AUTOMATIC TOLL CHARGING SYSTEM

• US 3,602,881 A
• Filed: 09/03/1968
• Issued: 08/31/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Haville G. Douglas, Robert T. Bayne
• Original Assignee: Haville G. Douglas, Robert T. Bayne
• Inventors: Bayne, Robert T., Haville, G. Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Myers, Randall P.
• Application Number:
  US04/864,251
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 340/31,32,38,38L,38P,38S 343/6.5
• US Class Current: 340/928
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/343 Cards including a counter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3433 the counter having monetary units
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/145 for revolving doors or turnstiles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/02 by keys or other credit registering devices

Abstract

An automatic toll charging system including a vehicle-borne transponder with a toll charge counter and a ground installation including a transmitter triggered by the vehicle, a receiver, and signaling device allowing the vehicle to proceed if a toll has been charged. The vehicle-triggered signal from the ground transmitter is received by the vehicle transponder, whereby the toll charge counter is stepped to indicate charging of a toll, and a signal is transmitted from the transponder. The transponder signal is received by the ground receiver, and the vehicle is allowed to proceed. The transponder counter may be set to store a number of prepaid tolls, subtracting one for each passage, or may count the tolls used for later payment.

Claims

1. A toll charging system comprising:

an interrogator at a toll charging point, a vehicle-borne transponder including a vehicle receiver actuated by said interrogator, counting means and a transmitter, said vehicle receiver actuating said countiNg means and said transmitter, a ground receiver at said toll charging point responsive to said transmitter, means connected to said ground receiver indicating charging of a toll and, vehicle actuated means connected to said interrogator to trigger said interrogator and transmit a signal.

2. In the toll charging system of claim 1, normally actuated passage denial signal means and normally off passage allowance signal means;

switching means connected to said ground receiver to turn off said passage denial signal means and actuate said passage allowance signal means upon receipt of a toll charge indicating signal from said vehicle transponder.

3. In the toll charging system of claim 2, antenna means connected to said interrogator and to said ground receiver including:

first and second antenna loops;

first and second inductors;

a bridge circuit including said first and second antenna loops and said first and second inductors; and

means connecting said interrogator and said ground receiver to said bridge circuit.

4. In an automatic toll charge system, a vehicle-borne transponder comprising:

a receiver responsive to a signal indicative of a demand for the collection of a toll charge, a toll charge counter connected to said receiver, means adapted to insert a predetermined number which represents an amount of toll chargers in said counter, and means adapted to subtract one toll charge from the amount upon the receipt of a signal from the receiver, a transmitter and, means enabling energization of said transmitter responsive to actuation of said counter.

5. In the vehicle-borne transponder of claim 4, said counter including:

a spring loaded step wheel;

means for stepping said step wheel to indicate a toll charge upon receipt of a signal by said transponder receiver; and

means for winding said step wheel and tensioning said spring to store prepaid toll charge.

6. An automatic system for acknowledging charging of admissions from vehicles moving past a collection point comprising:

means located other than on the vehicle for acknowledging receipt of a fare, vehicle fare storage means having a fare balance capable of modification by means located other than on the vehicle so long as a fare balance remains, sensing means responsive to fare collection for actuating a device located other than on said vehicle in response to a fare balance modification.