JP2008217357A - Onboard unit for automatic charge collection system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ETC onboard equipment for automatically non-displaying an united error code displayed at a display part in a proper timing. <P>SOLUTION: An ETC onboard unit 100 is provided with: an abnormal state detection means 10 for detecting an abnormal state relating to an ETC system; an error code information display means 11 for making a display part 5 display a unified error code corresponding to an abnormal state detected by the abnormal state detection means 10; and an error code information non-displaying means 12 for non-displaying an error code displayed at the display part 5 when detecting that the ETC system is in a predetermined state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted device used in an automatic fee collection (ETC: Electronic Toll Collection) system, and more particularly, to a vehicle-mounted device for an automatic fee collection system that prevents the display of a unified error code.

  Conventional tolls for toll roads without stopping each vehicle using wireless communication between roadside communication devices installed on toll roads and parking lots and on-board devices mounted on each vehicle There is also known an ETC system that can collect a parking fee for a parking lot.

  An in-vehicle device (hereinafter referred to as “ETC on-vehicle device”) used in the ETC system is an ETC card (an ETC-dedicated card equipped with an IC chip for storing various types of information) insertion abnormality, data processing abnormality. ORSE (Organization for Road System Enhancement: Organization for Road System Advancement Promotion) corresponding to each abnormal state when ETC card abnormality, ETC on-board equipment abnormality, ETC card information abnormality, ETC on-board equipment information abnormality or communication abnormality occurs ) The specified unified error code is displayed on a display unit such as a segment LED (Light Emitting Diode) to inform the driver of the abnormality occurrence status.

  Further, an ETC on-board device is also known as an ETC on-board device that outputs the collected fee amount to a driver by voice output (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

This ETC on-board device can inform the driver of an abnormal state that has occurred without forcing the display unit to gaze, thus improving the convenience of the driver.
JP 2000-353258 A

  However, once the unified error code is displayed, the ETC in-vehicle device described in Patent Document 1 cannot hide the unified error code unless the operator manually operates it, and continues the unified error code. Display on the display unit.

  This may cause the operator to feel uneasy by displaying a unified error code regarding an abnormal state that is not sure when it occurs.

  In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an ETC on-vehicle device that automatically hides a unified error code displayed on a display unit at an appropriate timing.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the on-board device for an automatic fee collection system according to the first invention includes an abnormal state detection unit that detects an abnormal state related to the automatic fee collection system, and an abnormal state detected by the abnormal state detection unit. Error code information display means for displaying information on the error code corresponding to the display on the display unit, and non-displaying information on the error code displayed on the display unit when it is detected that the automatic toll collection system is in a predetermined state Error code information non-displaying means.

  The second invention is an on-vehicle device for an automatic toll collection system according to the first invention, wherein the error code information recording unit records information relating to an error code displayed on the display unit by the error code information display means. And error code information redisplay means for redisplaying information on the error code recorded by the error code information recording means on the display section.

  The third invention is an on-vehicle device for an automatic fee collection system according to the first or second invention, wherein the predetermined state is a state in which insertion / removal of an automatic fee collection system card is detected, automatic fee collection It includes a state where reception of a confirmation signal transmitted by the system roadside device is detected or a state where it is detected that the same abnormal state is not repeated.

  With the above-described means, the present invention can provide an ETC on-vehicle device that automatically hides the unified error code displayed on the display unit at an appropriate timing.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of an ETC on-vehicle device according to the present invention, and an ETC on-vehicle device 100 is referred to as a control unit 1, a communication unit 2, and a card interface unit 3 (hereinafter referred to as a “card IF unit”). ), An input unit 4, a display unit 5, and an audio output unit 6.

  FIG. 2 is a front view of the ETC vehicle-mounted device 100. The card IF unit 3 for inserting an ETC card in the upper part, the ETC card eject button 7 on the upper left side, the display part 5 on the lower left side, and the input part 4 on the lower right side. Indicates that it is placed.

  The control unit 1 is a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like, and includes, for example, an abnormal state detection means 10, an error code information display means 11, an error While storing programs corresponding to each of the code information non-display unit 12, the error code information recording unit 13, and the error code information re-display unit 14 in the ROM, the CPU is caused to execute processing corresponding to each unit.

  The communication unit 2 controls communication between a roadside machine constituting the ETC system (a wireless communication facility installed near an ETC gate at the entrance and exit of a toll road or a parking lot) and the ETC on-board unit 100. It is means of.

  The communication unit 2 receives, for example, a request signal transmitted from the roadside device (a signal for requesting a response signal from the ETC onboard device 100), and the ETC card inserted into the card IF unit 3 A response signal including the ETC card identification number stored in the IC chip and the ETC on-board unit identification number stored in the ROM of the control unit 1 is returned, and a confirmation signal returned by the roadside device that has received the response signal ( (A signal including information related to a charge calculated based on a response signal from the ETC on-vehicle device 100, information related to the presence or absence of charging, or information related to whether or not traffic is permitted), and the charge is automatically collected. To be done.

  The card IF unit 3 is a means for reading various information stored in the IC chip of the ETC card, or writing various information to the IC chip. For example, the ETC card identification number is set according to the request of the control unit 1. It reads out from the IC chip and outputs it to the control unit 1, or writes a unified error code corresponding to the abnormal state of the ETC system detected by the control unit 1 into the IC chip.

  The input unit 4 is a means for accepting an operation input by an operator, such as a keyboard switch or a rotary switch, and detects an operation input by the operator and sends a control signal corresponding to the operation input to the control unit. Output to 1.

  The display unit 5 is a means for displaying various information, such as a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, or a segment LED, and displays a unified error code, a fee, a date, a time, and the like.

  The voice output unit 6 is a means for outputting various information as voices. For example, the voice output unit 6 is a vehicle-mounted speaker, a buzzer, etc., and outputs a unified error code and its contents as voice, and outputs a fee, date, time, etc. as voice. To do.

  The card eject button 7 is a button for ejecting the ETC card inserted in the card IF unit 3.

  Next, various units included in the control unit 1 will be described.

  The abnormal state detection means 10 is a means for detecting an abnormal state of the ETC system, and detects, for example, abnormal states corresponding to seven types of unified error codes defined by the ORSE.

  FIG. 3 is a correspondence map showing the relationship between the unified error code number and the contents of the abnormal state. For example, the unified error code “01” indicates “ETC card insertion error”, and the ETC card is stored in the card IF unit 3. This is detected when the card is not inserted or when the ETC card is not inserted.

  The unified error code “02” indicates “data processing abnormality” and is detected when the ETC card is removed while writing to the ETC card. The unified error code “03” is “ETC card abnormality”. This is detected when the ETC card is out of order, when a card other than the ETC card is inserted into the card IF unit 3, or when the insertion direction or the reverse side of the ETC card is wrong.

  The unified error code “04” indicates “on-vehicle device abnormality due to self-diagnosis”, and the unified error code “05” indicates “ETC card information abnormality” detected when the ETC card cannot be authenticated. The code “06” indicates “on-vehicle device information abnormality” detected when the on-vehicle device cannot be authenticated, and the unified error code “07” indicates “communication abnormality”.

  When detecting an abnormal state of the ETC system, the abnormal state detection means 10 sets the value of the unified error code display flag stored in the RAM of the control unit 1 to ON.

  The correspondence map indicating the relationship between the unified error code number and the content of the abnormal state is assumed to be stored in the ROM of the control unit 1, and the initial value of the unified error code display flag is set to OFF. Shall.

  The error code information display unit 11 is a unit for displaying a unified error code corresponding to the detected abnormal state on the display unit 5. For example, an ETC card is inserted into the card IF unit 3 by the abnormal state detection unit 10. When it is detected that there is no error, the unified error code “01” is displayed on the display unit 5.

  The error code information non-display unit 12 is a unit for hiding the unified error code displayed on the display unit 5, for example, a trigger state in which the ETC system is registered in advance (the unified display displayed on the display unit 5 When it is detected that the error code is not displayed yet, the unified error code display flag value stored in the RAM of the control unit 1 is set to OFF. The trigger state will be described later.

  The display unit 5 periodically refers to the value of the unified error code display flag stored in the control unit 1, and the unified error code displayed on the display unit 5 when the value of the unified error code display flag is OFF. Is hidden.

  The error code information recording unit 13 is a unit for recording the value of the unified error code displayed on the display unit 5 by the error code information display unit 11. For example, the error code information recording unit 13 simultaneously displays the unified error code on the display unit 5. The unified error code is recorded on the IC chip of the ETC card.

  The error code information recording means 13 not only records the value of the unified error code, but also records the occurrence date and time of the corresponding abnormal condition, or increments the occurrence frequency of each abnormal condition stored in the IC chip. May be.

  The error code information redisplay means 14 is for displaying the unified error code displayed on the display section 5 by the error code information display means 11 and then not displayed by the error code information non-display means 12 on the display section 5 again. For example, when a request for redisplaying the unified error code is received by the operator via the input unit 4, the value of the unified error code display flag stored in the RAM of the control unit 1 is changed from OFF to ON. Switch.

  The display unit 5 periodically refers to the value of the unified error code display flag stored in the control unit 1, and when the value of the unified error code display flag is turned ON, the display unit 5 has recently been hidden. The unified error code is displayed again on the display unit 5.

  The error code information re-display unit 14 not only displays the latest unified error code, but also the unified error that has been displayed on the display unit 5 in the past in response to the operator's operation input to the input unit 4. The codes may be displayed in a predetermined order such as the frequency of occurrence or the date and time of occurrence.

  Next, a process (hereinafter referred to as “unified error code display process”) in which the ETC on-board unit 100 displays a unified error code when an abnormal state occurs will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the unified error code display process, and the ETC on-board unit 100 periodically executes the unified error code display process.

  First, the control unit 1 monitors the occurrence of an abnormal state of the ETC system registered in the correspondence map by the abnormal state detection means 10 (step S1), and unless an abnormal state occurs (NO in step S1), Wait as it is without executing the process.

  When the occurrence of an abnormal state is detected (YES in step S1), the control unit 1 sets the value of the unified error code display flag stored in the RAM to ON (step S2), and the error code information recording unit 13 The unified error code displayed on the display unit 5 is recorded on the IC chip of the ETC card (step S3).

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, a process for detecting a trigger state (hereinafter referred to as “trigger state detection process”), which is a condition for the ETC onboard device 100 to hide the unified error code, will be described. . FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of the trigger state detection process, and the ETC on-board unit 100 periodically executes the trigger state detection process while the unified error code is displayed on the display unit 5. To do.

  First, the control unit 1 determines whether or not the ETC card has been inserted / removed based on the output of the card IF unit 3 (step S11).

  When it is determined that the ETC card has been inserted or removed (YES in step S11), the control unit 1 switches the value of the unified error code display flag from ON to OFF by the error code information non-display unit 12 (step S12).

  An abnormal state related to an ETC card (hereinafter referred to as “old ETC card”) inserted in the card IF unit 3 and an ETC card newly inserted into the card IF unit 3 (hereinafter referred to as “new ETC card”). Is not to be confused with an abnormal state). The new ETC card and the old ETC card may be the same ETC card.

  When it is determined that the ETC card is not inserted or removed (NO in step S11), the control unit 1 determines whether or not a confirmation signal is received from the roadside device based on the output of the communication unit 2 (step S13). ).

  When it is determined that the confirmation signal is received from the roadside machine (YES in Step S13), the control unit 1 switches the value of the unified error code display flag from ON to OFF by the error code information non-display unit 12 (Step S12).

  Even when a unified error code corresponding to an abnormal state that occurred in the past is displayed on the display unit 5, the ETC on-vehicle device 100 operates normally at least at the present time by receiving a confirmation signal from the roadside device. This is because it is possible to determine that the unified error code corresponding to the abnormal state that has occurred in the past is displayed on the display unit 5 in spite of the normal operation of the ETC on-vehicle device 100. This is because the current state of is unclear.

  When it determines with not receiving the confirmation signal from the roadside machine (NO of step S13), the control part 1 determines whether the same abnormal state was not repeated (step S15).

  For example, when the control unit 1 detects that normal communication has been performed after a communication abnormality has occurred with the roadside device, the communication abnormality (unified error code “05”) has not been repeated (communication). ETC card information error (unification error) when a valid ETC card identification number is read after reading an invalid ETC card identification number and trying to read it again. It is determined that the code “05”) has not been repeated (the ETC card information abnormality was temporary).

  When it is determined that the same abnormal state has not been repeated (YES in step S15), the control unit 1 switches the value of the unified error code display flag from ON to OFF by the error code information non-display unit 12 (step S12).

  Even when a unified error code corresponding to an abnormal state that occurred in the past is displayed on the display unit 5, the ETC on-board unit 100 operates normally at least at the present time because the same abnormal state has not been repeated. This is because it is possible to determine that the unified error code corresponding to the abnormal state that has occurred in the past is displayed on the display unit 5 in spite of the normal operation of the ETC on-vehicle device 100. This is because the current state of is unclear.

  When it is determined that the same abnormal state is repeated (NO in step S15), the control unit 1 displays the unified error code on the display unit 5 without switching the value of the unified error code display flag from ON to OFF. Let it continue. This is to ensure that the operator can be surely notified that the abnormal state corresponding to the unified error code has not yet been resolved.

  The control unit 1 determines whether or not a trigger state such as insertion / removal of an ETC card, reception of a confirmation signal from a roadside machine, or repetition of the same abnormal state has occurred in the above order, but in another order. You may make it do.

  Next, referring to FIG. 6, the ETC on-board unit 100 hides the unified error code once displayed on the display unit 5 by the error code information display unit 11 (hereinafter, “unified error code non-display process”). ). FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the unified error code non-display process, and the ETC on-vehicle device 100 periodically executes the unified error code non-display process.

  First, the control unit 1 reads the value of the unified error code display flag stored in the RAM (step S21), and when the value of the unified error code display flag is set to ON by the unified error code display processing (step S21). (YES in S21), the display of the latest unified error code on the display unit 5 is continued (step S22).

  Further, when the value of the unified error code display flag is reset to ON by the unified error code redisplay process described later (YES in step S21), the control unit 1 sets the error code information recording means 13 to the IC chip of the ETC card. The past unified error code recorded in (2) is displayed again on the display unit 5 (step S22).

  On the other hand, when the trigger state is detected by the trigger state detection process and the value of the unified error code display flag is set to OFF (NO in step S21), the control unit 1 displays the unified error code displayed on the display unit 5. Not displayed (step S23).

  Next, referring to FIG. 7, the ETC on-board unit 100 causes the display unit 5 to redisplay the unified error code that has been hidden by the unified error code non-display process (hereinafter referred to as “unified error code redisplay process”). ). FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the unified error code redisplay process, and the ETC on-board unit 100 periodically executes the unified error code non-display process.

  First, the control unit 1 determines whether or not the operator has requested redisplay of the unified error code based on the output of the input unit 4 (step S31).

  When it is determined that the redisplay of the unified error code is requested (YES in step S31), the control unit 1 switches the value of the unified error code display flag from OFF to ON (step S32). This is so that the operator can confirm the unified error code that has been hidden.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the redisplay of the unified error code is not requested (NO in step S31), the control unit 1 does not display the unified error code without switching the value of the unified error code display flag from OFF to ON. Leave as it is.

  With the above configuration, the ETC on-board unit 100 determines whether or not a trigger state such as replacement of an ETC card, reception of a confirmation signal, and repetition of the same abnormal state has occurred, so that the unified display displayed on the display unit 5 It is possible to prevent the operator from feeling uneasy by automatically hiding the error code at an appropriate timing and continuously displaying the unified error code.

  Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Can be added.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the ETC on-vehicle device 100 continuously unnecessarily displays the unified error code by automatically hiding the value (number) of the unified error code displayed on the segment LED or the like at an appropriate timing. Although the display unit 5 is composed of a plurality of LED lamps and the unified error code is expressed by a combination of lighting states of the plurality of LED lamps, the LED lamps are turned off at an appropriate timing. Thus, information regarding the unified error code may not be continuously displayed unnecessarily.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the ETC onboard equipment which concerns on this invention. It is a front view of the ETC onboard equipment concerning the present invention. It is a correspondence map which shows the relationship between a unified error code number and the content of an abnormal condition. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a unified error code display process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a trigger state detection process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a unified error code non-display process. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a unified error code redisplay process.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control part 2 Communication part 3 Card IF part 4 Input part 5 Display part 6 Audio | voice output part 7 Card removal button 10 Abnormal state detection means 11 Error code information display means 12 Error code information non-display means 13 Error code information recording means 14 Error Code information redisplay means 100 ETC on-board unit

Claims (3)

An abnormal state detection means for detecting an abnormal state related to the automatic toll collection system;
Error code information display means for displaying information on an error code corresponding to the abnormal state detected by the abnormal state detection means on a display unit;
Error code information non-display means for hiding information on the error code displayed on the display unit when it is detected that the automatic fee collection system is in a predetermined state;
A vehicle-mounted device for an automatic toll collection system characterized by comprising: Error code information recording means for recording information relating to the error code displayed on the display unit by the error code information display means;
Error code information redisplay means for redisplaying information on the error code recorded by the error code information recording means on the display unit;
The on-vehicle device for an automatic fee collection system according to claim 1, further comprising: The predetermined state is a state in which insertion / removal of the automatic toll collection system card is detected, reception of a confirmation signal transmitted from the roadside unit for automatic toll collection system is detected, or the same abnormal state is not repeated. Including the detected state,
The on-vehicle device for an automatic fee collection system according to claim 1 or 2.

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