Contactless-IC-card receive and read-write mechanism for an on-street parking meter

• US 6,309,098 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ye Ping Wong
• Original Assignee: Ye Ping Wong
• Inventors: Wong, Ye Ping
• Primary Examiner(s): MISKA, VIT W
• Application Number:
  US09/545,508
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 368/90, 194/205, 194/210, 194/211, 194/215-219, 194/239-240, 340/932.2, 340/942, 340/943
• US Class Current: 368/94
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/24 for parking meters

Abstract

A contactless-smart-IC-card receive and read-write mechanism for an on-street parking meter. The mechanism includes a nested cartridge set consisting of a card read-write unit and a card receiver. The card read-write unit further includes an outer case having an induction coil and a circuit board attached to one outer side of the outer case. The card receiver is removably nested in the outer case for an IC card to insert thereinto. The circuit board has different circuits provided thereon for controlling power supply to correctly complete card reading and overwriting. A detecting switch is mounted on the outer case to detect the existence of the IC card in the card receiver. Only when a correct IC card in the receiver is detected will a high frequency power supply circuit be actuated for the card read-write unit to read and overwrite data or amount stored in the IC card. The card read-write unit is not affected by external dust or rainwater to cause error operation. Any clogged or damaged card receiver may be easily removed from the read-write unit for maintenance or replacement.

Claims

1. A contactless-smart-IC-card receive &

read-write mechanism for an electronic-type on-street parking meter, comprising a nested-type cartridge set mounted in a housing of said parking meter and a detecting switch;

said nested-type cartridge set including a card read-write unit and a card receiver into which said IC card is inserted;

said card read-write unit including electronic induction means that is separate from said card receiver and is not exposed to external environment and is therefore not subject to damage or failure possibly caused by dust and rainwater brought in by an IC card inserted said card receiver, and said electronic induction means achieving signal transmission to and from said IC card through induction by electromagnetic wave;

said card receiver being removably nested in said card read-write unit, such that it can be easily removed from said read-write unit for maintenance, repair or replacement purpose; and

said detecting switch being mounted on said card read-write unit within an area corresponding to said IC card that has been correctly inserted into said card receiver;

whereby said card read-write unit is normally in a standby state that consumes only a very low power and is actuated from said standby state only in two conditions, a first of which being when an IC card is inserted into said card receiver and detected by said detecting switch, so that data on said inserted IC card could be read by said card read-write unit, and a second of said two conditions for actuating said card read-write unit being when a password for said inserted IC card has been verified as correct, so that data stored in said inserted IC card could be read and overwritten by said card read-write unit.

2. A contactless-smart-IC-card receive &

read-write mechanism for an electronic-type on-street parking meter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said card read-write unit includes an outer case in which said card receiver is removably nested, said electronic induction means including an induction coil and a circuit board attached to said outer case, and said detecting switch being located near a top rear portion of said outer case to correspond to a through hole formed on said card receiver for detecting an inserted IC card via said through hole.

3. A contactless-smart-IC-card receive &

read-write mechanism for an electronic-type on-street parking meter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detecting switch is a mechanical type contact switch.

4. A contactless-smart-IC-card receive &

read-write mechanism for an electronic-type on-street parking meter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detecting switch is a photoelectronic induction switch.

5. A contactless-smart-IC-card receive &

read-write mechanism for an electronic-type on-street parking meter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said parking meter is internally provided on said circuit board of said card read-write unit with a microprocessor, a memory, an LCD display, a state detector, a high frequency power supply circuit, and a filter demodulation circuit, and said parking meter is also provided with a rechargeable battery for supplying power needed by said parking meter and an auxiliary charging set including a solar panel and a charging circuit.