IN-VEHICLE INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND IN-VEHICLE INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION METHOD

• US 20140049408A1
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Morimoto, Kazunari
• Granted Patent: US 9,171,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/988
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/527 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0007 Measures or means for preventing or attenuating collisions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/04 fed from dc supply lines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/12 with static converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/22 polyphase motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 9/28 polyphase motors
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0081 On-board diagnosis or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/009 On-board display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/133 within the vehicle ; Indicators inside the vehicles or at stops
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

An in-vehicle information distribution device includes a current-status-information acquisition unit that acquires current-status information, a status-type determination unit that refers to a status-type list table, and determines to which of status types classified in the status-type list table the current-status information corresponds, a status determination unit that refers to a status-type/status-determination-information correspondence table, acquires status-determination information corresponding to the determined status type, and determines a status of a train based on the status-determination information, and a display-content decision unit that refers to a status-type/display-content-information correspondence table, which classifies a display content to be displayed on a display device (AC-drive) and a display device (DC-drive) into status types, acquires display-content information corresponding to the determined status type, and selects display data corresponding to the display-content information.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle information distribution system comprising:

an electric-power storage device that is installed in a train and outputs DC power by using electric power from an overhead wire as a supply source;

a first display device in a vehicle, where the first display device operates by being supplied with AC power obtained by converting electric power from the overhead wire;

a second display device in a vehicle, where the second display device operates by using the electric-power storage device as a power source;

a train-information management device that operates by using the electric-power storage device as a power source and manages train information including state information on a vehicle-mounted device; and

an in-vehicle information distribution device that operates by using the electric-power storage device as a power source and selects display data for an in-vehicle guide to be displayed on the first and second display devices, wherein

the in-vehicle information distribution device includes

a current-status-information acquisition unit that acquires a plurality of kinds of train information from the train-information management device and acquires state information from each of the first and second display devices, as a group of current-status information,

a status-type determination unit that refers to a status-type list table, which classifies a status of the train into a plurality of kinds of status types including at least whether the train is in a normal state according to content of the group of current-status information, and that determines to which of status types classified in the status-type list table the group of current-status information acquired by the current-status-information acquisition unit corresponds,

a status determination unit that refers to a status-type/status-determination-information correspondence table, which classifies status-determination information used for determining a status of the train into the status types, that acquires status-determination information corresponding to a status type determined by the status-type determination unit, and that determines a status of the train based on the status-determination information, and

a display-content decision unit that refers to a status-type/display-content-information correspondence table, which classifies a display content to be displayed on the first and second display devices into the status types, that acquires display-content information corresponding to a status type determined by the status-type determination unit, and that selects display data corresponding to the display-content information.

2. The in-vehicle information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein

in the status-type/status-determination-information correspondence table, status-determination information indicating a normal state is set for a status type where a status of the train is a normal state, and status-determination information indicating an abnormal state is set for a status type where a status of the train is an abnormal state, and

in the status-type/display-content-information correspondence table, a normal guide is set for a status type where a status of the train is a normal state, and an emergency guide is set for a status type where a status of the train is an abnormal state.

3. The in-vehicle information distribution system according to claim 2, wherein

in the status-type/display-content-information correspondence table, for a status type where a status of the train is an abnormal state, a description regarding the status type in the status-type list table is set to be used as the emergency guide, and

when a status type determined by the status-type determination unit corresponds to the abnormal state, the display-content decision unit selects a description content regarding the status type in the status-type list table as the emergency guide.

4. The in-vehicle information distribution system according to claim 2, further comprising:

a pantograph-state detection device that detects a state of a pantograph that collects electric power from the overhead wire; and

an auxiliary power supply device that supplies AC power obtained by converting electric power collected by the pantograph to each of the first display device and the electric-power storage device, wherein

the train-information management device acquires pantograph-state information that is information regarding whether the pantograph is in a state capable of receiving electric power from the overhead wire, from the pantograph-state detection device, and that acquires auxiliary-power-supply-device output-electric-power information that is information regarding an output electric-power value of the auxiliary power supply device, from the auxiliary power supply device,

the current-status-information acquisition unit acquires at least the pantograph-state information, the auxiliary-power-supply-device output-electric-power information, and state information on each of the first and second display devices as the group of current-status information by acquiring the pantograph-state information and the auxiliary-power-supply-device output-electric-power information from the train-information management device, and

in the status-type list table, the plurality of kinds of status types are classified by using a classification item regarding at least whether output electric power of the auxiliary power supply device is below a predetermined value, whether the pantograph is in a state capable of receiving electric power from the overhead wire, whether the first display device is capable of being activated normally, and whether the second display device is capable of being activated normally.

5. The in-vehicle information distribution system according to claim 4, wherein

the train-information management device further acquires electric-power-storage-device output-electric-power information that is information regarding an output electric-power value of the electric-power storage device, from the electric-power storage device,

the current-status-information acquisition unit further acquires the electric-power-storage-device output-electric-power information from the train-information management device as the group of current-status information, and

in the status-type list table, the plurality of kinds of status types are classified by further using a classification item regarding whether output electric power of the electric-power storage device is below a predetermined value.

6. The in-vehicle information distribution system according to claim 5, wherein in the status-type/status-determination-information correspondence table, among the plurality of kinds of status types, for at least a status type where output electric power of the auxiliary power supply device is in a state below the predetermined value and the pantograph is in a state capable of receiving electric power from the overhead wire, status-determination information corresponding to the status type is set to indicate that an overhead wire voltage is in a power-outage state.

7. The in-vehicle information distribution system according to claim 6, further comprising a door-state detection device that detects whether a door of the train is open, wherein

the train-information management device further acquires door-state information that is information regarding whether the door is open from the door-state detection device,

the current-status-information acquisition unit further acquires the door-state information from the train-information management device as the group of current-status information, and

in the status-type list table, the plurality of kinds of status types are classified by further using a classification item regarding whether all doors of the train are closed.

8. The in-vehicle information distribution system according to claim 7, wherein

the train-information management device manages current train-speed information on the train and information on a location of the train between stations as the train information,

the current-status-information acquisition unit further acquires the train-speed information and the information on a location of the train between stations from the train-information management device as the group of current-status information, and

in the status-type list table, the plurality of kinds of status types are classified by further using a classification item regarding whether a train speed is equal to or higher than a predetermined value and whether a distance from a stop location of the train to a nearest station is equal to or longer than a predetermined distance.

9. The in-vehicle information distribution system according to claim 8, wherein

the status-type list table includes a status type where output electric power of the auxiliary power supply device is below the predetermined value, the pantograph is in a state capable of receiving electric power from the overhead wire, output electric power of the electric-power storage device is the predetermined value, the second display is in a normally activated state, all doors of the train are in a closed state, the train speed is lower than the predetermined value, and the distance from the train to a nearest station is shorter than the predetermined distance, and

when the status type is determined by the status-type determination unit, the status determination unit refers to the status-type/status-determination-information correspondence table and acquires information indicating that although an overhead wire voltage is in a power-outage state and a door is in a closed state, the door is capable of being opened to exit a train because the train is close to a station, as status-determination information for the status type, and the display-content decision unit refers to the status-type/display-content-information correspondence table and acquires display-content information indicating “

please open a door manually”

as display-content information for the status type.

10. The in-vehicle information distribution system according to claim 9, wherein

the information on a location of the train between stations includes information regarding a distance from a current location of the train to a nearest station and a direction of the nearest station, and

when the status-type determination unit determines a status type where output electric power of the auxiliary power supply device is below the predetermined value, the pantograph is in a state capable of receiving electric power from the overhead wire, output electric power of the electric-power storage device is the predetermined value, the second display device is in a normally activated state, all doors of the train are in a closed state, the train speed is lower than the predetermined value, and the distance from the train to a nearest station is shorter than the predetermined distance, the display-content decision unit acquires information regarding the direction of the nearest station from the current-status-information acquisition unit, selects display data having information regarding the direction of the nearest station reflected in the display-content information, and displays the direction of the nearest station on the second display device.

11. The in-vehicle information distribution system according to claim 2, wherein

in the status-type/status-determination-information correspondence table, a severity indicating a degree of seriousness of a status is set for each status type, and

when a status type determined by the status-type determination unit corresponds to the abnormal state and the severity of the status type is higher than a predetermined degree, the display-content decision unit causes the second display device to display only the emergency guide and not to display an advertisement guide.

12. The in-vehicle information distribution system according to claim 2, wherein

the in-vehicle information distribution device includes a timer unit that measures a time, and

when a status type determined by the status-type determination unit corresponds to the abnormal state, the display-content decision unit instructs the second display device to switch a display content from the normal guide to the emergency guide only after it is checked that the status type has continued for a predetermined time by measuring a time by the timer unit.

13. The in-vehicle information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the second display device receives the display data selected by the display-content decision unit from the in-vehicle information distribution device directly or through a second display device different from the second display device, not via the first display device.

14. The in-vehicle information distribution system according to claim 13, wherein

the second display device and a plurality of the first display devices are provided on one wall surface in the vehicle, and

a transmission path for transmitting the display data from the in-vehicle information distribution device originates from the in-vehicle information distribution device and is configured in a daisy chain in order from the second display device to the first display devices.

15. The in-vehicle information distribution system according to claim 1, wherein

the in-vehicle information distribution device regularly transmits its own state information to the second display device, and

the second display device constantly monitors the state information from the in-vehicle information distribution device, determines that a failure has occurred in the in-vehicle information distribution device when transmission of the state information is discontinued, and displays an emergency guide according to the status by using display data for an emergency guide, which is held therein in advance.

16. An in-vehicle information distribution method of causing an in-vehicle guide to be displayed on a first display device and a second display device by using display data transmitted from an in-vehicle information distribution device in a vehicle of a train in which an electric-power storage device that outputs DC power by using electric power from an overhead wire as a supply source, the first display device in a vehicle, where the first display device operates by being supplied with AC power obtained by converting electric power from the overhead wire, the second display device in a vehicle, where the second display device operates by using the electric-power storage device as a power source, a train-information management device that operates by using the electric-power storage device as a power source and manages train information including state information on a vehicle-mounted device, and the in-vehicle information distribution device that operates by using the electric-power storage device as a power source and selects the display data for an in-vehicle guide to be displayed on the first and second display devices are installed, the method comprising:

a step of acquiring a plurality of kinds of train information from the train-information management device and acquiring state information from each of the first and second display devices, as a group of current-status information, by the in-vehicle information distribution device;

a step of referring to a status-type list table, which classifies a status of the train into a plurality of kinds of status types including at least whether the train is in a normal state according to content of the group of current-status information, and determining to which of status types classified in the status-type list table the acquired group of current-status information corresponds, by the in-vehicle information distribution device;

a step of referring to a status-type/status-determination-information correspondence table, which classifies status-determination information used for determining a status of the train into the status types, acquiring status-determination information corresponding to the determined status type, and determining a status of the train based on the status-determination information, by the in-vehicle information distribution device; and

a step of referring to a status-type/display-content-information correspondence table, which classifies a display content to be displayed on the first and second display devices into the status types, acquiring display-content information corresponding to the determined status type, and selecting display data corresponding to the display-content information, by the in-vehicle information distribution device.