JPH0447500A - Display device for allowable number of parking vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To report detailed information by calculating the allowable number of parking vehicles by the numerical output of an accomodated vehicle number setting means and that of a parking vehicle number calculating means and displaying the calculated allowable number of parking vehicles. CONSTITUTION:A subtracting means 3 always outputs an allowable number C of parking vehicles by subtraction processing (A-B) between a number A indicated by the output of an accomodated vehicle number setting means 2 and a number B of parking vehicles from an up/down counter 1. A comparing means 4 generates a full signal F to display the full state on a display device when the allowable number C of parking vehicles is 0 or smaller. A comparing means 6 compares an arbitrary number D of vehicles for previous notice of the full state and the allowable number C of parking vehicles with each other; and when the latter is equal to or smaller than the former, the means 6 generates a crowded state signal G to display the crowded state on the display means 7. When the latter is larger than the former, an idle state signal E is generated to display the idle state on the display means 7.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a display device for a parking lot that is installed near the entrance of a parking lot and displays information to inform users of the usage status of the parking lot. In particular, the present invention relates to a parking available number display device that also displays the number of available parking spaces.

[Prior Art] As shown in FIG. 4, a parking management device attached to a parking lot includes a vehicle detection means 51 installed at the entrance of the parking lot for detecting entering vehicles, and a parking management device for issuing parking tickets to entering vehicles. A ticket issuing machine 52, an entrance gate 53 that is opened by pulling out a parking ticket and allows entry of a vehicle, and a vehicle detection means 54 installed at a parking lot exit for detecting participating vehicles; On the other hand, it is comprised of a payment machine 55 that calculates and pays a fee according to the parking time, an exit gate 56 that allows vehicles that have already paid to exit the parking lot, and the like. Furthermore, conventionally, the parking lot usage status indicating whether the parking lot is full or not, that is, binary information of "full" and "vacant", is displayed near the entrance of the parking lot to provide convenience to parking lot users. A display 44 is installed to display the usage status of the parking lot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An example of a conventional parking lot display device for displaying the above-mentioned parking lot usage status will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Figure 5 shows a conventional parking lot display device (full indicator light) 40.
The block diagram is shown below. In the figure, 41 is an up/down counter (means for detecting the number of vehicles present), which receives signals from well-known vehicle detecting means such as loop coil type vehicle detectors (not shown) installed at the entrance and exit of the parking lot. As a result, the number of vehicles currently entering the parking lot (number of existing vehicles) is maintained. The output of the held value from this up/down counter 41 is connected to a comparator 43 which is a comparing means. In addition, the number of vehicles in attendance is counted by the parking ticket issuing machine 52 at the entrance.
In some cases, the input signal may be a user's action on the payment machine 55 at the exit.

Reference numeral 42 denotes an accommodable number setting device, which sets and holds the accommodable number of vehicles (parking capacity) that differs for each parking lot, and an output having the same form as the output of the up-down counter 41 is connected to the comparator 43. There is.

The comparator 43 constantly compares the number of vehicles "A" indicated by the output from the accommodable number setting unit 42 and the number of vehicles present "B" indicated by the output from the up-down counter 41. , if the number of existing vehicles "B" from the amplifier down counter 41 is equal to or exceeds the number "A" indicated by the output from the accommodable vehicle number setting device 42, a full signal (F) is issued; otherwise, In this case, an empty signal (E) is output to the display 44.The full signal (F) is also sent to the parking ticket issuing machine at the entrance, which issues a parking ticket to the vehicle attempting to enter. make it stop.

The display 44 lights up either a display section 45 indicating "Full vehicle j" or a display section 46 indicating "Empty vehicle" as illustrated in FIG. 6 in response to the output signal from the comparator 43. To inform parking lot users of the congestion level of the parking lot.

[Problems with conventional technology]

By the way, in the conventional display device (full indicator light) described above, the information regarding the vehicle attempting to enter is either "full" or "vacant" and can only provide so-called binary information. For this reason, for example, when you try to enter a parking lot, there are already more than a dozen other vehicles waiting in line to enter, but since there was no indication that the parking lot was full, the last one in the queue lined up. However,
When a few cars have entered or just before you are about to enter, the place becomes ``full'' and you are forced to experience things like waiting for a long time and then realizing that you cannot expect to get in right away.

At times like this, it is often difficult to leave the queue, and you may have to wait even longer before entering.

Considering that they could have chosen to look for another parking lot instead of standing in line and using the parking lot, this would have placed an unnecessary burden on parking lot users, which is not a desirable situation. I can not say.

In this way, the usage status of a parking lot cannot be accurately determined by simply using binary information such as "full/vacant" and there is no other basis for making a decision, which is extremely inconvenient for users (lack of service).

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention solves the above-mentioned deficiencies caused by the use of conventional display devices, enables accurate and detailed understanding of the current usage status of a parking lot, and enables parking that benefits users. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a number display device, and therefore, the present invention calculates the number of vehicles present in a parking lot from the outputs of an entering vehicle detection means, an exit vehicle detection means, and both vehicle detection means. The number of accommodating vehicles setting means is set to an arbitrary number in advance, the numerical output from the accommodating number setting means, and the number of accommodating vehicles is calculated by the number of vehicles calculating means. A subtraction means for calculating the number of available parking spaces from the numerical output is added, and the display device for the number of available parking spaces is configured to display the number of available parking spaces calculated by the subtraction means on the display means.

Further, the display device for the number of available parking spaces further includes a first comparison means that allows the display means to display that the parking lot is full when the numerical output of the subtracter is less than or equal to "0", and a predetermined number of parking spaces. Based on the set full advance notice number setting means, the numerical output from the full advance notice number setting means, and the numerical output of the subtracter, either an empty state or a crowded state can be displayed on the display means. A second comparison means is added to constitute a parking available number display device.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the main parts of an embodiment of the parking available number display device of the present invention. Note that the power supply circuit will be omitted to simplify the explanation.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates an up/down counter which is a means for calculating the number of vehicles in the parking lot. The number of vehicles currently entering the parking lot after receiving the signal is maintained. That is, each time the vehicle detection means 51 detects one entering vehicle at the entrance, an entry signal is sent to the count up terminal of the up/down counter 1 and the held value is incremented by one. - Every time the vehicle detection means 54 detects one entering vehicle at the front exit, a departure signal is sent to the countdown terminal of the up/down counter 1 and the held value is subtracted by 1. Therefore, the value held by the up/down counter 1 always corresponds to the number of vehicles in the parking lot. The value held by the up/down counter 1 is output to a subtraction means 3 (subtracter). In addition,
A loop coil type vehicle detector may be used as the vehicle detection means, or alternatively, the user's actions on the parking ticket issuing machine at the entrance and the payment machine at the exit can be used as input to the up/down counter 1. Also good.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an accommodable number setting means, which sets and maintains the accommodable number (parking capacity) that differs for each parking lot, and an output having the same form as the output of the up-down counter 1 is connected to the subtracting means 3. There is.

The subtraction means 3 constantly subtracts the number "A" indicated by the output from the accommodable number setting means 2 and the number "B" indicated by the output from the up/down counter 1, that is, (A- B), and the processing result, the number of available parking spaces "'C", is output. The output of this subtraction means 3 "C"
” is the first comparison means 4 for generating the Manko signal and the second comparison means 6 for generating the empty car signal and the congestion signal.
and display means 7.

The first comparison means 4 compares the set value "0" with the number of available parking spaces "C" output by the subtraction means 3, and determines that the parking space is full when the number of available parking spaces "C" is less than "0". Signal (F)
is generated to drive the display 7 to indicate "full".

The second comparing means 6 compares the arbitrary number of full notice "D" set in advance by the full notice number setting means 5 and the number of available parking spaces "C" output by the subtracting means 3, and determines the number of available parking spaces. When “C” is less than or equal to the number of fully booked cars “D” and is a positive value, a congestion signal (G) is generated and the display means 7
Drives the “Congestion” display and displays the number of available parking spaces.
C" is displayed on a predetermined display part of the surface water means 7. On the other hand, if the number of available parking spaces "C" exceeds the number of full notice "D", an empty parking signal (E) is generated and the display means 7 is displayed. Drives the "empty car" display.

The display means 7 displays the above-mentioned full signal (F), congestion signal CG) and empty signal (
E) variable display corresponding to each, for example "Full" display 8,
Either the "crowded" display 9 or the "empty car" display 10 is displayed. Furthermore, when the "crowded" display 9 is displayed, the number of available parking spaces "C" is displayed numerically in a predetermined number display area 11 at the same time. Auxiliary displays are also fixedly drawn on the display surface to help the user understand the variable display described above. Variable displays include those that are constructed by illuminating a plate-shaped member with the display contents drawn in advance with a light from behind, those that are constructed that a matrix of light emitting diodes are lit to form predetermined characters, and seven-segment displays. will be adopted as appropriate. Note that although an appropriate drive circuit is required depending on the display element, it is omitted here.

Note that the display format of the present invention can be modified in various ways other than those shown in the embodiments. For example, if a diode matrix display is used, it is possible to switch and display different information in the same place. The variable displays corresponding to the indicated full signal, congestion signal, and empty signal may be switched to the same display location to display any one of them.

Furthermore, since the feature of the present invention is to display the above-mentioned number of available parking spaces in order to provide detailed parking lot usage information, only this number of available parking spaces may be displayed, and other information may be displayed. You can take it from here. In other words, the number of available parking spaces "0" means the parking lot is full, and other values indicate the degree of congestion.

In this embodiment, the subtraction means 3 is provided separately from the number-of-vehicles calculation means 1 (up-down counter), and the output of the number-of-vehicles calculation means 1 and the output of the accommodable number setting means 2 are subtracted. , as shown in another embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 3, the output "A" of the accommodable number setting means 2 is preset in the up/down counter 1 as a preset count value, and at the same time, an exit signal is generated from the vehicle detection output. It is also possible to connect the entry signal to the count-up terminal and the incoming vehicle signal to the count-down terminal (reverse to the previous embodiment). In this case, the up-down counter 1 also serves as the subtraction means 3, and its output is the number of parking spaces.'' It corresponds to "C".

In the embodiments described above, each part has been clearly separated and explained, but it goes without saying that each part can be integrated into one using a microcomputer (CPU), memory, and I10 interface circuit.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the above-described parking capacity display device of the present invention, there is provided a parking capacity setting means in which an arbitrary number of parking spaces is set in advance;
A subtraction means is provided for calculating the number of parking spaces from the numerical output from the accommodable number setting means and the numerical output from the number of existing vehicles calculation means, and the display means displays the number of parking spaces calculated by the subtraction means. Compared to the conventional binary information of full/vacant, we now provide more detailed information, making it easier to understand the usage status of the parking lot and allowing users to take the next action, such as going to another parking lot, sooner. It has remarkable effects, such as eliminating the need for unnecessary queues, easing traffic congestion, reducing environmental pollution, and even improving the mental health of users.

Furthermore, a first comparison means capable of displaying the fact that the vehicle is full on the display means, a full advance notice number setting means in which an arbitrary number of vehicles is set in advance, a numerical output from the full notice number setting means, and the subtraction. Since the display device for the number of available parking spaces is constructed by adding a second comparison means that can display either an empty parking state or a crowded state based on the numerical output of the means, the display device for displaying the number of available parking spaces can be used. Adding “crowded” indication to binary information of empty cars 3
The value information is obtained simultaneously with the information on the number of parking spaces, making it easier to understand the usage status of the parking lot.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the display device for the number of available parking spaces according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an external view showing an embodiment of the display means according to the display device for the number of available parking spaces according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the parking available number display device according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of the parking management device according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional parking lot display device. FIG. 6 shows a block diagram, and FIG. 6 shows an external view of a display device of a conventional parking lot display device. ...Means for calculating the number of existing vehicles, ...Means for setting the number of cars that can be accommodated, ...First comparison means, ...Means for setting the number of full notice vehicles, 3.Means for subtracting, 6.Second comparison means. , 7...Display means, 1...Entering vehicle detection means, 54...Entering vehicle detection means

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] [1] Based on the outputs of an entering vehicle detection means for detecting a vehicle entering the parking lot, an entering vehicle detection means for detecting a vehicle exiting from the parking lot, and the outputs from the two vehicle detection means. A display device comprising an inventory number calculation means for calculating the number of vehicles present in a parking lot, and a display means for displaying information based on the number of vehicles present from the numerical output of the said inventory number calculation means, the display device comprising an arbitrary number of vehicles in advance. and a subtraction means for calculating the number of parking spaces from the numerical output from the accommodable number setting means and the numerical output of the inventory number calculation means, wherein the subtraction means calculates the number of parking spaces. A display device for displaying the number of available parking spaces, characterized in that the display means displays the number of available parking spaces. [2] A first comparison means capable of displaying on the display means that the vehicle is full when the numerical output of the subtraction means is “0” or less; and a full notice number setting where an arbitrary number of vehicles is set in advance. means, and second comparison means capable of displaying either an empty vehicle state or a crowded state on the display means based on the numerical output from the full notice number setting means and the numerical output of the subtracter. 2. The device for displaying the number of available parking spaces according to claim 1.