Toll transponder with deactivation means

Abstract

The invention relates to a transponder system for use in conjunction with an interrogator of a toll highway, which comprises: (a) a transponder having two modes: (a.1) an “active” mode during which the transponder is mostly in standby, while it sends an identification signal upon receipt of an interrogator signal; and (a.2) an “inactive” mode during which the transponder is inactive; (b) a switch within the transponder having two states, a first state in which it causes the transponder to be in said “active” mode, and a second state in which it causes the transponder to be in said “inactive” mode; (c) a hanging device for enabling placement of the transponder in it, said hanging device being attached to a part of the vehicle where the transponder, when placed, is capable of receiving interrogating signals coming from a proximate interrogator; and (d) an activator at said hanging device for causing said switch to be in said first state only when the transponder is placed within the hanging device, and to be in an “inactive” state when the transponder is not placed within the hanging device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.