JPH1186188A - Automatic toll collection system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To safely move and control a collecting unit vertically and back and forth, so that the collecting unit does not collide with a projected matter attached to a vehicle. SOLUTION: A vehicle information processor 8 detects the vehicle type of a vehicle 6 and the position of a front window of a driver seat from information, that is acquired from vehicle detectors 1 and 2 and a stepping board 7. An image processor 13 detects proceeding, stopping and start of the vehicle 6 to position, where the window of a driver seat faces a collecting unit that is attached to an automatic toll collecting device 9, based on an image photographed by a TV camera 12 that has been installed above the device 9 and also detects widthwise distance for closely nearing to make the unit 10 close to the vehicle 6 at the time of detecting the stop. The device 9 performs position control of the unit 10, based on information detected by the processor 8 and the widthwise distance for closely nearing detected by the processor 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic toll collection system applied to toll roads or parking lots.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, toll collection on toll roads, parking lots, and the like has been performed using an automatic toll collection system that does not rely on humans. As an automatic toll collection system of this type, the applicant has previously disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 6-300884 a method of moving a collection unit (front panel) up and down according to the height of a driver's seat of a passing vehicle. There is disclosed an automatic toll collection device capable of moving back and forth depending on a stop position of a passing vehicle in a width approaching direction.

Further, Japanese Patent Application No. 7-33709 discloses a vehicle side transmission pattern by an optical vehicle detector.
And the height of the driver's cab of the passing vehicle is determined based on the information (number of axes, number of wheels, tread) detected by the tread plate, and the toll collection unit of the automatic toll collection device is linked with the height of the cab. An automatic toll collection system for controlling is disclosed.

FIG. 6 shows an automatic toll collection system configured by combining the technologies disclosed by the two patent applications mentioned above. As shown in FIG. 6, a vehicle detector 01 on the light emitting side and a vehicle detector 02 on the light receiving side are installed to face each other with the approach path of the vehicle 06 therebetween. The vehicle detector 01 and the vehicle detector 02 have a columnar shape, and a plurality of area sensor type photoelectric switches 03 are vertically arranged. Thus, the light screen 05 is stretched in a direction perpendicular to the road surface 04.

[0005] The vehicle detector 01 and the vehicle detector 02 detect the passage of the vehicle 06 based on the presence or absence of light shielding of the optical screen 05. Is used to detect

On the road surface 0 on which the light screen 05 is stretched,
4 embeds a tread plate 07. The tread plate 07 is used to detect vehicle type classification information such as the number of axes, the number of wheels, and tread of the passing vehicle 06.

The vehicle information processing device 08 includes a vehicle detector 01
From the transmission pattern of the passing vehicle detected by the vehicle detector 02 and the vehicle type classification information detected by the tread plate 07, the information of the vehicle type and the cab height of each passing vehicle is coded, and the Remember. If the approach path is long, a memory capable of recording codes for a plurality of vehicles is provided.

[0008] An automatic toll collection device 09 is installed at the end of the approach road where the vehicle detector 01 and the vehicle detector 02 are provided. The automatic toll collection device 09 includes a toll collection unit 010 (front panel) that can be moved up and down according to the height of the driver's seat of the vehicle 06 and that can move back and forth according to the stop position of the passing vehicle in the width direction. Is provided. Although not shown, on the front surface of the collection unit 010, bills, coins, various card processing ports, change, receipt processing ports, other fee display devices, operation buttons, and the like for user operation are arranged. .

[0009] The automatic toll collection device 09 includes a collection unit 0
10 is controlled to move up and down according to the vehicle type and the cab height code obtained by the vehicle information processing device 08. Further, the automatic toll collection device 09 includes vehicle width shift sensors 011a and 011b arranged below the collection unit 010.
By measuring the distance to the vehicle 06 that has entered the position facing the front of the vehicle information processing device 08, the receiving unit is moved back and forth accordingly, so that the user can easily operate the front panel. The movement control of the collection unit 010 is performed until this time.

[0010]

As described above, in the conventional automatic toll collection system, the vehicle detector 01 and the vehicle detector 0
2 and the tread board 07 to obtain information on the vehicle type and the cab height, and furthermore, the vehicle width shift sensors 011a and 011b.
By detecting the width approach distance to the vehicle 06,
It is possible to control the movement of the toll collection unit 010 of the automatic toll collection device 09 to a position where the driver can easily perform the toll collection operation while sitting in the seat.

However, in the above-described conventional automatic toll collection system, if the control timing of the toll collection unit 010 is a vertical movement control, there is no problem even if the vehicle starts moving from the time when the vehicle type and the cab height are determined. However, in the case of the movement control before and after (in the direction of approaching the width to the vehicle 06), the safety of the vehicle 06 must be stopped after the vehicle 06 stops in front of the automatic toll collection device 9 before starting the movement control of the collection unit 010. Cause problems.

For example, since projections such as a fender mirror and a door mirror are provided on the side surface of the vehicle 06, before the projections pass in front of the collection unit 010, the collection unit 010 is moved in the width direction. If they are moved, there is a risk of collision with the collection unit 010.

Further, conventional width shift sensors 011a and 011
1b does not specifically disclose a specific example of the detection method,
An ultrasonic displacement meter, a laser displacement meter, or the like can be considered as a detection method determined from the drawing. When such a detection method is used, the measurement target is spot-like, so that only the stop point can be measured.In some cases, projections such as fender mirrors and door mirrors are erroneously detected. There was a problem that a stop in front of the automatic toll collection device 06 could not be detected.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and safely controls the movement of the receiving unit up and down and back and forth so that there is no danger of the receiving unit colliding with a protrusion provided on the vehicle. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic toll collection system capable of causing an automatic toll collection.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automatic toll collection system for collecting tolls from a passing vehicle, a detecting means for detecting a position of a window of a driver's cab of the passing vehicle, and a detecting means for detecting the position of the window. An automatic toll collection device provided with a collection unit whose position is controlled so as to face the cab based on the position of the window of the cab that has been set; and a cab provided with the collection unit provided in the automatic toll collection device. Photographing means for photographing a bird's-eye view of the position at which the passing vehicle should be stopped so that the windows face each other, and provided on the automatic toll collection device of the passing vehicle based on an image photographed by the photographing means. Entry / start detection means for detecting entry / stop / start of the pickup unit at a position facing the window of the driver's cab, and the detection means based on the image taken by the imaging means. Width detection means for detecting the width of the vehicle to approach the passing vehicle when the stop is detected, and approach-stop-start detected by the approach / start detection means. Control means for controlling the position of the toll collection unit of the automatic toll collection device based on the position of the driver's cab window detected by the detection means and the width adjustment distance detected by the width adjustment detection means in accordance with the timing of And characterized in that:

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an automatic toll collection system according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic toll collection system includes a vehicle detector 1 (light emission side), a vehicle detector 2 (light reception side), a tread plate 7, a vehicle information processing device 8, an automatic toll collection device 9, a TV camera 12, And an image processing device 13.

The vehicle detector 1 and the vehicle detector 2
It is installed facing each other across the approach road, and has a columnar shape. The vehicle detectors 1 and 2 are provided with a plurality of area sensor type photoelectric switches 3 along the height direction (vertical direction). Thereby, the vehicle detectors 1 and 2 make the optical screen 5 stretch in the vertical direction of the road surface 4. The vehicle detector 1 and the vehicle detector 2 detect the passage of the vehicle 6 based on the presence or absence of light shielding of the light screen 5 and determine the height of the vehicle and the window pattern detected from the light shielding silhouette (transmission pattern) to determine whether the vehicle is a passenger car, a truck, or a bus. It is used to detect such as. Therefore, the detection area (height) of the light screen 5 is configured to include from the vicinity of the road surface to the height of a large vehicle. The vehicle detectors 1 and 2 are connected to the vehicle information processing device 8. The photoelectric switch 3 is repeatedly scanned at high speed in a time-division manner, and a detected signal is notified to the vehicle information processing device 8.

The tread 7 is buried on the road surface 4 on which the light screen 5 is stretched by the vehicle detectors 1 and 2, and is connected to the vehicle information processing device 8 via the vehicle detector 1. The tread 7 outputs a signal to the vehicle information processing device 8 according to the passage of the tire of the vehicle 6. The signal output by the tread 7 is used to detect vehicle type classification information such as the number of axles, the number of wheels, and the tread of the passing vehicle 6. The vehicle type classification information is used to determine the vehicle type of the vehicle 6 (passenger car, bus, truck, etc.).

The vehicle information processing device 8 includes vehicle detectors 1 and 2
Pattern of the passing vehicle detected by the
The vehicle type and the cab height of each passing vehicle are detected from the vehicle type classification information obtained from the signal detected by the method, and the detection results are coded and stored in the vehicle entry rank. If the approach route is long, codes for a plurality of vehicles can be recorded. The information on the vehicle type detected by the vehicle information processing device 8 is used by the automatic toll collection device 9 to display a fee according to the vehicle type and to automatically receive the fee. The information on the detected cab height is used for vertical movement control of a collection unit 10 provided in the automatic toll collection device 9.

The automatic toll collection device 9 includes vehicle detectors 1 and 2
This is installed at the end of the approach road provided with, and controls automatic collection of fees. The automatic toll collection device 9 includes a collection unit 10 (front panel) that can be moved up and down according to the height of the driver's seat of the vehicle 6 and can move back and forth according to the stop position of the passing vehicle in the width direction. Is provided. On the front of the collection unit 10, for user operation,
A processing port for bills, coins, various cards, a change, a processing port for receipts, other charge indicators, operation buttons, and the like are arranged. The automatic toll collection device 9 detects the vehicle type and the cab height obtained by the vehicle information processing device 8 and the entry, stop, and start of the vehicle 6 obtained by the image processing device 13 in front of the automatic toll collection device 9. In addition, in accordance with the distance and the distance to the width, the moving control of the collection unit 10 up and down and back and forth and the charge collection operation are controlled.

The TV camera 12 is for taking a bird's-eye view of the position where the vehicle 6 should be stopped so that the window of the driver's cab faces the collection unit 10 provided in the automatic toll collection device 9. Is located above the vehicle height limit value on the road surface 4 so that the distance between the entering vehicle 6 and the automatic collection device 9 can be overlooked. The detailed shooting range will be described later with reference to FIG.

The image processing device 13 inputs an image taken by the TV camera 12 and enters the front of the automatic toll collection device 9 of the passing vehicle 6 (the position where the driver's cab window faces the collection unit 10). -Stop-Start is detected, and
When the stop is detected, the width of the vehicle 6 in front of the automatic toll collection device 9 is detected so as to bring the collection unit 10 close to the vehicle 6, and the distance is notified to the automatic toll collection device 9.
The detailed functional configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the field of view of the TV camera 12 described above. That is, the photographing range from the upper front of the automatic toll collection device 9 to the direction of the road surface 4 is shown. TV
As shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. 1 and 2, the field of view of the camera 12 covers at least half the area of the road surface 4 in front of the automatic toll collection device 9 and the entire area in the width direction of the automatic toll collection device 9 ( (A rectangular range represented by the point abcd). As shown in FIG. 2, the shooting range of the TV camera 12 includes a portion of the automatic toll collection device 9 where the collection unit 10 is provided.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image processing apparatus 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the image processing device 13 includes an input image memory 14, a reference image memory 1,
5, difference calculation unit 16, binarized image memory 17, Xmax
The functions of a detection unit 18, an approach / start detection unit 19, a histogram creation unit 20, and a width detection unit 21 are provided.

The input image memory 14 stores a digitized video signal of an image captured by the TV camera 12. The image stored in the input image memory 14 is
It is updated every scanning of one frame captured by the TV camera 12.

The reference image memory 15 stores, as a background image, an image captured in a state where the vehicle has not entered the front of the automatic toll collection device 9, and is appropriately updated. The difference calculation unit 16 calculates the absolute value of the density data difference for each pixel for each of the images stored in the input image memory 14 and the reference image memory 15, and binarizes them based on a preset threshold. And the next-stage binarized image memory 1
7 is stored.

The Xmax detecting unit 18 calculates the start value of the area corresponding to the vehicle in the vehicle approach direction (X-axis direction) for each frame based on the binary image stored in the binary image memory 17. (Xmax) is detected.

The entry / startup detection section 19 monitors the change of the value of Xmax detected by the Xmax detection section 18, that is, the moving state of the vehicle, and enters and stops the vehicle 6 in front of the automatic toll collection device 9. Detecting the start;

The histogram creating unit 20 calculates a histogram based on the binarized image stored in the binarized image memory 17 when the stop of the vehicle 6 is detected by the entry / start detection unit 19.
A histogram is created in the road width direction (Y-axis direction) of the area corresponding to the vehicle.

Based on the histogram created by the histogram creating section 20, the width approach detecting section 21 detects an approach distance for bringing the collection unit 10 of the automatic toll collection device 9 close to the vehicle.

Next, the operation of the automatic toll collection system according to this embodiment will be described. First, when the vehicle 6 enters the traffic path and reaches the light screen 5 by the vehicle detectors 1 and 2, the optical axis of the light screen 5 is blocked according to the shape of the vehicle 6. The vehicle information processing device 8 acquires a shape pattern of the vehicle 6 from a change in light shielding of the optical screen 5 that changes with time.

From the shape pattern acquired by the vehicle information processing device 8, the portion corresponding to the uppermost portion of the optical axis where the light screen 5 is shielded represents the upper end of the vehicle 6.
In addition, the window provided in the vehicle 6 has a light screen 5
Are not shaded, so the shape pattern shows the position of the window, that is, the position of the cab window. The type of window provided in the vehicle 6 differs depending on the shape, position, number of sheets, and the like. For example, when the vehicle height is high, the window is likely to be a bus if there are many windows, and the truck is likely to be a truck if there are few windows.
Further, the vehicle information processing device 8 detects vehicle type classification information such as the number of axles, the number of wheels, and treads from a signal output when the vehicle 6 passes through the tread plate 7.

The vehicle information processing device 8 detects the position of the driver's cab of the vehicle 6 and detects the type of the vehicle 6 that has entered based on the shape pattern of the vehicle 6 and the vehicle type classification information. The vehicle information processing device 8 notifies the automatic toll collection device 9 of the detected information.

The position information of the driver's cab window detected by the vehicle information processing device 8 is used for the vertical movement control of the toll collection unit 10 of the automatic toll collection device 9, and the information of the vehicle type is used for the toll collection control. Used.

Next, a description will be given of the movement control in the width shifting direction for bringing the collection unit 10 close to the vehicle 6. When the vehicle 6 passes through the optical screen 5 and enters the front of the automatic toll collection device 9, the state of the entry is photographed by the TV camera 12 installed above the automatic toll collection device 9. The image processing device 13 performs, based on the image captured by the TV camera 12, the timing of entry-stop-start at the position where the window of the cab faces the collection unit, the vehicle 6
The width shift distance for bringing the collection unit 10 close to the reception unit 10 is detected.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an image stored in each image memory provided in the image processing device 13. FIG.
(A) shows an image stored in the reference image memory 15 when the vehicle 6 does not enter the shooting range of the TV camera 12. The image stored in the reference image memory 15 includes the road surface 4 (white background), the automatic toll collection device 9 (oblique lines), and the island on the automatic toll collection device 9 side.

FIG. 4B shows an image stored in the input image memory 14 when the vehicle 6 enters the shooting range abcd of the TV camera 12. The image stored in the input image memory 14 is updated each time the TV camera 12 scans (frames).

Input image memory 14 and reference image memory 15
4A and 4B, respectively, are subtracted by the difference calculation circuit 16 for each pixel, and the absolute value thereof is binarized by a preset threshold value. It is stored in the image memory 17.

FIG. 4C shows an image stored in the binarized image memory 17. As shown in FIG.
Only the portion of the vehicle 6 where the density difference has changed remains as a binarized image. In FIG. 4, a part of a background corresponding to the automatic toll collection device 9 and the like is added to the dotted line for explanation. The portion of the vehicle 6 is detected as a black background, but is represented by the shape of the vehicle 6 for convenience.

FIGS. 4D and 4E show a state in which the vehicle 6 moves from right to left within the photographing range abcd of the TV camera 12. FIG. Note that the number of images that change over time changes at the frame rate of the TV camera 12.

Next, a method for detecting the approach-stop-start timing of the vehicle 6 based on the image detected as described above will be described. The Xmax detection circuit 21
From the binarized image stored in the binarized image memory 17, the presence / absence of a portion corresponding to the vehicle 6 on the XY axis is searched for each frame and notified to the approach / start detection unit 19,
A boundary Xmax on the X axis is detected. As shown in FIG. 4C, when Xmax is detected by the Xmax detection unit 18, the entry / start detection unit 19 outputs an entry signal (indicating that the vehicle 6 has entered the front of the automatic toll collection device 9. H) is output to the automatic toll collection device 9.

The Xmax detecting section 18 sequentially moves the Xmax position to the left of the screen for each frame, and thereafter notifies the entry / start detecting section 19 when detecting that the change has stopped. The entry / start detection unit 19 includes the Xmax detection unit 1
The stop signal (L) indicating that the vehicle 6 has stopped is output to the automatic toll collection device 9 in response to the notification from the control unit 8.

When the vehicle 6 starts moving again after stopping, the Xmax detecting unit 18 detects that the position of Xmax is
From (D), it disappears to the left of the screen, and it is detected that Xmax appears again as shown in FIG. That is, since the position of the rear edge of the vehicle 6 has been detected, the Xmax detection unit 18
Detects the start signal of the vehicle 6 when the position of Xmax disappears to the left again, and notifies the entry / start detection unit 19. The entry / start detection unit 19 outputs a signal (G) indicating that the vehicle 6 has started to the automatic toll collection device 9.

Thus, it is possible to detect the timing of the entry, stop, and start of the vehicle 6 in front of the automatic toll collection device 9. In the above description, Xma in the X-axis direction is used.
The processing is performed based on the position of x. In addition, for example, the center of gravity of a rectangle surrounded by X and Y positions circumscribing a portion corresponding to the vehicle 6 in the image is obtained, and the movement of the position of the center of gravity is performed. , Stop-start timing can be detected. Also, the following car is already a TV camera 1.
If the vehicle has entered the right end of the shooting range of No. 2, it is also possible to rank Xmax and perform processing according to the ranking.

Next, a description will be given of a process for detecting a width shift distance for bringing the collection unit 10 close to the vehicle 6. The histogram creation unit 20 obtains the stop signal (G) indicating that the vehicle 6 has stopped from the entry / startup detection unit 19 and, based on the binarized image stored in the binarized image memory 17, For the portion, the number of pixels is counted in the X-axis direction, and the frequency is taken in for each scanning line in the Y direction to create a histogram. That is, it detects a fender mirror, a door mirror, a driver's hand, and the like that protrude from the vehicle body 6 in the direction of the automatic toll collection device 9.

FIG. 5 shows the binarized image stored in the binarized image memory 17 when the vehicle 6 stops (FIG. 5A).
And an example of a histogram (FIG. 5B) created by the histogram creating unit 20 for the image.

As shown in FIG. 5A, from the binarized image, the side of the vehicle 6 (the side facing the automatic toll collection device 9)
It is photographed that the portion corresponding to the mirror 22 and the driver's hand 23 protrudes.

The histogram creating section 20 scans the binarized image shown in FIG. 5A in the Y direction with scanning lines Y1, Y2,.
By counting the number of black pixels for each n and calculating the frequency, a histogram as shown in FIG. 5B is created.

As shown in FIG. 5 (B), the histogram shows a shape close to a trapezoid, but if a portion corresponding to a mirror or a hand is included in the binarized image, a portion having a small histogram value is displayed. appear.

From the histogram created by the histogram creating unit 20, the width shift detecting unit 21 deletes a portion having a small histogram value (shown by oblique lines in FIG. 5B) as a dust portion. For example, the width shift detection unit 21 cuts off a portion of the histogram value that is less than a preset threshold value (S) as dust.

The width shift detecting section 21 calculates a maximum value Ymax in the Y direction for the histogram excluding unnecessary portions based on the threshold value (S), and calculates the maximum value Ymax and the automatic toll collection device 9.
From the position of the collection unit 10, the width approach distance for bringing the collection unit 10 close to the vehicle 6 is determined. The width adjustment detecting unit 21 outputs width adjustment data indicating the width adjustment distance to the automatic toll collection device 9.

The automatic toll collection device 9 includes an image processing device 13
The position of the driver's cab window detected by the vehicle information processing device 8 according to the approach-stop-start timing of the vehicle 6 notified from the vehicle information processing device 8, that is, after the vehicle 6 reliably stops in front of the automatic toll collection device 9. , And based on the width approaching distance detected by the image processing device 13, the pickup unit 10 is moved up and down and back and forth (in the direction ).

As described above, in the automatic toll collection system according to the present embodiment, the approach of the vehicle 6 is photographed using the TV camera 12 instead of the conventional vehicle width sensor, and the image processing device 13 enters the vehicle. In addition to detecting the timing of the stop and start, it is possible to detect a reliable width approaching distance including the identification of a mirror, a hand, or the like protruding from the side surface of the vehicle 6, and at a safe timing at which the vehicle 6 stops, the receiving unit 10. Can be controlled to follow back and forth accurately.

In the above description, the image processing apparatus 1
In the process at 3, the width of the mirror, the hand, and the like protruding from the side surface of the vehicle 6 are cut, and then the width approaching distance is detected.
If it is included in the movable range of the collection unit 10 and there is a possibility of contact when moving in the direction of the vehicle 6, a width approaching distance that does not reach the protrusion is detected in consideration of the protrusion. You may do it.

(Summary of Embodiment) The configuration, operation and effect shown in the above-described embodiment are summarized as follows.

According to the automatic toll collection system of the present invention,
A vehicle type obtained by a vehicle information processing device 8 provided with a pair of vehicle detectors 1 and 2 for optically detecting a laterally transmitted shape pattern of the vehicle 6 and a vehicle type determining means for determining the vehicle type of the vehicle 6 from the shape pattern; In addition to the function of determining the height of the driver's cab window and controlling the pickup unit 10 to follow up and down according to the height, an image pickup means by the TV camera 12 is used to control the width of the vehicle 6. Because there was, vehicle 6
Can be detected in a wide range. Therefore, the image processing device 13 uses the image captured by the TV camera 12 to form a complicated shape of the vehicle 6 (including a fender mirror, a door mirror, and other irregularities of the vehicle).
Can be recognized, and the timing of the approach, stop, and start of the vehicle 6 can be detected together. The automatic toll collection device 9 controls the movement of the toll collection unit 10 back and forth according to the approach-stop-start timing of the vehicle 6 detected by the image processing device 13, so that the toll collection unit 10 and the vehicle 6 Unexpected contact and the like can be avoided.

As described above, in the automatic toll collection system, it is possible to reliably detect the approach, stop, and start of the vehicle 6 in front of the automatic toll collection device 9, and to move the vehicle 6 closer to the vehicle 6 from the vehicle 6. Even if the mirror, the driver's hand or the like protrudes, it can be identified and accurately detected without erroneous recognition.

For this reason, it is possible to reliably control the following of the toll collection unit 10 back and forth at a safe timing when the vehicle 6 stops. Further, it is possible to provide a highly reliable and safe automatic toll collection system that can avoid collision between the collection unit 10 and a mirror of the vehicle 6 or a driver's hand while the vehicle 6 is approaching.

[0059]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, in an automatic toll collection system for collecting tolls from a passing vehicle, detecting means for detecting the position of a window of a driver's cab of the passing vehicle, and detecting means An automatic toll collection device provided with a collection unit that is position-controlled so as to face the cab based on the position of the cab window detected by the cab, and a cab installed in the collection unit provided in the automatic toll collection device. The photographing means for taking a bird's-eye view of the position where the passing vehicle should be stopped so that the windows face each other, and based on the image photographed by the photographing means, the collection unit provided in the automatic toll collection device of the passing vehicle An approach / start detecting means for detecting approach-stop-start at a position where the window of the driver's cab faces, and an image before the stop is detected by the detecting means based on an image taken by the photographing means. Driving detected by the detecting means in accordance with the approach-stop-start timing detected by the approach detection means for detecting the approach distance for bringing the collection unit closer to the passing vehicle and the approach / start detection means. Control means for controlling the position of the collection unit of the automatic toll collection device based on the position of the window of the base and the width adjustment distance detected by the width adjustment detection means, so that the projection provided on the vehicle is provided. It is possible to safely control the movement of the receiving unit up and down and back and forth so that there is no danger of the receiving unit colliding.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an automatic toll collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the field of view of the TV camera 12 shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the image processing apparatus 13 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of an image stored in each image memory provided in the image processing apparatus 13 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a binarized image stored in a binarized image memory 17 and a histogram created by the histogram creating section 20 for the image.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an automatic toll collection system configured by combining conventional techniques.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 vehicle detector (light emitting side) 2 vehicle detector (light receiving side) 3 photoelectric switch 5 optical screen 7 tread plate 8 vehicle information processing device 9 automatic toll collection device 10 collection unit 12 TV camera 13 image processing device 14 input image memory 15 Image memory 16 Difference calculation unit 17 Binary image memory 18 Xmax detection unit 19 Entry / departure detection unit 20 Histogram creation unit 21 Width detection unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code FI G08G 1/14 G06F 15/62 380

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An automatic toll collection system for collecting tolls from a passing vehicle, comprising: detecting means for detecting a position of a driver's cab window of the passing vehicle; and a position of the driver's cab window detected by the detecting means. An automatic toll collection device provided with a collection unit that is position-controlled to face the cab based on the cab, and the cab window faces the collection unit provided in the automatic toll collection device. A photographing means for taking a bird's-eye view of a position where a passing vehicle should be stopped, and a window of a driver's cab is provided in a collection unit provided in the automatic toll collection device of the passing vehicle based on an image photographed by the photographing means. Entry / start detection means for detecting approach-stop-start at a facing position; and based on an image taken by the imaging means, when a stop is detected by the detection means. The width approaching detecting means for detecting the approaching distance for bringing the collection unit close to the passing vehicle, and the detecting means according to the approach-stop-start timing detected by the approach / start detecting means. Control means for controlling the position of the collection unit of the automatic toll collection device based on the detected position of the driver's cab window and the width adjustment distance detected by the width adjustment detection means. Automatic toll collection system.