Remote LCD enforcement flag for parking meters

• US 20030117904A1
• Filed: 11/18/2002
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: J.J. MacKay Canada Limited (137954 Canada Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: J.J. MacKay Canada Limited (137954 Canada Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cameron, Darren S., Lank, Ronald V.
• Application Number:
  US10/298,906
• Publication Number:
  US 20030117904A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/90
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/24 for parking meters

Abstract

An enforcement shutter for an electronic meter comprises an enforcement display element having a highly visible surface and adapted to be fixed to the meter housing, and a cable for coupling the enforcement display element to the computer processor for controlling the operation of the enforcement display element. The enforcement shutter includes a holder having a window, a transparent protective plate positioned on the inner surface of the holder, a back plate adapted to be fixed to the holder for mounting the holder to the meter housing. The enforcement display element, which is positioned to face the transparent plate with a display surface visible in the holder window, may be mounted in the holder or to a surface of the inner electronic meter. The enforcement display element may be a LCD. When activated by the electronic meter processor to indicate that parking time has expired, the LCD displays a substantially uniform color and may be made to flash. In a further embodiment, a LCD display for an electronic parking meter comprises a display surface adapted to be positioned so as to be visible to a user. One or more display characters having a number of character segments are positioned on the display surface. The segments are adapted to be coupled to the computer processor for displaying parking time. At least one filler segment is positioned to cover essentially the entire visible display surface not used by the display characters. The filler segment is adapted to be coupled to the computer processor for indicating that the parking time has expired.

Claims

1. In an electronic parking meter with a housing for containing an electronic meter having a computer processor for controlling an unexpired time display in response to the payment for parking time, wherein the parking time display is visible to the user, an enforcement shutter comprising:

an enforcement display element adapted to be fixed to the meter housing and having a highly visible surface;

a cable for connection between the enforcement display element and the computer processor for controlling the operation of the enforcement display element; and

transparent means for protecting the visible surface of the enforcement display element.

2. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the enforcement display element is a LCD.

3. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 2 wherein the activated LCD displays a substantially uniform color.

4. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 3 wherein the LCD is activated under the control of the meter processor when the paid parking time has expired.

5. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 3 wherein the LCD is activated to flash under the control of the meter processor when the paid parking time has expired.

6. In an electronic parking meter with a housing for containing an electronic meter having a computer processor for controlling an unexpired time display in response to the payment for parking time, wherein the parking time display is visible to the user, an enforcement shutter for mounting on the parking meter housing comprising:

an enforcement shutter holder having a window, the holder having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a transparent protective plate positioned at the inner surface of the holder;

a back plate adapted to be fixed to the holder for mounting the holder to the meter housing; and

an enforcement display element positioned to face the transparent plate with a surface visible in the holder window.

7. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 6 wherein the enforcement display element is a LCD and includes a cable for connection between the LCD and the computer processor for controlling the operation of the LCD.

8. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 6 wherein the holder outside surface is bevelled.

9. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 6 wherein the holder inside surface is recessed to receive the transparent protective plate.

10. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 9 wherein the back plate fixes the holder and the transparent plate within an opening in the meter housing.

11. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 10 wherein the enforcement display element is fixed to the electronic meter.

12. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 10 wherein the opening in the meter housing is located on a wall adapted to face a parked vehicle.

13. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 6 wherein the holder inside surface is recessed to receive the transparent protective plate and the enforcement display element.

14. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the back plate fixes the transparent plate and the enforcement shutter within an opening in the meter housing.

15. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 11 wherein the opening in the meter housing is located on a wall adapted to face a parked vehicle.

16. An enforcement shutter for an electronic parking meter having a housing, comprising:

an enforcement shutter holder having a window, the holder having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a transparent protective plate positioned at the inner surface of the holder;

a back plate adapted to be fixed to the holder for mounting the holder to the meter housing; and

an enforcement display element positioned to face the transparent plate with a surface visible in the holder window.

17. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 16 wherein the holder outside surface is bevelled.

18. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 17 wherein the holder inside surface is recessed to receive the transparent protective plate and the enforcement display element.

19. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 18 wherein the back plate fixes transparent plate and the enforcement display element within an opening in the meter housing.

20. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 19 wherein the opening in the meter housing is located on a wall adapted to face a parked vehicle.

21. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 20 wherein the enforcement display element is a LCD.

22. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 21 wherein the LCD includes a cable for connection between the enforcement display element and a computer processor within the electronic meter for controlling the operation of the enforcement display element.

23. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 22 wherein the activated LCD displays a substantially uniform color.

24. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 22 wherein the LCD is activated under the control of the meter processor when the paid parking time has expired.

25. An enforcement shutter as claimed in claim 23 wherein is activated to flash under the control of the meter processor when the paid parking time has expired.

26. A LCD display for an electronic parking meter having a computer processor comprising:

a display surface adapted to be positioned so as to be visible to a user;

one or more display characters on the display surface having a number of character segments adapted to be coupled to the computer processor for displaying parking time; and

at least one filler segment covering essentially the entire visible display surface not used by the display characters adapted to be coupled to the computer processor for indicating that the parking time has expired.

27. A LCD display as claimed in claim 26 wherein the LCD includes a red polarizer.

28. A LCD display as claimed in claim 27 wherein the LCD comprises six display characters

29. A LCD display as claimed in claim 28 wherein four display characters each include seven segments and the remaining display characters include one segment.

30. An electronic parking meter comprising:

a LCD display visible to a user;

a computer processor for controlling the LCD display, wherein the LCD display comprises;

a display surface;

one or more display characters on the display surface having a number of character segments adapted to be coupled to the computer processor for displaying parking time; and

at least one filler segment covering essentially the entire display surface not used by the display characters adapted to be coupled to the computer processor for indicating that the parking time has expired.

31. An electronic parking meter as claimed in claim 30 wherein the computer processor includes means for controlling the segments of the one or more display characters and the filler segment to be activated simultaneously for indicating that the parking time has expired.

32. An electronic parking meter as claimed in claim 31 wherein the segment controlling mean is adapted to activate all of the segments at a predetermined frequency.

33. An electronic parking meter as claimed in claim 32 wherein the LCD includes a red polarizer.

34. An electronic parking meter as claimed in claim 33 wherein the LCD comprises six display characters.

35. An electronic parking meter as claimed in claim 34 wherein four display characters each include seven segments and the remaining display characters include one segment.