AUTOMATIC TOLL CHARGING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A toll charging system comprising:
- an interrogator at a toll charging point, a vehicle-borne transponder including a vehicle receiver actuated by said interrogator, counting means and a transmitter, said vehicle receiver actuating said countiNg means and said transmitter, a ground receiver at said toll charging point responsive to said transmitter, means connected to said ground receiver indicating charging of a toll and, vehicle actuated means connected to said interrogator to trigger said interrogator and transmit a signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic toll charging system including a vehicle-borne transponder with a toll charge counter and a ground installation including a transmitter triggered by the vehicle, a receiver, and signaling device allowing the vehicle to proceed if a toll has been charged. The vehicle-triggered signal from the ground transmitter is received by the vehicle transponder, whereby the toll charge counter is stepped to indicate charging of a toll, and a signal is transmitted from the transponder. The transponder signal is received by the ground receiver, and the vehicle is allowed to proceed. The transponder counter may be set to store a number of prepaid tolls, subtracting one for each passage, or may count the tolls used for later payment.
26 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A toll charging system comprising:
- an interrogator at a toll charging point, a vehicle-borne transponder including a vehicle receiver actuated by said interrogator, counting means and a transmitter, said vehicle receiver actuating said countiNg means and said transmitter, a ground receiver at said toll charging point responsive to said transmitter, means connected to said ground receiver indicating charging of a toll and, vehicle actuated means connected to said interrogator to trigger said interrogator and transmit a signal.
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2. In the toll charging system of claim 1, normally actuated passage denial signal means and normally off passage allowance signal means;
- switching means connected to said ground receiver to turn off said passage denial signal means and actuate said passage allowance signal means upon receipt of a toll charge indicating signal from said vehicle transponder.
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3. In the toll charging system of claim 2, antenna means connected to said interrogator and to said ground receiver including:
- first and second antenna loops;
first and second inductors;
a bridge circuit including said first and second antenna loops and said first and second inductors; and
means connecting said interrogator and said ground receiver to said bridge circuit.
- first and second antenna loops;
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4. In an automatic toll charge system, a vehicle-borne transponder comprising:
- a receiver responsive to a signal indicative of a demand for the collection of a toll charge, a toll charge counter connected to said receiver, means adapted to insert a predetermined number which represents an amount of toll chargers in said counter, and means adapted to subtract one toll charge from the amount upon the receipt of a signal from the receiver, a transmitter and, means enabling energization of said transmitter responsive to actuation of said counter.
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5. In the vehicle-borne transponder of claim 4, said counter including:
- a spring loaded step wheel;
means for stepping said step wheel to indicate a toll charge upon receipt of a signal by said transponder receiver; and
means for winding said step wheel and tensioning said spring to store prepaid toll charge.
- a spring loaded step wheel;
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6. An automatic system for acknowledging charging of admissions from vehicles moving past a collection point comprising:
- means located other than on the vehicle for acknowledging receipt of a fare, vehicle fare storage means having a fare balance capable of modification by means located other than on the vehicle so long as a fare balance remains, sensing means responsive to fare collection for actuating a device located other than on said vehicle in response to a fare balance modification.
Specification