Electromechanical parking meter door communications interface
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electronic parking meter, comprising:
- a first section including at least one coin slot for accepting coins, a coin counting/auditing circuit operatively coupled to said at least one coin slot for keeping track of the value of coins inserted into the meter;
a second section including a lock accessible by presenting specific data thereto, and a lock control circuit for unlocking said lock based on received specific data through a key interface; and
an access device for operating said lock, comprising means for storing data for presentation to said lock control circuit, means for storing information for presentation to said coin counting/auditing circuit, and means for storing information received from said coin counting/auditing circuit;
said second section including a vault having an opening and a vault door for covering said opening, said lock and lock control circuit being located on said vault door such that said lock locks said vault door in place over said vault opening, said vault door including at least one electrical communication terminal connected to said lock control circuit by a wire conductor;
said vault opening including at least one electrical communication terminal for coupling with the vault door communication terminal when the vault door is secured within the vault opening, said vault opening communication terminal being connected to said coin counting/auditing circuit by an interface cable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic security system for a parking meter includes a vault door having a spring-biased contact terminal for making breakable electrical contact with a housing hinge bracket contact terminal mounted in a vault opening. An electronic lock control circuit is able to communicate with a meter control (coin counting/auditing) circuit in the meter portion of the system through the vault door/housing hinge bracket contact terminals, thus eliminating a direct cable connection between the lock circuit and the meter circuit. The spring-biased contact may be substituted by equivalent breakable electrical contacts such as optocoupler contacts.
65 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An electronic parking meter, comprising:
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a first section including at least one coin slot for accepting coins, a coin counting/auditing circuit operatively coupled to said at least one coin slot for keeping track of the value of coins inserted into the meter;
a second section including a lock accessible by presenting specific data thereto, and a lock control circuit for unlocking said lock based on received specific data through a key interface; and
an access device for operating said lock, comprising means for storing data for presentation to said lock control circuit, means for storing information for presentation to said coin counting/auditing circuit, and means for storing information received from said coin counting/auditing circuit;
said second section including a vault having an opening and a vault door for covering said opening, said lock and lock control circuit being located on said vault door such that said lock locks said vault door in place over said vault opening, said vault door including at least one electrical communication terminal connected to said lock control circuit by a wire conductor;
said vault opening including at least one electrical communication terminal for coupling with the vault door communication terminal when the vault door is secured within the vault opening, said vault opening communication terminal being connected to said coin counting/auditing circuit by an interface cable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In an electronic parking meter having a first section including at least one coin slot for accepting coins, a coin counting/auditing circuit operatively coupled to said at least one coin slot for keeping track of the value of coins inserted into the meter, a second section including a lock accessible by presenting specific data thereto, a lock control circuit for unlocking said lock based on received specific data through a key interface, and a vault having an opening and a vault door for covering said opening, said lock and lock control circuit being located on said vault door such that said lock locks said vault door in place over said vault opening, the improvement comprising:
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said vault door including at least one electrical communication terminal connected to said lock control circuit by a wire conductor;
said vault opening including at least one electrical communication terminal for coupling with the vault door communication terminal when the vault door is secured within the vault opening, said vault opening communication terminal being connected to said coin counting/auditing circuit by an interface cable. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification