JP2003272094A - Information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information display device arranged in surroundings of a road, and capable of sufficiently and surely transmitting road information to a road user from a road controller particularly when sudden abnormality is caused by a natural disaster in the road. <P>SOLUTION: A relay station has a common connecting means, and a movable information display part can be connected to the relay station by the connecting means, and even if the information display part is smaller in the number than the relay station, the road controller can display information to be transmitted from a central station by the information display part only by connecting by using the connecting means at the whole points for arranging the relay station. The relay station is basically a cable and a connector, and can be arranged at a further lower cost than arranging an information display device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device which is installed around a road and transmits information by appealing to the visual sense of a road user. The present invention relates to an information display device that is preferably used at the time of occurrence.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Road signs are very commonly used as a device for transmitting road information by appealing to the sight and hearing of road users, and the display contents can be changed flexibly according to the situation around the road. Information display boards have also been commonly used. A typical example of the former is a road sign board, which displays fixed information at an installation point. A typical example of the latter is a light emitting type freezing warning device installed around the road immediately before a bridge or viaduct, and when a temperature below the temperature where freezing is a concern is detected based on the surrounding temperature by a temperature sensor, a display is displayed. The content is "Running caution"
There is one that changes from "freezing caution".

In addition to the one provided around the road immediately before the bridge or the viaduct, there is also one provided with a sensor for illuminance, the speed of the vehicle, etc. to change the display content at a certain threshold. Furthermore, as a method of more flexibly transmitting road information according to road conditions to road users,
The road administrator sends a signal related to road information from the central station to the information display device installed around the road in advance based on the information obtained by the monitoring cameras and sensors at the central station, and the information display device side A device for displaying road information corresponding to a received signal has been conventionally proposed.

[0004]

However, regarding the method of changing the display content by using the sensor, the sensor is embedded at a point where collapse of the slope frequently occurs or is suspected to occur, and the sensor is Only a very limited usage has been put to practical use, such as changing the display contents of the display device provided around the road immediately before when an abnormality is detected. In case of sudden abnormality such as scattering of debris, cracks, collapse of shoulder, depression, flooding, etc., it is necessary to install the sensor in a wide range in the method of detecting with a sensor, It is difficult for the central office to accurately judge such abnormalities on a wide variety of roads.

In addition, since it is difficult to predict the location and situation of a sudden road abnormality caused by a natural disaster or the like, the location of the conventional permanent information display device is limited. However, such an information display device is insufficient for sufficiently and reliably transmitting a sudden abnormality on the road to the road user. In order to inform the road user of the occurrence of abnormality sufficiently and reliably, it is necessary to add information display devices so that the road information can be sufficiently and reliably transmitted to the road user. The cost per unit is high, and it is almost unlikely that an effect equivalent to the cost will be obtained if such additional expansion is performed. Therefore, it is difficult for the conventional method for displaying information to sufficiently deal with crisis management on a road, where awareness of wealth has been increasing in recent years.

Therefore, the present invention is installed around a road, and in particular, when a sudden abnormality occurs due to a natural disaster or the like on the road, the road administrator can sufficiently and reliably transmit the road information to the road user. It is intended to provide a possible information display device.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following configuration. That is,
A central station, a relay station installed around the road, and a movable information display unit, each of which is made communicable by a communication means, and transmits a signal relating to road information to be displayed from the central station, In the information display device, the signal is transmitted to the information display unit via the relay station, the road information corresponding to the signal is displayed on the information display unit, and the road information is transmitted to the road user. It is characterized in that it has common connection means connectable to the information display section, and the information display section can be connected to a plurality of relay stations by the connection means.

According to the present invention, since the relay station has the common connecting means, and the movable information display section is connectable to the relay station by the connecting means, the information display section can be connected to the relay station. Even if the number of relay stations is small, it is possible to display the information that the road administrator wants to be transmitted from the central station on the information display section, simply by using the connecting means at all points where the relay stations are installed. Becomes Therefore, the relay station may be installed, or by installing the relay station, the information display unit may be moved to a location where a sudden abnormality on the road is likely to occur due to a natural disaster, etc. It will be easy. The relay station is basically a cable and a connector,
It can be installed at a much lower cost than providing an information display device.

Further, even if a sudden abnormality occurs on the road and the road administrator confirms the abnormality, the information display section is moved to and installed at that point in some way according to an instruction from the road administrator. However, by connecting to the relay station, the information to be transmitted by the central station can be sufficiently and reliably transmitted to the road users.

In the relay station, common connection means is connectable to a wireless transmitter and / or receiver, and the wireless transmitter and / or receiver wirelessly communicates signals with the information display section. Is possible.

Further, the information display unit is equipped with a radio device for signal communication so that signal communication with the relay station can be performed wirelessly, and the radio device for signal communication can be attached and detached. It is characterized by that.

Further, the information display unit is characterized in that the signal communication with the relay station is carried out wirelessly and is provided with a diversity receiving antenna.

The present invention further includes a central station, a relay station connected to the central station by an information communication network, and a plurality of information display units connected to the information communication network via the relay station. The display contents of the information display section can be changed to arbitrary contents by a signal relating to the road information from.

According to the present invention, the information display unit is connected to the information communication network via the relay station, the central station is connected to the information communication network, and any content relating to the road information is displayed via the information communication network. By being able to change, for example, when a disaster occurs, it is possible to change the contents of multiple information displays in the area affected by the disaster all at once. Information can be transmitted quickly. Further, through the relay station, it is possible to easily connect the information display unit to the conventionally installed information communication network.

The relay station according to the present invention is characterized in that the central station is connectable, and the central station is connected to the information communication network via the relay station.

The relay station according to the present invention is a terminal of an information communication network, and the information communication network is a LAN.

The present invention further comprises a central station and an information display section, which transmits a signal relating to road information to be displayed from the central station, the signal is transmitted to the information display section, and the information display section displays the signal. An information display device for displaying corresponding road information and transmitting road information to a road user, characterized in that a central station and an information display unit are connected via a LAN.

According to the present invention, even when a public information communication network such as a telephone line or a radio network is complicated and it is difficult to transmit information smoothly, such as when a disaster occurs, LAN (Loc)
alArea Network. It may be possible to smoothly transmit a signal related to information display to the information display section by using a narrow area communication network, and to reliably change the display content of the information display section even under the above-mentioned situation.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which a central station 3 and a relay station 2 are shown.
The information display unit 1 and the communication unit 4 and the communication unit 5 can communicate with each other. The central station 3 is operated by a road administrator, and the central station 3 and the relay station 2 are capable of bidirectional communication. The relay station 2 uses the connection means 21 to connect the information display unit 1 only. Alternatively, by attaching an information collecting means such as a camera or a microphone to the connecting means 21, it is possible to transmit the obtained information from the information collecting means to the central station 3 via the relay station 2.

The communication means 4 is not particularly limited as long as the central station 3 and the relay station 2 can communicate with each other, and may be a telephone line, a radio or the like. However, the telephone line or the radio has an abnormality on the road. When a natural disaster occurs, communication may be complicated and the signal to be transmitted may not be transmitted accurately. In many cases, information communication networks used by road administrators are set up around roads for the purpose of disaster prevention, and terminals are installed everywhere around the road. By utilizing such an information communication network and its terminal as the communication means 4, the signal communication from the central station 3 to the relay station 2 can be performed quickly and reliably.

For the information communication network, LAN can be preferably used. What is LAN? Local A
It is an abbreviation for rea Network, and is, for example, Ethernet (registered trademark of Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.). The communication speed is about 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps, and particularly, the communication speed of 100 Mbps or more has been preferably used for forming a high speed communication network. The information communication network that is set up in connection with public facilities such as river management and road disaster prevention is generally a LAN as described above. Furthermore, these are standardized ones, and it is easy to obtain and create devices and software related to setting, connection, etc., and it is possible to reduce labor and cost related to installation.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of relay stations 2 are provided, that is, n relay stations 2 are provided, but each has a common connection means 21, and the communication means 5 attached to the information display section 1 side. The connecting portion is the connecting means 2 of the relay station 2.
1, the information display unit 1 can be connected to all n relay stations 2. Therefore, if the relay station 2 exists, the information display section 1 can be connected to any of the relay stations 2 and the central station 3 can be connected.
It may be possible to display the information that the person wants to convey.

The relay station 2 basically has a communication means 4 to the central office 3 and a connector, and is not particularly limited as long as the information display unit 1 can be connected, but this embodiment is not limited thereto. In the embodiment, the point mark is the relay station 2. Point markers are installed along the road, and are installed at approximately equal intervals, for example 50 if installed at 1 km intervals.
The connection means 5 having a length of 0 m or less can be installed at any point on the road, and the information display unit 1 can be installed in a wide range around the point mark. Further, the point mark is relatively strong as a structure, and the connecting means 21 can be housed and protected inside the structure.

The display unit 11 of the information display unit 1 is not particularly limited as long as it can display according to the signal from the central office 3, and a variable curtain or the like may be used. , More flexible information can be displayed by using simple software, and a group of light emitters with good visibility even at night is used, and various information can be displayed by changing the light emission pattern. preferable. Although the light emitting body is not particularly limited, it is preferable to use a light emitting diode which has a long life and is relatively inexpensive as the light emitting body.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and is an explanatory diagram showing details of the relay station 2 and the information display section 1. The information display unit 1 is provided with casters 12 so that it can be easily moved. The relay station 2, which is a landmark installed near the road R, is a patent application by the applicant of the present application.
As described in No. 01-318380, the connecting means 21 is provided inside the hollow body, the door 22 communicating with the inside of the hollow body is bored, and the jack 51 provided at the tip of the communication means 5 is connected to the connecting means 21. It is preferable that the door 22 be closed after that so that the connection portion can be protected. In a natural disaster such as when a sudden abnormality occurs on the road, the surrounding weather is often bad. Under such a situation, the information display unit 1 can be connected for a long time without the connection means 21 being protected. If it is left, it may cause a malfunction. By closing the door 22 and protecting the connection means 21, such a defect can be prevented and the road information can be continuously transmitted to the road user.

Further, the relay station may be as shown in FIG. The connection means 21 of the relay station 2 can be connected to the communication device 6 which is a wireless transmitter and / or receiver by a jack 61, and the communication device 6 communicates with the antenna 13 of the information display unit 1 by the antenna 62, Communication of signals of the information display unit 1 and the relay station 2 is enabled by the wireless communication means 5. By using the communication device 6 as described above, it is possible to use an arbitrary cable or wireless device as the communication means 5 without performing any special work on the relay station 2.
By using wireless, it is possible to easily arrange the information display unit 1 in a more flexible manner without limiting the distance between the information display unit 1 and the relay station 2 as in the case of using a cable or the like. it can.

Further, the information display section may be that shown in FIG. The information display unit 1 is provided with a communication device 6 for signal communication, and the signal communication with the relay station 2 is performed by the wireless communication means 5. The communication device 6 for signal communication is used. Is designed to be removable. The information display unit 1 is provided with the connecting means 14 to which the jack 61 of the communication device 6 can be connected, the jack 61 is connected to the connecting means 14, and the antenna 62 and the antenna 23 wirelessly communicate with each other. 1 is relay station 2
Will be connected with.

As shown in the figure, the communication means 6 may be connected to the connection means 14, but in addition, the jack of the communication means 5 can be connected by a cable, and the relay station can be connected by radio or cable. 2 may be connectable. In addition, detachable communication devices 6 may be attached to both the information display unit 1 and the relay station 2.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment according to the present invention, in which a collapse point R is located in front of a road R with poor visibility.
1 shows an example in which 1 suddenly occurs and the collapse is displayed toward the vehicle C, which is a road user. For example, when a collapse point R1 occurs on the road R due to heavy rain, the vehicle C may fall without being noticed. When the road administrator recognizes the collapsed point R1 by notification, patrol, surveillance camera, etc., of course, the repair is started, but it takes time before the repair so that the vehicle C does not fall down before the repair. Need to warn. In the past, a guard man was set up around the collapse area or a warning sign was displayed as a signboard.However, in addition to the high cost of the guard man, when a wide range of damage is caused by a natural disaster, etc. May not be arranged. Further, the warning display in the form of a vertical signboard is insufficient in terms of visibility at night and active action for road users.

The information display section 1 is connected to the relay station 2 which is a point mark by using the communication means 5, and the display section 11 displays a warning message such as "there is a point where this point has collapsed" so that the road user can see the point R1 collapsed. It is possible to prevent the vehicle C from falling or the like by recognizing the presence of the. By making the display unit 11 of the light emitting type, visibility at night can be secured, and by changing the blinking of the light emission, the brightness, the color tone, etc., the road user can be actively informed of the information. You can also encourage communication.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing an example of a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the communication means 5 between the relay station 2 and the information display unit 1 is wireless. The direct wireless communication between the central station 3 and the information display unit 1 may cause a signal to be transmitted from the central station 3 not to be transmitted accurately due to radio interference or the like. Signal communication by a reliable means such as an optical information communication network, and the antenna 23 of the relay station 2 which is close in distance.
By wirelessly communicating signals with the antenna 13 of the information display unit 1, the certainty of signal transmission is dramatically improved. In addition, since the transmission distance of radio waves is short, communication by weak radio waves becomes possible, and radio communication can be used without being related to the law. Furthermore, the handling of the information display unit 1 can be significantly easier than when a cable is used.

The antenna 13 of the information display section 1 is preferably a diversity receiving antenna. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the antenna 13 of the information display unit 1
However, when receiving a radio wave related to a signal from the antenna 23 of the relay station 2, the antenna 13 measures the intensity of the radio wave from the antenna 23 and adjusts the reception directivity to the direction in which the strongest radio wave is emitted. It is a thing. In this figure, four antennas 23a, 23b, 23c, and 24c are shown as the antenna 23, and the transmission intensity of each radio wave is the same, but the radio wave is attenuated as the distance increases, so the antenna 13 Is the closest antenna 23
It is determined that the direction in which b exists is the strongest radio wave intensity, and the directivity is automatically adjusted to that direction.

By using such a receiving antenna, it is necessary to adjust the directivity of the antenna 13 by installing the information display unit 1 even if the radio waves involved in signal communication have the minimum required intensity. Instead, it becomes possible to immediately receive the signal from the central station 3 and display the information. Further, even when a location on the road where an abnormality has occurred moves, the information display unit 1 can be moved without any particular adjustment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment according to the present invention. Although the relay station 2 and the central station 3 are connected to the information communication network N through the cable B, the information communication network N
The connection to is not limited to the one using the cable B, and may be a wireless one. Central station 3 is an information communication network N
The central station 3a, which is an information terminal such as a central management station, may be directly connected, or the relay station 2 such as a central station 3b, which is a mobile information terminal carried by a road administrator or the like. It is also possible to connect the vehicle C1 via the
The radio wave 5c from the antenna 31 may be received by the antenna 23 and connected via the relay station 2b.

The central station 3 thus connected to the information communication network N transmits signals relating to road information on the information communication network N. The transmitted signal is received by the relay station 2 via the cable B, and is displayed as road information by the information display unit 1. The information display unit 1 includes a portable information display unit 1a and a relay station 2 by connecting means 5a which is a cable.
a, the portable information display unit 1b equipped with the antenna 13 may be connected to the relay station 2b equipped with the antenna 23 by the wireless connection means 5b, and also equipped with the antenna 13. For example, the permanent information display unit 1c may be transmitted to the relay station 2b provided with the antenna 23 by wireless connection means 5c.

In accordance with a signal relating to road information transmitted from the central station 3, the display units 1a1, 1b1, 1c1 of the information display units 1a, 1b, 1c respectively perform a display relating to road information. For example, when a disaster occurs, the information display units 1a, 1
If each of b, 1c is installed in a place that is estimated to be affected by the disaster, the display units 1a1, 1b1, 1c
The display 1 may display all the contents such as "disaster occurrence" and "emergency stop" that prompt the road user to take action. Alternatively, each of the information display units 1a, 1b, 1c may be specified by holding an IP address or the like, and the arbitrary information display unit 1 may be caused to display arbitrary contents. By displaying the information, the road administrator can more precisely convey the information to the road user.

Further, as in the information display section 1d shown in the figure,
Assuming that the information communication network N is a LAN, a signal relating to road information to be displayed is transmitted from the central office 3, the signal is transmitted to the information display unit 1, and the road information corresponding to the signal is displayed on the information display unit 1. In the information display device for displaying and transmitting road information to road users, the central station 3 and the information display unit 1 are provided.
And may be connected via a LAN. By using the LAN, which is a short-range communication network, signals relating to information display are smoothly transmitted to the information display unit 1, and the display content of the display unit 1d1 is surely changed even under the situation where the telephone line and radio waves are intricate. It may be possible.

[0038]

According to the invention described in claim 1, the relay station has the common connecting means, and the movable information display section can be connected to the relay station by the connecting means. Even if the number of information display units is less than the number of relay stations, it is only necessary to connect using the connecting means at all points where relay stations are installed, and the information display unit will display the information that the road administrator wants to transmit from the central station. Can be displayed at. Therefore, the relay station may be installed, or by installing the relay station, the information display unit may be moved to a location where a sudden abnormality on the road is likely to occur due to a natural disaster, etc. It will be easy. The relay station is basically a cable and a connector, and can be installed at a much lower cost than providing an information display device.

Further, even if a sudden abnormality occurs on the road and the road administrator confirms the abnormality, the information display section is moved to and installed at that point in some way according to the instruction from the road administrator. However, by connecting to the relay station, the information to be transmitted by the central station can be sufficiently and reliably transmitted to the road users.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the information display unit is connected to the information communication network via the relay station, and the central station is connected to the information communication network so that the road information is displayed via the information communication network. By being able to change to any related content,
For example, when a disaster occurs, it is possible to change the contents of multiple information displays in the area affected by the disaster all at once, and when a disaster occurs, information can be quickly transmitted to road users. . Further, through the relay station, it is possible to easily connect the information display unit to the conventionally installed information communication network.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 8, even in a situation where a public information communication network such as a telephone line or a wireless network is complicated and it is difficult to smoothly transmit information, such as when a disaster occurs, the LAN is used. By using the signal, it is possible to smoothly transmit a signal related to information display to the information display section, and it is possible to reliably change the display content of the information display section even under the above circumstances.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing one form of a situation of installation according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Information display section 11 Display 12 casters 13 antennas 14 Connection means 2 relay stations 21 Connection means 22 doors 23 antenna 3 Central Office 4 Communication means 5 Communication means 51 Jack 6 Communication equipment 61 Jack 62 antenna R road R1 collapse point C vehicle N information communication network B cable

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A central station, a relay station installed in the vicinity of a road, and a movable information display section, each of which is capable of communicating by communication means and relates to road information to be displayed from the central station. An information display device for transmitting a signal, transmitting the signal to the information display unit via the relay station, displaying road information corresponding to the signal on the information display unit, and transmitting the road information to the road user. The relay station has common connecting means connectable to the information display section, and the information display section is connectable to the plurality of relay stations by the connecting means. 2. The relay station is configured such that common connection means can be connected to a wireless transmitter and / or receiver, and the wireless transmitter and / or receiver wirelessly communicates signals with the information display unit. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the information display device is capable of performing the following. 3. The information display unit is equipped with a radio device for signal communication so that signal communication with a relay station is performed wirelessly, and the radio device for signal communication is detachable. The information display device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that. 4. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the information display unit wirelessly communicates signals with the relay station and includes a diversity receiving antenna. 5. A central station, a relay station connected to the central station by an information communication network, and a plurality of information display units connected to the information communication network via the relay stations, and a road from the central station. An information display device characterized in that the display contents of the information display section can be changed to arbitrary contents by a signal relating to information. 6. The relay station can be connected to a central station,
The information display device according to claim 5, wherein the central station is connected to the information communication network via the relay station. 7. The relay station is a terminal of an information communication network,
The information communication network is a LAN.
7. The information display device according to any one of 6 to 6. 8. A central station and an information display section are provided, a signal relating to road information to be displayed is transmitted from the central station, the signal is transmitted to the information display section, and the road corresponding to the signal is displayed on the information display section. An information display device for displaying information and transmitting road information to a road user, characterized in that a central station and an information display unit are connected via a LAN.