JP2000132718A - Nonstop automatic toll collecting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure the safety, the reliability of a system, etc., by measuring a vehicle passing-through time from detection of the tip of a vehicle by first vehicle detecting sensors to detection of it by second vehicle detecting sensors to calculate a vehicle speed from a distance between the first and second vehicle detecting sensors to display it. SOLUTION: Signals detected by the vehicle detecting sensors 2a and 2b when the vehicle passes through a toll gate are set to be a staring point and signals detected by the vehicle detecting sensors 3a and 3b then are set to be a finishing point. Then, a signal indicating the vehicle passing-through time from the sensors 2a and 2b to the sensors 3a and 3b is generated and a time measuring signal extracting a counting signal only in the section of the signal is generated. The time measuring signal is measured by a counting part 11 to obtain the passing-through time from the vehicles passing-through the sensors 2a and 2b to the vehicle's reaching the sensors 3a and 3b to calculate a vehicle speed from the distance between the sensors 2a, 2b and the sensors 3a, 3b by a control part 12 to display the calculated result on a display 8.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a nonstop automatic toll collection system on a toll road, which measures the speed of a vehicle entering a nonstop tollgate, displays the speed of the vehicle, and warns a vehicle that is overspeeding. By giving, the vehicle can safely pass through the toll booth,
This is to ensure the safety of the collection staff in the toll booth.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is well known that non-stop automatic toll collection systems on toll roads have already been taken up in many newspapers and magazines and various proposals have been made by many applicants.

In a conventional toll collection system, when entering an expressway from an ordinary road or exiting from an expressway to an ordinary road, it is necessary to temporarily stop at a tollgate to receive a toll ticket and pay a toll. There are many cars in line in front of the toll booth. In order to improve such a problem, a non-stop automatic toll collection system that can collect tolls without stopping at a tollgate for some time has been proposed.

For such a system, for example,
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Technical Report VOL. 32 NO. 4 (1995-7)
P264-267 "Needs and Technical Development in Expressway Traffic Management Systems", NIKKEI BUSINES
S, November 13, 1995, pages 155 to 158, "Information is transmitted from the road to the car,""A battle for initiative in Japan, the United States, and Europe", or published patent publication 5-508492, "Electric vehicle toll collection device and method." In particular, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-508492 discloses a detailed description.

[0005]

The non-stop automatic toll collection system is under joint development by the public and private sectors in Japan, and its practical use is said to be from 1999. On the other hand, in some overseas countries, a system as shown in the above publication is operated.

In this system, information is transmitted and received using radio waves between a vehicle-mounted device mounted on a vehicle entering a toll booth area and a transmitting / receiving antenna installed at the toll booth, thereby automatically controlling the toll. The vehicle can be collected and passed through the toll gate without stopping, but when the vehicle passes through the toll gate, it is necessary to pass safely.
For example, in the case of a system in which vehicles equipped with on-board units and vehicles not equipped with on-board units can pass through tollgates in a mixed manner,
When the vehicle continuously enters the tollgate, the traveling vehicle cannot determine whether the vehicle ahead of the own vehicle has an on-board device. Even if your vehicle has a vehicle-mounted device and can pass non-stop, if the vehicle ahead is not equipped with a vehicle-mounted device, the vehicle ahead will stop in front of the booth at the toll booth and pay the fee to the collection staff Therefore, there is a problem that the vehicle must be passed at a safe speed in the toll booth. Another problem is that the vehicle must pass through the toll booth at a certain speed or less in order to reliably receive the toll from the vehicle passing non-stop.

On the other hand, in order to collect tolls from a vehicle not equipped with an on-vehicle device, it is necessary for a receptionist waiting at the toll booth to lean out of the toll booth and collect tolls. It is necessary to pay attention to vehicles passing through the toll booth. Special attention is required when the vehicle enters at high speed, and there is a problem that sufficient safety must be ensured.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and will be described in detail below.

[0009]

According to the present invention, first and second sensors for vehicle detection are arranged in the vehicle traveling direction of a tollgate, and the leading end of the vehicle that has entered is detected by the first vehicle detection sensor. After that, the vehicle passage time from when the second vehicle detection sensor detects the vehicle is measured, the vehicle speed is calculated from the distance between the first and second vehicle detection sensors, and the vehicle speed is displayed. . In addition, the calculated vehicle speed is displayed in the toll booth, and the collection staff is notified of the speed of the passing vehicle. Also, a regulated speed means for setting the regulated speed of the vehicle traveling in the tollgate, and comparing the vehicle speed measured above with the set regulated speed, and when the vehicle speed exceeds the regulated speed, the passing vehicle and the receiving person Was given a warning. Also, the first for measuring the transit time of the vehicle,
By using the second vehicle detection sensor also as a vehicle detection sensor for generating communication start timing and communication end timing, the number of vehicle detection sensors is reduced and the number of system components is reduced. did.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a device at a tollgate, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a signal exchange relationship, and FIG. It is a figure showing a timing.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a tollgate. The tollgate 1 is equipped with various facilities. Here, all unnecessary parts are omitted except for the gist of the present invention. is there. Reference numerals 2a and 2b denote first vehicle detection sensors installed at a tollgate, 2a having a light emitting function and 2b having a light receiving function.
Constitute a sensor for detecting the vehicle. The second vehicle detection sensor 3 is separated from the vehicle in the traveling direction.
a, 3b, third vehicle detection sensors 4a, 4b, and fourth vehicle detection sensors 5a, 5b. Reference numeral 6 denotes a vehicle passing through a tollgate, 7 denotes an antenna installed at the tollgate 1 for communicating with a vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle, 8 denotes a speed indicator for displaying the speed of the vehicle, and 9 denotes a tollgate. It is a control device installed in.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the relationship between transmission and reception of signals of the apparatus. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 is mounted on the control device 9 and connected to the antenna 7 to communicate with the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle 6. The communication control unit 11 is mounted on the control device 9 and receives the vehicle detection signals of the vehicle detection sensors 2a and 2b and the vehicle detection signals of the vehicle detection sensors 3a and 3b, and
A counting unit for counting the time from when the vehicle passes through the vehicle detection sensors 2a and 2b to when the vehicle passes through the vehicle detection sensors 3a and 3b, a communication control unit 10, a counting unit 11, and a speed display are mounted on the control device 9. It is an overall control unit for controlling the device 8.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the timing of the present invention. In FIG. 3, a is a signal detected by the vehicle detecting sensors 2a and 2b when the vehicle 6 passes the tollgate 1, and a is a signal detected by the vehicle detection sensor 2a. When the vehicle 6 passes, the vehicle detection sensors 3a, 3
b is a signal detected by the counting unit 11, c is a counting signal for counting time, and d is a signal detected by the vehicle detection sensors 2a and 2b when the vehicle 6 passes through the tollgate 1.
A signal indicating the time until a vehicle is detected by the vehicle detection sensors 3a and 3b. The signal O indicates a vehicle detection sensor after the vehicle 6 passing the tollgate 1 is detected by the vehicle detection sensors 2a and 2b. This is a measurement section clock for measuring a time in a section until a vehicle is detected in 3a and 3b, and the measured time is T.

The operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. When the vehicle 6 enters the tollgate 1 and is detected by the vehicle detection sensors 2a and 2b, the vehicle detection sensors 2a and 2b
The signal a is input to the counter 11 from b. When the vehicle 6 is detected by the vehicle detection sensors 3a, 3b installed downstream of the vehicle detection sensors 2a, 2b in the vehicle traveling direction while the vehicle 6 is traveling, a signal B is output from the vehicle detection sensors 3a, 3b to the counting unit 11. Is input to The counting unit 11 generates a counting signal c for counting time, and starts from a signal a detected by the vehicle detecting sensors 2a and 2b when the vehicle 6 passes through the tollgate 1, and the vehicle detecting sensor Vehicle detection sensor 2 ending at signal A detected by the vehicle at 3a, 3b
A signal d indicating the vehicle passage time from a, 2b to the vehicle detection sensors 3a, 3b is generated, and a time measurement signal o for extracting the count signal c only in the section of the signal d is generated. When the counting unit 11 measures the time measurement signal E, the vehicle 6 passes through the vehicle detection sensors 2a and 2b and passes through the vehicle detection sensors 3a and 3b.
Is obtained. Vehicle detection sensor 2
The distance between a, 2b and the vehicle detection sensors 3a, 3b is known when the vehicle detection sensor is installed, and by setting this distance information in the overall control unit in advance, the measured transit time T and the preset The overall control unit 12 can measure the passing speed of the vehicle 6 from the distance information between the vehicle detection sensors 2a and 2b and the vehicle detection sensors 3a and 3b. The passing speed of the vehicle measured by the overall control unit 12 is output to the speed display unit 8, and the driver of the vehicle 6 can be notified of the passing speed of the own vehicle at the tollgate.

After passing through the vehicle detection sensors 3a and 3b, the vehicle 6 reaches the position of the vehicle detection sensors 4a and 4b, and the detection signals of the vehicle detection sensors 4a and 4b are input to the overall control unit 12, The detection signals of the vehicle detection sensors 4a and 4b serve as communication start timing signals. At this timing, the overall control unit 12 outputs a communication start command to the communication control unit 10 so that communication is performed between the antenna 7 and the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle 6 so that the vehicle can be automatically stopped without stopping. Receipt is performed. Vehicle detection sensors 5a, 5b
Is a detector for generating a communication end timing for terminating communication at this position when communication is not completed when the vehicle 6 reaches the position of the vehicle detection sensors 5a and 5b.

Embodiment 2 4 and 5 are diagrams showing a second embodiment of the present invention. The basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment. However, in the case of a tollgate that can pass through both a vehicle equipped with an on-board unit for a non-stop automatic toll collection system and a vehicle not equipped with an on-board unit, It is necessary to collect a toll from a vehicle that does not have an onboard device and a collection staff. In such a case, a booth speed indicator 13 for notifying the collection staff of the passing speed of the vehicle 6 entering the tollgate 1 is provided, and the passing speed of the vehicle 6 measured by the overall control unit 12 is displayed in the booth. The output is also output to the internal speed indicator 13 so that the receiver can recognize the speed of the vehicle 6 that has entered the tollgate 1, thereby ensuring the safety of the receiver such as not leaving the receiver.

Embodiment 3 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention. The basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, but a booth speed indicator 13 for notifying a toll booth of the speed of the vehicle 6, a booth alert indicator 16 for giving an overspeed warning, and a vehicle A speed warning indicator 15 for giving a warning of an overspeed of the vehicle to the driver 6
And a speed setting unit 14 for setting the regulation speed in the control device 9.

When the vehicle 6 enters the tollgate 1 and passes through the vehicle detection sensors 2a and 2b, and then passes through the vehicle detection sensors 3a and 3b, the overall control unit 12 measures the passing speed of the vehicle 6. In the overall control unit 12, the measured passing speed of the vehicle 6 is compared with the regulated speed preset in the speed setting unit 14, and the measured speed exceeds the regulated speed preset in the speed setting unit 14. When the overall control unit 1
2 to speed alarm display 15 and booth alarm display 16
An alarm signal is output and displayed. The overall control unit 1
The passing speed of the vehicle 6 measured at 2 is also displayed on the speed indicator 8 at the same time.
Is output to the booth speed indicator 13.

By displaying the passing speed of the vehicle 6 on the speed display 8 and displaying an alarm for the passing speed on the speed alarm display 15, the driver of the vehicle 6 knows that the speed must be reduced. Yes, booth speed indicator 13
Display the passing speed of the vehicle 6 to the booth speed indicator 16
By displaying the warning about the passing speed, the collection staff can know that a vehicle exceeding the speed has entered and secure the safety.

Embodiment 4 8 and 9 show a fourth embodiment.
FIG. In the fourth embodiment, a vehicle detection sensor for measuring the passing speed of the vehicle 6 entering the tollgate 1 is used to start communication between the antenna 7 and the vehicle-mounted device mounted on the vehicle 6. Vehicle detection sensors 5a, 5 generating a communication end timing for terminating communication with vehicle detection sensors 4a, 4b generating a communication start timing.
Since b is also used, the same operation can be obtained while reducing the number of vehicle detection sensors.

[0021]

In the non-stop automatic toll collection system, it is necessary to limit the speed of vehicles entering the toll booth in order to ensure safety and reliability of the system.
In addition, when the driver of the vehicle enters the tollgate, the driver drives the vehicle while gazing forward, thereby displaying the speed of the vehicle according to the first aspect of the present invention so that the driver can recognize the speed. It has the effect of giving recognition that safety must be ensured.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the toll booth is made to recognize the speed of the vehicle entering the vehicle, so that the vehicle entering at high speed can be judged by the toll collector. There is an effect that the safety of the receiving staff can be ensured, for example, by leaving no hands.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a warning is issued when the passing speed of the vehicle that has entered the vehicle exceeds the preset regulation speed, and the passing speed of the vehicle is notified to the driver and the collection staff. Since the notification can be made, the vehicle can be passed at a safe speed in the toll booth, and sufficient safety can be ensured. Further, it is possible to determine whether the speed exceeds the regulation speed for operating the system reliably, and there is an effect that the reliability of the system is increased.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the same effect can be obtained while also using the vehicle detecting sensor for controlling communication with the vehicle detecting sensor for detecting the passing speed of the vehicle. There is an effect that an inexpensive system can be constructed while ensuring the reliability of the system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a device at a tollgate explaining a first embodiment of a nonstop automatic toll collection system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a signal transfer relationship for explaining a first embodiment of the non-stop automatic toll collection system according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a timing chart illustrating a first embodiment of the non-stop automatic toll collection system according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a device at a tollgate explaining a second embodiment of the non-stop automatic toll collection system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a signal transfer relationship for explaining a non-stop automatic toll collection system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an entire configuration of a device at a tollgate explaining a third embodiment of the nonstop automatic toll collection system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a signal transfer relationship for explaining a third embodiment of the non-stop automatic toll collection system according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a device at a tollgate explaining a fourth embodiment of the nonstop automatic toll collection system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a signal transfer relationship for explaining a non-stop automatic toll collection system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Toll booth, 2a Vehicle detection sensor, 2b Vehicle detection sensor, 3a Vehicle detection sensor, 3b Vehicle detection sensor, 4a Vehicle detection sensor, 4b Vehicle detection sensor, 5a Vehicle detection sensor, 5b Vehicle detection Sensor, 6 vehicle, 7 antenna, 8 speed display, 9 control device, 10 communication control unit, 11 counting unit, 12 overall control unit, 13 booth speed display, 14 speed setting unit, 15 speed alarm display, 16 Alarm display in booth.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A non-stop automatic toll collection system for performing wireless communication between a transmitting / receiving antenna installed at a tollgate on a toll road and an on-vehicle device mounted on a vehicle to automatically collect tolls. The first and second vehicle detection sensors are arranged at predetermined intervals in the vehicle traveling direction, and the second vehicle detection sensor detects the leading end of the vehicle that has entered the tollgate by the first vehicle detection sensor. A vehicle transit time measuring means for measuring a vehicle transit time until it is detected by the vehicle detection sensor; and Vehicle speed calculating means for calculating the speed of a vehicle passing between the two vehicle detection sensors, and display means for displaying the calculated vehicle speed, wherein the running speed of the vehicle passing through the tollgate is displayed. And the non strike Automatic toll collection system. 2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a speed notifying means for notifying a vehicle clerk in the toll booth of the vehicle speed measured as described above. 2. The non-stop automatic toll collection system according to claim 1, wherein safety of the collection member is ensured, for example, when the collection member enters, and the collection member does not touch. 3. A regulated speed setting means for setting a regulated speed of vehicle travel in a tollgate, a comparing means for comparing the measured vehicle speed with a regulated speed preset by the regulated speed setting means, 2. A non-stop automatic toll collection system according to claim 1, further comprising warning means for giving a warning, wherein a warning is given to a passing vehicle when the measured vehicle speed exceeds a preset regulation speed. . 4. A first and a second vehicle detection sensor for detecting a vehicle speed, for performing wireless communication between a transmission / reception antenna installed at a tollgate and an on-vehicle device mounted on the vehicle. 2. The non-stop automatic toll collection system according to claim 1, wherein the non-stop automatic toll collection system is used also as a vehicle detection sensor for generating a communication start timing and a communication end timing.