Patent US980595A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5454461A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5454461A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic parking meter and system
Assignee: CAPITAL TRANSPORTATION LLC
•
Filing: 1994-02-10
•
Granted: 1995-10-03
•
Expires: 2014-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A low-powered electronic parking meter which can be powered solely by non-rechargeable, commercially available batteries. The meter includes a coin receptor with unique circuitry and components for coin detection, slug detection, determination of coin denomination, and jam detection, which require very little power. The coin detection and denomination determination are performed using pivotable lever arms in contact with Piezo strips. The slug detection uses a permanent magnet mounted opposite a reed switch and the jam detection is performed by IR diode emitters and photo-cells. The meter also includes a processor, a liquid crystal display, a sonar transducer for detecting the presence of vehicles, and an IR transceiver enabling parking authority personnel to communicate with the meter. The components of the meter are operated in three conditions or states including an off condition, an inactive condition, and an active condition, to provide further conservation of power so that the meter is entirely battery operated.
Inventors
- 👤 James P. Jacobs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:54
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D3/00; G07D3/14; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/24; G07F17/246
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
186 words
An electronic parking meter comprising: (a) a stanchion; (b) a member, mounted on said stanchion, comprising a front wall and a rear wall, and a hollow area between said walls, a board mounted in said hollow area, a coin slot mounted in said front wall, and a coin chute in said hollow area in communication with said slot; (c) means, mounted in said chute, for sensing the insertion of said coin in said slot; (d) means, mounted in said chute, for determining the denomination of said coin; (e) processing means mounted on said boards display means, mounted on said board, connected to said processor; power source means for providing power to said electronic parking meter; (h) means, mounted in said member, for determining the presence of a vehicle parked at said parking meter; and (i) radio means, mounted in said member, for receiving data from, and for transmitting data to a remote location, and wherein said radio means comprises an R.F. transceiver and The said parking meter further comprises at least one means having a plurality of repeaters for retransmitting said data to said remote location.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
186 words
An electronic parking meter comprising: (a) a stanchion; (b) a member, mounted on said stanchion, comprising a front wall and a rear wall, and a hollow area between said walls, a board mounted in said hollow area, a coin slot mounted in said front wall, and a coin chute in said hollow area in communication with said slot; (c) means, mounted in said chute, for sensing the insertion of said coin in said slot; (d) means, mounted in said chute, for determining the denomination of said coin; (e) processing means mounted on said boards display means, mounted on said board, connected to said processor; power source means for providing power to said electronic parking meter; (h) means, mounted in said member, for determining the presence of a vehicle parked at said parking meter; and (i) radio means, mounted in said member, for receiving data from, and for transmitting data to a remote location, and wherein said radio means comprises an R.F. transceiver and The said parking meter further comprises at least one means having a plurality of repeaters for retransmitting said data to said remote location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The parking meter of claim 1 wherein said data comprises information that the vehicle parked at said parking meter is parked overtime.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The parking meter of claim 2 wherein said transmitted data further comprises information that said meter has failed or jammed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The parking meter of claim 3 further comprising connection means between said RF transceiver and said processing means for sending said information from said processing means to said RF transceiver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The parking meter of claim 4 wherein said at least one means having a plurality of repeaters comprises a grid covering approximately an eight square block area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
179 words
An electronic parking meter comprising: a) a stanchion; (b) a member, mounted on said stanchion, comprising a front wall and a rear wall, and a hollow area between said walls, a board mounted in said hollow area, a coin slot mounted in said front wall, and a coin chute in said hollow area in communication with said slot; (c) means, mounted in said chute, for sensing the insertion of said coin in said slot; (d) means, mounted in said chute, for determining the denomination of said coin; (e) processing means mounted on said board; (f) display means, mounted on said board, connected to said processor; (g) power source means for providing power to said electronic parking meter; (h) means, mounted in said member, for determining the presence of a vehicle parked at said parking meter; and (i) radio means, mounted in said member, for receiving data from, and for transmitting data to a remote location, and wherein said means for sensing the insertion of a coin in said slot comprises a first pivotable arm and a first Piezo strip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
179 words
An electronic parking meter comprising: a) a stanchion; (b) a member, mounted on said stanchion, comprising a front wall and a rear wall, and a hollow area between said walls, a board mounted in said hollow area, a coin slot mounted in said front wall, and a coin chute in said hollow area in communication with said slot; (c) means, mounted in said chute, for sensing the insertion of said coin in said slot; (d) means, mounted in said chute, for determining the denomination of said coin; (e) processing means mounted on said board; (f) display means, mounted on said board, connected to said processor; (g) power source means for providing power to said electronic parking meter; (h) means, mounted in said member, for determining the presence of a vehicle parked at said parking meter; and (i) radio means, mounted in said member, for receiving data from, and for transmitting data to a remote location, and wherein said means for sensing the insertion of a coin in said slot comprises a first pivotable arm and a first Piezo strip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The parking meter of claim 6 wherein said means for determining the denomination of said coin comprises a second pivotable arm and a second Piezo strip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The parking meter of claim 7 wherein said radio means comprises an RF transceiver.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The parking meter of claim 8 further comprising at least one means having a plurality of repeaters for retransmitting said data to said remote location.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
The parking meter of claim 9 wherein said data comprises information that the vehicle parked at said parking meter is parked overtime.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The parking meter of claim 10 wherein said transmitted data further comprises information that said meter has failed or jammed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The parking meter of claim 11 further comprising connection means between said RF transceiver and said processing means for sending said information from said processing means to said RF transceiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The parking meter of claim 12 wherein said at least one means having repeaters comprises an intermediate grid covering approximately an eight square block area.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
99 words
A parking meter system comprising a plurality of parking meters, each of said plurality of parking meters comprising means for detecting the presence of a vehicle parked at said parking meter, a slot for insertion of coins, means for detecting the insertion of said coins in said slot, means for determining the denomination of said coins inserted in said slot, processing means, radio means for receiving data from, and for transmitting data to a remote location; and at least one means comprising repeaters for receiving said data from said radio means and retransmitting said data to said remote location.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
99 words
A parking meter system comprising a plurality of parking meters, each of said plurality of parking meters comprising means for detecting the presence of a vehicle parked at said parking meter, a slot for insertion of coins, means for detecting the insertion of said coins in said slot, means for determining the denomination of said coins inserted in said slot, processing means, radio means for receiving data from, and for transmitting data to a remote location; and at least one means comprising repeaters for receiving said data from said radio means and retransmitting said data to said remote location.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The parking meter system of claim 14 wherein said radio means comprises an RF transceiver.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The parking meter system of claim 15 wherein said data comprises information that the vehicle parked at said parking meter is parked overtime.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The parking meter system of claim 16 wherein said transmitted data further comprises information that said meter has failed or jammed.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The parking meter system of claim 17 further comprising connection means between said RF transceiver and said processing means for sending said information from said processing means to said RF transceiver.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The parking meter system of claim 18 wherein said at least one means having repeaters comprises an intermediate grid covering approximately an eight square block area.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The parking meter system of claim 14 wherein said means for sensing the insertion of a coin in said slot comprises a first pivotable arm and a first Piezo strip.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The parking meter system of claim 20 wherein said means for determining the denomination of said coin comprises a second pivotable arm and a second Piezo strip.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The parking meter system of claim 21 wherein said radio transmitting means comprises an RF transceiver.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The parking meter system of claim 22 wherein said data comprises information that the vehicle parked at said parking meter is parked overtime.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The parking meter system of claim 23 wherein said transmitted data further comprises information that said meter has failed or jammed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The parking meter system of claim 24 further comprising connection means between said RF transmitter and said processing means for sending said information from said processing means to said RF transceiver.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The parking meter system of claim 25 wherein said at least one means having repeaters comprises an intermediate grid covering approximately an eight square block area.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
66 words
A parking meter system comprising: a plurality of parking meters, each of said meters comprising means for detecting the presence of a vehicle at said meter, means for accepting coins, radio means for receiving data from and transmitting data to a remote location; and at least one means comprising repeaters for receiving said data from said radio means and retransmitting said data to said remote location.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
66 words
A parking meter system comprising: a plurality of parking meters, each of said meters comprising means for detecting the presence of a vehicle at said meter, means for accepting coins, radio means for receiving data from and transmitting data to a remote location; and at least one means comprising repeaters for receiving said data from said radio means and retransmitting said data to said remote location.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The parking meter system of claim 27 wherein said at least one means comprising repeaters comprises an intermediate grid of approximately eight square blocks.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
The parking meter system of claim 28 wherein each of said plurality of parking meters further comprises means for determining overtime parking by a vehicle at said meter and said data comprises information that said vehicle is parked overtime.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
The parking meter system of claim 28 wherein each of said plurality of parking meters further comprises means for determining that said meter has failed and said data comprises information that said meter has failed.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
37 words
The parking meter system of claim 28 wherein each of said plurality of meters comprises means for determining that said meter has a coin jam and said data comprises information that said meter has a coin jam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4249648A
Cited
US4356903A
Cited
US4460080A
Cited
US4483431A
Cited
US4823928A
Cited
US4967895A
Cited
US5153586A
Cited
US5119916A
Cited
US5266947A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-10-02 | 1999-04-03 | 1999-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-02 | 2003-04-03 | 2003-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-02 | 2007-04-03 | 2007-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |