Parking meter
First Claim
1. A parking meter, comprising:
- i) a microcontroller;
ii) a timer coupled with the microcontroller;
iii) payment acceptance means coupled with the microcontroller for accepting payment for use of an associated parking space, such that the microcontroller initiates the timer for a prepaid parking interval upon receiving a signal from the payment acceptance means;
iv) vehicle detection means coupled with the microcontroller for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle in the associated parking space;
v) means for identifying a vehicle parked in the associated parking space, comprising an interrogation station coupled with the microcontroller, said interrogation station adapted to direct an interrogation signal, having a maximum range of approximately the length of the associated parking space or less, at the associated parking space in the area of the parking space where the license plate of a parked vehicle is located, receive a reply signal encoded with a vehicle identification code and to decode said signal, the microcontroller initiating the interrogation station to direct said interrogation signal at the associated parking space in the area of the parking space where the license plate of a parked vehicle is located upon determining the existence of a parking violation; and
vi) digital storage means for storing said decoded vehicle identification code;
wherein said vehicle detection means comprises a digital camera which detects the presence of a vehicle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A parking meter includes a microcontroller and a timer coupled with a microcontroller. A mechanism for accepting payment by coin, credit card or both is coupled with the microcontroller for accepting payment for use of an associated parking space. The microcontroller initiates the timer for a prepaid parking interval upon receiving a signal from the payment acceptance mechanism. A vehicle detector is coupled with the microcontroller for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle in the associated parking space. The microcontroller initiates an interrogation station to direct an interrogation signal at the associated parking space in the area of the parking space where the license plate of a parked vehicle is located upon determining the existence of a parking violation.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A parking meter, comprising:
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i) a microcontroller; ii) a timer coupled with the microcontroller; iii) payment acceptance means coupled with the microcontroller for accepting payment for use of an associated parking space, such that the microcontroller initiates the timer for a prepaid parking interval upon receiving a signal from the payment acceptance means; iv) vehicle detection means coupled with the microcontroller for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle in the associated parking space; v) means for identifying a vehicle parked in the associated parking space, comprising an interrogation station coupled with the microcontroller, said interrogation station adapted to direct an interrogation signal, having a maximum range of approximately the length of the associated parking space or less, at the associated parking space in the area of the parking space where the license plate of a parked vehicle is located, receive a reply signal encoded with a vehicle identification code and to decode said signal, the microcontroller initiating the interrogation station to direct said interrogation signal at the associated parking space in the area of the parking space where the license plate of a parked vehicle is located upon determining the existence of a parking violation; and vi) digital storage means for storing said decoded vehicle identification code; wherein said vehicle detection means comprises a digital camera which detects the presence of a vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A parking meter, comprising:
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i) a microcontroller; ii) a timer coupled with the microcontroller; iii) payment acceptance means coupled with the microcontroller for accepting payment for use of an associated parking space, such that the microcontroller initiates the timer for a prepaid parking interval upon receiving a signal from the payment acceptance means; iv) vehicle detection means coupled with the microcontroller for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle in the associated parking space; v) means for identifying a vehicle parked in the associated parking space, comprising an interrogation station coupled with the microcontroller, said interrogation station adapted to direct an interrogation signal, having a maximum range of approximately the length of the associated parking space or less, at the associated parking space in the area of the parking space where the license plate of a parked vehicle is located, receiving a reply signal encoded with a vehicle identification code and to decode said signal, the microcontroller initiating the interrogation station to direct said interrogation signal at the associated parking space in the area of the parking space where the license plate of a parked vehicle is located upon determining the existence of a parking violation; and vi) digital storage means for storing said decoded vehicle identification code; wherein said vehicle detection means comprises digital camera means coupled with the microcontroller and adapted to be focussed at the associated parking space in the area of the parking space where the license plate of a parked vehicle is located, the microcontroller initiating the camera to take an image of a vehicle license plate upon determining the existence of a parking violation. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A parking meter, comprising:
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i) a microcontroller; ii) a timer coupled with the microcontroller; iii) payment acceptance means coupled with the microcontroller for accepting payment for use of an associated parking space, such that the microcontroller initiates the timer for a prepaid parking interval upon receiving a signal from the payment acceptance means; iv) vehicle detection means comprising a digital camera coupled with the microcontroller for detecting the presence or absence of a vehicle in the associated parking space; and v) means for identifying a vehicle parked in the associated parking space, comprising digital camera means coupled with the microcontroller and adapted to be focussed at the associated parking space in the area of the parking space where the license plate of a parked vehicle is located, the microcontroller initiating the camera to take an image of a vehicle license plate upon determining the existence of a parking violation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification