JP4696632B2 - OBE - Google Patents

Description

For example ETC system: it relates to the vehicle-mounted device used in (Electronic Toll Collection system automatic toll collection system).

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, ETC systems in Japan are based on IC cards (so-called ETCs) that store ETC on-board devices that collect tolls by way of two-way wireless communication with on-road devices installed on the road and information for toll settlement for settlement. Card) (see Patent Document 1).

  The ETC on-board unit and the ETC card are provided separately. The fee settlement information is stolen together with the ETC on-board unit, and the toll fee settlement information is illegally used by others to misuse the stolen fee settlement information. This is to prevent this.

  By the way, with the spread of the ETC system, the ETC in-vehicle device installed in the vehicle is required to be downsized in order to improve the appearance in the attached state. In particular, in order to make the ETC on-board device mountable in a small space and improve the appearance of the mounted state, downsizing and thinning are required (see Patent Document 2).

Examples of the mounting location of the above-described ETC on-vehicle device in the passenger compartment include affixing to the console box, each accessory case, or the front console panel.
Further, in the ETC system, since the ETC card is inserted into the ETC on-board unit and used, it is essential to improve the operability of the ECT card when mounted on the vehicle.
JP 2000-099784 A (page 3, FIG. 1) JP 2001-297348 A (page 4, FIG. 2)

  Therefore, in order to make the ETC on-board device thinner and the operability of the ETC card at the same time, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 11 (a), an electronic component P3 mounted on the internal substrate P2 of the card connector P1 is mounted on the vehicle P4. A method for securing the clearance between the ETC card P6 and the mounting surface P5 by arranging it on the side (the mounting surface P5 side of the vehicle P4) has been known.

  That is, in this case, it is necessary to insert the ETC card P6 face-down into the ETC vehicle-mounted device P8 from the direction of the card contact P7 mounted on the internal substrate P2, and there is a problem that the insertion direction is easily mistaken. .

  As a method for improving this defect, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), there is a method in which the electronic component P13 on the internal board P12 of the card connector P11 is arranged on the outside (opposite side of the mounting surface P14). However, there is a problem that the clearance between the ETC card P15 and the mounting surface P14 is reduced, the ECT card P15 is difficult to grasp, and the operability of the ETC card P15 is lowered.

  As a countermeasure against this, as shown in FIG. 11 (c), there is a method in which a metal bracket P23 is disposed between the ETC vehicle-mounted device P21 and the mounting surface P22 and fixed from the vehicle P24 side with a screw P25 or the like. In this case, since the tip of the screw P25 is visible, there is a problem that it looks bad.

  As another countermeasure, as shown in FIG. 11D, a method of arranging a wedge-shaped spacer P33 between the ETC on-board unit P31 and the mounting surface P32 is conceivable. There is a limit to making the device P31 thinner, and there is a problem that the useless space increases and the ETC onboard device P31 protrudes outward (the product height increases).

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and provides an in-vehicle device that can reduce the thickness of the in-vehicle device and also ensure high operability of an IC card such as a charge settlement card used in the in-vehicle device. The purpose is to do.

The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1 relates to a vehicle-mounted device that is attached to a vehicle and can insert and remove an IC card along a predetermined movement path. In this vehicle-mounted device, the movement path of the IC card is The in-vehicle device is inclined with respect to the vehicle side wall located on the vehicle side, and the inclination of the movement path is such that the distance between the movement path and the vehicle side wall is closer to the insertion side of the IC card ( the opposite side of the insertion side (that is, the IC card Is set to be larger ) than the destination side where the is inserted .

  As a result, in the present invention, even when no spacer is disposed between the vehicle-mounted device and the vehicle, a sufficient clearance can be secured between the IC card and the mounting surface of the vehicle, so that the IC card can be easily grasped. As a result, the product height can be reduced, and the operability of the IC card can be improved.

  In other words, in the present invention, since the movement path of the IC card is tilted inside the vehicle-mounted device, the vehicle-mounted device is stretched to the outside as compared with the conventional case where the vehicle-mounted device is inclined or a spacer is arranged. Even if it is not taken out, a sufficient clearance can be secured when operating the IC card. Therefore, high operability of the IC card and suppression of outward protrusion when the vehicle-mounted device is attached can be realized, and the appearance can be improved.

Here, as the shape of the vehicle-mounted device, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped thin plate shape in which the vehicle side wall portion forms the wall portion in the thickness direction of the vehicle-mounted device can be adopted.
The movement path of the IC card is a path formed by a plane on which the flat IC card moves along a predetermined movement direction (that is, the insertion direction and the removal direction).

In the present invention, the internal board accommodated in the vehicle-mounted device is arranged along the movement path of the IC card, and the card connector accommodates the IC card on the surface of the internal board (that is , the surface of the internal board on the side wall of the vehicle). Are attached along the movement path of the IC card.

This ensures that, Ru Tei moving path of the IC card is defined.
Note that the card connector is a device that allows reading and writing of information to and from the IC when an IC card is inserted and removed and contacts with the contact terminal.

Furthermore, in the present invention, a plurality of electronic components are arranged on the surface of the internal substrate opposite to the card connector side. Further, from the height of the electronic component locations in proximity to the insertion side walls IC card insertion ports are formed, being in that height is set larger electronic component location away from the insertion side wall portion Yes.

In the present invention, since the movement path of the IC card is set to be inclined, the electronic components are arranged so as to correspond to the space generated by the inclination. That is, in a place where the internal substrate is close to the insertion side wall portion of the IC card of the in- vehicle device, a short electronic component is disposed, while the internal substrate is separated from the insertion side wall portion of the IC card of the in- vehicle device. Then, tall electronic components are arranged. Thereby, even when there is a tall electronic component, it can be stored compactly without increasing the thickness of the vehicle-mounted device.

The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 2 is used in an automatic toll collection system (ETC system: Electronic Toll Collection system).
The present invention exemplifies a system to which the vehicle-mounted device is applied.

  In addition, the invention of each claim described above is not limited to the payment of tolls on toll roads using the ETC system, but can also be used for driving-through shopping, gas stations using credit cards, prepaid cards, and other IC cards. It is also possible to apply an automatic fee settlement system or the like in which fee settlement for a pay parking lot or the like is electronically performed by two-way communication between the vehicle-mounted device and the road device.

Embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, embodiment of this invention is not limited to the following embodiment at all, As long as it belongs to the technical scope of this invention, it can take a various form.
[First Embodiment]
The ETC onboard equipment of this embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the schematic configuration of the ETC on-vehicle device in a broken state, and FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal structure of the ETC on-vehicle device.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 of the present embodiment is a box-like device to which an ETC card 3 as an IC card is detachably mounted. (Attachment surface) 9 is affixed.

  The ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 mainly includes a thin, substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped vehicle-mounted device case 11, a flat plate-like internal substrate 13 accommodated in the vehicle-mounted device case 11, and a card connector 15 attached to the surface of the internal substrate 13. It consists of and.

  The in-vehicle device case 11 is made of resin and has a plate-like vehicle side wall portion 17 on the vehicle side (lower side in the figure) and a plate-like outer wall portion 19 facing the vehicle side wall portion 17 (upper side in the figure). A plate-like insertion side wall portion 23 (on the left side of the figure) in which the insertion port 21 of the ETC card 3 is formed, and a plate-like bottom side wall portion 25 (on the right side of the figure) facing the insertion side wall portion 23. And plate-like side wall portions 27 and 29 (see FIG. 2) (in the direction of the paper surface of FIG. 2). The vehicle-mounted device case 11 is formed by integrally fixing a box-shaped upper case 11a having a lower opening and a box-shaped lower case 11b having an upper opening to each other with screws (not shown).

  A plurality of electronic components 31 are attached to one surface (surface on the outer wall portion 19 side) of the internal substrate 13, and the card connector 15 is attached to the other surface (surface on the vehicle side wall portion 17 side). It has been.

  The card connector 15 is a thin box-like device in which the ETC card 3 can be inserted and removed, and is fixed to the internal substrate 13 by screws (not shown).

  Further, a contact terminal 33 that contacts an IC (not shown) of the ETC card 3 is disposed inside the card connector 15. Here, since the ETC card 3 is configured to be inserted face up, the contact terminal 33 is disposed on the upper surface inside the card connector 15, and when the ETC card 3 is inserted into the card connector 15, The contact terminal 33 contacts an IC terminal (not shown) exposed on the upper surface of the ETC card 3.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the internal substrate 13 (and hence the card connector 15) is inclined at a predetermined angle (for example, 2 °) with respect to the vehicle side wall portion 17 of the ETC on-vehicle device 1. In other words, the inner board 13 and the card connector 15 are inclined so that the distance from the vehicle side wall 17 is greater on the left side of the insertion side wall 23 than on the right side of the bottom side wall 25.

As a result, the moving path of the ETC card 3 inserted into and withdrawn from the card connector 15 is also set so as to be inclined with respect to the vehicle side wall portion 17 at the above angle.
In addition, a plurality of electronic components 31 are arranged on the surface of the inner substrate 13 on the outer wall portion 19 side. However, due to the inclination of the inner substrate 13, the interval between the inner substrate 13 and the outer wall portion 19 is set to the insertion side wall. Since the portion 23 side (the left side of the figure) is narrower, the short electronic component 31 is arranged on the insertion side wall portion 23 side, and the tall electronic component 31 is arranged on the bottom side wall portion 25 side. Has been.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the both ends of the inner substrate 13 are sandwiched from above and below by the restricting projections 35 protruding inward from the both side walls 27 and 29 of the vehicle-mounted device case 11 as shown in FIG. Thus, the inclination is set by defining the position of the internal substrate 13.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the moving path of the ETC card 3 is set to be inclined with respect to the vehicle side wall part 17 of the vehicle-mounted device case 11, and the inclination is determined by the movement path and the vehicle side wall part 17. Is set so that the insertion side wall 23 side is larger than the bottom side wall 25 side.

  Therefore, even if the ETC card 3 is inserted face up, the product height does not increase, and the tip of the ETC card 3, that is, the tip on the side where the ETC card 3 is held by a human finger (left side in FIG. 1). And a sufficient distance (clearance) from the surface of the vehicle. Therefore, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 1 can be reduced in size and thickness, and the product height can be reduced, and the operability of the ETC card 3 can be improved.

That is, in the present embodiment, unlike the prior art, the vehicle-mounted device 1 itself is not tilted or a spacer is used to secure the clearance, so that the vehicle-mounted device 1 does not protrude significantly from the vehicle surface. Therefore, there is an advantage that the operability of the ETC card 3 can be ensured, and the vehicle-mounted device 1 is hardly disturbed and the appearance is improved.
[Second Embodiment]
Next, the ETC vehicle-mounted device of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, but the same description as that of the above-described embodiment will be omitted. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing the schematic configuration of the ETC on-vehicle device in a cutaway manner, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the ETC on-vehicle device from the mounting side of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 41 of the present embodiment includes an on-vehicle device case 43, an internal substrate 45, a card connector 47, and the like, as in the first embodiment, and the movement path of the ETC card 49. The inclination is also set similarly to the first embodiment.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, a pedestal (space convex portion) 53 that protrudes toward the vehicle side is provided on the vehicle-side surface of the vehicle-mounted device case 43, that is, the vehicle-side surface of the vehicle side wall portion 51. And the vehicle wall 55 are joined by a double-sided tape 57.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the space convex portion 53 is made of a resin molded integrally with the vehicle-mounted device case 43. As shown in FIG. 3, the height (the vertical dimension) is the same. The insertion side wall 61 on the left side is set to be larger than the side wall 59 on the right side in the drawing. Therefore, the vertical cross-sectional shape of the space convex portion 53 is a wedge shape.

  Thus, in this embodiment, since the convex part 53 for space is provided in the vehicle side surface of the onboard equipment case 43, there exists an advantage that a bigger clearance can be ensured than the said 1st Embodiment. Therefore, the operability of the ETC card 49 is further improved.

In the case of this embodiment, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 41 protrudes outward by the amount of the space convex portion 53, but since the necessary clearance is ensured by the inclination of the moving path of the ETC card 49, the conventional Compared with the vehicle-mounted device using a spacer, the protrusion can be kept sufficiently small.
[Third Embodiment]
Next, the ETC vehicle-mounted device of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, but the same description as that of the above embodiment will be omitted. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the schematic configuration of the ETC on-vehicle device in a broken state, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a metal bracket.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 61 of this embodiment includes an on-vehicle device case 63, an internal substrate 65, a card connector 67, and the like, as well as the first embodiment, and the movement path of the ETC card 69. The inclination is also set similarly to the first embodiment.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, a space convex portion 73 is provided so as to protrude from the vehicle side of the vehicle-mounted device case 63, that is, from the vehicle side wall portion 71 to the vehicle side, and the inner side of the space convex portion 73 is hollow. ing.

  The space convex portion 73 is made of a resin formed integrally with the vehicle-mounted device case 63, and the height protruding downward is the insertion side wall portion on the left side of the bottom side wall portion 75 side on the right side of the figure. The 77 side is set to be large.

  This space convex portion 73 is joined to one surface (upper side in FIG. 3) of a plate-shaped metal bracket 79 by a double-sided tape 81, and the other surface (lower side in FIG. 3) of the metal bracket 79 is double-sided tape. 83 is joined to the wall 85 of the vehicle.

  Further, when the ETC on-vehicle device 61 is attached to the vehicle, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 61 is arranged so that the left side (insertion port 87 side) of the figure is on the upper side. Is provided with a mounting opening 93 on which the L-shaped protrusion 91 (see FIG. 6) of the metal bracket 79 is hung. Furthermore, a balcony-shaped cover 95 is provided on the bottom side wall 75 side of the mounting opening 93 so as to surround the mounting opening 93.

  Thus, in this embodiment, since the convex part 73 for space is provided in the vehicle side surface of the onboard equipment case 63, there exists an advantage that a bigger clearance can be ensured than the said 1st Embodiment. Therefore, the operability of the ETC card 69 is further improved.

  In this embodiment as well, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 61 protrudes outward by the space convex portion 73, but the necessary clearance is ensured by the inclination of the moving path of the ETC card 69, so that the conventional Compared with the vehicle-mounted device using a spacer, the protrusion can be kept sufficiently small.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, there exists an advantage that the ETC onboard equipment 61 does not drop | omit easily by the structure of hanging the onboard equipment case 63 on the metal bracket 79, However, the attachment opening part 93 which hangs the protrusion 91 of the metal bracket 79 is mounted onboard. Since it is provided on the hollow space convex portion 73 protruding from the device case 63, there is an effect that the protrusion 91 of the metal bracket 79 and the internal configuration of the ETC onboard device 61 do not interfere with each other.

Furthermore, since the cover 95 is provided on the bottom side wall 75 side of the mounting opening 93, there is an advantage that dust does not easily enter the inside from the mounting opening 93.
[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, although the ETC onboard equipment of 4th Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIGS. 7-10, the description similar to the said embodiment is abbreviate | omitted. 7 is an explanatory view showing the schematic configuration of the ETC on-vehicle device in a cutaway state, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an enlarged main part thereof, FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the vehicle side of the ETC on-vehicle device, and FIG. It is a perspective view which shows a resin bracket.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 101 of the present embodiment includes an on-vehicle device case 103, an internal substrate 105, a card connector 107, and the like, as well as the first embodiment, and the movement path of the ETC card 109. The inclination is also set similarly to the first embodiment.

In particular, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 101 of the present embodiment has a structure that is preferably attached to, for example, a console box or the like as described below.
Specifically, in the present embodiment, first, it is also a (convex convex portion) that protrudes from the vehicle side of the vehicle-mounted device case 103, that is, from the vehicle side wall 111 to the vehicle side (for example, a wall surface in the console box). ) Space convex 113 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the space convex portion 113 is made of a resin formed integrally with the vehicle-mounted device case 103, and the protruding height thereof is closer to the insertion side wall portion 117 side than the bottom side wall portion 115 side. Is set to be larger.

A fitting recess 121 into which a resin bracket 119 described later is fitted is provided in a substantially U shape on the outer peripheral side of the space protruding portion 113.
As shown in FIG. 10, the resin bracket 119 is a box-shaped member that is open on one side, and includes screw holes 121 at three locations. The resin bracket 119 is configured such that the upper thickness (height of the outer peripheral wall 129) in FIG.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the resin bracket 119 is fixed to the vehicle wall 127 with the screw 123, and the vehicle-mounted device case 103 is fitted into the resin bracket 119. That is, the space bracket 113 is covered with the resin bracket 119, and the outer peripheral wall 129 of the resin bracket 119 is combined with the fitting recess 121. Then, the vehicle-side surface of the space convex portion 113 and the inner side surface of the resin bracket 119 are joined with a double-sided tape 131, and the ETC on-vehicle device 101 is attached to the vehicle.

  Since the resin bracket 119 and the bottom surface 121a of the fitting recess 121 are configured to have a slight gap, the resin bracket 119 and the vehicle-mounted device case 103 are pressed through the double-sided tape 131. Clearance is ensured when joining.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the effect by the inclination of the moving path of the ETC card 109 is exhibited, and the vehicle-mounted device case 103 is attached to the vehicle side via the resin bracket 119. Therefore, there is an advantage that a larger clearance than the first embodiment can be secured. Therefore, the operability of the ETC card 109 is further improved.

  In this embodiment as well, the ETC onboard device 101 protrudes outward by the amount of the resin bracket 119. However, since the necessary clearance is ensured by the inclination of the moving path of the ETC card 109, the conventional onboard device is provided. Compared with, the protrusion can be kept sufficiently small.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, since the front-end | tip of the screw | thread 123 is hidden by the structure which inserts the resin bracket 119 in the fitting recessed part 121, it looks good. Moreover, since there is no gap on the side of the insertion side wall 117 of the resin bracket 119, the resin bracket 119 and the vehicle-mounted device case 103 appear to be integrated, and the appearance is also improved from that point.

It is explanatory drawing which fractures | ruptures and shows the schematic structure of the ETC onboard equipment of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal structure of the ETC onboard equipment of 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which fractures | ruptures and shows the schematic structure of the ETC onboard equipment of 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the ETC onboard equipment of 2nd Embodiment from the attachment side of a vehicle. It is explanatory drawing which fractures | ruptures and shows the schematic structure of the ETC onboard equipment of 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the metal bracket used for the ETC onboard equipment of 3rd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which fractures | ruptures and shows the schematic structure of the ETC onboard equipment of 4th Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which expands and shows the principal part of the ETC onboard equipment of 4th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the ETC onboard equipment of 4th Embodiment from the attachment side of a vehicle. It is a perspective view which shows the resin bracket used for the ETC onboard equipment of 4th Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

1, 41, 61, 101 ... ETC vehicle-mounted device 3, 49, 69, 109 ... ETC card 11, 43, 63, 103 ... Vehicle-mounted device case 13, 45, 65, 105 ... Internal substrate 15, 47, 67, 107 ... Card connector 17, 51, 71, 111 ... Vehicle side wall 31 ... Electronic component 79 ... Metal bracket 119 ... Resin bracket

Claims (2)

In an in-vehicle device attached to a vehicle and capable of inserting and removing an IC card along a predetermined movement path,
Inclining the moving path of the IC card with respect to the vehicle side wall located on the vehicle side in the vehicle-mounted device,
The inclination of the movement path is set so that the distance between the movement path and the vehicle side wall portion increases toward the insertion side of the IC card,
And while arrange | positioning the internal substrate accommodated in the said onboard equipment along the movement path | route of the said IC card,
A card connector that accommodates the IC card is attached to a surface of the internal substrate on the side wall of the vehicle along the movement path of the IC card,
Furthermore, while arranging a plurality of electronic components on the surface opposite to the card connector side in the internal substrate,
Setting the height dimension of the IC card electronic component insertion opening is arranged close to the insertion side wall portion formed of the height by dimension remote electronic components which are spaced apart from the insertion side wall portion reduced In-vehicle device characterized by that. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1 ,
The on-vehicle device is used in an automatic fee collection system.