Electronic toll collection system and method featuring antenna arrangement

• US 6,285,858 B1
• Filed: 11/09/1998
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Yoshida, Yasuharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B.
• Application Number:
  US09/187,742
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41, 455/73, 455/517, 455/523, 342/42, 340/928, 343/719
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096758 where no selection takes place on the transmitted or the received information
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element

Abstract

A system for establishing radio communications between an in-vehicle unit and a road unit, including a signal controller in response to an output of an approaching vehicle detector, includes an on-board antenna forming part of the in-vehicle unit and provided to have directivity toward a road surface, a plurality of stationary devices, which form part of the road unit, provided in series between the signal controller and a terminator, and respectively coupled to the plurality of stationary antennas, and a plurality of stationary devices forming part of the road unit and provided in series between the signal controller and a terminator, and respectively coupled to the plurality of stationary antennas. Each of the plurality of stationary devices branches a signal transmitted thereto from the signal controller and applies the signal to the corresponding stationary antenna, and applies a signal transmitted thereto from the on-board antenna to the signal controller.

Claims

1. A system for establishing radio communications between an in-vehicle unit and a road unit, including a signal controller, in response to an output of an approaching vehicle detector, said system comprising:

an on-board antenna, which forms part of said in-vehicle unit, provided to have directivity toward a road surface;

a plurality of stationary antennas, which form part of said road unit, provided in tandem and at intervals at an approximately center portion of a vehicle land to have directivity in an upward direction; and

a plurality of stationary devices, which form part of said road unit, provided in series between said signal controller and a terminator, and respectively coupled to said plurality of stationary antennas,

wherein each of said plurality of stationary devices branches a signal transmitted thereto from said signal controller and applies the signal to the corresponding stationary antenna, and applies a signal transmitted thereto from said on-board antenna to said signal controller.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein when a plurality of vehicles are traveling while communicating with said road unit, two or more of said stationary devices synthesize signals from the corresponding stationary antennas and apply the synthesized signal to said signal controller.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said on-board antenna is provided at a bottom, front, or rear of a vehicle.