Taximeters

Claim 2

A taximeter having means for providing a first pulse based on time of hire or distance travelled, or a combination of both time and distance, means for generating a series of code pulses from said first pulses, said code pulses corresponding to a series of codes which, in turn, correspond to predetermined distance or time values or a combination of both, pulse feed means operated by said code pulses and which can pass pulses to a fare indicator means, a plurality of control means, each of which can control the passage of the code pulses and means for rendering the control means successively operative at predetermined values of time and/or distance.

Claim 3

A taximeter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for generating the code pulses include a series of counters each associated with a binary code decoder which has a series of outputs, each output (or each of some of them) being associated with a gate which passes a pulse to a control gate on receipt of an enabling pulse.

Claim 4

A taximeter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for rendering the control means successively operative consists of counting means giving a pulse code to each of the control means fed with the pulses that operate the means which pass pulses to the fare indicator means.

Claim 5

A taximeter as claimed in claim 1 having means for blocking pulses to the fare indicator while the initial fare is being expended, and at least two other said control means.

Claim 6

A taximeter as claimed in claim 1 wherein one said control means controls the expenditure of the initial fare and at least one other said control means is provided for controlling the subsequent fare indicator advances.

Claim 7

A taximeter as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for rendering the control means operative is a counter which counts pulses passing to the fare indicator means and emits secondary code pulses to the series of control means which pass enabling pulses to said gates, said control means including gates operated by the secondary code pulses whereby the required control means is rendered operative at the predetermined fare ranges.

Claim 8

A taximeter as claimed in claim 10 wherein each control means comprises AND gates fed with code pulses and giving output pulses to a further AND gate which has an output providing enabling control pulses to said means operated by said code pulses for enabling them to be fed to the fare indicator.

Claim 9

A taximeter as claimed in Claim 2 wherein each control means comprises AND gates fed with code pulses and giving output pulses to a further AND gate which has an output providing enabling control pulses to said means operated by said code pulses for enabling them to be fed to the fare indicator and wherein the further AND gate of the first control means has means whereby a pulse from the output of the further AND of the last control means is fed to the further AND gate of the first control means so that the operation reverts to the first control means after the last control means has been in action.

Claim 10

A taximeter having means for providing a first pulse based on time of hire or distance travelled and a combination of both time and distance, means for generating a series of code pulses from said first pulses, said code pulses corresponding to a series of codes which in turn correspond to predetermined distance or time values or a combination of both, pulse feed means operated by said code pulses and which can pass pulses to a fare indicator means characterized by a series of primary counters (13-16) feeding a corresponding series of decoders (18-21), said decoders each having a series of output terminals, a corresponding number of NOR gates connected one to a terminal of each of said decoders, a control gate (40) which sends a pulse to (a) a fare indicator on receipt of a pulse from each of said NOR gates, (b) secondary counters (45,46) which provide enabling pulses to said NOR gates, and (c) to reset means (56) for resetting said primary counters.

Claim 11

A taximeter having means for providing a first pulse based on time of hire or distance travelled and a combination of both time and distance, means for generating a series of code pulses from said first pulses, said code pulses corresponding to a series of codes which in turn correspond to predetermined distance or time values or a combination of both, pulse feed means operated by said code pulses and which can pass pulses to a fare indicator means characterized by a series of primary counters (13-16) feeding a corresponding series of decoders (18-21), said decoders each having a series of output terminals, a corresponding number of NOR gates connected one to a terminal of each of said decoders, a control gate (40) which sends a pulse to (a) a fare indicator on receipt of a pulse from each of said NOR gates, (b) secondary counters (45,46) which provide enabling pulses to said NOR gates, and (c) to reset means (56) for resetting said primary counters.