ELECTRONIC PARKING METER LOCKING SYSTEM

• US 20010013010A1
• Filed: 12/16/1998
• Published: 08/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: POM, Inc.
• Original Assignee: POM, Inc.
• Inventors: BROWN, R. TODD, WARD, SETH II, KIEHL, WILLIAM C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,477,505 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/248 Housing construction casings for coin-freed apparatus G07F9/10
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/06 Coin boxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7073 Including use of a key

Abstract

An electro-mechanical lock on the coin vault of a parking device is controlled by the electronic components of the parking meter. Combining the electro-mechanical lock with a standard mechanical lock provides additional security in that two devices must be employed to open the meter. This provides greater security for coin collection without the need to provide separate circuitry to control the lock. Additionally, the electro-mechanical lock can be triggered by a smart card which also triggers an audit of the meters activity, providing an audit trail for coin collection.

Claims

1. A parking device, comprising:

an input device to receive payment;

an electronic circuit, connected to said input device to validate said payment and to calculate time purchased;

a vault, connected to said input device, in which payment is stored, said vault having a vault door which provides external access to said vault;

a mechanical lock which secures said vault door in a closed position;

an electrically-controlled lock which secures said vault door in a closed position, said electrically-controlled lock being controlled by said electronic circuit.

2. The parking device of

claim 1

, wherein said electrically-controlled lock, in its unpowered position, obstructs the opening of said mechanical lock.

3. The parking device of

claim 1

, wherein said electronic circuit comprises a microcontroller.

4. The parking device of

claim 1

, further comprising a smart card, wherein use of said smart card to open said parking device triggers a download of information from said parking device.

5. A parking device, comprising:

electronic circuitry, connected to a payment receptacle, to recognize payment received and indicate parking time purchased;

a vault, connected to said payment receptacle, in which payment received by said parking device is stored, said vault having a vault door which provides external access to the contents of said vault;

an electro-mechanical lock which is at least partly controlled by a signal from said electronic circuitry.

6. The parking device of

claim 5

, wherein said parking device is a parking meter for a single parking space.

7. The parking device of

claim 5

, wherein a hand-held transmitter is used to contact said electronic circuitry and unlock said electro-mechanical lock.

8. The parking device of

claim 5

, wherein a smart card is used to contact said electronic circuitry and unlock said electro-mechanical lock.

9. A fabrication method for a parking device, comprising the steps of:

(a.) programming electronic circuitry to recognize a payment received and to display allowed parking time in response to the receipt of said payment;

(b.) enclosing said electronic circuitry in a housing, said housing including a vault for storing payment received, said vault having a vault door to provide external access to said vault;

(c.) locking said vault door with both a mechanical lock and an electrically-controlled lock which is at least partially controlled by said electronic circuitry.

10. The method of

claim 9

, wherein said vault door is rectangular.

11. The method of

claim 9

, wherein said step (c.) comprises installing said electrically-controlled lock so that it interferes with the action of said mechanical lock.

12. A method for operating a parking device, comprising the steps of:

(a.) using electronic circuitry to recognize payment received by said parking device and to display a corresponding parking time purchased;

(b.) storing at least a portion of said payment in a vault section of said parking device having a vault door to provide external access to said vault;

(c.) locking said vault door with a mechanical lock and an electronically-controlled lock which in its unpowered position maintains said vault door in a locked state and which is controlled by a signal from said electronic circuitry.

13. The parking device of

claim 12

, further comprising:

(d.) opening said electronically-controlled lock with a communications device which also triggers a download of information from said parking device.

14. The method of

claim 12

, wherein said step (c.) comprises installing said electronically-controlled lock such that it interferes with the action of said mechanical lock.