Fast lane credit card

• US 5,101,200 A
• Filed: 06/09/1989
• Issued: 03/31/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Paul H. Swett
• Original Assignee: Paul H. Swett
• Inventors: Swett, Paul H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US07/364,350
• Time in Patent Office: 1,026 Days
• Field of Search: 340/937, 340/928, 340/942, 340/933, 364/456, 364/464.01, 358/108, 358/110, 358/113, 358/125, 235/375, 235/437, 235/454, 235/462
• US Class Current: 340/937
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0284 Time or distance, e.g. usage of parking meters or taximeters
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/063 using wireless information transmission between the vehicle and a fixed station identification of vehicles G08G
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/017 identifying vehicles G08G1/015, G08G1/054 take precedence

Abstract

A toll paying system for use with a vehicle passing through a fast lane, having a toll booth. The toll paying system comprises detection means, class determining means, a wallboard, and a vehicle having both a first processor and a transmitter; a toll booth having antenna means, a receiver, a second processor, and camera means. The detection means may be embodied as a plurality of light beams traversing the fast lane with a plurality of light beam detectors. The light beam detectors generate a detection signal in response to a vehicle crossing the light beams. In general, the detection means generates a detection signal in response to detecting the presence of the vehicle in the fast lane. The class determining means may be embodied as an apparatus which determines the class of vehicle passing through the fast lane. The class of vehicle may be a car, truck, or any other type of class desirable for classifying vehicles passing through the toll paying system. The wallboard displays a message including tag information, in response to receiving the detection signal from the detection means.

Claims

1. A toll paying system for use with a vehicle passing through a fast lane having a toll booth, said toll paying system comprising:

detection means responsive to detecting the presence of said vehicle for generating a detection signal;

a wall board responsive to the detection signal for displaying a message including tag information;

a passenger for reading the tag information;

a vehicle having a toll instrument including,

a first processor located in said vehicle for storing identification data and having an input for inputting the tag information read by the passenger in said vehicle from said wall board said first processor including means for inputting a user number;

a transmitter located in said vehicle and coupled to said first processor and responsive to said passenger initiating said transmitter, for repetitively transmitting on at least two frequencies, a signal having, the tag information, the identification data;

a toll booth having,

antenna means having direction finding capability for reducing interference and improving reception of the transmitted signal;

a receiver located at said tool both and responsive to said transmitter for receiving the transmitted signals having error correction/detection data, the tag information, the identification data, the transaction data, and account data;

a second processor located at said toll both and coupled to said receiver and said the detection means, and responsive to the transmitted error correction/detection data, the tag information, the identification data, account data, and the class of said vehicle for verifying tag information, said second processor including means for charging a toll fee to an account using the account data; and

camera means coupled to said second processor and responsive to the transmitted error correction/detection data, the tag information, the identification data, and account data, for photographing a serial number on said toll instrument and vehicle license plates.

2. A toll paying system for use with a vehicle passing through a fast lane having a toll booth, said toll paying system comprising:

a wall board responsive to the detection signal for displaying a message including tag information;

a passenger for reading the tag information;

a vehicle having a toll instrument including,

a first processor located in said vehicle for storing identification data and having means operated by said passenger for inputting the tag information;

a transmitter located in said vehicle and coupled to said first processor for transmitting a signal having the identification data;

a toll booth having,

a receiver located at said toll booth and responsive to said transmitter for receiving the transmitted signal having identification data; and

a second processor located at said toll both and coupled to said receiver, and responsive to the identification data, said second processor including means for charging a toll to an account using the identification data.

3. The toll paying system as set forth in claim 2 further including:

means for generating light beams traversing said fast lane;

a plurality of light beam detectors responsive to the light beams for determining class of vehicle crossing said light beams and for generating a detection signal having first class data;

class means for determining the class of vehicle passing through said fast lane and generating a class signal having second class data;

a third processor coupled to said second processor, said light beam detectors and said class means, and responsive to the detection signal and the class signal for generating a picture signal; and

means coupled to said third processor and responsive to the picture signal for photographing a serial number on said toll instrument and vehicle license plates.

4. A toll paying system for use with a vehicle passing through a fast lane having a toll booth, said toll paying system comprising:

a wall board responsive to a detection signal for displaying a message including tag information;

a passenger for reading the tag information;

a vehicle having a transmitter and means responsive to said passenger entering the tag information for transmitting a signal having identification data and tag information; and

a toll booth having a receiver responsive to said transmitter for receiving the transmitted signal having identification data and tag information, and for processing said identification data and tag information.

5. The toll paying system as set forth in claim 4 further including:

a plurality of light beam detectors responsive to the light beams for determining class of vehicle crossing said light beams and for generating a detection signal having first class data;

class means for determining the class of vehicle passing through said fast lane and generating a class signal having second class data;

a third processor coupled to said second processor, said light beam detectors and said class means, and responsive to the detection signal and the class signal for generating a picture signal; and

means coupled to said third processor and responsive to the picture signal for photographing a serial number on said toll instrument and vehicle license plates.

6. A method for paying a toll for use with a vehicle passing through a fast lane having a tool booth, comprising the steps of:

inputting the tag information into a first processor located in said vehicle;

transmitting a signal having identification data and the tag information from a transmitter located in said vehicle;

receiving the signal having the identification data and tag information by a receiver located at said tool booth; and

charging to a second processor a toll fee to an account using the identification data and tag information.