WO2008001647A1

WO2008001647A1 - In-vehicle device

Info

Publication number: WO2008001647A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/062314
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seiki Kato; Keiichi Morishita; Shigeo Okamoto; Hidekazu Ono
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-06-29
Filing date: 2007-06-19
Publication date: 2008-01-03
Also published as: AU2007264478A1; CN101473355B; EP2034448A4; CN101473355A; KR101024786B1; MY145909A; HK1129477A1; KR20090016477A; EP2034448A1; JP2008009732A

Abstract

An in-vehicle device capable of preventing the occurrence of a situation where an IC card is not set in the device when the vehicle passes a tollbooth of a toll road etc. The in-vehicle device is mounted in the vehicle (1) and communicates information on a toll, between itself and a toll communication device placed at a tollbooth (2) of a toll area. The in-vehicle device has an IC card insertion section where an IC card is inserted. When it is detected that the vehicle has entered a confirmation zone (B) provided before the toll communication device, the in-vehicle device determines whether the IC card is inserted in the IC card insertion section, and when not inserted, the in-vehicle device advises the fact.

Description

Specification

OBE

Technical field

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a charging communication device that is mounted on a vehicle and collects tolls such as toll roads, and an on-vehicle device that exchanges information about toll collection by radio.

Background art

[0002] In recent years, as a measure to alleviate traffic congestion, air pollution, etc. caused by excessive car entry into the center of a large city, a chargeable area has been established in the urban area, and there is one for vehicles entering this chargeable area. So-called road pricing, which charges a fixed amount, has been realized.

In this road pricing, a gantry in which a wireless communication device for charging is installed is provided at each entrance / exit of the charging target area. In addition, vehicles entering this billing area are required to be equipped with onboard equipment. When the vehicle passes through the gantry and enters the billing area, information necessary for billing is exchanged between the billing wireless communication device and the vehicle-mounted device. Charge processing is performed (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-323648).

[0003] As a system that automatically collects road usage fees, ETC (Electronic

Toll Collection) system is known. This ETC system enables tolls to be collected automatically by performing wireless communication between a roadside radio installed at a toll booth and a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle on a toll road. is there.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-323648 (FIG. 11)

Disclosure of the invention

[0004] By the way, in the automatic toll collection system for road charges as described above, automation of toll collection is realized by recording billing information on an IC card or the like inserted in the vehicle-mounted device. Since this IC card can be used in multiple vehicles, the power of the on-board device can also be removed, so if you remove it from the on-board device when you get off the vehicle, you may forget to insert the IC card. There was a problem that it was not possible to receive automatically. [0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and avoids a situation where an IC card is inserted when a vehicle passes through a toll gate such as a toll road. The purpose is to provide a vehicle-mounted device that can handle the above.

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means.

The first aspect of the present invention provides information relating to charging with a charging communication device installed in a vehicle and at least one of an entrance and an exit of a charging target area or a toll gate on a toll road. An in-vehicle device for sending and receiving, a card interface for sending and receiving information to and from a billing card that stores billing information, and a confirmation zone provided in front of the billing communication device Whether the billing card and the card interface are connected in a communicable state when it is detected that the zone entry detection means and the confirmation zone are entered. When the determination means for determining the power and the billing card and the card interface are not connected in a communicable state, the fact is notified. A vehicle-mounted device; and a knowledge unit.

[0007] According to the first aspect, when the zone entry detecting means detects that the vehicle has entered the confirmation zone provided in front of the billing communication device, the billing card and the card The determination means determines whether the power is connected to the interface in a communicable state. If the billing card and the card interface are not connected in a communicable state, the fact is notified. The As a result, the vehicle user can grasp that the billing card is not in a usable state before entering the billing area or the toll gate on the toll road. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which information cannot be written to the billing card at the tollgate or the information cannot be read from the billing card.

The charging card may be any type of card, such as a prepaid card or an IC card, as long as it is used for charging processing. The billing card may be either a contactless card or a contact card.

The chargeable area is, for example, an area where a certain road usage fee is collected, such as road pricing, or a usage according to usage time such as a paid parking lot. An area where fees are collected is an example.

[0008] The second aspect of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle and charged with at least one of an entrance and an exit of a chargeable area or a charging communication device installed at a toll gate on a toll road. An in-vehicle device for transmitting / receiving information on a card, and is set around a card interface for transmitting / receiving information to / from a billing card storing information on billing, and around the installation position of the billing communication device A storage device in which position information of a reference position is registered, distance calculation means for calculating a distance from the position information of the reference position and its own position information to the reference position, and the distance within a predetermined range In some cases, a determination means for determining whether or not the charging card and the card interface are connected in a communicable state, the charging card and the card interface. If it and over the face were forces not connected to a communicable state, a vehicle-mounted device comprising a notifying means for notifying to that effect.

[0009] According to the second aspect, when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance range from the billing communication device, the billing card and the card interface are connected in a communicable state. Is determined by the determination means, and if the charging card and the card interface are not connected in a communicable state, the fact is notified. Thus, the vehicle user can grasp that the charging force mode is not available before entering the charging target area or the toll gate of the toll road. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation in which information cannot be written to the billing card at the toll gate or the information cannot be read from the billing card.

[0010] A third aspect of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle and charged with at least one of an entrance and an exit of a chargeable area, or a charging communication device installed at a toll gate of a toll road Is an in-vehicle device that sends and receives information related to the IC force card insertion part where the IC card is inserted, and the zone entry that detects that it has entered the confirmation zone provided in front of the billing communication device. A detecting means for determining whether or not the IC card is inserted into the IC card insertion section when it is detected that the vehicle has entered the confirmation zone; and the IC card is inserted into the IC card insertion section. When there is a force that is not inserted into the vehicle, the vehicle-mounted device includes notification means for notifying that effect. [0011] According to the third aspect, when the zone entry detection means detects that the vehicle has entered the confirmation zone provided in front of the billing communication device, the IC card is inserted. Whether or not the force is inserted into the IC card is determined by the determining means, and when the IC card is not inserted into the IC card insertion module, the fact is notified. From this, the vehicle user can grasp that the IC card is not inserted into the IC card insertion part before entering the toll gate of the chargeable area or toll road. As a result, it is possible to avoid a situation where the IC card is not inserted into the IC card insertion part at a tollgate or the like and the toll collection process can be performed.

[0012] A fourth aspect of the present invention is mounted on a vehicle and charged with at least one of an entrance and an exit of a chargeable area or a charging communication device installed at a toll gate on a toll road This is an on-vehicle device that sends and receives information related to the IC force code insertion part where the IC card is inserted, and a memory in which the position information of the reference position set around the charging communication device is registered A device, a distance calculating means for calculating a distance from the position information of the reference position and its own position information to the reference position, and when the distance is within a predetermined range, the IC card is the IC card An on-vehicle device comprising: determination means for determining whether or not the force is inserted into the insertion portion; and notification means for notifying that if the IC card is inserted into the IC card insertion portion. is there.

[0013] According to the fourth aspect, when the vehicle is within a predetermined distance range from the billing communication device, it is determined by the determining means whether or not the IC card is inserted into the IC card insertion portion. If the IC card is not inserted into the IC card insertion part, it will be notified. As a result, the vehicle user can know that the IC card is not inserted into the IC card insertion portion before entering the toll gate in the chargeable area or toll road. As a result, it is possible to avoid the situation where the IC card is not inserted into the IC card insertion part at the toll gate or the like and the billing process cannot be performed.

[0014] In the vehicle-mounted device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the determination unit may determine that the IC card is in a case where the distance is within a predetermined range and the distance tends to decrease. It is also possible to determine whether or not the card is inserted into the IC card insertion part!

[0015] According to such a configuration, only when the vehicle is approaching the billing communication device, the IC Whether or not a card is inserted is determined. As a result, when it is not necessary to perform a charging process using an IC card, such as when the user is moving away from the charging communication device, the determination is not performed, so that unnecessary determinations can be reduced.

[0016] In the vehicle-mounted device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the IC insertion unit is provided with an insertion detection unit that mechanically detects that the IC card is inserted, and the determination When the insertion detection unit detects the insertion of the IC card and the information on the IC card is readable, the IC card is inserted into the IC card insertion unit. It is also good as a configuration to judge.

[0017] According to such a configuration, when insertion of the IC card is detected by the insertion detecting means and the information of the IC card is in a readable state, the IC card is inserted into the IC card. Since it is determined that the IC card is inserted, it is possible to reliably determine whether the IC card is in a usable state.

[0018] The vehicle-mounted device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects may be configured to change the notification aspect according to a distance to the reference position.

[0019] According to such a configuration, the notification mode is changed according to the distance from the charging communication device. For example, the notification is performed at a higher level as the charging communication device is approached. As a result, the user can be more strongly urged to insert an IC card. Further, the user can grasp the approximate distance to the billing communication apparatus by this notification mode.

[0020] Note that the above-described configurations can be combined within a possible range.

[0021] According to the present invention, when a vehicle passes through a toll gate such as a toll road, an IC card is inserted into the vehicle-mounted device, so that it is impossible to automatically collect charges. The effect is that it can be avoided.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a chargeable area according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] This is a view of the shoulder side force around the toll gate in the billing area.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a confirmation zone provided in front of the toll booth.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the vehicle-mounted device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the vehicle-mounted device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the vehicle-mounted device according to another aspect of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

[0023] 1 vehicle

2 Tollgate

3 Billing communication device

5 First antenna

8 Second antenna

20 Onboard equipment

24 GPS receiver

25 storage devices

26 Control unit

27 Communications Department

30 IC card slot

31 IC card interface

32 Insertion detector

A Chargeable area

B Confirmation zone

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an on-vehicle device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In this embodiment, a case where it is used for road pricing will be described as an example.

[First Embodiment] As shown in FIG. 1, all roads that pass through the boundary of chargeable area A, which is the target area for road pricing, are vehicles 1 that enter chargeable area A. There is a toll gate 2 for collecting road usage fees. This toll gate 2 has a gate-shaped support pillar placed on the road at the boundary of the chargeable area A! The gate-shaped support pillar is provided with a billing communication device 3 corresponding to each traveling lane.

The accounting communication device 3 includes, for example, a first antenna 5, a camera 6, a vehicle as shown in FIG. It comprises a detector 7, a second antenna 8, and a control device (not shown) for controlling them. The billing communication device 3 automatically collects road usage fees by exchanging information on billing with an in-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle that passes through the traveling lane corresponding to the billing communication device 3. The above configuration is an example, and the configuration of the billing communication apparatus 3 is not particularly limited.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3, a confirmation zone B is provided in front of toll gate 2 in each lane. This confirmation zone B is a zone for confirming whether an IC card (charge card) has been inserted into the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle 1!

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the vehicle-mounted device according to the present embodiment.

As shown in Fig. 4, the in-vehicle device 20 includes a power circuit 23 connected to the vehicle power source 21 and the built-in battery 22, and a GP S receiver 24 that obtains position information from a GPS satellite and detects the current position. , A storage device 25 for storing various information, a control unit 26, a communication unit 27 for communicating with the first antenna 5, the second antenna 8, etc. of the accounting communication device 3, a display unit 28, a buzzer 1. It has a notification unit 29 such as an LED, an IC card insertion unit 30 into which an IC card is inserted, and an IC card interface 31 provided in the IC card insertion unit 30 as main components. Further, the IC card insertion part 30 is provided with an insertion detection part (insertion detection means) 32 for mechanically detecting whether or not the IC card is normally inserted.

[0028] The IC card inserted into the IC card insertion section 30 is, for example, a contact type IC card, and includes an IC chip on which a flash memory, an MPU, or the like is mounted. In addition to card information such as card ID numbers, this IC card stores balance, usage history, and so on. Information recorded on the IC card can be read and written by the control unit 26 via the IC card interface 31.

In the on-vehicle device 20, the power supply circuit 23 mainly controls the voltage supplied from the vehicle power source 21 to a voltage suitable for the on-vehicle device 20, and supplies the voltage to each part constituting the on-vehicle device 20. The built-in battery 22 is provided so as to ensure enough power for communication even when the power supply from the vehicle power supply 21 is cut off. The storage device 25 stores the map information of the confirmation zone B described above. In addition, the storage device 25 includes charging information such as vehicle owner information, vehicle information including vehicle type information, balance information read from the IC card, and card information. Various information necessary for the storage is stored.

[0030] The control unit 26 controls each unit, and the vehicle 1 checks the confirmation zone based on the position information from the GPS receiver 24 and the map information of the confirmation zone B stored in the storage device. A zone entry detection function (zone entry detection means) that detects entry into the zone B, and a card that is inserted into the IC card insertion section when entry into the confirmation zone B is detected. It has a judgment function (judgment means) to judge whether or not!

The communication unit 27 is for transmitting and receiving information to and from the accounting communication device 3 by radio.

The display unit 28 is, for example, a liquid crystal display or the like, and temporarily displays the remaining amount recorded in the IC card, thereby notifying the user of the vehicle 1 of information related to automatic collection such as road charges. To do.

[0031] For example, when the control unit 26 detects that the IC card is not inserted into the IC card insertion unit 30, the notification unit 29 notifies the fact that the IC card is normal. Insertion is urged to the user. For example, the notification unit 29 includes a buzzer that performs notification by sound or an LED that performs notification by lighting or the like.

The insertion detection unit 32 provided in the IC card insertion unit 30 includes, for example, a switch that changes to an open state force and a closed state when an IC card is inserted, and this switch is in a closed state. Upon detection, an insertion detection signal is output to the control unit 26.

[0032] In the vehicle-mounted device 20 having such a configuration, when the control unit 26 detects that the vehicle 1 enters the confirmation zone B, the control unit 26 detects that the IC card is inserted into the IC card insertion unit. Check if it is inserted in 30. Specifically, when the detection signal is input from the insertion detection unit 32 and information is read from the IC card, the control unit 26 determines that the IC card is inserted, and The display unit 28 is notified to that effect.

On the other hand, when the control unit 26 determines that the IC card has not been inserted, the control unit 26 displays on the display unit 28 that the IC card has been inserted, and activates the notification unit 29. Informs the user that the IC card has not been inserted into the IC card insertion section 30 and prompts the user to insert the IC card. This allows the user to know that an IC card is not inserted. Togashi.

[0033] As described above, according to the vehicle-mounted device 20 according to the present embodiment, whether or not the IC card is inserted into the IC card insertion unit 30 before the entrance toll gate such as road pricing is determined. If the IC card is not inserted, the user will be informed so that the IC card is not inserted into the IC card insertion section 30 at the entrance toll gate. It is possible to prevent a situation where automatic receipt is not possible.

[0034] Further, the notification allows the user to grasp that he / she enters the billing area A when he / she travels as it is. As a result, for example, it is possible to prevent accidental entry into the billing target area A. In this way, the notification by the notification unit 29 can be used for notification of entry into the billing target area A only by notifying that the IC card is not inserted.

[0035] In the above embodiment, the case where it is applied to the chargeable area A in road pricing has been described. For example, like a toll gate on a toll road or an entrance gate and an exit gate of a toll parking lot, It can be widely applied to systems in which billing processing is performed using an IC card.

Further, in the present embodiment, when the detection signal is input from the insertion detection unit 32 and data is read from the IC card, it is detected that the IC card is inserted. If one of the above conditions is detected, it may be detected that an IC card is inserted.

In this embodiment, the detection method used in this example is based on whether or not the vehicle has entered the force confirmation zone that has detected that the vehicle has entered the confirmation zone based on the map information and the position information obtained from the GPS receiver. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other detection methods may be used. For example, an antenna may be installed around the confirmation zone, and when a predetermined signal that also generates the antenna power is received, it may be detected that the vehicle has entered the confirmation zone.

[0036] Further, although the vehicle-mounted device 20 according to the present embodiment has been described as including the GPS receiver 24, instead of this, a mobile terminal device with a GPS function, a car navigation system, or the like The GPS function of these devices may be used as the GPS receiver 24 by connecting to the receiver via an external terminal. Also limited to GPS receiver 24 Without any problem, other components can be connected via external terminals.

[Second Embodiment] [0037] Next, an on-vehicle device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The on-vehicle device 20 according to the present embodiment replaces the map information of the confirmation zone B with each This is different from the above-described first embodiment in that the location information of the toll booth 2 is stored in the storage unit 25. Hereinafter, regarding the vehicle-mounted device according to the present embodiment, description of points that are common to the first embodiment will be omitted, and only different points will be described.

[0038] In the vehicle-mounted device 20 in the present embodiment, when the control unit 26 grasps the current position (X, Y) of the vehicle based on the position information acquired by the GPS receiver 24, the current position (X, Y ) Tollgate 2 location information (xO, yO), (xl, yl), · · Detect based on, (xn, yn).

As a result, if there is a toll booth 2 with position information (xO, yO) where the current position (X, Y) force of the vehicle is also within the predetermined distance range, the current position of the vehicle acquired by the GPS receiver 24 Based on the location (X, Y) and the toll gate location information (xO, yO), the distance between the two is calculated. When the distance between the two tends to decrease, it is determined whether or not the above-described IC card is inserted.

[0039] Thus, according to the vehicle-mounted device 20 according to the present embodiment, the toll booth 2 near the current position (X, Y) of the vehicle 1 is detected, and the distance from the toll booth 2 tends to decrease. In some cases, it is determined that the vehicle 1 is driving toward the toll booth 2 and whether or not an IC card is inserted is determined. As a result, it is possible to confirm whether or not an IC card is inserted only when the vehicle 1 enters the toll gate 2. As a result, when the power card is moving away from the toll booth 2, that is, when there is no problem even if the IC card is not inserted into the IC card insertion section 30, the determination as to whether or not the IC card is inserted is not made. Therefore, it is possible to reduce unnecessary determination processing as much as possible.

[0040] In the present embodiment, the mode of notification by the notification unit 29 may be varied according to the distance from the toll gate 2.

For example, the shorter the distance to the toll booth 2, the more strongly the user is encouraged to insert an IC card. It is good also as such a mode. For example, if the notification unit 29 is a buzzer, it is possible to gradually increase the volume, gradually shorten the interval of the buzzer sound, or take a combination of these. Further, when the notification unit 29 is an LED, it is possible to gradually increase the light emission amount, gradually decrease the blinking interval, or take a combination of these. In addition, as shown in Fig. 6, the distance to toll booth 2 is divided into several stages (in Fig. 6, it is divided into two stages), and it is also possible to provide notification according to each division.

[0041] Further, in this embodiment, the force that the vehicle 1 and the toll gate 2 have determined to be moving toward the toll gate 2 because the distance between the vehicle 1 and the toll gate 2 is decreasing. It is also possible to consider the route used when heading to location 2. Specifically, the road where the toll booth 2 is provided is stored in advance in the storage unit 25 in association with the location information of each toll booth 2, and the distance between the vehicle 1 and the toll booth 2 is within a predetermined distance range. If the vehicle is traveling on the road associated with the toll booth 2 and the distance between the vehicle 1 and the toll booth 2 tends to decrease, the vehicle 1 becomes the toll booth 2. You may judge that you are strong. In this way, by taking into account the route to Tollgate 2, for example, in the case where a plurality of roads cross three-dimensionally in the vicinity of the tollgate, the power to Tollgate 2 It is possible to determine whether or not the IC card has been inserted by limiting the number of vehicles traveling on the road.

[0042] In the present embodiment, the reference position is the installation position of the toll booth 2, but instead of this, any position around the installation position of the toll booth 2 may be used as the reference position.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the contact type IC card has been described as an example, but a non-contact type IC card may be used instead.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] On-board that is installed in a vehicle and exchanges information related to charging with at least one of the entrance and exit of the chargeable area or a charging communication device installed at a toll gate on a toll road A vessel,

A force interface for exchanging information with a billing card that stores billing information;

Zone entry detection means for detecting entry into a confirmation zone provided in front of the billing communication device;

A determination means for determining whether or not the billing card and the card interface are connected in a communicable state when it is detected that the vehicle has entered the confirmation zone;

A notifying means for notifying that when the charging card and the card interface are not connected in a communicable state;

A vehicle-mounted device comprising:

[2] On-board that is installed in a vehicle and exchanges information related to charging with at least one of the entrance and exit of the chargeable area, or with a charging communication device installed at a toll gate on the toll road A vessel,

A storage device in which position information of a reference position set around the installation position of the accounting communication device is registered;

Distance calculating means for calculating a distance to the reference position from the position information of the reference position and the own position information;

Determining means for determining whether or not the billing card and the card interface are connected in a communicable state when the distance is within a predetermined range and the distance tends to decrease;

A notifying means for notifying that when the charging card and the card interface are not connected in a communicable state; A vehicle-mounted device comprising:

[3] On-board that is installed in a vehicle and exchanges information related to charging with at least one of the entrance and exit of the chargeable area, or with a charging communication device installed at a toll gate on the toll road A vessel,

IC card insertion part where IC card is inserted,

A determination means for determining whether or not the IC card is inserted in the IC card insertion portion when it is detected that the vehicle has entered the confirmation zone;

Informing means for notifying that when the IC card is not inserted into the IC card insertion portion

A vehicle-mounted device comprising:

[4] On-board that is installed in a vehicle and exchanges information about charging with at least one of the entrance and exit of the chargeable area, or with a billing communication device installed at a toll gate on the toll road A vessel,

IC card insertion part where IC card is inserted,

A determination means for determining whether or not the IC card is inserted into the IC card insertion portion when the distance is within a predetermined range;

A vehicle-mounted device comprising:

[5] The determination means determines whether or not the IC card is inserted into the IC card insertion portion when the distance is within a predetermined range and the distance tends to decrease. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 4.

[6] The IC insertion portion is provided with insertion detection means for mechanically detecting that the IC card is inserted,

The determination means detects that the insertion of the IC card is detected by the insertion detection means, and the IC card is inserted into the IC card insertion portion when the information on the IC card is readable. The in-vehicle device according to any one of claims 3 to 5, which is determined as follows.

[7] The vehicle-mounted device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the notification mode is changed according to a distance to the reference position.