JP2567655Y2 - Vehicle type identification device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to a vehicle type discriminating apparatus applied to a toll collection machine on a toll road.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, among toll collection machines on toll roads, a vehicle type discriminating device, which is a device particularly effective in measuring unmanned entrances of toll gates, detects the entry of a vehicle as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 61-19574. A vehicle detector, a tread plate for detecting the number of axles and wheel span of the vehicle detected by the vehicle detector, a photographing device for photographing an image including a license plate of the vehicle, and an image photographed by the photographing device. An image processing means for detecting the size of the license plate on the basis of the image processing means and a detection output of the tread is used to determine a vehicle type.

This has been put into practical use by the Japan Highway Public Corporation or the National Road Corporation, or is planned to be introduced.

On the other hand, the ones planned to be introduced by the Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation or the Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation, etc.
There are 575. This is because, in Japanese Patent Application No. 61-19574, treads are installed on the road surface to detect the number of axles and wheelbases. It is thought that it can not be done, the contents are a vehicle separator that detects the entry of the vehicle and detects the traveling direction, a vehicle width measuring device that measures the vehicle width of the vehicle in a non-contact manner, A license plate discriminator for discriminating the size of the license plate of the vehicle, and a vehicle type is discriminated based on license plate size information determined by the license plate discriminator and vehicle width information measured by the vehicle width measuring device. And a vehicle type discriminator. With this method, it is impossible to measure the axle of the vehicle, and therefore, it cannot be applied to a toll road in which the number of axles of the vehicle is a vehicle type classification element. Further, the vehicle separator requires two pairs to perform forward / rearward discrimination, which increases the cost.

FIG. 8 also shows a conventional example, which is a similar example to Japanese Patent Application No. 61-19575.
Although the vehicle width measuring device 75 is included as a component in FIG. 8, it is excluded in FIG. 8, but as described above, it is still impossible to measure the axle of the vehicle. Requires two pairs to perform forward / reverse determination.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

As described above, with the configuration shown in Japanese Patent Application No. 61-19575 or FIG. 8, the axle of a vehicle cannot be measured. Can not. On the other hand, on the Metropolitan Expressway or the Hanshin Expressway, most of the elevated roads make it impossible to install treads for measuring axles.

In this way, if the number of vehicle axes can be measured in a non-contact manner on the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway and the Hanshin Expressway, a vehicle type discriminator that is effective even when a toll system with the number of axes as a vehicle type classification element is applied. Is put to practical use.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle type discriminating apparatus which can solve the above-mentioned conventional problems.

[Means for solving the problem]

In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, in a normal vehicle, there is no other than a tire at a height of less than 250 mm above the ground, so if a photoelectric tube device is installed at this position, the tire of the vehicle can be detected. It is focused on that it becomes possible. Also, on both sides of the toll road, the height above the shoulder is 150 m
Since there is a road shoulder (island) of about m to 200 mm, which is normal, a photoelectric tube device may be embedded in this road shoulder.
Further, in order to prevent dirt due to splashing of mud, etc. due to the traffic of the vehicle, it can be prevented by using a plurality of photoelectric tubes. Further, it is possible to determine whether the vehicle is moving forward or backward, and only one pair of vehicle separators is required, so that the cost can be reduced.

The vehicle type discriminating device according to the present invention includes a vehicle separator including a pair of a light emitter and a light receiver installed on the side of a road, and a plurality of photoelectric elements installed horizontally below a position where the vehicle separator is installed. An axis number detector for detecting axle and reversing forward and backward, a vehicle photographing camera for photographing a license plate of a passing vehicle, and an image processing device for processing image information photographed by the camera and recognizing characters on the license plate. And a discrimination processing unit for discriminating a vehicle type based on a character recognition signal of a license plate output from the image processing apparatus and an axis number signal detected by the axis number detector.

[Action]

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, a photoelectric axis number detector (a projector and a light receiver) is installed on a road shoulder (island) having a height of 150 mm to 200 mm to determine whether the vehicle is moving forward and backward and to detect the number of axes. As a result, only one pair of vehicle separators is required. As for the timing of the vehicle type determination, a vehicle type determination signal is transmitted when the vehicle has finished moving forward.

As described above, according to the present invention, the number of axes of a vehicle can be measured without contact even on an elevated road such as the Metropolitan Expressway or the Hanshin Expressway. As a result, an effective vehicle type discriminating device can be put to practical use even when a toll system in which the number of axes is a vehicle type classification element is applied.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention. That is, 11 is a vehicle, and 12 and 13 are a vehicle separator light-emitter and a light receiver for detecting passage of the vehicle. Reference numerals 14 and 15 denote a light emitter and a light receiver of an axis number detector for detecting a tire of a passing vehicle. Reference numeral 16 denotes a vehicle photographing camera, and reference numeral 17 denotes an image processing device, which processes a license plate photographed image of the passing vehicle photographed by 16. 18 and 19 are road shoulders (islands) as described above.

FIG. 2 is an installation diagram of the number-of-axes detectors (light emitter 14 and light receiver 15), and shows a situation where the number of axes is buried in the islands 18 and 19.

Reference numeral 21 denotes a light emitting element that is resistant to contamination, such as a semiconductor laser.
Reference numeral 22 denotes a light receiving element such as a phototransistor.

FIG. 3 is an installation sectional view of the number-of-axes detector. Reference numeral 31 denotes a light-emitting unit housing, 32 denotes a light-receiving unit housing, 33 denotes a light-emitting element support, 34 denotes a light-receiving element support, and 35 denotes a control unit, which controls the number-of-axes detector. 36 and 37 are windshields.

FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention.
41 ^{1 to} 41 ⁿ are light projecting elements, and 42 ^{1 to} 42 ⁿ are light receiving elements. An OR gate circuit 43 sends out a detection output signal if any of the light receiving elements receives light. Reference numeral 44 denotes a vehicle detection unit which sends an imaging timing signal to the I / F circuit 416 at the time when the passing signal from the reference signal 43 rises. 46
Is a light projecting element of the axis number detector. 47 ^1, 47 ² is a light receiving element of the same number of axes detector. 48 is intended to be sent to circuit connecting performs order judgment of the light-receiving element 47 ^1, 47 ² of the detection output signal, forward the signal F, or the reverse signal B, and headquarters. 49 is an AND gate circuit, when the detection signal both of the light receiving element 47 ^1, 47 ² is sent, sends a shaft speed signal. Reference numeral 411 denotes an A / D converter of the image processing device. 412, an image memory; 413, a reading device for reading information from the image memory; 414, a character recognition device; a reading device for reading an image from the image memory 412; 415, a host CPU for character recognition of the read image; The control is performed. 41
Reference numeral 6 denotes an I / F circuit, which receives a vehicle start-up detection signal of the vehicle separator and controls the character recognition signal under the control of the host CPU 415.
A signal is sent to the discrimination processing unit 417 in the light receiver of the vehicle separator. Four
Reference numeral 18 denotes a falling signal sending circuit which sends a character recognition result to the I / F circuit of the image processing device 416, which is a falling signal of the vehicle separator. Reference numeral 419 denotes an AND gate circuit, which outputs an advance signal from the forward / reverse determining unit 48 and outputs an AND gate circuit 49 when no reverse signal is transmitted.
It is determined that the signal from is the axis signal of the forward vehicle,
The forward axle signal is sent to the determination processing unit 417. Reference numeral 420 denotes a holding circuit, which holds the signal until a delay signal of the falling signal of the vehicle separator is received from 421 when the reverse signal from the forward / reverse determination unit 48 is received, and an AND gate circuit The holding signal is transmitted to 422. Reference numeral 421 denotes an AND gate circuit, which transmits a reset signal for resetting the transmission signal to the holding circuit 420 at a point in time when the falling signal from the 418 is received and a certain time is delayed. 422 is an AND gate circuit.

FIG. 5 is an installation diagram when there are two or more light receiving elements 22 of the light receiver.

FIG. 6 is a control block diagram when a plurality of light receivers exist.

46 is a light projector, and 47 ^{1 to} 47 ⁿ are a plurality of light receivers. 61 ^{1 to} 6
1 ⁿ is the AND gate circuit, when the same Aitonaru photodetector and the fourth 49 has output a detection output signal at the same time, it is determined that the tires of the vehicle. Reference numerals 62 ^{1 to} 62 ⁿ determine the order of adjacent light receivers and determine forward / backward movement, similarly to the forward / reverse determination unit 48 in FIG. Reference numeral 63 denotes an OR gate circuit which sends a forward signal to the AND gate circuit when any one of 62 ^{1 to} 62 ⁿ outputs a forward signal. The gate 64 is also an OR gate circuit. If any one of 62 ^{1 to} 62 ⁿ outputs a reverse signal, the reverse signal is sent to the AND gate circuits 419 and 422 as a forward signal inhibition signal. 65 is an OR gate circuit, and 61 ¹
Receiving a vehicle passing signal from to 61 ^n, and sends a detection output signal when any of these signals are outputted to the waveform delay unit 66. 66 is a waveform delay unit, which corresponds to an axle signal
The signal from 65 is sent to the discrimination processing unit 417 as a one-axis signal.

 The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Now, passing vehicles 11 and reaches the installation position of the vehicle separators 12, 13, one of the detection output signal of the light receiving element 42 ¹ through 42 ⁿ is Sashikakari to the OR gate circuit 43, the rise of the signals of the detection signals Is transmitted from the vehicle detection signal output unit 44 to the I / F circuit 416. At this time, from camera 16,
The image of the license plate portion of the vehicle 11 is captured, this image is A / D converted by the A / D converter 411, captured by the image memory 412, the memory content is read by the reading device 413, and the host CPU 415 Character recognition is performed by the character recognition device 414 under control.

Progress of the vehicle advances, the tire of the vehicle approaches the position of the shaft speed detector 14 and 15, in the order of the light receiving elements 47 ^1, 47 ² sends a detection output signal, 47 ^1, 47 ² of the detection signal, A forward signal is sent to the AND gate circuit 419. This is from the AND gate circuit 49 at the time, are transmitted from the light receiving element 47 ^1, 47 ² of the AND gate signal 49. Because of this AND gate circuit
In 419, the forward signal from 48 is sent, but under the condition that the backward signal is not sent, the axis signal from 49 passes through the AND gate circuit 419, and the signal is sent to the determination processing unit 417 as the axis signal. Sent. This signal is sent to the discrimination processing unit 417 even when the second axis (or the second and subsequent axes in a multi-axis vehicle) passes through the number-of-axes detector.

Finally, when the passage of the vehicle is completed, the signal from 43 falls. As a result, a vehicle passing completion signal is transmitted from the falling signal transmission circuit 418 to the I / F circuit 416, and the recognition result is transmitted from the character recognition device 414 to the AND gate circuit 422 by the operation of the host CPU 415. At this point, the reverse signal is 4
Since it has not been sent to 22, the recognition result is sent to the determination processing unit 417. The vehicle type of the vehicle is determined based on the axis number signal already transmitted from 419 to the determination processing unit 417 and the character recognition signal, and a vehicle type determination signal is transmitted.

When the vehicle moves backward, a backward signal is sent from the forward / reverse determining unit 48 to the AND gate circuit 419 as an axle signal prohibition signal. When the backward signal is sent to the holding circuit 420, a prohibition signal is sent to the AND gate circuit 422 to prohibit the signal transmission from the character recognition device 414. It should be noted that the transmission of the holding signal from 420 is slightly delayed from the completion of the passage of the vehicle, a delay signal is transmitted from 421, and the holding signal from 420 is reset.

The above is an example of the case where there are two light receivers. Next, a case where there are two or more light receivers will be described. 61 ^{1 to} 61 ⁿ are AND gate circuits, and adjacent receivers
When both the detection output signals 47 are present, it is determined that the signal is an axle signal, and the detection output signal is sent to the OR gate circuit 65. This signal removes the signal chattering from 65 in the waveform delay unit, and sends the axle signal to the discrimination processing unit 417. When a forward signal is transmitted from 62 ^{1 to} 62 ⁿ to the OR gate 63, a forward axle signal is transmitted to 419, and a forward axis signal is transmitted to the determination processing unit 417.

When the vehicle has passed the installation position of the vehicle separator, a falling signal is sent from the 418 to the I / F circuit 416, and the host CPU 41
By the operation of 5, the character recognition signal is transmitted from the character identification device 414 to the AND gate circuit 422. Further, since the reverse detection signal is not transmitted to 422, the character recognition result is transmitted to the determination processing unit 417. The discrimination processing unit 417 discriminates the vehicle type based on the character recognition result forward signal and the axle detection signal, and sends out a vehicle type discrimination signal. 62 ^{1 to} 62 ⁿ if the vehicle reverses
The reverse signal is transmitted to 64 and a forward axis transmission inhibition signal is transmitted to the AND gate circuit 419. At the same time, the 420 transmits a character identification signal transmission prevention signal to the AND gate circuit 422 from the time when the backward axis signal is received.

As described above, the case where the number of the light projectors is one has been described. However, even in the case where the number of the light projectors is plural, the signal processing can be performed without mutual interference of the received light signals by performing the time division processing of the light emission control.

[Effect of the invention]

 According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(1) The number of vehicle axes can be measured without contact.

(2) The forward / backward determination of the vehicle can also be performed by a combination of a plurality of light emitting / receiving devices, so that the forward / backward determination of the vehicle can be performed without installing two pairs of vehicle separators as in the related art.

(3) By installing a plurality of light emitting / receiving elements in the number-of-axes detector, it is possible to realize a highly reliable vehicle type discriminating apparatus capable of normal measurement even when mud splashes due to vehicle traffic.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view showing the installation of the number-of-axes detector in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the installation of the number-of-axes detector in FIG. FIG. 4 is a control block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is an installation diagram when there are two or more light receiving elements in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a main vehicle type side pattern common portion, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a conventional vehicle type discriminating apparatus. 12, 13: Vehicle separator, 14, 15, ... Number of axis detector, 16: Vehicle photographing camera, 17: Image processing device.

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] An axle is detected by a vehicle separator comprising a pair of a light transmitter and a light receiver installed on the side of a road and a plurality of photoelectric elements installed horizontally below a position where the vehicle separator is installed. And an axis number detector for discriminating forward and backward, a vehicle photographing camera for photographing a license plate of a passing vehicle, an image processing device for processing image information photographed by the camera and recognizing characters on the license plate, A vehicle type discriminating device comprising: a discriminating processing unit for discriminating a vehicle type based on a character recognition signal of a license plate output from a processing device and an axis number signal detected by the axis number detector.