Parking meter

• US 20060028919A1
• Filed: 09/28/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Municipal Parking Services, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Frederick L. Mitschele
• Inventors: Mitschele, Frederick L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,393,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 368/90
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 1/005 using electronic timing, e.g. counting means pulse time delay arrangements H03K5/13; modifications of electronic switches for introducing a time delay before switching H03K17/28
• 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 15/12 in which metering is on a time basis
• 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

Abstract

A parking meter includes a microcontroller and a timer coupled with a microcontroller. A mechanism for accepting payment by coin, credit card or both is coupled with the microcontroller for accepting payment for use of an associated parking space. The microcontroller initiates the timer for a prepaid parking interval upon receiving a signal from the payment acceptance mechanism. A vehicle detector is coupled with the microcontroller for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle in the associated parking space. The microcontroller initiates an interrogation station to direct an interrogation signal at the associated parking space in the area of the parking space where the license plate of a parked vehicle is located upon determining the existence of a parking violation.

Claims

1. A parking meter, comprising:

i) a microcontroller;

ii) a timer coupled with the microcontroller;

iii) payment acceptance means coupled with the microcontroller for accepting payment for use of an associated parking space, such that the microcontroller initiates the timer for a prepaid parking interval upon receiving a signal from the payment acceptance means;

iv) vehicle detection means coupled with the microcontroller for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle in the associated parking space;

v) means for identifying a vehicle parked in the associated parking space, comprising an interrogation station coupled with the microcontroller, said interrogation station adapted to direct an interrogation signal, having a maximum range of approximately the length of the associated parking space or less, at the associated parking space in the area of the parking space where the license plate of a parked vehicle is located, receive a reply signal encoded with a vehicle identification code and to decode said signal, the microcontroller initiating the interrogation station to direct said interrogation signal at the associated parking space in the area of the parking space where the license plate of a parked vehicle is located upon determining the existence of a parking violation; and

vi) digital storage means for storing said decoded vehicle identification code.

2. The parking meter of claim 1 further comprising:

vii) telecommunications means coupled with said microcontroller, the microcontroller initiating a call notifying a remote monitoring station upon determining the existence of a parking violation and communicating said vehicle identification code.

3. The parking meter of claim 2 wherein said telecommunications means is adapted to transmit said vehicle identification code to said authorities.

4. The parking meter of claim 1 wherein said microcontroller comprises a microprocessor.

6. The parking meter as defined in claim 1 wherein said vehicle detection means comprises an ultrasonic, radar or infrared detector.

7. The parking meter as defined in claim 2 wherein said telecommunications means comprises a modem.

8. The parking meter as defined in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller initiates the timer for a predetermined standby interval upon receiving a signal from the vehicle detection means that a vehicle is present in the associated parking space, wherein said microcontroller is adapted to terminate the timing of the standby interval upon receiving a signal from the payment acceptance means, and said microcontroller initiates the interrogation station to direct an interrogation signal at the associated parking space in the area of the parking space where the license plate of a parked vehicle is located after expiry of said standby interval without receiving a signal from said payment acceptance means that a payment has been made.

9. The parking meter as defined in claim 2, wherein the microcontroller initiates the timer for a predetermined standby interval upon receiving a signal from the vehicle detection means that a vehicle is present in the associated parking space, the microcontroller is adapted to terminate the timing of the standby interval upon receiving a signal from the payment acceptance means, and the microcontroller initiates a call to said remote monitoring station as to a parking violation after the expiration of the standby interval without receiving a signal from said payment acceptance means that a payment has been made.

10. The parking meter as defined in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller determines the existence of a parking violation upon the vehicle detection means signalling to the microcontroller the presence of a vehicle in the associated parking space after expiry of said prepaid parking interval.

11. The parking meter as defined in claim 2, wherein the microcontroller determines the existence of a parking violation upon the vehicle detection means signalling to the microcontroller the presence of a vehicle in the associated parking space after expiry of said prepaid parking interval.

13. The parking meter as defined in claim 1 wherein said vehicle detection means coupled with said microcontroller for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle in the associated parking space comprises an in-pavement magnetic field sensor adapted to transmit a signal to said microcontroller upon detection of a vehicle in said associated parking space.

5. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

14. A parking meter comprising:

i) A microcontroller;

ii) a timer coupled with the microcontroller;

iii) payment acceptance means coupled with the microcontroller for accepting payment for use of an associated parking space, such that the microcontroller initiates the time for a prepaid parking interval upon receiving a signal from the payment acceptance means;

iv) vehicle detection means coupled with the microcontroller for detecting the presence of absence of a vehicle in the associated parking space;

v) means for identifying a vehicle parked in the associated parking space, comprising an interrogation station coupled with the microcontroller, said interrogation station adapted to direct an interrogation signal at the associated parking space in the area of the parking space where the license plate of a parked vehicle is located, receive a reply signal having a maximum range of approximately the length of the associated parking space or less encoded with a vehicle identification code and to decode said signal, the microcontroller initiating the interrogation station to direct said interrogation signal at the associated parking space in the area of the parking space where the license plate of a parked vehicle is located upon determining the existence of a parking violation; and

vi) digital storage means for storing said decoded vehicle identification code.

15. The parking meter of claim 14 wherein the payment acceptance means is configured to accept paper bills.