JPH11355176A - Communication equipment for moving object - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide communication equipment for moving object with which a user can disable toll collecting processing utilizing on-vehicle equipment as needed. SOLUTION: When an operating switch is turned on longer than prescribed state in wake-up state while the control circuit of on-vehicle equipment is turned on, this equipment is set into off state (steps A3-A8). When such setting is performed, in the case that an automobile is to pass through communication area with first and second antennas installed at the exit toll gate of a toll road, even when question signals transmitted from the first and second antennas are received, no response signal is outputted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention starts communication by transmitting a response signal to a signal received from an interrogator when the vehicle passes through a communication area set in advance and mounted on a mobile body. The present invention relates to a mobile communication device configured to transmit and receive signals.

[0002]

In a toll collection business on a toll road or the like, various information is transmitted and received by performing wireless communication when a passing vehicle passes through a predetermined communication area without stopping at a tollgate. It is considered that the billing process is automatically performed by the system. By performing this automatic billing process, the fee to be collected should be automatically deducted from a pre-registered bank account or the like, or a bill should be sent at a later date and the corresponding amount should be paid and collected. The fee is settled.

[0003] This not only eliminates the need to pay tolls at toll gates, but also eliminates the need to stop vehicles at toll gates, thereby streamlining toll collection operations and increasing traffic volume. In this case, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of congestion at the toll booth.

[0004] In order to realize such a system, the above-mentioned toll collection point is provided with a roadside antenna to communicate with a vehicle passing through the communication area, and on the vehicle side, the roadside antenna is provided. It is necessary to provide an in-vehicle device for receiving a communication signal received from the terminal and transmitting and receiving necessary information. In this case, the in-vehicle device is arranged, for example, in a location near the driver's seat where signals are easily received from a road antenna, and is configured to always wait in a state where it can receive an external communication signal. ing.

[0005] Further, such an in-vehicle device is not provided with a power switch and is always in a power-on state so that communication can be reliably performed without the need to operate during driving. When no communication signal is received from the device or when no other signal processing is performed, a sleep state is set to reduce standby power consumption. Another reason for adopting such a configuration is that when a power switch is provided to enable the on / off operation at the discretion of the user, the vehicle is equipped with an in-vehicle device. This is because during the power-off period, a situation occurs in which communication recording does not occur, which may hinder the charge collection operation.

[0006] However, since the above configuration is employed, for example, when the owner of the vehicle lends the vehicle to a third party, even if the third party uses a toll road, the vehicle can be mounted on the vehicle. Since the use of the user registered in the machine is used and the fee corresponding to the use at that time is automatically charged to the user, the owner has to have the third party settle the fee itself In some cases, for example, the vehicle cannot be rented.

If a power switch is provided to cope with such a situation, the above-described problem may occur, or when the user does not want it, for example, a child may inadvertently turn on and off. Such a configuration cannot be adopted because switching may occur.

[0008] Further, depending on the type of the vehicle-mounted device, there is a device which is operated with an IC card mounted thereon.
When a toll road is used, it is configured on the assumption that the user's IC card is mounted on the vehicle-mounted device. In other words, in this type of in-vehicle device, if a signal is received from a road antenna without an IC card installed, not only will communication not be performed, but it will be treated as an abnormal state, and in fact it will be used in that state Can not. Therefore, when the owner rents the vehicle to a third party, if the third party does not have an IC card, it is necessary to attach one of the IC cards, and the above-mentioned problem cannot be solved. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a mobile communication device which enables a user to perform a toll collection process using an in-vehicle device. Is to do.

[0010]

According to the mobile communication apparatus of the present invention, the setting means receives a signal from the interrogator when the mobile body passes through a predetermined communication area. In this case, a response prohibition mode for prohibiting transmission of a response signal even when the operation power is supplied is set, for example, according to a predetermined operation of an operation switch.

For example, when a mobile communication device is mounted as a vehicle-mounted device on a vehicle serving as a mobile body, and the owner of the vehicle lends the vehicle to a third party such as a friend, the third party drives the vehicle. It is assumed that a vehicle is sent a signal from an interrogator provided for automatic collection of a toll at an exit tollgate on a toll road.

In such a case, if the vehicle is lent in a state in which the response prohibition mode is set in advance, when a third party uses the toll road, the toll is automatically collected from the owner's bank account or the like. It is possible to prevent the third party from clearing the toll.
Even in this case, since the operating power is supplied, it is possible to leave the signal transmitted from the interrogator as a history on the mobile communication device side, and the toll road manager side is required later. Can be confirmed in accordance with the driving information, and the vehicle owner can refer to the driving record.

According to the mobile communication device of the third aspect,
The setting means sets the response inhibition mode when a predetermined operation of the operation switch is performed while the IC card having the same ID data as the ID data registered in advance is connected to the IC card interface. That is, for example, when the mobile object is a vehicle and the IC card stores ID information of the owner as data together with information such as the registration number of the vehicle, the ID card possessed by the owner is connected. It is possible to configure so that the setting of the response prohibition mode can be performed only when the response is prohibited. Therefore,
Only the owner of the IC card can make the setting based on his / her own intention.

According to the mobile communication device of the fourth aspect,
The setting means sets the response inhibition mode only when the connection between the IC card and the IC card interface is disconnected within a set time from the time when the predetermined operation of the operation switch is performed. That is, in the case of such a configuration, it can be configured to allow normal use in a state where the IC card with the same ID data is always connected as described above. Therefore, for example, it is practically impossible for a driver who has rented a vehicle as a moving body to switch the setting of the response prohibition mode immediately before passing through the exit tollgate, thereby preventing unauthorized use.

According to the mobile communication device of the present invention, there is provided a notifying means for notifying that at least the response inhibition mode is set (claim 5).
It is constituted by an LED (Claim 6) and is constituted as a voice output means (Claim 7) for outputting a message by voice.

That is, if the LEDs are arranged so as to be visible from the outside of the vehicle, for example, the vehicle, as described above, the toll collector at the exit tollgate on the toll road determines the lighting state of the LEDs to allow the mobile communication device to operate. The mode setting state can be confirmed (claim 6). Therefore, the toll collection member can determine whether or not the toll collection has been automatically performed for the vehicle and take appropriate action.

Further, if a voice message is output by the voice output means (claim 7), the setting state can be reliably notified to the driver of the vehicle. The driver himself / herself can take appropriate measures according to the settings, such as having the user collect the toll.

According to the mobile communication device of the eighth aspect,
The state transition means transitions the apparatus to a state in which communication with the interrogator is not performed in response to a predetermined operation of the operation switch, so that substantially the same operation and effect as in claim 1 can be obtained.

According to the mobile communication device of the ninth aspect,
By setting the predetermined operation of the operation switch to an operation of continuing the ON operation for a predetermined time or more, it takes a certain time to set the response inhibition mode or to transition to a state in which communication with the interrogator is not performed. Therefore, for example, it is possible to make it difficult for the driver of the vehicle serving as the moving body to perform the switching immediately before passing through the exit tollgate to perform the unauthorized use.

According to the mobile communication device of the tenth aspect, by making the predetermined operation of the operation switch an on operation corresponding to a specific code pattern, the confidentiality of the predetermined operation can be enhanced.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 shows a schematic arrangement of the toll collection facilities provided in the toll gate lanes 1, 2, and 3 of a toll road such as an expressway. The lanes 1, 2, and 3, which are the toll lanes at the exit, are separated by separation strips 6, 7 disposed in an island shape between the right and left roadside parts 4, 5,
The road width is set so that one vehicle can pass through each.

Lane 1 is an ETCS (Electronic Toll C)
Automation (ETC) with ollection system)
The lane 2 is a manned / automated co-located lane (hereinafter, referred to as a co-located lane) in which the ETCS is configured and a toll collection member also collects tolls. The lane 3 is a manned (manual) lane that only collects tolls by a toll collector.

A spare vehicle detecting device 8 is arranged on the most main line side before branching into these three lanes 1 to 3. As will be described in detail later, the spare vehicle detection device 8 is disposed above the vehicle 9 when a sensor (not shown) detects that the vehicle (moving body) 9 is going to pass below the gate 8a. Communication device 8b
If an inquiry signal is transmitted and a response signal to the inquiry signal is returned, it is determined that the vehicle 9 has an on-board unit for ETCS.

Then, the spare vehicle detection device 8 causes the information display device 11 disposed above the gate 10 disposed next to the display device to perform a display such as "To ETC lane".
The vehicle 9 is guided to the ETC lane 1 or the attached lane 2. If there is no response signal in response to the inquiry signal, the information display 11 is caused to display "To manual lane" or the like, and the vehicle 9 is guided to the manual lane 3 or the attached lane 2.

When the driver of the car 9 looks at the display of the information display 11, the driver places the ETC lane 1 and the additional lane 2 or the additional lane 2 and the manual lane 3 according to the display of the signboard 12 disposed next to the information display 11. Change lanes and get in each one.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the ETC lane 1. In FIG. 5, a vehicle type discriminating device 13 is disposed on the most main line side of the ETC lane 1. The vehicle type discriminating device 13 includes an axle sensor 14 disposed so as to cross the ETC lane 1 and vehicle separators 15 and 16 disposed opposite to the road side portion 4 and the separation zone 6 and also serving as a vehicle height sensor. .

In the vehicle type discriminating apparatus 13, the vehicle separators 15 and 16 detect vehicles passing through opposing parts on the ETC lane 1, and detect the height of the passing vehicles by a sensor element (not shown) at a predetermined timing. It is designed to detect. Further, the axle sensor 14 detects the number of times the vehicle is stepped on by the wheels of the vehicle during the detection period of the vehicle, that is, the number of times the axle passes upward.

Thus, the vehicle type discriminating device 13 discriminates the vehicle type corresponding to the toll division of the vehicle based on the detection result of the height of the passing vehicle and the number of axles. The vehicle type is a classification serving as a basis for calculating a toll when the vehicle travels on the toll road, and is classified into, for example, a "large vehicle", a "normal vehicle", and a "small vehicle".

A first antenna (interrogator) 17, which is a first road machine, is provided above the vehicle type discriminating device 13. The first antenna 17 is installed on a gantry (not shown) disposed so as to straddle between the roadside portion 4 and the separation zone 6. Communication area A within a predetermined distance along
1 is set.

The first antenna 17 transmits an interrogation signal at predetermined time intervals toward the communication area A1, and when an ETC vehicle (vehicle equipped with an ETCS-compatible on-board unit) enters the communication area A1, the first antenna 17 transmits an inquiry signal. The communication for collation processing is performed with the in-vehicle device 18 (see FIG. 3) mounted on the ETC vehicle. The first antenna 17 is connected to a tollgate computer (not shown), so that transmission / reception data is transmitted to and from the tollgate computer.

At the end of the communication area A1 in the direction of approach, a first vehicle detection device 19 is provided. The first vehicle detection device 19 includes an axle sensor 20 disposed across the ETC lane 1 and vehicle separators 21 and 22 disposed between the road side portion 4 and the separation zone 6, respectively.
Then, the first vehicle detection device 19 includes the vehicle separators 21 and
2, passing vehicles are separated and detected one by one, and the passage of the vehicle is detected by the detection signal of the axle sensor 20 during the detection period.

The communication area A1 has a dimension along the direction of the ETC lane 1 set to a length of about one ordinary passenger car. It can communicate with only one car inside. Also, when two or more motorcycles enter,
The number of vehicles entering the communication area A1 is determined by the vehicle type discriminating device 13 and the first vehicle detecting device 19, so that the communication process can be reliably performed.

An exit number reading camera 23 as an approaching vehicle number recognition device is arranged at a position slightly advanced in the traveling direction from the first vehicle detection device 19. The camera 23 takes an image of the entire surface of the vehicle including the number plate, using the time when the vehicle passes between the vehicle separators 21 and 22 of the first vehicle detection device 19 as the imaging timing. Then, pattern recognition processing or the like is performed based on the photographed image data, and the registered number of the number plate is recognized.

A second vehicle detection device 24 is provided further in the traveling direction from the installation position of the camera 23. The second vehicle detection device 24 is also composed of an axle sensor 25 and vehicle separators 26 and 27, like the first vehicle detection device 19.
Passing vehicles are detected. Furthermore, it is located on the traveling direction side by a predetermined distance from the second vehicle detection device 24,
A passage detection device 28 is provided. This passage detecting device 28 is composed of an axle sensor 29 and vehicle separators 30 and 31 similarly to the vehicle detecting devices 19 and 24, and that the vehicle has completely passed through the second vehicle detecting device 24. It is for confirming.

A second antenna (interrogator) 32, which is a second road machine, is provided above the passage detecting device 28. The second antenna 32 is installed on a gantry (not shown) similar to the first antenna 17, and extends the communication area A2 within a predetermined distance along the approach direction from the detection position of the passage detection device 28. It is provided to set.

When the ETC vehicle enters the communication area A2, the second antenna 32 performs communication for automatic toll collection with the vehicle-mounted device 18 mounted on the ETC vehicle. I have. The communication area A2 is set to be a section divided by the second vehicle detection device 24 and the passage detection device 28. The second antenna 32 is also connected to the tollgate computer, like the first antenna 17, so that transmission / reception data is transmitted.

A display device 33 for displaying a toll is disposed at a position near the passage detecting device 28 on the traveling direction side. At a position near the display device 33 on the traveling direction side, an entry detection device 34 is provided. This approach detection device 34 also includes an axle sensor 35, vehicle separators 36 and 37.
And detects the approaching vehicle.
A traffic breaker 38 is disposed at a predetermined distance from the entry detection device 34 in the traveling direction, and a ticketing device 39 for abnormality processing is disposed at a position on the traveling direction side.

The traffic breaker 38 is for preventing the traffic of the corresponding vehicle when the toll collection process is not performed reliably. When it is not necessary to block the traffic, the bar 38a of the traffic breaker 38 is used. Is controlled to be in a passable state by being raised. Anomaly handling ticket issuing device 39
Is to issue a toll collection ticket when the toll collection process is not properly performed as described above and the traffic is blocked by the toll gate 38. When a fare adjustment ticket is taken from the processing ticket issuing device 39, the bar 38a of the toll gate 38 rises to allow the passage. Then, the occupant who has taken the fee collection ticket is moved to a predetermined office or the like, and the fee is settled.

A passage detecting device 40 is provided in the vicinity of the abnormality processing ticket issuing device 39 on the traveling direction side. The passage detection device 40 is similarly composed of an axle sensor 41 and vehicle separators 42 and 43, and is for confirming that the vehicle has completely passed the relevant location. Furthermore, a camera 44 for preventing fraud is provided in the separation band 6 near the passage detecting device 40, so that a vehicle temporarily stopped at the position of the traffic breaker 38 can be photographed from the front. I have.

FIG. 6 shows the adjacent lane 2 in an enlarged manner. Each device having the same function as that of the ETC lane 1 is provided in the attached lane 2, and a toll collection facility 45 is provided in the separation zone 7 near the passage detection device 28. A toll collector (not shown) is arranged in the toll collection facility 45, and the toll collector collects a toll from an occupant of the automobile 9 not equipped with the on-vehicle device 18.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the vehicle-mounted device (mobile communication device) 18 mounted on the automobile 9. In FIG. 3, a control circuit (setting means) 46 composed mainly of a microcomputer is supplied with a control power from a battery 47 via a power supply circuit 48 and operates. The radio communication interface 49 includes the antennas 50a and 50b and the transmission circuit 5
1 and a receiving circuit 52.

When the receiving circuit 52 receives a radio signal transmitted from the on-road unit via the receiving antenna 50b, the receiving circuit 52 demodulates the received signal and outputs the demodulated signal to the control circuit 46. Further, the transmission circuit 51 modulates a carrier with a transmission signal output from the control circuit 46 and transmits the modulated carrier to the roadside device from the transmission antenna 50a. Operation switch 53
Is connected to the control circuit 46, and the in-vehicle device 18, ie,
It is provided to switch the control circuit 46 between a sleep state and a wake-up state and to perform an operation input for switching between an ON state and an OFF state.

Here, the sleep state indicates a state in which substantially all functions of the in-vehicle device 18 are stopped to suppress the consumption of standby power, and the wake-up state indicates that the in-vehicle device 18 performs a normal operation. Indicates a state in which The ON state indicates that the in-vehicle device 18 in the wake-up state is in a state in which it can communicate with the on-road device, and the OFF state (response inhibition mode) indicates that the in-vehicle device 18 has a question transmitted from the on-road device. The signal indicates that a signal is received but a response signal to the inquiry signal is not returned.

A memory 54 is connected to the control circuit 46. The memory 54 has an ON state,
A predetermined input operation pattern for switching to the F state is stored. The control circuit 46 is connected to a display unit (notifying unit) 55 including, for example, two LEDs 55a and 55b. The lighting display colors of the LEDs 55a and 55b are green and red, respectively.

The in-vehicle device 18 configured as described above is arranged on the dashboard of the automobile 9 or the like, and the LED 55a and 55b are turned on and off by a charge collector outside the vehicle. You can check it.

Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows a control circuit 46 when the state of the vehicle-mounted device 18 is switched between ON and OFF.
5 is a flowchart showing the control contents of FIG. As an initial state, the in-vehicle device 18 is in the sleep state, and the operation switch 5
When the button 3 is turned on, the state is switched to the wake-up state and started, and the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 1 is executed.

(1) Initial state setting "ON" In FIG. 1, the control circuit 46 first judges from the flag stored in the memory 54 whether or not the current setting is ON. (Step A1), setting is “ON”
If so, the LED 55a (lamp) of the display unit 55 is turned on (green) (step A2). Then, car 9
The operation input of the operation switch 53 by the occupant is received (step A3), and it is determined whether or not the operation input coincides with a predetermined setting pattern stored in the memory 54 (step A4). ). Here, as the setting pattern, for example, the operation switch 53
, For example, for 3 seconds (predetermined time) or more.

In step A4, when there is an operation input of the above set pattern, the control circuit 46 sets "YE
S ”, and the display unit 55 that is in the lighting state at that time is determined.
LED 55a is turned off (step A5).
After the state transition, the corresponding LED 55b (red) flashes (step A6). Then, the control circuit 46 turns on the blinking LED 55b (step A).
7), a transition process from the ON state to the OFF state is performed (step A8). When the LED 55b is turned off (step A9), the state returns to the sleep state.

When the vehicle-mounted device 18 is transitioning from the ON state to the OFF state and the next wake-up from sleep is performed, the control circuit 46 returns "NO" in step A1.
If the LED 55b is lit in red to indicate that it is in the OFF state (step A10), the process proceeds to step A3.

In step A4, if the operation input of the operation switch 53 by the occupant does not match the set pattern, the control circuit 46 blinks the LED 55a which is lit at that time (step A11). Similarly to A3, the operation input of the operation switch 53 by the occupant is received (step A12). Then, the control circuit 46 determines whether or not any operation input is performed within a predetermined set time (Steps A13 and A13).
14).

If there is an operation input of the operation switch 53 within the set time, "YES" is determined in the step A13, and the control circuit 46 sets the blinking LED 55a to (continuous).
When it is lit to indicate that it is in the ON state (step A1)
6) Go to step A3 to keep the wake-up state.

If there is no operation input of the operation switch 53 within the set time, "YE" is determined in step A14.
S ”, the control circuit 46 sets the blinking LE
If D55a is turned on to indicate that it is also in the ON state (step A15), the process returns to the sleep state after proceeding to step A9. That is, in these cases, the setting of the vehicle-mounted device 18 remains ON.

(2) Initial Setting "OFF" In this case, when waking up from sleep, the control circuit 46 sets the LE in step A10 as described above.
D55b is turned on. Then, when there is an operation input of the setting pattern in step A4, the lit LED 55 is turned on.
After b is turned off (step A5), the corresponding LED 55a blinks after the state transition (step A6). Then, the control circuit 46 turns on the blinking LED 55a (step A7), and then performs a transition process from the OFF state to the ON state (step A8).
Is turned off (step A9), the process returns to the sleep state.

In the case where there is no operation input of the set pattern in step A4, the processing in the case of (1) is
The ED 55b becomes the LED 55a and returns to the sleep state in the OFF state, or remains in the wake-up state.

FIG. 2 shows an automobile 9 on which the on-vehicle device 18 is mounted.
When the vehicle passes below the spare vehicle detection device 8 or the on-road machine provided in the ETC lane 1 or the attached lane 2,
5 is a flowchart showing the control contents of a communication process performed by a control circuit 46. In FIG. 2, the in-vehicle device 18 is normally in a sleep state, and when an interrogation signal is transmitted from the first and second antennas 17 and 32, the process is started by wake-up regardless of the ON and OFF states.

First, when the control circuit 46 obtains the interrogation signal transmitted from the on-road unit via the reception circuit 52, the control circuit 46 reads the antenna ID included in the interrogation signal (step B1). Here, the antenna ID is an ID indicating which antenna is installed at which tollgate on which toll road.
It is.

Next, the control circuit 46 executes step A in FIG.
In the same manner as in the step 1, whether or not the current setting is ON is determined from the flag stored in the memory 54 (step B2).
5a is turned on (step B3). Then, a response signal is transmitted to the on-road unit via the transmission circuit 51 (step B4), and predetermined communication processing is performed (steps B5 and B).
6).

In the communication processing here, the first antenna 17
, Information such as the type and registration number of the automobile 9, the ID of the driver, and the location of the tollgate that has entered the toll road is transmitted, and collation is performed by the tollgate computer. Then, the collation result is returned to the on-vehicle device 18.

The above information is transmitted to the second antenna 32, and the information on the toll collected for the current traffic calculated by the tollgate computer from the second antenna 32 is displayed by date and time. The data is returned to the vehicle-mounted device 18 together with the data. The data transmitted from the roadside device is stored in the memory 54 together with the antenna ID read in step B1.

When the tollgate computer calculates the driver's toll as described above, it stores the accounting information in a storage device such as a memory. Then, for example, the computer of each bank is accessed via a communication line at regular time intervals, and a toll is collected from each driver's bank account according to the billing information. Communication is completed and step B6
Is "YES", the control circuit 46
5a is turned off, the display of the ON state is stopped, and then the state returns to the sleep state.

On the other hand, the setting is OFF in step B2.
In the case of the state, the control circuit 46 turns on the LED 55b (step B8). Then, the antenna ID read in step B1 is stored in the memory 54 for recording the passage history. Then, after turning off the LED 55b to stop the display of the OFF state, the state returns to the sleep state.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the vehicle-mounted device 1
The control circuit 46 of FIG. 8 sets itself to the OFF state when the operation switch 53 is turned on for a predetermined time or more in the wake-up state, and when the setting is made, the car 9 is moved to the exit tollgate on the toll road. First and second installed
Communication areas A1, A2 set for antennas 17, 32
Even if an interrogation signal transmitted when passing through the inside is received, a response signal is not returned to the first and second antennas 17 and 32.

Therefore, if the vehicle 9 is lent to a third party by setting the in-vehicle device 18 to the OFF state in advance, even if the third party uses a toll road, the toll is charged to the owner's bank account or the like. Can be prevented from being automatically collected from
It is possible to have the third party pay for the toll without fail. Also in this case, since the operating power of the vehicle-mounted device 18 is in a supplied state, it is possible to leave the signal transmitted from the first and second antennas 17 and 32 as a history on the vehicle-mounted device 18 side. Yes, the toll road administrator can check later if necessary. Further, the owner of the car 9 can refer to the driving record.

The transition between the ON and OFF states of the on-vehicle device 18 is configured to require a certain amount of time. For example, the second antenna through which the driver of the automobile 9 performs communication for toll collection is performed. 32, just before passing through
By switching 8 from ON to OFF, it is possible to further reduce the possibility of improper use such as deceiving a toll collection member as if the automatic toll collection was performed.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the LED of the display unit 55 indicates whether the in-vehicle device 18 is ON or OFF.
55a and 55b, the toll collection staff at the exit toll booth uses LED from outside the car 9
The mode setting state can be confirmed by referring to the lighting states of 55a and 55b. Therefore, the toll collection member can determine whether or not the toll collection has been automatically performed for the vehicle and take appropriate action.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Only the parts will be described. An IC card interface 56 is connected to a control circuit (setting means) 46a in place of the control circuit 46. When an IC card 57 is externally inserted into the IC card interface 56, the IC card is electrically connected to a microcomputer of the IC card 57 via, for example, a contact.

In the IC card 57, the registration number of the vehicle, the ID information of the driver, and the like are stored as data, and the antenna ID and toll collection information transmitted from the roadside machine are written and stored. It has become. The control circuit 46a includes a liquid crystal display (notifying means) 58.
Are electrically connected, and the control circuit 46a supplies a display signal to the liquid crystal display 58 to perform various displays. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the above constitutes the vehicle-mounted device (mobile communication device) 59.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As in the first embodiment, the vehicle-mounted device 59
Is in a sleep state as an initial state, and the LEDs 55a and 55b of the display unit 55 are turned off.
Is also in a non-display state. And the occupant of the car 9
When the IC card 57 is inserted into the C card interface 56, it wakes up and the control circuit 46a starts processing.

(1) Initial state setting "ON" First, the control circuit 46a reads data stored in the IC card 57 via the IC card interface 56 (step C1), and when the reading process is completed, Then, the display of "reading completed" is displayed on the liquid crystal display 58 (step C2). Then, the control circuit 46a outputs I
It checks whether the ID data read from the C card 57 matches the data registered in advance in itself, and if both data match, proceeds to the following processing. If the two data do not match, the process ends at that point.

Next, as in steps A1 to A3 of the first embodiment, the control circuit 46a determines from the flag whether the current setting is in the ON state (step C3), and sets the setting to "ON". If "", the LED 55a is turned on, and at the same time, "ON" is also displayed on the liquid crystal display 58 (step C4). Then, the operation input of the operation switch 53 by the occupant of the automobile 9 is received (step C5).

In the next judgment steps C6 and C7,
The control circuit 46a determines whether there is an operation input of the operation switch 53 within the set time. If there is no operation input within the set time, the control circuit 46a determines "Y" in step C7.
ES ”, the LED 55a is turned off, and the display on the liquid crystal display 58 is stopped (step C8), and the process returns to the sleep state.

If the operation input of the operation switch 53 is received within the set time, the control circuit 46a determines "YE" in step C6.
S ”and confirms the operation input (step C
10). When it is determined in the determination step C11 that the operation input matches the predetermined setting pattern (YES), the LED 55a of the display unit 55 which is in the lighting state at that time is turned off (step C12). Next, after the state transition, the corresponding LED 55b is caused to blink (step C13), and the process proceeds to the processing step C14.
Move to

If it is determined in the determination step C11 that the operation input does not match the set pattern (NO), the currently lit LED 55a flashes (step C17), and the process proceeds to step C5. .

In processing step C14, the control circuit 4
6a causes the liquid crystal display 58 to display a message such as "Please remove the IC card", and urges the occupant of the car 9 to remove the IC card 57 from the vehicle-mounted device 59. Also,
At this time, the LEDs 55a and 55b may be turned on alternately.

Then, the control circuit 46a determines whether or not the IC card 57 has been removed from the IC card interface 56 within the set time (steps C15 and C15).
16). If the set time has elapsed without the IC card 57 being removed, the control circuit 46a proceeds to step C1.
It is determined as "YES" in 6 and the process returns to the sleep state after moving to step C8.

On the other hand, if the IC card 57 is removed within the set time, the control circuit 46a determines "YES" in step C15, and performs a transition process from the ON state to the OFF state (step C18). LED blinking
55b is turned on once to indicate that it has transitioned to the OFF state (step C19). At this time, "OFF" is also displayed on the liquid crystal display 58. Then, step C8
Return to sleep via. That is, in order to perform a state transition from ON to OFF, the IC card 57 must be
After the user inserts the IC card 57 into the IC card 57 and then performs an operation input corresponding to the set pattern, the IC card 57 must be removed within the set time.

(2) In the case of initial state setting "OFF" In this case, when waking up from sleep, the control circuit 46a turns on the LED 55b in step C9 and displays "OFF" on the liquid crystal display 58. Let Then, when there is an operation input of the setting pattern in step C11, the lighted LED 55b is turned off (step C12), and the corresponding LED 5
5a is blinked (step C13).

If the IC card 57 is removed within the set time, the control circuit 46a determines "YES" in step C15 and performs a transition process from the OFF state to the ON state (step C18). LED blinking
55a is turned on once to indicate that it has transitioned to the ON state, and at the same time, the liquid crystal display 58 is caused to display "ON" (step C19). Then, when the LED 55a is turned off and the display on the liquid crystal display 58 is stopped (step C8), the state returns to the sleep state.

When the vehicle-mounted device 59 configured as described above wakes up to perform communication with the roadside device, the data stored in the IC card 57 is read as in steps C1 and C2. The read ID data is collated, and if the two data match, the communication process is performed. If the two data do not match, the process ends at that point. If the IC card 57 is removed from the vehicle-mounted device 59 during the communication process, the process is terminated at that point.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the control circuit 46a operates when the ID data stored in the connected IC card 57 matches the ID data registered in advance in itself. When the predetermined operation of the switch 53 is performed, the ON / OFF state can be changed, so that only the owner of the ID card 57 can switch the setting of the vehicle-mounted device 59 based on his / her own intention. it can.

Further, the control circuit 46a includes the operation switch 5
Since the ON / OFF state is changed only when the connection between the IC card 57 and the IC card interface 56 is disconnected within a set time from the time when the predetermined operation 3 is performed, the IC card 57 is connected. During the normal communication processing that becomes possible under the condition that the vehicle-mounted device 59 is in the on-state, the setting of the vehicle-mounted device 59 cannot be switched. Therefore, the third party rented the car 9 switches the vehicle-mounted device 18 from ON to OFF immediately before passing through the second antenna 32 where the communication for toll collection is performed as described above, and automatic toll collection is performed. It is possible to surely prevent fraudulent use that pretends to be a fraudulent person who pretends to be a fee collector.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. explain. The control circuit 46b instead of the control circuit 46a includes:
A sounding body 61 such as a speaker is electrically connected via an audio circuit 60. The audio circuit 60 includes a control circuit 46b.
In response to the control signal given from the controller, the digital data of the voice stored therein is converted into analog data and supplied to the sounding body (notifying means, voice output means) 61 to output the voice. I have. Other configurations are the same as those of the second embodiment, and the above constitutes the vehicle-mounted device 62.

According to the third embodiment configured as described above, when the control circuit 46b performs processing according to the flowchart of FIG. 8 in the second embodiment, a voice message is transmitted via the sounding body 61 at each point. Can be output. For example, in steps C4 and C9, a message such as "current setting is ON" or "current setting is OFF" is output by voice. Step C13
Then, "Move to OFF" or "Move to ON" is output by voice.

In step C14, "Please remove the IC card" is output by voice, and
In step 18, "Move to OFF" or "Move to ON" is output by voice. That is, the driver of the automobile 9 displays the state of the vehicle-mounted device 62 at each point in time on the display unit 5.
Even if the user does not check the display 5 or the liquid crystal display 58 and confirms it, the message can be output by voice so that the user can easily understand the message.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 10 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state on the entrance side of a toll road. In FIG. 10, on the entrance side of the toll road,
A spare vehicle detection device 63 is provided. The spare vehicle detecting device 63 has the same configuration as the spare vehicle detecting device 8 in the first embodiment, and when a sensor (not shown) detects that the vehicle 9 is going to pass below the gate 63a, the spare vehicle detecting device 63 Communication device 63 arranged above
When the interrogation signal is transmitted from b and a response signal to the interrogation signal is returned, it is determined that the vehicle 9 has an on-board unit for ETCS.

Then, the spare vehicle detecting device 63 causes the information display device 64 disposed above the gate disposed next to perform a display such as “To ETC lane”, and causes the vehicle 9 to enter the ETC lane. Is to be guided to. When there is no response signal to the inquiry signal, the information display 63 displays "To pass ticket issuing lane" or the like, and guides the automobile 9 to the pass ticket issuing lane.

That is, the vehicle 9 is equipped with the vehicle-mounted device 18 (59, 6).
Even if 2) is installed, if the setting is in the OFF state, as described above, at the exit tollgate, the toll is collected by the toll collector in the attached lane 2 or the manual lane 3. You. In this case, if the driver does not notice that the setting of the in-vehicle device 18 (59, 62) is in the OFF state, and enters without entering a toll ticket at the entrance side of the toll road, the charge is charged When the vehicle 9 is collected, it is difficult to know from which entrance the vehicle 9 has entered the toll road, and it becomes difficult to collect the vehicle.

According to the fourth embodiment, a spare vehicle detecting device 63 is provided at the entrance side of the toll road, and the setting of the vehicle-mounted device 18 (59, 62) is in an OFF state. When the car 9 has passed, the information display 63 is caused to display "To the pass ticket issuing lane" or the like, and the vehicle 9 is guided to the pass ticket issuing lane, and the driver reliably takes the pass ticket. To be able to

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be modified or expanded as follows. The predetermined operation (setting pattern) of the operation switch 53 may be the following operation input. For example, the sound of "Expressway (Corsok d'oro)" can be classified as long sound (long), short sound (short), short time silence (short no), long time silence (long no) as follows. If the sound corresponds to the on-operation of the operation switch 53 and the silence corresponds to the off-operation of the operation switch 53, the following can be achieved. However, long sound (long-time ON operation: LO), short sound (short-time ON operation: SO), short-time silence (short-time OFF operation: SF), long-time silence (long-time OFF operation: LF) It is. Co Seo K Do B Long Short No Short Short Short No Short Short No Long Short No Short Long No LO SF SO SF SO SF LO SF LO LF

Then, the predetermined operation of the operation switch 53 is
Is assigned as a setting pattern. In-vehicle device 18 (5
9 and 62), when a long-time OFF operation: LF is detected after any ON operation of the operation switch 53, the pattern of the operation input performed during that time is analyzed. The time of each on / off operation is measured and normalized, for example, LO (11),
SO (1), SF (0 ), assigning the data as LF (0000), the "Kosokudoro" is code Seo K Do B 11 0 1 0 1 0 11 0 1 0000 can be recognized as a data pattern such as "1101010111010000". As mentioned above,
The on-vehicle device 18 (59, 62) may determine whether or not an operation input corresponding to the setting pattern has been made, based on whether or not the on / off operation pattern of the operation switch 53 corresponds to the above. By using a specific code pattern as a setting pattern for switching between ON and OFF settings, as in the case of “Corsokudoro”, the confidentiality of the predetermined operation can be enhanced as compared with the case where the ON operation is continued for a predetermined time or more. it can. Also, the specific code pattern is stored in the vehicle-mounted device 18 (59, 6).
By associating with the sound of the phrase related to 2), it is possible for the owner of the car 9 to easily remember the predetermined operation.

For the operation to return after the OFF state is set, for example, the second antenna 32 at the tollgate exit
May be released when a signal transmitted from the device is received and transition to the ON state, or a timer may be provided to return after a certain period of time. The display of the removal instruction of the IC card 57 in step C14 in FIG. 8 is performed without performing the notification operation by the liquid crystal display 58 or the sounding body 61, and the LEDs 55a and 55
It may be performed only by the blink pattern by b. Alternatively, step C14 itself may be deleted. With such a configuration, ON and OFF are provided to persons other than the owner of the automobile 9.
It becomes difficult to understand that it is necessary to remove the IC card 57 to switch the state. Therefore, when a person aiming at unauthorized use obtains the car 9 and the IC card 57 by any means and attempts to switch the setting of the on-board unit 59 (62) from OFF to ON, for example, the operation switch Even if the user can know the predetermined operation of 53, the switching cannot be performed, and the security can be improved.

For example, when the in-vehicle device 18 (59, 62) is integrated with a car navigation device,
Operation switches may be configured on the display screen of the car navigation device. The display unit is composed of one LED that can be turned on both in green and red, and the one LE
Each lighting display may be switched with D. The control circuit 46 (46a, 46b) may be configured (state transition means) to set a state in which communication with the first and second antennas 17 and 32 is not performed at all according to a predetermined operation of the operation switch 53. For example, step B9 in the flowchart of FIG. 2 may be deleted, or the power supply from the power supply circuit 48 to itself may be cut off to completely stop the function.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control circuit according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
Flowchart showing control contents of N, OFF state setting processing

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing control contents of a communication process between a control circuit and a first or second antenna.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an electric configuration of the vehicle-mounted device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state near an exit tollgate on a toll road;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a state of an ETC lane.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a state of the attached lane;

FIG. 7 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3, showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state near an entrance tollgate on a toll road in a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

9 is an automobile (mobile), 17 is a first antenna (interrogator), 18 is a vehicle-mounted device (mobile communication device), 32 is a second antenna (interrogator), and 46, 46a and 46b are control circuits (setting means). , State transition means), 53 is an operation switch, 5
5 is a display unit (notifying means), 55a and 55b are LEDs,
6 is an IC card interface, 57 is an IC card,
Reference numeral 58 denotes a liquid crystal display (notification means), 59 denotes an on-vehicle device (mobile communication device), 61 denotes a sounding body (notification device, voice output means), and 62 denotes an on-vehicle device (mobile communication device).

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A communication device for transmitting a response signal to a signal received from an interrogator when the vehicle passes through a predetermined communication area mounted on a mobile body, starts communication, and thereafter transmits and receives necessary signals. A response inhibition mode for inhibiting transmission of the response signal even when operating power is supplied and a signal is received from the interrogator in the communication area. A mobile communication device characterized by comprising setting means for setting. 2. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein the setting unit sets the response prohibition mode in accordance with a predetermined operation of an operation switch. 3. An IC having ID data registered in advance.
The card is configured to be electrically connectable, and includes an IC card interface for reading and writing data to and from a memory built in the IC card, and the setting unit is registered in advance by itself. 3. The response inhibition mode is set when a predetermined operation of the operation switch is performed while an IC card having the same ID data as the ID data is connected to the IC card interface. Mobile communication device. 4. The setting means sets the response inhibition mode only when the connection between the IC card and the IC card interface is cut off within a set time from the time when the predetermined operation of the operation switch is performed. The mobile communication device according to claim 3, wherein the mobile communication device is set. 5. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a notifying unit for notifying that at least the response inhibition mode is set. 6. The mobile communication device according to claim 5, wherein said notifying means comprises an LED. 7. The mobile communication device according to claim 5, wherein the notification unit is configured as a voice output unit that outputs a voice message. 8. A communication system in which a response signal is transmitted to a signal received from an interrogator when the vehicle passes through a preset communication area mounted on a mobile body to start communication, and thereafter, necessary signals are transmitted and received. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, further comprising a state transition unit configured to make a transition to a state in which the communication with the interrogator is not performed according to a predetermined operation of an operation switch. . 9. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation of the operation switch is an operation of continuing the ON operation for a predetermined time or more. 10. The mobile communication device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operation of the operation switch is an ON operation corresponding to a specific code pattern.