Abstract:
Mobile Device Video Recorders (MDVR) are used to track the motion, position and events on various types of vehicles ranging from cars to airplanes. The present invention uses a dual stage hybrid drive (DHD) which stores data on an HDD during conditions favorable to HDD operation and stores data on FMC or SSDs during conditions outside of optimal HDD operation thresholds. Recorded data from the SSD or FMC can be transferred to the HDD while the vehicle engine is off or during times of optimum HDD function while the vehicle is operating.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/716,729 filed Oct. 22, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made a part hereof. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to Mobile Digital Video Recorder (MDVR) and Dual Stage Hybrid Drive (DHD) type of MDVR. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Mobile Digital Video Recorder (MDVR) is a recording device installed on vehicle, vessels or airplane that records the digital information onto a Data Storage Device (DSD). Digital information includes digital format of video and audio signals, GPS data, temperature, vehicle speed, and other vehicle data. The MDVR may have an analog to digital convertor to convert the video and audio analog signals from analog cameras and microphones to digital format. The MDVR may have one or more network interface to connect to IP cameras, which provide the digital format of the video and audio signal. 
         [0004]    MDVRs that use a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) as a digital storage device have to turn on power to the HDD during the recording. If the MDVR is recording for 18 hours out of 24 hours a day, the HDD has to be powered on for at least 18 hours out of 24 hours. With the HDD running for that period of time per day, the ambient temperature of the HDD can be over 60° C. from heating or less than −10° C. from environmental conditions, additionally the HDD can be subjected to excessive shock and vibration. All of these factors can significantly reduce the service life of the HDD. 
         [0005]    On the other hand, an MDVR that uses Flash Memory Card (FMC) for DSD is more robust but has less storage space for the same cost as MDVR using HDD for DSD. The HDD has large storage space but it contains moving parts and has limited operating conditions. The HDD may not be used when the operating temperature is less than −5° C., in addition, the HDD may not be used when the operating temperature is greater than 60° C. The HDD&#39;s reliability is dramatically reduced when it is operating in an environment with temperatures higher than 50° C. and in an environment where it is constantly subjected to shock and vibration. Operating the HDD in an excessive shock or vibration environment will reduce its service life and will cause permanent damage to the HDD and a loss of data. 
         [0006]    The prior art discloses attempts at protecting the HDD from vibration and shock. U.S. Pat. No. 7,768,548 describe a ruggedized multiple video and audio input system to be placed in vehicles. However, the described device does not describe any sensors for temperature, shock or otherwise for monitoring the state of the recordable drive. Additionally, the devices solely relies on a HDD which in case of failure would lead the device unable to store recorded data. 
         [0007]    Avoiding storage devices with moving parts in order to increase reliability has been attempted in the prior art. U.S. application Ser. No. 10/691,483 discloses an in-car video system that uses flash memory for storage. While flash memory cards are reliable and do not posses any moving parts, they do have limited write cycles requiring eventual replacement. As well, the storage capacity of flash memory is severely limited compared to HDDs. 
         [0008]    EP Application No. 2064706 A1 filed by Bisson and Oullette describes a mobile event recorder containing a vibration isolation system surrounding hard drive housing and enclosed within a hard drive module chassis. This device only isolates the HDD(s) from ambient vibrations and does not contain system for removing power from the HDD during excessive vibration outside of the defined vibrational range of this device, as well as in low or high temperatures as in the present invention. It also does not describe multiple storage devices such as an FMC or SSD. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,083 issued to Hiroshi Sukegawa discloses a data storage system using a flash memory unit and an HDD. The flash memory is dived into a permanent storage area, a non-volatile cache area and a high-speed access area. This device is designed to use the cooperative functions of the flash memory and HDD and allow for efficient use of the data storage system. The described system does not use regulate the function of the HDD based on environmental sensor and does not transfer data during defined times and operating ranges as the present invention. It also does not contain inputs for the storage of video, audio and sensor data as the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present Removable Dual Stage Hybrid Drive (RDHD) is a digital storage device comprising of a metal or plastic enclosure that houses one or more Hard Disk Drives, one or more Flash Memory Cards or Solid State Drives (SSDs), one or more connectors to the MDVR, which provide the USB interface signals, SATA signals, and/or control signals between the RDHD and the MDVR, and which provide power to the RDHD, and control signals to turn on and off the power to the HDD on the RDHD. Removable Dual Stage Hybrid drive can be removed from the MDVR easily by opening a door on the MDVR using mechanical and/or electronic keys and/or by loosening one or two screws that hold the RDHD onto the MDVR. 
         [0011]    A Fixed Dual Stage Hybrid Drive is a digital storage device that may comprise of one or more print circuit board; one or more HDD connector/s; one or more SSD; and may or may not have SSD Connectors; one or more HDD/s; and one or more connectors to the MDVR, which provide the interface and control signals between the Fixed Dual Stage Hybrid Drive and the MDVR, and which provide power to the Fixed Dual Stage Hybrid Drive, and which provide control signals to turn on and off power to the HDD on the Fixed Dual Stage Hybrid Drive. The Fixed Dual Stage Hybrid Drive can be removed from the MDVR by loosening up one or more screws on the enclosure of the MDVR. 
         [0012]    The present MDVR has a sensor that determines whether the vehicle engine is on or off. The MDVR turns off the power to HDD and records the digital information onto FMC or onto SSD when the engine is on. The MDVR turns on the power to the HDD when the vehicle engine is off and copies new digital Information from the FMC or SSD to the HDD. 
         [0013]    Furthermore, the present MDVR has a sensor that determines the vehicle movement. If the vehicle is moving, the MDVR turns off the power to the HDD and records the digital information onto FMC or onto SSD, when the vehicle is moving. It turns on the power to the HDD when the vehicle is not moving and then copies the digital information from FMC or SSD to HDD, and/or records to the HDD directly. 
         [0014]    Furthermore, the present MDVR has a vibration sensor that determines and measures any vehicle vibration. The MDVR turns off the power to the HDD and records the digital information onto the FMC or onto the SSD if the vibration level is beyond a pre-specified threshold. It turns on the power to the HDD when the HDD is not subjected to excessive shock or vibration. 
         [0015]    Furthermore, the present MDVR has a temperature sensor that determines the HDD temperature. The MDVR turns off the power to the HDD and records the digital information onto the FMC or onto the SSD when the temperature is beyond a safe pre-specified temperature range. It turns on the power to the HDD when the HDD temperature is within the safe temperature range and then copies the digital information from the FMC or the SSD to the HDD and/or records digital data on to HDD. The safe temperature range can be configured by the user. 
         [0016]    The present invention provides a MDVR that uses less power, generates less heat, runs cooler and is more reliable than conventional MDVRs. The present MDVR can have an FMC or an SSD and HDD. The MDVR can have an FMC or SSD and a Removable Dual Stage Hybrid Drive (RDHD). The MDVR can have an FMC or SSD and a removable HDD. The MDVR can have an FMC or SSD and a Fixed Dual Stage Hybrid drive (FDSM). 
         [0017]    The present invention has the following objectives:
       a. Reduce the power consumption of the MDVR that uses an HDD as the Data Storage Device;   b. Provide a Data Storage Device for MDVR that has the large storage capacity of an HDD and can have the operating conditions of an SSD or FMC;   c. Increase the service life of the HDD that the MDVR uses as Data Storage Device; and   d. Increase the reliability of the MDVR.       
 
         [0022]    The present invention provides a MDVR that can meet the objectives of this invention and will possess a recording process that can reduce power consumption of the MDVR and can increase the reliability of the HDD. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    Embodiments herein will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended figures provided to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the claims, wherein like designations denote like elements, and in which, 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  shows the Mobile Digital Video Recorder MDVR with the present invention (a) the front side, and (b) the back side; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  shows the RDHD with the (a) connections on the front and (b) the HDD and FMC with the back panel open; 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  shows the circuit board contained inside the RDHD; and 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  shows the schematic view of the various connections of the MDVR. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 1  the overall structure of the MDVR  1  comprises of an RDHD  30  connected to a host MDVR. The casing of the MDVR  10  and RDHD  30  can be made of metal, plastic or other comparable material. The RDHD  30  can be removed slidably from the MDVR. For security purposes, the RDHD  30  can be secured using a door  31  and a lock  32  and key mechanism. The MDVR contains a plurality of connections in the back  33  and in the front  33 . The host MDVR  2  is connected to the RDHD  30 , and monitors the sensors of the DHD and regulates the function of the HDD  13 . 
         [0029]    Again referring to the  FIG. 1 , the panel is shaped and sized to receive an RDHD  30 , wherein the RDHD  30  is mounted slidably and detachably onto the panel. A locking system for securing the RDHD  30  onto the host MDVR  2  is installed on the panel  15 . The locking system may comprise of a door  31 , connected on the panel host MDVR  2  with a set of hinges. The door  31  may be closed and locked after RDHD  30  is installed in place. The RDHD  30  can be removed from the device and it can be connected to a personal computer for transferring the data. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-4  The MDVR  1  comprises of an RDHD  30  connected to a host MDVR  2 . The RDHD  30  contains an HDD  13  and an FMC  14  or SSD  11 . The RDHD  30  may contain only an HDD  12 , or may have an HDD  12  and Flash Memory Card  13  or Solid State Drive  14 . Alternate embodiments may also have the RDHD be permanently fixed to the host MDVR  2 . The RDHD is connected to the host MDVR  2  by the connector  16 . The connector  16  provides a USB or a SATA signal interface between the host MDVR  2  and the RDHD  30 . The connector  16  also provides control signals  50  and power  51  to the RDHD  30 . The MDVR  10  turns on or turns off power  51  to DSD  20 . The host MDVR  2  can use the control signals  50  to control the power switch  17  to turn on or off power to the HDD  13  on the RDHD  30 . The host MDVR  2  can use the control signals  15  to control the signal &amp; converter and switch  17  to turn on or off data interface signals  5  to HDD  13  on the RDHD  30 . 
         [0031]      FIGS. 2-4  show that the present invention provides an RDHD  30  comprising: a metal or plastic enclosure that houses one or more than one printed circuit board  60  with HDD connector/s  31  and with FMC  32  or SSD  33  connector/s and with a control circuit that  50  can turn on and turn off power to the HDD  13  and with one or more than one HDD  13  and with one or more than one FMC  14  or SSD  11  and with one or more than one connectors  16  to the host MDVR  2  which provide the USB interface  42  signals or SATA  43  Signals and control signals  5  between the RDHD  30  and the host MDVR  2  and which provides power  4  to RDHD  30  and which provides control signals  5  to turn on and turn off power to the Hard Disk Drive  30  on RDHD  30 . The RDHD  30  can slide out of the MDVR  10  easily by opening the door  11  of the MDVR  10  with a mechanical key and/or electronics on the lock  32  key and/or by loosening one or two screws that hold the RDHD  30  onto the host MDVR  2 . The host MDVR  2  can power off the HDD  13  and write digital data onto the FMC  14  or SSD  11  inside the RDHD  30 ; and the host MDVR  2  can power on the HDD  13  and copy data from the FMC  14  or SSD  11  to HDD  13 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  shows different elements of the RDHD  30  including an FMC  14  and the print circuit board  40 . The FMC  14  is connected to a print circuit board  40  electronically. The FMC  14  may be chosen from any available small memory cards. The FMC  14  may be an SDHC Flash Memory Card or an SDXC Flash Memory Card.  FIG. 2B  shows the rear view of the RDHD  30  with its connector  16  to the MDVR that supplies the power to the board  40  and transfers data from all other devices shown in  FIG. 4 , such as a camera  6 - 7 , GPS devices  8  and others, to the board  40 . Other connectors such as mini USB connectors  42  may also be available to connect the RDHD  30  to a computer.  FIG. 4  shows the print circuit board  40  comprising of a hard drive  13 , a flash memory drive  14 , a connector  16  to the host MDVR  2  with USB or SATA interface signals  15 , power, and control signals  5  or  12 C bus or UART  43  that are mounted to the board. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the inside of the RDHD  30  comprises of a print circuit  40  board, a hard disk drive  13 , a flash memory card  14  and other electronic components that all mounted on a print circuit board  40 . All data from all elements connected to the host MDVR  2  can be stored on the HDD  13  or flash memory card  14  through the print circuit board  40  and electronic elements with the use of logic theory. The hard drive  13  and the flash memory card  14  are mounted to the board  40 . In addition, a USB HUB or SATA connector  16  and USB to SD Interface IC  19  are shown on the print circuit board  60 . 
         [0034]    Digital information may also include digital GPS data from a GPS Receiver  8 , and digital information of vehicle temperature that may come from a vehicle temperature sensor  22  or from a CAN Bus. Digital information may also include vehicle speed that may come from a GPS Receiver  8  and/or digital information that come from CAN Bus. The host MDVR  2  may have one or more network interface to connect to IP Cameras  6 - 7 , which provide the digital format of a video and audio signal. 
         [0035]    Using an intelligent sensor interface  12  the host MDVR  2  can gather vehicle information data. Data such as vehicle speed, battery life, oil life, fuel and other data gathered by the onboard vehicle computer can be stored by the MDVR  1 . 
         [0036]    The data interface  16  between the host MDVR  2  and RDHD  30  can be USB signals or SATA signals. The control signals  5  are  12 C bus or UART signals or digital control signals. The host MDVR  2  monitors the vehicle&#39;s engine status to determine whether the vehicle engine is running or not. If the vehicle&#39;s engine is running, and if the MDVR  1  is set to record while the engine is running, the host MDVR  2  turns off the power to the HDD  13  and then the MDVR  1  records digital information onto the FMC  14  or SSD  11 . If the FMC  14  or SSD  11  are not available, when the vehicle&#39;s engine is not running and after the MDVR  10  has stopped recording, the host MDVR  2  turns on the power to HDD  13 , turns on the signal interface  70  to the HDD  13 , and copies the recorded digital information from the FMC  14  or SSD  11  onto the HDD  13 . 
         [0037]    On another condition, when the host MDVR  2  monitors the vehicle&#39;s engine status to determine whether vehicle engine is running, if the vehicle&#39;s engine is running, and if the MDVR  10  is set to record while the engine is running, the host MDVR  2  turns off the power to the HDD  13 , and it records digital information onto the FMC  14  or SSD  11 . When the vehicle&#39;s engine is not running and after the MDVR  10  stops recording, the host MDVR  2  turns on the power to the HDD  13 , turns on the signal interface  70  to the HDD  13 , and copies the recorded digital information from the FMC  14  or SSD  11  onto the HDD  13 . 
         [0038]    The MDVR  10  can also use the information from a GPS receiver  68  to determine whether the vehicle is moving. If the vehicle is moving, and if the MDVR  10  is set to record while the vehicle is moving, the host MDVR  2  turns off the power to the HDD  13 . The MDVR  10  records digital information onto FMC  14  or SSD  11 . When the vehicle is not moving and after the MDVR  10  stops recording, the host MDVR  2  turns on the power to the HDD  13 , then turns on the signal interface  70  to the HDD  13 , and copies the recorded digital information from the FMC  14  or SSD  11  onto the HDD  13 . 
         [0039]    The host MDVR  2  can monitor the vehicle ignition signal to determine whether the vehicle engine is on. The signal is provided by the vehicle at the time of ignition. When the ignition switch is turned on to start the engine, this signal is above 5V. When the ignition switch is turned off to stop the engine, this signal is less than 5V. 
         [0040]    An accelerometer  80  can also be used to monitor the status of the engine. When the accelerometer  80  detects a repetitive vibration created by the engine, the accelerometer  80  sends its data to the host MDVR  2 . This signal can be relayed to the vehicle using CAN Bus  69 , which is the Vehicle Bus that provides the engine status information. 
         [0041]    The host MDVR  2  monitors an additional accelerometer  81  on the RDHD  30  to determine whether the HDD  13  is subjected to excessive shock and vibration. The host MDVR  2  also monitors the HDD  13  temperature to determine whether the HDD  13  temperature is within a safe operating condition. If the HDD  13  is not within the safe operating conditions or if the HDD  13  is subjected to excessive shock and vibration, and if the MDVR  10  is set to record, the host MDVR  2  turns off the power to the HDD  13 , and consequently, the MDVR  10  records the digital information onto the FMC  14  or SSD  11 . When the HDD  13  is found to be within a safe operating condition and when the HDD  13  is not subjected to excessive shock and vibration, the host MDVR  2  turns on the power to HDD  13 , turns on the signal interface  15  to the HDD  13 , and copies the recorded digital information from the FMC  14  or SSD  11  onto the HDD  13  and records digital information directly onto the HDD  13 . 
         [0042]    The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 
         [0043]    With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum relationships for the parts of the invention in regard to size, shape, form, materials, function and manner of operation, assembly and use are deemed readily apparent and obvious to those skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.