JP6119650B2 - In-vehicle device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle in order to use an automatic fee collection system (ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) system).

  In the ETC system, road-to-vehicle communication is automatically performed between an ETC roadside device installed at a toll gate on a toll road such as an expressway and an in-vehicle device (ETC in-vehicle device) installed in the vehicle. The toll is settled in the vehicle so that the vehicle can pass through the toll gate without stopping. The in-vehicle device can be used by starting an authentication process when an ETC card (contact IC card) is inserted.

  In the above configuration, if the contact between the ETC in-vehicle device and the ETC card is separated due to vibrations during traveling of the vehicle, the ETC card becomes in an inactive state where access to the ETC card becomes impossible. There is a problem that normal communication cannot be performed. In order to solve this problem, the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 detects an ETC card authentication error, changes the number of retries depending on the position of the vehicle and the running state of the vehicle, and before reaching the toll gate The retry is completed.

  However, the apparatus of Patent Document 1 requires a configuration for detecting an ETC card authentication error, and thus has a problem that the configuration of the in-vehicle apparatus becomes complicated. In addition, although the time required for card authentication varies depending on the type of ETC card, the device of Patent Document 1 is configured to set the number of retries based on the position of the vehicle and the running state of the vehicle. If the authentication takes time, the authentication may not be completed until the toll gate is reached.

JP 2011-118691 A

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an in-vehicle device that can complete authentication before reaching a toll gate even when access to an ETC card becomes impossible.

  The invention of claim 1 is an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle having a function of communicating with an ETC roadside machine in an automatic toll collection system, vehicle position acquisition means for acquiring vehicle position information, and nearest ETC Roadside machine position acquisition means for acquiring roadside machine position information, vehicle speed acquisition means for acquiring speed information of the vehicle, position of the vehicle based on position information of the vehicle and position information of the ETC roadside machine, A first calculating means for calculating a distance D between the position of the ETC roadside machine, an authentication time required when the ETC card was previously authenticated when the distance D is shorter than a set distance, and the A second calculating means for calculating a distance traveled by the vehicle during the authentication time based on vehicle speed information; and starting authentication of the ETC card when the distance D is shorter than the distance d. Characterized in was a testimony means.

The block diagram which shows schematic structure of the communication system for vehicles which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention. ETC card authentication control flowchart Flow chart of communication control with ETC roadside machine The figure which shows typically the relationship of the distance between the toll booth (ETC roadside machine) and the vehicle FIG. 2 equivalent view showing a second embodiment of the present invention FIG. 1 equivalent view showing a third embodiment of the present invention

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. First, FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of a vehicle communication system 1 according to the present embodiment. The vehicle communication system 1 includes an ETC vehicle-mounted device 2 that is a vehicle-mounted device and a car navigation system connected thereto. A system in which the apparatus 3 is linked is configured.

  The car navigation apparatus 3 is mainly configured by a navigation control apparatus 4 that mainly controls a microcomputer and performs overall control. As will be described later, the navigation control device 4 is provided with a memory (not shown) as storage means for storing information related to ETC. The navigation control device 4 is connected to an external device connection unit 5, a vehicle position detection unit 6 as vehicle position detection means, and a map database 7 as map data storage means.

  Although not shown in detail, the vehicle position detection unit 6 includes a GPS receiver, a geomagnetic sensor, a gyro sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and the like, and the navigation control device 4 determines the current vehicle (vehicle) from the signals. The position (absolute position) is calculated with high accuracy. The map database 7 stores, for example, map data for the whole of Japan, facility data associated therewith, data for reproducing a road map on the screen of the display device, and the like. The map data includes position information of an ETC roadside machine (ETC gate) to be described later. For example, the ETC in-vehicle device 2 is connected to the external device connection unit 5 via the in-vehicle LAN 13 so as to cooperate with the car navigation device 3.

  The navigation control device 4 includes an operation switch unit 8 for a user to give various operation instructions, a display device 9 that can display a navigation screen, a voice output device 10 for voice guidance, and an external memory 11. For example, a communication device 12 for acquiring road traffic information or the like by communication with a VICS (registered trademark) center or the like is connected.

  The navigation control device 4 calculates the current position (absolute position) of its own vehicle with high accuracy based on the signal from the vehicle position detection unit 6 by the software configuration (and hardware configuration), and displays the display device. The location function that displays the current position (and direction of travel) of the vehicle with the road map around the vehicle displayed on the 9 screen and the recommended travel route to the destination specified by the user are automatically calculated. Various navigation functions such as a route guidance function for guiding the route are executed.

  Further, when the navigation control device 4 receives the signal output from the ETC in-vehicle device 2 via the external device connection unit 5, the audio output device 10 accordingly confirms that the ETC card has been confirmed. ETC card is not inserted "," We have passed the toll booth. The fee is XX yen. "ETC related voice guidance is given, and necessary messages are displayed on the display device 9. It is like that.

  Here, the ETC system will be briefly described. The ETC system includes, for example, an antenna 14a of an ETC roadside device 14 as a roadside device installed at a toll gate (ETC gate) such as an entrance / exit of a toll road such as an expressway, and an antenna 2a of an ETC onboard device 2 mounted on a vehicle. By performing so-called road-to-vehicle communication (for example, narrow-area communication called DSRC), the toll is automatically settled and the vehicle can pass through the toll gate without stopping. At this time, the ETC vehicle-mounted device 2 can be used with the ETC card 15 having a charge settlement function set (inserted connection).

  When detecting the approach of the vehicle in the ETC lane, the ETC roadside unit 14 performs necessary communication with the ETC on-board unit 2 and executes gate opening / closing control, billing processing, and the like. At this time, necessary information such as gate passage information and billing information is transmitted to the ETC vehicle-mounted device 2.

  The ETC card 15 is a known contact type (contact type) IC card, and has, for example, a total of eight (or six) contact electrodes at predetermined positions on the surface of a plastic card containing an IC chip. Configured. The ETC card 15 (IC chip) includes a control unit 16 mainly composed of a microcomputer (CPU) and a storage unit 17 including a flash memory. In the storage unit 17, contract information (ID information, user information, information on credit function) is recorded in advance, and usage history information (information of ETC gates passed) and the like are written therein.

  The ETC vehicle-mounted device 2 includes a control circuit 18 that is configured mainly by a microcomputer and controls the whole. A wireless communication unit 19, a card processing circuit 20, a power supply unit 21, an external device connection connected to the control circuit 18. Unit 22, storage unit 23, display unit 24, and input operation unit 25. A card connector 26 connected to the card processing circuit 20 is also provided.

  The ETC card 15 is set (inserted) in the card connector 26 so that it can be inserted and removed. A plurality of contacts provided on the card connector 26 are provided with the ETC card 15 set. The ETC card 15 is in contact with each contact electrode to be electrically connected. The card processing circuit 20 reads and writes data with respect to the ETC card 15 via the card connector 26.

  The wireless communication unit 19 is configured to perform wireless communication with the ETC roadside device 14 via the antenna 2a. The power supply unit 21 is configured to be supplied with power from an in-vehicle battery when the vehicle ACC is turned on, and is configured to generate a predetermined DC voltage and supply power to each unit. The external device connection unit 22 exchanges data with the car navigation device 3 via the in-vehicle LAN 13. The storage unit 23 includes, for example, a flash memory, and stores data in which vehicle information and the like are registered in advance when mounted on the vehicle, and various data necessary for billing processing is stored. Yes. The display unit 24 displays, for example, a lamp whether or not communication with the ETC roadside device 14 has been normally performed. The input operation unit 25 includes a usage history confirmation switch.

  The control circuit 18 of the ETC on-board unit 2 confirms whether or not the ETC card 15 is set when the power of the ETC on-board unit 2 is turned on by the software configuration, and the ETC card 15 is set in the card connector 26. In this state, the ETC on-board unit 2 and the ETC card 15 are configured to execute a mutual authentication operation for confirming whether or not they are legitimate parties. When the authentication is correctly performed, the ETC card 15 can be accessed and activated (communication with the ETC roadside device 14) is enabled.

  In the present embodiment, the control circuit 18 sends the position information of the current position of the vehicle and the ETC roadside machine 14 (ETC gate, toll) close to the current position of the vehicle from the car navigation device 2 via the external device connection unit 22. Location information, information on the current speed v of the vehicle, and the like are received every set time. The control circuit 18 has functions as vehicle position acquisition means, roadside machine position acquisition means, and vehicle speed acquisition means.

  Further, the control circuit 18 of the ETC on-vehicle device 2 determines the distance (first to the ETC gate (ETC roadside device 14) close to the vehicle position based on the received vehicle position information and the position information of the ETC roadside device 14. The distance D) is calculated. The control circuit 18 has a function as first calculation means. Then, the control circuit 18 determines whether or not the position of the vehicle has come within a predetermined distance (for example, about 500 m as a linear distance) with respect to the ETC gate. Based on the stored authentication time of the ETC card 15, a position for starting the process of reactivating the ETC card 15 (the ETC gate of the ETC gate) so that the authentication of the ETC card 15 is surely completed before the ETC gate. The forward position and the distance between the vehicle and the ETC roadside machine 14 (second distance d)) are calculated and obtained. The control circuit 18 has a function as second calculation means. Further, the control circuit 18 starts and authenticates the process of reactivating the ETC card 15 when the vehicle reaches the position determined by the above calculation. The control circuit 18 has a function as authentication means.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 2 and 3 show the control contents of the control circuit 18 of the ETC vehicle-mounted device 2. First, in step S10 of FIG. 2, when the ETC card 15 is inserted into the card connector 26, processing for activating the ETC card 15 is executed. And it progresses to step S20 and the process which mutually authenticates the ETC card | curd 15 is performed. Then, it progresses to step S30 and the card information in the ETC card 15 is read. Next, the process proceeds to step S40, where communication with the ETC roadside device 14 is possible (that is, the ETC system available state).

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S50, and the authentication time (time required from the process of step S10 to the process of step S40) required to authenticate the ETC card 15 is stored in the storage unit 23. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S60, and the information on the current position of the vehicle and the ETC roadside device 14 (ETC gate) installed at the (closest) position close to the current position of the vehicle from the information received from the car navigation device 3 are obtained. , Tollgate) position information is acquired and stored in the storage unit 23.

  Next, the process proceeds to step S70, and a first distance D that is a distance between the current position of the vehicle and the position of the ETC roadside machine 14 is calculated. Then, the process proceeds to step S80, and it is determined whether or not the vehicle has approached a predetermined distance (for example, the first distance D <500 m) with respect to the toll gate (ETC gate, ETC roadside machine 14). If the vehicle is outside the area of the circle C1 shown in FIG. 4, the process proceeds to “NO” in step S80, and proceeds to step S90, where the reactivation flag is turned ON. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S60, and the above-described processing is repeated.

  In step S80, when the vehicle enters the area of the circle C1 shown in FIG. 4, the process proceeds to “YES”, and the process proceeds to step S100 to determine whether or not the reactivation flag is ON. If the reactivation flag is ON, the process proceeds to “YES”, and the process proceeds to step S110. If the reactivation flag is not ON in step S100, the process proceeds to “NO”, and the process proceeds to step S60.

  In step S110, the authentication time (stored in the storage unit 23) required when the ETC card 15 was previously authenticated is acquired. And it progresses to step S120 and the speed v of a vehicle is acquired from the information received from the car navigation apparatus 3. FIG. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S130, and the second distance d, which is the distance the vehicle moves during the time from the start of authentication of the ETC card 15 to the end of authentication, is set as the authentication time, the speed v of the vehicle, and so on. Calculate based on Note that, for the second distance d, it is preferable to add a certain distance (for example, a distance of about 50 m, 100 m, etc.) as a margin to the calculated distance.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S140, and it is determined whether or not the first distance D (the distance between the vehicle and the toll gate) is smaller than the second distance d. If the first distance D is not smaller than the second distance d, the process proceeds to “NO”, returns to step S60, and repeats the above-described processing.

  When the first distance D is smaller than the second distance d in step S140 (when entering the area of the circle C2 in FIG. 4), the process proceeds to “YES”, the process proceeds to step S150, and the ETC Authentication of the card 15 is started, that is, a process for activating the ETC card 15 (reactivation process) is first executed. Then, the process proceeds to step S160, and a process for mutual authentication of the ETC card 15 is executed. Then, it progresses to step S170 and the card information in the ETC card | curd 15 is read. Furthermore, it progresses to step S180 and sets it as the state which can communicate with the ETC roadside machine 14 (namely, ETC system use possible state). As described above, the processing until the communication with the ETC roadside device 14 becomes communicable (that is, the processing until the authentication of the ETC card 15 is completed) is while outside the area of the circle C3 in FIG. Completed in the area between the inside of the circle C2 and the outside of the circle C3). The radius of the circle C3 is a distance of about 50 m, for example. Then, the process proceeds to step S190, and the reactivation flag is turned off. Thereafter, the process returns to step S60 and the above-described processing is repeated.

  Further, when the vehicle further approaches the ETC roadside device 14, that is, when entering the inside of the area of the circle C3 in FIG. 4, communication is performed between the in-vehicle device 2 of the vehicle and the ETC roadside device 14. The content of control of the vehicle-mounted apparatus 2 at this time is shown in the flowchart of FIG. In step S210 of FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not communication with the ETC roadside device 14 has started. Here, when communication is not started, it progresses to "NO" and repeats determination of step S210.

  In step S210, when communication with the ETC roadside device 14 is started, the process proceeds to “YES”, the process proceeds to step S220, and communication log information of communication with the TC roadside machine 14 is stored. Then, the process proceeds to step S230, where the position information of the ETC roadside machine 14, that is, the position information of the entrance of the ETC roadside machine 14 (position information of the vehicle at the start of communication) and the position information of the exit of the ETC roadside machine 14 (time of communication end) Vehicle position information) is stored. The storage location is preferably stored in the storage unit 23 (flash memory or the like) of the in-vehicle device 2 and the memory (flash memory or the like) in the navigation control device 4 of the car navigation device 3. 2, when the location information of the ETC roadside device 14 is obtained, the stored location information of the ETC roadside device 14 is obtained instead of the location information of the ETC roadside device 14 from the map data. You may comprise so that it may be used. Thereafter, the process returns to step S210 and the above-described processing is repeated.

  In the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the first distance D between the vehicle position and the ETC roadside machine 14 position is calculated based on the vehicle position information and the ETC roadside machine 14 position information. When D becomes shorter than a set distance (for example, 500 m), the second distance d during which the vehicle travels during the authentication time based on the authentication time and the vehicle speed information required when the ETC card 15 was previously authenticated. The ETC card 15 is authenticated when the first distance D becomes shorter than the second distance d. According to this configuration, even when the contact between the in-vehicle device 2 and the ETC card 15 is separated due to vibration during traveling of the vehicle and the access to the ETC card 15 becomes impossible, the communication with the ETC roadside device 14 is performed. The ETC card 15 can be re-authenticated at an appropriate previous timing, that is, the authentication of the ETC card 15 can be completed before reaching the toll gate (ETC gate). As a result, when the vehicle reaches the toll gate (when it enters the inside of the circle C3 in FIG. 4), it is possible to normally communicate between the in-vehicle device 2 and the ETC roadside unit 14. And in the case of the said structure, since the structure which detects the authentication error of the ETC card | curd 15 is unnecessary, it can prevent that the whole structure of the vehicle-mounted apparatus 2 becomes complicated.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the second embodiment, the vehicle speed is set to a constant speed (for example, 80 km / h) when calculating the distance the vehicle moves during authentication of the ETC card 15. That is, step S310 in FIG. 5 is executed instead of step S120 and step S130 in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment.

  Specifically, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, after executing Steps S10 to S110, in Step S310, the vehicle moves during a period from the start of authentication of the ETC card 15 to the end of authentication. A second distance d, which is a distance, is calculated based on the authentication time of the ETC card 15 and a constant speed of the vehicle (fixed value, for example, 80 km / h). Thereafter, the processing from step S140 to step S190 is executed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  The configuration of the second embodiment other than that described above is the same as that of the first embodiment. Therefore, also in 2nd Embodiment, the effect similar to 1st Embodiment can be acquired.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. In 1st Embodiment and 2nd Embodiment, it comprised so that the position information of the position of the vehicle and the ETC roadside machine 14 might be acquired from the car navigation apparatus 3, but it replaces with this, and in 3rd Embodiment, in-vehicle apparatus 2 is comprised. The vehicle position detection unit 27 is provided therein, and the storage unit 23 is configured to store in advance the position information of the ETC roadside devices 14 (ETC gates, tollgates) of all toll roads in Japan, for example. did. In addition, it is preferable to comprise the own vehicle position detection part 27 with a GPS receiver etc., for example. Further, it is preferable that the speed of the vehicle is calculated and obtained based on position information of a plurality of vehicles detected by the own vehicle position detection unit 27.

  The configuration of the third embodiment other than that described above is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the third embodiment, substantially the same operational effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. In particular, according to the third embodiment, even in a vehicle not equipped with the car navigation device 3, if the in-vehicle device 2 of the third embodiment is installed, substantially the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. .

  In the third embodiment, the storage unit 23 is configured to store, for example, the position information of the ETC roadside devices 14 of all toll roads in Japan. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is only necessary to memorize the location information of the ETC roadside machine 14 on a highway, and ETCs of all toll roads in the region where the home or office is located (Kanto, Chubu, Kinki, etc.) It is only necessary to store the position information of the roadside machine 14, and it is preferable to increase or decrease the amount of the position information of the ETC roadside machine 14 to be stored according to the procedure of the storage unit 23. In the initial state, the position information of the ETC roadside machine 14 is not stored, and the vehicle position detection unit 27 detects the position information of the ETC roadside machine 14 every time the vehicle passes through the ETC gate (toll gate). The position information of the ETC roadside machine 14 is stored by storing the detected position information of the ETC roadside machine 14 in the storage unit 23, and the third embodiment is performed based on the accumulated position information of the ETC roadside machine 14. You may comprise so that control of a form may be implemented.

  In the drawings, 1 is a vehicle communication system, 2 is an ETC vehicle-mounted device (vehicle-mounted device), 3 is a car navigation device, 4 is a navigation control device, 6 is a vehicle position detection unit, 7 is a map database, 12 is a communication device, 13 is an in-vehicle LAN, 14 is an ETC roadside machine, 15 is an ETC card, 16 is a control unit, 17 is a storage unit, 18 is a control circuit, 19 is a wireless communication unit, 20 is a card processing circuit, 22 is an external device connection unit, Reference numeral 23 denotes a storage unit, 26 denotes a card connector, and 27 denotes a vehicle position detection unit.

Claims (5)

An in-vehicle device (2) mounted on a vehicle having a function of communicating with an ETC roadside machine (14) in an automatic toll collection system,
Vehicle position acquisition means for acquiring vehicle position information;
Roadside machine position acquisition means for acquiring position information of the nearest ETC roadside machine (14);
Vehicle speed acquisition means for acquiring speed information of the vehicle;
First calculating means for calculating a distance D between the position of the vehicle and the position of the ETC roadside machine (14) based on the position information of the vehicle and the position information of the ETC roadside machine (14);
When the distance D becomes shorter than the set distance, the distance d traveled by the vehicle during the authentication time based on the authentication time required when the ETC card (15) was previously authenticated and the vehicle speed information. A second calculating means for calculating
An in-vehicle device, comprising: an authentication unit that starts authenticating the ETC card (15) when the distance D is shorter than the distance d. The vehicle position acquisition means acquires the position information of the vehicle from the car navigation device (3),
The roadside machine position acquisition means acquires position information of the ETC roadside machine (14) from the car navigation device (3),
The in-vehicle device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle speed acquisition means is configured to acquire speed information of the vehicle from the car navigation device (3). The vehicle position acquisition means is configured to acquire position information of the vehicle from a vehicle position detection unit (27) built in the in-vehicle device (2),
The roadside machine position acquisition means is configured to acquire position information of the ETC roadside machine (14) from information stored in a storage unit (23) built in the in-vehicle device (2),
The vehicle speed acquisition means is configured to acquire speed information of the vehicle based on a detection signal from a vehicle position detection unit (27) built in the in-vehicle device (2). The in-vehicle device according to claim 1. When the vehicle passes through the ETC gate, the position of the ETC roadside machine (14) is detected by the own vehicle position detection unit (27) built in the in-vehicle device (2), and the ETC roadside machine (14) The detection position information is configured to be stored in a storage unit (23) built in the in-vehicle device (2),
The roadside machine position acquisition means uses the detected position information of the ETC roadside machine (14) stored in the storage unit (23) built in the in-vehicle device (2) as the position of the ETC roadside machine (14). The in-vehicle device according to claim 3, wherein the on-vehicle device is configured to be acquired as information. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1, wherein the second calculation means uses fixed value speed information determined in advance as the speed information of the vehicle.

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