JP3639819B2 - Test station equipment for narrow area communication system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an ETC (automatic toll collection system) that uses a 5.8 GHz band, such as a billing radio communication system configured by a roadside station and an in-vehicle station, and a narrow area that performs radio communication using a relatively small space. The present invention relates to a communication system. The present invention particularly relates to a test station apparatus for a narrow area communication system used for examining the operation of a mobile station apparatus for a narrow area communication system or the surrounding radio environment.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to impose a toll on the vehicle occupant or owner, ETC automatically wirelessly responds to each other between the roadside station installed on the roadside, for example, above the road, and the in-vehicle station mounted on the vehicle traveling on the road. This is a communication system. The ETC in-vehicle station is a typical example of a radio device having a relatively narrow communicable area and mounted on a mobile body, that is, a device referred to as a mobile station device for a narrow area communication system in the present application. In order to investigate the operation of the mobile station apparatus and the surrounding wireless environment, for example, a method as shown in FIG. 8 may be adopted. That is, the narrow station communication system test station apparatus 14 is held over the window so as to face the narrow area communication system mobile station apparatus 12 mounted on the vehicle 10. It is only necessary to perform wireless communication and display the result on the LED of the test station apparatus 14. An operator who handles the test station apparatus 14 can check the operation of the mobile station apparatus 12 and the surrounding wireless environment by viewing the display.
[0003]
As shown in FIG. 9, the test station apparatus 14 has a structure in which an antenna 142, a radio unit 143, a communication control unit 144, a communication result display unit 145, an operation unit 146, and a power supply unit 147 are incorporated in a single casing 141. And a handle 148 held by the operator as part of the housing 141. Among these members, the operation unit 146 is a member such as a switch, button, or key that is provided on the surface of the housing 141 and is operated by an operator. A command given by the operator operating the operation unit 146 is input to the communication control unit 144. The communication control unit 144 supplies a signal to the wireless unit 143 and the communication result display unit 145 in response to this command. For example, it is assumed that a command given by an operator via the operation unit 146 is a command to wirelessly transmit a specific type of signal and display a response from the mobile station apparatus 12 to the signal. In response to this command, the communication control unit 144 wirelessly transmits the signal through the wireless unit 143 and its antenna 142. When the wireless unit 143 and its antenna 142 receive a wireless response from the mobile station apparatus 12 in response thereto, the communication control unit 144 causes the communication result display unit 145 to display the contents of the received wireless response. The power supply unit 147 supplies driving power to a member that requires power supply among members constituting the test station device 14, for example, the communication control unit 144.
[0004]
In the test station apparatus 14 shown in FIG. 9, assuming that the test station apparatus 14 is held facing the mobile station apparatus 12 as shown in FIG. The direct viewing direction of the result display unit 145 is set. Here, the “directivity direction of the antenna 142” is the direction in which the gain of the antenna 142 is the highest. Although depending on the structure of the antenna 142, for example, a flat antenna has a direction perpendicular to the antenna substrate. In FIG. 9, it is the downward direction. Further, the “direct viewing direction of the communication result display unit 145” is a direction in which the display of the communication result display unit 145 can be read most satisfactorily. In most display devices, this is the direction orthogonal to the screen. In the test station apparatus 14 shown in FIG. 9, a communication result display unit 145 is incorporated in the housing 141 so that the screen faces upward in the figure. Since the handle 148 extends in the left-right direction in FIG. 9, that is, in the direction parallel to the screen of the communication result display unit 145, the operator holds the handle 148 and feels the antenna 142 in the direction of the mobile station device 14 without feeling uncomfortable. At the same time, the screen of the communication result display unit 145 can be directly viewed.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, the test station device 14 having a function of acting as a roadside station to perform wireless communication with the mobile station device 12 and displaying the result or the like is the operation status of the mobile station device 12 and its surroundings. This is useful for investigating the radio wave environment, etc. However, in the test station apparatus 14 that has been conventionally developed, the direct viewing direction of the communication result display unit 145 and the directivity direction of the antenna 142 are parallel, so that depending on the installation height of the mobile station apparatus 12, an operator may use a platform or ladder. Had to use.
[0006]
As an example, consider a mobile station device 12 installed in front of a cockpit of a passenger car (height = h1) and a mobile station device 12 installed in front of a cockpit of a truck (height = h2> h1). . In order to perform communication with the antenna 142 of the test station device 14 directed to the mobile station device 12, the height of installation is different between the test of the mobile station device 12 on the passenger car and the test of the mobile station device 12 on the truck. The height of the test station apparatus 14 must be changed according to the difference. Further, in order to directly view the screen so that the displayed information can be read accurately, quickly, and using a ladder 16 or the like as shown in FIG. The position / posture of its own eyes and hands with respect to 12 must be kept constant regardless of the installation height of the mobile station apparatus 12.
[0007]
The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and can direct the antenna pointing direction of the test station apparatus to the mobile station apparatus regardless of the installation height of the mobile station apparatus. The purpose is to enable the operator to directly view the screen of the communication result display unit of the test station apparatus, and in particular to obtain such a positional relationship without using a stand or a ladder.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the present invention relates to (1) an operation of a mobile station device or a surrounding wireless environment by wireless communication with a mobile station device for a narrow-area communication system mounted on a vehicle or the like. A test station device for a narrow area communication system that collects information, (2) a communication result display that displays an antenna for wireless communication, a circuit that performs wireless communication using the antenna, and information obtained through wireless communication In a test station apparatus for a narrow area communication system in which a unit is housed in a single casing that can be gripped by an operator, (3) the antenna directivity direction is in a gripping state in which the direct viewing direction of the communication result display unit is horizontal. The direct viewing direction of the communication result display unit and the directivity direction of the antenna are set so as to face obliquely downward and forward. Therefore, in the present invention, the antenna can be directed to the mobile station device while only changing the gripping posture of the test station device for a narrow area communication system and keeping the communication result display unit in direct view. In addition, when testing a device that requires testing / operation confirmation in an electromagnetic shielding environment such as a VICS (vehicle information communication system) beacon transceiver, the mobile station device is electromagnetically shielded from the surroundings. An RF antenna attachment for wireless connection with the antenna on the side can also be provided.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure similar or corresponding to the prior art shown in FIG. 8 thru | or FIG. 10, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted. In addition, the same numbering and description are omitted for the same or corresponding configurations among a plurality of embodiments described below.
[0010]
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a test station apparatus 14A for a narrow area communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention. First, the casing 141A of the test station apparatus 14A according to the present embodiment has a shape in which a handle 148A extends downward just like a handgun. The members incorporated in the housing 141A are substantially the same as those in the prior art, but differ in the following points.
[0011]
First, in the present embodiment, the antenna 142A for wireless communication with the mobile station apparatus 12 points in a direction that is not parallel to the direct viewing direction of the communication result display unit 145A for displaying the result of the wireless communication. ing. That is, the screen of the communication result display unit 145A extends vertically in the figure, and the direct viewing direction is the left-right direction in the figure, whereas the antenna 142A is directed diagonally downward to the left in the figure. . That is, as shown in FIG. 1, in a state where the test station device 14A is held in a horizontal posture, the antenna 142A faces obliquely downward and forward. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, it is not necessary for the operator to move up and down when the mobile station apparatus 12 is installed at a low place (a) and when it is installed at a high place (b). Compared to the example shown in FIG. 10, it is possible to handle a wide range of installation heights by simply changing the position of the hand holding the test station device 14A (arm angle) and the position of the eyes looking at the screen (up and down swinging). it can. In this embodiment, the relationship between the directivity direction and the direct viewing direction is set as described above by setting the installation angle of the communication result display unit 145A and the antenna 142A in the housing 141A to be different angles. May be used. For example, as the communication result display unit 145A and the antenna 142A, a device having a non-perpendicular direction with respect to the screen or the antenna substrate as a direct viewing direction or a directing direction may be used.
[0012]
Next, in this embodiment, an external interface 149 is provided so that an external connection device 18 such as a personal computer can be connected as shown in FIG. The external connection device 18 receives information from the communication control unit 144 via the external interface 149, and displays an image for protocol monitoring on the screen 20 in a form as shown in FIG. As a result, a series of processes for confirming the operation of the mobile station device 12, determining the presence or absence of an abnormality, and analyzing the abnormality, if any, can be executed in the external connection device 18 or with support thereof. . Furthermore, the external connection device 18 can manage the communication history with the mobile station device 12 and the like.
[0013]
FIG. 5 shows an example of a procedure executed by the test station apparatus 14A according to the present embodiment. The communication result display unit 145A and the external connection device 18 display information acquired by performing this procedure, for example, reception level information, or display a protocol monitor indicating the implementation status of this procedure. In the figure, FCMC is a frame control signal, and is transmitted by radio from the test station apparatus 14A every time communication is performed. Communication between the test station apparatus 14A and the mobile station apparatus 12 is started when the frame control signal FCMC from the test station apparatus 14A is analyzed and the mobile station apparatus 12 returns a link connection signal ACTC. After the start of communication, the test station apparatus 14A transmits a message MDC [BST] related to the application and parameters based on the beacon service table, and the mobile station apparatus 12 transmits a response message MDC [VST] to the MDC [BST] based on the vehicle service table. Through the procedure of replying, the test station apparatus 14A performs allocation by the FCMC so as to transmit to the mobile station apparatus 12 a wireless call number channel WCNC as a wireless terminal at the time of manufacture unique to the mobile station apparatus. Thereafter, the mobile station apparatus 12 returns a WCNC in response thereto.
[0014]
In the illustrated procedure, ACCC [ACK] and ACK [NACK] are retransmission confirmation signals indicating reception and non-reception, respectively. These signals are originally used in a form of returning ACCC [ACK] when a normal signal is received from the other side, and returning ACCC [NACK] otherwise. However, the test station apparatus 14A repeats retransmission of the MDC [VST] by returning ACCC [NACK] or the like even when the MDC [VST] can be normally received from the mobile station apparatus 12. Thus, by performing communication using the retransmission function prepared in the narrow-area communication system, and displaying the reception level obtained as a result, the operation status and radio wave environment of the mobile station apparatus 12 are related. Detailed analysis is possible. For example, it can be checked whether or not the glass of the window of the vehicle 10 hinders radio wave propagation.
[0015]
In addition, in the above description, especially the description regarding the procedure and display shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, an ETC on-board unit is assumed as the mobile station apparatus 12 to be tested in order to perform a specific description. However, the application target of the present invention is not limited to a test station apparatus that uses an ETC on-board device as a test target. In particular, with the enhancement and widespread use of road-to-vehicle communication systems such as VICS in recent years, mobile station devices having both functions as ETC on-board devices and functions as VICS beacon transceivers (on-vehicle devices) have been developed. Each of the test station apparatuses 14B and 14C for the narrow area communication system shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 can test not only the ETC on-board unit but also the VICS beacon transceiver, and the ETC on-board unit / VICS beacon. This is an example in which the present invention is implemented so that a mobile station apparatus having both functions of a transceiver can also be a test target.
[0016]
In the narrow-area communication system test station apparatus 14B shown in FIG. 6, an RF antenna 150, a VICS (RF) radio unit 151, an optical antenna 152, an optical communication processing unit 153, and a VICS are further provided in the housing 141A. The processing unit 154 is accommodated. The VICS processing unit 154 controls the radio unit 151 and the optical communication processing unit 152 under the control of the communication control unit 144, and uses the RF antenna 150 and the optical antenna 152 to transmit the mobile station device 12 (strictly, the VICS beacon transmission / reception). Communicate with the machine part). For example, when the operation mode is “VICS test mode”, the communication control unit 144 performs a test / operation check / information collection on the VICS beacon transmission / reception function of the mobile station apparatus 12 and the control under the control of the VICS processing unit 154. The member in is operated. When in the “ETC test mode”, the radio unit 143 and the antenna 142A are operated so as to perform a test, operation check, and information collection related to the ETC in-vehicle device function of the mobile station device 12. In the “VICS / ETC simultaneous test mode”, the processing / control related to the “VICS test” and the processing / control related to the “ETC” test are executed simultaneously or in a time-sharing manner. The operation mode can be set and switched by an operation of the operation unit 146 by an operator or in response to a signal from the external connection device 18 via the external interface 149.
[0017]
7 uses an RF antenna attachment 150A provided outside the housing 141A, instead of the RF antenna 150 in FIG. The RF antenna attachment 150A has a configuration in which an antenna corresponding to the RF antenna 150 is disposed in an electromagnetic shielding cover. When a test is performed on the mobile station device 12 or a VICS beacon transmitter / receiver part (VICS beacon transmitter / receiver 12A in the figure) of the mobile station device 12, the RF antenna attachment 150A includes an RF antenna disposed in the attachment 150A, a VICS, The beacon transceiver 12A (at least its RF antenna) is arranged so as to enter the electromagnetic shielding cover by the attachment 150A. Accordingly, the RF antenna on the test station apparatus side and the RF antenna on the mobile station apparatus side can be wirelessly connected in a state where the cover is electromagnetically shielded from the outside. In this embodiment, since this state is obtained, it is possible to perform tests related to transmission / reception of RF beacons in VICS reliably and easily, while eliminating external electromagnetic interference and external electromagnetic interference. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a housing shape, a communication result display unit and an antenna posture of a test station apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and functional relationships thereof.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a usage pattern of the test station apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a usage form of an external connection device in the test station apparatus according to the present embodiment.
4 is a diagram showing a screen display form in the external connection device shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a test procedure in the present embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a test station apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a test station apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a test method for a mobile station apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a conventional case shape of a test station apparatus, a communication result display unit, an attitude of an antenna, and their functional relationship.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a conventional problem.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vehicle, 12 Mobile station apparatus for narrow area communication system, 12A VICS beacon transceiver, 14A, 14B, 14C Test station apparatus for narrow area communication system, 141A housing, 142A antenna, 145A communication result display section, 148A handle, 149 External interface, 150 RF antenna, 150A RF antenna attachment, 151 wireless unit (VICS), 152 optical antenna, 153 optical communication processing unit, 154 VICS processing unit, 18 external connection device.

Claims (2)

A test station apparatus for a narrow area communication system that collects information on the operation of the mobile station apparatus or its surrounding radio environment by wireless communication with a mobile station apparatus for a narrow area communication system mounted on a vehicle,
An antenna for wireless communication, a circuit that performs wireless communication using the antenna, and a communication result display unit that displays information obtained through wireless communication are housed in a single casing that can be held by an operator. In the test station apparatus for the regional communication system,
A narrow-area communication system characterized in that the direct viewing direction of the communication result display unit and the directivity direction of the antenna are set so that the directivity direction of the antenna faces obliquely downward and forward in a gripping state where the direct viewing direction of the communication result display unit is horizontal Test station equipment. In the test station apparatus for a narrow area communication system according to claim 1,
A test station apparatus for a narrow area communication system, comprising: an RF antenna attachment for wirelessly connecting to an antenna on a mobile station apparatus side in a state of being electromagnetically shielded from surroundings.

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