VEHICLE SHARED-USE SYSTEM

• US 3,624,608 A
• Filed: 06/08/1970
• Issued: 11/30/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald Friedman, Manfred Altman
• Original Assignee: Donald Friedman, Manfred Altman
• Inventors: Friedman, Donald, Altman, Manfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/044,056
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 340/149,152 235/61.7,150.2,150.24,61.6 255/151 194/4
• US Class Current: 340/5.42
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0401 arrangements for automatically fuelling vehicles, i.e. without human intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/125 Finance or payroll
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/23 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/145 for revolving doors or turnstiles

Abstract

A system is described having a plurality of vehicles, the use of which is available to a number of individuals. An identification and information system is provided for regulating vehicle access, recording the time any individual uses a vehicle, and also the extent of use so that billing and other control functions can be performed at a central processing facility. In this system the access to a vehicle is controlled by a credit card or the like in possession of a user. Vehicle identification and mileage are recorded in the vehicle and upon command are transmitted by a sonic or electromagnetic radiation link to a receiving antenna from which these data and the user identification are transmitted by phone lines to a central processing station. The potential user'"'"''"'"'s credit is verified and, if approved, the vehicle is permitted to leave the rental site.

Claims

1. An automatic vehicle shared-use system comprising a plurality of remote vehicle access stations, each station comprising:

means for identifying a vehicle user and generating an identification signal;

means for identifying a vehicle and generating a second identification signal;

means for ascertaining vehicle usage and generating a usage signal; and

means for controlling access to an identified vehicle;

said further comprising;

central processing means for correlating identification signals and usage signals of a plurality of users and a plurality of vehicles; and

means for transmitting the identification and usage signals to the central processing means for returning signals to the means for controlling vehicle access.

2. An automatic vehicle shared-use system as defined in claim 1 wherein means for transmitting signals comprises:

a transmitting antenna mounted on a vehicle; and

a receiving antenna at the vehicle access station.

3. An automatic vehicle shared-use system as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for transmitting comprises:

a wired connection between the remote vehicle access station and the central processing means; and

an ultrasonic signal link between a vehicle and the wired connection.

4. An automatic vehicle shared-use system as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for ascertaining vehicle usage comprises:

a mileage sensor;

a pulser means responsive to the mileage sensor for generating signal pulses;

counter means responsive to the pulser for recording mileage; and

scanner means for reading the counter.

5. An automatic vehicle shared-use system as defined in claim 4 wherein the means for identifying a user comprises:

an indicia-bearing member available to a user; and

reader means for sensing the indicia and generating the identification signal in response thereto.

6. An automatic vehicle shared-use system as defined in claim 5 further comprising scanner means for sequentially reading the identification signals for serial transmission to the central processing means.

7. An automatic vehicle shared-use system as defined in claim 6 wherein the means for transmitting comprises:

a wire connection between the vehicle access station and the central processing means;

a transmitting antenna mounted on a vehicle and connected to the scanning means; and

a receiving antenna at the vehicle access station.

8. An automatic vehicle shared-use system as defined in claim 7 wherein the transmitting and receiving antennas each process ultrasonic signals.