Toll transponder with deactivation means

• US 20060125603A1
• Filed: 03/24/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telematics Wireless, Ltd (Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited)
• Original Assignee: Telematics Wireless, Ltd (Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited)
• Inventors: Nahear, Shemon Avraham
• Granted Patent: US 8,183,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.500
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs

Abstract

The invention relates to a transponder system for use in conjunction with an interrogator of a toll highway, which comprises: (a) a transponder having two modes: (a.1) an “active” mode during which the transponder is mostly in standby, while it sends an identification signal upon receipt of an interrogator signal; and (a.2) an “inactive” mode during which the transponder is inactive; (b) a switch within the transponder having two states, a first state in which it causes the transponder to be in said “active” mode, and a second state in which it causes the transponder to be in said “inactive” mode; (c) a hanging device for enabling placement of the transponder in it, said hanging device being attached to a part of the vehicle where the transponder, when placed, is capable of receiving interrogating signals coming from a proximate interrogator; and (d) an activator at said hanging device for causing said switch to be in said first state only when the transponder is placed within the hanging device, and to be in an “inactive” state when the transponder is not placed within the hanging device.

Claims

1. A transponder system for use in conjunction with an interrogator of a toll highway comprising:

a. a transponder having two modes;

I. an “

active”

mode during which the transponder is mostly in standby, while it sends an identification signal upon receipt of an interrogator signal; and

II. an “

inactive”

mode during which the transponder is inactive;

b. a switch within the transponder having two states, a first state in which it causes the transponder to be in said “

active”

mode, and a second state in which it causes the transponder to be in said “

inactive”

mode;

c. a hanging device for enabling placement of the transponder in it, said hanging device being attached to a part of the vehicle where the transponder, when placed, is capable of receiving interrogating signals coming from a proximate interrogator; and

d. an activator at said hanging device for causing said switch to be in said first state only when the transponder is placed within the hanging device, and to be in an “

inactive”

mode when the transponder is not placed within the hanging device.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the transponder is an electronic card located within a closed casing.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the switch is a magnetic switch or a read switch located within the transponder, and wherein the activator is a magnet or made from a ferromagnetic material.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the switch is an optical switch located within the transponder, and wherein the activator is an element made from an opaque material which is placed at the hanging device at a location in which it interrupts the light passage at the switch when the interrogator is placed within the hanging device.