Single space wireless parking with improved antenna placements

• US 10,573,953 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2018
• Issued: 02/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: J.J. MacKay Canada Limited (137954 Canada Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: J.J. MacKay Canada Limited (137954 Canada Ltd.)
• Inventors: MacKay, George Allan, Chauvin, Gregory Emile, Erskine, Neil Stuart, Cameron, Darren Scott, Church, Donald Wesley, Garvey, Ben, Bablitch, Josh Michael, Gonia, Matt, Pederson, Glenn Eric, Buczkiewicz, Robert Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Marshall, Christle I
• Application Number:
  US16/165,844
• Publication Number:
  US 20190067793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 11/026 the time-piece preparing itself on set times on the reception of the sychronising signal
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 7/026 the time-piece preparing itself on set times on the reception of the synchronising signal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/02 taking into account a variable factor such as distance or time, e.g. for passenger transport, parking systems or car rental systems G07B15/06 takes precedence; taximeters G07B13/00; parking meters per se G07F17/24; car rental systems per se G07B15/00
• 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: H01Q 1/225 used in level-measurement devices, e.g. for level gauge measurement
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/24 with receiving set
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/38 formed by a conductive layer on an insulating support patch antennas H01Q9/0407; microstrip dipole antennas H01Q9/065; microstrip slot antennas H01Q13/106; transmission line microstrip antennas H01Q13/206; manufacturing reflecting surfaces using insulating material for supporting the reflecting surface H01Q15/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/42 Housings not intimately mechanically associated with radiating elements, e.g. radome
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0235 where the received signal is a power saving command
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless parking meter with an improved antenna location is described. The antenna may be located within a covering protruding from the top of the parking meter, allowing radio frequency (RF) signals to be transmitted through a portion of the parking meter with high permittivity to the RF signals. Additionally or alternatively, the antenna may be located within the parking meter housing above a lower parking meter mechanism housing so that RF signals can be transmitted through the dome covering of the parking meter, which may have a high permittivity to the RF signals.

Claims

1. A parking meter housing for enclosing a meter mechanism, the parking meter housing comprising:

a meter housing comprising a display opening for viewing at least a portion of a display of the meter mechanism; and

an antenna cover secured to at least a portion of the meter housing and sized for enclosing an antenna, the antenna cover providing a low attenuation transmission path for RF signals.

2. The parking meter housing of claim 1, wherein the low attenuation transmission path for RF signals provided by the antenna cover is separate from the display opening.

3. The parking meter housing of claim 1, wherein the antenna cover at least partially protrudes from the meter housing.

4. The parking meter housing of claim 1, wherein the antenna cover at least partially extends outwardly in a direction away from the meter housing.

5. The parking meter housing of claim 1, wherein the antenna cover provides protection from an external environment.

6. The parking meter housing of claim 1, wherein the antenna cover passes through an opening in the meter housing separate from the display opening.

7. The parking meter housing of claim 1, wherein the antenna cover is located least partially inside the parking meter housing and at least partially external to the parking meter housing.

8. The parking meter housing of claim 1, wherein the antenna cover comprises a base portion.

9. The parking meter housing of claim 8, wherein the base portion is located at least partially within the parking meter housing.

10. The parking meter housing of claim 8, wherein the base portion is secured to the parking meter housing.

11. The parking meter housing of claim 1, wherein the antenna cover comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

LEXAN;

CYCOLOY;

GELOY;

XENOY;

XYLEX;

NORYL;

ULTEM; and

VALOX.