Method and device for detecting presence of vehicle in parking space

• US 9,213,098 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2013
• Issued: 12/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Moises Jaime Rodrich
• Original Assignee: Moises Jaime Rodrich
• Inventors: Rodrich, Moises Jaime
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US14/025,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20140112101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 340/932.2, 340/936, 340/937, 340/938, 340/939, 340931-932, 340/929, 340/925, 340/911, 340/909, 340/917, 340/904
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/86 Combinations of sonar systems with lidar systems; Combinations of sonar systems with systems not using wave reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/14 indicating individual free spaces in parking areas
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/142 external to the vehicles

Abstract

A method for notifying a user of the status of a parking space. The method comprises transmitting a pulse from a transceiver assigned to a parking space and for each pulse receiving by transceiver a corresponding echo created by said pulse being reflecting back from a object occupying said parking space. The method further comprises measuring corresponding echo time by a processing unit. The method further comprises comparing said corresponding echo time to a predefined range of echo times by a processing unit to determine occupancy of said parking space. The method further comprises using said occupancy of parking space to determine the parking space status by a processing unit, together with information on time of day and parking space permission. The method further comprises notifying a user of said parking space status by visual indication from at least one light emitting diode array.

Claims

1. A method for notifying at least one user of the status of a plurality of parking spaces, comprising:

transmitting at least one pulse from each of a plurality of transceivers, wherein each of said plurality of transceivers is located on an opposing side of a device housing and angled at a trajectory towards one of a plurality of parking spaces, and for each pulse;

receiving by respective transceiver a corresponding echo created by said pulse being reflecting back from at least one object occupying respective said parking space;

measuring corresponding echo time by at least one processing unit;

comparing said corresponding echo time to a predefined range of echo times by at least one processing unit to determine occupancy of respective said parking space;

using said occupancy of respective said parking space to determine the status of respective said parking space by at least one processing unit, together with information on time of day and parking space permission; and

notifying at least one user of respective said parking space status by visual indication from a plurality of respective light emitting diode arrays.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said user is a driver of a motor vehicle and looking for a vacant parking space, and said driver uses said visual notification to find said vacant parking space for said motor vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said notification of parking space status is further transferred to at least one internet server together with information on geographic location of said plurality of parking spaces.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said user is a driver of a motor vehicle looking for a vacant parking space, said driver parks their motor vehicle in said vacant parking space, and said internet server notifies said driver when said vehicle has been moved.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said user is a parking space manager and said internet server transfers to said parking manager a plurality of parking space status notifications, both current and historical, which are used to plan future parking resources.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said user is parking enforcement officer, and said internet server transfers said parking space notification which is of a status that corresponds to a parking violation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of transceivers are each an ultrasound transceiver and said at least one pulse is an ultrasound pulse.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of transceivers are each a multiple sensor transceiver each angled at a trajectory to monitor a plurality of adjacent parking spaces on the same side of said roadway and said processing unit produces a plurality of associated parking space statuses.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said echo time is further processed by said at least one processing unit to convert echo time to distance to a parked vehicle and said predefined range is measured by distance units allowing more convenient installation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining said occupancy and said notifying are performed concurrently for said plurality of parking spaces.

11. A device for monitoring and notifying at least one user of the status of a plurality of parking spaces, comprising:

a plurality of transceivers each transmitting at least one pulse and receiving at least one echo from respective said pulse that has reflected off an object occupying one of said plurality of parking spaces;

at least one processing unit configured for measuring time between each said pulse and each said corresponding echo for determining statuses of said associated plurality of parking spaces;

at least one light emitting diode array capable of at least one visual notification through the use of emitted light colors, light flashing rates, and light flashing patterns for notifying said at least one user of statuses of said plurality of parking spaces;

at least one power source for supplying power to said plurality of transceivers, said at least one processing unit, and said at least one light emitting diode array; and

a housing for containing said plurality of transceivers, said at least one processing unit, said at least one power source and said at least one light emitting diode array wherein said housing is specifically designed to provide protection of internal components against adverse effects of the environment and against adverse effects of vertical and sheer stresses from motor vehicles rolling over housing, wherein each of said plurality of transceivers is located on opposing sides of said housing and angled at a trajectory towards one of said associated plurality of parking spaces.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said device further comprises an RF electronics transceiver to send said plurality of parking space statuses to and receive instructions from at least one internet server, relayed through at least one routing controller.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said at least one power source is at least one rechargeable battery contained within said housing to provide power to said plurality of transceivers, said at least one processing unit, and said at least one notification unit.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein said at least one power source is at least one battery contained within said housing to provide power to said plurality of transceivers, said at least one processing unit, and said at least one notification unit.

15. The device of claim 11, further comprising at least one photovoltaic cell for recharging said at least rechargeable battery contained within said housing to provide power to said plurality of transceivers, said at least one processing unit, and said at least one notification unit.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein said at least one power source is at least one alternating current power supply external to said housing to provide power to said plurality of transceivers, said at least one processing unit, and said at least one notification unit.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein said plurality of transceivers are each at least one ultrasound transceiver.

18. The device of claim 11, wherein said plurality of transceivers each comprises a separate at least one emitter and separate at least one receiver.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein said plurality of transceivers are each a multiple sensor transceiver for monitoring a plurality of corresponding adjacent parking spaces.

20. The device of claim 11, wherein said housing contains structural elements designed to withstand rollover pressures from vehicles.

21. The device of claim 11, wherein said housing includes an integrated o-ring seal between top and bottom halves of said housing to offer protection from adverse effects due to the environment, including dust, humidity, water and the like.

22. The device of claim 11, wherein said device is located adjacent to the parking space.

23. The device of claim 11, wherein said device is located up to 4 meters from the parking space.

24. The device of claim 11, wherein said housing contains a plurality of recesses in said housing each for protection of corresponding one of said plurality of transceivers.