JP2009116580A - In-vehicle etc system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an "in-vehicle ETC system" capable of safely performing driving in consideration of advantage with respect to toll, by using multiple ETC cards and enhancing convenience. <P>SOLUTION: Under guidance along routes, with the multiple cards used, in a state where the multiple ETC cards are inserted through a plurality of card slots 32, 33, after its own vehicle detects arrival at a point to switch the ETC card based on the detection result of an own vehicle position detection means 22, the ETC card, with which the ETC processing for automatic payment is performed, is automatically switched by an ETC processing control means 41. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ETC in-vehicle system, and more particularly to an ETC in-vehicle system suitable for using a plurality of ETC cards.

  In recent years, ETC (Electronic Toll Collection System) has come into operation as one of payment methods for tolls on toll roads such as expressways.

 The ETC is known as a system that can pass without stopping the toll booth when traveling on a toll road. In this system, the ETC on-board device mounted on the own vehicle and the toll booth are installed. Information necessary for automatic payment of tolls such as the information on the own vehicle, the number of the ETC card inserted in the ETC on-board unit, the entrance toll gate, the exit toll gate and the toll (Referred to as automatic payment information) via wireless communication. If the automatic payment information is exchanged properly and there is no problem with the exchanged automatic payment information, the entrance / exit gate open / close bar installed on the ETC lane opens and the vehicle stops. You can pass through the toll gate without having to.

  By the way, when using such an ETC, when a passenger of the own vehicle has a plurality of ETC cards, there are the following two advantages related to payment of a toll.

  First, as a premise for explaining the first advantage, on toll roads where ETC is established, if the toll road travel time is within a specific time zone and the travel distance is within a predetermined distance, the toll for that toll road Is discounted. In such discount system, as a rule, discounts can be applied only once in the prescribed discount applicable hours such as commuting hours (6am to 9am). After getting off the toll road, even if you return to the toll road and continue to drive on the toll road within the discount applicable time, you will not be eligible for the discount again.

  However, since the determination of whether or not the discount has already been applied depends on the ETC card inserted in the ETC OBE, the discount is applied once within the discount applicable time and the toll road is temporarily exited. After that, if the ETC card is replaced and the vehicle returns to the toll road again, it is possible to receive discounts for the second and subsequent times.

  In other words, when using ETC, if you have multiple ETC cards, you can receive multiple discounts within the discount application time, rather than the usual (only once) discount. There is a first advantage that the toll can be further reduced.

  In addition, the present applicant has previously proposed an in-vehicle navigation device capable of searching for a recommended route in consideration of such a first advantage (see Patent Document 1).

  In addition, as a second advantage, when multiple passengers share a vehicle, the multiple ETC cards brought by each passenger can be replaced by sequentially replacing each time after getting off the toll road. It was possible to pay off the charges, and it was possible to prevent the toll burden from being biased to one of the passengers.

  However, when traveling using a plurality of ETC cards for these two advantages, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, immediately after leaving the exit toll gate (ETC exit gate), the general road It is necessary to go to an entrance toll gate (ETC entrance gate) on the opposite lane side adjacent to the exit toll gate through a place where a U-turn is possible (for example, a break in the median strip). In such a case, in a place where a U-turn is possible, pay attention to both the rear vehicle traveling on the exit toll gate side lane on the general road and the oncoming vehicle traveling on the entrance toll gate side lane on the general road In spite of the necessity to turn the ETC card, replacing the ETC card in such a dangerous place is an act that includes the possibility of an accident. To avoid such a risk, after exiting the exit toll booth, it is necessary to stop the vehicle once at a safe place such as the shoulder of the road, replace the ETC card, and then restart the vehicle toward the entrance toll booth. In this case, however, smooth running is hindered.

  By the way, for example, Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 propose an ETC vehicle-mounted device having a plurality of insertion ports for ETC cards.

  By using the ETC vehicle-mounted device shown in each of these patent documents, a plurality of ETC cards can be inserted into the ETC vehicle-mounted device body through a plurality of ETC card insertion ports in advance, so that the ETC card can be replaced. It is possible to travel using a plurality of ETC cards.

JP 2007-183128 A Utility Model Registration No. 3102403 JP-A-8-180230

  However, when the ETC vehicle-mounted device described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 is applied to traveling using a plurality of ETC cards shown in FIG. 4, the entrance fee is charged after the vehicle leaves the exit toll gate. Although it is not necessary to replace the ETC card in the section up to the location, it is necessary to artificially switch the ETC card used for automatic payment by a button operation or the like. Note that claim 2 of Patent Document 3 discloses means for automatically selecting an ETC card from which charges are deducted according to the remaining amount of a plurality of ETC cards. It is not always possible to change the ETC card for use in the section from the exit toll gate to the entrance toll gate shown in FIG.

  Therefore, even in the ETC on-board device of Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, the travel considering the advantages related to the toll due to the use of a plurality of ETC cards, such as application of discounts and payment of discounts as described above. Has not been achieved smoothly, safely and appropriately.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above points, and can smoothly, safely and appropriately travel in consideration of the benefits related to tolls by using a plurality of ETC cards. An object of the present invention is to provide an ETC in-vehicle system that can improve convenience.

  In order to achieve the above-described object, the ETC in-vehicle system of the present invention performs communication in a state where an ETC card is inserted with a roadside device installed at a toll gate of a toll road. An ETC in-vehicle system comprising an ETC in-vehicle device capable of automatically paying a toll and an in-vehicle navigation device that guides the host vehicle to a destination along a recommended route to the destination. The navigation device includes a vehicle position detecting means for detecting the vehicle position, the toll road as the recommended route, and the vehicle is paid automatically by using the ETC card. The vehicle can be returned to the toll road after the ETC card used for the automatic payment has been changed after having left the toll road. A route search means capable of searching for a plurality of card use routes which are recommended routes, and the ETC on-board unit includes a plurality of ETC cards which can be inserted into the ETC on-board unit main body. The automatic payment information, which is information required for the automatic payment, is read from the ETC card inserted into the ETC on-board unit main body through the card insertion port and the card insertion port, and the read automatic payment information Is sent to the roadside device, and the automatic payment information transmitted from the roadside device is received, and the received automatic payment information is received in the ETC card inserted in the ETC on-board unit main body. ETC processing means capable of performing ETC processing for automatic payment including writing processing, and a plurality of ETC cards are inserted. The ETC processing means configured to select one ETC card used for the automatic payment and perform the ETC processing on the selected ETC card, and a plurality of the ETC cards are inserted. Based on the detection result of the vehicle position detection means, the vehicle has reached the point where the ETC card should be changed during the guidance along the use path of the multiple cards. And an ETC processing control means for controlling the ETC processing means so as to change the ETC card on which the ETC processing is performed.

  According to such a configuration, the ETC vehicle-mounted device is interlocked with the vehicle-mounted navigation device, so that the vehicle once leaves the toll road and reaches a point where the ETC card used for automatic payment should be changed. It is possible to automatically change the ETC card used for automatic payments after reliably detecting this, so that driving that takes advantage of the toll due to using multiple ETC cards can be performed smoothly, safely and Can be done appropriately.

  The route search means is a recommended route including a toll road to which a toll discount is applied when the travel time is within a predetermined time zone and the travel distance is within the predetermined distance as the multiple card use route. It is recommended that the greater the number of ETC cards inserted into the ETC on-board unit body, the greater the number of times that the vehicle can be temporarily removed from the toll road and the discount applied. It is preferable that the route is formed so as to be searchable.

  And according to such a structure, the driving | running | work for receiving application of discount of multiple times using a plurality of ETC cards can be performed smoothly, safely and appropriately.

  Furthermore, the route search means uses the plurality of ETC cards brought by a plurality of passengers boarding the host vehicle as the plurality of card use routes, and discounts the toll fee. The toll is equally distributed to a plurality of the ETC cards inserted into the ETC on-board unit main body, and the last exit at each exit toll corresponding to each allocated toll The vehicle is temporarily removed from the toll road at the exit toll gate except for the toll gate, and the vehicle is completely removed from the toll road at the final exit toll gate (that is, without returning to the toll road). It is preferable that the recommended route to be separated is formed so as to be searchable.

  And according to such a structure, the driving | running | working for using a plurality of ETC cards and making a toll payment for the toll can be performed smoothly, safely and appropriately.

  According to the ETC in-vehicle system of the present invention, it is possible to smoothly, safely and appropriately travel in consideration of the advantages related to tolls by using a plurality of ETC cards, and to improve convenience. it can.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an ETC in-vehicle system according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ETC in-vehicle system 1 in this embodiment includes an ETC in-vehicle device 2 and an in-vehicle navigation device 3, and the ETC in-vehicle device 2 and the in-vehicle navigation device 3 include an in-vehicle LAN. Are connected to each other via signal lines 5 and the like, and can be linked to each other.

  First, the in-vehicle navigation device 3 will be described in detail. The in-vehicle navigation device 3 is roughly divided into a navigation main unit 7 for performing main processing and control for navigation for guiding the host vehicle from the current location to the destination. A GPS receiver 8, a disk drive 9, an input operation unit 10, a display 11, and a speaker 12 are connected to the navigation main unit 7.

  The GPS receiver 8 receives information about the orbit and time (hereinafter referred to as GPS information) from the GPS satellite 13 and inputs the received GPS information to the navigation main unit 7.

  The disk drive 9 is equipped with a storage medium in which map data is stored. The disk drive 9 may be a DVD drive or a hard disk drive.

  The input operation unit 10 may be, for example, a remote control unit, a linear encoder, or a touch panel of the display 11.

  The navigation main unit 7 will be described in detail. The navigation main unit 7 has a navigation CPU 14 as a main control unit.

  A GPS receiver 8 is connected to the input side of the navigation CPU 14, and GPS information from the GPS receiver 8 is input to the navigation CPU 14.

  Further, an autonomous navigation sensor 15 such as a gyro sensor is connected to the input side of the navigation CPU 14, and the autonomous navigation sensor 15 detects the vehicle position (relative position) by autonomous navigation, and the detection result is transmitted to the navigation CPU 14. To enter.

  Further, a decoder 17 is connected to the navigation CPU 14 via a system bus 16, and a disk drive 9 is connected to the input side of the decoder 17. The decoder 17 is configured to decode the map data read by the disk drive 9 in accordance with a read request from the navigation CPU 14, and the decoded map data is acquired by the navigation CPU 14.

  Furthermore, a display 11 is connected to the navigation CPU 14 via a system bus 16 and an image interface (I / F) 19.

  The navigation CPU 14 is connected to the input operation unit 10 via a system bus 16 and a user interface (I / F) 20.

  Furthermore, a speaker 12 is connected to the navigation CPU 14 via an audio interface (I / F) 21.

  The navigation CPU 14 has, as one of its functional blocks, a host vehicle position calculation unit 22 as host vehicle position detection means. The host vehicle position calculation unit 22 includes GPS information input from the GPS receiver 8 and The vehicle position is calculated by appropriately using the detection result input from the autonomous navigation sensor 15. When calculating the vehicle position, the vehicle position calculation unit 22 causes the disk drive 9 to read map data in response to a map data read request to the disk drive 9, and uses the read map data to Map matching processing is performed to correct the vehicle position to the corresponding position on the road in the map data. When the map matching process is properly performed, the vehicle position calculation unit 22 uses the vehicle position after the map matching process as a final calculation result.

  The navigation CPU 14 has an operation screen drawing unit 24 as one of its functional blocks. The operation screen drawing unit 24 is used for inputting a menu screen, a destination setting operation screen, or a route search condition. Drawing data of various operation screens such as an operation screen is generated, and the generated drawing data is output to the display 11 to display the operation screen.

  Further, the navigation CPU 14 has a destination setting unit 25 as one of its functional blocks. The destination setting unit 25 uses the input operation unit 10 for the operation screen for destination setting. The destination corresponding to the input operation result is set.

  Furthermore, the navigation CPU 14 has a route search condition setting unit 26 as one of its functional blocks. The route search condition setting unit 26 displays the input operation unit 10 for an operation screen for inputting a route search condition. A search condition for a recommended route to a destination corresponding to the input operation result of the used user is set.

  Further, the navigation CPU 14 has a route search unit 27 as route search means as one of its functional blocks, and the route search unit 27 recommends to the destination set by the destination setting unit 25. As a route, a recommended route that satisfies the route search condition set by the route search condition setting unit 26 is searched.

  Further, the navigation CPU 14 has a route guidance unit 29 as one of its functional blocks. The route guidance unit 29 takes the host vehicle to the destination along the recommended route searched by the route search unit 27. The route is guided (route guidance). This route guidance is based on the display of a guide image (intersection enlarged image or the like) on the display 11 or by the output of a guidance voice (for example, an intersection right / left turn guide) from the speaker 8. Alternatively, it may be based on both the guide image and the guide voice.

  The navigation CPU 14 is connected to a card number acquisition unit 31 via the system bus 16, and the card number acquisition unit 31 can use the number of usable ETC cards in the ETC vehicle-mounted device 2 (hereinafter, the number of usable cards). Is called). In the present embodiment, the card number acquisition unit 31 acquires the number of ETC cards actually inserted into the ETC vehicle-mounted device 2 through card insertion openings 32 and 33, which will be described later, as the number of usable cards. It has become. The acquisition of the usable number of cards is performed by outputting a request for notification of the number of ETC cards inserted in the ETC on-board unit 2 from the card number acquiring unit 31 to the ETC on-board unit 2 via the signal line 5. This is done by acquiring the number of ETC cards notified from the ETC on-board unit 2 side via the signal line 5 in response to the notification request.

  Further, a discount information acquisition unit 34 is connected to the navigation CPU 14 via the system bus 16, and the discount information acquisition unit 34 is connected to a toll road (for example, the position of the vehicle and the destination) via wireless communication or the like. The discount information of the toll road existing between the two is acquired, and the acquired discount information is input to the navigation CPU 14.

  The discount information includes conditions for vehicle usage time and travel distance on toll roads to which the discount is applied.

  In the present embodiment, the route search unit 27 includes a toll road, and after the host vehicle is automatically paid by using an ETC card and then temporarily leaves the toll road, It is possible to search for a multi-card use route that is a recommended route that can be returned to the toll road after the effective ETC card used for the change is changed.

  More specifically, the route search unit 27, when the route search condition setting unit 26 sets a route search condition that gives priority to a toll road to which discount is applied, from the card number acquisition unit 31 The number of cards that can be used is acquired, and discount information is acquired from the discount information acquisition unit 34.

  Then, the route search unit 27 discounts the toll when the travel time is within a predetermined time zone and the travel distance is within the predetermined distance as the multiple card use route based on the acquired card usable number and discount information. Recommended routes including toll roads where the number of cards that can be used increases and the number of times that the vehicle can be removed from the toll road and receive discounts increases. (Hereinafter referred to as a discount priority route).

  In addition, the route search unit 27 is also set in the route search condition setting unit 26 when a route search condition for searching for a recommended route suitable for paying off tolls on toll roads by multiple people is set. The number of usable cards is acquired from the card number acquisition unit 31 and the discount information is acquired from the discount information acquisition unit 34.

  Then, the route search unit 27 uses the plurality of ETC cards brought by a plurality of passengers of the host vehicle as a plurality of card use routes based on the acquired card usable number and discount information. A recommended route (hereinafter referred to as a discount payment route) for making a discount payment is searched.

  This discount payment route distributes tolls evenly to the ETC cards for the number of cards that can be used, and the vehicle at the exit toll gate except for the last exit toll gate at each exit toll gate corresponding to each toll allocated. The recommended route is that the vehicle is temporarily removed from the toll road and the vehicle is completely removed from the toll road at the final exit toll gate (without returning to the toll road after leaving).

  In addition, the navigation CPU 14 has a map drawing unit 30 as one of its functional blocks. The map drawing unit 30 includes the vehicle position calculated by the vehicle position calculation unit 22 and its surroundings. In order to display the map on the display 11 by generating the drawing data of the map specified by the operation of the map or the input operation unit 10 and the map around it, and outputting the generated drawing data to the display 11. It has become.

  The system bus 16 is connected to a memory 35 such as SDRAM or Flash ROM. The memory 35 is used for navigation data (map data, etc.), between the in-vehicle navigation device 3 and the ETC in-vehicle device 2. Data used for processing to be performed, an execution program of the navigation CPU 14 or the like is stored (including temporary storage).

  Next, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 2 will be described in detail. The ETC vehicle-mounted device 2 can simultaneously insert a plurality (two in FIG. 1) of ETC cards C (1) and C (2) into the ETC vehicle-mounted device 2. A plurality of (two in FIG. 1) card insertion slots 32 and 33 are provided.

  Moreover, the ETC onboard equipment 2 has an ETC processing section 37 as an ETC processing means, and this ETC processing section 37 is inserted into the ETC onboard equipment 2 through the card insertion ports 32 and 33 ( 1) and C (2) are connected to each other via interface units (I / F) 38 and 39.

  The ETC processing unit 37 performs processing for automatic payment of tolls on toll roads for the ETC cards C (1) and C (2) inserted in the ETC on-board device 2 in this way. A certain ETC process is performed.

  This ETC process reads the automatic payment information (card number, etc.) described above from the ETC cards C (1) and C (2), and sets the read automatic payment information at the toll gate on the toll road. And a process of receiving the automatic payment information transmitted from the roadside machine and writing the received automatic payment information to the ETC card C (1), C (2). It is treated.

  Moreover, the ETC onboard equipment 2 has the communication part 40 which performs radio | wireless communication between roadside apparatuses, and the ETC process part 37 is connected to this communication part 40. FIG. The automatic payment information is transmitted and received between the ETC processing unit 37 and the roadside device in the ETC process via wireless communication between the communication unit 40 and the roadside device.

  Further, the ETC on-board unit 2 has an ETC control unit 41, to which the navigation main unit 7, the ETC processing unit 37, the interface units 38 and 39, and the communication unit 40 are connected. Yes.

  When the ETC control unit 41 detects that the ETC cards C (1) and C (2) are inserted into the ETC vehicle-mounted device 2 via the interface units 38 and 39, the ETC card 41 at the toll gate on the toll road The ETC processing unit 37 is controlled to perform ETC processing for C (1) and C (2).

  At this time, when the ETC control unit 41 detects that a plurality of ETC cards C (1) and C (2) are inserted in the ETC on-board unit 2, one ETC card C ( 1) and C (2) are selected, and the ETC processing unit 37 is controlled to perform ETC processing for the selected ETC cards C (1) and C (2).

  At this time, if the ETC processing is not performed for any of the plurality of ETC cards C (1) and C (2), the ETC control unit 41 controls the ETC processing unit 37, for example, The ETC processing may be performed by preferentially selecting the ETC card C (1) inserted in the upper card insertion slot 32 in FIG.

  Further, the ETC control unit 41 functions as an ETC processing control means, and a plurality of card usage paths (that is, discount priority paths or discount payment paths) in a state where a plurality of ETC cards C (1) and C (2) are inserted. ) A point at which the ETC card C (1), C (2) to be used for automatic payment (that is, ETC processing is performed) should be changed (hereinafter referred to as a card change point) Is called). This detection is performed based on the calculation result of the vehicle position calculation unit 22 acquired from the in-vehicle navigation device 3 side through the signal line 5 and the search result of the multiple card use route by the route search unit 26. Yes.

  The ETC control unit 41 controls the ETC processing unit 37 to change the ETC card on which the ETC process is performed after detecting that the host vehicle has reached the card change point.

  The ETC control unit 41 outputs a notification request for the number of ETC cards C (1) and C (2) inserted in the ETC on-vehicle device 2 from the card number acquisition unit 31 in the in-vehicle navigation device 3. In this case, the number of ETC cards C (1) and C (2) is notified to the card acquisition unit 31 via the signal line 5.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when traveling on the multiple card use route, the ETC cards C (1) and C (2) used for automatic payment can be automatically changed at the card change point.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  In the ETC in-vehicle system 1 in the present embodiment, first, when a route search condition for searching for a discount priority route is input by an input operation using the input operation unit 10 on an operation screen for inputting a route search condition. The route search condition is set in the route search condition setting unit 26. At this time, the destination setting unit 25 also sets the destination by an input operation using the input operation unit 10 on the destination setting operation screen.

  Next, in response to a notification request to the ETC control unit 41, the card number acquisition unit 31 notifies the number of ETC cards C (1) and C (2) inserted in the ETC onboard device 2 from the ETC control unit 41. The notified number is acquired as the card usable number. Here, it is assumed that the number of cards that can be used is two.

  Further, at this time, the discount information acquisition unit 34, as the discount information, information on the commuting discount applied when the travel distance is within 100 km as the predetermined distance in the morning commuting time zone (6:00 to 9:00). It shall be acquired.

  In such a case, the route search unit 27 searches for a discount priority route as shown in FIG.

  The discount priority route shown in FIG. 2 enters the expressway from the first interchange (IC), passes through the second interchange (IC), and then exits (leaves) the expressway at the third interchange (IC). After receiving the discount at the first time, return to the highway at the third interchange, go through the fourth interchange (IC), and finally get off the highway at the fifth interchange. The second discount can be applied.

  When the host vehicle travels with such a discount priority route in a state where two ETC cards C (1) and C (2) are inserted into the ETC on-board device 2, first, the first interchange of the first interchange At the entrance toll gate (ETC entrance gate), the ETC processing unit 37 selects one ETC card C (1) as a card on which ETC processing is performed under the control of the ETC control unit 41.

  Next, automatic payment information for the ETC card C (1) is transmitted and received between the roadside machine at the entrance toll gate of the first interchange and the ETC processing unit 37 via wireless communication.

  Then, when the host vehicle travels toward the third interchange after passing through the first toll gate at the first interchange, the route guidance unit 29 is directed to the user at the point A before the third interchange. At the next third interchange, route guidance (for example, voice guidance) for temporarily getting off the expressway is performed.

  Next, when the host vehicle reaches the third interchange exit toll gate (ETC exit gate), an automatic target for the ETC card C (1) is established between the roadside machine at the exit toll gate and the ETC processing unit 37. Payment information is sent and received.

  Accordingly, the host vehicle can pass through the third interchange non-stop and can receive the first discount.

  Then, after the host vehicle once gets off the expressway from the third interchange, the ETC control unit 41 calculates the own vehicle position by the own vehicle position calculation unit 22 and searches for a discount priority route by the route search unit 27. Based on the result, after detecting that the host vehicle has reached the card change point B, the ETC card to be subjected to ETC processing by the control to the ETC processing unit 37 is changed from the ETC card C (1) to the ETC card C. Automatically change to (2).

  Next, when the host vehicle travels to the third interchange entrance toll gate (ETC entrance gate) in order to return to the expressway, the ETC card C is connected between the roadside machine at this entrance toll gate and the ETC processing unit 37. Automatic payment information for (2) is transmitted and received.

  Then, when the host vehicle travels toward the fifth interchange after passing through the entrance gate of the third interchange, the route guidance unit 29 is directed to the user at the point C before the fifth interchange. At the next fifth interchange, route guidance (for example, voice guidance) for temporarily getting off the expressway is performed.

  Next, when the host vehicle reaches the fifth interchange exit toll gate (ETC exit gate), an automatic target for the ETC card C (2) is provided between the roadside machine at the exit toll gate and the ETC processing unit 37. Payment information is sent and received.

  Accordingly, the host vehicle can pass through the fifth interchange non-stop and can receive the second discount.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the ETC cards C (1) and C (2) used for automatic payment can be automatically changed at the card change point B. You can drive safely and appropriately.

  In the state where two ETC cards C (1) and C (2) are inserted in the ETC on-vehicle device 2, the route search condition setting unit 26 sets a route search condition for searching for a discount payment route. In the case, the route search unit 27 searches for a discount payment route as shown in FIG.

  The route search condition for searching for such a discount payment route is set because two ETC cards C (1) and C (2) have different owners (usually a driver and a rider). It is assumed that the

  For convenience, the discount payment route shown in FIG. 3 is one that once gets off the highway at the third interchange, as in FIG. 2, and the card change point B is also the same. In the section from the first interchange to the third interchange, one ETC card C (1) is subject to ETC processing, and the section from the third interchange to the fifth interchange is the other ETC card. C (2) is the target of ETC processing.

  The discount payment route shown in FIG. 3 is characterized in that the tolls on the highway are the same before and after the card change point B, regardless of whether or not a discount is applied. Specifically, the toll from the first interchange to the third interchange and the toll from the third interchange to the fifth interchange are both 1000 yen.

  According to the present embodiment, even when the host vehicle travels on such a discount payment route, the ETC used for the ETC processing by the ETC processing unit 37 at the card change point B as in the case of FIG. Since the cards C (1) and C (2) can be automatically changed by the control of the ETC control unit 41, it is possible to travel smoothly, safely and appropriately on the split payment route.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various change is possible as needed.

  For example, when the number of ETC cards possessed by the passenger exceeds the number of card insertion slots 32 and 33, the card number acquisition unit 31 uses the input operation unit 10 to determine the number of usable cards. It may be obtained by a direct input operation by a user who has been.

  In this case, artificial replacement of the ETC card is required, but compared to the conventional case, such replacement of the ETC card can be performed in a safe state. For example, consider using three ETC cards, the first to third cards, for an ETC vehicle-mounted device having two card insertion slots. In such a case, first, the first and second cards are inserted into the ETC on-vehicle device and sequentially used for automatic payment. At this time, if the first card can be exchanged for the third card at any time after the first card has finished its role and the use of the second card is started, You are not forced to replace the third card with the first card at a dangerous point just before the entrance toll booth where the use of the third card begins.

  Further, the card insertion slot need not be limited to two as described above, and three or more may be provided as necessary.

The block diagram which shows embodiment of the ETC vehicle-mounted system which concerns on this invention Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the operation | movement in a discount priority path | route in embodiment of the ETC vehicle-mounted system which concerns on this invention. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating operation | movement in the discount payment path | route in embodiment of the ETC vehicle-mounted system which concerns on this invention. Explanatory diagram for explaining problems of traveling using conventional ETC

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ETC vehicle-mounted system 2 ETC vehicle-mounted device 3 Car-mounted navigation apparatus 22 Own vehicle position calculation part
32,33 card insertion slot
37 ETC processor
41 ETC controller

Claims (3)

An ETC on-board device capable of automatically paying the toll road toll by performing communication with a roadside device installed at a toll road toll road in a state where an ETC card is inserted;
An ETC in-vehicle system comprising an in-vehicle navigation device that guides the vehicle to a destination along a recommended route to the destination,
The in-vehicle navigation device is
Own vehicle position detecting means for detecting the own vehicle position;
The recommended route includes the toll road, and after the vehicle is temporarily removed from the toll road after the automatic payment is made by using the ETC card, the vehicle is A route search means capable of searching for a multi-card use route that is a recommended route that can be returned to the toll road after the ETC card used for payment is changed,
The ETC OBE is
A plurality of card insertion slots capable of inserting a plurality of the ETC cards into the ETC vehicle-mounted device body;
The automatic payment information, which is information required for the automatic payment, is read from the ETC card inserted into the ETC on-board device body through the card insertion slot, and the read automatic payment information is read to the roadside device. And a process of receiving the automatic payment information transmitted from the roadside device and writing the received automatic payment information to the ETC card inserted in the ETC on-board unit body ETC processing means capable of ETC processing for automatic payment, and when a plurality of ETC cards are inserted, select one ETC card used for automatic payment And an ETC processing means configured to perform the ETC processing on the selected ETC card,
During the route guidance along the multiple card use route in a state where a plurality of the ETC cards are inserted, the vehicle position detection means indicates that the vehicle has reached a point where the ETC card should be changed. An ETC in-vehicle system comprising: ETC processing control means for controlling the ETC processing means to change the ETC card on which the ETC processing is performed after detection based on a detection result. The route search means is a recommended route including a toll road to which a toll discount is applied when the travel time is a predetermined time zone and the travel distance is within a predetermined distance as the multiple card use route, The recommended route is such that the greater the number of ETC cards inserted into the ETC on-board unit body, the greater the number of times that the vehicle can be temporarily detached from the toll road and applied for the discount. The ETC in-vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein the ETC in-vehicle system is configured to be searchable. The route search means uses the plurality of ETC cards brought by a plurality of passengers boarding the host vehicle as the plurality of card use routes to make the toll discounted. It is a recommended route, and the toll is equally distributed to a plurality of the ETC cards inserted into the ETC on-board unit body, and the last exit toll gate at each exit toll gate corresponding to each of the allocated tolls In the exit toll booth, the recommended route that allows the vehicle to leave the toll road once and the last exit toll to leave the vehicle completely from the toll road can be searched. The ETC in-vehicle system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by:

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