JPH0829526A - Mobile identification system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the wiring while facilitating the modification accompanied with the extension of antenna unit when a plurality of antenna units are controlled by means of one or a plurality of controllers. CONSTITUTION:Gates 25, 26 are installed at predetermined positions of a toll- road 20 and antenna units 27a-29c are set for respective lanes 21a-21c, 22a-22c. Each group of three antenna units is controlled through controllers 37-39 connected commonly with an LAN line 36. The controller 3-7 delivers a transmission permit signal to each antenna unit 7a-29c and transmits the results of communication with the IU 24 of an automobile 23 to the controller 37-39 for each group. This system facilitates extension or modification of antenna unit or controller while simplifying the wiring thus realizing an intelligent system.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is based on transmitting an inquiry signal from an antenna unit to a response unit attached to a moving body existing in a communication area and receiving a response signal from the response unit. The present invention relates to a moving body identifying device for identifying the response unit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of this type of moving body identification device, there is one used in a toll collection system on a toll road. As shown in FIG. 14, an in-vehicle device (Invehicle Un) as a response unit is provided in advance for a vehicle 2 passing through a toll road 1 having five lanes 1a to 1e.
(hereinafter, abbreviated as IU) 3 is arranged near the center of the upper part of the windshield, and the antenna units 4a to 4e for communicating with the IU 3 of the automobile 2 are installed at predetermined locations on the toll road 1 5 is provided.

Then, the controller 6 repeatedly outputs a pilot signal from the antenna units 4a to 4e to the communication areas 7a to 7e at a predetermined cycle, and the communication areas 7a to 7e.
When a pilot response signal is output from the IU 3 of the automobile 2 passing through the inside of 7e in response to the pilot signal, thereafter, the controller 6 asks the antenna unit 4 for a read signal or a write signal for charge collection processing. A signal is transmitted and an interrogation response signal for the signal is received.

In this case, the IU 3 does not output the pilot response signal or the inquiry response signal itself as a radio wave signal, but outputs the unmodulated carrier wave after transmitting the pilot signal or the inquiry signal from the antenna units 4a to 4e. In the IU 3, however, the carrier wave is modulated by the response signal and reflected to reflect the antenna unit 4a.
It responds to the ~ 4e side. That is, on the IU3 side, an oscillation circuit for outputting radio waves, a power supply, etc. are not required, and the IU3 that is simple, small and inexpensive can be formed.

On the side of the antenna units 4a to 4e which have received the response signal, based on the inquiry signal inputted by the controller 6, processing of the charge code or the balance data according to the identification code or the use of the road is carried out. The processing result is finally transmitted to the data processing device 8 such as the main computer. As a result, it is not necessary for the users of the toll road 1 to stop the automobile 2 each time at an interchange or the like to exchange cards and money for the toll collection process. Advantages of eliminating traffic jams, eliminating troublesome handling work such as money transfer and card transfer, and avoiding health hazards for tollgate employees due to exhaust gas emitted from automobiles There is also.

[0006]

When introducing such an automatic toll collection system, the toll road 1
If the number of lanes is too large, or if the number of installed antenna units is very large due to installation in the lane on the opposite lane, etc., or if a large number of antenna units are divided into groups and each is communicated with an antenna controller. If you want to control and collectively process the communication result data received from those antenna units, the number of cables connecting between each of these antenna units and the controller becomes very large. At the same time, it becomes difficult to send and receive data between the controllers and to perform a cooperative operation, and when these are collectively controlled centrally, the configuration becomes very complicated.

Further, when it is desired to add antenna units to the system once installed or to change the operation of those antenna units, the connection configuration and control contents of the controller can be changed and the signal output of the antenna unit can be changed. A very troublesome work is required to change the timing, and there is a problem in that the cost is also increased due to the introduction of equipment corresponding thereto.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to easily change the number of antenna units or antenna controllers to be installed, and also to simplify wiring processing for connecting them. A mobile object identification device that can be made intelligent, and an antenna unit or antenna controller can be added after installation, and cooperative operation between antenna controllers can be easily performed, making it possible to intelligentize at low cost as a whole. To provide.

[0009]

A moving body identifying apparatus of the present invention is provided in a moving body, and when an inquiry signal is received, a response for modulating and transmitting an unmodulated carrier wave received subsequently to the inquiry signal is transmitted. A unit and a plurality of communication areas are provided respectively, and when a transmission permission signal is given, an inquiry signal is transmitted to each communication area and the carrier wave is subsequently transmitted to each communication area. A plurality of antenna units for receiving response signals from the existing response units, a LAN line commonly connected to the plurality of antenna units, and a transmission to the plurality of antenna units connected to the LAN line And a controller that individually specifies and gives permission signals and that receives the received response signal and identifies the moving body corresponding to the response unit. Characterized in was Bei.

In the above structure, the plurality of antenna units are divided into a plurality of groups, and a plurality of controllers that identify the mobile body by receiving the response signal received by the antenna units of the group for each group. And a specific controller among the plurality of controllers may be configured to transmit the individually specified transmission permission signal to all of the plurality of antenna units through the LAN line.

Further, among the plurality of antenna units, an antenna unit having an overlapping area between at least adjacent communication areas transmits the interrogation signal at frequencies different from each other within a receivable frequency area of the response unit. It is preferable that the controller is configured to give the transmission permission signal to each of the antenna units having the overlapping area of the communication area at different timings.

Further, the controller is configured to perform the communication with each of the antenna units having an overlapping area between the adjacent communication areas of the plurality of antenna units and setting the overlapping area as an incommunicable area. It is also possible to provide the permission signals at the same timing.

In each of the above constructions, the passage detecting means for detecting passage of the moving body, the camera capable of photographing the moving body, and the antenna unit without receiving a response signal from the response unit It is advisable to provide an auxiliary means for photographing and recording the moving body by the camera when the passage detecting means detects the passage of the moving body.

[0014]

According to the moving body identifying apparatus of the present invention, the plurality of antenna units and the controller are commonly connected by the LAN line, and the antenna units to be controlled are individually designated by the controller. It becomes possible to control the operation by giving the transmission permission signal described above, and the wiring becomes simpler and the antenna unit is added as compared with the case of the configuration in which the control is performed by wiring each one-to-one from the controller. In such a case or when the designation of the transmission permission signal is changed, it becomes possible to easily connect and control the operation without changing mechanical wiring or equipment.

According to the moving body identifying apparatus of the second aspect,
A plurality of antenna units and a plurality of controllers are commonly connected to the LAN line, and one controller transmits a transmission permission signal individually designated to each antenna unit to thereby transmit communication signals of all the antenna units. In addition to being able to control the transmission timing of each of them in a unified manner, each controller can receive the response signal from the response unit received by the antenna unit belonging to its own group and perform its signal processing. It is also possible to collectively process the response results of. In addition, in this way, since it is a method of transmitting a transmission permission signal for each group to all antenna units by one controller,
For example, it is possible to easily change the controller to which the antenna unit belongs or change the group that transmits the transmission permission signal.

According to the moving body identifying apparatus of the third aspect,
When setting the adjacent communication areas to have overlapping areas, the controller sets the transmission timing of these transmission permission signals so that the response unit of the mobile unit passes through the overlapping areas. However, since it is possible to start communication by receiving the communication signal from either one first, it is possible to reliably receive the communication signal from both antenna units at the same time in the overlapping area, and to make sure the response unit. Will be able to communicate with. As a result, it becomes possible to set overlapping areas and continuously set the communication area to a wide area.

According to the moving body identifying apparatus of the fourth aspect,
When setting to have an area where adjacent communication areas overlap, if you do not want to communicate with any antenna unit in the overlapping area, that is, if you want to make it a communication incommunicable area, those communication areas are set by the controller. Since it is set to give the transmission permission signal to the antenna units that set the overlapping area at the same time, the response unit of the mobile body passing through the overlapping area receives the communication signals of different frequencies from both at the same time, The response signal cannot be recognized as correct data. As a result, it becomes possible to reliably communicate only with the response unit of the moving body that passes through the defined communication area set by any one of the antenna units, and the area to which the antenna unit belongs and the undetermined overlapping area. Then you can choose not to communicate.

According to the moving body identifying apparatus of the fifth aspect,
In the above case, since communication is not performed with the response unit of the moving body passing through the overlapping area, by providing the passage detecting means so as to detect the moving body passing through the overlapping area, the auxiliary means can be used. By detecting and recording a moving body for which a communication result has not been obtained by the camera, it is possible to assist the identification operation.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a toll road toll collection system will now be described with reference to FIGS.
Will be described with reference to. First, in FIG. 1 showing an overall schematic configuration, a toll road 20 on which toll collection processing should be performed.
Are three lanes 21a, 21b, 21c and 22a, 22 separated into upper and lower lines 21 and 22 by the central divider 20a.
It is a road having b and 22c.

An automobile 23 as a moving body has an in-vehicle unit (hereinafter abbreviated as IU) 24, which is a response unit, in the vicinity of the upper center of the windshield, for example, inside the vehicle compartment.
I am trying to drive with each installed. The toll road 20 has a gate 25 at a predetermined position as shown in the figure.
And 26 are arranged so as to straddle the road. In this case, the gate 25 is installed so as to straddle both the up line 21 and the down line 22, and the gate 26 is installed so as to straddle only the down line 22.

The gates 25 and 26 have
The antenna units 27a to 27c, 28a to 28c, and the antenna units 27a to 27c, 28a to 28c are provided at positions corresponding to the upper sides of the lanes 21a to 22c, respectively.
A total of nine antenna units 29a to 29c are arranged. The antenna units 27a to 27c have communication areas 30a to 30c in lanes 21a to 21c, respectively.
Set diagonally downward toward the road surface of the antenna unit 2
8a to 28c connect the communication areas 31a to 31c to the lane 22.
The antenna units 29a to 29c set the communication areas 32a to 32c diagonally downward toward the road surfaces of the lanes 22a to 22c. In addition, the communication areas 30a to 30c and 31a to 3
Each group of 1c and 32a to 32c is, as shown in the figure,
Adjacent ones are set so as to partially overlap each other, and the areas are set to overlap the communication areas 33a and 33, respectively.
b, 34a, 34b, 35a, 35b.

Nine antenna units 27a to 29c
Are commonly connected to the LAN line 36. Further, the LAN line 36 has three antenna controllers (hereinafter abbreviated as controllers) 37, 38, 39.
Are commonly connected. The controllers 37 to 39 are
Antenna unit 27 through LAN line 36
The transmission / reception of a-27c, 28a-28c, 29a-29c is controlled. Further, the controllers 37 to 39 are connected so as to exchange communication data with a signal processing device 40 such as a host computer. FIG. 2 shows nine antenna units 27a to 29c and three controllers 37 to which are commonly connected by such a LAN line 36.
39 shows a conceptual connection state between the controllers 37 to 39 and the signal processing device 40. In addition, the controllers 37 to 39 and the signal processing device 40 are connected to L
It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the AN line 36 is used for connection.

FIG. 3 shows an electrical configuration. First, the configuration of the antenna unit 27a will be described. The transmitting / receiving antenna 41 is, for example, a patch antenna using a microstrip line formed on a printed circuit board, and an array in which a plurality of patch antennas are arranged for improving directivity and supporting long-distance communication. It is configured as an antenna.

The modulation circuit 42 has a frequency (frequency in a frequency band receivable by the IU 24) given from the oscillator 43.
The unit control circuit 4 uses the oscillation output of
Modulate with pilot signal and interrogation signal given from 4,
The signal is output to the antenna 41 via the circulator 45. In this case, the oscillator 43 outputs the quasi-microwave in the 2.45 GHz band, which is assigned as the predetermined frequency region, as the carrier wave, and thus generates the oscillation output at the frequency f in the frequency band. The antenna 41 is configured to selectively receive only radio waves in a narrow range of the frequency f set by the oscillator 43.

The receiving circuit 46 for performing signal processing such as demodulation is connected to the mixer 47, and the mixer 47 is connected to the oscillator 47.
The carrier wave is given from 3 and the circulator 4
A radio wave signal corresponding to the response signal received by the antenna 41 is given via 5. The carrier wave and the radio wave signal corresponding to the response signal are combined by the mixer 47 and then given to the receiving circuit 46. The receiving circuit 46 demodulates the given combined signal to obtain a response signal and outputs the response signal to the unit control circuit 44.

The unit control circuit 44 includes a CPU, RO
It is composed of an M, a RAM, etc., and exchanges signals with the modulation circuit 42 and the reception circuit 46 by a communication program stored in advance as described later. The unit control circuit 44 is connected to the LAN line 36 through the interface circuit 48, and the controller 3 is connected through the LAN line 36.
It is designed to communicate with 7-39. Power supply circuit 4
When supplied from an AC power supply (not shown), 9 is converted into a predetermined DC voltage and supplied to each circuit in the antenna unit 27a.

The other eight antenna units 27b-29
c has the same configuration as the antenna unit 27a except that the oscillation frequency f of the oscillator 43 is different. That is, assuming that the oscillation frequency of the oscillator 43 of the antenna unit 27a is f1, for example, the antenna unit 2
7b and 27c are set as f2 and f3, respectively, and other antenna units 28a to 28c and 29a to 29 are set.
Similarly, the oscillation frequencies of c are assigned to f1 to f3. These oscillation frequencies f1 to f3 are IU24.
Is set to a frequency assigned within the receivable frequency band, and the frequencies are set to be as far apart as possible between adjacent antenna units.

Next, in the controller 37, the control circuit 50 is composed of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, etc., and communicates with any one of the antenna units 27a to 29c or a group by a communication program stored in advance. Has become. And
The control circuit 50 is connected to the LAN line 36 via the interface circuit 51. Power supply circuit 52
When power is supplied from an AC power supply (not shown), it is converted into a predetermined DC voltage and supplied to the control circuit 50 and the interface circuit 51.

In the IU 24 as the response unit, the antenna 53 is a microstrip antenna formed on the printed board, and the receivable frequency band is the frequency f1 of the interrogation signal output from each of the antenna units 27aa to 29c. It is set so that all of ~ f3 can be received. The control circuit 54 includes a CPU and RO
It is configured to include M, RAM and the like, and is configured to output various data such as an identification code as a response signal in response to a pilot signal or an inquiry signal according to a program stored in advance. The control circuit 54 is connected to the antenna 53 via the transmission circuit 55, and the antenna 53 via the reception circuit 56.
It is connected to the.

The transmission circuit 55 performs modulation processing according to the response signal to modulate and transmit unmodulated carrier wave received by the antenna 53. The receiving circuit 56 is the antenna 53
The radio wave received by is demodulated and given to the control circuit 54 as a pilot signal or an inquiry signal. A data memory 57, which is a writable and readable nonvolatile memory, is connected to the control circuit 54. Battery 58
Powers each circuit in the IU 24.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

First, in the case of the present embodiment, for example, on the upstream line 21 side of the toll road 20, the lanes 21a-2 of the lanes 21a-2 by the antenna units 27a-27c of the gate 25.
The fee collection process is performed by communicating with the IU 24 of the automobile 23 passing through 1c. In that case, the data resulting from the communication by the antenna units 27a to 27c is transmitted to the controller 37. ing. On the down line 22 side, the antenna units 28a to 28c of the gate 25 communicate with the IU 24 of the automobile 23 passing through the lanes 22a to 22c to perform charge collection processing, and the communication result is transmitted to the controller 3,
The antenna units 29a to 29c communicate with each other to confirm the charge collection result and transmit the communication result to the controller 39.

In each of the antenna units 27a to 29c, the controllers 37 to 39 are connected via the LAN line 36.
When it is connected to and starts operation, the controller to which it belongs and the multicast group (hereinafter abbreviated as MCG) that sets the operation timing are designated as G1 or G2. The communication operation is started according to the instruction signal and the communication result is transmitted to the designated controller. Further, here, for example, the controller 37 among the controllers 37 to 39 operates as a controller that transmits a communication permission signal for each MCG group designation.

The process of communication operation of the antenna units 27a to 29c is carried out according to the flow chart of the communication program shown in FIG. Unit control circuit 41
When the program is started, first, a predetermined initialization operation is performed (step S1), and then a call signal to the controller is transmitted via the LAN line 36 (step S2). Then, when a controller response signal is transmitted from the controller 37 via the LAN line 36, the unit control circuit 41 inputs this and also various parameter signals that are continuously transmitted (step S
3) The address of the controller 37, which is controlled by itself, is stored and the set group number of the MCG is stored. After that, the unit control circuit 41 enters a state of waiting for the instruction signal from the control 37 (step S5).

On the other hand, in the controller 37, when the controller calling signal is transmitted from each of the antenna units 27a to 29c as described above, the control circuit 50 starts the setting program shown in FIG. 5 and sends the controller response signal. At the same time as transmitting (step T1), a parameter signal is transmitted to the antenna controller which has transmitted the calling signal (step T2), and the setting program is terminated. In this case, the parameter signal is composed of data designating the controller to which the antenna unit should transmit the communication result data, and data indicating the MCG setting group G1 or G2. In this case, the MCG setting group is the antenna unit 2
7a, 27c, 28b, 29a, 29c are G1,
The antenna units 27b, 28a, 28c, 29b are G
It is supposed to be 2.

The antenna controller 37 starts the communication program shown in FIG. 6 when starting the fee collection process. The control circuit 50 transmits a charge collection processing start instruction signal to all the antenna units 27a to 29c through the LAN line 36 (step P1), and instructs each antenna unit to set processing contents for charge collection. In response to this, in each of the antenna units 27a to 29c, "YES" in step S5.
Then, the process proceeds to step S6, and the setting content of the received instruction signal is stored and set. After that, the state of waiting for the transmission of the communication permission signal for its own group G1 or G2 is set (step S7).

Next, the control circuit 50 of the controller 37 sends a transmission permission signal to the antenna units (grouped as described above) set in the group G1 of the MCG (step P2), and thereafter. , And waits for the predetermined time T2 to elapse (step P3).
During this period, the control circuit 50 determines whether or not the signal indicating the communication result from the antenna unit side is received in Step P4 through Step P3, and if not, repeats Steps P3 and P4 and receives the signal. In this case, it is determined to be "YES" in Step P4 and the process proceeds to Step P5, where the data of the communication result is processed and Step P3
Return to

When the predetermined time T2 has passed, the control circuit 50 determines "YES" in step P3 and moves to step P6 to send a transmission permission signal to the antenna units set in the group G2 of the MCG. If the communication result is received through step P8 in the same manner as described above until the predetermined time T2 elapses after the transmission, the process is executed in step P9.
If "YES" is determined in step P7, the process returns to step P2, and the above-described steps P2 to P9 are repeatedly executed.

On the other hand, on the antenna unit side, the unit control circuit 44 judges "YES" when the transmission permission signal corresponding to its own group is transmitted in the standby state in step S7. Go to step S8,
The pilot signal is transmitted from the antenna 41, and the unmodulated carrier wave is transmitted in the subsequent step S9.

In this case, each antenna unit 27a-2
In 9c, the modulation circuit 42 modulates the carrier wave given from the oscillator 43 with the pilot signal given from the unit control circuit 44, and as a microwave signal from the antenna 41 toward each of the communication areas 30a to 32c. Output.

There are two types of communication signals, a pilot signal and an interrogation signal, which are set to be transmitted during the output period of time ta of the repeated output cycle T1, and the remaining time tb (ta + tb). = T
1) is set as the reception period of the response signal. The output period ta of the pilot signal and the inquiry signal is
For example, the antenna units 27a and 27b that are adjacent to each other are set so as not to overlap.

Further, each antenna unit 27a to 29c
In the state shown in FIG. 4, the modulation circuit 42 does not perform the modulation during the period tb (= T1−ta) when the communication signal is not given from the unit control circuit 44.
The carrier wave from 3 is transmitted from the antenna 41 to each of the communication areas 30a to 32c without being modulated. That is, each of the antenna units 27a to 29c is always in the state of outputting the radio wave, and outputs the pilot signal Sp and the interrogation signal Sk during the time period ta of the repeating cycle T1. is there.

When the unit control circuit 44 of the antenna units 27a to 29c receives the pilot response signal within the predetermined time, "YES" in step S10.
If so, the process proceeds to step S11, and if "NO" is determined, the process returns to step S7. When the process proceeds to step S11, the unit control circuit 4
Next, when the transmission permission signal is received from the controller 37 via the LAN line 36, the step S4 proceeds to steps S12 and S13.
Then, the antenna 41 transmits the inquiry signal and the unmodulated carrier wave. After this, IU2
When the response signal from the communication controller 4 is received, the reception process is performed (step S14), and it is determined whether the communication is completed (step S15). If the communication is completed, one of the controllers 37 to 39 designated by itself is judged. After transmitting the communication result, the process returns to step S7, and if not completed, step S
The process returns to 11 and waits until the communication permission signal is given again.

On the other hand, the antenna unit 27 as described above
For the operations a to 29c, I mounted on the automobile 23
The U24 operates as follows. That is, when a pilot signal is received from the antenna units 27a to 29c side by the antenna 53 by entering any of the communication areas 30a to 32c, it is demodulated into a communication signal by the receiving circuit 56 and input to the control circuit 54. In response to this, the control circuit 54 modulates the unmodulated carrier wave continuously received by the antenna 53 by the pilot response signal output via the transmission circuit 55 and transmits the modulated carrier wave. It will wait to receive it.

When the IU 24 receives the interrogation signal from any of the antenna units 27a to 29c, the IU 24 performs a reception process according to the content of the interrogation signal to create or write transmission data for collecting the charge. If there is data to be stored, the control circuit 54 executes a write process to write the data in the data memory 57, and if there is data to be read, a read process is executed to read the data from the data memory 57. Is executed, and then an interrogation response signal is created, and an unmodulated carrier wave is modulated by the interrogation response signal and transmitted.

In this way, the antenna unit 27a
~ 29c communicates with the IU 24 of the automobile 23,
The communication result is the controller 3 belonging to its own group.
7-39 to the controller 37-39
Identifies the automobile 23 based on these results, transmits the result to the signal processing device 40, and performs data processing collectively. In addition, the controllers 37 to 39
Data can be easily exchanged between the respective devices via the LAN line 36 as required.

According to such a first embodiment, the LAN
In a state where the controllers 37 to 39 and the antenna units 27a to 29c are commonly connected by the line 36, the controller 37 gives a transmission permission signal to each antenna unit and the I received by the antenna unit.
Since the communication result with the U24 can be transmitted to any of the controllers 37 to 39 of the group to which each self belongs, even if the number of installed antenna units is large, connection work can be performed easily. Even if an antenna unit or controller is added or changed, it is possible to easily cope with it.

Further, according to this embodiment, since the data can be easily exchanged between the controllers 37 to 39 through the LAN line 36, the representative controller can centrally control the timing. , It becomes possible to easily change the group to which the antenna units 27a to 29c to be controlled belong.
It becomes possible to make the whole intelligent.

FIGS. 7 to 13 show a second embodiment of the present invention, and the portions different from the first embodiment will be described below. That is, in the present embodiment, for example, the case where the toll road 60 is provided in a part where the toll road branches off is shown, and the first pattern is shown in FIGS. 7 to 9.
The second pattern is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, and the third pattern is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

First, the first pattern will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9. Four lanes 61a to 61d
The toll road 60 having the is provided so that the automobile 23 passes from the left side to the right side in the figure, and indicates, for example, a point where the two branch roads 62 and 63 leading to the exit branch. A diversion zone 60a is displayed on the road surface at the branch point. A gate 64 is installed at this branch point, and antenna units 65a to 65d having the same configuration as the first embodiment are provided corresponding to the lanes 61a to 61d, respectively, and communication areas 66a to 66d are set. are doing.

Further, the communication areas 66a to 66d are set so as to provide areas overlapping with the adjacent communication areas, and overlapping communication areas 67a to 67c are formed. The controller 68 is configured similarly to the controller 37 of the first embodiment, and is connected via the LAN line 69 so as to control these antenna units 65a to 65d.

The controller 68 executes the communication program (see FIGS. 5 and 6) in the same manner as in the first embodiment to transmit the transmission permission signal to each of the antenna units 65a to 65d via the LAN line 69. The antenna units 65a to 65d communicate with the IU 24 of the automobile 23 passing through the communication areas 66a to 66d by executing the communication program (see FIG. 4) similarly. .

In this case, the antenna units 65a-65
As shown in FIG. 8, the respective oscillators 43 of d have different center frequencies f1 to f4 in the frequency range that the IU 24 can receive, and the center frequencies of adjacent antenna units are set to values as far apart as possible. It is set. Further, the antenna units 65a and 65c are set to belong to the group G1 of the MCG, and the antenna unit 64
b and 65d are set to belong to the MCG group G2.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the antenna units 65a and 65c operate to transmit the communication signal to the communication areas 66a and 66c by the transmission permission signal corresponding to the group G1 given from the controller 68,
The antenna units 65b and 65d have a time T longer than that.
It operates to transmit the communication signal to the communication areas 66b and 66d by the transmission permission signal corresponding to the group G2 given from the controller 68 at a timing delayed by two.

Therefore, for example, the overlapping communication area 67
If the IU 24 of the automobile 23 passing through a receives the pilot signal from the antenna unit 65a first when it enters the overlapping communication area 67a, its IU2
4 transmits a pilot response signal to the antenna unit 65a, and then the antenna unit 65a.
Communication is performed by transmitting an inquiry response signal to the inquiry signal from a. In this state, the antenna response is not transmitted to the antenna unit 65b that has transmitted the pilot signal later, and the antenna unit 65
Since b does not receive the pilot response signal, it does not communicate.

Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment,
In the first pattern, even an automobile 23 that does not pass near the center of the originally designated lanes 61a to 61d can reliably communicate with the IU 24, and all the lanes 61a to 61a of the toll road 60 It becomes possible to reliably cover a wide area of 61d for communication.

Next, the second pattern shown in FIG. 10 will be described. This is one branch road 6 of the toll road 60
2 is provided as a road leading to the main road and the other branch road 63 is provided as a road leading to the exit. In this case, the automobile 23 is at the gate 6
This is the case when different fare collection processing needs to be performed when traveling on lanes 61a and 61b and when traveling on lanes 61c and 61d. That is, the antenna units 65a to 6a for performing different communications on both sides of the guideband 60a as a boundary.
5d is controlled.

In this case, the controller 70 is separately provided and connected to the LAN line 69. And
The controller 70 controls the vehicle 2 traveling on the branch road 62.
3 receives the communication result by the antenna units 65a and 65b that communicate with the IU 24 and performs the fee collection process, and the controller 68 communicates with the IU 24 of the automobile 23 that travels on the branch road 63.
The communication results of c and 65d are received and the fee collection process is performed, and the function as an auxiliary means is performed. Further, the controller 68 functions as a main controller that transmits a transmission permission signal to all the four antenna units 65a to 65d.

Then, unlike the first pattern, in the portion where the diversion zone 60a is provided, that is, in the overlapping communication area 67b, it is set as an incommunicable area. When this is set so that it can communicate with either the antenna unit 65b or 65c in the overlapping communication area 67b, for example, as shown in the figure, the automobile 23A passing through the portion of the diversion zone 60a.
Is erroneously recognized when traveling to the branch road 63 or 62 on the side opposite to the communicating antenna units 65b and 65c, the communication area 66b or 66c is surely detected.
It is set so as to communicate only with the IU 24 of the automobile 23 that travels inside.

However, if there is an automobile 23A actually passing through the portion of the diversion zone 60a, it cannot be identified. Therefore, as an assisting means, the road surface of the portion of the diversion zone 60a behind the gate 64 is assisted. A vehicle sensor 71 is provided as a passage detecting means for detecting passage of an automobile by ultrasonic waves, and the gate 64 is provided with a diversion zone 60.
A camera 72 capable of photographing the automobile 23A passing through a is located behind the vehicle sensor 71.

Now, as shown in FIG. 11, the controller 68 sets the MCG of the timing for giving the transmission permission signal to the antenna units 65a to 65d, as shown in FIG.
Antenna units 65a and 65d are group G1, and antenna units 65b and 65c are group G1.
Set as 2. The controller 68 is set to receive the communication result data from the antenna units 65c and 65d, and the controller 70 is set to receive the communication result data from the antenna units 65a and 65b.

As a result, the antenna units 65a.
65b enables reliable communication with the IU 24 passing through the communication areas 66a and 66b and the overlapping communication area 67a, and the vehicle 23 passing through the lanes 61c and 61d.
However, the antenna units 65c and 65d can reliably communicate with the IU 24 passing through the communication areas 66c and 66d and the overlapping communication area 67c.

Further, since the antenna units 65b and 65c simultaneously transmit the pilot signals to the overlapping communication area 67b for the automobile 23A which passes through the diversion zone 60a which is normally set not to pass through, the antenna units 65b and 65c simultaneously transmit the pilot signals to the overlapping communication area 67b. However, the IU 24A passing therethrough cannot recognize the correct data, and as a result, communication becomes impossible. That is, as a result, this overlapping communication area 67b
By communicating with the passing automobile 23A through any of the antenna units 65b and 65c, it is possible to prevent erroneous recognition depending on which branch road 62 or 63 the automobile 23A travels to thereafter.

Then, with respect to the automobile 23A passing through the diversion zone 60a, the gate 6 is left without communication.
Since the vehicle 68 is detected by passing through the vehicle sensor 71 after passing 4, the controller 68 determines that the vehicle 23A is passing without performing communication and determines that the vehicle 72 is within the shooting area 72 by the camera 72. Car 23
A is photographed and the car model or license plate is recorded. In this way, it is possible to assist the recognition of the automobile 23A.

Next, the third pattern will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. In this case, in the second pattern, for example, the toll road 60 and the branch road 6
Lane 61a due to construction of 2,63 or accident
It shows a case where the traffic section of 61d is changed. For example, in FIG.
The case where a to 61c are assigned to pass through the branch road 62 and only the lane 61d is assigned to the branch road 63 side is shown.

In this case, the controller 68
The antenna units 65a, 65c, 65d by M
CG group G1 is set, and antenna unit 65b is set.
Lane 61 is set as a group G2.
a to 61c can reliably communicate with the vehicle 23 passing through and can send the data of the communication result to the controller 70, and the controller 68 can also send the result of communicating with the vehicle 23 passing through the lane 61d. You can

For the overlapping communication area 67c,
As set in the second pattern, the antenna units 65c and 65d transmit pilot signals at the same timing and are set as the incommunicable region. The vehicle sensor 73 and the camera 74 are provided for the vehicle 23 passing through the flow guideway 60b in the same manner as described above so as to capture and record the image.

According to the second embodiment as described above, when the communication contents with the automobile 23 passing through the branch roads 62 and 63 are set to be different as in the first to third patterns, or the traffic division is performed. It is not necessary to change the wiring of the antenna units 65a to 65d in the case of changing the LA.
It is possible to deal with the situation by a simple setting that can be changed by software through the N line 69.

Then, depending on the setting of the guide zones 60a and 60b, it is easy to change whether to perform communication in the overlapping communication areas 67a to 67c or to set the communication disabled area by changing the group setting of the MCG. You will be able to do it. Further, in that case, since the vehicle sensors 71, 73 and the cameras 72, 74 can recognize the vehicle 23 passing through the incommunicable area, the identification operation is surely performed with respect to all the vehicles 23 passing through the toll road 60. Will be able to do.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified or expanded as follows.

The transmission of the unmodulated carrier wave by the antenna units 27a to 29c is performed by the oscillator 43 when the pilot signal or the inquiry signal is not transmitted by the modulation circuit 42.
It is also possible to have a configuration in which the output by the above is automatically output all the time.

The data memory 57 of the IU 24 is
A memory card, a prepaid card, or the like may be removably provided in addition to the one integrally incorporated in.

The communication signal may not be divided into the pilot signal and the inquiry signal, and the communication may be completed by one inquiry signal.

When three or more communication areas are set to overlap with each other, different output timings of the pilot signal and the interrogation signal of the respective antenna units are set to prevent interference and ensure reliable communication. You can

The same frequency may be set for the antenna units whose communication areas do not overlap.

In addition to the toll collection system for toll roads, for example, it is applied to an operation control system for an automated guided vehicle that transports goods in a factory or a system that manages processes attached to products flowing in a factory line. It can be applied to a system that manages entry or exit of people into or out of a room.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a connection relationship between an antenna unit and a controller.

FIG. 3 is an electrical configuration diagram.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a communication program of the antenna unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a communication program for the main controller (No. 1)

FIG. 6 is a flowchart (part 2) of the communication program of the main controller.

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a second embodiment of the present invention (pattern 1).

FIG. 8 is a frequency characteristic diagram of the antenna unit and the IU.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart of an inquiry signal

FIG. 10 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 (Pattern 2).

FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 (Pattern 3).

FIG. 13 is a view corresponding to FIG. 9.

FIG. 14 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 is a toll road, 21 is an up line, 22 is a down line, 23 is an automobile (moving body), 24 is an in-vehicle device (IU, response unit), 25 and 26 are gates, 27a to 27c and 28a to
28c and 29a to 29c are antenna units, and 30a to
30c, 31a to 31c, 32a to 32c are communication areas, 36 is a LAN line, 37 to 39 are antenna controllers, 40 is a signal processing device, 41 is an antenna, 42 is a modulation circuit, 43 is an oscillator, 44 is a unit control circuit, 46
Is a receiving circuit, 50 is a control circuit, 53 is an antenna, 54 is a control circuit, 55 is a transmitting circuit, 56 is a receiving circuit, 57 is a data memory, 58 is a battery, 60 is a toll road, 62 and 63 are branch roads, 64 Is a gate, 65a-
65d is an antenna unit, 66a to 66d are communication areas, 67a to 76c are overlapping communication areas, 68 is a controller, 69 is a LAN line, 70 is a controller, 71,
73 is a vehicle sensor (passage detecting means), 72 and 74 are cameras, and 72a and 74a are photographing areas.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Office reference number FI technical display location H04B 1/59 7/26 H04L 12/28

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A response unit, which is provided on a mobile body and which, upon receiving an inquiry signal, modulates an unmodulated carrier wave to be received subsequently and modulates and transmits the response signal, and a response unit corresponding to each of a plurality of communication areas. A plurality of units which are provided and which transmit a question signal to each communication area when a transmission permission signal is given, and subsequently transmit the carrier wave to receive a response signal from the response unit existing in each communication area. Antenna unit and the LA that is commonly connected to the plurality of antenna units.
An N line and the mobile unit which is connected to the LAN line and which individually designates and gives the transmission permission signal to the plurality of antenna units and receives the received response signal and corresponds to the response unit. And a controller for identifying a moving object identifying device. 2. A plurality of controllers for dividing the plurality of antenna units into a plurality of groups, and for each of the groups, receiving the response signal received by the antenna units of the group to identify the moving body. A specific controller of the plurality of controllers is configured to transmit the individually specified transmission permission signal through the LAN line to all of the plurality of antenna units. Item 1. The moving body identification device according to item 1. 3. An antenna unit having an overlapping area between at least adjacent communication areas of the plurality of antenna units transmits the interrogation signal at different frequencies within a receivable frequency area of the response unit. The mobile unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the controller is configured to give the transmission permission signal to each of the antenna units having the overlapping area of the communication area at different timings. Body identification device. 4. The controller communicates with each of the plurality of antenna units, the antenna unit having an overlapping area between adjacent communication areas and setting the overlapping area as an incommunicable area. The mobile body identification device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the permission signals are given at the same timing. 5. A passage detecting means for detecting passage of the moving body, a camera capable of photographing the moving body, and the passage detecting means in a state where the antenna unit does not receive a response signal from the response unit. The moving body identifying apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: an auxiliary unit that causes the camera to photograph and record the moving body when the passage of the moving body is detected.