JP3789356B2 - Vehicle passage monitoring device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for monitoring a vehicle passing through a predetermined lane.
[0002]
[Prior art]
An ETC (Non-Stop Automatic Toll Collection System) that collects charges by communicating between roadside devices installed at toll gates and on-board devices mounted on vehicles using toll roads at toll road toll gates It has been put into practical use in recent years. The ETC toll booth is a lane with a width that allows vehicles to pass one by one, an entry detector that detects the entry of a vehicle into this lane, and the control of passing and stopping of the vehicle based on information from the entering vehicle It includes a start controller and an exit detector that detects passing the start controller and exiting the lane. The start controller includes a control rod that opens and closes, and the control rod closes the lane in a closed state to prevent the vehicle from passing. Further, the vehicle is turned upward from the closed state to the open state, and the vehicle is allowed to pass.
[0003]
Further, the control rod can turn backward in the vehicle traveling direction when receiving a force of a predetermined value or more in the vehicle traveling direction. This protects the control rod and vehicle from being damaged more than necessary when the vehicle hits a closed control rod, such as when the vehicle accidentally enters an ETC lane. ing. Once in the released state, it remains in this position until it is manually returned to the original position.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above-described device for monitoring vehicle passage provided in the ETC and the like, when the control rod turns in the vehicle traveling direction and reaches the position for releasing the lane, the control rod is detected by the sensor of the exit detector, and the vehicle There was a problem that the exit judgment could not be made accurately.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle passage monitoring device that can determine whether a vehicle has left even when a control rod is in a released state.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the vehicle passage monitoring device according to the present invention, the exit detection unit for detecting the exit of the vehicle from the lane to be monitored is configured to have a plurality of sensors for detecting the presence or absence of the vehicle, and the control rod is set to the release position. When it becomes, the determination part which determines passage of a vehicle based on the output of sensors other than the sensor which detected the control rod as a vehicle was provided.
[0007]
The released state of the control rod can be detected based on the turning angle of the control rod. It is also possible to determine that the control rod is in a released state when some sensors detect the presence of a vehicle for a predetermined time or longer. Also, since the sensors that determine the presence of a vehicle by the control rod when the control rod is released are known in advance, these sensors are in the released state when the presence of the vehicle is detected continuously for a predetermined time or more. It can also be judged.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an ETC including a vehicle passage monitoring apparatus according to this embodiment. The ETC control function unit 10 receives a signal from each device having an individual function, and controls each device based on this signal. Usually, a communication radio unit (roadside unit) 12 installed in the vicinity of a predetermined lane in which an ETC is installed communicates with an in-vehicle unit 14 mounted on a passing vehicle, and information and contracts related to the vehicle. Get information. The acquired information is sent to the ETC control function unit 10.
[0009]
An approach detector 16 for detecting the approach of the vehicle to the lane is installed on the upstream side of the ETC lane. The approach detector 16 is arranged on the side of the lane, irradiates the vehicle body with infrared rays, and sees the reflection to determine the passage of the vehicle. Alternatively, an infrared light emitting unit may be disposed on one side of the lane, and a light receiving unit may be disposed on the opposite side, and the vehicle may be determined to pass when the infrared ray is blocked by the vehicle. When the entry of the vehicle is detected, this information is sent to the ETC control function unit 10. A timing determination unit 18 that measures the timing for determining whether or not the vehicle can pass is provided downstream of the entry detector 16. The timing determination unit 18 has a configuration similar to that of the above-described entry detector 16, detects that the vehicle has reached the position where it is provided, and transmits this information to the ETC control function unit 10. The ETC control function unit 10 receives necessary information from the in-vehicle device up to this point, and permits the passage of the vehicle when it can permit the passage. However, if necessary information is not received at this time, the start controller 20 prevents the vehicle from passing as will be described later.
[0010]
The start controller 20 operates the control rod 22 (see FIG. 2) based on the information from the ETC control function unit 10 to restrict the passage of the vehicle. The control rod 22 is moved to a passage blocking position A which is a position extending in a direction crossing the lane and a passage permission position B rotated upward from the blocking position in a plane perpendicular to the lane. An exit detector 24 that detects the exit of the vehicle from the ETC lane is installed downstream of the start controller 20. The configuration of the exit detector 24 has the same configuration as that of the aforementioned entrance detector 16. When the exit detector 24 detects the exit of the vehicle, the ETC control function unit 10 ends the process related to the passing vehicle. Further, the ETC has a roadside indicator 26 for notifying the driver of the vehicle of information.
[0011]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the start controller 20, particularly the control rod 22. As described above, the control rod extends in the direction crossing the ETC lane 28, and the passage blocking position A for blocking the passage of the vehicle, and the passage permission position B for allowing the vehicle to pass by rotating upward from this position. It is possible to take Further, when the vehicle comes into contact with the control rod 22 in the traffic blocking position A, the control rod 22 turns to the release position C in order to prevent the vehicle or the control rod from being greatly damaged. Specifically, when a predetermined force is applied to the control rod 22 along the vehicle traveling direction, the mechanism that has been fixing the control rod until then is released, and a structure in which the control rod 22 turns is incorporated in the support mechanism. Yes. When the control rod 22 reaches the release position C, the vehicle can pass. The control rod 22 that has reached the release position C maintains the release position C unless it is manually returned to the passage prevention position A.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 2, the exit detector 24 has a plurality of sensors 30 arranged along the vertical direction. The sensor 30 detects the presence or absence of a vehicle passing through the ETC lane 28 at the height at which the sensor 30 is installed. However, as described above, when the control rod 22 turns to the release position C, the control rod 22 is located at a part of the detection positions of the sensors 30, and signals that these sensors 30 detect the vehicle are sent out. Resulting in. Therefore, in this embodiment, the following configuration is provided so that the control rod 22 is not detected as a vehicle. In addition, when the control rod 22 is in the release position C, the sensor for detecting the presence of the vehicle is known in advance, and when these sensors are distinguished from other sensors, they are referred to as a control rod position sensor 30a.
[0013]
A release sensor 32 for detecting that the turning angle of the control rod 22 in the horizontal plane exceeds a predetermined value and has moved to the release position C is disposed. The signal from the release sensor 32 is sent to the exit detector 24. While the release sensor 32 detects that the control rod 22 is in the release position C, it is based only on the detection results of the other sensors 30 regardless of the detection result of the sensor 30a at the control rod position. The vehicle passing is detected and the result is transmitted to the ETC control function unit 10.
[0014]
FIG. 3 is a chart showing a control flow relating to vehicle exit detection in the exit detector 24. In the initial state, the output of the exit detector is off (S100). When one of the sensors 30 is turned on (S102), it is determined whether a release signal indicating that the control rod 22 is in the release position C is received (S104). If the release signal has not been received, a signal indicating vehicle exit is sent from the exit detector 24 to the ETC control function unit 10 (S108). On the other hand, if a release signal is received, it is determined whether a sensor other than the control rod position sensor 30a is on (S106). If it is on, exit is determined (S108). Then, the process returns to step S100.
[0015]
As described above, in this embodiment, it is understood that the release sensor 32 functions as a release detector that detects the release state in which the control rod has moved to the release position. The exit detector 24 functions as an exit detection unit that detects the exit of the vehicle from the ETC lane. When the release state is detected, the exit detector 24 detects the control rod as a vehicle other than the part of the sensors. It is also understood that a determination unit that performs passage determination based on the output of the sensor is included.
[0016]
Embodiment 2. FIG.
In this embodiment, the method for detecting the release position C of the control rod 22 is different from that in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the release sensor 32 is not provided, and the release position C is determined according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.
[0017]
In the initial state, the output of the exit detector 24 is off (S110). When the control rod position sensor 30a is turned on (S112), the output of the exit detector 24 is turned on, and a vehicle exit detection signal is sent to the ETC control function unit 10 (S114). When the ON state of the sensor 30a at the control rod position continues for a predetermined time or more (S116), it is determined whether the outputs of the other sensors 30 are OFF (S118). If all the sensors other than the control rod position sensor 30a are off, it is determined that the control rod is in the release position C (S120), and if not, it is determined that the vehicle actually exists. If the control rod position sensor 30a is turned off (S122), it returns to the initial state (S124).
[0018]
When it is determined that the control rod is in the release position C (S120), the vehicle exit determination method is the same as in the first embodiment. That is, the exit is determined when a sensor other than the control rod position sensor 30a is on.
[0019]
As described above, in this embodiment, the function of the release detector for detecting that the control rod has moved to the release position is achieved by executing the flowchart shown in FIG. That is, the exit detector functions as a release detector.
[0020]
Embodiment 3 FIG.
In this embodiment, the detection signal from the release sensor 32 can be transmitted not to the exit detector 24 but to the ETC control function unit 10. In this case, the output of each sensor 30 of the exit detector 24 is also transmitted to the ETC control function unit 10. While the release state is detected in the ETC control function unit 10, the vehicle leaving determination is performed based on the outputs of the sensors other than the control rod position sensor 30a.
[0021]
That is, in this embodiment, the exit detector 24 and the ETC control function unit 10 function as an exit detection unit that detects the exit of the vehicle.
[0022]
Embodiment 4 FIG.
In this embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, the release state of the control rod is determined based on the output of each sensor 30 of the exit detector 24 without installing the release sensor 32. The difference from the second embodiment is that the output of each sensor 30 is sent to the ETC control function unit 10 and controlled based on the processing shown in FIG. 4 by the ETC control function unit 10 based on the output of these sensors. The released state of the bar is determined. Therefore, in this embodiment, the ETC control function unit 10 functions as a determination unit that performs passage determination in the released state.
[0023]
In this embodiment and the second embodiment, when not only the control rod position sensor 30a but also a small number of arbitrary sensors are continuously turned on, the vehicle exits based on the outputs of sensors other than these sensors. It is also possible to make a determination. In this case, it is possible not only to detect that the control rod is in the released state, but also to deal with a case where a malfunction occurs due to dust on some sensors.
[0024]
【The invention's effect】
Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
[0025]
When the control rod is in the released state, the passage determination of the vehicle can be performed based on the output of the sensor other than the sensor that detects the control rod as a vehicle, and the passage determination can be performed even in the control rod released state. did.
[0026]
In addition, detection with a simple configuration is achieved by detecting the release state with the turning angle of the control rod.
[0027]
Further, when a part of the sensors of the exit detection unit detects the presence of the vehicle for a predetermined time, it is not necessary to add a new hardware configuration by determining that the control rod is in the released state.
[0028]
Moreover, when the control rod is assumed to be in the released state, the sensor to be referred to is a sensor that detects the control rod as a vehicle when the control rod comes to the release position in advance, thereby reducing the processing load. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of this embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a determination process related to leaving the vehicle.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart relating to determination of a control rod release state.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ETC control function unit, 20 start controller, 22 control rod, 24 exit detector, 30 sensor, 30a control rod position sensor, 32 release sensor, A traffic blocking position, B traffic permission position, C release position.

Claims (4)

A control rod that opens and closes based on information from a vehicle passing through a predetermined lane;
On the downstream side of the control rod in the vehicle traveling direction, the vehicle has a plurality of sensors for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle, and an exit detection unit that detects the exit of the vehicle from the predetermined lane based on information of the sensor;
Have
The control rod can move from a state in which the predetermined lane is closed to a release position that allows the vehicle to pass by turning in the vehicle traveling direction, and at the release position, the control rod is one of the exit detection units . A vehicle passage monitoring device that is detected as a vehicle by a sensor of the unit,
A release detector for detecting a release state in which the control rod has moved to the release position;
A determination unit configured to perform passage determination based on an output of a sensor other than the part of the sensors that detects the control rod as a vehicle when the release state is detected;
Including a vehicle passage monitoring device.   The vehicle passage monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the release detector detects the release state based on a turning angle of the control rod.   2. The vehicle passage monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the release detector detects the release state when a part of the sensors of the exit detection unit detects the presence of the vehicle continuously for a predetermined time or more.   The release detector detects the presence of the vehicle when the control rod is in the release position, and detects the release state when a predetermined sensor detects the presence of the vehicle continuously for a predetermined time or more. The vehicle passage monitoring apparatus according to claim 1.

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