Abstract: A drive recorder for recording video information received from an image capturing unit on a recording medium includes an acceleration sensor which outputs acceleration information representing an acceleration applied to a vehicle, and a control unit which, determines that a recording condition holds and records video information captured for a first predetermined period of time before the occurrence of the recording condition and video information captured for a second predetermined period of time after the occurrence of the recording condition on the recording medium when the acceleration information equals or exceeds a threshold, wherein after the recording condition holds, the control unit does not record newly captured video information on the recording medium when the acceleration information again becomes equal to or exceeds the threshold in less than a third predetermined period of time which is shorter than the second predetermined period of time.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a drive recorder that can check whether the essential components of the drive recorder are functioning properly for recording of video information. More specifically, the invention provides a drive recorder which is connected to an image capturing unit that outputs data, includes an image processing circuit which receives the data and converts the received data into video information, an acceleration sensor which outputs acceleration information representing an acceleration exerted on a vehicle, and a control unit which determines that a recording condition holds when the acceleration information equals or exceeds a threshold, and records the video information onto a recording device, wherein the control unit diagnoses connections to the image processing circuit, the acceleration sensor or the image capturing unit during power-up of the drive recorder.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a drive recorder that can properly protect the video information being recorded in such cases as when a vehicle-mounted battery is damaged or the connection between the battery and the drive recorder is broken due to a vehicle accident or the like. More particularly, the invention provides a drive recorder includes a first detector which outputs a first voltage drop signal when an input voltage to the drive recorder drops to or below a first voltage, and a control unit which stops recording on a recording device at a normal recording rate, and records the video information on the recording device by reducing the recording rate when the first voltage drop signal is received.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a drive recorder that can record all video information required and only what is required.