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Power conserving electronic parking meter

  • US 5,360,095 A
  • Filed: 04/07/1992
  • Issued: 11/01/1994
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A power conserving electronic parking meter system for receiving at least one type of payment element, comprising:

  • the payment element being a coin;

    a coin chute having a free-fall section through which the coin falls;

    means for providing power;

    means for processing connected to said means for providing power, said means for processing having at least an operational mode and a standby mode;

    means for receiving the coin and generating an interrupt request signal upon receipt of the coin, the interrupt request signal being received by the means for processing which in response thereto changes from said standby mode to said operational mode, said means for receiving having means for sensing coupled to said free-fall section of said coin chute for detecting the coin as the coin falls past said means for sensing;

    at least one means for identifying the coin and providing an identification signal to said means for processing indicative of the coin, said means for identifying having an active mode and a low-power mode, said at least one means for identifying receiving an enable signal from said means for processing when said means for processing changes from said standby mode to said operational mode, said enable signal causing said means for identifying to change from said low-power mode to said active mode, said at least one means for identifying being coupled to said free-fall section of said coin chute; and

    means for displaying information connected to said means for processing, said means for displaying having means for reduced power display, said means for displaying having a rotatable disk connected to a stepping motor, said rotatable disk having a plurality of flag areas each of which may be rotated into a viewable area of said means for displaying by said stepping motor, said stepping motor receiving motor control signals from said means for processing and receiving power substantially from a stored charge on a capacitor;

    wherein said at least one means for identifying is coupled to said free-fall section below said means for receiving, and wherein said coin substantially free-falls past said means for sensing of said means for receiving and substantially free-falls past said at least one means for identifying.

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