Toll collection system

• US 4,338,587 A
• Filed: 08/11/1980
• Issued: 07/06/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Arthur B. Chiappetti
• Original Assignee: Arthur B. Chiappetti
• Inventors: Chiappetti, Arthur B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Waring, Alvin H.
• Application Number:
  US06/177,036
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 340/22, 340/23, 340/31 R, 340/32, 340/38 R, 340/505, 340/539
• US Class Current: 340/928
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/04 comprising devices to free a barrier, turnstile, or the like turnstiles with registering means G07C9/10; coin-freed aspects G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

A vehicle toll collection system automatically identifies vehicles traveling along a vehicle lane. The system includes a mobile vehicle identification sending unit adapted to be mounted on at least one of the vehicles for sending vehicle identification information. A stationary control unit is disposed near the vehicle lane for receiving the identification information from the mobile unit as the vehicle moves past the stationary unit to register the vehicle identity. The stationary unit includes devices which respond to the vehicle identification information for generating a vehicle signal indicating that a vehicle has been registered.

Claims

1. In a vehicle toll collection system for vehicles, the system including at least one elongated vehicle lane indicia means for directing the vehicles therealong over a roadway, a stationary control unit comprising:

said stationary control unit being disposed at said indicia means having receiving means adapted to receive a series of vehicle identification information signals from each one of a series of the vehicles traveling therepast along the roadway, said signals being coded to identify uniquely the vehicle sending it;

a signal transmitter for generating and sending request signals to the vehicles passing by the stationary control unit to cause the vehicles to return their vehicle identification signals to said stationary control unit;

memory means responsive to said receiving means receiving identification information signals from passing vehicles for storing the identification information signals; and

logic means responsive to said receiving means receiving all of the identification information signals from each one of the passing vehicles for generating vehicle warning signals corresponding to each one of the passing vehicles and indicative of whether or not identification information signals were properly received.

2. In a vehicle toll collection system, a stationary control unit according to claim 1, further including a signal transmitter for generating and sending a request signal to vehicles passing by the stationary control unit, said mobile unit having a signal receiver for receiving the request signal for activating the mobile unit to generate the vehicle information signal.

3. In a vehicle toll collection system, a stationary control unit according to claim 1, wherein said mobile unit includes a bi-stable device adapted to be enabled for initiating the sending of the vehicle information signal, a signal generator having its input connected to the output of the bi-stable device generating said vehicle information signal.

4. In a vehicle toll collection system, a stationary control unit according to claim 1, further including bi-stable means adapted to be set in response to the receipt of the information signals and second bi-stable means for being set in response to said vehicles being present.

5. In a vehicle toll collection system, a stationary control unit according to claim 4, further including a coincidence AND gate for responding to said first bi-stable means being reset and said second bi-stable means being set for generating a stop signal indicating that a vehicle has failed to register its identity.

6. In a vehicle toll collection system, a stationary control unit according to claim 5, further including a write control device which responds to a signal receiver for receiving the information signal, said memory means for storing the information received by the receiver and transferred to it via said write control device, a binary-to-decimal converter for transferring the information stored in the memory to a printer.

7. In a vehicle toll collection system, a stationary control unit according to claim 1, wherein said logic means includes vehicle detection means for supplying a vehicle present signal, means responsive to said vehicle present signal and a vehicle failing to send its vehicle identification information for generating said vehicle warning signal, warning means activated by said warning signal for indicating that a vehicle has not been registered.

8. In a vehicle toll collection system, a stationary control unit according to claim 1, wherein said logic means includes a first bi-stable means adapted to be set in response to the receipt of vehicle identification information signals, and second bi-stable means for being set in response to a vehicle present signal, and a coincidence AND gate for responding to said first bi-stable means being reset and said second bi-stable means being set for generating a stop signal indicating that a vehicle has failed to register its identity.

9. In a vehicle toll collection system, a stationary control unit according to claim 1, further including a mobile vehicle identification sending unit adapted to be carried individually on board the vehicles for sending a series of coded vehicle identification information signals uniquely identifying its vehicle,

each one of said mobile control units including signal transmitting means for storing and for sending said series of coded vehicle identification information signals, signal receiving means for receiving one of said request signals from said stationary control unit, switching means responsive to said receiving means receiving said one of said request signals for causing said signal transmitting means to send its identification information signals, said switching means having means for de-energizing said transmitting means after said transmitting means completes sending its identification information signals.

10. In a vehicle toll collection system for vehicles, the system including at least one elongated vehicle lane indicia means for directing the vehicles therealong over a roadway, an arrangement comprising:

a mobile vehicle identification sending unit adapted to be mounted on at least one of the vehicles for sending a vehicle identification information signal;

a stationary control unit disposed at said indicia means for receiving said identification information from the vehicle equipped with the mobile unit as it passes thereby to register the vehicle identification for toll collection purposes;

vehicle detection means disposed at said indicia means for supplying a vehicle present signal to said control unit;

said control unit having means responsive to said vehicle present signal and a vehicle failing to send its vehicle identification information for generating a vehicle warning signal;

warning means being disposed at said indicia means and being responsive to said warning signal for indicating that a vehicle has not been registered;

said mobile unit including a bi-stable device adapted to be enabled for initiating the sending of the vehicle information signal, a signal generator having its input connected to the output of the bi-stable device generating said vehicle information signal;

wherein said information signal includes vehicle identification information including the state of registration of the vehicle and a request for a receipt, said mobile unit including means for resetting the bi-stable device after a given time delay interval sufficient to permit the sending of the information signal.

11. In a system for identifying vehicles moving along a vehicle lane, an arrangement comprising:

a stationary control unit being disposed at said lane and having receiving means adapted to receive a series of vehicle identification information signals from each one of a series of the vehicles traveling therepast along the vehicle lane, said signals being coded to identify uniquely the vehicle sending it;

memory means responsive to said receiving means receiving identification information signals from passing vehicles for storing the identification information signals;

indicating means for sending individual human-sensible signals immediately back to the vehicles passing by said stationary control unit to indicate whether or not the vehicles have properly registered their identity;

logic means responsive to said receiving means receiving all of the identification information signals from each one of the passing vehicles for controlling said indicating means for each one of the passing vehicles according to whether or not identification information signals were properly received;

a mobile vehicle identification sending unit adapted to be carried on board a vehicle; and

said mobile unit including signal transmitting means for storing and for sending its vehicle identification information signals, switching means for causing said signal transmitting means to send its identification information signals, said switching means de-energizing said transmitting means after sending its identification information signals.

12. In a system, a mobile vehicle identification sending unit according to claim 11, wherein said switching means includes a manually operable normally open switch.

13. In a system, a mobile vehicle identification sending unit according to claim 11, wherein said system includes abutment means disposed in the vehicle lane, further including vehicle condition sensing switch for closing when the vehicle engages said abutment means.

14. In a system, a mobile vehicle identification sending unit according to claim 13, wherein said vehicle condition sensing switch comprises a shaker switch for closing in response to the vibration of the vehicle as it engages said abutment means.

15. In a system, a mobile vehicle identification sending unit according to claim 14, further including a normally open ON-OFF switch, and indicating means energizable when said switching means is energized.

16. In a vehicle toll collection system for vehicles, a mobile vehicle identification sending unit adapted to be carried on board a vehicle for communicating with a stationary control unit as the vehicle moves near it, comprising:

signal transmitting means for storing and for sending a series of coded vehicle identification information signals to the stationary control unit, said signals uniquely identifying the vehicle;

signal reveiving means for receiving a request signal from said stationary unit as the vehicle moves near it;

switching means responsive to said receiving means receiving said request signal for causing said signal transmitting means to send its identification information signals;

said switching means having means for de-energizing said transmitting means after said transmitting means completes sending its identification information signals; and

said switching means including bi-stable means adapted to be enabled for initiating the sending of said vehicle information signals, said signal transmitting means having its input connected to the output of said bi-stable means for generating said vehicle information signals.