Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Vehicle mounted systems – Automobile
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-11
2001-01-30
Paladini, Albert W. (Department: 2836)
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Vehicle mounted systems
Automobile
C307S009100, C340S539230, C340S870030, C340S905000, C455S070000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06181023
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a car-mounted equipment of a dedicated short-range communication (hereinafter abbreviated as DSRC) system used for intelligent transport systems (hereinafter referred to as ITS) and, particularly, to a DSRC car-mounted equipment which automatically drives a receiver circuit only when it is necessary to suppress the consumption of an electric power and to a DSRC apparatus using the same.
2. Prior Art
In the DSRC car-mounted equipment used for the ITS, in general, a receiver circuit is maintained driven at all times whenever the vehicle is traveling so that a dedicated short-range communication is readily realized when it is required to make a communication with an on-the-road equipment.
FIG. 6
is a block diagram schematically illustrating a conventional DSRC car-mounted equipment and a peripheral constitution thereof. In
FIG. 6
, the DSRC car-mounted equipment
1
includes a receiver circuit
3
and a transmitter circuit (not shown) for executing the dedicated short-range communication with an on-the-road equipment
2
installed on a path along which the vehicle travels, and a receiver circuit drive means
4
for driving the receiver circuit
3
.
The receiver-circuit drive means
4
in the DSRC car-mounted equipment
1
is connected to a battery
6
through an ignition switch
5
. When the ignition switch
5
is turned on, the receiver circuit
3
is driven being served with an electric power from the battery
6
mounted on the vehicle.
When the ignition switch
5
is turned on, the receiver circuit drive means
4
is driven by the battery
6
at all times to supply an electric power to the receiver circuit
3
.
FIG. 7
is a block diagram illustrating another prior art.
In
FIG. 7
, a receiver circuit drive means
4
in a DSRC car-mounted equipment
1
is directly connected to a battery
6
A incorporated in the DSRC car-mounted equipment
1
separate from a battery
6
for ignition.
As is widely known, the battery
6
A is constituted by a cell that is incorporated, a dry cell or a solar cell system.
In this case, the receiver circuit drive means
4
that is connected to the battery
6
A continues to supply an electric power to the receiver circuit
3
.
As is well known, a transmitter circuit that is not shown in the DSRC car-mounted equipment
1
is supplied with an electric power only when a request for transmission has occurred.
According to the conventional DSRC car-mounted equipment which is supplied with an electric power from the battery
6
mounted on the car as shown in
FIG. 6
, the receiver circuit drive means
4
continues to supply the electric power to the receiver circuit
3
when the ignition switch
5
is turned on, arousing a problem in that heat is generated by the receiver circuit
3
and by the receiver circuit drive means
4
.
In particular, the DSRC car-mounted equipment is mounted near the dashboard in the room of the vehicle and is subject to be heated when it is irradiated with sunlight, and is generally placed under severe temperature conditions where the temperature may exceed 100° C. Accordingly, heat generated by the receiver circuit
3
and by the receiver circuit drive means
4
creates a serious problem.
Referring to
FIG. 7
, again, when the electric power is directly supplied from the battery
6
A in the DSRC car-mounted equipment
1
, the receiver circuit
3
is maintained supplied with the electric power even when it does not at all require the electric power such as when the vehicle is left to stand or when the DSRC car-mounted equipment
1
is carried away, leaving a problem in that the life of the battery
6
A is shortened due to the continuous consumption of the electric power.
The present invention was accomplished in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its object is to provide a DSRC car-mounted equipment which automatically drives the receiver circuit only when it is necessary to suppress the consumption of the electric power, and a DSRC apparatus using the same.
The present invention is concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment for executing a dedicated short-range communication with an on-the-road equipment installed on a path along which the vehicle travels, comprising:
a receiver circuit driven upon being supplied with an electric power from a battery;
a receiver circuit drive means for driving said receiver circuit; and
a drive condition judging means for judging the drive conditions of said receiver circuit drive means;
wherein said drive condition judging means includes:
vibration data detecting means for detecting the vibration data of said vehicle; and
vibration data judging means for comparing the vibration data of said vehicle with reference values; and
wherein when said vibration data satisfy predetermined conditions for said reference values, judgement signals for driving said receiver circuit are output to said receiver circuit drive means.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said vibration data is a vibration level, said reference value corresponds to a vibration level of said vehicle under predetermined traveling conditions of said vehicle, and said drive condition judging means outputs a judgement signal when said vibration level is greater than said reference value.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said vibration data is a vibration frequency, said reference value corresponds to a vibration frequency band under predetermined traveling conditions of said vehicle, and said drive condition judging means outputs said judgement signal when said vibration frequency represents said reference value.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said vibration data include a vibration level and a vibration frequency, said reference value includes a first reference value corresponding to a vibration level under predetermined traveling conditions of said vehicle and a second reference value corresponding to a vibration frequency band under predetermined traveling conditions of said vehicle, and said drive condition judging means outputs said judgement signal when said vibration level is larger than said first reference value and when said vibration frequency represents said second reference value.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said vibration data include a vibration level and a vibration frequency, said reference value includes a first reference value corresponding to a vibration level under predetermined traveling conditions of said vehicle and a second reference value corresponding to a vibration frequency band under predetermined traveling conditions of said vehicle, and said drive condition judging means outputs said judgement signal when said vibration level is larger than said first reference value or when said vibration frequency represents said second reference value.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said drive condition judging means includes a filter means for filtering said vibration data, and compares the vibration data after filtered with said reference value.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said drive condition judging means includes an external input switch, and said reference value is variably set depending upon an operation signal output from said external input switch when said external input switch is operated.
The present invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said reference value is set being changed-over to a plurality of steps depending upon said operation signal.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said reference value is updated and set based upon the vibration data detected when said external input switch is operated.
The invention is further concerned with a DSRC car-mounted equipment, wherein said drive condition judging means includes a vehicle speed sensor for detecti
Mitsubishi Denki & Kabushiki Kaisha
Paladini Albert W.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
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