JP4536902B2 - Information display device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information display device, and more particularly to an information display device that is provided for each passing lane of a toll booth that collects charges from a vehicle and notifies the vehicle of which toll collection method the lane is. It is.
[0002]
[Prior art]
At toll booths installed on toll roads and parking lots, as a method of collecting tolls, in addition to the conventional general toll collection method in which the vehicles pause and pay the fee, it is necessary to pause the vehicle An automatic fee collection (ETC: Electronic Toll Collection) method that automatically pays a fee without introducing it is introduced. This automatic toll collection system is a system that automatically pays a fee when passing through a toll gate by wireless communication between the gate and the in-vehicle device and does not require a temporary stop of the vehicle. Expected to reduce traffic congestion in the vicinity and reduce exhaust emissions.
[0003]
In the automatic fee collection method, an in-vehicle device is required in advance, so that a vehicle without an in-vehicle device cannot pay a fee by this method. Therefore, in order to avoid such confusion, the toll booth installs an information display device for each passing lane to notify the vehicle driver of which fare collection system the lane is. With this information display device, the ETC dedicated lane dedicated to the automatic fee collection method, the general dedicated lane dedicated to the general fee collection method, or the mixed lane corresponding to both the automatic fee collection method and the general fee collection method is selected. The driver of the vehicle is notified whether the lane is the toll collection method.
[0004]
At the toll booth, it is necessary to change the toll collection method in each traffic lane according to the date and time and congestion. Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 11, an information display device is installed above the entrance of a traffic lane, and three types of subtitles indicating the lanes for each toll collection method are prepared. As shown in FIG. 11 (a), the subtitle “ETC” displayed in white characters is selected on a purple background, and in the case of a general dedicated lane, “general characters” displayed in white characters on a green background are displayed as shown in FIG. In the case of a mixed lane, as shown in FIG. 11C, the “ETC / general” subtitles displayed in white letters on the purple and green areas are selected, and these subtitles are displayed in the background. It was turned on and displayed by illumination from.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
For such an information display device, it is required to realize an information display device using an LED instead of a caption type having a mechanical structure from the viewpoint of improving visibility, improving the maintenance and durability of the device. Has been. When an information display device is realized using LEDs, different display colors are required, so a method using a display device capable of displaying in full color is conceivable. However, when displaying such a toll collection method, one of several fixed display patterns is selected and one display pattern is displayed over a long period of time without frequent switching. There is a problem that a circuit configuration for realizing, specifically, a circuit configuration for individually controlling the luminance of blue, red, and green LEDs for each display pixel becomes excessive, and an inexpensive information display device cannot be realized. there were.
The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object thereof is to provide an information display device that can obtain good visibility with a simple circuit configuration.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the information display device according to the present invention has a horizontally long display surface as a whole, and three display areas are juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction of the rectangle. A display unit having a display area composed of a plurality of display pixels made of LEDs, and a control unit that controls lighting of each display pixel of the display unit in units of each display area in accordance with the charge collection method of the lane. The three display areas include an ETC area composed of a plurality of display pixels for displaying a first color ground and white characters corresponding to the ETC dedicated lane, and a second color ground and white characters corresponding to the general dedicated lane. And a plurality of display pixels that are provided between the ETC region and the general region and that display the first color ground disposed on the ETC region side across the oblique boundary portion On the general area side When the lane is an ETC-dedicated lane, the control unit turns on each display pixel in the ETC area and turns on the general area and the display area. When each display pixel in the intermediate area is extinguished and the lane is a general dedicated lane, each display pixel in the general area is turned on to extinguish each display pixel in the ETC area and the intermediate area. In this case, the display pixels in the ETC area, the general area, and the intermediate area are turned on.
[0007]
In addition, in the other information display device according to the present invention, the display surface forms a horizontally long rectangle as a whole, and three display areas are arranged in parallel in the long direction of the rectangle, and these display areas are formed of LEDs. Three display areas each including a display unit configured by a plurality of display pixels and a control unit that controls lighting of each display pixel of the display unit in units of each display region according to the charge collection method of the lane Is an ETC region composed of a plurality of display pixels for displaying a first color ground and white characters corresponding to an ETC dedicated lane, and a plurality of displays for displaying a second color ground and white characters corresponding to a general dedicated lane A common area consisting of pixels, and a common area on the lower side that is provided between the ETC area and the general area and that is sandwiched between the approximate center position of the display area and the oblique boundary that obliquely intersects the approximate center position. Area and above The control unit includes a plurality of display pixels that individually display either the first or second color ground for each of the lower shared area and the upper shared area. In this case, each display pixel in the ETC area is turned on and each display pixel in the lower shared area is turned on in the first color ground, and each display pixel in the general area and the upper shared area is turned off. In the case of the general dedicated lane, each display pixel in the general area is turned on, and each display pixel in the upper shared area is turned on in the second color background, and each display pixel in the ETC area and the intermediate area is turned off. Is a mixed lane, each display pixel in the ETC area and the general area is lit, each display pixel in the lower shared area is lit in the second color ground, and each display pixel in the upper shared area is lit in the first lane. To light up in color One in which the.
[0008]
As for the ground color, purple may be used as the first ground color and green may be used as the second ground color.
The display pixel that displays the first ground color may be composed of blue LEDs and red LEDs that are arranged at a pitch of ½ or less of the horizontal width of the display pixel.
Further, white characters may be arranged at approximately the center positions of the ETC area and the general area, respectively.
Also, a plurality of displays for selecting and displaying either the first color ground and white characters corresponding to the ETC-dedicated lane and the second color ground and white characters corresponding to the general-dedicated lane instead of the general area described above. Provide a general area consisting of pixels, and when the lane is an ETC-dedicated lane, the control unit turns on each pixel that displays the first color ground and white characters corresponding to the ETC-dedicated lane in the general area. Also good.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information display apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The information display device 1 is installed in each toll lane of the toll booth, and an ETC lane dedicated to an automatic toll collection (ETC) system that automatically pays a fee without requiring a temporary stop of the vehicle, The general lane dedicated to the general toll collection system that pauses and pays the charges, or the mixed lane that supports both the automatic toll collection system and the general toll collection system Notify the vehicle if it exists.
Each information display device 1 is provided with a hand control panel 2 for controlling the display contents, and is connected to each other via a transmission path 21. Each information display device 1 is connected to each other via a lane control device 3 installed in a management office of a toll gate and the like via a transmission line 31 and is arranged in each traffic lane by this lane control device 3. The display content on each information display device 1 can also be controlled.
[0010]
The information display device 1 includes a control processing unit 10, a light control unit 11, a display unit 12, an illuminance sensor 13, a temperature sensor 14, a cooling fan 15, and a power supply unit 16.
The display unit 12 has a horizontally long display surface as a whole, and three display regions, an ETC region 12A, an intermediate region 12B, and a general region 12C are juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction of the rectangle. It consists of a plurality of display pixels. The control processing unit (control unit) 10 controls display contents according to the toll collection method for the lane instructed from the hand control panel 2 or the lane control device 3. The light control unit (control unit) 11 outputs drive signals 11 </ b> A to 11 </ b> C based on the lighting signal 17 and the light control signal 18 from the control processing unit 10, and individually controls the lighting of each display area of the display unit 12.
[0011]
The illuminance sensor 13 detects the ambient brightness at the place where the information display device 1 is installed. In the control processing unit 10, the dimming signal 18 is changed according to the output of the illuminance sensor 13. Thereby, the light control part 11 controls the drive signals 11A-11C, and adjusts the LED brightness | luminance of the display part 12. FIG. Note that light control can be instructed to the control processing unit 10 also from the hand control panel 2 or the lane control device 3, and light control is similarly performed.
The temperature sensor 14 detects the internal temperature of the information display device 1. In the control processing unit 10, the lighting signal 17 is changed so that the display unit 12 is turned off according to the output of the temperature sensor 14. As a result, the display unit 12 is turned off, and as a result, the temperature in the apparatus decreases. Further, a failure display unit (not shown) may display that a failure has occurred in the device according to the output of the temperature sensor 14.
The cooling fan 15 is a fan that cools the display unit 12 by blowing air, and is driven and controlled according to the output of the temperature sensor 14.
[0012]
The power supply unit 16 converts AC power from the outside into direct current and supplies power to each circuit unit in the information display device 1. The light control unit 11 constantly monitors the output of the power supply unit 16 and notifies the control processing unit 10 of an abnormality such as a voltage drop by a power supply abnormality signal 19.
In response to the power supply abnormality signal 19, the control processing unit 10 notifies the operation panel 2 and the lane control device 3 of the occurrence of abnormality. In addition, in response to a display instruction from the hand control panel 2 or the lane control device 3, the control processing unit 10 notifies the hand control panel 2 or the lane control device 3 of a display result corresponding to the instruction.
[0013]
Next, an LED arrangement example of the display unit 12 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 shows an LED arrangement example of the entire display unit, FIG. 3 shows an LED arrangement example of the ETC area, and FIG. 4 shows an LED arrangement example of the intermediate area and the general area.
The display surface of the display unit 12 has a horizontally long rectangle as a whole, and three display regions, an ETC region 12A, an intermediate region 12B, and a general region 12C are arranged in parallel in the long direction (horizontal direction) of the rectangle. Yes. Each display area is composed of a plurality of display pixels, that is, dots, and one dot is composed of one or more LEDs.
[0014]
In the ETC region 12A, a plurality of white dots form a dotted spell character “ETC”, and a large number of purple dots forming a purple background are arranged around the character. In the general area 12 </ b> C, a dotted spell character “general” is composed of a plurality of white dots, and a large number of green dots that constitute a green background are arranged around the character.
These dotted characters using white dots, that is, white characters, are arranged at approximately the center positions of the ETC area 12A and the general area 12C, respectively, so that even when each area is lit alone, the white character is displayed at the center of the lighting range. Since the characters are arranged, the characters look balanced and good visibility is obtained.
[0015]
The intermediate area 12B is provided with an oblique boundary portion 12S along a diagonal line from the upper right corner of the front view to the lower left corner of the front view, and a purple background is formed on the ETC region 12A side on the left side of the front view across this. Purple dots are arranged, and green dots constituting a green area are arranged on the general region 12C side on the right side of the front view. Note that the oblique boundary line 12S is formed of a black background in which no dots are arranged, and color mixing between a purple background and a green background can be avoided. Similarly, a gap (black background) is also provided around white characters as necessary, and color mixing of white dots and ground dots can be avoided.
[0016]
FIG. 5 shows a configuration example of each dot. The purple dot is comprised from one blue LED and one red LED, as shown to Fig.5 (a). A purple display color is generated by mixing the emission colors of these LEDs. As for the LED arrangement position, a blue LED and a red LED may be arranged obliquely as in the case of a white dot LED described later, or may be arranged in the horizontal direction at the center position in the vertical direction of the dot. In the latter arrangement, when the pitch between the LEDs is ½ or less of the dot size, the generation of blue and red stripes can be reduced, and the blue and red emission colors are displayed in a well-mixed color as a purple background. .
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 5B, the green dot is composed of one green LED arranged at the center position of the dot.
As shown in FIG. 5C, the white dots are composed of four white LEDs arranged at an equal pitch. In addition, a character can be expressed more correctly by using the white dot comprised by 1-3 white LED.
The LEDs constituting these dots are connected in parallel for each display area, for example, so that lighting and extinction control is performed collectively for each arranged display area regardless of the display color. Yes.
[0018]
Next, the operation of the information display device will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the information display device.
When the lane is an ETC-dedicated lane, only the drive signal 11A is output from the dimmer 11. As a result, all the dots arranged in the ETC area 12A, that is, the white dots constituting the white character “ETC” and the purple dots constituting the purple background are lit in a lump. At this time, all dots in the intermediate area 12B and the general area 12C are turned off.
[0019]
When the lane is a general dedicated lane, only the drive signal 11C is output from the dimmer 11. As a result, all the dots arranged in the general area 12C, that is, the white dots constituting the white character “general” and the green dots constituting the green background are turned on collectively. At this time, all the dots in the ETC area 12A and the intermediate area 12B are turned off.
When the lane is a mixed lane, all the drive signals 11A to 11C are output from the dimming unit 11. As a result, all the dots arranged in the ETC area 12A, the intermediate area 12B, and the general area 12C, that is, white dots constituting the white characters “ETC” and “general”, purple dots constituting the purple background, and green spots are constituted. Green dots to be lit up at once.
[0020]
In this way, the ETC region 12A, the intermediate region 12B, and the general region 12C configured by a plurality of display pixels made of LEDs are provided in the display unit 12, and the charge collection method for the lane is controlled by the control processing unit 10 and the light control unit 11. Accordingly, each display pixel is controlled to be turned on in units of these display areas, so that a desired display can be performed without using a full-color display pixel, which is extremely simple compared to a full-color display device. Good visibility is obtained with the circuit configuration.
[0021]
Further, an intermediate region 12B provided between the ETC region 12A and the general region 12C is arranged on the general region 12C side with a plurality of display pixels displaying a purple background arranged on the ETC region 12A side with the oblique boundary portion 12S interposed therebetween. In addition, the intermediate region 12B is turned on only when the mixed lane is displayed, and is turned off when the ETC dedicated lane and the general dedicated lane are displayed. Therefore, in the ETC dedicated lane and general dedicated lane display, white characters and purple or white characters and green can be displayed in a good balance with no left-right bias, and in the mixed lane display, the ETC fee collection method and general charges The fact that it is possible to use either of the receiving methods can be displayed in the same manner as the subtitle method.
In addition, since the display positions of the ETC dedicated lane and the general dedicated lane are fixed, the display position can be identified not only by the difference in display color and white characters, but also high discrimination can be obtained.
[0022]
Next, an information display apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a dot arrangement example of the entire display unit used in the information display apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
In the first embodiment, the case where the intermediate area is lit only for the display of the mixed lane has been described. However, as shown in FIG. It may also be lit when displaying a dedicated lane. In FIG. 7, the lower shared area 12D and the upper shared area 12E are configured by switching dots with the oblique boundary portion 12S interposed therebetween. As shown in FIG. 8, this switching dot uses one blue LED, one red LED, and one green LED. When displaying purple, the blue LED and red LED are lit, and when displaying green. Need only light up the green LED. At this time, the dimming unit 11 may output a drive signal for individually controlling lighting of the lower shared area 12D and the upper shared area 12E of the display unit.
[0023]
When these lower shared area 12D and upper shared area 12E are used, the display operation is as shown in FIG.
When the lane is an ETC-dedicated lane, the ETC area 12A is turned on, the purple area is turned on in the lower shared area 12D, and the general area 12C and the upper shared area 12E are turned off. When the lane is a general dedicated lane, the general area 12C is turned on and the green area is turned on in the upper shared area 12E, and the ETC area 12A and the lower shared area 12D are turned off. When the lane is a mixed lane, the ETC area 12A and the general area 12C may be turned on, the green area may be lit in the lower shared area 12D, and the purple area may be lit in the upper shared area 12E.
[0024]
In each of the above embodiments, when displaying the ETC-dedicated lane, as shown in FIG. 10, the white character “ETC-dedicated” may be displayed on the purple background. As a dot arrangement of the general region 12C in this case, for example, white dots are arranged at the overlapping positions of the white characters “general” and “exclusive”, and purple and black are arranged at the positions of the white character “general” other than the overlapping positions. Place a purple / white switching dot that can select and display white, place a green / white switching dot that can select and display green and white at the position of the white character “dedicated” other than the overlapping position, and select purple and green at other positions It is only necessary to arrange purple-green switching dots that can be displayed.
[0025]
Furthermore, in the dimming unit 11 of FIG. 1, if a drive signal for lighting a purple background on the entire surface of the intermediate area 12B or a drive signal for lighting a white character “dedicated” on the purple background in the general area 12C is added. Good. In the case of FIG. 6, purple-green switching dots capable of selectively displaying purple and green may be arranged from the oblique boundary portion 12S to the general region 12C side so that the purple region can be lit in the entire intermediate region 12B.
In the case of the ETC dedicated lane, the white character “ETC” is displayed on the purple background in the ETC area 12A, and the purple area is turned on in the intermediate area 12B using the above drive signal, and the purple area is also displayed in the general area 12C. The white character “dedicated” is displayed on the screen. As a result, the ETC-dedicated lane can be clearly distinguished from other lanes and can be displayed in an easy-to-understand manner for the driver.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the display surface forms a horizontally long rectangle as a whole, and three display areas are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the rectangle, and the display areas are a plurality of display units each composed of LEDs. A display unit composed of pixels and a control unit that controls lighting of each display pixel of the display unit in units of each display area according to the charge collection method of the lane are provided as three display areas: From an ETC area composed of a plurality of display pixels displaying a first color background and white characters corresponding to an ETC-dedicated lane, and a plurality of display pixels displaying a second color background and white characters corresponding to a general dedicated lane And a plurality of display pixels that are provided between the ETC region and the general region and display the first color ground disposed on the ETC region side with the oblique boundary portion interposed therebetween and disposed on the general region side Display second color background An intermediate area composed of a plurality of display pixels is provided, and the control unit turns on each display pixel in the ETC area and extinguishes each display pixel in the general area and the intermediate area when the lane is an ETC dedicated lane. When the lane is a general dedicated lane, each display pixel in the general area is lit and each display pixel in the ETC area and the intermediate area is extinguished. When the lane is a mixed lane, the ETC area, the general area, and Since each display pixel in the intermediate area is lit, desired display can be performed without using a full-color display pixel, and excellent visibility is achieved with an extremely simple circuit configuration compared to a full-color display device. Is obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an information display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an example of LED arrangement of the entire display unit.
FIG. 3 is an example of LED arrangement in the ETC region.
FIG. 4 is an example of LED arrangement in an intermediate region and a general region.
FIG. 5 is a configuration example of each dot.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of the information display device.
FIG. 7 is another example showing the LED arrangement of the entire display unit.
FIG. 8 is a configuration example of switching dots.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of another information display device.
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of another information display device.
FIG. 11 is a display example of a conventional information display device (caption type).
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Information display apparatus, 10 ... Control processing part, 11 ... Light control part, 11A-11C ... Drive signal, 12 ... Display part, 12A ... ETC area | region, 12B ... Middle area | region, 12C ... General area | region, 12S ... Diagonal boundary part , 13 ... Illuminance sensor, 14 ... Temperature sensor, 15 ... Cooling fan, 16 ... Power supply unit, 17 ... Lighting signal, 18 ... Dimming signal, 19 ... Power supply abnormal signal, 2 ... Hand control panel, 21, 31 ... Transmission path 3. Lane control device.

Claims (6)

An ETC lane dedicated to the automatic toll collection (ETC) system, which is provided for each toll lane of the toll booth that collects tolls from vehicles, and automatically pays fees without the need to pause the vehicles. Of the general lane dedicated to the general toll collection method that pays the fee and the mixed lane that supports both the automatic toll collection method and the general toll collection method, which fare collection method the lane is for An information display device that notifies the vehicle of
The display surface forms a horizontally long rectangle as a whole, and three display areas are arranged in parallel in the long direction of the rectangle, and the display area is configured by a plurality of display pixels including LEDs,
A control unit that controls lighting of each display pixel of the display unit in a unit of each display area according to the charge collection method of the lane,
The three display areas include an ETC area composed of a plurality of display pixels for displaying a first color background and white characters corresponding to an ETC dedicated lane, and a second color background and white characters corresponding to a general dedicated lane. A plurality of display pixels that are provided between a general area composed of a plurality of display pixels to be displayed and the first color ground provided between the ETC area and the general area and arranged on the ETC area side across an oblique boundary portion And a plurality of display pixels that display the second color ground disposed on the general region side,
When the lane is an ETC dedicated lane, the control unit turns on each display pixel in the ETC area and extinguishes each display pixel in the general area and the intermediate area, and when the lane is a general dedicated lane, Each display pixel in the area is lit to extinguish each display pixel in the ETC area and the intermediate area. When the lane is a mixed lane, each display pixel in the ETC area, the general area, and the intermediate area is lit. Information display device. An ETC lane dedicated to the automatic toll collection (ETC) system, which is provided for each toll lane of the toll booth that collects tolls from vehicles, and automatically pays fees without the need to pause the vehicles. Of the general lane dedicated to the general toll collection method that pays the fee and the mixed lane that supports both the automatic toll collection method and the general toll collection method, which fare collection method the lane is for An information display device that notifies the vehicle of
The display surface forms a horizontally long rectangle as a whole, and three display areas are arranged in parallel in the long direction of the rectangle, and the display area is configured by a plurality of display pixels including LEDs,
A control unit that controls lighting of each display pixel of the display unit in a unit of each display area according to the charge collection method of the lane,
The three display areas include an ETC area composed of a plurality of display pixels for displaying a first color background and white characters corresponding to an ETC dedicated lane, and a second color background and white characters corresponding to a general dedicated lane. A general area composed of a plurality of display pixels to be displayed, and an ETC area and a general area, which are sandwiched between an approximate center position of the display area and an oblique boundary portion that obliquely intersects the approximate center position. It has a lower shared area and an upper shared area that form a triangle, and each of the lower shared area and the upper shared area comprises a plurality of display pixels that individually display either the first or second color gamut,
When the lane is an ETC dedicated lane, the control unit lights each display pixel in the ETC area and lights each display pixel in the lower shared area in the first color ground to When each display pixel is extinguished and the lane is a general dedicated lane, each display pixel in the general area is turned on, and each display pixel in the upper shared area is turned on in the second color background, and the ETC area and the intermediate area When the display pixels are turned off and the lane is a mixed lane, the display pixels in the ETC area and the general area are turned on, and the display pixels in the lower shared area are turned on in the second color background. An information display device, wherein each display pixel in the upper shared area is lit in a first color background. The information display device according to claim 1 or 2,
An information display device using purple as the first ground color and green as the second ground color. The information display device according to claim 1 or 2,
The display pixel for displaying the first ground color is composed of a blue LED and a red LED arranged at a pitch of ½ or less of the horizontal width of the display pixel. The information display device according to claim 1,
2. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the white character is arranged at a substantially central position of the ETC region and the general region. The information display device according to claim 1 or 2,
Instead of the general area, the display area includes a plurality of display pixels that selectively display either the first color ground and white characters corresponding to the ETC dedicated lane, and the second color ground and white characters corresponding to the general dedicated lane. A general area,
When the lane is an ETC-dedicated lane, the control unit turns on each pixel that displays a first color ground and white characters corresponding to the ETC-dedicated lane in the general area.

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