Verification and monitoring system particularly suited for taxi cabs

• US 6,028,510 A
• Filed: 04/20/1998
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metrometer Shop, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Metrometer Shop, Inc.
• Inventors: Tamam, Amos, Zuckerman, Leonard
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US09/062,690
• Time in Patent Office: 673 Days
• Field of Search: 340/458, 340/459, 340/460, 340/461, 340/438, 340/635, 340/641, 340/642, 340/652, 73/865.9, 307/10.8, 324/556
• US Class Current: 340/458
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 13/02 Details; Accessories

Abstract

A verification and monitoring system for signal and status indicators and voice and metering features which is particularly suited for a taxi cab is disclosed. The operational status of the indicators are initially verified each time the ignition system of an associated taxi cab is energized. The verification circuit detects the failure of individual indicators even though a plurality of indicators may serve as a single visual display. The voice and metering features are continuously verified.

Claims

1. A verification and monitoring system particularly suited for a taxi cab having an ignition system, a voice facility, said voice facility comprising one or more speakers and having means including an audio amplifier that drives said speakers for providing an audio message at the start and end of each fare of said taxi cab, and with signal and status facilities actuated by respective facility energizing signal, each facility having a visual display, with each display comprising one or more indicators, each indicator having a light source which has continuity to a known potential, said system comprising:

(a) a pulse generator actuated in response to an initial actuation of said ignition system and generating a pulsed output;

(b) means associated with each of said visual display for receiving said pulsed output and also for receiving said facility energizing signal, said receiving means providing an output upon receipt of said pulsed output or said facility energizing signal;

(c) indicator monitoring means for each of said visual display receiving the output of said corresponding receiving means and having means for verifying the continuity of said light source of a corresponding visual display; and

(d) visual alarm means and means interconnected to said audio amplifier for detecting a predetermined level of current of said audio amplifier during said providing of said audio message.

2. The verification and monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said means interconnected to said audio amplifier comprises:

(a) a sensing resistor having a first end connected to said audio amplifier and a second end connected to a known potential, said sensing resistor having a resistance selected so as to provide a predetermined voltage within a range at the first end thereof; and

(b) a comparator connected to said first end of said sensing resistor and producing an output voltage when said predetermined voltage is not within said range and said output voltage being routed to said visual alarm means.

3. The verification and monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein said means interconnected to said audio amplifier further comprises an amplifier interposed between said first end of said sensing resistor and said comparator.

4. The verification and monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein said audio message is initiated in response to a start command and wherein said means interconnected to said audio amplifier further comprises:

(a) a rectifying means connected to the output of said comparator and providing an output therefrom; and

(b) bistable means responsive to the presence of both said output of said rectifier means and said start command.

5. The verification and monitoring system according to claim 4, wherein said means interconnected to said audio amplifier further comprises a low pass filter interposed between the output of said rectifying means and said bistable means.

6. The verification and monitoring system according to claim 4, wherein said means interconnected to said audio amplifier further comprises delay means receiving said start command and providing a delay output thereof to said bistable means.

7. The verification and monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein said output voltage is further connected to telemetry/recording circuits.

8. The verification and monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein said output voltage is further connected to an OR means having an output that is connected to an audio alarm circuit.

9. A verification and monitoring system particularly suited for a taxi cab having an ignition system and with signal and status facilities actuated by respective facility energizing signal, each facility having a visual display, with each display comprising one or more indicators, each indicator having a light source which has continuity to a known potential, said system comprising:

(a) a pulse generator actuated in response to an initial actuation of said ignition system and generating a pulsed output, wherein said pulse generator further generates a delayed pulsed output;

(b) means associated with each of said visual display for receiving said pulsed output and also for receiving said facility energizing signal, said receiving means providing an output upon receipt of said pulsed output or said facility energizing signal;

(c) indicator monitoring means for each of said visual display receiving the output of said corresponding receiving means and having means for verifying the continuity of said light source of a corresponding visual display, wherein said indicator monitoring means generates an output fault signal if said continuity of said light source of said respective visual display is not verified;

(d) visual alarm means;

(e) a bistable device for each of said corresponding visual display, said bistable device receiving said output fault signal and generating an output therefrom that is routed to said visual alarm means, wherein said bistable device further receives said delayed pulsed output and said bistable device generates said output therefrom during the presence of both of said delayed pulsed output and said output fault signal; and

(f) an OR means for each of said bistable devices and having first and second inputs with the first input connected to the output of said bistable device and the second input connected to the output fault signal of the respective visual display, said OR means providing an output that is connected to said respective visual alarm means.

10. The verification and monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein said output of each of said OR means is further connected to telemetry/recording circuits.

11. The verification and monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein said output of each of said OR means is further connected to another OR means having an output that is connected to an audio alarm circuit.

12. A verification and monitoring system particularly suited for a taxi cab having an ignition system, a fare metering facility, said fare metering facility having a seal with continuity means for connecting said seal to a known potential, and with signal and status facilities actuated by respective facility energizing signal, each facility having a visual display, with each display comprising one or more indicators, each indicator having a light source which has continuity to a known potential, said system comprising:

(a) a pulse generator actuated in response to an initial actuation of said ignition system and generating a pulsed output;

(b) means associated with each of said visual display for receiving said pulsed output and also for receiving said facility energizing signal, said receiving means providing an output upon receipt of said pulsed output or said facility energizing signal;

(c) indicator monitoring means for each of said visual display receiving the output of said corresponding receiving means and having means for verifying the continuity of said light source of a corresponding visual display;

(d) a monitor circuit for said fare metering facility, said monitor circuit having visual alarm means and means for verifying the continuity of said seal to said known potential, wherein said monitor circuit comprises a voltage divider network having one end connected to a voltage source and a node connected to a comparator and having a predetermined voltage thereat within a range when said continuity of said seal is verified, said comparator producing an output signal when said predetermined voltage is not within said range and said output signal being routed to said visual alarm means, wherein said output signal is further connected to telemetry/recording circuits.

13. A verification and monitoring system particularly suited for a taxi cab having an ignition system and with signal and status facilities actuated by respective facility energizing signal, each facility having a visual display, with each display comprising one or more indicators, each indicator having a light source which has continuity to a known potential, said system comprising:

(a) a pulse generator actuated in response to an initial actuation of said ignition system and generating a pulsed output;

(b) means associated with each of said visual display for receiving said pulsed output and also for receiving said facility energizing signal, said receiving means providing an output upon receipt of said pulsed output or said facility energizing signal;

(c) indicator monitoring means for each of said visual display receiving the output of said corresponding receiving means and having means for verifying the continuity of said light source of a corresponding visual display; and

(d) a switching device interposed between said output of said receiving means and said indicator monitoring means, said switching device applying a predetermined voltage to said indicator monitoring means in response to the presence of said output of said receiving means.

14. A monitoring device for a visual display comprised of one or more indicators each having a light source which has continuity to a known potential, said monitoring device comprising:

(a) a switching device connected to a first predetermined voltage and responsive to a signal to direct said first predetermined voltage to its output;

(b) a sensing resistor having first and second ends with the first end connected to said output of said switching device;

(c) a voltage divider network having first and second ends and comprised of first and second resistors having a first node therebetween and with the first end connected to said output of said switching device and the second end connected to a known potential;

(d) a diode having its anode connected to a second predetermined voltage and its cathode connected to said first node;

(e) a third resistor having first and second ends with the first end connected to the second end of said sensing resistor and forming a second node therebetween, said second node being connected to said visual display, said third resistor having its second end connected to said known potential; and

(f) a comparator having first and second inputs respectively connected to said first and second nodes.

15. A method for verifying the facilities of a taxi cab having an ignition system, a voice facility, wherein said voice facility is provided with one or more speakers and means including an audio amplifier that drives said speakers for providing an audio message, and a signal facility and a status facility, each signal and status facility having a visual display, with each display comprising one or more indicators, each indicator having a light source which has continuity to a known potential, said method comprising:

providing a pulsed signal in response to an initial actuation of said ignition system;

providing a facility energizing signal in response to an actuation of said signal or status facility;

receiving said pulsed signal and facility energizing signal and generating an output upon receipt of said pulsed signal or facility energizing signal;

monitoring each of said visual display upon receiving said output and verifying the continuity of said light source of said corresponding visual display; and

detecting a predetermined level of current of said audio amplifier during said providing of said audio message.