JP3377025B2 - Taxi meter - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a taximeter, and more particularly to a taximeter capable of preventing forgetting to release a high speed tariff.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Taxi fare systems include empty vehicle tariffs, real vehicle tariffs as a basic fare mode for ordinary roads, surcharge tariffs such as late-night surcharges, discount tariffs, pick-up tariffs, charter tariffs, Various tariffs such as high speed tariffs and waiting tariffs, that is, tariff modes are set.

Generally, a taxi meter is provided with a tariff switching function corresponding to the tariff system in which various tariffs exist. For each of these tariffs, the taximeter has a function of accumulating and accumulating the charges corresponding to the mileage and the mileage by the addition method according to the charge regulation.

That is, generally in a taximeter,
The fare data is calculated by processing mileage information obtained by a mileage sensor or the like arranged in the drive system of the taxi vehicle based on the set fare data, and the fare data is stored and displayed on the meter. The calculation method based on the tariff system is set for each tariff.

For example, when traveling on a general road in the daytime, the actual vehicle tariff mode, which is a basic fare fee mode corresponding thereto, is applied, and based on this, the amount of money to be added corresponding to the mileage integration. The fare is calculated as the sum of the amount added and the amount of money added according to the total mileage. Also, when renting from a general road to an expressway, the corresponding portion is not added to the time when the vehicle is traveling on the expressway at low speed, and only the portion corresponding to the traveling distance is added.

In the charge data calculation / storage process, when the tariffs are switched, the set charge data corresponding to each of the tariffs is applied, and the individual tariffs are subjected to the data processing as described above. It is calculated and stored as charge data for each. When the taxi arrives at the passenger's destination, the taxi driver puts the taxi meter in the checkout mode, and the taxi meter aggregates the tariff data stored for each tariff that has been stored until then and finally charges the passenger. It should be calculated as a charge and displayed on the meter. Alternatively, it is also output as a receipt by a printer device or the like.

The functions of the taximeter as described above, that is, in particular, detection of mileage information and calculation of fare data
With the progress of integrated circuit technology and the improvement of its reliability, various technologies have been proposed for realizing storage (and display) processing by a circuit system using an LSI such as a one-chip microcomputer.

On the other hand, regarding tariff switching,
Conventionally, each time the driving mode as a fare system changes, the taxi driver himself switches to a tariff corresponding to the driving mode by, for example, pressing a changeover switch. However, when the tariff is switched depending on the input by the driver as described above, for example, even when the time when the surcharge is applied, the driver forgets to switch to the corresponding tariff,
It may not be possible to calculate and bill accurately in accordance with the setting of the surcharge.

Therefore, in order to eliminate such an inconvenience, various techniques have been proposed for automatically changing the tariff, that is, the extra tariff, which changes corresponding to the time, as described above. ing. That is, it is a technique in which the taximeter automatically performs tariff switching according to the change of time. Various technologies have been proposed in which such automatic switching of the extra tariff corresponding to the time is realized by applying the time data function of the microcomputer.

[0010]

However, the type of tariff switching is not limited to the one that changes according to the time as described above. In addition to the above, there are various tariffs such as the intercepting tariff, the charter tariff, the high speed tariff, and the waiting tariff as described above. Among them, the high-speed tariff is applied in a completely different situation from other tariff switching, and the switching is most easily forgotten, and its automation is also difficult.

When a taxi shifts from traveling on a highway to traveling on a general road, or conversely from traveling on a general road to traveling on a highway, a taxi mode corresponding to traveling on a highway, that is, a high-speed tariff, is used. , The charge mode corresponding to general road driving, that is, to the general vehicle tariff, or vice versa,
It is necessary to switch during the fare. In addition, the appropriateness of this switching should be determined based on the identification of the taxi road type, such as whether the vehicle is running on an expressway or another general road.

As described above, the identification of the road type is completely different from the one that can be switched in response to the change in time such as the above-mentioned midnight surcharge, and therefore, the time data as described above is automatically used. It is not possible to apply technology such as switching to. Further, it is extremely difficult to automatically and accurately determine the road type by some means. This is mainly due to the fact that no practical means for accurately identifying the road type is available. For example,
A so-called car navigation system using a satellite communication system may be applied to identify whether or not the current driving point is on an expressway, but it is possible to find a driving point with such high accuracy and high reliability. It is extremely difficult to identify.

Alternatively, even if such recognition of the road type can be realized with high accuracy and high reliability, a device therefor becomes complicated or large-scaled, which is required for taxis to be small and simple. It is also assumed that there will be disadvantages in terms of performance, ease of maintenance, and the size and comfort of the indoor space.

On the other hand, when not only a taxi but also a car generally enters a highway, the type of road on which the vehicle is traveling can be identified quite clearly for the driver. Moreover, in such a situation that the driver enters the highway and starts high-speed driving, the driver's psychology is generally prepared to prepare for high-speed driving, so the operation to change the tariff to the high-speed tariff is performed. It is extremely rare to forget.

For this reason, the driver is obliged to identify the road type. Therefore, when a taxi goes up from the general road to the highway, the driver presses the high-speed tariff switching button to change from the tariff calculation mode of the general road to the high-speed tariff mode of the highway toll calculation mode. Switch. On the contrary, when the taxi gets off the highway to the general road, the driver performs a switching operation such as pressing the high-speed tariff switching button again to switch from the high-speed tariff to the real vehicle tariff.

As described above, regarding the switching from the general vehicle tariff to the high speed tariff and the cancellation of the high speed tariff,
Since it is the simplest and most practical method, the driver manually switches. However, among such switching of high-speed tariffs, especially regarding the cancellation of the high-speed tariff, the driver forgets to cancel the high-speed tariff, especially after finishing the high-speed driving and shifting to the general road driving. There is a problem that the fare will continue as it is, and as a result, it will not be possible to add or accumulate charges that are in line with the specified charge system.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to prevent forgetting to release a high-speed tariff, thereby realizing a tax settlement process accurately corresponding to a toll system. To provide a meter.

[0018]

In the taximeter of the present invention, firstly, a fare calculation means 101 for calculating calculation processing of a taxi fare and the calculation processing executed by the fare calculation means 101 are operated by an actual vehicle tariff button. Based on the actual vehicle tariff <br/> from the first arithmetic processing corresponding to normal wages to high-speed tariff
A taxi meter mounted on the taxi vehicle, the traveling state of the taxi vehicle is determined by the switching means 102 for switching to the second arithmetic processing corresponding to the highway traveling according to the switching to the high speed tariff by operating the tongue. When the non-high speed traveling detecting means 103 for detecting that a predetermined non-high speed traveling state has been reached and the fare calculation means 101 are in the second arithmetic processing state, the non-high speed traveling detecting means 103 detects the non-high speed traveling state. Depending on the detection of high-speed driving condition ,
Note: Prompt switching from the high-speed tariff to the actual vehicle tariff.
It is characterized in that a warning generating unit 104 for emitting fit warning.

That is, when the vehicle travels on a highway, the vehicle is basically stopped and does not travel at a low speed below a specific speed. Should be. Moreover, such a high-speed exit is at the very boundary of the transition from traveling on a highway to traveling on a general road.

Therefore, the taxi meter of the present invention detects the non-high-speed running state when the taxi vehicle as described above is in a predetermined non-high-speed running state, that is, when the taxi vehicle stops or runs at a low speed. Detected by means 103,
By providing the warning generating means 103 for generating a warning in response to this, after the taxi vehicle enters the highway and is switched to the high-speed tariff, the time when the taxi vehicle first stops or runs at a low speed is transferred to the tollgate at a low speed. The driver can be warned that the high speed tariff is switched to the normal vehicle tariff based on the determination that it is the time when the vehicle has traveled and has descended from the highway to the general road.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the driver from forgetting to release the high-speed tariff, and to realize a charge settlement process that accurately corresponds to the charge system. In order to determine whether the taxi vehicle is in a stopped state or a low-speed traveling state as described above, for example, the traveling sensor 20 for integrating the traveling distance is used.
It is possible to preferably use the data or the like detected in 5 and sent to the taximeter. Alternatively, it is also possible to use speed information detected by a speed sensor for a speed meter (not shown).

The speed corresponding to the non-high speed traveling state as described above is not limited to this, but for example, the speed at which time is added at the normal fare for general road fare, hourly speed. A speed of 10 km / h or less can be preferably used. In addition, the above warning generating means 10
As the warning generated by No. 4, a warning sound such as an alarm buzzer may be used, or a warning lamp such as a blinking lamp may be used.

The warning generation means 103 may generate the warning immediately after the non-high-speed traveling state of the taxi vehicle is detected, or at a specific time. It may be issued later (for example, 30 seconds after the taxi vehicle runs at a low speed). With respect to the setting of the warning generation start time early or late, various changes can be made, for example, by connecting a timer device or the like (not shown).

Secondly, in the taximeter of the present invention, in the taximeter shown in the first, the fare calculation means 101 calculates the first calculation processing based on a mileage distance and time. A taximeter, comprising: a first calculation means 101a; and a second calculation means 101b for calculating the second calculation processing based only on the mileage.

The above-mentioned first calculation process is a charge calculation process in a normal fare tariff (or an actual vehicle tariff) defined in a generally used charge system,
The second calculation process is a high-speed tariff defined in a generally used toll system, that is, a charge calculation process during traveling on a highway.

Thirdly, the taximeter of the present invention is the taximeter according to the above 1 or 2, wherein the non-high speed is used.
The traveling detection means 103 is used for operating the high speed tariff button.
In response to switching to high-speed tariff by
It is turned off when the high speed tariff is released.
It is a sign. The taximeter of the present invention is the fourth
In the taximeter shown in 1 or 2 above,
The non-high speed traveling detection means 103 detects traveling pulses.
The traveling including a traveling sensor and detected by the traveling sensor
When the pulse becomes zero within a specified time, or where
Travel pulse detected by the travel sensor per fixed time
Time accumulation is applied in the charge accumulation mode where the number is general
When the number of pulses falls below such a value, it enters the non-high speed running state.
The feature is that it detects that something has happened. Also,
Fifth, the taxi meter of Ming is shown in the above first or second.
The taximeter, wherein the taximeter is equipped with a warning stopping means 105 for stopping the warning. That is, when the vehicle is once stopped or runs at a low speed while traveling on a highway, for example, when the vehicle is running at a low speed, the low-speed running state, that is, the non-high-speed running state is detected by the non-high-speed running state detection means 103, and a warning is issued accordingly Generating means 10
4 may give a warning. However, since the low-speed traveling in such a case is the low-speed traveling during the highway traveling, it is originally not necessary to issue the warning. Therefore,
In this case, it is desirable that the warning can be stopped manually or automatically. Therefore, in such a case, the warning stopping means 1
The warning is stopped by 05.

More specifically, the above-mentioned warning stop means 105 is, more specifically, one that automatically enters a warning stop mode, for example, by using a timer device, and one that is manually used, for example, when a high-speed tariff is applied. It can be roughly divided into two types, one is to enter the stop mode by inputting a warning stop command by using a button that is not used as an input key.

[0028] Furthermore, there are roughly two types of automatic stop mode. That is, one that automatically enters the warning stop mode after a specific time elapses using a timer device, and one that executes the warning stop after determining whether or not the warning can be stopped based on parameters other than the time There are two possibilities. Needless to say, it is particularly preferable if the warning can be stopped by determining whether or not the vehicle is traveling on an expressway.

Therefore, the taximeter according to the present invention is
6, the taxi meter as described in the fifth, before
The taxi vehicle has entered a predetermined high speed state
Further comprising a high-speed traveling detection means 106 for detecting that
The warning stopping means 105 includes the high speed traveling detecting means 106.
The warning is stopped in response to the detection of the high-speed driving state by
It is characterized by stopping .

That is, it is possible to determine whether or not the vehicle is still running on the highway even after the warning for warning the release of the highway tariff is turned on as described above. Even if the taxi vehicle stops due to traffic congestion and the high-speed tariff cancellation warning is turned on while the vehicle is running, if the traffic congestion is resolved and the vehicle starts traveling at high speed again (for example The "predetermined high-speed driving state") can be automatically judged and the high-speed tariff cancellation warning can be stopped, and the complication caused by the high-speed tariff cancellation warning during highway driving can be prevented. be able to.

The predetermined high-speed running state may be, for example, a state in which a taxi vehicle that has been stopped once while the vehicle is running on the highway starts to run again, or after the taxi vehicle clears the traffic jam. It may be a state when the vehicle starts running again and becomes a certain traveling speed or more. Since the purpose is to judge whether the warning continuation is good or not, that is, to judge whether or not the taxi vehicle is still running on the highway even after traveling once at a low speed.
Anything that is compatible with this may be used. Therefore, as for such a speed, the minimum speed limit is generally set in the case of Japanese highways, and in principle it is supposed to run at a higher speed. It is preferable to set the minimum speed to, for example, a speed of 80 km / h or more. This means that, for example, if it is 60 km / h or more, it will be 60 km / h even when driving on general roads.
It is difficult to use it as an index (parameter) for judging highway driving because it travels frequently at a high level. For example, if it is 100 km / h or more, even if driving on a highway, it is not always 100 km. This is because not only the vehicle runs at a speed of 100 km / h or more, but also the running at a speed of 100 km / h to 80 km / h is frequently performed, and therefore a speed of 100 km / h or more is too high as an index of highway driving. However, it goes without saying that the above-mentioned suitable speed index is not limited to this.

[0032]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of a taximeter according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. (Embodiment 1) As shown in FIG. 1, the taximeter of the first embodiment has a charge calculation means 101 and a calculation processing performed by the charge calculation means 101 which corresponds to a normal fare.
Which is a taxi meter mounted on a taxi vehicle, and has a non-high-speed traveling state detection means 103 and a warning generation means 104. The taximeter 100 is provided as a main part of the taxi vehicle and is usually mounted near the driver's seat of a taxi vehicle.

That is, the fare calculation means 101 performs fare calculation processing in the general traveling fare accumulation mode corresponding to the charge regulation (this is performed by the first calculation processing means 101a) and fare calculation processing in the high speed fare accumulation mode ( This is performed by the second arithmetic processing means 101b) in a switchable manner. In addition to this, the taxi fare calculation method itself, such as calculation when the payment button 301c (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) is pressed and the payment mode is selected, and addition of the car fare, is the usual It goes without saying that various fare calculation processes based on the taxi fare system are performed in the same manner as the ordinary method.

The switching means 102 switches the charge integrating mode of the charge calculating means 101 as described above. Then, the warning issuing means 104, when the charge accumulation mode of the charge calculation means 101 is switched to the high-speed charge accumulation mode by the switching means 102 and the high-speed charge accumulation mode, that is, the high-speed tariff is selected, the taxi vehicle When the non-high-speed traveling state detecting means 103 detects that the traveling is in a predetermined non-high-speed traveling state, the buzzer driving unit 104b for driving the alarm buzzer 104a is turned on to drive the alarm buzzer 104a. And issue a warning to release the high-speed tariff.

As a peripheral circuit other than the above-mentioned main part, a storage means 107 for storing various information such as traveling distance information counted during traveling or other vehicle charge data such as a pick-up fee and traveling time is mentioned above. It is connected to the. Further, the operating means 300 is the actual vehicle 301
A tariff switching button corresponding to various tariff modes such as a, high speed 301b, and payment 301c is provided, and by pressing these buttons, a switching command in the calculation switching means 102 of the charge calculation means 101 is input. That is, the various tariff switching buttons 301a, 30 of the operating means 300
When the taxi driver operates 1b, the switching means 102 switches the charge calculation means 101 between the charge accumulation mode for high-speed traveling and the charge accumulation mode for general road traveling.

As the peripheral device of the main part, the amount of money accumulated or summed by the charge calculation means 101 when the payment mode is selected, the traveling mode selected by the operation means 300, or the storage means 107 is stored. Display means 302 for displaying various information and the like, and printing means 303 for printing them out in the form of a receipt, for example.
Is connected to the charge calculation means 101.

FIG. 2 is a view showing an outline of the display / operation panel portion on the front surface of the taximeter of this embodiment. In the lower half of the front display / operation panel, the actual vehicle tariff button 301a, the high speed tariff button 301b, the payment tariff button 301c, the intercepting vehicle tariff button 301d, the wireless waiting tariff, which are the various tariff switching buttons of the operation means 300 described above. A button 301e, a cumulative button 301f, an empty car button 301g, etc. are provided. Further, the upper half is provided with display means 302 for displaying the currently selected driving mode, the current fare, etc.

The fare calculation means 101 comprises, in its main part, a first calculation means 101a corresponding to ordinary road fare and a second calculation means 101b corresponding to highway driving, which itself is This is a method based on an ordinary general digital meter. The first calculation means 101a is
While calculating the fare according to the mileage, if the mileage does not progress within a certain unit time under the conditions prescribed by the normal fare system, it is said that the fare addition corresponding to that time will be added , Performs fare calculation in the normal general road fare mode specified by the normal fare system. More specifically, this is because the travel pulse detected by the travel sensor 105 is
If it does not come within the specific time, it is considered that the renting run corresponding to it has been performed within the specific time, and the charge amount calculated using the specific time as a parameter is added, That is. Further, when the fare on the expressway, that is, the high-speed tariff is selected, the second calculating means 101b does not add the charge calculated using the above time as a parameter to the charge accumulation.

During normal fare traveling, the fare calculation means 101 switches the actual vehicle tariff button 301a among various tariff switching buttons arranged on the operation means 300 when the vehicle travels from the empty vehicle to the actual vehicle traveling. The first computing means 101a is selected by 102 to enter the normal vehicle tariff state which is the general road traveling mode, and the fare accumulation based on both the mileage distance and time as described above is performed. When the taxi vehicle climbs up the highway and the driver manually presses the high speed tariff button 301b to select the high speed tariff state, the switching means 102 receives the command input and selects the second computing means 101b. Then, the fare is calculated based on the mileage as described above.

The non-high speed traveling state detecting means 103 detects this when the taxi vehicle is in a predetermined non-high speed traveling state in the high speed tariff mode as described above. The non-high-speed traveling state detection means 103 enters the ON state when the high-speed tariff button 301b is pressed to select the high-speed tariff mode. When the high speed tariff button 301b is pressed again, the high speed tariff mode is released and the state returns to the OFF state. Therefore, this ON / OFF is the high-speed tariff mode ON / O of the charge calculation means 101.
It may be executed by linking to the FF.

In order to detect that the taxi vehicle 200 is in the non-high-speed traveling state by the non-high-speed traveling state detecting means 103, information such as the traveling state or a pulse detected corresponding thereto is first used. It is necessary to measure, but for that purpose, for example, a travel sensor 205 that detects a travel pulse generated in response to axle rotation with a rotation sensor can be preferably used. This is, for example, the travel sensor 2
It is possible to determine that the pulse corresponding to the rotation of the axle transmitted from 05 has become equal to or less than a specific pulse count number per unit time set in advance or has become 0 by detecting using a pulse counter or the like. . For example, when the pulse detected by the traveling sensor 205 becomes 0 per predetermined time, the traveling state at that time is determined as the stopped state, that is, the non-high-speed traveling state.
Alternatively, for example, when the taxi vehicle is in a traveling state substantially similar to traveling on a general road, that is, the number of pulses detected by the traveling sensor 205 per predetermined unit time is applied to the time accumulation in the fare accumulation mode for general traveling. If the number of pulses is less than the above, or if it is converted to speed and becomes low speed running (including stop), for example, 10 km / h or less, it is determined to be in a non-high speed running state. It is preferable to set so that

When the preset non-high speed traveling state is detected as described above, the warning generating means 104 issues a warning based on this. That is, this warning generating means 1
The buzzer driving unit 104b provided in 04 is turned on to make the alarm buzzer 104a ring. After that, even if the vehicle exits the traveling state and starts traveling at high speed again, the warning generation means 104 keeps the warning ON state until the high speed tariff is released. And this warning generation means 1
Reference numeral 04 returns to the OFF state when the driver releases the high-speed tariff mode itself by pressing the high-speed tariff button 301b again.

As the warning means issued by the warning generation means 104, for example, a sound warning means such as the alarm buzzer 104a exemplified in this embodiment may be used, or blinking although not shown. A warning lamp such as a lamp may be used. It is desirable to set the buzzer to a sound that can be clearly recognized to the extent that the driver can be prompted to cancel the high-speed tariff, and that does not give a passenger a complicated impression. Further, as the blinking light, for example, the high-speed tariff button 301b is of a transmitted light type, and the high-speed tariff button 301b can be made to appear to blink by arranging a blink or the like on the back side of the high-speed tariff button and blinking it. do it. Alternatively, a method of blinking the tariff division display portion of the display unit 302 so that it can be clearly recognized, or a high-speed tariff display in a normal display color (for example, light blue) in the case of color display
Change to a different color (such as orange),
Such a method is suitable.

As for the warning generation timing by the warning generation means 104, it may be issued immediately after the low-speed running state of the taxi vehicle is detected, or after 30 seconds, for example. The generation may be started after a specific time, that is, after a time lag such as a time corresponding to the time until the vehicle starts running again when it leaves the highway and goes down to the general road. Such a delay function of the warning generation start time can be realized by, for example, delaying the timing of turning on the buzzer driving unit 104b of the warning generation unit 104 until after a specific time by using a timer circuit (not shown).

The storage means 107, as described above, includes various fees normally required for ordinary taxi business such as fees accumulated during taxi rent by the fee calculation means 101 or a fare such as a pick-up fee, traveling distance and traveling time. It stores the information of. Further, the running state for comparing the pulse state corresponding to the current running state detected by the running sensor 205 and the pulse state corresponding to the preset non-high speed running state in the warning generating means 104. The pulse state corresponding to is coded and stored.
More specifically, the storage means 107 is, as shown in FIG. 3, a RAM 403, a ROM 404, an E ² PROM 304.
The main part is composed of. RAM of these
The 403 and the ROM 404 are arranged inside the microcomputer 401 described later. CPU 402 in ROM 404
A control program for causing various processing operations to be stored in is stored. The RAM 403 has a temporary storage area for temporarily storing data necessary for executing various data processes or calculations in the CPU 402, and a work area used for the calculation processing work. In the E ² PROM 304, prescribed charge data such as a fare and a charter charge as prescribed in the charge system is coded and written, and the tariff mode selected at that time by the CPU 402 of the microcomputer 401. The charge data or the like corresponding to is selected and read. Then, the charge calculation means 101 executes the charge calculation based on the mileage and time, the extra charge data, etc., and when the charge is settled, the calculation result, that is, the charge is summed up and displayed on the display means 302
To display. Alternatively, in the middle of renting, the charge calculation means 101 calculates the accumulated charge amount and the display means 302 displays it.
To display. Then, the E ² PROM 304 is used by the non-high-speed traveling state detecting means 103 to compare the pulse state corresponding to the preset non-high-speed traveling state, with
Information on the pulse state corresponding to the running state is encoded and stored, and is read out as necessary.

Here, the configuration of the main part of the taximeter according to the present invention as described above is as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1 for each functional block such as the charge calculation means 101 and the warning generation means 104. Needless to say, the circuit may be separately configured, or the one-chip microcomputer 401 may be used as a main part thereof and peripheral circuits and peripheral devices may be connected around the main part. Therefore, in the present embodiment, such a one-chip microcomputer 401 is used. The structure of the main part is shown in FIG. The charge calculation means 101, the switching means 102, and the warning generation means 104 are CPU 402 of the microcomputer 401 as circuits for performing calculation and data processing for realizing the above functions.
Can be built with. Information for controlling those functional blocks is stored in the RAM 40 of the storage unit 107.
3. It is possible to store the data in the ROM 404 and realize the above-mentioned various functions based on the data.
403 and ROM 404 are R in the microcomputer 401.
It goes without saying that AM and ROM can be preferably used. Further, the outline of the parts other than the above-mentioned main parts will be described. The display means 302 has a main display part 302a for displaying a charge and a sub-display part 302b for displaying the tariff mode currently selected. ing. All of these are, for example, using a liquid crystal display panel or the like to display data from the CPU 402 and perform various kinds of display as described above.
2 between the main display unit 302a and the sub-display unit 302b,
Driver circuit 302c and driver circuit 302d, respectively
Are connected. Then, these driver circuits 302
c, the driver circuit 302d converts the display data transmitted from the CPU 402 into image data or the like that can be displayed on the display panel of the display unit, and then converts it into the main display unit 302a.
-Transmit to the sub display unit 302b.

Next, the flow of the operation process of the taximeter of the first embodiment according to the present invention, the main part of which is configured as described above, will be described based on the flowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5. The taxi meter's charge calculation method, its switching operation method, and charge display method are similar to those of a normal digital taxi meter, and key input (interruption) as shown in FIG. 5 (a) is performed. Corresponding to this, rent (actual vehicle) input s501, payment input s50
2. Flags F1, F2, F3, F4, ... Corresponding to the vacant vehicle input s503, the high speed input s504, and the other input s505 are set, and the process currently being processed is interrupted.

Then, in the processing procedure as outlined in FIG. 5B, the fare processing (actual vehicle mode) s506, the payment processing (payment mode) s507a, s507b, or the empty vehicle mode s508 and the empty vehicle processing s509 are the above flags. The flag F1, F2 is reset when it is switched and executed corresponding to the above.

When the key input is input again, the real vehicle flag (s511) corresponding to the key input is input,
Any of the payment flag (s512), the empty vehicle flag (s513), the high speed flag (s514), etc. is set as described above. These operations can be executed by the same method as the conventional one. Therefore, a detailed description of such conventional parts will be omitted for the sake of brevity, and the main part of the present invention will be described in detail below.

When the passenger gets on the board, the arithmetic processing means 101
Is switched from the empty vehicle mode to the actual vehicle mode (s50
1 and s511) The calculation corresponding to the fare for running on the general road is started, the basic fare is displayed, and the flag 1 is set (s4).
01). While traveling on an ordinary road without climbing to the highway (s40
2N), the first calculation process and the charge display based on the same are continued (s403b).

If a taxi goes up to the highway while renting, it is necessary to shift to the highway tariff from that time due to the regulation of the fare system. In order to shift such a taxi meter to a high-speed tariff, the taxi driver confirms this at the time of entering the highway and manually operates the operation means 3.
When the high speed tariff button 301b of 00 is pressed (Y in s504), the high speed flag F2 is set from the initial value 0 to 1 (s514). Charges corresponding only to the mileage will be added (Y of s402 to s403
a).

Thus, the charge calculation means 101 is the switching means 1
By 02, the fare addition system is then switched to the highway traveling (high speed tariff) mode. However, at this time,
Needless to say, when used in combination with other modes such as the late-night surcharge mode, the charge regulation according to the mode is also applied. For example, in the late-night extra mode, it goes without saying that the late-night fare system is applied to the fare after the mileage addition even in the high-speed tariff. As described above, also in the taximeter according to the present invention, such an addition method itself is performed according to the conventional method.

In this way, when the high speed tariff is applied upon entering the highway traveling (Y in s402), the second arithmetic processing is continued (s403a). On the other hand, the non-high-speed traveling state detection means 103 starts operating when the high-speed tariff mode is entered (s414). Then, when the taxi gets off the highway, the taxi driver presses the high-speed tariff button 301b again to input, if not forgotten (s504).
Y and s409 Y). Then, the flag F2 is F = 0.
On the other hand, the toll calculation means 101 then changes the toll accumulation method from the accumulation method (high speed tariff) corresponding to the above highway traveling state to the normal ordinary road traveling state by the switching means 102 after being reset to s514 and s406. Switch to the above-mentioned accumulation method (normal tariff of actual vehicle), and return to the accumulation method of the general road driving mode that uses the above-mentioned accumulation for mileage and mileage, and continue this (4
03b).

Even if the high-speed tariff is released during the highway traveling for some reason, the high-speed tariff mode OFF can be executed by pressing the high-speed tariff button 301b again (s409 to s403b). . In any case, s501
From this to s409, the alarm has not been activated.

However, if the driver forgets to turn off the high-speed tariff mode and leaves the highway with the high-speed tariff mode turned on (N in s409), the non-high-speed running state detection means 103 determines it (s410). , Warning generation means 10
Turn on 4. Then, the alarm buzzer 104a issues a warning to prevent forgetting to release the high-speed tariff (s411).

That is, in general, the minimum speed regulation of the vehicle traveling on the highway is stipulated by the Road Traffic Law, etc. Therefore, when getting off the highway, until the vehicle travels at a low speed or stops at the toll booth at the highway exit. , The vehicle should continue to run at or above the specified minimum speed. In principle, stopping on expressways is not allowed.

Therefore, in the taximeter of the present invention, the high-speed tariff is in the ON state, that is, the traveling on the highway is continued in order to detect the end of the highway traveling and the transition to the general road traveling. In case of (N of s409)
In addition, while continuing to accumulate fare charges in the high-speed tariff mode, whether or not the vehicle has entered the non-high-speed running state, that is, in the present embodiment, the low-speed running state corresponding to the general road running state including the stopped state is set. The non-high-speed traveling state detection means 103 determines whether or not the vehicle has entered by using a pulse corresponding to the traveling state detected by the traveling sensor 205 (s410).

More specifically, this is the traveling sensor 20.
The pulse detected in 5 (corresponding to the traveling state) is generally used for the traveling distance calculation for calculating the fare by the fare calculation means 101, but the predetermined pulse corresponding to this traveling state is used. By comparing the pulse count per unit time with the pulse count corresponding to the preset running state, the running state at that time is the preset running state (that is, the stop state in the present embodiment). Alternatively, it is determined whether or not it corresponds to a low speed running state).

Alternatively, to determine whether or not the vehicle enters the non-high speed traveling state, the pulse waveform (frequency, pulse period, phase, etc.) detected by the traveling sensor 205 is determined as a pulse waveform corresponding to the non-high speed traveling state. You may judge by comparing. Alternatively, as the parameter for determining the traveling state as described above, the traveling sensor 205 as described above is used.
It is not limited to the traveling pulse detected by. In addition to this, for example, the traveling speed information used by the speedometer for indicating the speed is coded, and the code corresponding to this traveling speed is compared with the code corresponding to the predetermined traveling speed, and It may be possible to determine such a stop or low speed traveling state.

On the other hand, when the traveling pulse detected by the traveling sensor 205 does not correspond to the non-high-speed traveling state, that is, the traveling state such as the stopped state or the low-speed traveling state (N in s410), the vehicle travels on the highway. The non-high-speed traveling state detection means 103 determines that the operation is continuing, and continues the detection waiting state. Therefore, the warning is not turned on during that state.

Subsequently, when the pulse detected by the traveling sensor 205 is a pulse corresponding to the above-mentioned non-high speed traveling state, that is, the stop or low speed traveling state, the non-high speed traveling state detecting means 103 is based on it. Judges that the highway driving is completed (Y in s410), and the warning generating means 104
Turn on. Then, the warning generation means 104 issues a warning for prompting the taxi driver to release the high-speed tariff (s411).

Next, in response to the above warning, the taxi driver presses the high speed tariff button again and inputs it.
If it is set to FF (Y in s504 and Y in s407), the charge calculation means 101 switches from the charge accumulation mode corresponding to the high-speed tariff to the charge accumulation mode for traveling on the general road according to this OFF input, and the charge accumulation is performed while F2. Is reset (F2 = 0) (Y and s406 of s514 and s409) to return the non-high-speed traveling state detection means 103 to the detection waiting state and turn off the warning generation means 104 to stop the warning. Then, the charge calculation of the charge calculation means 101 is returned to the first calculation processing and the display thereof, which is the accumulation method corresponding to the ordinary traveling on the general road again (s403).
b).

After this, as with ordinary taxi business, when the passenger arrives at the destination, the normal payment mode is selected, the fare is settled, and the fare of this case ends (the details of this part are Since it is not directly related to the main part of the invention, its illustration and detailed description are omitted). As described above, the taxi meter according to the present invention detects whether the taxi has changed from traveling on a highway to traveling on a general road by the traveling sensor 205 at that time, and detects this by a non-high-speed traveling state detecting means. At 103, the pulse is compared with a preset pulse corresponding to a non-high-speed traveling state in which it can be determined that the vehicle has descended from the highway such as a stopped state or a low-speed traveling state.
When it is determined that the pulse corresponds to such a non-high speed traveling state, it is determined that the taxi has changed from traveling on the highway to traveling on the general road, and the warning issuing means 10
4 is turned on and the driver is warned to prevent forgetting to release the high-speed tariff. As a result, it is possible to urge the taxi driver to release the high-speed tariff and prevent forgetting to release the high-speed tariff.

(Second Embodiment) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the taxi meter of the second embodiment is different from the taxi meter of the first embodiment in that a taxi driver manually inputs a warning stop command. In response to this, the warning stop means 105a for stopping the warning that is being generated is provided in the main part of the warning stop means 105a, and is usually a taxi meter mounted near the driver's seat of a taxi vehicle.

In order to simplify the description and make the understanding clearer, in the following detailed description, the same parts or steps as those in the first embodiment will be first described.
The same reference numerals and names as those of the embodiment will be used to describe in detail the characteristic parts of this embodiment.

As an input means for the driver to manually input a warning stop command, that is, to take an I / F,
The touch sensor 201 as you detect the driver to a metal part of the operating means 300 surface in this embodiment as the input electrostatic changes based thereon touches the hand, operation means 3
00 is arranged inside. Therefore, high-speed tariff OFF
When the driver wants to turn off the forgetting prevention warning when it is ON, the driver touches the metal body portion on the surface of the operating means 300 by hand. Then, the touch sensor 201 detects this, and transmits it to the warning stop means 105a as if the warning stop command was manually input.

When the input detected by the touch sensor 201 is transmitted, the warning stopping means 105a turns off the buzzer driving unit 104b of the warning generating means 104 according to the warning stop command input to stop the warning of the alarm buzzer 104a. Let Next, FIG. 7 shows a schematic flowchart of the taximeter of the second embodiment according to the present invention, the main part of which is configured as described above. In the taximeter of the second embodiment, the outline process as shown up to s411 in FIG. 4 in the first embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment, but especially the subsequent steps are the same. 1 embodiment. Therefore, this part will be mainly described based on FIG. 6 which is a schematic configuration diagram and FIG. 7 which is a schematic flowchart of the operation thereof.

When the traveling pulse detected by the traveling sensor 205 corresponds to a non-high speed traveling state (Y in s410), the warning generation means 104 is turned on and a warning is issued to urge the taxi driver to release the high speed tariff. Emit (s
411). However, if the above-mentioned stop or low-speed driving situation actually occurred on the highway, the warning for prompting the cancellation of the high-speed tariff should be felt to be troublesome for taxi drivers and passengers. Is.

Therefore, in the taximeter of this embodiment, the high-speed tariff cancellation warning is turned on as described above.
If it is still running on the highway even after (s411), the taxi driver inputs a stop command to stop it manually (s6).
01 Y) is possible. In the present embodiment, the input of the stop command is manually performed via the touch sensor 201 as described above.

When the stop command is manually input in this manner, the warning generation means 104 is turned off based on the stop command to stop the warning (s602). If the stop command is not input here (N in s601), the high-speed tariff OF
Return to F command input wait state.

Then, when the taxi driver turns off the high-speed tariff in response to the warning (Y in s407), the toll calculation means 101 changes the calculation mode from the high-speed tariff mode to the toll-accumulation mode on the ordinary road according to the OFF input. While switching to, stop the warning. That is,
The warning generation means 103 is turned off to stop the warning (s
Along with 602), the flag F2 is reset to F2 = 0 (s406). Then, the charge calculation of the charge calculation means 101 returns to the accumulation method of the first calculation processing corresponding to the ordinary traveling on the general road again (s403b).

After this, as in normal taxi business,
When the passenger arrives at the destination, the normal payment mode is selected, the fare is settled, and the fare of this case ends (details of this part are not directly related to the main part of the present invention, so detailed description is omitted) To). As described above, in the taxi meter according to the second embodiment of the present invention, for example, when the taxi vehicle is stopped due to traffic jam and the high-speed tariff cancellation warning is turned on, the taxi meter is actually still traveling on the highway. As described above, the taxi driver can manually input the stop command to cause the warning stop means 105a to function and turn off the warning generation of the warning generation means 104.
As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from forgetting to release the high-speed tariff by issuing a warning, and it is possible to prevent the complication caused by the generation of the high-speed tariff releasing warning while traveling on a highway.

Although the touch sensor 201 is used as the stop command input unit in the above embodiment, it goes without saying that the stop command input unit according to the present invention is not limited to this. In addition to this, for example, a tariff button that is not functioning while using the high-speed tariff may be used as a stop command input unit during that time, and the stop command may be input by pressing this button. Alternatively, a stop command input button may be newly installed separately from the existing operation button.

(Third Embodiment) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the taximeter of the third embodiment is different from the taximeter of the second embodiment in that the taxi vehicle is in a predetermined high-speed traveling state. High-speed traveling state detecting means 106 for detecting that it has become again, and a warning stopping portion 10 for stopping the warning of the warning generating means 104 when it is detected.
And 5b.

In order to simplify the description and make the understanding clearer, in the following detailed description, the same parts as those in the first and second embodiments are the same as those in the first embodiment. It is indicated by a code and a name. The same applies to the flowchart according to this embodiment shown in FIG.

The charge calculation means 101 and the switching means 102 are parts that realize the same functions as those in the first and second embodiments. In addition, the taxi meter of the third embodiment is that the taxi meter is in the middle of traveling on the highway even if the warning issuing means 103 has issued a warning due to traffic congestion or the like while the taxi is traveling on the highway. The provision of the warning stopping means 105b that automatically determines the warning and stops the warning is a feature of the present embodiment different from the warning stopping means 105a of the second embodiment that manually stops the warning.

When the warning generating means 104 is generating a warning (s411), the high speed running state detecting means 106 detects the running pulses detected by the running sensor 205 every moment.
It is compared with a high-speed traveling pulse corresponding to a traveling state on a highway set in advance, and this is detected when the state becomes compatible with the high-speed traveling pulse (s412).

The function of comparing such traveling pulses is
For example, the set number of pulses of the high-speed traveling pulse per predetermined unit time is coded and stored in a storage element such as an E ² PROM, and the traveling per specific time detected by the traveling sensor 205 is performed. Compared with the number of pulses converted to the above code format, if the current number of pulses exceeds the set number of pulses, the taxi vehicle is in a highway traveling state, that is, traveling on a highway. It may be determined that it is in a running state. Alternatively, for example, pulse waveforms, pulse timings, and the like may be compared in addition to encoding and comparing the number of pulses.

In this way, when the driving state corresponding to the general road running such as the stop or the low speed running state (Y of s410) is returned to the running state corresponding to the above highway running (Y of s412), this The high-speed running state detection means 1
It is determined that the vehicle is traveling on the highway 06, and the warning stop means 105b is turned off to stop the warning sound of the alarm buzzer 104a (s413).

The predetermined high-speed traveling state determined by the warning stop means 105b is, for example, a traveling state in which a taxi vehicle that has once stopped while traveling on the highway corresponds to the highway traveling again. Is a running state when the vehicle starts to run, or a state where the taxi vehicle starts running again after the congestion is cleared and the speed exceeds a certain speed. In other words, the purpose of determining the above high-speed running state is to determine whether or not the warning is continued, that is, to determine whether or not the taxi vehicle is still running on the highway even after the vehicle has once run at low speed. So it is necessary to be suitable for this. Therefore, as a parameter for specifically determining such a high-speed driving state, the minimum speed is generally determined in the case of Japanese highways, and in principle, the vehicle should travel at a higher speed. Therefore, it is preferable to set such a minimum speed, for example, a speed of 80 km / h or more.

The main constituents of the taximeter according to the present invention have been mainly described above, but a further detailed structure or peripheral parts thereof will be described here. It stores a charge system such as a charge accumulated by the calculation means 101 or a fare for a vehicle, and various information such as a travel distance and a travel time. In particular, the E ² PROM in this storage means 107
304 stores information obtained by encoding the non-high-speed traveling pulse and the high-speed traveling pulse which are preset for comparison with the traveling pulse at the present time by the non-high-speed traveling state detecting means 103 and the warning stopping means 105b. This is read as needed. This E ² PROM 304 also substantially forms a part of the non-high-speed traveling state detecting means 103 and the warning stopping means 105b.

The configuration of the main part of the taximeter according to the present invention as described above is similar to that of the first embodiment and the like.
A circuit may be separately configured for each functional block such as the charge calculation means 101, the warning generation means 103, the warning stop means 105b, or the one-chip microcomputer as shown in the first embodiment or the like. It is needless to say that it may be used for the main part and connected with peripheral circuits and peripheral devices around it. Therefore, also in this embodiment, such a one-chip microcomputer is used.

Further, in the present embodiment, the case where the non-high speed traveling state detecting means 103 and the high speed traveling state detecting means 106 are formed as separate circuit blocks has been described in detail. The function of comparing the traveling pulse numbers of the above is formed as, for example, traveling pulse number comparing means, and the function of this traveling pulse number comparing means is the above-mentioned non-high speed traveling state detecting means 103 and high speed traveling state detecting means 106.
It goes without saying that both functions may be combined.

That is, both the non-high-speed traveling state detecting means 103 and the high-speed traveling state detecting means 106 compare the number of traveling pulses detected by the traveling sensor 205 per predetermined unit time with a preset number of pulses. Since the essential points of the function are the same, the function of comparing the pulse numbers is also used by the traveling pulse number comparing means,
The high speed traveling state detecting means is replaced with the non-high speed traveling state detecting means 103.
When it is used as, the number of pulses corresponding to a preset non-high speed traveling state is compared, and the high speed traveling state detecting means 10 is used.
When it is used as 6, the data to be compared may be switched depending on each case so as to be compared with the preset number of pulses corresponding to the high speed traveling state.

As described above, in the taximeter of the third embodiment according to the present invention, the warning stopping means 105b determines whether or not the taxi meter is still running on the highway even after the high-speed tariff cancellation warning is turned on. judge. In other words, even if a taxi vehicle stops due to traffic congestion and the high-speed tariff cancellation warning is turned on while driving on a highway, it will be automatically restarted when the traffic congestion is resolved and the vehicle starts traveling at high speed again. It is possible to make a judgment and automatically stop the warning for preventing forgetting to release the high-speed tariff. As a result, it is possible to warn that the driver has forgotten to release the high-speed tariff, and at the same time, it is possible to prevent the complication caused by the warning occurrence during traveling on the highway.

[0086]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a taxi meter capable of realizing a fare settlement process accurately corresponding to a fare system by preventing forgetting to release a high-speed tariff. can do.

In addition to the high-speed tariff, which is the main target field of the present invention, tariffs that depend on the driver for switching include, for example, a pick-up tariff and a charter tariff. It may be necessary to set (or switch) in advance at the time of cancellation, and when canceling it, when the driver stops to get passengers to take passengers, or when the fare settlement is completed after the reservation has been completed Since there is often a single break, the probability that the driver will forget to release is low.
On the other hand, in the case of the high speed tariff, the switching is performed in an extremely unique situation. In general, the taxi driving mode is the order of returning from a highway to a highway after returning to the highway as long as the highway is used, so the high-speed tariff must be released during the rent.

That is, of the tariffs that rely on the manual release operation as described above, especially for high-speed tariff cancellation, unlike the case where it is sufficient to cancel when the fare is separated or when the fare is stopped, You have to perform the release operation on the way. Moreover, the situation in which the high-speed tariff needs to be canceled is when the high-speed toll is paid to get off the highway to the general road.At this time, the driver pays the high-speed toll and stores or receives the receipt. Since other operations and the like must be performed safely and reliably by one person in a short time, it is confused by the complexity and it is very easy to forget the release operation. Moreover, at this time, returning to the general road from the high-speed running that had been forced until then,
Since the so-called relief psychology works, it is psychologically easy for the driver to forget the release operation. As a result, there was a problem that forgetting to switch tariffs and renting on ordinary roads with high-speed tariffs, making it impossible to add fares accurately in accordance with the prescribed tariff system.

However, according to the present invention, it is possible to effectively warn the driver of the prevention of forgetting to release the high-speed tariff, by automatically issuing a warning or stopping the warning as in the above embodiments. As a result, it is possible to realize fare settlement processing that accurately corresponds to the fare system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing main components of a taxi meter according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a display / operation panel portion on the front surface of a taximeter according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an outline of a microcomputer in which a main part of the configuration of the taxi meter according to the present invention is built and peripheral devices thereof.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart particularly showing a warning operation part in the operation process of the taximeter of the first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic flow chart showing the main parts of the overall tariff calculation process and tariff switching process of the taximeter according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a main part of a configuration of a taximeter of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a particularly warning operation part of the operation process of the taximeter of the second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a main part of a configuration of a taximeter of a third embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing particularly the warning operation part of the operation process of the taximeter of the third embodiment according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 ... CPU 101 ......... Charge calculator 102 ......... Switching unit 103 ... Non-high-speed running state detection unit 104 ......... Warning unit 105 ......... Warning stop unit 106 ... High-speed traveling state detection unit

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A and charges calculating means for performing calculation of the taxi fare, the arithmetic processing performed by the該料gold calculating means, the actual vehicle data
High-speed tariff button operation from the first arithmetic processing corresponding to normal wages based on the actual vehicle tariff by operating the riff button
In the taximeter installed in the taxi vehicle, the traveling state of the taxi vehicle is predetermined. When the non-high-speed traveling detecting means detects that the non-high-speed traveling state is detected, and when the charge calculating means is in the second arithmetic processing state, the non-high-speed traveling detecting means detects the non-high-speed traveling state. From the high-speed tariff to the real car tariff
And a warning generating means for issuing a warning for prompting the switching of the taxi meter. 2. The taxi meter according to claim 1, wherein the fare calculation means calculates the first calculation processing based on a mileage distance and a time, and the second calculation means. A taximeter, comprising: a fare calculation means including a second calculation means for performing a calculation process based only on a mileage. 3. The taxi meter according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the non-high speed traveling detection means operates the high speed tariff button.
It is turned on according to the switching to the high-speed tariff
Turn off when the high-speed tariff is released.
A taximeter characterized by. 4. The taximeter according to claim 1 or 2.
In the above, the non-high-speed traveling detection means detects traveling pulses.
The traveling pal including a sensor and detected by the traveling sensor.
Is zero at a given time, or at a given time
The number of running pulses detected by the running sensor
Time accumulation is applied in the charge accumulation mode for general driving
When the number of pulses is less than a certain number of pulses, it becomes a non-high-speed running
A taximeter which is characterized by detecting that. 5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
In a taximeter , a warning to stop the warning being generated by the warning generating means
A taximeter equipped with a stopping means. 6. The taximeter according to claim 5.
Then, the taxi vehicle enters a predetermined high-speed running state.
Further comprising a high-speed running detection means for detecting that
The warning stopping means is the high-speed traveling detected by the high-speed traveling detecting means.
A special feature is that the warning is stopped in response to the detection of line status.
Taximeter to collect.