Electronic parking meter and system

• US 5,642,119 A
• Filed: 09/28/1995
• Issued: 06/24/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intelligent Devices Inc. (Heico Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Devices Inc. (Heico Corporation)
• Inventors: Jacobs, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pihulic, Daniel T.
• Application Number:
  US08/534,893
• Time in Patent Office: 635 Days
• Field of Search: 342/69, 342/61, 342/118, 342/135, 367/903, 367/99, 194/217, 340/932.2, 340/933
• US Class Current: 342/69
• CPC Class Codes: G07D 3/14 Apparatus driven under control of coin-sensing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/24 for parking meters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/246 provided with vehicle proximity-detectors detecting hidden masses, e.g. metal detectors, G01V, e.g. G01V3/00; proximity switches per se H03K17/00; traffic control systems G08G1/00

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 means 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 photocells. The meter also includes processing means, a liquid crystal display, a sonar transducer or alternatively an RF transmitter and receiver (RADAR) 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 state, an inactive state, and an active state, to provide further conservation of power so that the meter is entirely operated by non-rechargeable batteries.

Claims

1. A vehicle detector system for a parking meter comprising a processor having an input and an output, an R.F. transmitter having an input and an output, a R.F. receiver having a first and a second input and an output, said processor output being connected to said transmitter input and to said first input of said receiver, an antenna connected to said transmitter output and to said receiver second input and an energy detector having an input and an output, said energy detector input being connected to said receiver output and said energy detector output being connected to said processor input and said antenna transmitting a beam of R.F. energy for detecting a vehicle, as well as for detecting all objects that may come between said vehicle detector system and the vehicle.

2. The vehicle detector of claim 1 wherein said processor comprises means to provide a transmitter enable signal, periodically and for a predetermined period of time, which is connected to said transmitter input, said transmitter output remaining electrically coupled to said receiver second input independent of said transmitter enable signal.

3. The vehicle detector system of claim 2 further comprising an invertor having an input and a output, said invertor input being connected to said processor output and said invertor input being connected to said receiver first input, said invertor providing an inverted transmitter enable signal to said receiver first input.

4. The vehicle detector system of claim 3 wherein said receiver further comprises means for disabling said receiver, responsive to said inverted transmitter enable signal, for said pre-determined period time.

5. The vehicle detector of claim 4 wherein said transmitter further comprises means for transmitting a burst of R.F. energy, responsive to said transmitter enable signal, for said pre-determined period of time.

6. The vehicle detector of claim 5 wherein said receiver comprises means for receiving an echo from a vehicle upon which said beam impinges and for providing a second signal, responsive to said echo, to said energy detector.

7. The vehicle detector system of claim 6 wherein said energy detector comprises means for providing a received echo signal to said processor input.

8. The vehicle detector system of claim 7 wherein said processor comprises means for calculating the distance of the vehicle from said parking meter based upon the elapsed time between the transmitting of said beam and the receipt of said echo.

9. The vehicle detector of claim 1 further comprising a means for shielding said beam of the R.F. energy transmitted and received by said antenna.

10. The vehicle detector of claim 9 wherein said processor comprises means to provide a transmitter enable signal, periodically and for predetermined period of time which is connected to said transmitter input, said transmitter output remaining electrically coupled to said receiver second input independent of said transmitter enable signal.

11. The vehicle detector system of claim 10 further comprising an invertor having an input and a output, said invertor input being connected to said processor output and said invertor input being connected to said receiver first input, said invertor providing an inverted transmitter enable signal in inverted form to said receiver first input.

12. The vehicle detector system of claim 11 wherein said receiver further comprises means for disabling said receiver, responsive to said inverted transmitter enables signal, for said pre-determined period time.

13. The vehicle detector of claim 12 wherein said transmitter further comprises means for transmitting a burst of R. F. energy, responsive to said transmitter enable signal, for said pre-determined period of time.

14. The vehicle detector of claim 13 wherein said receiver comprises means for receiving an echo from a vehicle upon which said beam impinges and for providing a second signal, responsive to said echo, to said energy detector.

15. The vehicle detector system of claim 14 wherein said energy detector comprises means for providing a received echo signal to said processor input.

16. The vehicle detector system of claim 15 wherein said processor comprises means for calculating the distance of the vehicle from said parking meter based upon the elapsed time between the transmitting of said beam and the receipt of said echo.