Patent ID: 7693662

Claim:
A drive recorder in a vehicle, the drive recorder comprising: a running state detector configured to output a running state signal depending on a running state of the vehicle; an image pickup device configured to output an image signal indicative of conditions around the vehicle; a position detector configured to output a position signal indicating a position of the vehicle; a first memory having a memory capacity and configured to record during a first predetermined time period and to overwrite during a subsequent iteration of the first predetermined time period (i) running state signals outputted by the running state detector, (ii), image signals outputted by the image pickup device, and (iii) and position signals outputted by the position detector, the first predetermined time period being repeated; a collision determination means for determining whether the vehicle has been involved in a collision based on the running state signal from the running state detector; a saving device configured to save the running state signals the image signals and the position signals which are recorded in the first memory and associated with the collision, when the collision determination means determines that the vehicle has been involved in the collision; a dangerous situation determination means for determining an occurrence of a dangerous driving situation based on the running state signal from the running state detector; a second memory configured to record, each time the occurrence of the dangerous driving situation is determined, the running state signals, the image signals and the position signals which are transferred from the first memory with respect to a second predetermined time period associated with the each occurrence of the dangerous driving situation; an approach determination means for determining whether the vehicle approaches a dangerous location based on (i) a position signal which is recorded in the second memory with respect to the each occurrence of the dangerous driving situation, and (ii) a position signal presently outputted by the position detector; and a warning device configured to warn a driver of the vehicle when the approach determination means determines that the vehicle approaches the dangerous location.