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Automatic non-computer network no-stop collection of expressway tolls by magnetic cards and method

  • US 5,451,758 A
  • Filed: 12/08/1993
  • Issued: 09/19/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for automatically collecting tolls from a vehicle moving along a tollroad, comprising the steps of:

  • providing a first transceiving means positioned at a fixed position relative to a tollroad one at an entrance and one at an exit, and a second transceiving means equipped in an in-vehicle device which is carried in a moving vehicle;

    providing a first toll facility at said entrance equipped with said first transceiving means through which said vehicle can enter for toll collection;

    transmitting an infrared signal from a transmitter of said second transceiving means in said in-vehicle device to communicate with said transceiving means at said first toll facility;

    activating said transmitter of said transceiving means at said first toll facility upon receiving of said infrared signal to transmit another infrared signal of a predetermined modulation frequency identifying said first toll facility at said entrance back to the receiver of said second transceiving means of said in-vehicle device;

    storing information of the received signal by a data processing means of said in-vehicle device into its memory;

    providing a second toll facility equipped with said transceiving means at said exit through which said vehicle can exit;

    activating said transmitter of said transceiving means at said second toll facility by said infrared signal from said second transceiving means in the same manner as at said first toll facility to transmit an infrared signal of a different predetermined modulation frequency identifying said second toll facility at said exit to said receiver of said second transceiving means;

    calculating toll by said data processing means of said in-vehicle device by using information from said infrared signals received at said entrance and said exit by said second transceiving means;

    debiting the calculated toll amount from a cash balance present in a portable information storing means; and

    instructing by said data processing means a card reader/writer of said in-vehicle device to overwrite said cash balance with the resulting new cash balance in said information storing means.

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