JP2019185436A - Vehicle detector, vehicle detection method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicle detector, vehicle detection method, and program capable of accurately detecting entry or passage of diverse vehicles.SOLUTION: A vehicle detector 1 includes plural projectors E disposed on one side in a width direction of a lane and aligned in a height direction, plural light receivers R opposed to the projectors in the width direction across the lane and aligned in the height direction while being paired with the respective projectors E, a light receiving signal acquisition unit 120 that acquires a light receiving signal signifying whether a light axis P linking detection light P, which is projected by the projector E, with the light receiver R which receives the detection light P is intercepted, and a detection signal output unit 130 that outputs based on the acquired light receiving signal a detection signal signifying whether a vehicle exists in the lane. The projectors E and light receivers R are arrayed so that the light axis P is formed to be inclined in the height direction with respect to a virtual line VL extending in the width direction on a road surface in the lane.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle detector, a vehicle detection method, and a program.

Vehicle detectors for detecting entry and passage (exit) of vehicles traveling in the lane one by one are installed at toll gates on the expressway.
A vehicle detector is comprised by the some pair of the light projection part and light-receiving part which were installed so that it might oppose on both sides of a lane, for example. In this case, each of the plurality of light projecting units projects light, and the plurality of light receiving units respectively associated with the light projecting units receive the light. According to such a vehicle detector, when the vehicle traveling in the lane exists between the pair of the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit, the light projected from the light projecting unit to the light receiving unit is blocked by the vehicle. The specific light receiving unit does not receive the light. With such a mechanism, the vehicle detector can detect entry and passage of the vehicle one by one based on the presence or absence of light reception in the light receiving unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  By the way, various types of vehicles enter the toll gate. In particular, in recent years, in Japan, there are many vehicles that can tow objects such as cargo that can be loaded with luggage and leisure boats. In such a vehicle, for example, a to-be-towed object is connected to a hitch member provided on a rear frame of the vehicle via a tow bar. And when a connected vehicle connected by such a tow bar passes through a toll gate, it charges only for the towed vehicle without charging for the towed object and accurately collects the toll. It needs to be recognized as a single vehicle by the vehicle detector.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-074741

Here, there are tow bars of various shapes and sizes depending on the size and weight of the to-be-drawn object. When a vehicle pulls a towed object having a relatively small weight such as a minicargo, a tow bar having a small cross-sectional area may be used because the tow bar does not require so much strength.
However, when the connected vehicle connected by such a tow bar having a small cross-sectional area passes through the toll gate, the above-mentioned vehicle detector emits light emitted from one light projecting unit and other light projections. The tow bar may pass between the light projected from the section. In this case, while the tow bar passes through the toll gate, the light projected from the light projecting unit is not blocked by the vehicle. As a result, the tow bar is not detected by the vehicle detector, and the vehicle is not recognized as passing through the toll gate while the tow bar passes through the vehicle detector. Therefore, the vehicle detector misidentifies that the vehicle and the to-be-towed object are separate vehicles, and the vehicle detector does not perform accurate vehicle detection, so that there is a problem that the toll collection cannot be performed accurately.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a vehicle detector, a vehicle detection method, and a program that can accurately detect the presence or absence of various vehicles.

  A vehicle detector according to an aspect of the present invention is disposed on one side in the width direction of a lane, and a plurality of light emitting units arranged in the height direction, and faces the light projecting unit in the width direction across the lane And a plurality of light receiving units arranged in the height direction in pairs with the light projecting units, and a light connecting the detection light projected by the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit receiving the detection light. A light reception signal acquisition unit for acquiring a light reception signal indicating whether or not the shaft is shielded, and a detection signal output for outputting a detection signal indicating whether a vehicle is present in the lane based on the acquired light reception signal The light projecting unit and the light receiving unit are arranged so that an optical axis inclined in the height direction with respect to a virtual line extending in the width direction on the road surface of the lane is formed. Yes.

If there is a detected part with a small height dimension in the vehicle, and the optical axis extends parallel to the road surface, the range in which the optical axis is shielded by the detected part of the vehicle is the detected part. Within the dimension range in the height direction. For this reason, when the height direction dimension of the detected part is smaller than the distance between the optical axes arranged in the height direction, the detected part passes between the optical axes, and detection of the detected part is performed. I can't.
On the other hand, in this aspect, the optical axis connecting the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit includes an optical axis inclined with respect to the road surface. Therefore, when the detected part has a shape whose width dimension is larger than the height dimension, that is, when the detected part is thin in the height direction, the detected part faces the height direction of the detected part. The optical axis inclined with respect to the road surface may be blocked by the upper surface or the lower surface. A light reception signal indicating whether or not the inclined optical axis is shielded can also be acquired by the light reception signal acquisition unit. Therefore, the presence of the optical axis that is inclined with respect to the road surface can expand the range in which the optical axis is shielded by the detected part. As a result, even a detected part having a thin shape in the height direction can be detected. Therefore, the vehicle detector can detect the presence of the vehicle more accurately.

  Further, in the above aspect, the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit include detection light projected by one light projecting unit, and a plurality of the light receiving units arranged to receive the detection light and be arranged in the height direction. It may be arranged so that a plurality of optical axes connecting each of them are formed.

  In such a configuration, there are a plurality of optical axes that connect one light projecting unit and a plurality of light receiving units. Therefore, the optical axis extends radially from one light projecting unit. Therefore, even if the detected part of the vehicle has a thin shape in the height direction, the range in which the optical axis is shielded by the detected part is further compared with the case where the optical axis extends parallel to the road surface. Can be enlarged. As a result, it is possible to detect the presence of a detection target that is thin in the height direction, and it is possible to more accurately detect whether a vehicle is present in the lane.

  In the above aspect, the light reception signal acquisition unit is configured to block a plurality of optical axes among optical axes connecting one light projecting unit and each of the plurality of light receiving units arranged in the height direction. Only when the optical signal is received, a light reception signal indicating that the optical axis is shielded may be acquired.

  In this way, even if only one optical axis is shielded, the received light signal acquisition unit does not acquire the received light signal. On the other hand, when the detected part of the vehicle exists across two or more optical axes in the height direction, the received light signal acquisition unit acquires the received light signal. The case where the detected part exists across the two optical axes is a case where the dimension in the height direction of the detected part is larger than the distance in the height direction between the two optical axes. Therefore, according to the above configuration, the detected portion can be detected only when the height direction dimension of the detected portion is larger than a predetermined value.

  The vehicle detection method according to an aspect of the present invention includes a light projecting step of projecting detection light from a plurality of light projecting positions arranged in the height direction from one side in the width direction of the lane, and the light projecting step. A light receiving step of receiving the detection light projected in the light step at a plurality of light receiving positions that face the width direction across the lane and are aligned with the plurality of light projecting positions in the height direction. And a signal acquisition step of acquiring a light reception signal indicating whether or not an optical axis connecting the detection light projected from the light projection position and the light reception position for receiving the detection light is shielded, and the signal acquisition A signal output step of outputting a detection signal indicating whether or not a vehicle is present in the lane based on the light reception signal acquired in the step, and in the light projecting step and the light receiving step, The height direction with respect to a virtual line extending in the width direction on the road surface Light projecting and light receiving is performed so that the optical axis which is inclined is formed.

  Further, in the light projecting step and the light receiving step of the above aspect, a plurality of optical axes that connect one light projecting position and each of the plurality of light receiving positions arranged in the height direction are formed. Light and light reception may be performed.

  Further, in the signal acquisition step of the above aspect, when a plurality of optical axes among the optical axes connecting one light projecting position and each of the plurality of light receiving positions arranged in the height direction are shielded. Only a light reception signal indicating that the optical axis is shielded may be acquired.

  A program according to an aspect of the present invention includes a light projecting unit arranged on one side in the width direction of a lane and arranged in the height direction, and facing the light projecting unit in the width direction across the lane. A plurality of light receiving units arranged in the height direction in pairs with each of the light projecting units, and connecting the detection light projected by the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit receiving the detection light A control device capable of detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle with a vehicle detector in which an optical axis inclined in the height direction with respect to a virtual line extending in the width direction on the road surface of the lane is formed as an optical axis. A light reception signal acquisition means for acquiring a light reception signal indicating whether or not the optical axis is shielded from the computer, and a detection signal indicating whether or not a vehicle exists in the lane based on the acquired light reception signal Functioning as detection signal output means.

  With the above vehicle detector, vehicle detection method, and program, it is possible to accurately detect the presence or absence of a wide variety of vehicles.

1 is an overall view of a vehicle detector according to a first embodiment of the present invention and a vehicle detected by the vehicle detector. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a figure which shows the vehicle detected by the vehicle detector which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a whole side view of a vehicle, (b) is a figure which shows the tow bar of a vehicle, It is II sectional drawing of (a). It is a figure which shows the function structure of the vehicle detector which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention, and the structure of a light projection part and a light-receiving part. It is a figure which shows the mode of the detection of the vehicle with the vehicle detector which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows a mode that detection light is projected from the uppermost light projection part. It is a figure which shows the mode of detection of the vehicle in the vehicle detector which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows a mode that detection light is projected from the 2nd light projection part from the top. It is a figure which shows the mode of the detection of the vehicle with the vehicle detector which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows a mode that detection light is projected from the 3rd light projection part from the top. It is a figure which shows a mode of the detection of the vehicle with the vehicle detector which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows a mode that detection light is projected from the 4th light projection part from the top. It is a figure which shows a mode of the detection of the vehicle with the vehicle detector which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure which shows a mode that detection light is projected from the light projection part of the lowest part from the top. It is a figure which shows the processing flow of the vehicle detector which concerns on 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the mode of the detection of the vehicle with the vehicle detector which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the structure of the computer which concerns on at least 1 embodiment.

[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, a vehicle detector 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(overall structure)
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle detector 1 is installed in a lane L provided in a toll booth on an expressway, and detects the entry and passage of a vehicle A traveling in the lane L. The vehicle detector 1 according to the present embodiment forms, for example, one of the configurations of an electronic fee collection system (ETC: Electronic Toll Collection System (registered trademark), also referred to as “automatic fee collection system”). In this case, the lane L may be provided with various components (roadside antenna, open / close bar, etc.) that constitute the electronic toll collection system, but illustration and description of these components are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the vehicle A detected by the vehicle detector 1 includes a vehicle main body A1 that is an automobile, a tow bar A2 having one end provided at the rear of the vehicle main body A1, and a tow bar A2. And a to-be-triggered object A3 provided with the other end. The to-be-towed object A3 is, for example, a cargo or the like that can load a load. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the tow bar A2 has a cross section in which the dimension in the width direction (± Y direction) of the lane L is larger than the dimension in the height direction (± Z direction). It is a rectangular member. The dimension in the height direction (± Z direction) of the tow bar A2 is, for example, about 15 mm, and the dimension in the width direction of the tow bar A2 is, for example, about 50 mm.

The vehicle detector 1 includes a light projecting tower 100, a light receiving tower 101, and a control device 11.
The light projecting tower 100 and the light receiving tower 101 are installed at the same predetermined position in the lane direction (± X direction) of the lane L and on both sides (islands) of the lane L so as to sandwich the lane L therebetween. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the light projecting tower 100 is installed on the side of the lane L on the −Y direction side, and the light receiving tower 101 is installed on the side of the lane L in the width direction on the + Y direction side. Is done. The light projecting tower 100 and the light receiving tower 101 are each formed in a rectangular shape extending from both side portions (islands) to the + Z direction side in the height direction, and have surfaces facing each other across the lane L.

The light projecting tower 100 has a plurality of light projecting parts E that project light P (for example, infrared light) having a predetermined wavelength toward the light receiving tower 101. The light projecting unit E is, for example, a light emitting diode (LED) element having a predetermined directivity (degree of light spreading from the light source). The plurality of light projecting units E are arranged one by one at the light projecting positions arranged at predetermined intervals in the height direction on the surface of the light projecting tower 100 facing the light receiving tower 101.
As will be described later, each light projecting unit E performs light projecting one by one in accordance with a predetermined light projecting control signal input from the control device 11 while shifting the timing.

The light receiving tower 101 has a plurality of light receiving portions R capable of receiving the detection light P projected from the light projecting portion E. The light receiving unit R is a light receiving sensor having a photodiode or the like that can output a light receiving signal corresponding to the presence or absence of light P. The light reception detection signal output from the light receiving unit R is input to the control device 11 described later, and is used to determine whether or not the light receiving unit R has received the detection light P. The plurality of light receiving units R are arranged one by one at a plurality of light receiving positions arranged at predetermined intervals in the height direction on the surface of the light receiving tower 101 facing the light projecting tower 100. Here, each of the light receiving parts R is provided at the same height as each of the plurality of light projecting parts E arranged in the light projecting tower 100.
As will be described later, each light receiving unit R detects the presence or absence of light reception in accordance with the timing at which each light projecting unit E projects light in accordance with a predetermined light receiving control signal input from the control device 11.

  The light projecting units E and the light receiving units R are arranged in the height direction at intervals of, for example, about 15 mm to 30 mm in the light projecting tower 100 and the light receiving tower 101. The arrangement intervals of the light projecting units E or the light receiving units R are not necessarily equal. As described above, in the present embodiment, each of the light projecting portions E has a pair of light receiving portions R arranged at the same height.

  The control device 11 controls the vehicle detection operation of the vehicle detector 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 11 is installed on the side of the lane L. The control device 11 may be, for example, a “lane server” that controls the entire toll collection process by the electronic toll collection system.

(Functional configuration)
As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 11 includes a light projection / reception processing unit 110, a light reception signal acquisition unit 120, and a detection signal output unit 130.

The light projection / reception processing unit 110 controls light projection processing by the light projection unit E and light reception processing by the light reception unit R. Specifically, the light projection / reception processing unit 110 outputs a light projection control signal to each light projection unit E, and causes each light projection unit E to project detection light P at a desired timing.
In addition, the light projecting and receiving processing unit 110 outputs a light receiving control signal to each light receiving unit R, and receives the detection light P projected from each light projecting unit E at a timing corresponding to the above light projecting timing. Each light receiving part R is made to detect the presence or absence. For example, a switch SI provided in each light projecting unit E is operated by a light receiving control signal, and detection light P from one light projecting unit E is received by one light receiving unit R associated with the light projecting unit E. Make it possible.

  Here, the “detection light P” means that when one light projecting unit E projects light P at a certain timing, the “detection light P” is associated with the “one light projecting unit E in a positional relationship in the height direction”. Indicates the light received by the light receiving portion R ”. In the following description, a pair of one light projecting unit E and one light receiving unit R that receives the detection light P projected from the one light projecting unit E is also expressed as “optical axis P”. To do.

In the present embodiment, “one light receiving portion R associated with one light projecting portion E by the positional relationship in the height direction” is as follows. As a premise, the light projecting part E arranged at the uppermost part is referred to as a light projecting part E1, and is denoted as light projecting parts E2, E3, E4, E5 from the light projecting part E1 downward. In addition, the light receiving part R arranged at the uppermost part is referred to as a light receiving part R1, and expressed as light receiving parts R2, R3, R4, and R5 from the light receiving part R1 downward.
-Light receiving parts R1, R2, and R3 with respect to the light projecting part E1 (see FIG. 4)
-Light receiving parts R1, R2, R3, R4 with respect to the light projecting part E2 (see FIG. 5)
-Light receiving parts R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 with respect to the light projecting part E3 (see FIG. 6)
-Light receiving parts R2, R3, R4, R5 with respect to the light projecting part E4 (see FIG. 7)
-Light receiving parts R3, R4, R5 (see FIG. 8) with respect to the light projecting part E5

  That is, the detection light P projected from one light projecting unit E is not only received by the light receiving unit R at the same height as the one light projecting unit E, but also to one light projecting unit E. Light is received by up to two other light receiving parts R arranged above and below the light receiving part R across the light receiving part R at the same height. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the detection light P from one light projecting unit E is received by a maximum of five light receiving units R, and a maximum of five optical axes P are formed from one light projecting unit E. The optical axis P connecting the light projecting unit E and the light receiving unit R at the same height is substantially parallel to the virtual line VL extending in the width direction on the road surface of the lane L. On the other hand, the optical axis P connecting the light projecting unit E and the light receiving unit R at different height positions is inclined in the height direction with respect to the virtual line VL. Thus, the detection light P is projected radially from one light projecting unit E.

  The light reception signal acquisition unit 120 determines whether at least one of the optical axes P connecting the detection light P projected by the light projecting unit E and the light receiving unit R receiving the detection light P is shielded. A light reception signal indicating is obtained. Specifically, the received light signal acquisition unit 120 determines whether or not the amount of received light received by each light receiving unit R is greater than a preset threshold value. When the amount of light received by the light receiving unit R is smaller than the threshold value, it is determined that “the optical axis P is shielded”, and a light reception signal that “the optical axis P is shielded” is acquired.

The detection signal output unit 130 outputs a detection signal indicating whether or not the vehicle A exists in the lane L based on the light reception signal acquired by the light reception signal acquisition unit 120. More specifically, the detection signal output unit 130 determines that the vehicle A exists based on the received signal when the optical axis P in the light reception signal acquisition unit 120 is shielded from light, and detects that the vehicle exists. Is output.
Here, the functions of the light projection / reception processing unit 110, the light reception signal acquisition unit 120, and the detection signal output unit 130 described above are sequentially exhibited by each light projection unit E. That is, when the detection light P is projected from the light projecting unit E1, the received light signal acquisition unit 120 determines whether or not the optical axis P is blocked for each of the light receiving units R1, R2, and R3 associated with the light projecting unit E1. The detection signal output unit 130 outputs a detection signal indicating whether or not a vehicle is present. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the optical axis P is shielded from the detection light P projected from the light projecting unit E2, and a detection signal indicating whether or not a vehicle is present is output. In this procedure, it is determined whether or not the optical axis P is shielded for all the light projecting units E, and a detection signal indicating whether or not a vehicle is present is output. In the present embodiment, when at least one optical axis P is shielded, a detection signal “the vehicle is present” is output, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when a plurality (for example, all) of the optical axes P projected from the uppermost light projecting part E1 are shielded, the one that shields the optical axes P is a rearview mirror of a large vehicle. Since it is assumed that it is an arm of a UNIC vehicle (crane vehicle), it may be determined that the one blocking the optical axis P is not a vehicle. Further, when a plurality (for example, all) of the optical axes P projected from the lowermost projecting portion E5 are shielded, a vehicle having a low vehicle height is shielded from the optical axes P. In such a case, it may be determined that the vehicle that shields the optical axis P is a vehicle. Therefore, it is also possible to determine the presence or absence of the vehicle based on conditions such as at which height the optical axis P is shielded and whether the optical axis P is shielded continuously in the height direction. It is.

(Processing flow)
The processing flow of this embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is repeatedly executed while the vehicle detector 1 is in operation.

The light projection / reception processing unit 110 performs a light projection process and a light reception process through the plurality of light projection units E and the plurality of light reception units R (step S01: light projection process and light reception process).
Specifically, the light projection and reception processing unit 110 outputs a light projection control signal to each of the plurality of light projection units E, and detects the detection light P (in order from the top, for example) one by one. (See FIGS. 4 to 8). Each light projecting unit E that has received the control signal for light projection projects the detection light P at the timing when the control signal for light projection is received.
In addition, the light projection / reception processing unit 110 outputs a light reception control signal to each of the plurality of light reception units R in accordance with the timing at which each light projection unit E is projected. As described above, the light receiving control signal is output to the plurality of light receiving units R corresponding to the light projecting unit E that has projected the detection light P.

  The light reception signal acquisition unit 120 acquires a reception signal of “YES” when at least one of the optical axes P extending from all the light projecting units E is shielded, and receives light from all the light projecting units E. When the extending optical axis P is not shielded, a “NO” reception signal is acquired (step S02: signal acquisition step). When acquiring the received signal “YES”, the optical axis P parallel to the virtual line VL extending in the width direction on the road surface is shielded, and the optical axis inclined in the height direction with respect to the virtual line VL. Two cases where P is shielded are included.

  When the received light signal acquisition unit 120 receives a “YES” signal, the detection signal output unit 130 determines that “the vehicle is present” based on this signal (step S03: signal output step). When the light reception signal acquisition unit receives a “NO” signal, it is determined that there is no vehicle based on this signal (step S04: signal output step).

(Function and effect)
In the vehicle detector 1 of the present embodiment described above, the vehicle A is on the road surface when at least one of the optical axes P connecting the one light projecting unit E and the light projecting unit R is shielded. It can be determined that it exists above. In the present embodiment, the plurality of optical axes P also includes an optical axis P that is inclined in the height direction with respect to the virtual line VL on the road surface. Therefore, even when the optical axis P inclined in the height direction with respect to the virtual line VL is shielded by the vehicle A, it can be determined that the vehicle A exists on the road surface.

  As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the tow bar A2 of the vehicle A is between an optical axis P1 connecting the light projecting unit E3 and the light receiving unit R3 and an optical axis P2 connecting the light projecting unit E4 and the light receiving unit R4. If it exists, if only the optical axis P extending parallel to the road surface exists, the tow bar A2, which is a detected portion having a small height dimension, does not shield the optical axis P. Therefore, when the tow bar A2 passes the position of the optical axis P, the range in which the optical axis P is shielded by the tow bar A2 is within the height range of the tow bar A2. For this reason, when the dimension in the height direction of the tow bar A2 is smaller than the distance LL between the optical axes P arranged in the height direction, the tow bar A2 passes through between the optical axes P, and the tow bar A2 cannot be detected.

  On the other hand, in the vehicle detector 1 of the present embodiment, the tow bar A2 has a shape that is larger in the width direction than the height direction, that is, the tow bar A2 that is thin in the height direction. However, the inclined optical axis P is also shielded by the upper surface SF1 and the lower surface SF2 facing the height direction of the tow bar A2 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). And even if it is a case where the optical axis P which inclines with respect to such a road surface is light-shielded, the received light signal acquisition part 120 acquires the received signal of "YES" in this embodiment.

  As described above, the presence of the optical axis P that is inclined with respect to the road surface allows an expansion of the range in which the tow bar A2, which is a detected portion, shields the optical axis P. As a result, the to-be-detected portion that is thin in the height direction can be detected like the tow bar A2 of the present embodiment, and whether or not the vehicle A exists in the lane L can be detected more accurately. . That is, it is possible to accurately detect the presence or absence of a variety of vehicles A regardless of the type of vehicle A.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the optical axis P extends radially from one light projecting unit E. Therefore, even in the detected portion such as the pulling rod A2 having a thin shape in the height direction, the optical axis P is shielded by the detected portion as compared with the case where the optical axis P extends parallel to the road surface. The range to be expanded can be further expanded. As a result, it is possible to detect the presence of a detected portion that is thin in the height direction, and it is possible to more accurately detect whether or not the vehicle A exists in the lane L.

  Here, in this embodiment, by projecting detection light P from one light projecting unit E to a plurality of light receiving units R, not only the optical axis P inclined with respect to the virtual line VL on the road surface, but also virtual There is also an optical axis P parallel to the line VL. However, the combination of the light projecting unit E and the light receiving unit R connected by the optical axis P is an example and is not limited to this configuration. For example, only the optical axis P inclined with respect to the virtual line VL may exist. That is, the detection light P may be projected from only one light projecting unit E to only one light receiving unit R arranged at a position different from the light projecting unit E in the height direction.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a vehicle detector 1A according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
In the present embodiment, the processing flow in the received light signal acquisition unit 120A is different from that in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the light reception signal acquisition unit 120 </ b> A, when at least two optical axes P among a plurality of optical axes P extending from one light projecting unit E are shielded with respect to each light projecting unit E. The received signal “YES” is acquired. Further, when the optical axis P extending from all the light projecting parts E is not shielded, and only one optical axis among the plurality of optical axes P extending from one light projecting part E for each light projecting part E. When P is shielded from light, a reception signal of “NO” is acquired.
As in the first embodiment, when a received signal of “YES” is acquired, the optical axis P parallel to the virtual line VL on the road surface is shielded from light, and the height is inclined with respect to the virtual line VL. Two cases where the optical axis P to be shielded are included are included.

  In the vehicle detector 1A of the present embodiment described above, when the tow bar A2, which is a detected portion of the vehicle A, passes the position of the optical axis P, like the tow bar A2 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. When only one optical axis P among a plurality of optical axes P extending from any one light projecting unit E is shielded, the received light signal acquiring unit 120A acquires a received signal of “NO”. On the other hand, when the tow bar A2 exists across the two optical axes P in the height direction, as in the case of the tow bar A2 indicated by the solid line in FIG. 10, the received light signal acquisition unit 120A acquires the received light signal of “YES”. Will do. The case where the tow bar A2 exists across the two optical axes P is the position where the tow bar A2 exists, and the height direction dimension of the tow bar A2 is the height direction between the two optical axes P. This is a case where the distance is larger than the distance.

  Therefore, the tow bar A2 is detected only when the dimension in the height direction of the tow bar A2 is larger than a predetermined value (the distance LL in the height direction between the two optical axes P), and the vehicle A is in the lane. It can be determined that L exists. The predetermined value can be set in advance to a desired value in accordance with the shape and size of the detected part.

  In the present embodiment, when the tow bar A2 exists across three or more optical axes P in the height direction, the light reception signal acquisition unit 120A may acquire a light reception signal of “YES”.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, these embodiment is shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of 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 modifications thereof are included in the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof, as long as they are included in the scope and gist of the invention.

  The vehicle detector 1 described above may include a computer 9. As shown in FIG. 11, the computer 9 includes a CPU 91, a main storage device 92, an auxiliary storage device 93, and an interface 94. The operations in the processing flow described above are stored in the auxiliary storage device 93 in the form of a program. The CPU 91 reads out the program from the auxiliary storage device 93 and develops it in the main storage device 92, and executes the above processing according to the program. For example, the light projection / light reception processing unit 110, the light reception signal acquisition unit 120 (120A), and the detection signal output unit 130 described above may be the CPU 91.

  The CPU 91 secures a storage area in the main storage device 92 or the auxiliary storage device 93 according to the program.

  Examples of the auxiliary storage device 93 include HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), magnetic disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disc Read Only). Memory), semiconductor memory, and the like. The auxiliary storage device 93 may be an internal medium directly connected to the bus of the computer 9 or an external medium connected to the computer 9 via the interface 94 or a communication line. When this program is distributed to the computer 9 through a communication line, the computer 9 that has received the distribution may develop the program in the main storage device 92 and execute the above processing. In at least one embodiment, the auxiliary storage device 93 is a tangible storage medium that is not temporary.

Further, the program may be for realizing a part of the functions described above.
Further, the program may be a so-called difference file (difference program) that realizes the above-described function in combination with another program already stored in the auxiliary storage device 93.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A ... Vehicle detector 9 ... Computer 11 ... Control apparatus 91 ... CPU
92 ... Main storage device 93 ... Auxiliary storage device 94 ... Interface 100 ... Projection tower 101 ... Light reception tower 110 ... Projection light reception processing unit 120, 120A ... Light reception signal acquisition unit 130 ... Detection signal output unit L ... Lane E ... Projection light Part R ... Light receiving part A ... Vehicle A1 ... Vehicle body A2 ... Tow bar A3 ... Towed object P ... Detection light (optical axis)
SI ... Switch SF1 ... Upper surface SF2 ... Lower surface

Claims (7)

A light projecting portion disposed on one side in the width direction of the lane and arranged in a plurality in the height direction;
A plurality of light receiving units arranged in the height direction to face each of the light projecting units in the width direction across the lane and in pairs with each of the light projecting units,
A light reception signal acquisition unit that acquires a light reception signal indicating whether or not an optical axis connecting the detection light projected by the light projection unit and the light reception unit that receives the detection light is blocked;
A detection signal output unit that outputs a detection signal indicating whether or not a vehicle exists in the lane based on the acquired light reception signal;
With
The said light projection part and the said light-receiving part are the vehicle detectors arranged so that the optical axis which inclines in the said height direction with respect to the virtual line extended in the said width direction on the road surface of the said lane may be formed.   The light projecting unit and the light receiving unit include a plurality of detection lights projected by one of the light projecting units and a plurality of the light receiving units that receive the detection light and are arranged in the height direction. The vehicle detector according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle detectors are arranged so as to form an optical axis.   The light reception signal acquisition unit is only when a plurality of optical axes are shielded from the optical axes connecting one light projecting unit and each of the plurality of light receiving units arranged in the height direction. The vehicle detector according to claim 2, wherein a light reception signal indicating that the optical axis is shielded is acquired. A light projecting step of projecting detection light from a plurality of light projecting positions aligned in the height direction from one of the width directions of the lane;
The detection light projected in the light projecting step is received at a plurality of light receiving positions that face the width direction across the lane and are aligned with the plurality of light projecting positions in the height direction. A light receiving process;
A signal acquisition step of acquiring a light reception signal indicating whether or not an optical axis connecting the detection light projected from the light projection position and the light reception position for receiving the detection light is blocked;
Based on the light reception signal acquired in the signal acquisition step, a signal output step of outputting a detection signal indicating whether or not a vehicle exists in the lane,
Including
In the light projecting step and the light receiving step, vehicle detection is performed such that an optical axis inclined in the height direction is formed with respect to a virtual line extending in the width direction on the road surface of the lane. Method.   In the light projecting step and the light receiving step, light projecting and light receiving are performed so that a plurality of optical axes connecting one light projecting position and each of the plurality of light receiving positions arranged in the height direction are formed. The vehicle detection method according to claim 4.   In the signal acquisition step, only when a plurality of optical axes among the optical axes connecting one light projecting position and each of the plurality of light receiving positions arranged in the height direction are shielded, the optical axis The vehicle detection method according to claim 5, wherein a light reception signal indicating that the light is blocked is acquired. A plurality of light projecting portions arranged on one side in the width direction of the lane and arranged in the height direction, and each light projecting portion facing the light projecting portion in the width direction across the lane A plurality of light receiving sections arranged in the height direction, and an optical axis connecting the detection light projected by the light projecting section and the light receiving section receiving the detection light on the road surface of the lane A computer of a control device capable of detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle with a vehicle detector in which an optical axis inclined in the height direction is formed with respect to an imaginary line extending in the width direction,
A light reception signal acquisition means for acquiring a light reception signal indicating whether or not the optical axis is shielded;
A detection signal output means for outputting a detection signal indicating whether or not a vehicle exists in the lane based on the acquired light reception signal;
Program to function as.

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