JP3011693B1 - Onboard equipment for ETC - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle-mounted device for ETC, in which a transmission unit and a protocol processing unit are activated only when necessary, to effectively reduce power consumption is obtained. SOLUTION: A receiving section 13a which is always in an active state inputs a data interrupt signal Da to a control microcomputer 14A when receiving data from a roadside device 2, and the control microcomputer outputs an interrupt signal 16a.
~ 18a, start from low power consumption mode according to Da,
The activation signals ERA and EPA of the transmission unit 13B and the protocol processing unit 15A are output only in response to the data interruption signal, and at the end of the corresponding processing of each interruption signal, the transmission unit and the protocol processing unit are set to the low power consumption mode. Return.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used in a toll road toll collection system (generally referred to as ETC) and functions as a terminal device for performing radio communication with an ETC road machine. The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted device for ETC, and more particularly to a vehicle-mounted device for ETC that saves power consumption.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ETC system for avoiding vehicle congestion by a toll collection procedure at a toll gate is well known. In this type of ETC system, radio communication is performed between an ETC road machine on the tollgate side and an on-board ETC device on the vehicle side to automatically receive a toll road usage fee.

[0003] In addition, in order to suppress power consumption, the on-board ETC device always activates only the receiving unit and keeps other circuits in a low power consumption mode until approaching a toll gate. All circuits are activated when various interrupt signals such as data reception from an ETC road machine are generated.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a vehicle-mounted device of a conventional ETC system. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an on-board device for ETC mounted on a vehicle (hereinafter, simply referred to as “on-vehicle device”);
Is an ETC road machine (hereinafter simply referred to as "road machine") installed near a tollgate on a toll road.

[0005] Reference numeral 3 denotes an IC card which is inserted into a slot (not shown) of the vehicle-mounted device 1 by a user of the vehicle-mounted device 1. The IC card stores various real-time data and prevents unauthorized use. A personal identification number or the like specific to each IC card is registered in advance.

[0006] A circuit in the vehicle-mounted device 1 includes a receiving unit (to be described later).
Are usually in low power mode, except for
When the vehicle approaches the tollgate, it is activated by receiving the transmission data RD from the on-road unit 2.

When the on-vehicle device 1 is started by receiving data from the road device 2, radio communication (see arrows W1 and W2)
, The data RD and TD are mutually transmitted
Send and receive Therefore, the vehicle-mounted device 1 includes the following components 11 to 21.

[0008] Reference numerals 11 and 12 denote transmitting and receiving antennas, 11 is a receiving antenna for receiving the radio wave transmitted from the road unit 2, and 12 is a transmitting antenna for transmitting the radio wave to the road unit 2.

Reference numeral 13 denotes an RF unit for performing radio wave communication with the on-road unit 2 via the antennas 11 and 12;
It has a receiving unit 13 a associated with the receiving antenna 11 and a transmitting unit 13 b associated with the transmitting antenna 12.

Reference numeral 14 denotes a control microcomputer which functions as a substantial body of the vehicle-mounted device 1, and transmits and receives data RD and TD to and from the roadside device 2 via the RF unit 13 and the antennas 11 and 12.

Reference numeral 15 denotes a protocol processing unit inserted between the RF unit 13 and the control microcomputer 14. The protocol processing unit 15 converts the data content contained in the reception signal from the roadside device 2 into an accurate reception data R.
D as input to the control microcomputer 14, and processes transmission data TD from the control microcomputer 14
Input to b.

Reference numerals 16 and 17 denote operation switches consisting of push buttons arbitrarily operated from the outside, 16 denotes an expiration date display switch, and 17 denotes a usage history display switch. Each of the operation switches 16 and 17 sends a switch interrupt signal 16a to the control microcomputer 14 in response to the switch operation.
17a is input.

That is, the expiration date display switch 16
A request to display data relating to the expiration date of the IC card 3 is input to the control microcomputer 14 as a switch interrupt signal 16a, and the usage history display switch 17 issues a request to display data relating to the usage history of the IC card 3 to the switch interrupt signal 17a.
This is input to the control microcomputer 14 as a.

Reference numeral 18 denotes an IC card detection switch provided at the insertion slot of the IC card 3, which sends an IC card interrupt signal 1 to the control microcomputer 14 in response to the insertion operation of the IC card 3.
Input 8a.

Numeral 19 is a numeric keypad for inputting a numerical value, which is operated, for example, immediately after the insertion of the IC card 3 and is used for inputting the unique password of the IC card 3 (user of the vehicle) to the control microcomputer 14. .

Reference numeral 20 denotes a display section driven under the control of the control microcomputer 14, which displays various IC card data (expiration date data, usage history data) and the like. 21 is RF
Unit 13, control microcomputer 14, and protocol processing unit 15
And a power supply for supplying power to the vehicle.

Next, the operation of the conventional vehicle-mounted device 1 shown in FIG. 3 will be described. In FIG. 3, the control microcomputer 14
Are in the low power consumption mode (standby state) unless various interrupt signals are input, and switch interrupt signals 16a,
7a, activating from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode in response to either the IC card interrupt signal 18a or the data interrupt signal Da.

The transmitting section 13b and the protocol processing section 15 in the RF section 13 are in the low power consumption mode (standby state) unless the starting signals ER and EP from the control microcomputer 14 are input. In response to the EP, the operation is started from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode.

The control microcomputer 14 returns to the low power consumption mode after executing the processing according to the content of each interrupt signal. Similarly, the transmission unit 13b and the protocol processing unit 15 in the RF unit 13 return to the low power consumption mode after performing the transmission / reception processing.

First, the user of the vehicle-mounted device 1 inserts the IC card 3 into the control microcomputer 14 and generates the IC card interrupt signal 18a from the IC card detection switch 18 to activate the control microcomputer 14.

Subsequently, the user inputs a personal identification number to the control microcomputer 14 via the ten keys 19. At this time, the password at the time of input is displayed on the display unit 20 and is confirmed by the user in real time.

By inputting the personal identification number, the control microcomputer 14
Executes an interrupt process in response to the IC card interrupt signal 18a, and reads IC card data from within the IC card 3. When this interrupt processing is completed and the IC card 3 and the control microcomputer 14 become operable, the control microcomputer 1
4 returns to the low power consumption mode. Also, the start signal ER
Also, the transmission unit 13b and the protocol processing unit 15 started by the EP return to the low power consumption mode.

Thereafter, for example, when the operation switch 16 or 17 is operated by the user, the control microcomputer 14
Is activated in response to switch interrupt signals 16a and 17a (display requests) from the operation switches 16 and 17, and causes the display unit 20 to display the read IC card data.

Also in this case, the control microcomputer 14 generates activation signals ER and EP in response to the switch interruption signals 16a and 17a, activates the transmission unit 13b and the protocol processing unit 15 in the RF unit 13, and executes the interruption. After the completion of the loading process, the mode returns to the low power consumption mode.

On the other hand, the receiving section 13a in the RF section 13 is always in a normal receiving operation mode activated state by the power supply from the power supply 21, and when approaching the toll road toll gate, the roadside device 2a
In response to the data reception from the control unit 14, the reception signal is input to the protocol processing unit 5, and the data interruption signal Da is input to the control microcomputer 14.

That is, the receiving unit 13a enters the communication area for the roadside device 2 and receives the radio wave W1 from the roadside device 2.
When the electric field strength reaches a specified value, a data interrupt signal Da is generated. Thus, the control microcomputer 14 recognizes that the vehicle has entered the communication area of the tollgate.

The control microcomputer 14 generates start signals ER and EP in response to the data interrupt signal Da,
Transmission unit 13b and protocol processing unit 15 in F unit 13
To read the received data RD via the protocol processing unit 15 and output necessary transmission data TD to the transmitting unit 13b via the protocol processing unit 15.

At this time, the data signal from the roadside device 2 input from the receiving antenna 11 is converted into a digital signal via the receiving unit 13 a in the RF unit 13 and input to the protocol processing unit 15.

The digitally converted reception signal is subjected to retransmission processing, data error detection processing, and the like in the protocol processing unit 15 to become normal reception data RD, and is input to the control microcomputer 14 for processing.

The control microcomputer 14 stores the data to be stored of the received data RD in the IC card 3 and, among the data stored in the IC card 3, the data to be transmitted to the roadside device 2 Read from 3.

Subsequently, the control microcomputer 14 inputs the transmission data TD read from the IC card 3 to the RF unit 13 via the protocol processing unit 15. The transmission unit 13b in the RF unit 13 converts the input transmission data TD into an analog signal, and then transmits the transmission radio wave W2 from the transmission antenna 12.
To the on-road unit 2.

When the interruption process according to the data interruption signal Da is completed, the transmission unit 13b and the protocol processing unit 15 together with the control microcomputer 14 return to the low power consumption mode.

Next, the control microcomputer 14 in the conventional vehicle-mounted device 1 shown in FIG.
Will be described. FIG. 4 shows the processing operation of the control microcomputer 14 during the low power consumption mode. In FIG. 4, the control microcomputer 14 constantly checks the presence or absence of an interrupt signal in steps S1 to S3 while waiting in the low power consumption mode.

First, it is determined whether or not the data interrupt signal Da has been input (step S1). If it is determined that the data interrupt signal Da has not been input (ie, NO), then the switch interrupt signal 16a or 17a is output. It is determined whether or not the input has been made (step S2). If it is determined that the input has not been made (ie, NO), it is subsequently determined whether or not the IC card interrupt signal 18a has been input (step S2). S
3).

If it is determined in step S3 that the IC card interrupt signal 18a has not been input (ie, NO), the process exits the processing routine shown in FIG. 4 and returns. At this time, the control microcomputer 14 maintains the low power consumption mode, and the transmission unit 13b and the protocol processing unit 15 are not activated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in any of steps S1 to S3 that an interrupt signal has been input (ie, YES), control microcomputer 14 is activated and control microcomputer 13 activates activation signals ER and EP. Is generated to energize all the circuits in the vehicle-mounted device 1 (step S
4) A control process corresponding to the input interrupt signal is executed (step S5).

That is, the control microcomputer 14 receives the electric wave W1 from the on-road unit 2 by
Is detected, the processing corresponding to the data interrupt signal Da is executed, and when the operation switches 16 and 17 are operated, the processing corresponding to the switch interrupt signals 16a and 17a is executed and the IC card When 3 is inserted, a process corresponding to the IC card interrupt signal 18a is executed.

Subsequently, after the processing of step S5 is completed, the mode is returned to the low power consumption mode together with the other activated circuits (step S6), and the processing exits from the processing routine of FIG. 4 and returns.

As described above, in the low power consumption mode, the control microcomputer 14 controls the interrupt signals Da, 16a to 18
When any of a is generated, all the circuits in the vehicle-mounted device 1 are activated to perform a process according to the interrupt signal.

However, the required function of the operation switches 16 and 17 is only to display some information on the display unit 20 mounted on the vehicle-mounted device 1, and the transmission unit 13 b in the RF unit 13 and the protocol processing unit 15 Power supply to is useless.

Accordingly, energizing the transmission unit 13b and the protocol processing unit 15 in step S4 causes wasteful power consumption depending on the required processing.

In particular, since the IC constituting the protocol processing unit 15 consumes large power, the protocol processing unit 15
Unnecessarily energizing and starting up increases wasteful power consumption. Conventionally, as a device for the purpose of power saving, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-221625,
JP-A-8-255231 and JP-A-8-1802
However, in these conventional devices, power supply to the protocol processing unit 15 is not considered at all.

[0043]

As described above, the conventional vehicle-mounted ETC device generates the start-up signals ER and EP independently of the processing contents each time the control microcomputer 14 starts up. Since all the circuits including the protocol processing unit 15 are activated, there is a problem that wasteful power consumption cannot be avoided.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. By generating an activation signal in response to only an interrupt signal that requires power supply to a transmission unit and a protocol processing unit, ETC that effectively saves power
The purpose is to obtain a vehicle-mounted device.

[0045]

An ETC on-vehicle device according to a first aspect of the present invention is an RF unit having a receiving unit and a transmitting unit for performing radio wave communication with an ETC road device via an antenna. A control microcomputer for transmitting and receiving data to and from the ETC road machine via the RF unit, a protocol processing unit inserted between the RF unit and the control microcomputer,
An operation switch for inputting a switch interrupt signal to the control microcomputer in response to a switch operation; an IC card detection switch for inputting an IC card interrupt signal to the control microcomputer in response to an IC card insertion operation; The power supply for supplying power to the processing unit and the control microcomputer is provided. The receiving unit of the RF unit is always in the normal reception operation mode activated by power supply from the power supply, and receives data from the ETC road device. Input a data interrupt signal to the control microcomputer in response to the switch interrupt signal,
In response to either the C card interrupt signal or the data interrupt signal, the system is activated from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode, and responds only to the data interrupt signal to transmit the RF section to the transmission section and the protocol processing section. Outputs a start signal and returns to the low power consumption mode when the processing in response to the switch interrupt signal, IC card interrupt signal, or data interrupt signal is completed, and the transmitting unit of the RF unit starts from the control microcomputer. The signal is activated from the low power consumption mode to the normal transmission operation mode by the signal, and returns to the low power consumption mode when the data transmission to the ETC road device is completed. Is activated from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode,
When the data transmission from the TC roadside device to the control microcomputer ends, the mode returns to the low power consumption mode.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle-mounted device for ETC according to the first aspect, the control microcomputer does not output an activation signal to the protocol processing unit in response to the IC card interrupt signal. The IC card data is read from the IC card.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an on-board device for ETC according to the first or second aspect, further comprising a display unit driven under the control of a control microcomputer, wherein the switch interrupt signal is an IC card. Request to display IC card data relating to at least one of the expiration date and usage history of
The control microcomputer causes the display unit to display the IC card data without outputting an activation signal to the protocol processing unit in response to the display request.

[0048]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and the same components as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, 1A, 13A, 13A
B, 14A, 15A, ERA, and EPA correspond to the above-described vehicle-mounted device 1, RF unit 13, transmitting unit 13b, control microcomputer 14, protocol processing unit 15, and start signals ER and EP, respectively.

The control microcomputer 14A sends the switch interrupt signals 16a and 17a, the IC card interrupt signal 1
8a or the data interrupt signal Da,
In addition to starting from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode, it returns to the low power consumption mode when the processing in response to each interrupt signal ends.

In this case, the control microcomputer 14A responds only to the data interrupt signal Da and responds only to the data interruption signal Da to activate the activation signals ERA and EP to the transmission unit 13B and the protocol processing unit 15A.
A is output, and for an interrupt signal other than the data interrupt signal Da, processing corresponding to the interrupt signal is executed without outputting the activation signals ERA and EPA.

That is, the control microcomputer 14A does not activate the transmission unit 13B and the protocol processing unit 15A, but controls the I / O corresponding to the switch interrupt signal 16a or 17a.
C card data (expiration date and usage history of IC card 3)
And a check process of the IC card 3 according to the IC card interrupt signal 18a.

As described above, the control microcomputer 14A activates the normal operation mode when each interrupt signal is input, determines the interrupt condition at the time of activation, and determines the peripheral devices (the transmission unit 13B and the protocol processing unit) other than the control microcomputer 14A. Part 15A)
The control processing is executed by activating the peripheral device only when it is necessary to start the operation. When the control microcomputer 14A alone can handle the control processing, the control processing is executed while the low power consumption mode of the peripheral device is maintained. .

On the other hand, the transmitting unit 13B in the RF unit 13A
The activation signal ERA from the control microcomputer 14A activates the low power consumption mode to the normal transmission operation mode, and returns to the low power consumption mode when the data transmission to the road device 2 is completed.

The protocol processing unit 15A is activated from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode by the activation signal EPA from the control microcomputer 14A, and when the data transmission from the roadside device 2 to the control microcomputer 14A is completed. Return to low power consumption mode.

Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 2 shows a processing routine by the control microcomputer 14A in the low power consumption mode.

In FIG. 2, S1 to S3 and S6 are the same steps as those described above (see FIG. 4). Steps S13, S22 and S32 are performed in step S5 described above.
It corresponds to.

First, the vehicle-mounted device 1A in the low power consumption mode
Has entered the communication area of the on-road unit 2, the step S1
In step S11, it is determined that the data interrupt signal Da has been input (ie, YES), and the control microcomputer 14A starts up from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode (step S11).

Next, the control microcomputer 14A starts the activation signals ERA and EPA in order to communicate with the roadside device 2.
And the transmission unit 13B and the protocol processing unit 15
A is activated (step S12), and the data interrupt signal Da
(Step S13).

That is, the control microcomputer 14A responds to the data interruption signal Da when the vehicle-mounted device 1A enters the predetermined communication area and the receiving unit 13a detects the radio wave W1 having the specified electric field strength. And the transmission unit 13B
The protocol controller 15A also starts up in the normal operation mode, and performs mutual communication with the on-road unit 2 such as transmitting necessary transmission data to the on-road unit 2 as the transmission radio wave W2.

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the communication processing has been completed (step S14).
If determined to be O), the process returns to step S13 to continue the communication process, and if it is determined that the communication process has ended (that is, YES), the transmission unit 13B and the protocol processing unit 1
5A is returned to the low power consumption mode, and itself returns to the low power consumption mode (step S6), and returns.

On the other hand, when the user operates the operation switch 16 or 17, the switch interrupt signal 16a or 17a is input in step S2 (ie, Y
ES), the control microcomputer 14A starts up from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode (step S2).
1).

In this case, since the communication process with the on-road unit 2 is not necessary, the control microcomputer 14A does not output the activation signals ERA and EPA and responds to the switch interruption signal 16a or 17a in response to the switch interruption signal 16a or 17a. Only the display processing of the IC card data is executed (step S22).

For example, the control microcomputer 14A reads the IC card data (expiration date, usage history) by energizing the IC card 3 while keeping the protocol processing unit 15A with large power consumption in the low power consumption mode state. The expiration date is displayed in response to the interrupt signal 16a from the expiration date display switch.
The use history is displayed in response to 7a.

Next, it is determined whether or not the display processing relating to the IC card data has been completed (step S23). If it is determined that the display processing has not been completed (ie, NO), the process returns to step S22 to continue the display processing. If it is determined that the process is completed (that is, YES), the process returns to the low power consumption mode (step S6) and returns.

That is, the control microcomputer 14A terminates the energization of the IC card 3 after the reading of the IC card data, causes the display unit 20 to display the IC card data, and shifts to the low power consumption mode after the display for a predetermined time. I do.

Further, the user inserts the IC card 3 into the vehicle-mounted device 1A.
Is inserted, it is determined in step S3 that the IC card interrupt signal 18a has been input (that is, YES), and the control microcomputer 14A starts up from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode (step S31).

Also in this case, since communication with the on-road unit 2 is unnecessary, the control microcomputer 14A executes only the correctness check processing when the IC card 3 is inserted without outputting the activation signals ERA and EPA. (Step S32).

That is, the control microcomputer 14A is activated in response to the IC card interrupt signal 18a, and keeps the protocol processing unit 15A in the low power consumption mode state.
While energizing the C card 3 to communicate with the IC card 3,
Confirm the match with the password in the IC card 3.

Next, it is determined whether or not the check processing at the time of insertion of the IC card 3 has been completed (step S33). If it is determined that the check processing has not been completed (ie, NO), the process returns to step S32 to return to the IC. The card data processing is continued, and if it is determined that the processing is completed (that is, YES), the mode is returned to the low power consumption mode (step S6), and the process returns.

That is, after confirming whether or not the IC card 3 is actually a valid IC card for the vehicle-mounted device 1A, the control microcomputer 14A terminates power supply to the IC card 3 and shifts to the low power consumption mode. I do.

As described above, the control microcomputer 14A responds only to the data interrupt signal Da which needs to communicate with the roadside device 2, and responds to the transmission unit 13B and the protocol processing unit 15A.
(Peripheral device) is activated to execute the process, and the process is executed for other interrupt signals that can be handled only by the control microcomputer 14A while maintaining the peripheral device in the low power consumption mode. Thereby, the power consumption of the vehicle-mounted device 1A can be efficiently reduced. Therefore, when the battery in the vehicle-mounted device 1A is used as the power supply 21, the battery life can be extended. In addition, due to the reduction in power consumption, the onboard device 1A
Heat generation can be suppressed.

Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment, when the IC card 3 is inserted, the personal identification number is entered from the numeric keypad 19 to check whether the IC card 3 is correct. However, the IC card 3 and the control microcomputer 1 are not used without using the numeric keypad 19.
The validity may be checked only by communication with 4A.

[0074]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an RF section having a receiving section and a transmitting section for performing radio wave communication with an ETC road apparatus via an antenna,
A control microcomputer for transmitting and receiving data to and from an ETC road machine via the F unit, a protocol processing unit inserted between the RF unit and the control microcomputer, and a control microcomputer in response to a switch operation. An operation switch for inputting a switch interrupt signal, an IC card detection switch for inputting an IC card interrupt signal to a control microcomputer in response to an IC card insertion operation, and power supply to an RF unit, a protocol processing unit, and a control microcomputer. The receiving unit of the RF unit is always in a normal receiving operation mode activated state by the power supply from the power source, and responds to data reception from the ETC road device to transmit data to the control microcomputer. The control microcomputer responds to any of the switch interrupt signal, IC card interrupt signal or data interrupt signal from the low power consumption mode. Start the work mode, only in response to a data interrupt signal, and outputs a start signal to the transmission section and the protocol processing unit of the RF unit, a switch interrupt signal, IC
When the processing in response to the card interruption signal or the data interruption signal is completed, the mode returns to the low power consumption mode, and the transmission unit of the RF unit switches from the low power consumption mode to the normal transmission operation mode according to the start signal from the control microcomputer. And when the data transmission to the ETC road machine is completed, the mode returns to the low power consumption mode, and the protocol processing unit is activated from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode by a start signal from the control microcomputer. At the same time, when the data transmission from the ETC road machine to the control microcomputer ends, the mode returns to the low power consumption mode, and the transmission unit and the protocol processing unit are activated only when necessary. There is an effect that an in-vehicle device for ETC that saves power can be obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the control microcomputer does not output a start signal to the protocol processing unit in response to the IC card interrupt signal, but from within the IC card. ET that saves power consumption effectively by reading IC card data
There is an effect that a vehicle-mounted device for C is obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, a display unit driven under the control of the control microcomputer is provided, and the switch interrupt signal is set based on the expiration date of the IC card and Including a display request for IC card data relating to at least one of the usage histories, the control microcomputer displays the IC card data on the display unit in response to the display request without outputting an activation signal to the protocol processing unit. Therefore, there is an effect that an in-vehicle device for ETC in which power consumption is effectively reduced can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a conventional ETC vehicle-mounted device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing operation of a conventional ETC vehicle-mounted device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1A ETC on-board unit, 2 ETC on-board unit, 11 receiving antenna, 12 transmitting antenna, 13A RF unit, 1
3a receiving unit, 13B transmitting unit, 14A control microcomputer, 15A protocol processing unit, 16 expiration date display switch, 17 usage history display switch, 16a, 17a
Switch interrupt signal, 18 IC card detection switch,
18a IC card interrupt signal, 20 display unit, 21 power supply, Da data interrupt signal, EPA, ERA activation signal,
RD reception data, TD transmission data, W1 reception radio wave, W2 transmission radio wave, step of determining S1 to S3 interrupt signal, S6 step of returning to low power consumption mode, S11, S21, S31 control microcomputer starts in normal operation mode S12, a step of activating the transmission unit and the protocol processing unit.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G07B 15/00 G06K 17/00 H04B 1/59

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] An RTC having a receiving unit and a transmitting unit for performing radio wave communication with an ETC road device via an antenna;
An F unit; a control microcomputer for transmitting and receiving data to and from the ETC road machine via the RF unit; a protocol processing unit inserted between the RF unit and the control microcomputer; An operation switch for inputting a switch interrupt signal to the control microcomputer in response to the operation of the control microcomputer;
An IC card detection switch for inputting a C card interrupt signal; and a power supply for supplying power to the RF unit, the protocol processing unit, and the control microcomputer. Is always in a state of activation of a normal reception operation mode by power supply, and inputs a data interruption signal to the control microcomputer in response to data reception from the ETC roadside device. Activating the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode in response to either the IC card interrupt signal or the data interrupt signal, and transmitting the RF unit in response to only the data interrupt signal. And outputting a start signal to the protocol processing unit, and processing in response to the switch interrupt signal, the IC card interrupt signal, or the data interrupt signal. At the time of completion, the mode returns to the low power consumption mode. The transmission unit of the RF unit is activated from the low power consumption mode to the normal transmission operation mode by an activation signal from the control microcomputer, and the ETC road device is activated. When the data transmission to the ETC is completed, the mode returns to the low power consumption mode. The protocol processing unit is activated from the low power consumption mode to the normal operation mode by the activation signal from the control microcomputer, and the protocol processing unit is on the ETC road. The vehicle-mounted device for ETC, wherein the device returns to the low power consumption mode when data transmission from the device to the control microcomputer ends. 2. The control microcomputer reads IC card data from the IC card without outputting a start signal to the protocol processing unit in response to the IC card interrupt signal. Item 2. The vehicle-mounted device for ETC according to Item 1. 3. A display unit driven under the control of the control microcomputer, wherein the switch interrupt signal includes a display request for IC card data relating to at least one of an expiration date and a usage history of the IC card, The control microcomputer responds to the display request without outputting an activation signal to the protocol processing unit,
The vehicle-mounted device for ETC according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the IC card data is displayed on the display unit.