Automatic toll collection machine on a toll road

Abstract

To enable reliable reading of an image of a certificate without failure.SOLUTION: Provided is an automatic toll collection machine 10 installed at an exit part of a toll road such as an express highway, in which a passage ticket insertion part 11 for insertion of a passage ticket, a display 12 that displays a use charge and the like, a charge input part, a change return part, a card insertion part 17, a receipt issuance part 18, an interphone part (a camera 20, a speaker 19, a microphone 22), and a certificate checking part 30 are provided on a front surface of the automatic toll collection machine 10. The certificate checking part 30 is provided with a certificate insertion port 32 through which a certificate or a certification card can be inserted. An imaging camera is installed at each of a bottom surface part and a ceiling part in an internal space of the certificate insertion port 32, so that both the front and rear of the certificate or the certification card can be imaged.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic toll collection machine installed at the exit of a toll road such as an expressway, and is characterized in particular by the part that reads the certificates presented by users who are eligible for toll discounts, such as the physically disabled. [Background technology]

[0002] The automatic toll collection machine of the present invention is installed at the exit of a toll road as described above, and the toll ticket received at the entrance is inserted into the toll ticket insertion port of the automatic toll collection machine installed at the exit, the toll displayed on the machine's display is inserted into the toll insertion port, or an ETC card or credit card is inserted into the card insertion port, and if there is change, the change is received from the change return port, and if necessary, a receipt is received from the receipt issuing port, and the traffic control bar at the exit is opened, allowing the vehicle to move onto the public road.

[0003] This automatic toll collection machine is equipped with an intercom unit (camera, speaker, microphone) in case a user does not know how to use it, allowing the user to communicate with an attendant as needed.

[0004] Currently, ETC systems are in widespread use on toll roads, but this system is not adopted at all toll gates on toll roads. Instead, the automatic toll collection machine according to the present invention is used at some of the exit toll gates.

[0005] Here, the users of the toll road include physically disabled people, who can receive a discount on the toll. In this case, a certificate proving that one is a physically disabled person, such as a disability certificate or card, is required, and a discount on the fare can be received by presenting such certificate.

[0006] The invention described in the following patent document relates to an "automated toll collection machine with a camera for ID cards." An object of the invention is to make it possible to more accurately obtain an image of a certificate presented by a user.

[0007] The invention includes a camera mechanism that photographs a certificate presented by a vehicle on a driving lane, and a camera control unit that controls the tilt angle of the camera mechanism based on a detection value of the vehicle height. By controlling the camera angle according to the vehicle height, it is easy to capture an image of the certificate even with a telephoto lens with a narrow field of view. This automatic toll collection machine is equipped with a display that displays images captured by the camera mechanism on the vehicle side. By viewing the image on the display, the user can present the certificate in the appropriate position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-140360 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] In the present invention, similarly to the above-mentioned conventional invention, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to more reliably read an image of a certificate without failing to capture the image. To achieve this, rather than relying on a single imaging camera as in the past, the goal was to provide a space in which the certificate can be inserted or placed within a specified area, and to be able to take an image of the certificate with it inserted or placed within this space. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the first aspect of the present invention is an automatic toll collection machine installed at the exit of a toll road such as an expressway, which has a toll ticket insertion section for inserting a toll ticket, a display section for displaying the usage fee, etc., a toll deposit section, a change return section, a card insertion section, a receipt issuing section, an intercom section, and a certificate confirmation section on its front side, wherein the certificate confirmation section is provided with a certificate insertion port into which a certificate or certificate card can be inserted, and imaging cameras are installed on the bottom and ceiling of the internal space of the certificate insertion port, so that both the front and back of the certificate or certificate card can be photographed.

[0011] The second aspect of the present invention is an automatic toll collection machine for toll roads, characterized in that, in the above-mentioned first invention, a certificate imaging camera is installed near the certificate insertion slot, and the certificate imaging camera can photograph certificates of a size that cannot be inserted into the certificate insertion slot.

[0012] The third aspect of the present invention is an automatic toll collection machine for toll roads, characterized in that, in the first or second invention, a call button or a call sensing unit is added to the certificate verification unit, and an attendant can be called by using the call button or the call sensing unit.

[0013] A fourth aspect of the present invention is an automatic toll collection machine for toll roads, characterized in that, in any one of the first to third inventions above, a video camera is installed in the intercom section, enabling video calls. Effect of the Invention

[0014] In the first aspect of the present invention, an automatic toll collection machine is installed at the exit of a toll road such as an expressway, and has on its front a toll ticket insertion section for inserting a toll ticket, a display section for displaying the usage fee, etc., a toll deposit section, a change return section, a card insertion section, a receipt issuing section, an intercom section (brackets deleted), and a certificate confirmation section.The certificate confirmation section is provided with a certificate insertion port into which a certificate or certificate card can be inserted, and imaging cameras are installed on the bottom and ceiling sections of the internal space of the certificate insertion port, so that both the front and back of the certificate or certificate card can be photographed.Therefore, when a user is physically disabled, for example, when a certificate for a toll discount (disability certificate or card) is inserted into the certificate insertion port, it is possible to read the side of the certificate with just one insertion operation, regardless of whether the certificate is inserted face up or face down.

[0015] In other words, when inserting a certificate into the certificate insertion slot, the user does not need to choose whether the certificate's face is up or down, and can simply insert the certificate without worrying about the up or down direction, which is convenient for the user and also reduces the room for error in checking the certificate for the fee collection party. In addition to the above-mentioned disability certificate, other examples of free certificates include a disaster victim certificate, a disaster relief vehicle certificate, or an official business vehicle certificate.

[0016] In the second aspect of the present invention, a certificate imaging camera is installed near the certificate insertion slot so that the certificate imaging camera can photograph certificates of a size that cannot be inserted into the certificate insertion slot. This includes the above-mentioned free certificates, and for certificates that are too large to be inserted into the certificate insertion slot, the certificate can be photographed by holding it in front of the certificate imaging camera with your hand.

[0017] In the third aspect of the present invention, a call button or a call sensor is added to the certificate verification unit so that an attendant can be called by the call button or the call sensor. However, for users who do not know how to operate the certificate verification unit, the call button or the like is provided so that a conversation can be held over the intercom unit.

[0018] In the fourth aspect of the present invention, a video camera is added to the interphone section, enabling video calls, for the convenience of the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of an embodiment of an automatic toll collection machine for a toll road according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] 11 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of a certificate insertion port of the certificate verification unit according to the embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory front view of an embodiment of an automatic toll collection machine for a toll road according to the present invention.

[0021] The automatic toll collection machine 10 of the present invention has an overall vertically elongated, approximately rectangular shape, and on its front surface are provided a toll ticket insertion section 11 for inserting toll tickets, a display section 12 for displaying usage fees, etc., a coin insertion section 13 and a banknote insertion section 14 which serve as toll insertion sections, a banknote return section 15 and a coin return section 16 which serve as change return sections, a card insertion section 17 for inserting ETC cards, credit cards, etc., a receipt issuing section 18, an intercom speaker 19, an intercom camera 20, an intercom microphone 22, and a certificate verification section 30.

[0022] Also, on the front side, there is a call button 21 for calling an attendant in case of trouble, and on the left side of the certificate confirmation unit 30, there is a call sensor unit 33 for people with disabilities.

[0023] Furthermore, a certificate collection box for collecting used certificates is provided on the lower left side of the front surface, and the certificate collection opening 23 is provided vertically.

[0024] The certificate verification unit 30, which is a characteristic feature of the present invention, is located in the area on the lower right side of the front part, and on the right side is a certificate imaging camera 31 for verifying certificates, and on the left side is a certificate insertion slot 32 into which a disability certificate, card, etc. can be inserted and placed, and further to the left of that is the call detection unit 33, which consists of a proximity sensor that can detect when you place your hand over it.

[0025] For the video call, the interphone unit 20 is provided with a microphone 22 and a speaker 19. This allows users to have two-way video calls. The display unit 12 is made up of a liquid crystal display, and displays various information such as the toll fee, the section to be used, the type of vehicle, the discount amount, and so on.

[0026] The usage procedure is as follows: An automatic toll collection machine 10 installed at the exit of a toll road receives a signal from a vehicle detector (a device separate from the automatic toll collection machine) to detect the entrance of a vehicle, and starts the toll settlement process.

[0027] A user inserts a toll ticket into the toll ticket insertion section 11, or inserts an ETC card into the card insertion section 17 if the user has passed through the toll road entrance using ETC. The toll ticket or ETC card is read, and the toll and other various information are displayed on the display unit 12.

[0028] If the user is a physically disabled person or the like and has a certificate or identification card, a discount on the fee is available, so the user inserts the certificate or card owned by the user into the certificate insertion slot 32 of the certificate verification unit 30.

[0029] The inside of the certificate insertion slot 32 is formed of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped space, and the certificate or the like is placed on the bottom of the space. As will be explained in more detail later, imaging cameras are installed below the bottom of this space and above the ceiling, so that an inserted certificate or the like is photographed simultaneously on both the top and bottom.

[0030] This eliminates the need for the user to be concerned about the orientation of the top or bottom of the certificate, etc., and allows both sides of the certificate, etc. to be photographed and confirmed by inserting the certificate, etc. as desired without regard to the top or bottom side.

[0031] If the certificate etc. is too large to be inserted into the certificate insertion slot 32, the certificate etc. can be photographed by holding it in front of the certificate image pickup camera 31 located to the right of the certificate insertion slot 32.

[0032] When the certificate or the like is verified, the charge obtained by deducting the discount charge from the usage charge is displayed on the display unit 12. The user pays the discounted fee displayed on the display unit 12.

[0033] Tolls can be paid by cash, ETC card, or credit card. In the case of various cards, they can be inserted through the card insertion slot 17, and in the case of cash, bills and coins can be inserted into the bill insertion slot 14 and / or the coin insertion slot 13 to complete the payment.

[0034] If there is change, it is returned from the banknote return unit 15 and / or the coin return unit 16, which are the change return units. When a user requires a receipt, the receipt issuing unit 18 issues a receipt by pressing a receipt issuing button 18b located to the right of the receipt issuing unit 18.

[0035] If the user is confused or does not understand how to use the machine during the above procedure, he / she can call an attendant by holding his / her hand over the call button 21 or the call sensor 33 of the certificate verification unit 30 to have a video call and solve the problem.

[0036] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the internal structure of the certificate insertion slot of the certificate verification unit of the electronic toll collection machine according to the embodiment.

[0037] The certificate insertion slot 32 is located approximately in the center of the certificate verification section 30, and its internal space has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that is flat from top to bottom. An upper imaging camera 35 is provided on the ceiling of this internal space, and a lower imaging camera 36 is provided below the bottom surface thereof.

[0038] The ceiling and bottom of the internal space are naturally made of a transparent body, so that both the top and bottom sides of the inserted certificate can be photographed. The certificate image data captured here will be visually inspected and checked by an official.

[0039] If the certificate or the like is too large to be inserted into the certificate insertion slot 32, as described above, it will be photographed by the certificate imaging camera 31 provided to the right of the certificate verification unit 30 (see FIG. 1).

[0040] As described above, the present invention is characterized in that a certificate insertion slot 32 is specially provided as a means for verifying a certificate, and image capturing cameras are provided on both the ceiling and bottom of the internal space of this certificate insertion slot 32, making it possible to photograph both the top and bottom of the inserted certificate.

[0041] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention can be modified in various ways as described below. In the present invention, the installation locations, i.e., layout, of the display unit, intercom unit (camera, speaker, microphone), call button, ticket insertion unit, coin insertion unit, banknote insertion unit, banknote return unit, coin return unit, card insertion unit, receipt issuing unit, certifier confirmation unit, and certifier recovery port, etc., which are provided on the front part of the vehicle, can be freely set, but it is particularly desirable to provide the certificate confirmation unit in a position where it can be operated by the driver while remaining seated in the driver's seat. This is because physically disabled users can operate the device while sitting down.

[0042] In addition, it is preferable that the display unit be disposed in the uppermost position where it is most easily visible, and that the call button be located within easy reach from the driver's seat. The length and width of the certificate insertion slot provided in the certificate verification section can be freely set, and the size of the internal space can also be freely set as appropriate.

[0043] Regarding the certificate image capturing camera located next to the certificate insertion slot, when the user holds the certificate in front of the camera, the user can talk to the attendant through the intercom unit (camera, speaker, microphone).

[0044] As described above, the present invention has provided an automatic toll collection machine for toll roads that makes it easier to verify certificates by installing image cameras on both the ceiling and bottom of the internal space of the certificate insertion port of the certificate verification section. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10 Automatic Toll Collection Machine 11 Ticket Insertion Section 12 Display section 13 Coin slot 14 Bill slot 15 Bill return section 16 Coin Return Section 17 Card insertion section 18 Receipt Issuance Department 19 Intercom speaker 20 Intercom Camera 21 Call button 22 Intercom microphone 23 Certificate Collection Gate 30 Certificate Verification Section 31 Certificate Imaging Camera 32 Certificate insertion slot 33 Call sensing section 35 Upper Imaging Camera 36 Lower Imaging Camera

Claims

1. An automatic toll collection machine installed at the exit of a toll road such as an expressway, the automatic toll collection machine having a ticket insertion section for inserting a ticket, a display section for displaying the toll fee, a toll insertion section, a change return section, a card insertion section, a receipt issuing section, an intercom section, and a certificate verification section on the front side thereof, a certificate insertion port into which a certificate or a certificate card can be inserted is provided in the certificate confirmation section; Imaging cameras are installed on the bottom and ceiling of the internal space of the certificate insertion port, so that both the front and back of the certificate or certificate card can be photographed. A camera for capturing images of certificates is installed near the certificate insertion slot, and a certificate of a size that cannot be inserted into the certificate insertion slot can be captured by the camera for capturing images of certificates. the certificate verification unit is provided at a position where the driver can operate it while sitting in the driver's seat, An automatic toll collection machine for a toll road, wherein the certificate image pickup camera is provided substantially side-by-side with the certificate verification unit in a position that allows a driver to operate the camera while remaining seated in the driver's seat.

2. 2. The automatic toll collection machine for toll roads according to claim 1, wherein a call button or a call sensor is added to said certificate verification section, and an attendant can be called by means of said call button or said call sensor.

3. 3. The automatic toll collection machine for a toll road according to claim 1, wherein a video camera is installed in the intercom section so as to enable video conversation.

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