Electronic parking meter system

• US 7,014,355 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fybr LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovapark LLC
• Inventors: Potter, Thomas R. Sr., Ferguson, Ralph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Application Number:
  US09/866,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20020109609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 368/90, 340/693.9, 340/693.12, 340/932.2, 340/933, 340/941, 194/217, 194/317, 194/334, 190/216
• US Class Current: 368/90
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/30 Parking meters registering or indicating waiting time of vehicles by means driven by the vehicle G07C5/02; coin-freed parking meters G07F17/24
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/248 Housing construction casings for coin-freed apparatus G07F9/10
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/042 using inductive or magnetic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas

Abstract

The field of the present invention is parking meters and more particularly to the use of electronically operated parking meters coupled with a sensor for positively sensing unobtrusively the presence or absence of a vehicle in a specified parking space controlled by the sensor and electronically operated parking meter. An induction coil mounted below the surface of the parking area is used to provide positive signals to the electronically operated parking meter and a cpu upon both the entrance of a vehicle into the parking space and the movement of the vehicle from the parking space. Moreover, the detecting system is battery operated and the battery life is extended by duty cycle operation of the detector system, whereby only a small portion of a detecting cycle is actually employed for detecting the status of the parking space.

Claims

1. An electronic parking meter system comprising:

an electronic parking meter for determining the time a parking space associated with the parking meter is occupied by a vehicle and receiving coins denoting desired parking time and indicating said time;

an inductive loop vehicle detection sensor located to detect both the physical presence or absence of a vehicle in said parking space and emitting a respective signal indicative thereof;

a microprocessor controller coupled to the sensor and the electronic parking meter for selectively controlling the electronic parking meter and the controller responsive to the sensor signal;

the electronic parking meter indicating time provided upon payment with a vehicle occupying said space to obtain a fixed amount of time in accordance with the amount of payment, said electronic parking meter decrementing the indicated time;

said controller initializing said electronic parking meter to zero when the sensor signals the controller that a vehicle no longer occupies the parking space;

said detection sensor includes a variable oscillator circuit oscillating at a base frequency and responsive to the inductance of the inductive loop for providing said signals to the microprocessor indicating the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space;

said microprocessor controller including a crystal oscillator producing pulses and operating at approximately 50 times the base frequency of the variable oscillator circuit and initiating a 12.5 ms long charge to said variable oscillator circuit every 2.5 seconds for the purpose of measuring the operating frequency of said circuit while conserving power as needed for the practical application of the technology in parking control;

the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space causing a respective decrease or increase in the inductance of the inductive loop and a respective commensurate increase or decrease in the operating frequency and a respective decrease or increase in the period of the variable oscillator circuit, thereby decreasing or increasing the number of crystal oscillator pulses in each period of the variable oscillator circuit;

said oscillator providing an output signal including said crystal oscillator pulses to said microprocessor controller; and

said microprocessor controller superimposes the signals received from the variable oscillator circuit during each 12.5 ms time frame in which the variable oscillator circuit is charged with the crystal oscillator pulses clock to determine the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space.

2. An electronic parking meter system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic parking meter further including means for counting coins deposited therein and setting a time interval for notifying the controller of the amount of coins deposited;

means for continuously measuring the amount of time remaining in said time interval; and

means for displaying the amount of time remaining on the meter and flashing “

zero”

to indicate “

zero”

time.

3. An electronic parking meter system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic parking meter further including means for signaling the controller that a vehicle is in the parking space and that no coins have been deposited in the electronic parking meter.

4. An electronic parking meter system according to claim 3, wherein said electronic parking meter further including means for delaying the notification of the controller of the depositing of coins in the electronic parking meter from the time that the detection sensor detects the presence of a vehicle in said parking space.

5. An electronic parking meter system comprising:

multiple electronic parking meters, each electronic parking meter respectively determining the time a parking space associated with the respective electronic parking meter is occupied by a vehicle and receiving coins denoting desired parking time and indicating that time;

multiple inductive loop vehicle detection sensors and each respective inductive loop vehicle detection sensor being located to detect both the physical presence or absence of a vehicle in said respective parking space and emitting a respective signal indicative thereof;

multiple microprocessor controllers, each controller being coupled to a corresponding sensor and a corresponding electronic parking meter for selectively controlling each electronic parking meter and each controller responsive to a respective sensor signal;

each electronic parking meter indicating time provided upon payment with a vehicle occupying said space to obtain a fixed amount of time in accordance with the amount of payment, each said electronic parking meter decrementing the indicated time;

said controller initializing said electronic parking meter to zero when the corresponding sensor signals the corresponding controller that a vehicle no longer occupies the corresponding parking space of the associated meter;

said detection sensor includes a variable oscillator circuit oscillating at a base frequency and responsive to the inductance of the inductive loop for providing said signals to the microprocessor indicating the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space;

said microprocessor controller including a crystal oscillator producing pulses and operating at approximately 50 times the base frequency of the variable oscillator circuit and initiating a 12.5 ms long charge to said variable oscillator circuit every 2.5 seconds for the purpose of measuring the operating frequency of said circuit while conserving power as needed for the practical application of the technology in parking control;

the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space causing a respective decrease or increase in the inductance of the inductive loop and a respective commensurate increase or decrease in the operating frequency and a respective decrease or increase in the period of the variable oscillator circuit, thereby decreasing or increasing the number of crystal oscillator pulses in each period of the variable oscillator circuit;

said oscillator providing an output signal including said crystal oscillator pulses to said microprocessor controller; and

said microprocessor controller superimposes the signals received from the variable oscillator circuit during each 12.5 ms time frame in which the variable oscillator circuit is charged with the crystal oscillator pulses to determine the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space.

6. An electronic parking meter system according to claim 5, wherein said electronic parking meter further including means for counting coins deposited therein and setting a time interval in accordance with the amount of coins deposited;

means for notifying the corresponding microprocessor controller of the amount of coins deposited;

means for continuously measuring the amount of time remaining in said time interval; and

means for displaying the amount of time remaining on the meter and flashing “

zero”

to indicate “

zero”

time.

7. An electronic parking meter system according to claim 5, wherein said electronic parking meter further including means for signaling the controller that a vehicle is in the parking space and that no coins have been deposited in the electronic parking meter.

8. An electronic parking meter system according to claim 7, wherein said electronic parking meter further including means for delaying the notification of the controller of the depositing of coins in the electronic parking meter from the time that the detection sensor detects the presence of a vehicle in said parking space.

9. An electronic parking meter comprising:

multiple electronic parking meters, each electronic parking meter respectively determining the time a parking space associated with the respective electronic parking meter is occupied by a vehicle and receiving coins denoting desired parking time and indicating said time;

multiple inductive loop vehicle detection sensors and each respective inductive loop vehicle detection sensor located to detect both the physical presence or absence of a vehicle in a respective parking space and emitting a signal indicative thereof;

multiple microprocessor controllers, each controller being coupled to a corresponding sensor and a corresponding electronic parking meter for selectively controlling each electronic parking meter for selectively controlling each electronic parking meter and each controller responsive to a respective sensor signal;

a CPU coupled to each electronic parking meter for data transmission;

each electronic parking indicating time provided upon payment with a vehicle occupying said space to obtain a fixed amount of time in accordance with the amount of payment, each said electronic parking meter decrementing the indicating time;

each said controller initializing said electronic parking meter to zero when the corresponding sensor signals the corresponding controller that a vehicle no longer occupies the corresponding parking space of the associated electronic parking meter;

said detection sensor includes a variable oscillator circuit oscillating at a base frequency and responsive to the inductance of the inductive loop for providing signals to the microprocessor indicating the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space;

said microprocessor controller including a crystal oscillator producing pulses and operating at approximately 50 times the base frequency of the variable oscillator circuit and initiating a 12.5 ms long charge to said variable oscillator circuit every 2.5 seconds for the purpose of measuring the operating frequency of said circuit while conserving power as needed for the practical application of the technology in parking control;

the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space causing a respective decrease or increase in the inductance of the inductive loop and a respective commensurate increase or decrease in the operating frequency and a respective decrease or increase in the period of the variable oscillator circuit, thereby decreasing or increasing the number of crystal oscillator pulses in each period of the variable oscillator circuit;

said oscillator providing an output signal including said crystal oscillator pulses to said microprocessor controller; and

said microprocessor controller superimposes the signals received from the variable oscillator circuit during each 12.5 ms time frame in which the variable oscillator circuit is charged with the crystal oscillator pulses to determine the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space.

10. An electronic parking meter system according to claim 9, wherein said electronic parking meter further including means for counting coins deposited therein and setting a time interval in accordance with the amount of coins deposited;

means for notifying the corresponding microprocessor controller of the amount of coins deposited;

means for continuously measuring the amount of time remaining in said time interval; and

means for displaying the amount of time remaining on the meter and flashing “

zero”

to indicate “

zero”

time.

11. An electronic parking meter system according to claim 9, wherein said electronic parking meter further including means for signaling the controller that a vehicle is in the parking space and that no coins have been deposited in the electronic parking meter.

12. An electronic parking meter system according to claim 11, wherein said electronic parking meter further including means for delaying the notification of the controller of the depositing of coins in the electronic parking meter from the time that the detection sensor detects the presence of a vehicle in said parking space.

13. A component of an electronic parking meter system, comprising:

an inductive loop vehicle detection sensor located to detect both the physical presence or absence of a vehicle in said parking space and emitting a respective signal indicative thereof;

the inductive loop comprising a winding of several loops wound one on top of the other;

means for securing the several loops to preserve the axial orientation of the winding and maintain the signal output from the winding;

the winding being embedded in the parking space; and

the respective ends of the winding being twisted with respect to one another to reduce the electric field effects of the winding;

an electric parking meter for determining the time a parking space associated with the electronic parking meter is occupied by a vehicle and receiving coins denoting desired parking time and indicating said time;

a microprocessor controller coupled to the sensor and the electronic parking meter and receiving the respective signal from said inductive loop and indicative of the presence or absence of a vehicle for selectively controlling the electronic parking meter; and

said detection sensor includes a variable oscillator circuit oscillating at a base frequency and responsive to the inductance of the inductive loop for providing said signals to the microprocessor indicating the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space;

said microprocessor controller including a crystal oscillator producing pulses and operating at approximately 50 times the base frequency of the variable oscillator circuit and initiating a 12.5 ms long charge to said variable oscillator circuit every 2.5 seconds for the purpose of measuring the operating frequency of said circuit while conserving power as needed for the practical application of the technology in parking control;

the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space causing a respective decrease or increase in the inductance of the inductive loop and a respective commensurate increase or decrease in the operating frequency and a respective decrease or increase in the period of the variable oscillator circuit, thereby decreasing or increasing the number of crystal oscillator pulses in each period of the variable oscillator circuit;

said oscillator providing an output signal including said crystal oscillator pulses to said microprocessor controller; and

said microprocessor controller superimposes the signals received from the variable oscillator circuit during each 12.5 ms time frame in which the variable oscillator circuit is charged with the crystal oscillator pulses to determine the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space.

14. The component of an electronic parking meter system of claim 13, wherein said controller de-energizes the sensor with no time displayed on the electronic parking meter to prevent the sensor from generating a false output with the entry or departure of a vehicle from the parking space.

15. The component of an electronic parking meter system of claim 13, wherein said controller causes the electronic parking meter to emit a flashing signal regardless of the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space.

29. The component of an electronic parking meter system of claim 14, wherein said controller causes the electronic parking meter to emit a flashing signal regardless of the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space.

16. A component of an electronic parking meter system, comprising:

an inductive vehicle detection sensor located to detect both the physical presence or absence of a vehicle in said parking space and emitting a respective signal indicative thereof;

an electronic parking meter for determining the time a parking space associated with the electronic parking meter is occupied by a vehicle and receiving coins denoting desired parking time and indicating said time;

a microprocessor controller coupled to the sensor and the electronic parking meter and receiving the respective signal indicative of the presence or absence of a vehicle for selectively controlling the electronic parking meter;

said controller initializing said electronic parking meter to zero when the sensor signals the controller that a vehicle no longer occupies the parking space;

said detection sensor includes a variable oscillator circuit oscillating at a base frequency and responsive to the inductance of the inductive loop for providing sai dsignals to the microprocessor indicating the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space;

said microprocessor controller including a crystal producing pulses and oscillator operating at approximately 50 times the base frequency of the variable oscillator circuit and

initiating a 12.5 ms long charge to said variable oscillator circuit every 2.5 seconds for the purpose of measuring the operating frequency of said circuit while conserving power as needed for the practical application of the technology in parking control;

the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space causing a respective decrease or increase in the inductance of the inductive loop and a respective commensurate increase or decrease in the operating frequency and a respective decrease or increase in the period of the variable oscillator circuit, thereby decreasing or increasing the number of crystal oscillator pulses in each period of the variable oscillator circuit;

said oscillator providing an output signal including said crystal oscillator pulses to said microprocessor controller; and

said microprocessor controller superimposes the signals received from the variable oscillator circuit during each 12.5 ms time frame in which the variable oscillator circuit is charged with the crystal oscillator pulses to determine the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space.

17. The component of an electronic parking meter of claim 16, wherein said controller minimizes power consumption by de-energizing the sensor in response to no time displayed on the electronic parking meter.

18. The component of an electronic parking meter system of claim 16, wherein said controller de-energizes the sensor with no time displayed on the electronic parking meter to prevent the sensor from generating a false output with the entry or departure of a vehicle from the parking space.

19. The component of an electronic parking meter system of claim 16, wherein said controller causes the electronic parking meter to emit a flashing signal regardless of the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space.

20. The component of an electronic parking meter system of claim 16, wherein said controller in response to a signal from said sensor indicating the presence of a vehicle and a signal from said electronic parking meter that time is displayed generates a vehicle present signal.

21. The component of an electronic parking meter system of claim 17, wherein said controller de-energizes the sensor with no time displayed on the electronic parking meter to prevent the sensor from generating a false output with the entry or departure of a vehicle from the parking space.

22. The component of an electronic parking meter system of claim 21, wherein said microprocessor controller causes the electronic parking meter to emit a flashing signal regardless of the presence or absence of a vehicle in the parking space.

23. The component of an electronic parking meter system of claim 22, wherein said controller in response to a signal from said sensor indicating the presence of a vehicle and a signal from said electronic parking meter that time is displayed generates a vehicle present signal.

24. The component of an electronic parking meter system of claim 17, wherein said controller initializes said electronic parking meter to zero when the sensor signals the controller that a vehicle no loner occupies the parking space.

25. The component of an electronic parking meter of claim 22, wherein said controller minimizes power consumption by de-energizing the sensor in response to no time displayed on the electronic parking meter.

26. The component of an electronic parking meter system of claim 17, wherein said controller in response to a signal from said sensor indicating the presence of a vehicle and a signal from said electronic parking meter that time is displayed generates a vehicle present signal.

27. The component of an electronic parking meter of claim 24, wherein said controller minimizes power consumption by de-energizing the sensor in response to no time displayed on the electronic parking meter.

28. The component of an electronic parking meter system of claim 25, wherein said controller de-energizes the sensor with no time displayed on the electronic parking meter to prevent the sensor from generating a false output with the entry or departure of a vehicle from the parking space.

30. The component of an electronic parking meter system of claim 25, wherein said controller in response to a signal from said sensor indicating the presence of a vehicle and a signal from said electronic parking meter that time is displayed generates a vehicle present signal.