JP2012198681A - Control device for start control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide the control device of a start control device for preventing the sudden stop or minor collision of a vehicle or the like by controlling the opening/closing timing of the start control device by determining from a traffic state in the neighborhood of a toll gate.SOLUTION: The control device of a start control device is installed on each of a plurality of exit lanes in the toll gate of a toll road, and configured to control the opening/closing timing of the start control device for controlling the possibility/impossibility of passage for a vehicle which passes the exit lane. The control device includes: monitoring means for monitoring the traffic state of a road connected to the exit lane in the neighborhood of the exit of the exit lane; determination means for determining the passible exit lane by determining from the result of monitoring of the monitoring means; and control means for controlling the opening/closing timing of the start control device on the basis of the result of determination of the determination means.

Description

  Embodiments of the present invention relate to a control device for a start control device that controls opening and closing timings of a start control device that is installed in a plurality of lanes in a toll gate on a toll road and controls whether or not a vehicle passing through the lane is allowed to pass.

For example, as a toll collection system at a tollgate on an expressway, there are a manual toll collection system and an automatic toll collection system called an ETC (registered trademark) system.
The manual toll collection system is a system that collects tolls using cash, coupon tickets, credit cards, or the like.
The automatic fee collection system is a system that automatically collects a fee by using wireless communication without stopping the vehicle. Vehicles that use this system must be equipped with onboard equipment.

The entrance lane and the exit lane in the toll gate of the expressway include an ETC dedicated lane for automatic toll collection, a mixed lane in which ETC and manual toll collection are mixed, and a non-ETC lane for manual toll collection.
In the ETC exclusive lane and the mixed lane, a start control device and a roadside display for controlling whether or not the vehicle is allowed to pass are installed. When an automatic machine is installed even in a non-ETC lane, a start control device or the like may be installed.
The start control device is a device that controls whether or not the vehicle is allowed to pass by opening and closing the open / close bar, and the roadside indicator is a device that displays whether or not the vehicle is allowed to pass.

  However, for example, if the exit from the toll gate is close to the junction of the general road, and there is a traffic light and the traffic light is red, or there is a traffic jam, the ETC vehicle will join non-stop, so there is a possibility of sudden stop or collision Is very dangerous.

  In general, there are multiple lanes at the entrance and exit of the toll gate, and if the opening and closing bar of the start control device opens at the same time, for example, the vehicle may concentrate on the merger with the main line, causing a contact accident. Yes and very dangerous.

JP 2005-157430 A

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a control device for a start control device that can control the opening / closing timing of the start control device based on the traffic conditions in the vicinity of the toll booth and prevent sudden stoppage or contact accident of the vehicle. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, a control device of a start control device according to an embodiment is installed in a plurality of exit lanes at a toll gate on a toll road, and starts control that controls whether or not a vehicle passing through the exit lane is allowed to pass. A control device of a start control device for controlling the opening and closing timing of the device, wherein the monitoring means for monitoring the traffic state of the road connected to the exit lane in the vicinity of the exit of the exit lane, and the monitoring result by the monitoring means And a control means for controlling the opening / closing timing of the start control device based on the determination result of the determination means.

The block diagram which shows roughly the structure of the toll collection system of the toll booth in the exit or entrance of the expressway which concerns on embodiment. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of the signal monitoring part which concerns on embodiment. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of the traffic congestion monitoring part which concerns on embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the image of the exit toll gate of the expressway applied to embodiment. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of the control apparatus of the start control apparatus in case there exists a traffic signal immediately after leaving the exit of the exit toll gate which concerns on embodiment. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of a lane control apparatus in case there exists a traffic signal immediately after leaving the exit of the exit toll gate which concerns on embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the image of the entrance toll gate of the expressway applied to embodiment. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of the control apparatus of the start control apparatus when the vicinity immediately after entering the entrance of the entrance toll gate which concerns on embodiment is congested. The flowchart explaining operation | movement of a lane control apparatus when the vicinity immediately after entering the entrance of the entrance toll gate which concerns on embodiment is congested.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of a toll collection system at a tollgate at the exit or entrance of an expressway according to the present embodiment. This toll collection system includes an automatic toll collection system (hereinafter also referred to as an ETC system), a manual toll collection system, and a control device 160 of a start control device.

  The ETC system includes a lane control device 101, a vehicle detection device 102, a roadside wireless device 103, a roadside display 104, a start control device 105, an IC card reader 106, a toll collector 107, and an ETC system host device 140 for each lane. The lane control device 101 controls the vehicle detection device 102, the roadside radio device 103, the roadside display 104, the start control device 105, and the IC card reader 106, and the ETC system host device 140 and the toll collector 107 are used as necessary. Exchange information.

  In the manual toll collection system, the toll collector 107 performs toll collection processing for each lane, and if necessary, controls the IC card reader 106 and the start control device 105 via the lane control device 101, and the display control of the roadside display 104. Etc., and exchanges information with the manual fee collection system host device 150 as necessary.

  The control device 160 of the start control device includes an opening / closing control unit 161, a signal monitoring unit 162, and a traffic congestion monitoring unit 163. The opening / closing control unit 161 controls the opening / closing timing of the opening / closing bar of the start control device 105 based on the monitoring results from the signal monitoring unit 162 and the traffic congestion monitoring unit 163.

  The signal monitoring unit 162 monitors a signal state of a traffic light as a traffic state, and includes a camera unit 162a and an image analysis unit 162b. The traffic monitoring unit 163 monitors the traffic state of a specific area as a traffic state, and includes a camera unit 163a and an image analysis unit 163b.

  There are three types of entrance lanes and exit lanes for toll gates as described above: ETC lanes, mixed lanes, and non-ETC lanes. A display 104 is installed. In addition, even in a non-ETC lane, when an automatic ticket issuing machine or a toll collector is installed, a start control device 105 and a roadside display 104 are installed.

  In some cases, a notice antenna device 170 is installed at the exit of the toll gate or near the entrance. The warning antenna device 170 performs identification in advance between an ETC vehicle and a non-ETC vehicle by performing wireless communication with a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle entering via the warning antenna 170a. is there.

Next, the operation of the signal monitoring unit 162 in the control device 160 of the start control device in such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The camera unit 162a captures the lighting state of the signal lamp of the traffic light installed at the intersection (step 501), and the image analysis unit 162b performs predetermined image analysis processing on the captured image to determine the lighting state of the signal lamp ( Step 502) If there is a change in the lighting state of the signal lamp (Step 503), the result is notified to the open / close control unit 161 (Step 504).

Next, the operation of the traffic congestion monitoring unit 163 in the control device 160 of the start control device will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
The traffic state of the vehicle in the specific area is imaged by the camera unit 163a (step 601), and the image analysis unit 163b performs predetermined image analysis processing on the captured image to determine the traffic state of the vehicle in the specific area (step). 602) If there is a change in the traffic jam state (step 603), the result is notified to the open / close control unit 161 (step 604).

  Next, an operation example of an exit toll gate on a highway using the control device 160 of the start control device will be described.

  The image figure of the exit toll gate of the expressway applied to FIG. 4 is shown. In FIG. 4, 11 is the exit lane of the exit toll gate, 12 is the vehicle that has entered the exit lane 11, 13 is the opening / closing bar of the start control device 105 installed in the exit lane 11, and 14 is near the exit of the exit toll gate. A specific area (a merge area where the vehicles 12 that have passed through the start control device 105 merge), 15 is an intersection of ordinary roads connected to the specific area 14, and 16 is a traffic light installed at the intersection 15.

  First, operations of the control device 160 of the start control device and the lane control device 101 when there is a traffic light immediately after exiting the exit toll gate will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

For example, the camera unit 162a of the signal monitoring unit 162 is installed at a position where the traffic signal 16 at the intersection 15 can be monitored, and the signal lamp state of the signal unit 16 is always photographed and the image is analyzed by the image analysis unit 162b to check the signal lamp state. Obtain and notify the open / close control unit 161 (step 301).
Further, the lane control device 101 constantly acquires the vehicle entry status and notifies the open / close control unit 161 (step 301, steps 401 to 402).

  While the signal state received from the signal monitoring unit 162 is not blue, the opening / closing control unit 161 notifies the lane control device 101 of a signal waiting and opening / closing bar closing instruction of the start control device 105 (steps 302 to 302, steps 403 to 403). 404).

When the signal state received from the signal monitoring unit 162 changes to blue, the open / close control unit 161 prevents the open / close bars 13 of the start control devices 105 of each lane from opening all at once, for example, lane 2, lane 3, lane 4 The opening / closing bar opening instruction is notified to the lane control device 101 in this order (steps 302 to 305, step 408).
It should be noted that the order of opening / closing bar opening instructions to each lane can be set in the opening / closing control unit 161 according to conditions such as the order of vehicle entry, the order of approach to a general road, and other conditions.

  When the lane control device 101 receives a notification from the opening / closing control unit 161 that the opening / closing bar of the start control device 105 is closed, the lane control device 101 displays a message “pause for signal waiting” on the roadside display 104 (steps 403 to 404). If there is a vehicle that is about to pass through the opening / closing bar 13, the opening / closing bar 13 is closed when the vehicle passes (step 406). If the opening / closing bar 13 is already closed, the vehicle is closed as is ( Step 407).

  When the lane control device 101 receives a notification of the opening / closing bar opening instruction of the start control device 105 from the opening / closing control unit 161, the lane control device 101 displays a message “passable” on the roadside indicator 104 and opens the opening / closing bar 13 (step 408). ~ 411).

  Next, the operations of the control device 160 of the start control device and the lane control device 101 when the vicinity immediately after leaving the exit of the exit toll gate is congested will be described.

For example, the camera unit 163a of the traffic congestion monitoring unit 163 is installed at a position where the specific area 14 (see FIG. 4) immediately after exiting the exit toll gate can be monitored, and the traffic congestion state of the vehicle 12 in the specific area 14 is always photographed. Then, the image analysis unit 163b analyzes the image to acquire a traffic jam state, and notifies the open / close control unit 161 of it.
In addition, the lane control device 101 constantly acquires the approach status of the vehicle and notifies the opening / closing control unit 161 of it.

When receiving the occurrence of the traffic jam from the traffic monitoring unit 163, the opening / closing control unit 161 notifies the lane control device 101 that there is a traffic jam and that the opening / closing bar of the start control device 105 cannot be opened. Thereafter, when the congestion state starts to be alleviated, an opening / closing bar opening instruction is given for a certain time in the order of lane 2, lane 3, and lane 4, for example, so that the opening / closing bar 13 of the start control device 105 does not open all at once.
It should be noted that the order of opening / closing bar opening instructions to each lane can be set in the opening / closing control unit 161 according to the order of entry of the vehicle 12, the order close to the general road, or other conditions.

  When the lane control device 101 receives a notification from the opening / closing control unit 161 that the opening / closing bar of the start control device 105 is not available, the lane control device 101 displays a message “pause due to traffic jam” on the roadside display 104, and if the opening / closing bar 13 is If there is a vehicle 12 that is going to pass, the opening / closing bar 13 is closed when the vehicle 12 passes, and if the opening / closing bar 13 is already closed, the opening / closing bar 13 is closed as it is.

  When the lane control device 101 receives a notification of the opening / closing bar opening instruction of the start control device 105 from the opening / closing control unit 161, the lane control device 101 displays a message “passable” on the roadside display 104 and opens the opening / closing bar 13.

  That is, the control device 160 of the start control device notifies the opening / closing control unit 161 of the monitoring status as needed from the signal monitoring unit 162, the traffic congestion monitoring unit 163, or both, and further acquires the vehicle approaching status from the lane control device 101. The control tower serves to control and direct the opening and closing of the opening and closing bar 13 of the start control device 105 of the entire exit toll gate.

  In the course of monitoring the traffic light 16, if the length of the red light, blue light, direction indicator light, timing of change, etc. can be grasped, the information, the opening / closing instruction, etc. are sent to the lane control device before the signal changes. If the length of the right turn signal is different from the straight turn signal or the left turn signal and the right turn signal is short, the priority for opening the right lane opening / closing bar is lowered and the center or left lane opening / closing is opened / closed. By opening the bar with priority, it is possible to alleviate the traffic congestion of vehicles waiting for a right turn signal (because vehicles that turn right tend to use the right lane).

  Further, the lane control device 101 notifies the opening / closing control unit 161 of vehicle approach information, and receives signal information, traffic jam information, and an opening / closing bar opening / closing instruction from the opening / closing control unit 161. The information is displayed on the roadside display 104, and the opening / closing bar 13 of the start control device 105 is controlled in accordance with the opening / closing instruction. Furthermore, by notifying such information by the wireless communication to the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle 12 via the roadside wireless device 103, the information is displayed on the display unit of the vehicle-mounted device and notified to the user (driver). It is also possible to do.

  When the notice antenna device 170 is installed in the vicinity of the toll gate exit, the control device 160 of the start control device notifies the notice antenna device 170 that the start control device 105 is in the open / close control. In response to this, the notice antenna device 170 is in the open / close control of the start control device 105 with respect to the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle 12 by wireless communication from the notice antenna 170a. It is also possible to notify the user (driver) by displaying on the display unit of the vehicle-mounted device by notifying a warning message or the like that 13 may not open.

  In addition, the present embodiment can be applied to any ETC dedicated lane, mixed lane, or non-ETC lane if the start control device 105 is installed. When the processing is performed only with the manual toll collection system and the start control device 105 is not controlled by the lane control device 101, the start control device 105 can be controlled via the toll collector 107. Further, if the opening / closing control unit 161 and the start control device 105 are connectable, it is possible to directly issue an opening / closing control instruction.

  Next, an operation example of an entrance toll gate on a highway using the control device 160 of the start control device will be described.

  The image figure of the entrance toll gate of the expressway applied to FIG. 7 is shown. In FIG. 7, 21 is an entrance lane of the entrance toll gate, 22 is a vehicle entering the entrance lane 21, 23 is an opening / closing bar of the start control device 105 installed in the entrance lane 21, and 24 is near the entrance of the entrance toll gate. A specific area 25 indicates a branch road from the main highway 26 connected to the specific area 24.

  First, operations of the control device 160 of the start control device and the lane control device 101 when the vicinity immediately after entering the entrance of the entrance toll gate is congested will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

For example, the camera unit 163a of the traffic congestion monitoring unit 163 is installed at a position where the specific area 24 (see FIG. 7) immediately after entering the entrance of the entrance toll gate can be monitored, and the traffic congestion state of the vehicle 22 in the specific area 24 is always photographed. Then, the image analysis unit 163b analyzes the image to acquire a traffic jam state, and notifies the open / close control unit 161 of it.
Further, the lane control device 101 constantly acquires the vehicle entry status and notifies the open / close control unit 161 (steps 801 and 901 to 902).

  When the traffic control unit 161 receives the traffic congestion notification from the traffic monitoring unit 163, the traffic control unit 161 notifies the lane control device 101 that there is a traffic jam and the opening / closing bar of the start control device 105 is closed (steps 802 to 803, steps 903 to 904). .

Thereafter, when the congestion starts to be alleviated, for example, the opening / closing bar opening instruction is notified for a certain time in the order of lane 3, lane 2, and lane 1 so as not to open the opening / closing bar 23 of the start control device 105 all at once (steps 802 to 802). 805, step 908).
In addition, the order of the opening / closing bar opening instruction to each lane can be set in the opening / closing control unit 161 according to the order of entry of the vehicle 22, the order close to the specific area 24, or other conditions.

  Next, operations of the control device 160 of the start control device and the lane control device 101 when the vicinity immediately after entering the entrance of the entrance toll gate is not particularly crowded will be described.

The lane control device 101 constantly acquires the approach state of the vehicle and notifies the opening / closing control unit 161.
The open / close control unit 161 obtains the vehicle approach status from the lane control device 101 and issues an open / close bar open / close instruction to the lane control device 101 while simultaneously determining that the open / close bar 23 of the start control device 105 is not opened. Notice.

  Note that the order of opening / closing bar opening instructions to each lane depends on conditions such as the order in which the vehicle 22 enters, the order close to the specific area 24, and the adjacent lanes do not open the opening / closing bar all at once. Can be set in

  That is, the control device 160 of the start control device notifies the monitoring status from the traffic congestion monitoring unit 163 to the open / close control unit 161 as needed, and further acquires the vehicle approach status from the lane control device 101 to start the entire entrance toll gate. It serves as a command tower for controlling and instructing the opening / closing of the opening / closing bar 23 of the control device 105.

  The lane control device 101 notifies the opening / closing control unit 161 of vehicle entry information, and receives traffic jam information and an opening / closing bar opening / closing instruction from the opening / closing control unit 161. The information is displayed on the roadside display 104, and the opening / closing bar 13 of the start control device 105 is controlled in accordance with the opening / closing instruction. Furthermore, by notifying such information by wireless communication to the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle 22 via the roadside wireless device 103, the information is displayed on the display unit of the vehicle-mounted device and notified to the user (driver). It is also possible to do.

  When the notice antenna device 170 is installed near the entrance of the toll gate, the control device 160 of the start control device notifies the notice antenna device 170 that the start control device 105 is under open / close control. In response to this, the notification antenna device 170 is in the open / close control of the start control device 105 with respect to the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle 22 by wireless communication from the notification antenna 170a. It is also possible to notify the user (driver) by displaying it on the display unit of the vehicle-mounted device by notifying a caution message or the like that may not open.

  Further, the present embodiment can be adapted to the ETC dedicated lane, the mixed lane, and the non-ETC lane as long as the start control device 105 is installed as in the case of the exit toll gate described above. When the processing is performed only with the manual toll collection system and the start control device 105 is not controlled by the lane control device 101, the start control device 105 can be controlled via the toll collector 107. Further, if the opening / closing control unit 161 and the start control device 105 are connectable, it is possible to directly issue an opening / closing control instruction.

  As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, after determining the signal state and traffic congestion near the exit of the toll gate on the expressway and the traffic jam near the entrance of the entrance toll gate, the start provided in each lane. The opening / closing timing of the opening / closing bar of the control device can be controlled, thereby preventing a sudden stop of the vehicle, a contact accident or the like.

In addition, it is possible to prevent vehicle contact accidents, etc. by acquiring the passing situation of vehicles traveling on the toll booth on the highway and controlling the opening / closing timing of the opening / closing bar of the start control device provided in each lane. .
Furthermore, regardless of an automatic toll collection system (ETC system) or a manual toll collection system, the travel of the vehicle can be controlled through the exit of the toll gate or the entire entrance.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Lane control device, 102 ... Vehicle detection device, 103 ... Roadside radio device, 104 ... Roadside indicator, 105 ... Start control device, 106 ... IC card reader, 107 ... Toll collector, 140 ... ETC system host device, 150 ... manual fee collection system host device, 160 ... control device of start control device, 161 ... opening / closing control unit, 162 ... signal monitoring unit, 163 ... congestion monitoring unit, 162a ... camera unit, 162b ... image analysis unit, 163a ... camera unit 163b: Image analysis unit, 170: Notification antenna device, 170a: Notification antenna.

Claims (8)

A control device for a start control device that controls opening and closing timing of a start control device that is installed in a plurality of exit lanes in a toll gate on a toll road and controls whether or not a vehicle passes through the exit lane,
Monitoring means for monitoring traffic conditions of roads connected to the exit lane near the exit of the exit lane;
A judging means for judging an exit lane that can be passed by judging from a monitoring result by the monitoring means;
Control means for controlling the opening and closing timing of the start control device based on the determination result of the determination means;
A control device for a start control device. Vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring information of a vehicle entering the exit lane,
2. The control of the start control device according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines an exit lane that is accessible based on a result of monitoring by the monitoring unit and vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit. apparatus.   2. The control device for a start control device according to claim 1, further comprising notifying means for notifying a vehicle passing through the exit lane of a monitoring result by the monitoring means and a state of the start control device.   The traffic condition monitored by the monitoring means is at least one of a signal condition of a traffic signal existing on a road near the exit of the exit lane and a traffic jam condition of a vehicle near the exit of the exit lane. The start control device control device according to claim 1, wherein the start control device is a control device. A control device for a start control device that controls opening / closing timing of a start control device that is installed in a plurality of entrance lanes at a toll gate on a toll road and controls whether or not a vehicle that passes through the entrance lane can pass.
Monitoring means for monitoring traffic conditions in the vicinity of the merge of the entrance lane;
Determination means for determining the entrance lane that is accessible by judging the monitoring result by the monitoring means;
Control means for controlling the opening and closing timing of the start control device based on the determination result of the determination means;
A control device for a start control device. Vehicle information acquisition means for acquiring information of a vehicle entering the entrance lane,
6. The control of the start control device according to claim 5, wherein the determination unit determines an entrance lane that can be passed by determining a monitoring result of the monitoring unit and vehicle information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit. apparatus.   6. The control device for a start control device according to claim 5, further comprising notifying means for notifying a vehicle passing through the entrance lane of a monitoring result by the monitoring means and a state of the start control device.   6. The control device for a start control device according to claim 5, wherein the traffic state monitored by the monitoring means is a traffic congestion state of a vehicle in the vicinity of a merge of the entrance lane.

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