US4827206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar power system for electronic parking meter
Assignee: POM INCORPORATED A CORP OF ARKANSAS
•
Filing: 1988-03-25
•
Granted: 1989-05-02
•
Expires: 2008-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A solar power system for an electronic parking meter. At least one solar cell array is connected to the anode of a first diode and at least one current regulating diode has its anode connected to a cathode of the first diode. At least one storage capacitor is connected between a cathode of the current regulating capacitor and ground. At least one second diode has its anode connected to the storage capacitor and has its cathode connected to an input of a voltage regulator. An output of the voltage regulator provides a supply voltage for the electronic parking meter. The input of the voltage regulator is also connected to the cathode of the first diode. A monitor circuit monitors a voltage level at the input of the voltage regulator. A microprocessor is connected to the monitor and when the voltage level decreases below a first threshold, the microprocessor shuts down the electronic parking meter in an orderly manner. When the electronic parking meter is shut down, the voltage regulator outputs a reset signal when the voltage level at the input of the voltage regulator exceeds a second threshold level, the reset signal is received by the microprocessor.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary W. Speas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:43
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B15/00; G07B15/02; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/24; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S136/00; Y10S136/291; Y10S136/293; Y10S323/00; Y10S323/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A solar power system in an electronic parking meter comprising: at least one solar cell array connected to the anode of a first diode; at least one current regulating diode having its anode connected to a cathode of said first diode; at least one storage capacitor connected between a cathode of said current regulating diode and ground; at least one second diode having its anode connected to said storage capacitor and its cathode connected to an input of a voltage regulator, an output of said voltage regulator providing a supply voltage for said electronic parking meter, said input of said voltage regulator also connected to said cathode of said first diode; means for monitoring a voltage level at said input of said voltage regulator; microprocessor connected to said means for monitoring and when said voltage level decreases below a first threshold, said microprocessor shuts down said electronic parking meter in an orderly manner.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A solar power system in an electronic parking meter comprising: at least one solar cell array connected to the anode of a first diode; at least one current regulating diode having its anode connected to a cathode of said first diode; at least one storage capacitor connected between a cathode of said current regulating diode and ground; at least one second diode having its anode connected to said storage capacitor and its cathode connected to an input of a voltage regulator, an output of said voltage regulator providing a supply voltage for said electronic parking meter, said input of said voltage regulator also connected to said cathode of said first diode; means for monitoring a voltage level at said input of said voltage regulator; microprocessor connected to said means for monitoring and when said voltage level decreases below a first threshold, said microprocessor shuts down said electronic parking meter in an orderly manner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A solar power system for an electronic parking meter according to claim 1, wherein when said electronic parking meter is shut down, said voltage regulator outputs a reset signal when said voltage level at said input of said voltage regulator exceeds a second threshold level, said reset signal being received by said microprocessor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A solar power system for an electronic parking meter according to claim 1, wherein said means for monitoring is a resistor divider network, a juncture thereof being connected to said microprocessor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
172 words
A solar power system in an electronic parking meter comprising: at least one solar cell array connected via a first diode to a power bus and for supplying power to said power bus; at least one storage capacitor connected to said power bus via a current limiting diode for charging the capacitor and via a second diode for supply power to said power bus; a voltage regulator having an input connected to said power bus and having a first output for providing a regulated supply voltage to said electronic parking meter and a second output for providing a reset signal to a microprocessor when the microprocessor is powered-down and when a voltage level at said input of said voltage regulator exceeds a second threshold; means for monitoring said voltage level at said input of said voltage regulator and, when said microprocessor is in a standby mode or in an operational mode, providing a signal to said micrprocessor indicative of said voltage level decreasing below a first threshold, said microprocessor then being powered-down.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
172 words
A solar power system in an electronic parking meter comprising: at least one solar cell array connected via a first diode to a power bus and for supplying power to said power bus; at least one storage capacitor connected to said power bus via a current limiting diode for charging the capacitor and via a second diode for supply power to said power bus; a voltage regulator having an input connected to said power bus and having a first output for providing a regulated supply voltage to said electronic parking meter and a second output for providing a reset signal to a microprocessor when the microprocessor is powered-down and when a voltage level at said input of said voltage regulator exceeds a second threshold; means for monitoring said voltage level at said input of said voltage regulator and, when said microprocessor is in a standby mode or in an operational mode, providing a signal to said micrprocessor indicative of said voltage level decreasing below a first threshold, said microprocessor then being powered-down.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A solar power system for an electronic parking meter according to claim 4, wherein said means for monitoring is a resitor divider network, a juncture thereof being connected to said microprocessor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
210 words
A solar power system in an electronic parking meter comprising: at least one solar cell array connected to an anode of a first diode; at least one current regulating diode having its anode connected to a cathode of said first diode; at least one storage capacitor connected between a cathode of said current regulating diode and ground; at least one second diode having its anode connected to said storage capacitor and its cathode connected to an input of a voltage regulator, an output of said voltage regulator providing a supply voltage for said electronic parking meter, said input of said voltage regulator also connected to said cathode of said first diode; means for monitoring a voltage level at said input of said voltage regulator; microprocessor connected to said means for monitoring and when said voltage level decreases below a first threshold, said microprocessor shuts down said electronic parking meter in an orderly manner, and when said electronic parking meter is shut down, said voltage regulator outputs a reset signal when said voltage level at said input of said voltage regulator exceeds a second threshold level, said reset signal being received by said microprocessor, said means for monitoring being a resistor divider network, a juncture thereof being connected to said microprocessor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
210 words
A solar power system in an electronic parking meter comprising: at least one solar cell array connected to an anode of a first diode; at least one current regulating diode having its anode connected to a cathode of said first diode; at least one storage capacitor connected between a cathode of said current regulating diode and ground; at least one second diode having its anode connected to said storage capacitor and its cathode connected to an input of a voltage regulator, an output of said voltage regulator providing a supply voltage for said electronic parking meter, said input of said voltage regulator also connected to said cathode of said first diode; means for monitoring a voltage level at said input of said voltage regulator; microprocessor connected to said means for monitoring and when said voltage level decreases below a first threshold, said microprocessor shuts down said electronic parking meter in an orderly manner, and when said electronic parking meter is shut down, said voltage regulator outputs a reset signal when said voltage level at said input of said voltage regulator exceeds a second threshold level, said reset signal being received by said microprocessor, said means for monitoring being a resistor divider network, a juncture thereof being connected to said microprocessor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2807016A
Cited
US2656908A
Cited
US3166732A
Cited
US3373856A
Cited
US3482110A
Cited
US3575586A
Cited
US3541308A
Cited
US3999372A
Cited
US3535870A
Cited
US3760160A
Cited
US3948375A
Cited
US3909826A
Cited
US4034193A
Cited
US4031991A
Cited
US4080598A
Cited
US4311953A
Cited
US4228519A
Cited
US4249648A
Cited
US4310890A
Cited
US4356903A
Cited
US4275272A
Cited
US4375662A
Cited
US4379334A
Cited
US4460080A
Cited
US4483431A
Cited
US4568877A
Cited
US4571532A
Cited
US4576273A
Cited
US4614879A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-01 | 1992-10-31 | 1993-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-01 | 1996-10-31 | 1997-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-01 | 2000-10-31 | 2001-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |