Recording of operational events in an automotive vehicle

Abstract

An apparatus and method for recording operational events in an automotive radar system. The invention provides an Event Recording Apparatus (ERA) that records selectable vehicle performance, operational status, and/or environment information, including information useful for accident analysis and updated software for use by a system processor capable of reading data from the ERA. The preferred embodiment of the ERA comprises a non-volatile solid-state memory card, a memory card adapter located in a vehicle, and a microprocessor, either as part of the memory card or embedded in a system within the vehicle, for controlling the storage of data within the memory card. The ERA is configured to store such vehicle information as the closing rate between the recording vehicle and targets located by the vehicle's radar system, distance between the recording vehicle and targets, vehicle speed, and such vehicle operational status and environment information as braking pressure, vehicle acceleration or deceleration, rate of turning, steering angle, hazard levels determined from a radar system processor, target direction, cruise control status, vehicle engine RPM, brake temperature, brake line hydraulic pressure, windshield wiper status, fog light status, defroster status, and geographic positioning information. In addition, the ERA can be configured to function as a common trip monitor, recording distance travelled, average speed, miles-per-gallon, fuel remaining, compass direction of travel, etc. The device can also record vehicle maintenance information, such as oil temperature, engine temperature, transmission fluid temperature, and engine timing.