Coin operated timing mechanism
First Claim
1. In a coin-operated timing mechanism including a coin carrier, said carrier including engaging means for operation of at least one switch engageable upon movement of the carrier with an inserted coin, and means responsive to switch operation for recording time purchased, the improvement wherein said switch includes a switch actuator positioned adjacent the path of movement of said carrier and its associated engaging means, and means for adjusting the position of said actuator relative to said path of movement whereby said engaging means is selectively engaged depending on the size of the coin inserted.
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0 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A coin operated timing mechanism for a parking meter and the like including a time display, a microprocessor for controlling the setting and operation of the display, a battery or similar self-contained power source, and a power regulation sub-system designed to minimize power consumption during operation of the mechanism. The power regulation system provides, on demand, voltage of either 3.5 or 5 volts. The highest power consumption 5-volt supply is available when necessary for short periods to read a NOVRAM device which stores operational parameters. The 3.5 volt mode is used during normal coin handling and timekeeping and during periods of communication with the microprocessor for changing the operating parameters or for auditing of the system. The mechanism includes coin actuated switches which are adjustable to insure most efficient operation including screening of spurious coins. The circuit includes a low power drain feature which operates upon actuation of a switch to permit computation by the microprocessor at a slow rate.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. In a coin-operated timing mechanism including a coin carrier, said carrier including engaging means for operation of at least one switch engageable upon movement of the carrier with an inserted coin, and means responsive to switch operation for recording time purchased, the improvement wherein said switch includes a switch actuator positioned adjacent the path of movement of said carrier and its associated engaging means, and means for adjusting the position of said actuator relative to said path of movement whereby said engaging means is selectively engaged depending on the size of the coin inserted.
- 2. In a coin-operated timing mechanism including adjacent interior walls, a coin carrier, said carrier including engaging means for operation of at least one switch engageable upon movement of the carrier with an inserted coin, and means responsive to switch operation for recording time purchased, the improvement wherein said switch includes a switch actuator positioned adjacent the path of movement of said carrier and its associated engaging means, and means for adjusting the position of said actuator relative to said path of movement whereby said engaging means is selectively engaged depending on the size of the coin inserted, and wherein said switch is mounted on one interior wall, and said actuator is mounted on a separate interior wall, cam means engageable by an inserted coin for urging said coin toward said actuator means, and means for moving said engaging means in the direction of said actuator means in response to engagement of said cam surface by a coin.
- 8. In a coin-operated timing mechanism including a coin carrier, said carrier including engaging means for operation of at least one switch engageable upon movement of the carrier with an inserted coin, and means responsive to switch operation for recording time purchased, the improvement wherein said switch includes a switch actuator positioned adjacent the path of movement of said carrier and its associated engaging means, and means for adjusting the position of said actuator relative to said path of movement whereby said engaging means is selectively engaged depending on the size of the coin inserted, and wherein said coin-operated timing mechanism includes a wake-up switch operated by said coin carrier, said wake-up switch being operated when said coin carrier is moved from a coin-receiving position toward said switch actuator, display means connected to said means for recording, and means connecting said wake-up switch to said display means for displaying a violation signal whenever said coin carrier is moved from said coin-receiving position.
- 10. In a coin-operated timing mechanism including means for evaluating a coin inserted in the mechanism, means for programming the mechanism for setting the amount of time recorded depending upon the value of coins inserted in the mechanism, means for down counting the time recorded, and a battery for supplying power to achieve said evaluating, recording, programming, time setting and down counting functions, the improvement wherein said battery supplies power for low power and high power phases of mechanism operation, and including means for automatically switching between said low power and high power phases whereby excess power is not utilized when only a low power consumption is required, said mechanism being in said low power phase when said means for evaluating is evaluating a coin inserted in the mechanism.
- 18. In a method for operating a coin-operated timing mechanism employed for purchasing time wherein the mechanism includes means for evaluating a coin inserted in the mechanism, programming means for setting the amount of time recorded depending upon the value of coins inserted in the mechanism, means for down counting the time recorded, and a battery for supplying power to achieve said evaluating, recording, programming, time setting and down counting functions, the improvement comprising the step of providing low power and high power phases of mechanism operation, and switching between said low power and high power phases whereby said high power phase is utilized for limited times, said low power phase is utilized when said means for evaluating is evaluating a coin inserted in the mechanism, and said low power phase is utilized for at least the majority of the time setting and down counting functions.
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29. A coin-operated timing mechanism for purchasing time, the mechanism comprising:
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A. a movable coin carrier for receiving and conveying an inserted coin; B. a plurality of switches, said coin carrier movable adjacent said switches, each of said switches successively engageable for operation for a short switch operation time in response to movement of said coin carrier when said coin carrier is conveying an inserted coin; C. means for detecting the operation of at least one of said switches, said means for detecting comprising a microprocessor having a plurality of inputs, each said input associated with one of said switches, said microprocessor operable in response to a clock signal of predetermined frequency; D. a connection for a power source for providing power for said means for detecting; and E. a plurality of power conservation means for reducing the power consumed during operation of said means for detecting, each of said power conservation means associated with one of said switches, each of said power conservation means comprising; i. a capacitor coupled to said input to said microprocessor associated with said one of said switches; ii. means for charging said capacitor from said power source rapidly in response to operation of said one of said switches; and iii. means for discharging said capacitor slowly in comparison with said switch operation time, said power conservation means thereby permitting lower speed operation of said microprocessor when said microprocessor is detecting operation of said switches, whereby the power consumed when said means for detecting is detecting operation of said switches is reduced. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. In a coin-operated timing mechanism including a coin carrier, said carrier including engaging means for operation of at least one switch engageable upon movement of the carrier with an inserted coin, and means responsive to switch operation for recording time purchased, the improvement wherein said switch includes a switch actuator positioned adjacent the path of movement of said carrier and its associated engaging means, and means for adjusting the position of said actuator relative to said path of movement, said means for adjusting varying the spacing between said actuator and said path of movement, whereby said engaging means will achieve switch operation when coins of a preselected diameter are inserted.
- 33. In a coin-operated timing mechanism including a coin carrier, said carrier including engaging means for operation of at least one switch engageable upon movement of the carrier with an inserted coin, and means responsive to switch operation for recording time purchased, the improvement wherein said switch includes a switch actuator positioned adjacent the path of movement of said carrier and its associated engaging means, and means for adjusting the position of said actuator relative to said path of movement, said means for adjusting varying the spacing between said actuator and said path of movement, whereby said engaging means will achieve switch operation when coins of a preselected diameter are inserted, and wherein said switch is mounted on one interior wall, and said actuator is mounted on a separate interior wall, cam means engageable by an inserted coin for urging said coin toward said actuator means, and means for moving said engaging means in the direction of said actuator means in response to engagement of said cam surface by a coin.
- 36. A coin-operated timing mechanism including a coin carrier, said carrier including engaging means for operation of at least one switch engageable upon movement of the carrier with an inserted coin, means responsive to switch operation for recording time purchased, and including a separate wake-up switch operated by said coin carrier, said wake-up switch being operated when said coin carrier is moved from a coin-receiving position toward said one switch, display means connected to said means for recording, and means connecting said wake-up switch to said display means for displaying a violation signal upon movement of said coin carrier from said coin-receiving position.
- 38. A coin-operated timing mechanism including a coin carrier, said carrier including engaging means for operation of at least one switch engageable upon movement of the carrier with an inserted coin, means for releasing a coin being carried by the coin carrier for collection of the coin, and an additional switch positioned for engagement by said engaging means when said coin carrier has been moved sufficiently for achieving coin release.
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41. A coin-operated timing mechanism comprising:
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A. a coin carrier for receiving a coin and for moving with said coin along a path of movement; B. a first wall disposed along and generally parallel to said path; C. a second wall disposed along and generally parallel to said path, said path of movement between said first wall and said second wall; D. a cam surface disposed on one side of said first wall along said path, said cam surface facing said path; E. a switch unit disposed on one side of said second wall along said path, said switch unit facing said path, said switch unit disposed opposite said cam surface, said switch unit comprising a switch contact, said switch contact having a state in which said switch contact is open and a state in which said switch contact is closed; F. a contacting unit for causing a contact with said cam surface and with said switch unit when said coin carrier moves with a coin of preselected denomination along said path, said contacting unit provided on said coin carrier, said contact with said switch unit changing the state of said switch contact; and G. means for adjusting the distance between said cam surface and said switch unit, said means for adjusting comprising a threaded shaft received within a threaded bore, said means for adjusting determining the preselected denomination of coin which causes said contact, whereby the distance between said cam surface and said switch unit may be adjusted through use of said means for adjusting. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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44. A coin-operated timing mechanism comprising:
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A. a coin carrier for receiving a coin and for moving with said coin along a path of movement; B. a first wall disposed along and generally parallel to said path; C. a second wall disposed along and generally parallel to said path, said path of movement between said first wall and said second wall; D. a plurality of cam surfaces disposed on one side of said first wall along said path, said cam surfaces facing said path; E. a plurality of separate switch units disposed on one side of said second wall along said path, said switch units facing said path, each of said switch units disposed opposite one of said cam surfaces, each of said switch units comprising a switch contact, each of said switch contacts having a state in which said switch contact is open and a state in which said switch contact is closed; F. a contacting unit for causing a contact with one or more of said cam surfaces and with one or more of said switch units when said coin carrier moves with a coin of preselected denomination along said path, said contacting unit provided on said coin carrier, said contact with said selected one or more of said switch units causing a change in the state of said switch contact in each of said one or more of said switch units; and G. means for adjusting the distance between any one of said cam surfaces and said one of said switch units opposite said cam surface independently of the distance between any other of said cam surfaces and said one of said switch units opposite said other of said cam surfaces, said means for adjusting comprising a threaded shaft received within a threaded bore, said means for adjusting determining the preselected denomination of coin which causes said contact, whereby the distance between any one of said cam surfaces and said switch unit opposite said one of said cam surfaces may be adjusted without adjusting the distance between any other of said cam surfaces and said switch unit opposite said other of said cam surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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Specification