JPH08305998A - Parking lot management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To surely detect the parking state of a large-scale parking lot, facilitate the installation and wiring of sensors, and lower the cost. CONSTITUTION: In the parking spaces 11a, 11b... of the parking lot, radio type parking sensors are installed which consist of contact type parking sensors 13 which detect parking vehicles and weak radio wave transmitters 14. One repeater 16 is provided for every 10-20 parking spaces and repeats and sends parking state data from the weak radio wave transmitters 14 to a management room 20. A receiver 21 in the management room 20 consists of an RF unit 22, an interface unit 23, and a data processor 24 and processes the received data to display the parking state on the screen of a monitor 25. Further, the numbers of vacant parking spaces are displayed on an electric lighting guide board 26, a wireless electric lighting guide board 27, etc., provided nearby parking lot entrances by utilizing the parking state data obtained from the data processor 24 to guide an entering vehicle to a vacant parking space.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a parking lot management system for a large-scale parking lot laid in an airport, a supermarket, a department store, an amusement park or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A parking lot is a group of unit spaces, each of which is provided with a large number of cars in the vertical and horizontal directions and can park one vehicle. When a new vehicle enters the parking lot, you have to find an empty space and guide the vehicle there. In large outdoor parking lots, it is possible to find a vacant space visually from the monitoring stand, but in order to eliminate the problem of labor costs and severe outdoor work in summer and winter, electrical or mechanical methods are used without relying on human power. There is a demand for a system that detects a vacant space and further guides the vehicle or provides display guidance.

As a conventional parking lot management system for this purpose, the ultrasonic sensors shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B and FIG.
A method is known in which the infrared sensors shown in (a) and (b) are used to detect an empty space in a parking lot.

In the method using the ultrasonic sensors shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), ultrasonic sensors 2 are installed on the ceiling portions of the parking spaces of the parking lot 1 to emit ultrasonic waves downward, The presence or absence of the vehicle 3 is determined by measuring the time until the reflected wave returns.

In the method using the infrared sensor shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b), an infrared sensor, that is, an infrared projector 4 and an infrared receiver 5 are installed on the wall surface of the parking lot 1 corresponding to each parking space. At the same time, a reflecting plate 6 is installed in the center of each parking space so that infrared light projected from the projector 4 is reflected by the reflecting plate 6 and enters the light receiver 5. Therefore, when the vehicle 3 exists in the parking space, the infrared light projected from the projector 4 hits the vehicle 3 and is scattered or reflected in a direction other than the light receiver 5, and the reflected light does not enter the light receiver 5. As a result, the presence or absence of the vehicle 3 can be determined by whether or not the infrared light projected from the light projector 4 returns to the light receiver 5.

[0006]

Although it is not difficult to detect the presence or absence of parking of the vehicle for each unit space by the ultrasonic sensor or the infrared sensor as described above, it is necessary to install the transmission lines for many sensors. There are very few examples because it becomes necessary. Further, the use of these sensors in an outdoor parking lot is described in the above FIG. 8 (a), (b) and FIG. 9 (a).
As can be seen from (b), there is no practical example because a structure such as a wall, a ceiling or a pole is always required for its installation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a large-scale parking lot, a sensor provided for each parking space can reliably detect the parking situation and is costly to install. It is an object of the present invention to provide a parking lot management system in which the installation work and wiring work of sensors, which account for a large proportion, are simple, the cost is low, and can be easily introduced into existing parking lots.

[0008]

A parking lot management system according to the present invention is installed in each parking space of a parking lot, and a parking sensor that opens and closes electric contacts depending on the vehicle weight and a parking output based on a detection output of the parking sensor. A plurality of wireless parking detection means consisting of a weak radio wave transmitter for transmitting the situation by a weak radio wave, and provided corresponding to a predetermined number of wireless parking sensors, by receiving the weak radio waves from the wireless parking sensor A relay device for relaying and transmitting, and a receiver for receiving a relay signal from the relay device and outputting parking status data for each parking space are characterized by being provided.

Further, the present invention is characterized by including a guide panel for guiding and displaying the location of an empty space in the parking lot based on the output data of the receiving device. The weak radio wave transmitter activates the first timer when opening and closing the electric contact of the parking sensor, determines the open / closed state of the contact after a predetermined time delay, and the open / closed state is the same as before the activation of the first timer. When different, the second timer is started, and the identification code of the parking sensor and the data indicating the open / closed state of the contact are wirelessly repeatedly transmitted a plurality of times during the timer output period of the second timer.

Further, the weak radio wave transmitter detects the open / closed state of the electric contact of the parking sensor, and when the contact is opened / closed, power is supplied to the circuit portion which consumes a large amount of power for a certain period to perform a transmitting operation. The relay device is provided with means for cutting off the power supply to the circuit portion which consumes a large amount of power after the lapse of the certain period, and the relay device stores only the parking status data of the ID number of the parking sensor registered in advance in the memory. After being stored and confirmed that the transmission channel is not occupied, the parking condition data stored in the memory is transferred to the receiving device.

[0011]

[Operation] When the open / closed state of the contact of the parking sensor changes,
The weak radio wave transmitter detects the state and drives the transmission circuit to repeatedly transmit the data indicating the ID number and the open / closed state of the sensor within a predetermined timer time so that the data can be surely received. When there is no change in the contact state, the power consumption is saved by not supplying the power to the circuit portion that consumes a large amount of power such as the transmission circuit. The signal of the weak radio wave output from the weak radio wave transmitter is relayed by the relay device and sent to the receiving device in the control room. This receiving device processes the received data and uses it for displaying the parking situation, guiding the parking lot, and the like.

By using the electric contacts as the parking sensor as described above, there is no power consumption for moving the sensor during standby, and the signal output of the parking sensor transmits a weak radio wave in a very limited time. Only. Therefore, the power consumption in the standby state can be made extremely small as compared with that of the ultrasonic sensor or the infrared sensor, and battery replacement can be unnecessary for a long period of time. Also, since the signal of the parking sensor is output by radio wave,
Wiring work for individual sensors is not required. Therefore, wiring work, which is a problem when installing sensors in a large-scale parking lot, is unnecessary, and parking sensors can be installed at low cost.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an outline of a parking lot management system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 (a) is a top view of FIG.
(B) is a side view of FIG. 1.

1, reference numerals 11a, 11b, ... denote parking spaces in a parking lot, and a car stop 12 made of concrete, for example, is provided at one end of each parking space, and a parking vehicle, for example, is provided at a position close to the car stop 12. The parking sensor 13 is provided so as to correspond to one wheel.

Further, a weak radio wave transmitter (wireless transmitter) 14 is installed at a side portion of the car stop 12, that is, at a position opposite to the parking sensor 13. The parking sensor 13
And the weak radio wave transmitter 14 constitute wireless parking detection means (wireless parking sensor), and both are connected by a connection cable 15 as shown in FIG. The parking sensor 13 is an electric contact type sensor, the details of which will be described later. When the wheel of the parked vehicle is placed on the parking sensor 13, the contact is closed due to the weight and the weak electric wave transmitter 1 is connected by the connection cable 15.
Send a signal to 4. Then, the plurality of weak radio wave transmitters 1
4 is provided with one repeater 16 for each parking space of 10 to 20, for example. Each of the above weak radio wave transmitters 14
Are set to different ID codes, and IDs indicate the parking detection status detected by the corresponding parking sensor 13.
It transmits to the repeater 16 with a code.

The main body of the repeater 16 is housed in, for example, a ball-shaped resin case or metal case, and the data from the weak radio wave transmitter 14, that is, the parking detection state is relayed and transmitted to the management room 20. . The repeater 16 has, for example, an output 1
Relaying is performed by a specific low power radio that can select 40 channels output in the 0 mW, 400 MHz band.

A reception device 21 is installed in the management room 20. The receiving device 21 includes an RF unit 22, an interface unit 23, and a data processing device 24 such as a personal computer. The RF unit 22
Receives the radio wave from the repeater 16, demodulates it, and inputs it to the data processing device 24 via the interface unit 23.

The data processing device 24 processes the data sent from the repeater 16 and displays the parking status on the monitor 25. Further, using the parking status data obtained by the data processing device 24, the number of the vacant parking space or the like is displayed on, for example, the electric light guide panel 26 or the wireless electric light guide panel 27 provided near the entrance of the parking lot to enter the vehicle. To the empty space.

The display of the lightning guide board 26 is realized by serially transmitting the character code output from the data processing device 24 by wire. The display of the wireless lightning guide panel 27 sets the RF unit 22 to the transmission mode,
It is realized by wirelessly transmitting the display character code from the data processing device 24 to the wireless electronic guidance panel 27 via the interface unit 23 and the RF unit 22.

Next, details of the parking sensor 13 will be described. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the parking sensor 13, FIG.
[Fig. 6] is an operation explanatory view of the parking sensor 13.

As shown in FIG. 3, the parking sensor 13 includes a hinge 31 having a base 31 made of, for example, reinforced plastic and a movable plate 32 made of reinforced plastic or an iron plate.
In the structure in which the springs 34 are provided between the base 31 and the movable plate 32 so that no load is applied to the movable plate 32, that is, the parking space 11a,
In the state where the vehicle is not parked at 11b, ... (See FIG. 1), the movable plate 32 is held in a state of being lifted from the base 31. The compressive strength of the spring 34 is set so as to respond to the load of the vehicle. The movable plate 32
Is set to a minimum area in which at least one wheel of the vehicle always rides on the movable plate 32 and is loaded when the vehicle is parked in the parking spaces 11a, 11b, ....

A mercury switch 35 is fixedly provided on the inner surface of the movable plate 32 by a holder 36, and is connected to the weak radio wave transmitter 14 via a connection cable 15 such as a two-core cabtire cable. . The mercury switch 35 has a movable plate 32 as shown in FIGS.
The contacts open and close according to the inclination of. Then, the parking sensor 13 is covered with a cover 40 made of resin or hard rubber in order to protect the movable part and to consider the appearance.

When the parking sensor 13 is installed, as a simple means, it is fixed by adhering the base 31 and the installation surface with an adhesive. 4A shows a state in which the vehicle is not on the parking sensor 13, and FIG. 4B shows a state in which the vehicle is on the parking sensor 13, that is, a state during parking.

In the state (a), the mercury ball 35a of the mercury switch 35 fixed to the movable plate 32 by the holder 36.
Is separated from the contact c portion, and the contact is open. Then, when the vehicle wheel 37 rides on the parking sensor 13 as shown in (b), the inclination of the movable plate 32 is held parallel to the sensor installation surface due to the load of the vehicle. In this case, if the mercury switch holding angle of the holder 36 is inclined with respect to the sensor installation surface so that the contact point c is below the side where the mercury ball 35a is located, the mercury ball 35a falls into the contact point c, The contacts are short-circuited by the mercury ball 35a. As a result, the contact point of the mercury switch 35 is closed, and it can be detected that the vehicle is parked.

Next, details of the weak radio wave transmitter 14 will be described with reference to FIG. In the two-core connection cable 15 connected to the mercury switch 35, one core wire is grounded and the other core wire is the trigger circuit 41 and the gate switch 43.
Is connected to the input terminal s2 of the mismatch detection circuit 46 and the code generator 47. The signal input unit to which the mercury switch 35 is connected has a structure with extremely high impedance and low power consumption, such as a C-MOS IC.

The trigger circuit 41 is a mercury switch 35.
Trigger pulse is generated when the
Drive. The first timer 42 is provided so that the vehicle can detect the parking situation when the parking position is set in the parking space, the parking is completed, and the contact state of the mercury switch 35 is stable, and the set time Td1 is For example 60 ~
It is set to about 120 seconds. When the trigger signal is input from the trigger circuit 41, the first timer 42 outputs a signal after the set time Td1 has elapsed and sets (closes) the gate switch 48.

The other end of the gate switch 43 is
It is connected to the set terminal S of the flip-flop 44 and to the reset terminal R of the flip-flop 44 via the inverter 45. This flip-flop 44
Is a memory for storing the previous open / closed state of the mercury switch 35, the output signal of which is a mismatch detection circuit 46.
Is input to the input terminal s1 of. The gate switch 43
Is always open, and the counter 50, which will be described later,
It is closed only while the pulse is given from. When the mercury switch 35 is open when the gate switch 43 is closed, the contact signal becomes "H" (high) level and the flip-flop 44 is set, and when the mercury switch 35 is closed, the contact signal is ". The flip-flop 44 is reset to L ″ (low) level. As a result, the open / closed state of the mercury switch 35 is stored in the flip-flop 44.

The mismatch detection circuit 46 compares the contact signal of the mercury switch 35 stored in the flip-flop 44 with the contact signal of the mercury switch 35 at that time, and outputs an "H" level signal when there is a mismatch. . That is, the inconsistency detection circuit 46 detects the state when the value mercury switch 35 changes from open to closed or from closed to open as the vehicle moves, and the detection signal is pseudo-randomized via the gate switch 48. Output to the cycle generator 49.

The pseudo random period generator 49 generates a pulse at an interval of, for example, 1 second to 3 seconds when the mismatch detection signal is input from the mismatch detection circuit 46, and randomizes the pulse generation cycle. This reduces the probability of collision with other transmitted radio waves. The pseudo-random period generator 49 stores pseudo random data in, for example, a ROM, performs address designation with a counter or the like that circulates from an indefinite position, and parallel loads the random data into a shift register. This can be achieved by taking out the shift output.

The output pulse of the pseudo random period generator 49 is input to the counter 50 and also to the second timer 51 as a trigger pulse. Counter 50
Counts the output pulse of the pseudo-random period generator 49, and counts a preset number of times, for example, four times,
Outputs a pulse to reset the gate switch 48 (open)
Then, the operation of the pseudo-random period generator 49 is stopped. Further, the gate switch 43 is controlled to be opened and closed by the output pulse of the counter 50 as described above.

The second timer 51 is activated by a trigger pulse from the pseudo random period generator 49 and outputs a signal within a fixed time width, for example, 1 second. The output signal of the second timer 51 is input to the AND gate 53 together with the pulse output from the pulse generator 52. While the signal is being output from the second timer 51, the pulse generator 5
The pulse from 2 passes through the AND gate 53. In this case, the number of pulses passing through the AND gate 53 is 4 to 4, for example.
The timer time (output signal width) of the second timer 51 and the pulse generation cycle of the pulse generator 52 are set so that the number of pulses is about six. The pulse output from the AND gate 53 becomes a trigger pulse that activates the code generator 47. An ID code setting switch 54 is connected to the code generator 47. This ID code setting switch 54
Thus, different ID codes are set for the weak radio wave transmitters 14, respectively.

The code generator 47 has an AND gate 53.
It is activated by the trigger pulse output from the vehicle, and the state of the mercury switch 35 of the parking sensor 13 and the ID code setting switch 54 are set together with the bit synchronizing signal, the frame synchronizing signal, and the like.
The bitstream data including the ID code set by is output. The output of this code generator 47 is RF
The signal is input to the unit 55 and is transmitted to the repeater 16 as a weak radio wave from the antenna 56 in a modulation format such as FSK. The above transmission operation is performed every time a trigger pulse is output from the AND gate 53, so that it is repeated 4 to 6 times within 1 second.

By transmitting the parking data a plurality of times at random intervals of 1 second or more and 3 seconds or less as described above, the data is not transmitted due to masking by the transmission output of the repeater 16 or interference of interference from other parking sensors. It reduces the risk of not being received.

On the other hand, power is supplied from a battery 57, such as a lithium battery, to a circuit such as the RF unit 55, which consumes relatively large power, through a transistor switch 58. Then, the transistor switch 58 is controlled by the output signal of the second timer 51. That is, while the signal is being output from the second timer 51, the transistor switch 58 is closed to supply power to the RF unit 55 and the like that consumes relatively large power, and the weak radio wave transmitter 14 is set to a transmittable state. In other cases, the power supply to the RF unit 55 and the like is cut off to reduce power consumption.

The weak radio wave transmitter 1 shown in FIG.
Although 4 has been described as the embodiment realized by hardware, it may be realized by software, for example, by a one-chip microcomputer or the like.

FIG. 6 shows a concrete example of the structure in which the weak radio wave transmitter 14 is provided in the car stop 12. The electric circuit portion of the weak radio wave transmitter 14 is housed in a cover 61 for protection against rain and the like, and is fixed to a concrete car stop 12 provided for each of the parking spaces 11a, 11b, ... As shown in FIG. To be done. The cover 61 is
It is made of resin so as not to interfere with the emission of radio waves. A printed circuit board 62 is provided in the cover 61, and a shielded RF unit 55 including a modulator and a high frequency oscillator is mounted on the printed circuit board 62.
Further, the printed circuit board 62 is formed with a pattern of an antenna 56 that radiates a weak electric wave output from the RF unit 55. Furthermore, on the printed circuit board 62, an ID code setting switch 54 for setting the ID number of the sensor,
A lithium battery 57 or the like is mounted. As the ID code setting switch 54, for example, a rotary switch is used.

A terminal board 63 is provided in the cover 61, and the connection cable 15 from the parking sensor 13 is connected to the terminal board 63. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the repeater 16.

The repeater 16 has the functions of 10 to 20 as described above.
Are installed in each of the parking spaces 11a, 11b, ..., And the weak radio waves from the weak radio wave transmitter 14 are transmitted to the antenna 71.
Received by and input to the weak radio wave receiving unit 72. The weak radio wave reception unit 72 demodulates the radio wave received by the antenna 71 after high-frequency amplification, and inputs it as serial data to a microcomputer 73 which is a data processing device in the next stage. This microcomputer 73 is
Decodes the received data and controls the mode of the transmitting / receiving unit. Then, the microcomputer 73 prepares the parking status data stored in the internal memory in a predetermined data format, and then outputs the parking status data to the specific low power unit 74. The specific low power unit 74 transmits the parking status data output from the microcomputer 73 to the receiving device 21 in the management room 20 through the antenna 75. In this embodiment, the receiving antenna 71 and the transmitting antenna 75 are shared by one antenna.

In addition to the functions described above, the function of the microcomputer 73 is that the specific low-power unit 74 is in the receiving state before performing carrier sensing before transmission, and the other repeater 16 is not in the transmitting state at the transmission frequency. After confirming, the data is transmitted after a random time delay within 1 second, and a function is programmed so that the transmission outputs of the repeaters do not collide.

Further, the repeater 16 is programmed so as to receive only the ID number of the registered wireless parking sensor as data, so that the same data is not duplicately transmitted from other repeaters 16. The repeater 16 holds the parking status data of the registered wireless parking sensor in the memory and transmits the transmission data only when the parking status changes.

Although the mercury switch 35 is used as the vehicle detection means in the parking sensor 13 in the above embodiment, the same function can be realized by using the reed switch. When the reed switch is used, the opening and closing of the switch is determined only by the relative position of the reed switch and the magnetic field formed by the permanent magnet, and therefore, there is an advantage in installation that the horizontality of the installation surface is irrelevant. The contact is hermetically sealed regardless of whether the mercury switch or the reed switch is used.
The contact can be made to function as a stable detector for a long period without deterioration of the contact due to the external environment.

[0042]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, since the electric contact is used as the parking sensor, no electric power is consumed to move the sensor during standby. Moreover, the signal output of the parking sensor only transmits weak radio waves in a very limited time. Therefore, the power consumption in the standby state can be set to a μA order of 1 / 10,000 or less as compared with that of the ultrasonic sensor or the infrared sensor, and the power source has a long life and high energy density like a lithium battery. If the above battery is used, battery replacement can be unnecessary for 5 to 8 years or more. In addition, since the parking sensor signals are output by radio waves, wiring work for individual sensors is not required, so wiring work that is a problem when installing sensors in a large-scale parking lot is unnecessary, and parking sensor cost reduction is achieved. Can be introduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a parking lot management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A is a top view of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a side view.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a parking sensor portion in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the parking sensor shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a wireless transmission unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a specific installation example of a wireless transmission unit.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a repeater.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a vehicle detection method using a conventional ultrasonic sensor.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a vehicle detection method using a conventional infrared sensor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11a, 11b, ... Parking space 12 Car stop 13 Parking sensor 14 Weak radio wave transmitter 15 Connection cable 16 Repeater 20 Management room 21 Receiver 22 RF unit 23 Interface unit 24 Data processor 25 Monitor 26 Lightning guide board 27 Wireless light guide board 31 Base 32 Movable Plate 33 Hinge 34 Spring 35 Mercury Switch 36 Holder 37 Wheels 61 Cover 62 Printed Circuit Board 63 Terminal Board

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A parking sensor, which is installed in each parking space of a parking lot and whose electric contacts are opened and closed depending on the vehicle weight, and a weak radio wave transmitter which transmits a parking radio wave based on a detection output of the parking sensor. A plurality of wireless parking detection means and a relay device provided corresponding to a predetermined number of wireless parking sensors, for relaying and transmitting weak radio waves from the wireless parking sensors, and a relay signal by the relay device. A parking lot management system, comprising: a receiving device that receives and outputs parking status data for each parking space. 2. The parking lot management system according to claim 1, further comprising a guide panel for guiding and displaying the location of an empty space in the parking lot based on the output data of the receiving device. 3. The parking lot management system according to claim 1, wherein the weak radio wave transmitter activates a first timer when the electric contact of the parking sensor is opened and closed, and after a delay of a predetermined time, the opening and closing state of the contact is opened. If it is determined that the open / closed state is different from the state before the activation of the first timer, the second timer is activated, and the identification code of the parking sensor and data indicating the open / closed state of the contact are wirelessly transmitted to the timer of the second timer. A parking lot management system characterized by being transmitted multiple times during the output period. 4. The parking lot management system according to claim 1 or 3, wherein the weak radio wave transmitter detects an open / closed state of an electric contact of the parking sensor and consumes a large amount of power when the contact is opened / closed. A parking lot management system comprising means for supplying power to a unit for a certain period of time to perform a transmission operation, and after the lapse of the certain period of time, shutting off power to the circuit unit that consumes a large amount of power. 5. The parking lot management system according to claim 1, wherein the relay stores only the parking status data of the ID number of the parking sensor registered in advance in the memory, and that the transmission channel is not occupied. A parking lot management system, which transfers the parking status data accumulated in the memory to a receiving device after confirmation.