POWER SUPPLY UNIT
4 Assignments
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
42 Claims
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1-17. -17. (canceled)
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18. A method for controlling the supply of power to a parking meter comprising:
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a) monitoring, by a control unit, the status of a rechargeable main battery and a back-up battery; b) supplying power, by the control unit, to the parking meter primarily from the main battery; c) switching the supply of power, by the control unit, to come from the back-up battery when the voltage across the main battery falls below a predetermined level; d) supplementing the supply of power during a peak power demand, by the control unit, to the main battery by utilizing at least one capacitor; and e) 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 state of the main battery and the back-up battery; provided that the main battery, the back-up battery, the at least one capacitor, the wireless communication device, and the control unit are received within the parking meter. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A power supply for supplying power to a parking meter comprising:
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a) a rechargeable main battery; b) a replaceable back-up battery; c) at least one capacitor; d) a connection to a wireless communication device for communicating a status message regarding the state of the main battery and the state of the back-up battery to a control system external to the parking meter; and e) a connection to a control unit for controlling supply of power to the parking meter primarily from the main battery and secondarily from the back-up battery, wherein the at least one capacitor assists during a peak power demand; provided that the main battery, the back-up battery, the at least one capacitor, the wireless communication device, and the control unit are received within the parking meter. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification