JPH10214358A - On vehicle machine for radio communication in automatic fare reception system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily execute a remainder addition processing and a maintenance processing with an office apparatus without requiring a wide maintenance space. SOLUTION: An on vehicle machine 20 consists of a fixed part 21 and a portable part 22, and the fixed part 21 is fixed to the vehicle and cannot be easily detached. The portable part 22 is easily attached to the fixed part 21 and cannot be detached by vibration or the like. The fixed part 21 and the portable part 22 have internal circuits connected by connectors 23. A vehicle type division code corresponding to the vehicle on which the machine 20 is mounted is preliminarily stored in a memory of the fixed part 21. The portable part 22 is provided with a radio communication part, a CPU, etc., and reads out and confirms the vehicle type division code stored in the memory to execute the fare reception processing based on this code at each time of attachment to the fixed part 21. The portable part 22 is detached from the fixed part 21 to perform the remainder addition processing and the maintenance processing of the on vehicle machine 20.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted device for wireless communication in, for example, an automatic toll collection system for toll roads.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A vehicle-mounted wireless device (vehicle-mounted device) used in a non-stop automatic toll collection system on a toll road may handle money information and personal information, and must be provided with security means. In addition, it is necessary for the system to take measures to prevent unauthorized use of the vehicle-mounted device.

[0003] For example, with respect to illegal transshipment of on-vehicle equipment (illegal transshipment to on-vehicle equipment for low-priced vehicle type classification), measures such as determination of vehicle type classification by a roadside system provided at a tollgate and fixing of on-vehicle equipment to vehicles are taken. Although it is conceivable, none of the measures is complete, and it is necessary to implement a plurality of measures at the same time.

FIG. 5 shows an example of fixing a vehicle-mounted device to a vehicle.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a conventional vehicle-mounted device, which is fixed to the vehicle 2 and cannot be removed, or
It has a structure that leaves its mark. The above-mentioned in-vehicle device 1
Is composed of a wireless communication unit 3, a CPU 4, a memory 5, and a power supply unit 6, and is provided in one case 7, as shown in FIG. The memory 5 stores the vehicle type classification code of the vehicle 2 and the amount data in the case of the prepaid system.

When the vehicle 2 passes through the toll gate, the on-vehicle device 1 configured as described above wirelessly transmits and receives data between the wireless communication unit 3 and the toll gate side system under the control of the CPU 4. To perform an automatic toll collection process. In this case, the CPU 4 executes a toll collection process based on the vehicle type classification code stored in the memory 5. The fee collection data obtained by the fee collection process is stored in the memory 5.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional vehicle-mounted device 1,
For example, in the case of performing a remaining amount unloading operation or a maintenance operation in the case of the prepaid method, since the on-vehicle device 1 is fixed to the vehicle 2, a large place as shown in FIG. 7 and a dedicated device as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which a gantry 11 is installed in a maintenance space to perform a maintenance operation. An antenna 12 is provided at the upper center of the gantry 11 and a control arranged on the side of the gantry 11 is shown. The device 13 is connected via a communication cable 14. Then, the vehicle 2 is moved into the communication area of the antenna 12, data is transmitted and received between the vehicle-mounted device 1 mounted on the vehicle 2 and the control device 13 via the antenna 12, and the remaining amount for the vehicle-mounted device 1 is increased. And maintenance work.

FIG. 8 shows a maintenance person 16 holding an antenna 15 connected to the control device 13 via a communication cable 14 and approaching the vehicle 2, and an antenna 15 between the vehicle-mounted device 1 and the control device 13. 15 to send and receive data,
2 shows an example of a case where inspection, maintenance, and the like of the on-vehicle device 1 are performed. In order to eliminate the need for a dedicated device as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, there is, for example, an in-car device using an IC card in which the settlement function is separated from the in-car device.

[0009]

As described above, the conventional in-vehicle device 1 is fixed to the vehicle 2 so as not to be detached in order to prevent impropriety. As shown in FIG. 8, the vehicle 2 is located within the communication areas 12 and 15 of the antennas having the wireless communication function.
Needs to be moved, and the remaining amount needs to be increased and maintenance work performed. Further, the in-vehicle device using an IC card has a problem that it has a complicated configuration and is expensive as compared with the generally used in-vehicle device 1 of an integrated type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic toll collection system which does not require a large maintenance space and can easily perform a remaining amount accumulation process and a maintenance process with office equipment. It is an object to provide an in-vehicle device for wireless communication.

[0011]

According to the present invention, an on-board unit for wireless communication in an automatic toll collection system according to the present invention is provided in a fixed manner in a mounted vehicle and has a fixed memory having a memory for storing data corresponding to the vehicle. And a wireless communication unit that is detachably provided to the fixed unit and performs wireless communication with the ground-side facility with reference to data stored in the memory, and a toll collection process based on communication data from the wireless communication unit. And a portable unit having a processing unit for performing the processing.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an external configuration of an in-vehicle device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a side view of the same.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle-mounted device 20 is
1 and a portable unit 22. Fixed part 2
1 has a structure that is fixed to the vehicle and cannot be easily removed. The portable portion 22 has a structure that can be easily attached to the fixed portion 21 and does not come off due to vibration or the like. Further, a connector 23 is provided on the fixed part 21 and the portable part 22, and the circuits in the fixed part 21 and the portable part 22 are connected by the connector 23.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the fixed unit 21 and the portable unit 22. The fixed unit 21 is provided with a memory 211 and a power supply unit 212,
Connected to. The memory 211 previously stores a vehicle type classification code corresponding to the vehicle to be mounted.

The portable unit 22 includes a wireless communication unit 22.
1, a processing unit such as a CPU 222 and a memory 223 are provided, and the CPU 222 has a wireless communication unit 221 and a memory 22
3 are connected. Then, the CPU 222 sets the connector 23
Connected to. The memory 223 stores amount data and the like obtained by the fee collection process.

When the fixed part 21 and the portable part 22 are connected by the connector 23, the memory in the fixed part 21 is stored in the portable part 22.
The operation power is supplied from the power supply unit 212 to the wireless communication unit 221, the CPU 222, and the memory 223 in the portable unit 22, and the portable unit 22 becomes operable as an in-vehicle device.

FIG. 3 shows an office device 31 and a computer 32 for performing maintenance, inspection and the like on the portable portion 22 of the on-vehicle device 20.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the office equipment 31. As shown in FIG.

The office equipment 31 is, for example, installed in an office or the like, has a structure similar to the fixed part 21 of the vehicle-mounted device 20, and allows the portable part 22 of the vehicle-mounted device 20 to be attached and detached. ing. The office equipment 31 has a computer 32
Is connected.

The office equipment 31 is provided with an interface circuit 311 and a power supply unit 312,
Connected to. The interface circuit 311 includes:
The computer 32 is connected. When the portable unit 22 of the vehicle-mounted device 20 is attached to the office equipment 31, the portable unit 2
2 is connected to the interface circuit 311 via the connector 23 and the wireless communication unit 22
1, an operating voltage is supplied from the power supply unit 312 to the CPU 222 and the memory 223. Thereby, the computer 32 can perform the accumulation processing and the maintenance processing of the remaining amount on the portable unit 22 via the office equipment 31.

In the above configuration, the portable part 22 is usually mounted on the fixed part 21 attached to the vehicle,
Function as When the vehicle travels on a toll road in this state, data is transmitted and received wirelessly between the wireless communication unit 221 and the system on the tollgate side under the control of the CPU 222 when passing through the tollgate. Is executed. In this case, each time the portable unit 22 is attached to the fixed unit 21, the CPU 222 reads and confirms the vehicle type classification code stored in the memory 211, and executes a toll collection process based on the vehicle type classification code. The fee collection data obtained by the fee collection process is stored in the memory 223 in the portable unit 22.

When the remaining amount of the on-vehicle device 20 is to be increased or maintained, the portable unit 22 is removed from the fixed unit 21 and attached to the office equipment 31 installed in an office or the like. When the portable unit 22 is attached to the office equipment 31, the CPU 222 in the portable unit 22 is connected to the interface circuit 311 of the office equipment 31 via the connector 23, and the wireless communication unit 221, the CPU 222, and the memory 223 An operation voltage is supplied from the power supply unit 312.
In this state, the computer 32 executes the accumulation processing of the remaining amount, the maintenance processing, and the like on the portable unit 22 via the office equipment 31. As a result, a function check of the portable unit 22 and rewriting of data stored in the memory 223 are performed.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the toll road toll collection process has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a system for automatically adjusting the usage fee of a parking lot in the same manner as the above embodiment. Things.

[0023]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the vehicle-mounted device is constituted by the fixed portion and the portable portion, and the vehicle type classification code corresponding to the vehicle is stored in the memory provided in the fixed portion. Therefore, only when the portable unit is attached to the fixed unit, the automatic toll collection process can be performed. Therefore, even if the portable unit is attached to the fixed part of another vehicle, the correct toll collection is performed according to the vehicle type classification code stored in the memory of the fixed part, and the improper transshipment of the in-vehicle device is surely performed. Can be prevented. In addition, since the portable portion of the on-vehicle device can be separated from the vehicle, only the portable portion can be mounted on office equipment installed in an office or the like, and the remaining amount can be increased and the maintenance process can be performed. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is an external perspective view of a vehicle-mounted device for wireless communication in an automatic fee collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention,
(B) is the same side view.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the vehicle-mounted device in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of an office equipment part in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the office equipment in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of fixing a conventional vehicle-mounted device to a vehicle.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a conventional vehicle-mounted device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional maintenance method for an in-vehicle device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another maintenance method of the conventional vehicle-mounted device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 Onboard equipment 21 Fixed part 211 Memory 212 Power supply part 22 Portable part 221 Wireless communication part 222 CPU 223 Memory 23 Connector 31 Office equipment 312 Interface circuit 312 Power supply part 32 Computer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A fixed portion provided fixedly on a mounted vehicle and having a memory for storing data corresponding to the vehicle, and a data detachably provided on the fixed portion and stored in the memory. Characterized in that it comprises: a wireless communication unit for performing wireless communication with ground-side equipment with reference to the above, and a portable unit having a processing unit for performing a toll collection process based on communication data from the wireless communication unit. In-vehicle device for wireless communication in the system.