Vehicle operator performance recorder triggered by detection of external waves

Abstract

An event recorder ( ) mounted in a vehicle ( ) includes one or more wave pattern detectors ( ) for detection and recognition of the presence of a predetermined wave produced external the vehicle ( ) and for producing a trigger signal denoting predetermined wave presence. Event recorder ( ) includes sensors, including image sensor ( ), sound sensor ( ), location sensor ( ), and vehicle performance sensors, and a capture circuit for storing sensed data signals for the time period before, during and after the wave was detected. A playback circuit ( ) presents the captured data. The detected wave is produced such as by the police or fire department, or by an emergency vehicle, and is typically produced for a purpose other than being detected by wave detector ( ). Wave detector ( ) may be illumination wave, e.g. infrared beam or flash, detector ( ), a radar detector ( ), a laser kB detector ( ), a flashing light detector ( ), or a siren detector ( ).