FR2847372A1 - Autonomous communication system for traffic warning has transmitter on road sign panel to send travel data to vehicle within operating range - Google Patents

Abstract

The autonomous communication system has a transmitter positioned at a fixed point and sending positional information to a vehicle (170) mounted receiver (200) within the range of operation of the latter. The system has sensors for presence and displacement and a processor for the information feeding a transmitter for the data when a detection occurs. The communication system (100-150) can be mounted on a road sign panel (160).

Description

AUTONOMOUS COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH A DEVICE

  OF RECEPTION ENTERING IN THE SCOPE OF ACTION OF THIS

  LATEST AND VEHICLE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.

  The invention relates to an autonomous communication device capable of transmitting information to a reception device entering the perimeter

of action of this device.

  The invention also relates to a communication system with a vehicle, comprising such a device and a device for receiving and

  broadcasting of clear messages, placed in the vehicle.

  The invention applies to the transmission in particular of information such as coded alert signals and / or clear audio messages, audible at

inside a vehicle.

  The invention also applies to the sending of information of a more general nature than road signs, for example, information on traffic within the scope of action of the device (road works or other), information tourist on the place crossed or

concerning risky sites.

  To date, there is no known system for performing road safety. Only the information display panels and road signs along the roads and

  motorways, perform this function.

  In fact, road signs are made up of a large number of signs informing road users of dangers, prohibitions, priorities and various information. But these signs are passive and once passed, the information they are supposed to indicate is sometimes not completely

assimilated by drivers.

  The present invention overcomes this problem. According to the present invention, provision is made to equip these panels with an autonomous communication device capable of transmitting information to a reception device falling within the scope of action of this device and broadcasting this information in the form of

  audio messages inside the vehicle.

  In this way, the panels become active and the information transmitted to a vehicle passing within the scope of action of the communication device, is picked up by the vehicle equipped with the communication device.

reception.

  The present invention more particularly relates to an autonomous communication device, mainly characterized in that it is fixed at a determined location and in that it is able to transmit at least information related to its location, to a receiving device entering the scope of action of the latter, the communication device comprising means for detecting presence and / or direction of movement, means for processing the detection signals, these means being connected to the detection means, and means of transmitting said information when a detection

took place.

  The device is particularly applicable to traffic information. In this case, it is attached to a road sign or near a

  such sign, at the edge of roads and highways.

  According to another characteristic, the means for processing the detection signals and the means for transmitting the information linked to the location of the device constitute a sealed communication terminal to which, the means for

  detection fixed near this terminal.

  According to another characteristic, the detection means comprise a detection loop or other equivalent system, placed on the road and connected to a communication terminal, this system being located at

  the front of the communication terminal.

  In a variant, the detection device comprises a speed sensor and a

ambient air temperature.

  According to another characteristic, the means for processing the detection signals comprise a shaping device and a microcontroller for controlling the transmission of information comprising a message.

  alert and at least one alert message.

  According to one embodiment, the information transmitted comprises at least one wake-up message and an identification code of a message to be transmitted, recorded in a program memory of the

  microcontroller, the code being linked to the wake-up signal.

  In a variant, a second code is chosen to be transmitted when a signal from a speed and / or temperature sensor is received by the

  communication device microcontroller.

  According to another embodiment, the information transmitted sequentially, comprises the wake-up message and the message or messages to be transmitted recorded in a program memory of the microcontroller of the device. Advantageously, the transmission means comprise a short-distance wireless transceiver placed in the detection system and a

  short distance transceiver placed in the terminal.

  Preferably, the transceivers are

  consist of a Bluetooth type electronic chip.

  Another object of the present invention relates to a communication system with a vehicle mainly characterized in that it comprises: - an autonomous communication device fixed to or near traffic signs, capable of transmitting at least one piece of information linked to its location, as presented above and, - a receiving device on board a vehicle which when it is awakened and enters the perimeter of action of the communication device is able to receive the information transmitted by the communication device and disseminate them to

driver of the vehicle.

  According to another characteristic, the receiving device is produced in the form of an autonomous electronic element comprising means for receiving information, means for processing this information and means for broadcasting information.

  corresponding messages, inside the vehicle.

  According to another characteristic, the information processing means of the receiving device comprise a microcontroller, and the message broadcasting means comprise a sound broadcasting device of the speaker type and a visual broadcasting device of the display type and activated at

screen by an awakening message.

  According to another characteristic, the means for receiving information are adapted to the means for

  communication device transmission.

  Advantageously, the transmission means comprise a transceiver of the chip type of

integrated Bluetooth circuit.

  According to another characteristic, the device for receiving and disseminating information also comprises means for controlling the use, in transmission or in reception, of a mobile telephone powered up inside the vehicle, according to the speed

of said vehicle.

  To this end, the control means comprise a circuit supplying the vehicle speed signal

connected to the microcontroller.

  For another and according to another embodiment, the reception device is produced by a mobile telephone equipped with a receiver adapted to

  means of transmission of the communication device.

  In a particular application consisting in preventing a motorist from driving in the opposite direction on a motorway, communication devices are fixed on several "prohibited direction" road signs to transmit successive warning information until a last information causing the stopping of the vehicle engine, the receiving device on board the vehicle being able to transmit this information to the electronics of

ordering the car.

  Other features and advantages of

  the invention will appear clearly in the description

  following, given by way of nonlimiting and illustrative example and made with reference to the appended figures which represent: - Figure 1, the diagram of a communication device according to the invention, - Figure 2, a layout diagram of a communication device according to the invention, - Figure 3, a first embodiment of the device (200) for receiving information transmitted by the communication device

(100,150)

  - Figure 4, a second embodiment of a device (300) for receiving information transmitted by the communication device, - Figure 5, a variant (500) of execution of the first embodiment of the reception device information emitted by the communication device, - Figure 6, a support for an on-board mobile phone associated with the device 500 of the figure, - Figure 7, a layout diagram to obtain a system preventing entering against the wrong way on the highway or on a two-way

tract.

  The communication device illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises: A sealed terminal 100, associated with a detection system 150. Terminal 100 which is supplied with energy, in a conventional manner and / or by photovoltaic cells, or by a buffer battery, through a load control and regulation element. This terminal 100 includes - A microcontroller type processing unit 101 provided with a program memory into which is loaded an operating program of the device allowing it to control the transmission of an awakening message and information related to this wake-up signal, to a receiving device 200, 300, 500 (FIG. 3, or 4 or 5) entering the perimeter of action of the bornelOO and its associated detection system 150. The microcontroller manages all of the functions provided by the various components of the communication device. It also allows the change of terminal identification codes. A code is recorded in the program memory of the microcontroller according to the panel on which is

fixed the terminal.

  In the case where the information linked to the traffic sign is not coded, it is the alert message itself which is recorded in this program memory. The microcontroller 101 manages the transmission of this information by communicating it to the transceivers 102 and 106. The information is transmitted by the electromagnetic links which constitute on the one hand the transceiver 102 or 106 and on the other hand the reception device falling within the scope of action of terminal 100: area of

  detection Zl of the system 150 then diffusion zone Z2.

  To ensure safety against malicious manipulation of the terminals, an identification of the transmitter will be necessary before any modification

information on a terminal.

  - A memory 103 for storing the information to be transmitted, - The transceiver 102 for transmitting

  information communicated by the microcontroller 101.

  Advantageously, it allows the dissemination of coded information and the reception of messages broadcast remotely by electromagnetic waves, by the various organizations managing all the terminals (which could be in France the DDE, the CGs, the Town Halls,

  Initiative Syndicates ... etc).

  - A transceiver 106 for transmitting the wake-up message communicated by the microcontroller 101 to a

vehicle entering zone Zl.

  The transceivers 102 and 106 allow short distance wireless communications (of the order of ten meters to one hundred meters). It can for example be a Bluetooth chip, or IEEE 802.11b or Home RF. These three systems work

in the 2.4 GHz ISM band.

  - a signal analyzer circuit typically a filtering device, 104 receives the signals transmitted by sensors placed near the terminal to which they are connected, - A low voltage supply 105 The vehicle detection device 150, includes a loop detection system or an equivalent system 151-152 installed upstream of the terminal 100 and physically connected to it and diffuses before the information message, a coded message responsible for activating the vehicle reception system. This device 150 further comprises one or more

  sensors 153-154 connected to the signal analyzer 104.

  The sensors can be light sensors,

  temperature sensors, a time system.

  To this end, the microcontroller 101 of terminal 100 has several signal inputs for receiving signals from the various sensors through their associated filters and two outputs for transmitting the

  wake-up message and the information message to be sent.

  Figure 2 illustrates the layout of the device 100-150: terminal and detection system along a road. This figure also shows the distribution perimeters of terminal 100 and detection system 150, i.e. the range limit of their transmitter and the proximity of a panel

Stop for vehicle 170.

  Thus, the vehicle 180 entering the broadcasting area of the terminal 100, will not broadcast a message, its reception system not being awakened. On the other hand, when the vehicle 170 enters the detection zone of the system 150, the latter sends a wake-up message for reception system 200 or 300 or 500 of the vehicle 170. When this vehicle 170 enters the broadcasting perimeter Z2 from terminal 100, the driver receives a warning message "Stop at

50m ".

  We will now refer to the diagram in FIG. 3. This diagram illustrates a first embodiment of a reception and broadcasting device 200. In this example the device 200 is produced in the form

  an electronic base on board the vehicle.

  The reception device 200 diffuses the information inside the vehicle in the form of clear audio messages, which contributes to advancing and prolonging the time of "reception" of the message delivered by the panels, and certainly to improving.

  road safety and to save human lives.

  This device is connected to the vehicle by a cable

  supply 201 connected to the vehicle supply.

  It is composed of a man-machine interface comprising the following elements: - a display 202, a microphone 203, an indicator light (indicator) 204, a loudspeaker 205, keys 206. A

  s amplifier 207 is connected to the microphone and speaker so as to form a hands-free device.

  - The device 200 also includes control means comprising the following elements: - A microcontroller 210 connected to the various elements of the man-machine interface, display 202, keys 206, microphone 203, speaker 207 through

  amplifier 207 and indicator 204.

  This microcontroller 210 is also connected to storage means 211, to a receiver which is preferably a Bluetooth type electronic communication chip 212, to a circuit

power supply 213.

  Preferably, the electrical supply circuit 213 is produced by a supply adaptation circuit (filtering and regulation) from

vehicle power.

  According to a second embodiment, illustrated by the diagram in FIG. 4, the reception device is produced by a mobile telephone 300. In this case the telephone is equipped with a transceiver 312 adapted to communicate with the communication terminal It could be a 300 mobile phone with a chip

Bluetooth 312.

  FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the device in FIG. 3. In this variant, the reception device (reference 500) on board the vehicle, includes an additional function for controlling the use in transmission or reception, it driver's mobile phone, depending on the

vehicle speed.

  To this end, the device comprises a circuit 214 supplying the speed signal of the vehicle to the microcontroller 210. It is a conventional circuit for adapting the level of the speed signal with shaping of this signal. The speed signal can be used directly by the microcontroller 210, if the signal has been digitized by the shaping circuit or by a threshold comparator circuit upstream of the microcontroller, when the signal supplied is analog. In fact, the circuit 214 can in one embodiment be followed by a threshold comparator allowing the comparison to preset thresholds VI, V2, V3. In an example, Vi corresponds to a zero speed, V2 corresponds to a speed of 30km / h and V3

  corresponds to a speed of 50 km / h.

  The control of the use in transmission and reception of the mobile phone is operated as follows: The two speed thresholds (not zero) are used to control the mobile phone as follows: - the driver is authorized to use his mobile and the function "I hands free" as long as the speed of

  his vehicle does not exceed the V3 threshold.

  - the driver is authorized to use the mobile phone normally (held by hand against the ear) as long as the speed of his vehicle does not

  not exceed the threshold V2, V2 being less than V3.

  In this case the device also has a short-distance wireless communication link with the driver's mobile phone in order to be able to authorize or prohibit the use of the driver's mobile phone according to the comparison results of the

speed at the different thresholds.

  To obtain this control, the driver's mobile phone must be placed in a power supply support. The supply support 400 is composed of the following elements: - a receptacle 400 which can contain any mobile, - a recharging system 410, 411 of the battery of the

mobile, by induction (or other).

  It is specified in the following, that different types of messages can be sent by terminals

distinct.

  In practice, it is expected that two types of messages can be thus broadcast by separate terminals: A first terminal for priority messages P linked to road safety and received by the device 200 or by a mobile or 300 hands-free

  in the absence of an on-board device 200.

  A second terminal for non messages.

  NP priorities linked to general information and received by the reception device 200 and by

  laptops with a "Bluetooth" chip.

  A) Priority messages P: List of corresponding codes (non-exhaustive list) Code 1 STOP at x meters Code 2 you are prohibited DANGER Code 3 prohibition to turn right Code 4 prohibition to turn left Code 5 school warning DANGER Code 6 right turn DANGER Code 7 left turn DANGER Code 8 dangerous intersection, priority right Code 9 urban crossing, speed limited to X km / h Code 10 negative temperature, beware of risk of ice

Etc ...

  B) Non-priority NP messages linked to

general informations.

  In the event that the direction of movement of the vehicle is not necessary, the mere receipt of a Bluetooth transmitter identifier can generate

  issuing alert information.

  After having detailed the various possible embodiments and variants, we will now explain the operation of a vehicle communication system combining a communication device 100 150 and a reception device 200

  (or 300, or 500) referring to Figure 2.

  The detection circuit 150 is connected to the terminal 100 installed on the back of a panel 160 or on a post, and detects a vehicle in circulation 170 moving in its direction. Terminal 100 receives a detection signal from system 150 and controls the transmission of the necessary information in coded form and

sequential to vehicle 170.

  The vehicle 170 first receives the wake-up message and then the alert message via its reception device 200 (or 300 or 500), which broadcasts an appropriate sound message according to

  the information received from terminal 100.

Examples:

  A car arrives near a STOP sign.

  It passes a terminal 100, located X m from the STOP panel, which transmits the required information, and the receiver device 200 of the car broadcasts this

message "STOP at X m".

  Thus, and to conclude, when a vehicle 170 enters the field of the detection system 150 connected to the terminal 100, depending on the situation and the message to be broadcast, the detection device 150 indicates the presence of a moving vehicle, its direction of traffic and possibly an estimate of its

movement speed.

  The filters 104 located at the input of the terminal eliminate any parasites and shape the input signals, the microcontroller 101 deduces therefrom

  the parameters necessary for sending messages.

  The latter selects, if necessary, the message to be sent and triggers the wake-up emission by the Bluetooth chip 106. The chip 106 transmits an awakening message to the reception device 200 of the vehicle 170. When this vehicle is within the perimeter broadcast from terminal 100, it receives the information message from the Bluetooth chip 102. The waking up and the information message are transmitted sequentially for a pre-programmed duration. When the sensors do not detect a vehicle, only these will remain energized the rest of the electronics will go to standby

  thus allowing economical management of energy.

  Power is supplied by the battery 105, recharged by conventional means and / or connected to

solar collectors.

  Messages are transmitted by the Bluetooth transceiver equipped with an antenna allowing the maximum range of the device. The programming of the

  terminal 100 is realized by this link.

  In the vehicle, the reception device 200 or 300 or 500 first receives the wake-up message for a preprogrammed period then receives the identifier of the terminal transmitter then the priority code placed at the start of the message, from the decoding thereof the microcontroller will decode the message and transmit it as a priority. Reception and distribution are automatic for priority messages. For non-priority messages, the driver can interrupt the broadcast by pressing the left key 206G of the device 200 or 300 or 500, (key

  which corresponds to a negative choice).

  With a mobile phone equipped with a Bluetooth chip programmed to receive information from a communicating terminal 100 and equipped with a hands-free device, one can also hear information from

security of these terminals.

  The information transmitted can be presented in the form of a key determining the priority (priority message P, or non-priority NP), followed either by the number of the message (codel for example) to be transmitted 3o or by the message itself. In the case where the information contains the code of the message and not the message itself, a conversion table is provided in memory of the

  200 or 300 receiving device (portable).

  In another application not relating to road traffic, the receiving device can be a mobile phone. In this case the telephone is located outside a vehicle and is equipped with a "Bluetooth" chip or a similar system. The telephone is able to receive this information and indicates this by a beep. It is only after its user has dialed on the keyboard or searched in the directory for the term "terminal", that he can retransmit to his user, the information broadcast by a terminal 100. In the event of a telephone call, during the reception of information from the terminal, the call is scheduled as a priority and interrupts the broadcasting of information from the terminal. On hanging up, if the user wishes, he can resume listening to the information transmitted by a terminal by dialing

  again the word "terminal" (22222 for example).

  Other applications are possible for

communication terminals.

  The communication terminals can also mark tourist spots, panoramic sites, hiking trails, protected risk sites ... etc and thus, via a mobile phone equipped with a "Bluetooth" chip, broadcast general information for tourists and hikers (for example: presentation and history of a site or a particular place, because on foot, you become more aware of the beauty of a site and you discover the quality of the spaces).

  Other examples of priority messages.

  The communication terminals can also prevent a reverse direction entry on a highway by causing the physical stop of a vehicle which would engage in the opposite direction on the exit ramp and

by alerting the police.

  To this end, terminals and their associated detection device are arranged on a succession of prohibited direction panels placed in the entered direction on the exit ramps. We can refer to the diagram

  in Figure 7 for a better understanding.

  The first terminal 100A detects the vehicle 191 which engages in the opposite direction and by means of its device 150A, transmits the wake-up signal and a

  information indicating the prohibited direction to this vehicle.

  If the vehicle continues on its way, a second terminal E also sends an awakening message via its detection device 150B, followed by information containing an immediate stop message. This message is decoded by the receiving device 200 or 300 or 500 which sends a command to shut down the engine and activate the "warnings" at

car electronics.

  On the panel 192 indicating the exit from the highway, a message is broadcast "exit

  Danger prohibited to the vehicle 190.

  In addition to these safety bollards, other bollards can, for example, be used to signal work, and / or to mark out diversions to indicate the right direction. An equivalent system can be set up by the municipalities or their tourist information office for

  report a particular event (fair, flea market, ...

  etc) or to broadcast information about the municipality on a loop. A stop near the tourist office or the town hall or at the main entrances of the town, equipped with such a terminal will allow, without getting out of your vehicle, to receive a lot of information about the town, its history, its monuments , curiosities ... etc These terminals do not emit priority messages (and their identifiers are different). The reception of the broadcast information is done only in the absence of emission or reception of call on the portable (or after having ended a call and while being still in the radius of emission of the terminal) and after having expressed their desire to receive these messages (a beep or an indication on the device display

will be issued.

  The installation of such terminals, can contribute, depending on their location, to slowing traffic and beyond participating in road signaling (motorists wishing to hear all of the information reduce their speed). For long messages or for more complete information, for example a parking area around

  from the terminal, will avoid traffic jams.

Claims (20)

RESELL I CAT IONS   1. Autonomous communication device, characterized in that it is fixed at a determined location and in that it is capable of transmitting at least one item of information linked to its location, to a receiving device falling within the scope of action of the latter, the communication device comprising means for detecting presence and / or direction of movement, means for processing the detection signals, these means being connected to the detection means, and means for transmitting   said information when a detection has taken place.   2. Autonomous communication device according to claim 1, characterized in that it is fixed to a road sign or near a   such sign, at the edge of roads and highways.   3. Autonomous communication device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for processing the detection signals and the means for transmitting the information linked to the location of the device constitute a sealed communication terminal to which , are connected the means of   detection fixed near this terminal.   4. Autonomous communication device according to claim 3, characterized in that the detection means comprise a detection loop or an equivalent system placed at the edge of the road and connected to a communication terminal, this system being located in front of the terminal.   5. Autonomous communication device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises a speed sensor and a temperature sensor of Ambiant air.   6. Autonomous communication device according to one   any of the preceding claims, characterized   in that the means for processing the detection signals comprise a shaping device and a microcontroller for controlling the transmission of information comprising an awakening message and minus an alert message.   7. Autonomous communication device according to claim 6, characterized in that the information transmitted comprises at least one wake-up message and an identification code of the message to be transmitted recorded in a program memory of the   microcontroller, the code being linked to the wake-up signal.   8. Autonomous communication device according to   claims 6 and 7, characterized in that a   second code is chosen to be transmitted when a signal from a speed and / or temperature sensor is received by the device's microcontroller. 9. Autonomous communication device according to claim 6, characterized in that the information transmitted sequentially comprises the wake-up message and the recorded message or messages to be transmitted   in a program memory of the microcontroller.   10. Autonomous communication device according to   any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the transmission means comprise a short distance wireless transceiver placed in the detection system and a   short distance transceiver placed in the terminal.   11. Autonomous communication device according to claim 10, characterized in that the transceivers comprise an electronic chip of the Bluetooth type. 12. Communication system with a vehicle characterized in that it comprises: - an autonomous communication device fixed on or near traffic signs, capable of transmitting at least information related to its location, depending on the any of previous claims and,   - a receiving device on board a vehicle which, when it is awakened and enters the perimeter of action of the communication device, is capable of receiving the information transmitted by the communication device and of distributing it to the driver of the vehicle.   13. Communication system with a vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that the receiving device is produced in the form of an autonomous electronic element comprising means for receiving information, means for processing this information and means for broadcasting. of the   corresponding messages, inside the vehicle.   14. Communication system with a vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that the information processing means comprise a microcontroller, and in that the message broadcasting means comprise a loudspeaker type sound broadcasting device and a display type visual display device activated at screen by an awakening message.   15. Communication system with a vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that the means for receiving information are adapted to the means   of the communication device.   16. Communication system with a vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that the transmission means comprise a transceiver of   Eluetooth integrated circuit chip type.   17. Communication system with a vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that the device for receiving and broadcasting information further comprises means for controlling the use in transmission or reception, of a mobile telephone placed under tension inside the   vehicle, depending on the speed of said vehicle.   18. Communication system with a vehicle according to   claims 11 and 14, characterized in that the   control means include a circuit providing the   vehicle speed signal connected to the microcontroller.   19. Communication system with a vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that the reception device is produced by a mobile telephone equipped with a receiver adapted to the means of   communication device transmission.   20. Communication system with a vehicle according to   any of the preceding claims   characterized in that communication devices are fixed on several "forbidden direction" signaling panels to transmit successive alert information until a last item of information causing the vehicle engine to stop, the reception device on board the vehicle being able to transmit this information to the electronics of ordering the car.