Low-power vehicle detection

• US 10,297,150 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2017
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IPS Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IPS Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Schwarz, Alexander, Hunter, Stephen John
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Point, Rufus C
• Application Number:
  US15/633,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20180025629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/246 provided with vehicle proximity-detectors detecting hidden masses, e.g. metal detectors, G01V, e.g. G01V3/00; proximity switches per se H03K17/00; traffic control systems G08G1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/34 Smart metering supporting the carbon neutral operation of end-user applications in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

A parking meter detects an object in proximity, based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter, activates a directional sensor in response to detecting the object, receives sensor data at a meter processor from the directional sensor, wherein the received sensor data indicates a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the meter. The parking meter determines a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on the sensor data, and upon a positive determination of the presence of the object, stores an indication of the presence of the object along with a time of the positive determination.

Claims

1. A method of operating a parking meter, the method comprising:

(a) detecting an object in proximity to a parking meter by a proximity sensor, the detecting being based on a change in a proximity measurement at the meter, wherein the proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of;

a radio transceiver, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, and a pressure sensor;

(b) activating a directional sensor in response to detecting the object;

(c) receiving sensor data at a meter processor from the directional sensor, the received sensor data indicating a predetermined direction to the detected object relative to the parking meter;

(d) determining a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on a proximity measurement by the proximity sensor and the sensor data; and

(e) upon a determination of the presence of the object, or the lack thereof, storing an indication of the presence of the object, or the lack thereof, along with a time of the determination.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor is a magnetometer coupled to the parking meter and wherein the proximity measurement is indicative of a magnetic field at the parking meter.

3. The method as in claim 1, further comprising in (d):

determining a confidence level of the presence of the object in a space associated with the parking meter based on the proximity measurement and the received sensor data; and

subsequent to determining the confidence level, varying an action of the meter based on the confidence level.

4. The method as in claim 3, further comprising:

comparing the proximity measurement to a baseline measurement, the baseline measurement representing an expected proximity measurement when the object is not present; and

positively detecting the object present if the proximity measurement differs from the baseline measurement by more than a threshold value.

5. The method as in claim 3, wherein the varying the action comprises:

resetting time remaining on the parking meter to zero or another desired amount.

6. The method as in claim 3, wherein the varying the action comprises:

updating payment information associated with the object on a memory module of the meter.

7. The method as in claim 1, further comprising, prior to (a), determining a presence of the object in proximity to the parking meter.

8. The method as in claim 1, wherein the directional sensor is at least one of:

(a) an ultrasonic sensor,

(b) an optical sensor,

(c) a passive infrared sensor,

(d) an active infrared sensor, and

(e) a radar sensor.

9. The method as in claim 8, wherein the optical sensor is a digital camera.

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein the directional sensor is wirelessly connected to the meter.

11. The method as in claim 1, further comprising:

tuning the directional sensor by varying sensitivity and directional gains for the directional sensor.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein the sensitivity and directional gains are determined empirically.

13. A parking meter comprising:

(a) a proximity sensor configured to detect an object in proximity to the parking meter based on a proximity measurement, and configured to produce a trigger signal in response to the detection of the object, wherein the proximity sensor is selected from the group consisting of;

a radio transceiver, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, and a pressure sensor;

(b) a directional sensor configured to detect the object in a predetermined direction relative to the parking meter; and

(c) a control module coupled to the proximity sensor and the directional sensor and configured to;

i. receive the trigger signal from the proximity sensor and, in response to receiving the trigger signal, activate the directional sensor,

ii. receive sensor data from the directional sensor,

iii. determine a presence of the object, or lack thereof, in the predetermined direction based on the proximity measurement and the received sensor data, and

iv. upon a determination of the presence of the object, or lack thereof, store an indication of the presence of the object, or lack thereof, along with a time of the determination.

14. The parking meter as in claim 13, wherein the directional sensor is at least one of:

(a) an ultrasonic sensor,

(b) an optical sensor,

(c) a passive infrared sensor,

(d) an active infrared sensor, and

(e) a radar sensor.

15. The parking meter as in claim 14, wherein the optical sensor is a digital camera.

16. The parking meter as in claim 13, wherein the control module is further configured to determine a confidence level of the presence of the object in a space associated with the parking meter based on the proximity measurement and the received sensor data.

17. The parking meter as in claim 16, wherein the control module is further configured to, subsequent to determining the confidence level, vary an action of the meter based on the confidence level.

18. The parking meter as in claim 17, wherein the action of the meter is to reset time remaining on the parking meter to zero or another desired amount.