5  from the recognition unit  2  can go directly to the recording unit  3  and also the control center  4 . Such accident occurrence can be recorded by recording unit  3  and/or by control center  4 . Also, control center  4  can be used to obtain various traffic information from the recognition unit  2  and the recording unit  3 . 
     The recording unit  3 , as shown in FIG. 1, may be placed on a standard or pole  6  beside a road, or above the road as shown. Although shown as being on a pole  6 , the unit  3  may be disposed close to or on the ground. 
     The accident recognition unit  2  which is placed in a vehicle, as shown in FIG. 3, comprises an accident recognition unit  24 , which is connected to a plurality of sensors, such as a sensor which detects air bag ignition (see item  21 ), or a unit that detects sudden braking (see item  22 ), or a unit that detects sudden changes in the speed of the vehicle (see item  23 ), and similar sensors, not shown. For example, when the air bag is ignited, the sensor will send a signal to recognition unit  24 , which will then produce a trigger signal. That signal is then supplied to signal transmitter  25 , which the transmits the trigger signal  5 . Advantageously, the signal transmitter  25  may utilize a variety of different waves, such as radio waves, infrared waves, microwaves, etc. Thus, when the vehicle carrying the accident recognition unit  2  is involved in an accident, such as shown in FIG.  1 , with another vehicle (although it need not be in an accident with another vehicle, and can itself be involved in an accident, such as hitting a tree on the side of a road) and the air bag is ignited, the sensor  21  will detect such air bag ignition, and send a signal to accident recognition unit  24 , which will then generate a trigger signal which is supplied to signal transmitter  25  for transmission of the trigger signal  5  to control center  4  (see FIG. 1) and/or to signal receiver and controller  14  to control the obtaining of visual images by camera  13  and stored in storage unit  12  before, during and after the accident for specified periods of time. 
     The controller  14  of recording unit  3  and/or control center  4  and/or recognition unit  3  may each have a clock generator for timing purposes. The time may be placed directly on the visual images, stored images, etc. Also, the clock may be used to conform the obtaining, storing and transmission of the visual images. 
     The traffic accident recognition unit  2  may comprise a GPS (Global Positioning System) device or means for measuring the location of the vehicle or providing information as to the location of the vehicle. The location data provided by the GPS device may be transmitted with trigger signal  5  t the recording unit  3  and/or the control center  4 , for suitable use. 
     Advantageously, the visual images may be stored in a tape recorder and/or hard disc storage unit. Image storage unit  12  of recording unit  3  may also comprise temporary storage devices. Also, control center  4  may comprise storage units, such as video tape and/or hard disc units, for appropriate storage of visual images and/or other data. 
     The control center  4  through appropriate instructions may control obtaining and disbursing of various traffic instructions, data and timing thereof. Traffic conditions may also be monitored using the instant system. The control center  4  may also use an appropriate alarm signal to control the various units  2  and  3  when desried, usin, for example, network  10 . 
     The control unit  14  of recording unit  3  comprises means for controlling the periodic discarding of visual images and/or other data stored in storage unit  12  so that the memory capacity of storage unit  12  will always be sufficient to store visual data and images before, during and after an accident. When there is no accident, the controller  14  will cause the discarding of stored visual images and/or other data. This occurs, for example, every 5 minutes, when during the 5 minute point, an accident has not occurred and the trigger signal  5  has not be generated and transmitted to unit  2 . In that case, controller  14  will cause storage unit  12  to discard the stored visual data and other data for the period of 5 minutes to 4 minutes prior to that time. 
     Thus, even if during the discarding process, an accident occurs, the 1 minute prior to the accident will still be available for passing on to the control center  4  together with the visual images and data during and after the accident. The controller  14  uses the clock therein for the timing of the duration for such before, during and after accident of the obtaining visual images, storing same, and read out of same. 
     It should be noted that the camera  13  may be moved to cover a larger area, if so desired. The control center  4  may also be a roving unit, such as a roving station. The accumulated visual images of a plurality of accidents may be permanently recorded and stored for later use. Study of such past accidents may be helpful in reducing future accidents, improving safety of passengers, reduce property damage, etc. Thus, this invenion will open up an avaenue of study heretofore not generally available. Also, the stored visual images of accidents can form the basis for vital testimony in lawsuits where issues involving vehicular accidents are concerned. 
     The foregoing description is illustrative only. Numerous modifications and extensions thereof would be apparent to the worker skilled in the art. All such modifications and extensions of the principles of the invention are to be considered to be within the spirit and scope of the invention.