JP6804929B2 - In-vehicle equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle.

ETC (Electronic Toll Collection System) is widely used as a method of collecting tolls on toll roads such as expressways. When using ETC, the ETC card is inserted into the ETC on-board unit (ETC card reader) and the toll collection is automatically performed by passing through the toll collection gate for ETC at the tollhouse.

Therefore, since the ETC cannot be used unless the ETC card is inserted in the ETC on-board unit, it is often proposed to give an alarm (notification) that the ETC card is not inserted as in Patent Document 1, for example.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-176613

Autonomous driving is likely to become widespread in the near future. In the case of automatic operation, if the above-mentioned ECT card is not inserted, it is considered that the tollhouse is controlled to go to the manned toll collection gate (general gate). However, in the case of automatic driving, it may be possible to use ETC such as inserting an ETC card because the driver is not driving even near the tollhouse.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is, for example, to provide an in-vehicle device capable of giving a notification according to an operating state.

In order to solve the above problem, the invention according to claim 1 has a detection unit that detects whether or not the vehicle can use ETC, and the vehicle in a state where the ETC cannot be used is in automatic driving. When heading to the ETC tollhouse, the margin determination unit for determining whether or not the time required from the current position of the vehicle to the tollhouse has time to enable the use of the ETC, and the above When it is determined that there is time to spare, the vehicle is provided with a notification unit for notifying the passengers of the vehicle to enable the use of the ETC.

The invention according to claim 7 is a method for controlling an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle capable of traveling by automatic driving, which includes a detection step for detecting whether or not the vehicle can use ETC, and the use of the ETC. When the vehicle is heading for the ETC toll collection during automatic driving, there is time to allow the ETC to be used in the time required from the current position of the vehicle to the toll collection. Includes a margin determination step for determining whether or not the vehicle has a margin, and a notification step for notifying the passenger of the vehicle to enable the use of the ETC when it is determined that there is a margin in time. It is characterized by.

The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that the control method for an in-vehicle device according to claim 7 is executed by a computer.

It is a block block diagram of the vehicle-mounted device which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a flowchart of the operation of the in-vehicle device shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, an in-vehicle device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the in-vehicle device according to the embodiment of the present invention, when a vehicle in a state where ETC cannot be used is heading for the ETC tollhouse during automatic driving, the margin determination unit determines the tollhouse from the current position of the vehicle. It is determined whether or not there is enough time to enable the use of ETC in the time required until. Then, when it is determined that there is time to spare, the notification unit notifies the passengers of the vehicle to make the ETC available. By doing so, if there is time to make the ETC available during automatic operation, the ETC can be used by urging the user to make the ETC available. Therefore, it is possible to give a notification according to the operating state.

In addition, the time allowance may be determined based on the time required for the passengers of the vehicle to be able to use ETC. By doing so, the passenger can be notified while the tollhouse has time to make the ETC available.

In addition, a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires the speed of the vehicle is further provided, and the margin determination unit determines whether or not there is a time margin based on the mileage from the current position of the vehicle to the tollhouse and the speed of the vehicle. You may. By doing so, it is possible to easily calculate and determine the time allowance required to enable the use of ETC.

Further, the notification unit may not give a notification prompting the user to use ETC when it is determined that there is no time to spare. By doing so, if there is not enough time to enable the use of ETC, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary notifications and not confuse the driver or the like.

Further, the margin determination unit may not determine whether or not there is a margin in time when the vehicle is not in automatic driving. By doing so, it is often difficult to make ETC available when the vehicle is not in automatic driving, so that unnecessary processing can be prevented.

In addition, it is further equipped with a guide, which guides you to the automatic toll collection gate of the tollhouse if ETC is available, and if ETC is not available, the manual charge of the tollhouse. You may be guided to the collection gate. By doing so, when ETC is available, the fee can be collected non-stop by passing through the automatic fee collection gate.

Further, the method of controlling the in-vehicle device according to the embodiment of the present invention is a margin determination step when a vehicle in a state where ETC cannot be used is heading for an ETC tollhouse during automatic driving. It is determined whether or not there is enough time to enable the use of ETC in the time required from the current position to the tollhouse. Then, when it is determined in the notification process that there is time to spare, a notification is given to urge the passengers of the vehicle to enable the use of ETC. By doing so, if there is time to make the ETC available during automatic operation, the ETC can be used by urging the user to make the ETC available. Therefore, it is possible to give a notification according to the operating state.

Further, it may be an operation switching program in which the above-described operation switching method is executed by a computer. By doing so, if there is time to enable ETC to be used during automatic operation using a computer, it is possible to encourage the use of ETC and to use ETC. .. Therefore, it is possible to give a notification according to the operating state.

An in-vehicle device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The in-vehicle device 1 according to this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile capable of traveling by automatic driving. As shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle device 1 includes a vehicle position / toll point information acquisition unit 11, a toll road determination unit 12, an ETC card insertion detection determination unit 13, a driving mode determination unit 14, and a driving environment. It includes a determination processing unit 15, a tollhouse guidance processing unit 16, an automatic operation control unit 17, a content display unit 18, and a voice guidance processing unit 19.

The own vehicle position / toll point information acquisition unit 11 acquires map information from Map Data Base 20, acquires latitude / longitude information related to the own vehicle position from the GPS receiver 30, and further acquires the speed of the own vehicle from the vehicle speed pulse 40. Get information. That is, the own vehicle position / toll point information acquisition unit 11 functions as a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires the speed of the vehicle.

The toll road determination unit 12 determines whether the vehicle is traveling on the toll road from the map information acquired by the own vehicle position / toll point information acquisition unit 11. The toll road determination unit 12 calculates the mileage to the tollhouse, the presence or absence of the toll collection gate for ETC of the tollhouse, the mileage, the vehicle speed information, and the time to the tollhouse.

The ETC card insertion detection determination unit 13 determines whether or not the ETC card is inserted into the ETC card reader 50 and can be detected. That is, the ETC card insertion detection determination unit 13 functions as a detection unit that detects whether the vehicle can use the ETC. As is known, the ETC card is a card inserted into the ETC card reader 50 in order to use ETC, and stores the user's credit card information and the like.

The driving mode determination unit 14 determines whether the own vehicle is traveling by automatic driving or manual driving. The operation mode may be determined by acquiring, for example, a switching state of an automatic operation changeover switch (not shown). That is, the driving mode determination unit 14 functions as a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires information indicating whether the vehicle is traveling in automatic driving.

The driving environment determination processing unit 15 receives the toll collection for ETC at the tollhouse based on the determination result of the toll road determination unit 12, the determination result of the ETC card insertion detection determination unit 13, and the determination result of the driving mode determination unit 14. Determine whether to guide to the gate or the manned toll collection gate. Further, the driving environment determination processing unit 15 warns that the ETC card has not been inserted based on the determination result of the toll road determination unit 12, the determination result of the ETC card insertion detection determination unit 13, and the determination result of the driving mode determination unit 14. It is also determined whether or not to do.

Here, in the present embodiment, a tollhouse having a gate at the entrance or exit of the toll road or an intermediate point of the toll road will be described as a tollhouse, but the present invention is not limited to these. For example, it may not have a gate such as free flow ETC. In short, if the equipment on the vehicle side and the equipment on the road side communicate with each other for toll collection and operate as an ETC system, it is included in the range of the tollhouse.

The tollhouse guidance processing unit 16 notifies the automatic driving control unit 17, the content display unit 18, and the voice guidance processing unit 19, which will be described later, of the operation based on the determination result of the driving environment determination processing unit 15. Further, the guidance information according to the route searched by the navigation system or the like is output to the content display unit 18 and the voice guidance processing unit 19, and the control information according to the guidance information is output to the automatic driving control unit 17. ..

The automatic operation control unit 17 controls each drive mechanism 60 that is automatically controlled during automatic operation of the brake, accelerator, steering wheel, etc., based on the operation notification from the tollhouse guidance processing unit 16.

Based on the operation notification from the tollhouse guidance processing unit 16, the content display unit 18 provides guidance to, for example, an ETC toll collection gate or a manned toll collection gate, and a liquid crystal display or the like to warn that an ETC card has not been inserted. It is displayed on the display means of.

Based on the operation notification from the tollhouse guidance processing unit 16, the voice guidance processing unit 19 provides guidance to, for example, an ETC toll collection gate or a manned toll collection gate, and a warning that the ETC card has not been inserted. Output to.

Each block of the in-vehicle device 1 described above may be configured as a computer program (control program of the in-vehicle device) by causing each function to function in a computer such as a microcomputer.

The Map Data Base 20 is, for example, a database of a navigation system mounted on a vehicle, and stores map information. Further, the Map Data Base 20 may not be mounted on the vehicle, and may be provided on an external server or the like capable of communicating with the in-vehicle device 1 via the Internet or the like.

As is well known, the GPS receiver 30 receives radio waves transmitted from a plurality of GPS (Global Positioning System) satellites, obtains latitude / longitude information, and outputs the latitude / longitude information to the own vehicle position / toll point information acquisition unit 11.

As is well known, the vehicle speed pulse 40 is a sensor that measures the vehicle speed of the vehicle, and the vehicle speed of the vehicle can be calculated based on the pulse signal output from the sensor.

As is well known, the ETC card reader 50 communicates with the device on the gate side when the ETC card is inserted and passes through the toll collection gate for ETC at the tollhouse, and the credit card information stored in the ETC card. Etc. are read out.

Each drive mechanism 60 indicates a mechanism that is automatically controlled during automatic operation, and is, for example, a brake, an accelerator, a steering wheel, or the like.

The speakers 70 are installed at a plurality of locations in the vehicle interior of the vehicle, and output guidance voices, warning voices, and the like output from the voice guidance processing unit 19 to the passengers as voices.

Next, the operation of the vehicle-mounted device 1 having the above-described configuration (control method of the vehicle-mounted device) will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, in step S1, the toll road determination unit 12 determines whether or not the vehicle is traveling on the toll road based on the information acquired by the own vehicle position / toll point information acquisition unit 11, and is traveling on the toll road. In that case, the process proceeds to step S2, and if the vehicle is not traveling on the toll road, the process ends. In this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the vehicle is traveling on a toll road, but if the route searched in advance by a navigation system or the like is guided, there is a tollhouse on the route in the direction of travel. You may decide whether or not (whether you are heading to the ETC tollhouse).

Next, in step S2, the own vehicle position / toll point information acquisition unit 11 acquires the latitude / longitude information (position information) of the own vehicle from the GPS receiver 30 and proceeds to step S3.

Next, in step S3, the toll road determination unit 12 calculates the mileage to the tollhouse and the vehicle speed. As a result of calculation, if it is before entering the tollhouse preparation point, the process proceeds to step S4, if it enters the tollhouse preparation point, it proceeds to step S6, and if it is far from the tollhouse, it waits in this step.

The tollhouse preparation point indicates, for example, a point having a mileage of about 2 to 3 minutes to the tollhouse. It is preferable that the distance of the tollhouse preparation point is longer than the distance-converted time, which is a criterion for determining the time allowance described later. Further, "far from the tollhouse" means, for example, a mileage of about 10 minutes or more to the tollhouse. Of course, the mileage that serves as a criterion for determining that the vehicle is far from the tollhouse must be longer than the distance at the tollhouse preparation point. If congestion information can be obtained from the vehicle speed, VICS (registered trademark) (Vehicle Information and Communication System), etc., these mileages may be changed as appropriate according to the congestion situation.

Next, in step S4, since it was determined in step S3 that the vehicle had not entered the tollhouse preparation point, the traveling environment determination processing unit 15 could pass the ETC based on the determination result of the ETC card insertion detection determination unit 13. If it is not possible to pass through ETC, the process proceeds to step S5, and if it is possible to pass through ETC, the process returns to step S3. The ETC non-passable means a case where the ETC card reader 50 is missing (unrecognizable) or cannot be used due to a failure or the like, or a case where the ETC card is not inserted. That is, it is determined whether or not ETC can be used.

Next, in step S5, since it was determined in step S4 that the ETC cannot be passed, the tollhouse guidance processing unit 16 inserts the ETC card into the content display unit 18 and the voice guidance processing unit 19 by display or voice. Give a warning and return to step S3. When returning to step S3 after executing this step, in order to avoid frequent warnings, the process proceeds to step S4 after a certain time interval, except when it is determined that the tollhouse preparation point has been entered. Is preferable.

On the other hand, in step S6, since it was determined in step S3 that the vehicle entered the tollhouse preparation point, is the vehicle that can pass through ETC based on the determination result of the ETC card insertion detection determination unit 13 in the driving environment determination processing unit 15. If it is determined that the ETC can be passed, the process proceeds to step S7, and if the ETC cannot be passed, the process proceeds to step S8. That is, it is determined whether or not ETC can be used.

Next, in step S7, since it was determined in step S5 that the vehicle can pass through ETC, the tollhouse guidance processing unit 16 sends the content display unit 18 and the voice guidance processing unit 19 to the toll collection gate (ETC) for ETC. Gate: Guide to the automatic toll collection gate). Further, in the case of automatic operation, the automatic operation control unit 17 is made to travel to the ETC gate. That is, the tollhouse guidance processing unit 16, the content display unit 18, and the voice guidance processing unit 19 function as guidance units.

In step S8, since it was determined in step S5 that the vehicle cannot pass through ETC, the operation mode determination unit 14 determines the operation mode, and proceeds to step S9 in the case of automatic operation and proceeds to step S13 in the case of manual operation. .. The operation mode may be determined in a switching state such as an automatic operation changeover switch.

Next, in step S9, since the automatic operation was determined in step S8, the driving environment determination processing unit 15 determines whether or not there is a time margin for inserting the ETC card, and if there is a margin, step S10. If there is no room, the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S9, for example, if the time required from the current position to the tollhouse is longer than the time required for the passenger to insert the ETC card into the ETC card reader 50 during automatic driving, there is time to spare. judge. That is, when the driving environment determination processing unit 15 is heading for the ETC tollhouse during automatic driving when the vehicle in which the ETC card is not inserted (ETC cannot be used) is heading for the ETC tollhouse, the current position of the vehicle is used. Based on the time required to reach the tollhouse, it functions as a margin determination unit that determines whether or not there is time to insert the ETC card (which enables the use of ETC). The time required from the current position to the tollhouse may be calculated based on, for example, the mileage from the current position to the tollhouse and the vehicle speed. In addition, if traffic jam information can be obtained, the traffic jam situation may be taken into consideration.

In addition, instead of the time required from the current position to the tollhouse, traveling from the current position to the tollhouse determined based on the time required for the passenger to insert the ETC card into the ETC card reader 50 during automatic driving. It may be a distance.

Next, in step S10, since it is determined in step S9 that there is a time margin, the ETC card insertion detection determination unit 13 determines whether or not the ETC card is inserted, and the ETC card is inserted. Proceeds to step S7, and if the ETC card is not inserted, the process proceeds to step S11.

Next, in step S11, since it was determined in step S10 that the ETC card was not inserted, the tollhouse guidance processing unit 16 inserted the ETC card into the content display unit 18 and the voice guidance processing unit 19 by display or voice. The warning (notification prompting the insertion of the ETC card) is given, and the process proceeds to step S12. That is, when the tollhouse guidance processing unit 16, the content display unit 18, and the voice guidance processing unit 19 determine that there is time to spare, they notify the passengers of the vehicle to enable the use of ETC. Functions as a notification unit.

In this step S11, since the vehicle has entered the tollhouse preparation point by automatic operation, a warning that the ETC card has not been inserted is given. This is because, in the case of automatic driving, the driver or the like may be able to insert the ETC card even while driving. Therefore, if there is time to insert the ETC card even near the tollhouse, a warning is issued again and the driver or the like is urged to insert the ETC card.

Next, in step S12, the toll road determination unit 12 calculates the mileage to the tollhouse and the vehicle speed, returns to step S9, and determines whether there is time to spare again.

Further, in step S13, it was determined that the ETC cannot be passed (ETC card is not inserted) and the operation is manual operation in step S8, or it is determined in step S9 that there is no time to spare. , The content display unit 18 and the voice guidance processing unit 19 are guided to a manned toll collection gate (manned gate: also called a manual toll collection gate or a general gate). Further, in the case of automatic driving, the automatic driving control unit 17 is made to travel to the manned gate. In this step, since it is determined that the vehicle is not in automatic driving, it is not determined whether or not there is time to spare, or since it is determined that there is no time to spare, an ETC card non-insertion notification as in step S11 is performed. Absent.

As is clear from the above description, steps S4 and S6 function as a detection step, step S8 functions as a vehicle information acquisition step, step S9 functions as a margin determination step, and step S11 functions as a notification step.

In step S13, the gate for collecting manual charges includes not only a manned gate but also a gate that is temporarily stopped and settled by an automatic settlement machine or the like. That is, the manual toll collection gate indicates a toll collection gate other than the ETC gate.

According to the present embodiment, in the vehicle-mounted device 1, for example, when a vehicle in a state in which an ETC card is not inserted is heading for an ETC tollhouse during automatic driving, the traveling environment determination processing unit 15 determines the vehicle. Based on the time required from the current position of the ETC card to the tollhouse, it is determined whether or not there is time to insert the ETC card. Then, when it is determined that there is time to spare, the tollhouse guidance processing unit 16 warns the content display unit 18 and the voice guidance processing unit 19 to urge the passengers of the vehicle to insert the ETC card. Let me. By doing so, if there is time to insert the ETC card during automatic operation, it is possible to promote the insertion of the ETC card and use the ETC. Therefore, it is possible to give a notification according to the operating state.

Further, the tollhouse guidance processing unit 16 does not give a notification prompting the insertion of the ETC card when it is determined that there is no time to spare. By doing so, when there is no time to insert the ETC card, it is possible to eliminate unnecessary notifications and not confuse the driver or the like.

Further, the driving environment determination processing unit 15 does not determine whether or not there is time to spare when the vehicle is not in automatic driving. By doing so, it is often difficult to insert the ETC card when the vehicle is not in automatic driving, so that unnecessary processing can be prevented.

In addition, the time allowance is determined based on the time required for the passenger of the vehicle to insert the ETC card. By doing so, the passenger can be notified while there is time to insert the ETC card at the tollhouse.

Further, the own vehicle position / toll point information acquisition unit 11 acquires the vehicle speed, and the traveling speed determination processing unit 15 temporally based on the mileage from the current position of the vehicle to the tollhouse and the vehicle speed. I try to judge if there is a margin. By doing so, the time margin required for inserting the ETC card can be easily calculated and determined.

Further, the tollhouse guidance processing unit 16 guides the tollhouse to the ETC gate when the ETC card is inserted, and guides the tollhouse to the manned gate when the ETC card is not inserted. ing. By doing so, if ETC is available, the fee can be collected non-stop by passing through the ETC gate.

In the above-described embodiment, the ETC card has been described, but the medium is not limited to the ETC card, but is a medium for automatically collecting tolls, and if it is removable, other cards, terminal devices, etc. It may be. In addition, attachment / detachment is not limited to physical attachment / detachment, but also includes those that are functionally equivalent to attachment / detachment by connecting / disconnecting communication in a non-contact manner by wireless or the like. Then, it detects whether or not those media are available, and if it is in automatic operation and the media is not available, it is determined that there is time to make the media available, and if there is a margin. Encourages the medium to be available.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above examples. That is, those skilled in the art can carry out various modifications according to conventionally known knowledge within a range that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention. As long as the in-vehicle device of the present invention is still provided by such deformation, it is, of course, included in the category of the present invention.

1 In-vehicle device 11 Vehicle position / charge point information acquisition department (vehicle information acquisition department)
12 Toll road judgment unit 13 ETC card insertion detection detection unit (detection unit)
14 Driving mode judgment unit 15 Driving environment judgment processing unit (margin judgment unit)
16 Tollhouse Information Processing Department (Notification Department, Information Department)
18 Content display section (notification section, information section)
19 Voice guidance processing unit (notification unit, guidance unit)
Judgment as to whether the vehicle can pass S4 ETC (detection process)
Judgment whether the vehicle can pass S6 ETC (detection process)
S8 Driving mode determination (vehicle information acquisition process)
S9 ETC card insertion time margin judgment (margin judgment process)
S11 Content display / Voice card non-insertion warning (notification process)

Claims (8)

A detector that detects whether the vehicle can use ETC,
When the vehicle in a state where the ETC cannot be used is heading for the ETC tollhouse during autonomous driving, the time required to enable the use of the ETC from the current position of the vehicle to the tollhouse. A margin judgment unit that determines whether or not there is a target margin,
When it is determined that there is time to spare, a notification unit that notifies the passengers of the vehicle to enable the use of the ETC, and a notification unit.
An in-vehicle device characterized by being equipped with. The in-vehicle device according to claim 1, wherein the time allowance is determined based on the time required for the passenger of the vehicle to be able to use the ETC. Further provided with a vehicle information acquisition unit for acquiring the speed of the vehicle,
The vehicle-mounted vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the margin determination unit determines whether or not there is a time margin based on the mileage of the vehicle from the current position to the tollhouse and the speed of the vehicle. machine. The vehicle-mounted device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the notification unit does not give the notification when it is determined that there is no time margin. The vehicle-mounted device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the margin determination unit does not determine whether or not there is a time margin when the vehicle is not in the automatic driving. If the ETC is available, it will guide you to the automatic toll collection gate of the tollhouse, and if the ETC is not available, it will guide you to the manual toll collection gate of the tollhouse. The in-vehicle device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the in-vehicle device is provided. It is a control method for in-vehicle devices mounted on vehicles that can run by automatic driving.
A detection step that detects whether the vehicle can use ETC,
When the vehicle in a state where the ETC cannot be used is heading for the ETC tollhouse during autonomous driving, the time required to enable the use of the ETC from the current position of the vehicle to the tollhouse. A margin judgment step to determine whether or not there is a target margin, and
When it is determined that there is time to spare, a notification step for notifying the passengers of the vehicle to enable the use of the ETC, and a notification step .
A method for controlling an in-vehicle device, which comprises. A control program for an in-vehicle device, which comprises executing the control method for the in-vehicle device according to claim 7 by a computer.

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