TBOX device integrated with ETC function and vehicle

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model relates to the technical field of vehicle communication, in particular to a TBOX device integrated with an ETC function and a vehicle. The TBOX device integrated with the ETC function comprises a TBOX body, and the TBOX body comprises a housing and a circuit board located in the housing. The ETC control integration module and the ETC antenna are located on the circuit board, and the ETC antenna is connected with the ETC control integration module so that information can be transmitted between the ETC control integration module and the road side unit; the TBOX body further comprises a micro-control unit located on the circuit board, and the ETC control integration module is connected with the micro-control unit so that the ETC control integration module can communicate with vehicle-mounted equipment through the micro-control unit. According to the technical scheme, the production and manufacturing cost of the vehicle can be reduced, and the orderliness and attractiveness of the vehicle are optimized.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present application relate to the field of vehicle communication technology, and in particular to a TBOX device and a vehicle with integrated ETC function. Background Art

[0002] Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) is the most commonly used highway toll collection method on the market. It uses dedicated short-range communication technology to interact between the on-board unit and the roadside unit (RSU) installed at the toll booth, and uses a back-end computer for settlement. Therefore, the transaction can be automatically completed when the vehicle passes through the highway toll booth, without the need for the driver to stop and the intervention of the toll collector.

[0003] TBOX (Telematic BOX, intelligent vehicle terminal) is one of the core components of a vehicle. It is a vehicle networking system used to achieve long-distance communication for new energy vehicles and provide vehicles with services such as vehicle data collection, remote query and control, and fault detection.

[0004] In the prior art, TBOX and ETC are typically installed separately on vehicles during production and use. This separate arrangement consumes excessive installation space and increases the number of wiring harnesses required to connect vehicle components, further increasing vehicle manufacturing costs. This design not only increases development costs but also complicates vehicle layout and reduces the vehicle's aesthetic appeal. Utility Model Content

[0005] Based on this, it is necessary to address the above technical issues. This application provides a TBOX device and vehicle with integrated ETC function, which can reduce the production and manufacturing costs of the vehicle and optimize the neatness and aesthetics of the vehicle.

[0006] In a first aspect, the present application provides a TBOX device with integrated ETC function, comprising:

[0007] The TBOX body includes a housing and a circuit board located inside the housing;

[0008] An ETC control integrated module and an ETC antenna located on the circuit board, wherein the ETC antenna is connected to the ETC control integrated module to enable information transmission between the ETC control integrated module and the roadside unit;

[0009] The TBOX body further includes a micro control unit located on the circuit board, and the ETC control integrated module is connected to the micro control unit so that the ETC control integrated module communicates with the on-board equipment through the micro control unit.

[0010] In some embodiments, the ETC control integrated module includes a first serial port, and the micro control unit includes a second serial port;

[0011] The ETC control integrated module communicates with the micro control unit through the first serial port and the second serial port.

[0012] In some embodiments, the ETC control integrated module includes a radio frequency chip;

[0013] The radio frequency chip is connected to the ETC antenna and the first serial port respectively.

[0014] In some embodiments, the TBOX device with integrated ETC function further includes:

[0015] An electrostatic protection module, wherein the radio frequency chip is connected to the ETC antenna through the electrostatic protection module.

[0016] In some embodiments, the TBOX device with integrated ETC function further includes:

[0017] A voltage conversion module is located on the circuit board, wherein the input end of the voltage conversion module is connected to the power supply end of the micro control unit, and the output end of the voltage conversion module is connected to the ETC control integrated module.

[0018] In some embodiments, the TBOX body is located below the vehicle's front windshield instrument panel and above the vehicle's front hood.

[0019] In some embodiments, the horizontal angle between the TBOX body and the road surface is greater than 45° and less than 120°.

[0020] In some embodiments, the TBOX device with integrated ETC function further includes:

[0021] A safety chip is located on the circuit board, and the safety chip is communicatively connected with the ETC control integrated module.

[0022] In some embodiments, the TBOX body further includes a prompt unit, which is communicatively connected to the micro control unit.

[0023] In a second aspect, the present application provides a vehicle comprising a TBOX device with integrated ETC function as described in the first aspect.

[0024] The embodiment of the present application provides a TBOX device with integrated ETC function, comprising: a TBOX body, the TBOX body including a housing and a circuit board located within the housing; an ETC control integrated module and an ETC antenna located on the circuit board, the ETC antenna connected to the ETC control integrated module to enable information transmission between the ETC control integrated module and the roadside unit; the TBOX body also including a microcontroller unit located on the circuit board, the ETC control integrated module connected to the microcontroller unit to enable the ETC control integrated module to communicate with the on-board equipment via the microcontroller unit. Thus, by integrating the ETC control integrated module and the ETC antenna on the circuit board of the TBOX body, while achieving the TBOX integrated ETC function, the related art practice of separately arranging the TBOX and ETC on the vehicle is avoided, thereby reducing the vehicle's manufacturing costs and optimizing the vehicle's neatness and aesthetics. In addition, by providing an ETC control integrated module with integrated MCU processing functions, the embodiment of the present application enables the ETC control integrated module to communicate directly with the microcontroller unit in the TBOX body, further optimizing the hardware layout space of the TBOX and saving costs. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0026] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, for ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative work.

[0027] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a TBOX device with integrated ETC function provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 2 A circuit diagram of another TBOX device with integrated ETC function provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0029] Figure 3 A schematic structural diagram of another TBOX device with integrated ETC function provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Figure 4 A schematic structural diagram of another TBOX device with integrated ETC function provided in an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of another TBOX device with integrated ETC function provided in an embodiment of the present application.

[0032] Among them, 10. Shell; 11. Circuit board; 12. ETC control integrated module; 13. ETC antenna; 14. Micro control unit; 15. Roadside unit; 16. On-board equipment; 17. Roadside antenna; 18. Radio frequency chip; 19. Electrostatic protection module; 20. Voltage conversion module; 21. Security chip; 211. Prompt unit; 22. Communication module; 23. Positioning module; 24. 4G / 5G antenna; 25. GNSS antenna. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of this application more clear, the following further describes this application in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are only used to explain this application and are not intended to limit this application.

[0034] In the prior art, TBOX and ETC are typically installed separately on vehicles during production and use. This separate arrangement consumes excessive installation space and increases the number of wiring harnesses required to connect vehicle components, further increasing vehicle manufacturing costs. This design not only increases development costs but also complicates vehicle layout and reduces the vehicle's aesthetic appeal.

[0035] In response to the technical problems existing in the above-mentioned related technologies, the embodiments of the present application provide a TBOX device and a vehicle with integrated ETC functions. The TBOX device with integrated ETC functions provided in the embodiments of the present application integrates the ETC control integrated module and the ETC antenna on the circuit board of the TBOX body. While realizing the TBOX integrated ETC function, it avoids the related art of separately arranging TBOX and ETC on the vehicle, thereby reducing the production and manufacturing costs of the vehicle and optimizing the neatness and aesthetics of the vehicle. In addition, the embodiments of the present application provide an ETC control integrated module with an integrated MCU processing function, which enables the ETC control integrated module to communicate directly with the microcontroller unit in the TBOX body, further optimizing the hardware layout space of the TBOX and saving costs.

[0036] The following is an illustrative description of the TBOX device and vehicle with integrated ETC function provided in the embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0037] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a TBOX device with integrated ETC function provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 1As shown, the TBOX device with integrated ETC function includes: a TBOX body, which includes a shell 10 and a circuit board 11 located in the shell 10; an ETC control integrated module 12 and an ETC antenna 13 located on the circuit board 11, and the ETC antenna 13 is connected to the ETC control integrated module 12 to enable information to be transmitted between the ETC control integrated module 12 and the roadside unit 15; the TBOX body also includes a micro control unit 14 located on the circuit board 11, and the ETC control integrated module 12 is connected to the micro control unit 14 to enable the ETC control integrated module 12 to communicate with the on-board equipment 16 through the micro control unit 14.

[0038] Among them, the shell 10 is used to provide protection for the circuit board 11 and functional modules arranged on the circuit, such as the ETC control integrated module 12, to prevent the circuit board 11 and the ETC control integrated module 12 from direct contact with the air and oxidation, which is beneficial to improving the service life of the TBOX device with integrated ETC function.

[0039] The ETC control integrated module 12 is a radio frequency chip that integrates the processing functions of an MCU and is then packaged into a separate module. This allows signals received by the ETC control integrated module 12 to communicate directly with the microcontroller unit 14 in the TBOX body. Since the microcontroller unit 14 in the TBOX body communicates with onboard equipment 16, such as the vehicle computer, the ETC control integrated module 12 can also communicate with the onboard equipment 16.

[0040] In the related art, an independent MCU is set for the radio frequency chip, and then the signal received by the radio frequency chip is given to the independent MCU for processing. After processing, the independent MCU and the micro control unit 14 in the TBOX body interact with each other. The interaction process is complicated and the timing response is slow. Compared with the related art, the embodiment of the present application sets an ETC control integrated module 12. Since the ETC control integrated module 12 integrates the processing function of the MCU, the micro control unit 14 in the BOX body can be used (without setting up an independent MCU) to realize the ETC control integrated module 12 to communicate directly with the micro control unit 14 in the BOX body. As a result, the circuit hardware layout space is optimized in terms of layout, the cost of the independent MCU is saved in terms of cost, the interaction timing of the ETC and TBOX is optimized in terms of communication, and the stability of the ETC and TBOX is improved in terms of performance.

[0041] The ETC antenna 13 exchanges information with the roadside antenna 17 connected to the roadside unit 15 (RSU) via dedicated short-range communication technology, enabling interaction between the ETC control integration module 12 and the roadside unit 15. Specifically, when executing an ETC transaction, the ETC antenna 13 mounted on the circuit board 11 receives a signal from the roadside unit 15 (RSU) and transmits it to the ETC control integration module 12. After the ETC control integration module 12 receives the RSU signal, it performs interactive authentication with the RSU, exchanging identity information and transaction information, etc., to complete the deduction transaction.

[0042] The embodiment of the present application integrates the ETC antenna 13 into the TBOX body, which can save the wiring harness cost of the ETC antenna 13, reduce the RF performance attenuation of the wiring harness of the ETC antenna 13, facilitate the layout of the entire vehicle, and save layout space.

[0043] Thus, the present embodiment integrates the ETC control integrated module 12 and the ETC antenna 13 on the circuit board 11 of the TBOX body, achieving the TBOX integrated ETC function while avoiding the related art practice of separately arranging the TBOX and ETC on the vehicle, thereby increasing the vehicle's manufacturing costs and affecting the vehicle's neatness and aesthetics. Furthermore, by providing an ETC control integrated module 12 with integrated MCU processing capabilities, the present embodiment enables the ETC control integrated module 12 to communicate directly with the microcontroller unit 14 in the BOX body, further optimizing hardware layout space and saving costs.

[0044] The TBOX device with integrated ETC functionality provided in an embodiment of the present application includes: a TBOX body, the TBOX body including a housing 10 and a circuit board located within the housing 10; an ETC control integrated module and an ETC antenna located on the circuit board, the ETC antenna connected to the ETC control integrated module to enable information transmission between the ETC control integrated module and a roadside unit; and a microcontroller unit located on the circuit board, the ETC control integrated module connected to the microcontroller unit to enable communication between the ETC control integrated module and an onboard device via the microcontroller unit. Thus, by integrating the ETC control integrated module and the ETC antenna on the circuit board of the TBOX body, while achieving the TBOX's integrated ETC functionality, the related art practice of separately arranging the TBOX and ETC on the vehicle is avoided, thereby reducing the vehicle's manufacturing costs and optimizing the vehicle's aesthetics. Furthermore, by providing an ETC control integrated module with integrated MCU processing capabilities, the embodiment of the present application enables the ETC control integrated module to communicate directly with the microcontroller unit in the TBOX body, further optimizing the TBOX's hardware layout space and saving costs.

[0045] In some embodiments, as Figure 1 As shown, the ETC control integrated module 12 includes a first serial port A1, and the micro control unit 14 includes a second serial port A2; the ETC control integrated module 12 communicates with the micro control unit 14 through the first serial port A1 and the second serial port A2.

[0046] Thus, communication between the ETC control integrated module 12 and the micro control unit 14 can be achieved through the first serial port A1 and the second serial port A2.

[0047] Exemplarily, both the first serial port A1 and the second serial port A2 are UART serial ports, that is, the ETC control integrated module 12 and the micro control unit 14 communicate with each other through the UART serial ports.

[0048] In some embodiments, Figure 2 This is a circuit diagram of another TBOX device with ETC function provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 As shown, the ETC control integrated module 12 includes a radio frequency chip 18; the radio frequency chip 18 is connected to the ETC antenna 13 and the first serial port A1 respectively.

[0049] Among them, the RF chip 18 is used to transmit signals to the ETC antenna 13, radiate signals outward to the roadside antenna 17 through the ETC antenna 13, and the ETC antenna 13 receives external signals and transmits them to the RF chip 18, which is received by the RF chip 18. That is, the ETC antenna 13 exchanges information with the roadside antenna 17 connected to the roadside unit 15 (RSU) through dedicated short-range communication technology, thereby realizing information transmission between the ETC control integrated module 12 and the roadside unit 15.

[0050] Specifically, the RF chip 18 includes a first terminal B1 and a second terminal B2. The first terminal B1 of the RF chip 18 is connected to the ETC antenna 13, and the second terminal B2 of the RF chip 18 is connected to the first serial port A1. This enables interactive communication between the RF chip 18 and the ETC antenna 13, as well as interactive communication between the RF chip 18 and the microcontroller unit 14.

[0051] In some embodiments, Figure 3 This is a structural diagram of a TBOX device with another ETC function provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 3 As shown, the TBOX device with integrated ETC function further includes: an electrostatic protection module 19 , and the radio frequency chip 18 is connected to the ETC antenna 13 through the electrostatic protection module 19 .

[0052] Therefore, the RF chip 18 can be protected from electrostatics by providing the electrostatic protection module 19. For example, the electrostatic protection module 19 can be provided as an electrostatic diode.

[0053] In some embodiments, Figure 4 This is a structural diagram of a TBOX device with another ETC function provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 4 As shown, the TBOX device with integrated ETC function also includes:

[0054] The voltage conversion module 20 is located on the circuit board 11 , and the input terminal VIN of the voltage conversion module 20 is connected to the power supply terminal VCC of the micro control unit 14 , and the output terminal OUT of the voltage conversion module 20 is connected to the ETC control integrated module 12 .

[0055] Among them, the input terminal VIN of the voltage conversion module 20 is connected to the power supply terminal VCC of the micro control unit 14, and is used to access a power supply voltage of, for example, 5.5V. The 5.5V power supply voltage is then converted into, for example, a 3.3V voltage through the voltage conversion module 20 and output to the ETC control integrated module 12 to power the ETC control integrated module 12.

[0056] It should be noted that the TBOX body includes a power module (not shown in the figure), which is connected to the power supply terminal VCC of the micro control unit 14. The power module supplies power to the micro control unit 14 and also to the ETC control integrated module 12.

[0057] In some embodiments, the TBOX body is located below the vehicle's front windshield instrument panel and above the vehicle's front hood. This arrangement improves the vehicle's neatness and aesthetics without affecting the TBOX's integrated ETC function.

[0058] In some embodiments, the horizontal angle between the TBOX body and the road surface is greater than 45° and less than 120°.

[0059] To improve information exchange between the roadside antenna 17 on the roadside unit 15 and the ETC antenna 13, the TBOX's built-in ETC antenna 13 must be oriented at a corresponding angle to the roadside unit's gantry. Specifically, the TBOX's horizontal angle to the road surface should be greater than 45° and less than 120°. This improves information exchange between the roadside antenna 17 and the ETC antenna 13, thereby increasing the sensitivity of information transmission between the ETC control integration module 12 and the roadside unit 15.

[0060] In some embodiments, as Figure 4 As shown, the TBOX device with integrated ETC function also includes:

[0061] The safety chip 21 is located on the circuit board 11 and is communicatively connected to the ETC control integrated module 12 .

[0062] Specifically, when the ETC function is in use, the security chip 21 (ESAM) is used for bidirectional authentication, information encryption and decryption, and application information storage during communication between the roadside unit 15 and the ETC control integration module 12. Furthermore, the security chip 21 is used for ETC payment, information encryption and decryption, and identity verification.

[0063] In some embodiments, as Figure 4 As shown, the TBOX body further includes a prompt unit 211 , which is in communication with the micro control unit 14 .

[0064] The prompt unit 211 can be, for example, a buzzer. By establishing a communication connection between the prompt unit 211 and the microcontroller unit 14, ETC payment, activation, and other functions can be announced via the TBOX prompt unit 211. Alternatively, reminders or announcements can be made via an onboard device 16, such as the vehicle's computer, thereby increasing the diversity of ETC reminders.

[0065] The prompt unit 211 can be arranged inside the housing 10 or outside the housing 10. Figure 4 In the figure, the prompt unit 211 is exemplarily arranged outside the housing 10, but this is not limited in the embodiments of the present application.

[0066] In some embodiments, Figure 5 This is a structural diagram of a TBOX device with another ETC function provided in an embodiment of the present application. Figure 5 As shown, the TBOX body also includes a communication module 22 and a positioning module 23 provided on the circuit board 11, as well as an external 4G / 5G antenna 24 and a GNSS antenna 25. The communication module 22 is connected to the microcontroller unit 14, which is connected to the external 4G / 5G antenna 24 (disposed outside the housing 10), and the communication module 22 is connected to the external GNSS antenna 25 (disposed outside the housing 10) via the positioning module 23. This enables long-distance communication for new energy vehicles and provides services such as vehicle data collection, remote query and control, and fault detection.

[0067] The TBOX device with integrated ETC function provided in the embodiment of the present application reuses the hardware components of TBOX, such as capacitors, resistors, hardware circuit boards, housings and power management, simplifies the ETC hardware design, and can be broadcast through on-board equipment such as the vehicle computer as well as through TBOX, increasing the diversity of ETC reminders.

[0068] In terms of activation method: a new activation method is adopted to interactively send activation instructions through the cloud network intelligent connection and Xin'an micro-cloud platform, which are sent to the micro-control unit in TBOX through the remote service provider (TSP), and then sent to the ETC control integration module through the micro-control unit to complete the activation, replacing the activation method through Bluetooth connection in related technologies, allowing users to achieve remote activation, which is convenient and fast.

[0069] In terms of application, the ETC control module integrates MCU processing capabilities, enabling various ETC functions such as anti-tampering, self-test, transaction, activation, and diagnosis. It interacts with the TBOX's microcontroller via the UART serial port protocol, synchronizing ETC status feedback to the TBOX and the vehicle computer. ETC faults, payment, and activation functions are displayed or announced on the vehicle computer's display.

[0070] Therefore, integrating ETC into TBOX saves hardware costs compared to a standalone ETC installation. The integrated TBOX format saves hardware components and housing, saving layout space. Integrating ETC into TBOX, communicating via the UART protocol, reduces the load on the vehicle's CAN bus. A built-in security chip and underlying drivers provide communication for users, and communication security applications provide underlying encryption and decryption services, channel encryption and decryption interfaces, ensuring the application security of the entire module. ETC is integrated into TBOX, and the ETC function comes pre-installed, reducing user installation time, facilitating user activation, and providing flexible usage. The integrated ETC function in TBOX enables the exchange of information on road conditions (such as road congestion and traffic accidents), enabling vehicle-road collaboration.

[0071] Based on the above embodiments, the embodiments of the present application also provide a vehicle, including a TBOX device with integrated ETC function as described in the above embodiments, and therefore has the same or similar beneficial effects, which will not be repeated here.

[0072] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0073] The above embodiments merely represent several implementation methods of the present application. While the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that a person of ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present application, and these modifications and improvements fall within the scope of protection of the present application. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present patent application shall be based on the appended claims.

Claims

1. A TBOX device with integrated ETC function, characterized in that: include: The TBOX body includes a housing and a circuit board located inside the housing; An ETC control integrated module and an ETC antenna located on the circuit board, wherein the ETC antenna is connected to the ETC control integrated module to enable information transmission between the ETC control integrated module and the roadside unit; The TBOX body further includes a micro control unit located on the circuit board, and the ETC control integrated module is connected to the micro control unit so that the ETC control integrated module communicates with the on-board equipment through the micro control unit.

2. The TBOX device with integrated ETC function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ETC control integrated module includes a first serial port, and the micro control unit includes a second serial port; The ETC control integrated module communicates with the micro control unit through the first serial port and the second serial port.

3. The TBOX device with integrated ETC function according to claim 2, characterized in that: The ETC control integrated module includes a radio frequency chip; The radio frequency chip is connected to the ETC antenna and the first serial port respectively.

4. The TBOX device with integrated ETC function according to claim 3, characterized in that: Also includes: An electrostatic protection module, wherein the radio frequency chip is connected to the ETC antenna through the electrostatic protection module.

5. The TBOX device with integrated ETC function according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: A voltage conversion module is located on the circuit board, wherein the input end of the voltage conversion module is connected to the power supply end of the micro control unit, and the output end of the voltage conversion module is connected to the ETC control integrated module.

6. The TBOX device with integrated ETC function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The TBOX body is located below the vehicle's front windshield instrument panel and above the vehicle's front hood.

7. The TBOX device with integrated ETC function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The horizontal angle between the TBOX body and the road surface is greater than 45° and less than 120°.

8. The TBOX device with integrated ETC function according to claim 1, characterized in that: Also includes: A safety chip is located on the circuit board, and the safety chip is communicatively connected with the ETC control integrated module.

9. The TBOX device with integrated ETC function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The TBOX body further includes a prompt unit, which is communicatively connected with the micro control unit.

10. A vehicle, characterized in that: A TBOX device with integrated ETC function comprising the method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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