Power supply unit
First Claim
1. A parking meter comprising:
- a) a housing;
b) a rechargeable battery;
c) a wireless communication device for communicating a status message regarding the status of the rechargeable battery to a control system external to the parking meter;
d) a non-rechargeable back-up battery; and
e) a control unit for monitoring the status of the rechargeable battery and signaling the wireless communication device to communicate the status message;
wherein the rechargeable battery, the non-rechargeable battery, the wireless communication device, and the control unit, are received within the housing of the parking meter.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A power supply unit for supplying power to a device has a rechargeable, main battery; a charging arrangement for charging the main battery; a non-rechargeable back-up battery; load terminals for connection to a load; and a control unit for controlling supply of power to the load primarily from the main battery and secondarily from the back-up battery. The device is, in particular, a single bay, stand alone parking meter. In the event that the main battery runs low, the control unit is configured to supply power to the load from both the main battery and the back-up battery or only from the back-up battery. The back-up battery is easily replaceable, and the power supply unit has a bay, with connectors for receiving the back-up battery. The main battery is charged from solar panels. A communication device is provided to communicate status messages wirelessly to a control system.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A parking meter comprising:
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a) a housing; b) a rechargeable battery; c) a wireless communication device for communicating a status message regarding the status of the rechargeable battery to a control system external to the parking meter; d) a non-rechargeable back-up battery; and e) a control unit for monitoring the status of the rechargeable battery and signaling the wireless communication device to communicate the status message; wherein the rechargeable battery, the non-rechargeable battery, the wireless communication device, and the control unit, are received within the housing of the parking meter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A power supply for a parking meter comprising:
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a) a rechargeable battery; b) a connection to a wireless communication device for communicating a status message regarding the status of the rechargeable battery to a control system external to the parking meter; c) a non-rechargeable back-up battery; and d) a connection to a control unit for monitoring the status of the rechargeable battery and signaling the wireless communication device to communicate the status message; wherein the rechargeable battery, the non-rechargeable back-up battery, the wireless communication device, and the control unit, are received within the parking meter. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for managing the supply of power to a parking meter comprising:
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a) monitoring, by a control unit, the status of a rechargeable battery and a non-rechargeable back-up battery; and b) signaling, by the control unit, a wireless communication device to communicate a status message to a control system external to the parking meter regarding the status of the rechargeable battery; wherein the rechargeable battery, the non-rechargeable back-up battery, the wireless communication device, and the control unit are received within the parking meter. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification