JP5001582B2 - In-vehicle communication terminal device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle communication terminal device, and more particularly to an in-vehicle communication terminal device that performs information communication about vehicle passage information with a stationary communication terminal device that is mounted on a vehicle and installed at an entrance of a highway or the like. .

  Recently, an ETC system has become widespread as a system that pays a fee when a vehicle passes an entrance / exit of an expressway. In this ETC system, automatic payment of fees is performed between the in-vehicle communication terminal device in which vehicle passing information is installed in the vehicle instead of the conventional ticket and the stationary communication terminal device installed at the toll gate. Since the vehicle can be passed without stopping at the toll gate, it is possible to eliminate the troublesome processing for paying the fee and smooth the traffic.

  In this type of conventional ETC system, it is necessary to mount an in-vehicle communication terminal device that performs information communication on vehicle passage information with a stationary communication terminal device. By installing the ETC card, it is necessary to write information about the fee on the ETC card.

  In addition, in the conventional in-vehicle communication terminal device, the ETC card is dropped from the connector while the information is being transmitted to the ETC card due to vibration or the like while the vehicle is running, or the ETC card that is transmitting information moves. In order to prevent the occurrence of a problem that accidentally destroys the stored data, it is necessary to attach the ETC card to the card connector.

As a conventional card connector of this type, a bottom body having a bottom that is formed to be openable so that an IC card can be inserted is provided with a lid that can open and close the top surface so that it can be opened and closed. There is a lock mechanism that locks the periphery of the opening while the body is closing the opening, so that the cover is closed and the IC card is sandwiched and held between the cover and the lower case. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2006-76368 A

  However, in such an in-vehicle communication terminal device, since the lock mechanism is provided to be engaged with the periphery of the opening in a state where the lid closes the opening, the lock mechanism is easily released. There is a risk that.

  For example, when locking a locking mechanism such as a buckle to the periphery of the opening, in order to easily release the buckle, a clearance is formed between the buckle and the periphery of the opening so that the fingertip can enter the clearance. You can do it.

  However, when a gap is formed between the buckle and the periphery of the opening, when the map ends for some reason, such as when opening a thick map, the buckle is released and the lid Could come off.

  If the cover is removed in this manner, the connection between the contact terminals of the ETC card and the circuit board becomes incomplete, and there is a possibility that information stored in the ETC card may not be read or stored.

  The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and can maintain the engagement of the first storage member and the second storage member, so that reading errors and storage errors of information stored in the IC card can be prevented. The present invention provides an in-vehicle communication terminal device that can prevent the occurrence.

  An in-vehicle communication terminal device according to the present invention is mounted on a vehicle and includes a mounting surface on which an IC card is mounted in an in-vehicle communication terminal device that performs information communication about vehicle passage information with a stationary communication terminal device. The first storage member provided, the second storage member provided to be openable and closable with respect to the first storage member, and the information stored in the IC card provided in the first storage member can be read and written A control means, and swingably provided on one of the first storage member and the second storage member, and engages with the other of the first storage member and the second storage member, An engagement member that fixes the first storage member and the second storage member in a closed state, and the engagement end is engaged with either the first storage member or the second storage member. , Part of the engaging end and the first storage A gap is formed between the first storage member and the second storage member, and a rib is provided on the other of the first storage member and the second storage member. When engaged with one of the first storage member and the second storage member, at least the gaps on both sides of the engagement end are shielded.

With this configuration, when the engagement end of the engagement member is engaged with either the first storage member or the second storage member, at least the gaps on both sides of the engagement end are shielded by the ribs. Even if the end of a map or the like with a map is about to enter the clearance of the engagement end for some reason, the end of the map or the like can run over the engagement end through a rib. Can be prevented from entering the gap and releasing the engaging member.
As a result, the engagement of the first storage member and the second storage member can be maintained, and it is possible to prevent the reading failure and the storage failure of the information stored in the IC card.

The height of the rib of the in-vehicle communication terminal device according to the present invention is such that when the engagement end of the engagement member is engaged with either one of the first storage member and the second storage member, It is comprised from what is higher than the upper surface of the engaging edge part of an engaging member.

  With this configuration, even if the end of a thick map or the like is about to enter the clearance of the engagement end for any reason, the end of the map or the like can completely run over the engagement end through the rib. it can.

  According to the in-vehicle communication terminal device of the present invention, the engagement of the first storage member and the second storage member can be maintained, and reading errors and storage errors of information stored in the IC card are prevented. It is possible to provide an in-vehicle communication terminal device that can be used.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIGS. 1-9 is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device based on this invention, and has shown the example applied to the ETC card as an IC card.

  First, the configuration will be described. 1 and 2, the in-vehicle communication terminal device 1 performs radio communication by radio waves with an ETC antenna provided in a stationary communication terminal device (not shown) of a toll booth in the ETC lane, and vehicle information, ETC card information It exchanges information such as billing information, and is attached to a four-wheel vehicle, a two-wheel vehicle or the like in an arbitrary posture.

  The in-vehicle communication terminal device 1 is connected to a lower case 4 as a first storage member having a placement surface 3 on which an ETC card 2 is placed, and the lower case 4 via a hinge 5, and is connected to the lower case 4. An upper case 6 is provided as a second storage member that can be freely opened and closed.

  In the present embodiment, since the lower case 4 is attached to the vehicle with the lower side being used, the expressions of the lower case 4 and the upper case 6 are used, but the pivot center of the hinge 5 is used in the vertical direction. For example, the right case and the left case may be used.

  A base end portion 7a of a buckle 7 is rotatably attached to the lower case 4, and an upper end portion 7b of the buckle 7 is swingable with the base end portion 7a as a fulcrum. The lower case 4, the upper case 6, and the buckle 7 are molded from a resin material.

  When the upper end portion 7b of the buckle 7 is swung to an engagement position that engages with an engagement recess portion 6b (see FIG. 7) formed at the end portion of the upper case 6, the upper end portion 7b engages with the engagement recess portion 6b. The upper case 6 is firmly engaged with the lower case 4, and the end of the upper case 6 is formed so that a constant gap 24 (about 2 to 4 mm) is formed between the upper case 6 and the upper case 6. It forms in the taper shape which inclines upwards toward center part.

  For this reason, when releasing the engagement of the buckle 7 in order to open the upper case 6, the user's fingertip can enter the gap 24 and the buckle 7 can be easily moved to the release position.

  The upper case 6 is provided with a pair of ribs 25, and the ribs 25 are formed on the gaps 24 formed on both sides of the upper end 7 b when the upper end 7 b of the buckle 7 is engaged with the upper case 6. Is supposed to be shielded.

  Further, the height of the rib 25 is higher than the upper surface of the upper end portion 7 b of the buckle 7 that engages with the upper case 6. Needless to say, the relationship between the position of the rib 25 and the width of the buckle 7 needs to be set so that the user's fingertip can touch the upper end 7 b of the buckle 7.

  The ETC card 2 placed on the placement surface 3 is provided with an IC chip 2a at the end. The IC chip 2a includes a CPU, a memory and an input / output interface, and includes vehicle information, ETC card information, Billing information and the like are stored.

  On the other hand, the mounting surface 3 has a convex planar shape with respect to the lower case 4, and a step is formed between the lower surface 4 (see FIG. 5C). Further, guide rails 8a protrude from both ends of the mounting surface 3 in the short direction, and the guide rails 8a extend in the longitudinal direction of the ETC card 2, and the guide rail 8a causes the short of the ETC card 2 to extend. Both ends in the hand direction are positioned (see FIG. 4).

  Further, a pair of stopper pieces (first positioning members) 8b are provided at the end of the mounting surface 3, and the stopper pieces 8b abut on one end in the longitudinal direction (one end in the orthogonal direction) of the ETC card 2. Thus, one end of the ETC card 2 in the longitudinal direction is positioned on the placement surface 3.

  The upper case 6 is provided with a protruding piece 6a as a second positioning member. The protruding piece 6a extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the guide rail 8a, and the upper case 6 is closed. The other end in the longitudinal direction (the other end in the orthogonal direction) of the ETC card 2 is positioned on the placement surface 3 so as to be located outside the placement surface 3.

  In addition, a holding piece 9 as a holding means is provided at one end of the guide rail 8a in the extending direction. The holding piece 9 is provided to face the placement surface 3 and both ends of the ETC card 2 in the short direction. A part of the part is held together with the mounting surface 3.

  The distance between the holding piece 9 and the placement surface 3 is preferably equal to or less than the thickness of the ETC card 2. However, when the distance between the holding piece 9 and the mounting surface 3 is equal to or less than the thickness of the ETC card 2, the distance is not set to prevent the ETC card 2 from being inserted between the holding piece 9 and the mounting surface 3. It goes without saying that it is necessary to do so.

Further, the upper case 6 is provided with substantially rectangular elastic sheets 10a and 10b made of rubber or the like. The elastic sheets 10a and 10b allow the ETC card 2 to be placed on the mounting surface 3 when the upper case 6 is closed. It is designed to press toward you. The upper case 6 is provided with a pair of protrusions (first protrusions) 11 that protrude toward the holding piece 9.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5C, a projection (second projection) 4 a is provided on the lower case 4 located outside the placement surface 3, and the projection 4 a has a height higher than that of the placement surface 3. It is formed at almost the same height. The protrusion 4a is provided at a position close to the protruding piece 6a when the upper case 6 is closed.

  The lower case 4 incorporates a circuit board (control circuit) 13 for controlling the in-vehicle communication terminal device 1, and the lower case 4 has contact terminals (holding means) 16 a of the circuit board 13 from the mounting surface 3. A through hole 12 to be projected is formed.

  The through hole 12 is formed at a position facing the IC chip 2a when the ETC card 2 is placed on the placement surface 3 and one end in the longitudinal direction of the ETC card 2 contacts the stopper piece 8b. The IC chip 2a is brought into contact with the contact terminal 16a.

  The contact terminal 16a is made of a conductive member having flexibility, and the upper case 6 is closed by elastic contact with the IC chip 2a, and the ETC card 2 is mounted by the elastic sheets 10a and 10b. When pressed against the mounting surface 3, the ETC card 2 is pressed against the holding piece 9 against the pressing force of the elastic sheet 10a.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the circuit board 13 built in the lower case 4.
In FIG. 6, the circuit board 13 includes a power supply circuit 14, a control circuit 15, an IC chip read / write circuit 16, a display processing circuit 17, and a wireless circuit 18.

  The control circuit 15 includes a CPU (Central processing unit), a ROM (Read only memory), and a RAM (Random access memory), and controls the entire in-vehicle communication terminal device 1 according to a predetermined sequence. .

The power supply circuit 14 is supplied with 12V power from a battery provided in the vehicle via the wiring 19, and supplies power to the circuit board 13.
The IC chip read / write circuit 16 reads the vehicle information, ETC card information, billing information, etc. stored in the IC chip 2a via the contact terminal 16a, and stores the vehicle information, ETC card information, billing information, etc. It has become.

  The display processing circuit 17 is connected to the LED lamp 22 via the wiring 20 and controls the lighting of the LED lamp 22.

  When the IC chip 2a is detected by the IC chip read / write circuit 16, the control circuit 15 outputs a command signal to the display processing circuit 17 and turns on the LED lamp 22 to confirm the operation.

  The radio circuit 18 is connected to the antenna 23 via the wiring 21, and performs radio communication with the ETC antenna using a high frequency of a predetermined frequency band, for example, a high frequency of 5.8 GHz band. .

  When the ETC card 2 is attached to the in-vehicle communication terminal device 1 having such a configuration, the upper case 6 is opened by moving the buckle 7 to the release position (see FIG. 2), and in this state, along the guide rail 8a. The ETC card 2 is slid on the placement surface 3.

  When one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the ETC card 2 is inserted between the holding piece 9 and the placement surface 3 and comes into contact with the stopper piece 8b, the entire surface of the ETC card 2 is placed on the placement surface 3 and is connected to the contact terminal 16a. The IC chip 2a comes into contact.

  At this time, the contact terminal 16a presses the ETC card 2 toward the holding piece 9, the ETC card 2 is held by the contact terminal 16a and the holding piece 9, and does not come out of the lower case 4. In particular, when the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device 1 is mounted on a motorcycle or the like, the ETC card 2 does not fall from the lower case 4 when the rotation center of the hinge 5 is set in the vertical direction.

  Next, the upper case 6 is closed, and the upper case 6 is fixed to the lower case 4 by swinging the buckle 7 to the engaged position. At this time, both ends in the longitudinal direction and both ends in the short direction of the ETC card 2 are positioned on the mounting surface 3 by the guide rail 8a, the stopper piece 8b, and the protruding piece 6a, and the elastic sheets 10a and 10b are connected to the ETC. By pressing the card 2 toward the placement surface 3, the IC chip 2a is reliably brought into contact with the contact terminal 16a.

  Further, the contact terminal 16a presses the ETC card 2 against the holding piece 9 against the pressing force of the elastic sheet 10a, and the ETC card 2 is firmly held by the lower case 4 by the holding piece 9 and the contact terminal 16a. .

  Further, when removing the ETC card 2 from the in-vehicle communication terminal device 1, the buckle 7 is moved to the release position, the upper case 6 is opened, and the ETC card 2 is placed along the guide rail 8a in this state. Slide it up and remove it from the mounting surface 3.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the lower case 4 having the placement surface 3 on which the ETC card 2 is placed, the upper case 6 provided to be openable and closable with respect to the lower case 4, and the lower case 4 Since the holding piece 9 that is provided facing the placement surface 3 and holds the ETC card 2 together with the placement surface 3 is provided, the ETC card is placed on the placement surface 3 of the lower case 4 with the upper case 6 opened. 2 and the ETC card 2 can be held by the holding piece 9 and the mounting surface 3, and the ETC card can be attached to the in-vehicle communication terminal device 1 using a wide space.

  Further, when the ETC card 2 is taken out from the lower case 4, the ETC card 2 can be taken out from the placement surface 3 with the upper case 6 opened, so that the ETC card 2 is mounted on the in-vehicle communication terminal device using a wide space. 1 can be removed.

  As a result, the ETC card 2 can be easily attached and detached. Further, since the ETC card 2 can be held by the holding piece 9 and the mounting surface 3 even after the ETC card 2 is mounted, the ETC card 2 is displaced with respect to the lower case 4 due to vibrations during traveling of the vehicle. It is possible to prevent occurrence of reading failure or storage failure of information stored in the ETC card 2.

  In the present embodiment, the ETC card 2 is pressed against the holding piece 9 by exposing the contact terminal 16a from the through hole 12 and elastically contacting the ETC card 2, so that the ETC card 2 is lowered. The case 4 can be held more securely.

  On the other hand, it is conceivable that the ETC card 2 rides on the holding piece 9 for some reason by attaching the ETC card 2 to the lower case 4 (see FIG. 8).

In this case, the ETC card 2 is not properly mounted, and the IC chip 2a may not be completely in contact with the contact terminal 16a. Therefore, reading failure or storage failure of information stored in the IC chip 2a occurs.
Further, the upper case 6 may be closed without the user's knowledge, and the ETC card 2 may be damaged.

  In the present embodiment, since the upper case 6 is provided with the projection 11 protruding toward the holding piece 9, the ETC card 2 is held by the ETC card 2 being poorly mounted when the ETC card 2 is attached to the lower case 4. When the upper case 6 is closed while riding on the piece 9, the thick case 11 contacts the holding piece 9 through the ETC card 2 so that the upper case 6 is not completely closed. (See FIG. 9).

  For this reason, it is possible to prompt the user to recognize that the ETC card 2 is not properly mounted and to normally mount the ETC card 2, and to prevent the reading failure or the storage failure of the information stored in the ETC card 2. be able to.

  In the present embodiment, the lower case 4 is provided with guide rails 8a for positioning both ends of the ETC card 2 in the short direction and stopper pieces 8b for positioning one end of the ETC card 2 in the longitudinal direction. Since the protruding piece 6a for positioning the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the ETC card 2 is provided, the ETC card 2 can be easily positioned on the lower case 4, and vibrations during traveling of the vehicle after the ETC card 2 is mounted. It is possible to further prevent the ETC card 2 from being displaced with respect to the lower case 4 due to the above.

  In the present embodiment, since the upper case 6 is provided with the protruding piece 6a for positioning the other end in the longitudinal direction of the ETC card 2, the ETC card 2 is attached to the lower case 4 with the upper case 6 opened. In addition, the other end of the ETC card 2 in the longitudinal direction is prevented from being caught by the protruding piece 6a, that is, the ETC card 2 is easily removed from the lower case 4 without any member caught on a part of the periphery of the ETC card 2. be able to.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when a protrusion 4a having a height substantially the same as the height of the mounting surface 3 is provided on the outer side of the mounting surface 3 of the lower case 4, the protrusion 4a is closed when the upper case 6 is closed. Since it is provided at a position close to the protruding piece 6a, the following effects can be obtained.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, even when the protrusion 4a is not provided, when the ETC card 2 is normally mounted on the mounting surface 3, the other end in the longitudinal direction of the ETC card 2 is normal by the protruding piece 6a. Is positioned.

  However, when the upper case 6 is closed with the other end in the longitudinal direction of the ETC card 2 being displaced outwardly from the placement surface 3, the protruding piece 6a can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the ETC card 2 or the like without the projection 4a. There is a possibility that the ETC2 card may be bent by colliding with the end (see FIG. 5B).

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5C, when the upper case 6 is closed, the placement surface 3 is disposed outside the placement surface 3 close to the protruding piece 6a. Since the protrusion 4a having the height substantially the same as the height is provided, when the upper case 6 is closed with the other end in the longitudinal direction of the ETC card 2 being displaced outward from the placement surface 3, the protruding piece 6a becomes the ETC. Even if it collides with the other end in the longitudinal direction of the card 2, the other end in the longitudinal direction of the ETC card 2 can ride on the protrusion 4a to be the same height as the placement surface 3, and the ETC card 2 is bent. Can be prevented.

  In the present embodiment, the upper case 6 is provided with a pair of ribs 25, and the ribs 25 are formed on both sides of the upper end 7 b when the upper end 7 b of the buckle 7 is engaged with the upper case 6. Since the gap 24 is formed at a position where the gap 24 is shielded, even if an end of a thick map or the like tries to enter the gap 24 of the upper end 7b of the buckle 7 for some reason, it rides on the upper end 7b through the rib 25. be able to. It is possible to prevent the end of a map or the like from entering the gap 24 and releasing the buckle 7.

In particular, since the map or the like is likely to collide with the upper end 7b from the oblique side of the upper end 7b (the end side of the upper end 7b), the end of the map or the like is in the gap 24 on the end side of the upper end 7b. It is possible to prevent the buckle 7 from being released.
As a result, the engagement between the lower case 4 and the upper case 6 can be maintained, and it is possible to prevent the reading failure and the storage failure of the information stored in the ETC card 2.

In the present embodiment, the height of the rib 25 is higher than the upper surface of the upper end portion 7 b of the buckle 7 that engages with the upper case 6. It can be ensured that it rides on the upper end 7b.
The base end portion 7 a of the buckle 7 may be provided on the upper case 6. In this case, the lower case 4 is provided with ribs 25.

  As described above, the in-vehicle communication terminal device according to the present invention can maintain the engagement of the first storage member and the second storage member, resulting in poor reading and storage of information stored in the IC card. And is useful as an in-vehicle communication terminal device that performs information communication about vehicle passage information with a stationary communication terminal device installed at an entrance of an expressway or the like. .

The perspective view of the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device of the state which the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention has obstruct | occluded The perspective view of the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device of the state which the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention open | released The block diagram of the ETC card with which the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention is mounted | worn The perspective view of the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device in the state by which the ETC card was attached to the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention (A) is a side sectional view of the in-vehicle communication terminal device when the ETC card is normally attached to the in-vehicle communication terminal device having no protrusion in the lower case, and (b) is an ETC in the in-vehicle communication terminal device having no protrusion in the lower case. Side surface sectional drawing of the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device when a card cannot be normally attached, (c) is the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device when an ETC card is not normally attached to the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Front sectional view of The block diagram of the circuit board of the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention Side surface sectional drawing of the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device in the state by which the ETC card was attached to the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention Side sectional view of the in-vehicle communication terminal device showing a state where the ETC card is erroneously attached to the in-vehicle communication terminal device having no protrusion on the upper case Side surface sectional drawing which shows the state which mounted | worn with the ETC card in the vehicle-mounted communication terminal device which concerns on one embodiment of this invention

Explanation of symbols

1 In-vehicle communication terminal 2 ETC card (IC card)
3 Placement surface 4 Lower case (first storage member)
6 Upper case (second storage member)
7 Buckle (engaging member)
7b Upper end (engagement end)
13 Circuit board (control means)
25 Ribs

Claims (2)

In an in-vehicle communication terminal device that is mounted on a vehicle and performs information communication about vehicle passage information with a stationary communication terminal device,
A first storage member having a mounting surface on which the IC card is mounted; a second storage member provided to be openable and closable with respect to the first storage member; and the IC provided on the first storage member. Control means capable of reading and writing information stored in the card, and swingable on either one of the first storage member and the second storage member, the first storage member and the second storage member An engagement member that engages with the other and fixes the first storage member and the second storage member in a closed state,
When the engagement end of the engagement member is engaged with either the first storage member or the second storage member, a part of the engagement end, the first storage member, and the second Forming a gap between the storage members,
A rib is provided on the other of the first storage member and the second storage member, and the rib has an engagement end of the engagement member on the other of the first storage member and the second storage member. An in-vehicle communication terminal device that shields at least the gaps on both sides of the engaging end when engaged. The height of the rib, when the engaging end portion of said engaging member engaged with the other one of said first housing member and the second housing member, the upper surface of the engagement end of the engagement member The in-vehicle communication terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the in-vehicle communication terminal device is higher.

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