Vehicle data recording system

Abstract

A vision system for a vehicle includes at least one camera having a field of view exterior the vehicle. An image processor is operable to process image data captured by the camera. When the vehicle is parked, a control controls the camera to capture frames of image data at a first capture rate. The control compares a frame of captured imaged data to at least one previous frame of captured image data. Responsive to the comparison determining a change in the frames of captured image data beyond a threshold degree of change, (i) the control increases the capture rate to a second capture rate, (ii) the at least one camera captures frames of image data at the second capture rate and (iii) the control activates a recording device to record images captured by the camera at the second capture rate.

1 . A vision system for a vehicle, said vehicle vision system comprising:
 at least one camera disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vehicle vision system, wherein said at least one camera has a field of view exterior the equipped vehicle and is operable to capture image data;   an image processor operable to process image data captured by said at least one camera;   a recording device operable to record images captured by said at least one camera;   a control controlling operation of said at least one camera;   wherein said control, responsive to a determination that the equipped vehicle is in a parked state, controls said at least one camera to capture frames of image data at a first capture rate;   wherein, responsive to image processing of captured image data, said control compares a frame of captured image data to at least one previous frame of captured image data; and   wherein, responsive to said comparison determining a change in the frames of captured image data beyond a threshold degree of change, (i) said control increases the capture rate to a second capture rate, (ii) said at least one camera captures frames of image data at said second capture rate and (iii) said control activates said recording device to record images captured at said second capture rate.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 1 , wherein, responsive to determination of said threshold degree of change, said control activates at least one other camera or sensor to capture data and said recording device records information captured by said at least one other camera or sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said first capture rate is less than or equal to about five frames per second and wherein said second capture rate is greater than or equal to about 10 frames per second. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said control is operable to determine a repeating movement in a region encompassed by the field of view of said at least one camera, and wherein, responsive to said determination of a repeating movement, said control ignores the portion of captured image data that corresponds to that region. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said control, responsive to determination of a threshold level of repeating activity at at least a portion of captured image data, increases the threshold degree of change. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said control, responsive to a determination of a pedestrian in the field of view of said at least one camera, generates a signal to other vehicles indicative of the determined pedestrian. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said control, responsive to a signal received from another vehicle that is indicative of a determination of a pedestrian at or near the other vehicle who is moving towards the path of travel of the equipped vehicle, generates an alert to the driver of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said control, responsive to determination of an interruption in a signal communicated to said control from a remote transmitter, at least temporarily disables an access system of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 8 , wherein, responsive to determination of the interruption of the signal communicated to said control, a person situated remote from the equipped vehicle is alerted. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 9 , wherein said person is alerted via a hand held device. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one camera comprises a plurality of cameras having respective exterior fields of view, said cameras comprising at least a part of a surround view system of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one camera comprises a forward viewing camera of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said image processor processes captured image data when the vehicle is operating for at least one of (i) a headlamp control system of the equipped vehicle, (ii) a lane change assistance system of the equipped vehicle and (iii) a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one camera comprises a rearward viewing camera of the equipped vehicle, and wherein said image processor processes captured image data when the vehicle is operating for at least one of (i) a rear backup assist system of the equipped vehicle and (ii) a surround view system of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         14 . A vision system for a vehicle, said vehicle vision system comprising:
 a plurality of cameras disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vehicle vision system, wherein said cameras having respective fields of view exterior the equipped vehicle and is operable to capture image data;   an image processor operable to process image data captured by said cameras;   a recording device operable to record images captured by said cameras;   a control controlling operation of said cameras;   wherein said control, responsive to a determination that the equipped vehicle is in a parked state, controls said cameras to capture respective frames of image data at a first capture rate;   wherein, responsive to image processing of image data captured by said cameras, said control compares a frame of image data captured by an individual camera to at least one previous frame of image data captured by that individual camera; and   wherein, responsive to said comparison determining a change in the frames of image data captured by an individual camera beyond a threshold degree of change, (i) said control increases the capture rate to a second capture rate for at least that individual camera, (ii) at least that individual camera captures frames of image data at said second capture rate and (iii) said control activates said recording device to record images captured at said second capture rate by at least that individual camera.   
     
     
         15 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 14 , wherein, responsive to determination of said threshold degree of change in frames of image data captured by an individual camera, (i) said control increases the capture rate of the others of said cameras to said second capture rate, (ii) the others of said cameras capture frames of image data at said second capture rate and (iii) said recording device records images captured at said second capture rate by the others of said cameras. 
     
     
         16 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 14 , wherein said control, responsive to determination of a threshold level of repeating activity at at least a portion of image data captured by at least one of said cameras, increases the threshold degree of change. 
     
     
         17 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 14 , wherein said control, responsive to a determination of a pedestrian in the field of view of at least one of said cameras, generates a signal to other vehicles indicative of the determined pedestrian. 
     
     
         18 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of cameras and said image processor comprise at least a part of a surround view system of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         19 . A vision system for a vehicle, said vehicle vision system comprising:
 a plurality of cameras disposed at a vehicle equipped with said vehicle vision system, wherein said cameras having respective fields of view exterior the equipped vehicle and is operable to capture image data;   an image processor operable to process image data captured by said cameras;   wherein said plurality of cameras and said image processor comprise at least a part of a surround view system of the equipped vehicle;   a recording device operable to record images captured by said cameras;   a control controlling operation of said cameras;   wherein said control, responsive to a determination that the equipped vehicle is in a parked state, controls said cameras to capture respective frames of image data at a first capture rate;   wherein, responsive to image processing of image data captured by said cameras, said control compares a frame of image data captured by an individual camera to at least one previous frame of image data captured by that individual camera; and   wherein, responsive to said comparison determining a change in the frames of image data captured by an individual camera beyond a threshold degree of change, (i) said control increases the capture rate to a second capture rate for at least that individual camera, (ii) at least that individual camera captures frames of image data at said second capture rate and (iii) said control activates said recording device to record images captured at said second capture rate by at least that individual camera;   wherein said control, responsive to determination of a threshold level of repeating activity at at least a portion of captured image data of at least one of said cameras, increases the threshold degree of change.   
     
     
         20 . The vehicle vision system of  claim 19 , wherein, responsive to determination of said threshold degree of change in frames of image data captured by an individual camera, (i) said control increases the capture rate of the others of said cameras to said second capture rate, (ii) the others of said cameras capture frames of image data at said second capture rate and (iii) said recording device records images captured at said second capture rate by the others of said cameras.