Event data recorder

The event data recorder contains a mirror set and a camera member. The mirror set contains two curved mirrors, each for capturing an outside view to a lateral side of a vehicle. The camera member contains a camera facing towards the windshield of the vehicle and the curved mirrors. As such, the camera is able to capture views in front of the vehicle and reflected from the curved mirrors simultaneously.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention is generally related to event data recording, and more particular to an event data recorder capable of recording video from a front side and two lateral sides of a vehicle with a single camera.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Recently most vehicles have an event data recorder installed inside. For example, as shown inFIG. 5, a conventional event data recorder30according to R.O.C. Taiwan Patent No. M415078 contains a front camera31and a rear camera32. The front camera31is configured in a tubular body in front of the event data recorder30that can be rotated to adjust the front camera31's angle. A screen33can be flipped down from a bottom side of the event data recorder30, where the front and rear images captured by the front and rear cameras31and32are presented in a split-screen manner.

The above-describe event data recorder uses two cameras so as to cover events in front of and behind a vehicle. However, to cover what happens to the lateral sides of the vehicle, usually at least a separate recorder is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A novel event recorder is provided herein which contains a mirror set and a camera member. The mirror set contains a first fixation element, a first connection element, two mirror bases, and two curved mirrors. The first fixation element is configured to an end of the first connection element, each mirror base is configured to a second end of the first connection element oppositely to the first end, and each curved mirror is mounted on a mirror base, bulging away from the mirror base, for capturing an outside view to a lateral side of the vehicle. The camera member contains a second fixation element, a second connection element, and a camera where the second fixation element is configured to a first end of the second connection element and the camera is configured to a second end of the second connection element oppositely to the first end of the second connection element for capturing views in front of the vehicle and reflected from the curved mirrors.

The first connection element is Y-shaped.

The first fixation element is one of a suction cup, an adhesive base, and a clamp.

The second fixation element is one of a suction cup, an adhesive base, and a clamp.

The first fixation element is rotatably joined to the first connection element through a first ball joint.

Each mirror base is rotatably joined to the first connection element through a second ball joint.

As such, the event data recorder is capable of recording video from a front side and two lateral sides of a vehicle with a single camera.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, an event data recorder according to an embodiment of the present invention contains a mirror set1and a camera member2.

The mirror set1contains a first fixation element11that can be a suction cup for attaching to the inside of a vehicle's front windshield, an adhesive base for adhering on the vehicle's dashboard, or a clamp for fixing on the vehicle's rear view mirror stem. In the present embodiment, the first fixation element11is a suction cup. The mirror set1further contains a Y-shaped first connection element13and two mirror bases15. The first connection element13has its body connected to the first fixation element11through a first ball joint12, and each of its two arms connected to the two mirror bases15through a second ball joint14. Each mirror base15supports a curved mirror16bulging away from the mirror base15for providing outside view to a lateral side of the vehicle.

The camera member2contains a camera21positioned oppositely to the mirror set1so that the camera21faces the front windshield A and the two mirrors16, and the reflected lateral views by the mirrors16are captured and recorded by the camera21. The camera member2also contains a linear second connection element23having a first end connected to a second fixation element24and a second end connected to the camera21through a third ball joint (numbered). The second fixation element24, similar to the first fixation element11can be a suction cup, an adhesive base, or a clamp for attaching to the front windshield, adhering on the dashboard, or fixing on the rear view mirror stem of the vehicle, respectively. In the present embodiment, the second fixation element24is a suction cup. The camera member2further contains a screen22presenting images captured by the camera21.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, an installation scenario of the event data recorder is as follows. Firstly, the first fixation element11is attached to an appropriate location inside the front windshield A and the first connection element13is arranged through the first ball joint12so that the first connection element13is at an appropriate height or orientation relative to the first fixation element11. Then, through the second ball joints14, the mirror bases15are arranged so that the curved mirrors16can properly reflect images outside the lateral sides of the vehicle. The second fixation element24of the camera member2is then also attached to an appropriate location inside the front windshield A so that the camera21can record images outside the windshield A and images reflected on the mirrors16. As such, with a single camera, the event data recorder is able to record views in front of the vehicle and views to the lateral sides of the vehicle.FIG. 4is a schematic diagram showing an image captured by the camera21and displayed on the screen22.