Electronic parking meter and system
First Claim
1. An electronic parking meter comprising:
- (a) a stanchion;
(b) a member, mounted on said stanchion, comprising a front wall and a rear wall, and a hollow area between said walls, a board mounted in said hollow area, a coin slot mounted in said front wall, and a coin chute in said hollow area in communication with said slot;
(c) means, mounted in said chute, for sensing the insertion of said coin in said slot;
(d) means, mounted in said chute, for determining the denomination of said coin;
(e) processing means mounted on said boardsdisplay means, mounted on said board, connected to said processor;
power source means for providing power to said electronic parking meter;
(h) means, mounted in said member, for determining the presence of a vehicle parked at said parking meter; and
(i) radio means, mounted in said member, for receiving data from, and for transmitting data to a remote location, and wherein said radio means comprises an R.F. transceiver andThe said parking meter further comprises at least one means having a plurality of repeaters for retransmitting said data to said remote location.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A low-powered electronic parking meter which can be powered solely by non-rechargeable, commercially available batteries. The meter includes a coin receptor with unique circuitry and components for coin detection, slug detection, determination of coin denomination, and jam detection, which require very little power. The coin detection and denomination determination are performed using pivotable lever arms in contact with Piezo strips. The slug detection uses a permanent magnet mounted opposite a reed switch and the jam detection is performed by IR diode emitters and photo-cells. The meter also includes a processor, a liquid crystal display, a sonar transducer for detecting the presence of vehicles, and an IR transceiver enabling parking authority personnel to communicate with the meter. The components of the meter are operated in three conditions or states including an off condition, an inactive condition, and an active condition, to provide further conservation of power so that the meter is entirely battery operated.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An electronic parking meter comprising:
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(a) a stanchion; (b) a member, mounted on said stanchion, comprising a front wall and a rear wall, and a hollow area between said walls, a board mounted in said hollow area, a coin slot mounted in said front wall, and a coin chute in said hollow area in communication with said slot; (c) means, mounted in said chute, for sensing the insertion of said coin in said slot; (d) means, mounted in said chute, for determining the denomination of said coin; (e) processing means mounted on said boards display means, mounted on said board, connected to said processor; power source means for providing power to said electronic parking meter; (h) means, mounted in said member, for determining the presence of a vehicle parked at said parking meter; and (i) radio means, mounted in said member, for receiving data from, and for transmitting data to a remote location, and wherein said radio means comprises an R.F. transceiver and The said parking meter further comprises at least one means having a plurality of repeaters for retransmitting said data to said remote location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An electronic parking meter comprising:
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a) a stanchion; (b) a member, mounted on said stanchion, comprising a front wall and a rear wall, and a hollow area between said walls, a board mounted in said hollow area, a coin slot mounted in said front wall, and a coin chute in said hollow area in communication with said slot; (c) means, mounted in said chute, for sensing the insertion of said coin in said slot; (d) means, mounted in said chute, for determining the denomination of said coin; (e) processing means mounted on said board; (f) display means, mounted on said board, connected to said processor; (g) power source means for providing power to said electronic parking meter; (h) means, mounted in said member, for determining the presence of a vehicle parked at said parking meter; and (i) radio means, mounted in said member, for receiving data from, and for transmitting data to a remote location, and wherein said means for sensing the insertion of a coin in said slot comprises a first pivotable arm and a first Piezo strip. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A parking meter system comprising a plurality of parking meters, each of said plurality of parking meters comprising means for detecting the presence of a vehicle parked at said parking meter, a slot for insertion of coins, means for detecting the insertion of said coins in said slot, means for determining the denomination of said coins inserted in said slot, processing means, radio means for receiving data from, and for transmitting data to a remote location;
- and at least one means comprising repeaters for receiving said data from said radio means and retransmitting said data to said remote location.
- View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A parking meter system comprising:
- a plurality of parking meters, each of said meters comprising means for detecting the presence of a vehicle at said meter, means for accepting coins, radio means for receiving data from and transmitting data to a remote location; and
at least one means comprising repeaters for receiving said data from said radio means and retransmitting said data to said remote location. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31)
- a plurality of parking meters, each of said meters comprising means for detecting the presence of a vehicle at said meter, means for accepting coins, radio means for receiving data from and transmitting data to a remote location; and
Specification