System and method for detecting vehicle types by utilizing information of vehicle height, and debiting system utilizing this system and method

Claim 2

A vehicle type detecting system comprising: height detecting means for detecting a height of an object on a road; and vehicle type detecting means for, when the height satisfies at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, determining that the object is a vehicle which belongs to a vehicle type corresponding to said at least one of plurality of vehicle type conditions, each of said vehicle type conditions being defined for every vehicle type; wherein said height detecting means includes a plurality of sensors each detecting a distance to the object, and means for, if any of the plurality of sensors becomes faulty, generating information representing the detection of distance from the faulty sensor.

Claim 3

A vehicle type detecting system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle type detecting means further includes; height profile detecting means for repeatedly detecting a height profile of the object by utilizing the height detecting means so as to obtain a plurality of height profiles along a direction crossing a lengthwise direction of a road with respect to the object; pattern detecting means for detecting a pattern of variation of the plurality of height profiles detected from the object, along the lengthwise direction of the road; and means for, when the pattern satisfies at least one of said vehicle type conditions, determining that the object is a vehicle which belongs to a vehicle type corresponding to said at least one of said vehicle type conditions.

Claim 4

A vehicle type detecting system according to claim 2, wherein the pattern detecting means further includes: means for generating a statistical index for each of a plurality of height profiles detected from the object, the statistical index representing distribution of height in the object; and means for gathering generated statistical indexes with respect to the object and for detecting the pattern by comparing gathered statistical indexes with each other along the lengthwise direction of the road.

Claim 5

A vehicle type detecting system according to claim 3, wherein the pattern detecting means further includes: means for detecting a number of height profiles beyond a height detection limit from the plurality of height profiles detected from the object; and means for detecting the pattern on the number of height profiles beyond the height detection limit.

Claim 6

A vehicle type detecting system according to claim 2, wherein the pattern detecting means further includes: means for detecting a number of height profiles beyond a height detection limit from the plurality of height profiles detected from the object; and means for detecting the pattern on the basis of the number of height profiles beyond the height detection limit.

Claim 7

A vehicle type detecting system according to claim 1, wherein said information representing the detection of distance from the faulty sensor is generated by another of said plurality of sensors in proximity of the faulty sensor.

Claim 8

A vehicle type detecting system according to claim 1, wherein at least some of said plurality of sensors are operated with a different timing so as to prevent interference among said sensors.

Claim 9

A vehicle type detecting system comprising: height detecting means for detecting a height of an object on a road; and vehicle type detecting means for, when the height satisfies at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, determining that the object is a vehicle which belongs to a vehicle type corresponding to said at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, each of said vehicle type conditions being defined for every vehicle type; wherein the vehicle type detecting means includes: height profile detecting means for repeatedly detecting a height profile of the object by utilizing the height detecting means so as to obtain a plurality of height profiles along a direction crossing in a lengthwise direction of the road with respect to the object; pattern detecting means for detecting a pattern of variation of the plurality of height profiles detected from the object, along the lengthwise direction of the road; and means for, when the pattern satisfies at least one of said vehicle type conditions, determining that the object is a vehicle which belongs to a vehicle type corresponding to said at least one of said vehicle type conditions; wherein the height detecting means includes: a plurality of sensors arranged along the direction crossing the lengthwise direction with a required small interval, the plurality of sensors each detecting the distance to an object passing its neighborhood and supplying detected results to the height profiles detecting means; and means for, if any of the plurality of sensors goes faulty, generating information representing estimated distance on the basis of the detected result by another sensor located in the proximity of the faulty sensor, and supplying the information to the height profile detecting means instead of the distance to be detected by the faulty sensor.

Claim 10

A vehicle type detecting system comprising: height detecting means for detecting a height of an object on a road; and vehicle type detecting means for, when the height satisfies at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, determining that the object is a vehicle which belongs to a vehicle type corresponding to said at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, each of said vehicle type conditions being defined for every vehicle type; wherein the vehicle type detecting means includes: height profile detecting means for repeatedly detecting a height profile of the object by utilizing the height detecting means so as to obtain a plurality of height profiles along a direction crossing in a lengthwise direction of the road with respect to the object; pattern detecting means for detecting a pattern of variation of the plurality of height profiles detected from the object, along the lengthwise direction of the road; and means for, when the pattern satisfies at least one of said vehicle type conditions, determining that the object is a vehicle which belongs to a vehicle type corresponding to said at least one of said vehicle type conditions; wherein the height detecting means includes: a plurality of sensors arranged along the direction crossing the lengthwise direction with a required small interval, the plurality of sensors each detecting the distance to an object passing its neighborhood and supplying detected results to the height profiles detecting means; and means for, if any of the plurality of sensors goes faulty, generating information representing estimated distance on the basis of the detected result by another sensor located in the proximity of the faulty sensor, and supplying the information to the height profile detecting means instead of the distance to be detected by the faulty sensor.

Claim 11

A vehicle type detecting method comprising: a step of detecting a height of an object on a road using a plurality of sensors detecting a distance to the object and, if any of the plurality of sensors becomes faulty, generating information representing the detection of distance from the faulty sensor; and a step of, when the height satisfies at least one of a plurality of vehicle type condition, determining that the object is a vehicle which belongs to a vehicle type corresponding to said at least one of a plurality of vehicle type condition, each of said vehicle type conditions being defined for each of vehicle types.

Claim 12

A vehicle type detecting method comprising: a step of detecting a height of an object on a road using a plurality of sensors detecting a distance to the object and, if any of the plurality of sensors becomes faulty, generating information representing the detection of distance from the faulty sensor; and a step of, when the height satisfies at least one of a plurality of vehicle type condition, determining that the object is a vehicle which belongs to a vehicle type corresponding to said at least one of a plurality of vehicle type condition, each of said vehicle type conditions being defined for each of vehicle types.

Claim 13

A vehicle type detecting method according to claim 9, wherein said information representing the detection of distance from the faulty sensor is generated by another of said plurality of sensors in proximity of the faulty sensor.

Claim 14

A vehicle type detecting method according to claim 9, comprising a step of operating at least some of said plurality of sensors with a different timing so as to prevent interference among said sensors.

Claim 15

A debiting system comprising: a system for receiving identification information from a vehicle running on a road by radio communication with the vehicle and for generating a first vehicle type information representing a vehicle type of the vehicle on the basis of the received identification information; a vehicle type detecting system detecting a height of an object on the road, determining, when the height satisfies at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, that the object is a vehicle which belongs to a vehicle type corresponding to said at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, and generating second vehicle type information showing determined results, each of said vehicle type conditions being defined for each of vehicle types; and a host system for detecting a vehicle transmitting the identification information, which does not coincide with an actual vehicle type of the vehicle, by matching the first vehicle type information with the second vehicle type information; wherein said vehicle type detecting system includes a plurality of sensors each detecting a distance to the object, and means for, if any of the plurality of sensors becomes faulty, generating information representing the detection of distance from the faulty sensor.

Claim 16

A debiting system comprising: a system for receiving identification information from a vehicle running on a road by radio communication with the vehicle and for generating a first vehicle type information representing a vehicle type of the vehicle on the basis of the received identification information; a vehicle type detecting system detecting a height of an object on the road, determining, when the height satisfies at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, that the object is a vehicle which belongs to a vehicle type corresponding to said at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, and generating second vehicle type information showing determined results, each of said vehicle type conditions being defined for each of vehicle types; and a host system for detecting a vehicle transmitting the identification information, which does not coincide with an actual vehicle type of the vehicle, by matching the first vehicle type information with the second vehicle type information; wherein said vehicle type detecting system includes a plurality of sensors each detecting a distance to the object, and means for, if any of the plurality of sensors becomes faulty, generating information representing the detection of distance from the faulty sensor.

Claim 17

A debiting system according to claim 12, wherein said information representing the detection of distance from the faulty sensor is generated by another of said plurality of sensors in proximity of the faulty sensor.

Claim 18

A debiting system according to claim 12, wherein at least some of said plurality of sensors are operated with a different timing so as to prevent interference among said sensors.

Claim 19

A vehicle type detecting system comprising: height detecting means for detecting a height of an object on a road; and vehicle type detecting means for, when the height satisfies at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, determining that the object is a vehicle which belongs to a vehicle type corresponding to said at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, each of said vehicle type conditions being defined for every vehicle type; wherein said height detecting means includes a plurality of sensors, at least some of said plurality of sensors operating with a different timing so as to prevent interference among said sensors.

Claim 20

A vehicle type detecting system comprising: height detecting means for detecting a height of an object on a road; and vehicle type detecting means for, when the height satisfies at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, determining that the object is a vehicle which belongs to a vehicle type corresponding to said at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, each of said vehicle type conditions being defined for every vehicle type; wherein said height detecting means includes a plurality of sensors, at least some of said plurality of sensors operating with a different timing so as to prevent interference among said sensors.

Claim 21

A vehicle type detecting system according to claim 15, wherein the vehicle type detecting means includes: height profile detecting means for repeatedly detecting a height profile of the object by utilizing the height detecting means so as to obtain a plurality of height profiles along a direction crossing a lengthwise direction of a road with respect to the object; pattern detecting means for detecting a pattern of variation of the plurality of height profiles detected from the object, along the lengthwise direction of the road; and means for, when the pattern satisfies at least one of said vehicle type conditions, determining that the object is a vehicle which belongs to a vehicle type corresponding to said at least one of said vehicle type conditions.

Claim 22

A vehicle type detecting system according to claim 16, wherein the pattern detecting means includes: means for generating a statistical index for each of a plurality of height profiles detected from the object, the statistical index representing distribution of height in the object; and means for gathering generated statistical indexes with respect to the object and for detecting the pattern by comparing gathered statistical indexes with each other along the lengthwise direction of the road.

Claim 23

A vehicle type detecting system according to claim 17, wherein the pattern detecting means includes: means for detecting a number of height pro files beyond a height detection limit from the plurality of height profiles detected from the object; and means for detecting the pattern on the number of height profiles beyond the height detection limit.

Claim 24

A vehicle type detecting system according to claim 16, wherein the pattern detecting means includes: means for detecting a number of height profiles beyond a height detection limit from the plurality of height profiles detected from the object; and means for detecting the pattern on the basis of the number of height profiles beyond the height detection limit.

Claim 25

A vehicle type detecting system comprising: height detecting means for detecting a height of an object on a road; vehicle type detecting means for, when the height satisfies at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, determining that the object is a vehicle which belongs to a vehicle type corresponding to said at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, each of said vehicle type conditions being defined for every vehicle type; and width detecting means for detecting a width of the object; wherein said width detecting means detects the entire width of the object and said vehicle type detecting means rejects height data from said height detecting means indicating an infinite height if said height data indicating an infinite height occupies less than a predetermined ratio with respect to the entire width of the object.

Claim 26

A vehicle type detecting system comprising: height detecting means for detecting a height of an object on a road; vehicle type detecting means for, when the height satisfies at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, determining that the object is a vehicle which belongs to a vehicle type corresponding to said at least one of a plurality of vehicle type conditions, each of said vehicle type conditions being defined for every vehicle type; and width detecting means for detecting a width of the object; wherein said width detecting means detects the entire width of the object and said vehicle type detecting means rejects height data from said height detecting means indicating an infinite height if said height data indicating an infinite height occupies less than a predetermined ratio with respect to the entire width of the object.

Claim 27

A vehicle type detecting system according to claim 20, wherein said vehicle type detecting means utilizes height data indicating an infinite height from said height detecting means if said height data indicating an infinite height occupies more than said predetermined ratio.