Single space wireless parking with improved antenna placements
First Claim
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1. A parking meter comprising:
- a meter mechanism comprising components for providing metering functionality and a display;
a radio communication module coupled to at least one of the components of the meter mechanism;
a parking meter housing enclosing the meter mechanism, the parking meter housing comprising;
an upper housing comprising a display opening for viewing at least a portion of the display; and
a lower housing enclosing a lower portion of the meter mechanism;
an antenna coupled to the radio communication module to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals, the antenna at least partially located externally to the meter mechanism and at least partially located externally to the parking meter housing; and
an antenna cover secured to at least a portion of the parking meter housing and enclosing the antenna to provide protection from an external environment, the antenna cover providing a low attenuation transmission path for the RF signals separate from the display opening.
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Abstract
A wireless parking meter with an improved antenna location is described. The antenna may be located within a covering protruding from the top of the parking meter, allowing radio frequency (RF) signals to be transmitted through a portion of the parking meter with high permittivity to the RF signals. Additionally or alternatively, the antenna may be located within the parking meter housing above a lower parking meter mechanism housing so that RF signals can be transmitted through the dome covering of the parking meter, which may have a high permittivity to the RF signals.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A parking meter comprising:
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a meter mechanism comprising components for providing metering functionality and a display; a radio communication module coupled to at least one of the components of the meter mechanism; a parking meter housing enclosing the meter mechanism, the parking meter housing comprising; an upper housing comprising a display opening for viewing at least a portion of the display; and a lower housing enclosing a lower portion of the meter mechanism; an antenna coupled to the radio communication module to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals, the antenna at least partially located externally to the meter mechanism and at least partially located externally to the parking meter housing; and an antenna cover secured to at least a portion of the parking meter housing and enclosing the antenna to provide protection from an external environment, the antenna cover providing a low attenuation transmission path for the RF signals separate from the display opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification