Single space electronic parking meter with meter housing mounted vehicle sensor
First Claim
1. A single space parking meter system associated with a parking space comprising:
- an outer meter housing comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein an inner surface of the upper portion and an inner surface of the lower portion define a cavity;
an electronic meter mechanism located generally within the cavity, the electronic meter mechanism comprising a display screen, a payment receiving system, a processor and a user input device;
a vehicle sensor communicably coupled the electronic meter mechanism, the vehicle sensor configured to detect a vehicle located within a parking space, and configured to generate a signal indicative of the presence of the vehicle within the parking space and to communicate the signal to the processor, the vehicle sensor having a detection zone and being positioned such that the detection zone is located generally within the parking space such that the vehicle sensor monitors a volume located above the parking space; and
a support structure coupled to the vehicle sensor, the support structure allowing the vehicle sensor to be pointed at one of an angle offset from the primary direction of a rear face of the parking meter and an angle offset from a normal angle to a rear face of the parking meter.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An upper parking meter outer housing component that includes a parking meter cap is provided. The parking meter cap includes an outer surface, an inner surface defining an interior cavity, and a lower edge portion defining an opening into the interior cavity. The lower edge portion is configured to be coupled to a lower housing component of single space meter such that a meter mechanism may be enclosed within the interior cavity of the upper meter dome. The meter cap includes a vehicle sensor coupled to the inner surface of the upper meter dome. The meter cap includes a solar panel coupled to the inner surface of the upper meter dome and configured to supply power to the vehicle sensor.
78 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A single space parking meter system associated with a parking space comprising:
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an outer meter housing comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein an inner surface of the upper portion and an inner surface of the lower portion define a cavity; an electronic meter mechanism located generally within the cavity, the electronic meter mechanism comprising a display screen, a payment receiving system, a processor and a user input device; a vehicle sensor communicably coupled the electronic meter mechanism, the vehicle sensor configured to detect a vehicle located within a parking space, and configured to generate a signal indicative of the presence of the vehicle within the parking space and to communicate the signal to the processor, the vehicle sensor having a detection zone and being positioned such that the detection zone is located generally within the parking space such that the vehicle sensor monitors a volume located above the parking space; and a support structure coupled to the vehicle sensor, the support structure allowing the vehicle sensor to be pointed at one of an angle offset from the primary direction of a rear face of the parking meter and an angle offset from a normal angle to a rear face of the parking meter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A single space parking meter system associated with a parking space comprising:
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an outer meter housing comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein an inner surface of the upper portion and an inner surface of the lower portion define a cavity;
an electronic meter mechanism located generally within the cavity, the electronic meter mechanism comprising a display screen, a payment receiving system, a processor and a user input device;a vehicle sensor communicably coupled to the electronic meter mechanism, the vehicle sensor configured to detect a vehicle located within a parking space, and configured to generate a signal indicative of the presence of the vehicle within the parking space and to communicate the signal to the processor, the vehicle sensor having a detection zone and being positioned such that the detection zone is located generally within the parking space such that the vehicle sensor monitors a volume located above the parking space; and a support structure coupled to the vehicle sensor, the support structure allowing the vehicle sensor to be pointed at an angle offset from the primary direction of a rear face of the parking meter; wherein the vehicle sensor is one of a radar sensor and a broad spectrum radar sensor with occupied or necessary bandwidths greater than 10 MHz. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A single space parking meter system associated with a parking space comprising:
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an outer meter housing comprising a lower portion and an upper portion, wherein an inner surface of the upper portion and an inner surface of the lower portion define a cavity;
an electronic meter mechanism located generally within the cavity, the electronic meter mechanism comprising a display screen, a payment receiving system, a processor and a user input device;a vehicle sensor communicably coupled to the electronic meter mechanism, the vehicle sensor configured to detect a vehicle located within a parking space, and configured to generate a signal indicative of the presence of the vehicle within the parking space and to communicate the signal to the processor, the vehicle sensor having a detection zone and being positioned such that the detection zone is located generally within the parking space such that the vehicle sensor monitors a volume located above the parking space; and a support structure coupled to the vehicle sensor, the support structure allowing the vehicle sensor to be pointed at an angle offset from a normal angle to a rear face of the parking meter; wherein the vehicle sensor is one of a radar sensor and a broad spectrum radar sensor with occupied or necessary bandwidths greater than 10 MHz. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification