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US 2006/0136131 A1Published application
Vehicle detector and vehicle parking management system
AssigneeMetertek, LLC
InventorsWilliam Dugan, Mark Dee, Feisal Hurzook
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A detector assembly including a three-dimensional magnetic sensor adapted to detect presence of a vehicle, a transceiver operatively coupled to the magnetic sensor and adapted to send and receiver information, a microprocessor operatively coupled to the magnetic sensor and the transceiver. The detector assembly is part of a vehicle parking management system including a plurality of detector assemblies and a remote device operatively coupled to the plurality of sensor assemblies to exchange information with each of the plurality of sensor assemblies.
Claims62
A detector assembly associated with a predefined location for determining the presence of a vehicle disposed in the predefined location, the detector assembly comprising:
- (a) a passive, three-axis magnetic sensor;
- (b) a transceiver operatively coupled to the sensor and adapted for bi-directional communication with a remote device;
- and
- (c) a microprocessor operatively coupled to the sensor, the transceiver and a memory;
- (d) wherein the memory stores programming instructions that, when used by the microprocessor, cause the detector assembly to function to:
- (i) activate the sensor to determine a baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor,
- (ii) activate the sensor to determine a then-current ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor;
- (iii) determine an adjusted baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor based on a difference in the then-current ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor as compared to a selection from the group consisting of the baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor and the adjusted baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor;
- (iv) determine whether the difference exceeds a threshold that indicates the presence of the vehicle in the predefined location;
- and
- (v) repeat periodically steps (d)(ii), (d)(iii) and (d)(iv).
8 more elements
A vehicle parking management system comprising:
- (a) a plurality of detector assemblies;
- (i) each detector assembly associated with a predefined location for determining the presence of a vehicle disposed in the predefined location and including a passive, three-axis magnetic sensor, a transceiver operatively coupled to the sensor and adapted for bi-directional communication;
- a microprocessor operatively coupled to the sensor, the transceiver and a memory;
- wherein the memory stores programming instructions that, when used by the microprocessor, cause the detector assembly to function to:
- (1) activate the sensor to determine a baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor,
- (2) activate the sensor to determine a then-current ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor;
- (3) determine an adjusted baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor based on a difference in the then-current ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor as compared to a selection from the group consisting of the baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor and the adjusted baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor;
- (4) determine whether the difference exceeds a threshold that indicates the presence of the vehicle in the predefined location;
- and
- (5) repeat periodically steps (a)(i)(2), (a)(i)(3) and (a)(i)(4);
- (ii) a server operatively coupled to the plurality of detector assemblies;
- and
- (iii) a payment source operatively coupled to the server.
10 more elements
A vehicle parking management system comprising:
- (a) a plurality of detector assemblies;
- (i) each detector assembly associated with a predefined location for determining the presence of a vehicle disposed in the predefined location and including a passive, three-axis magnetic sensor, a transceiver operatively coupled to the sensor and adapted for bi-directional communication;
- a microprocessor operatively coupled to the sensor, the transceiver and a memory;
- wherein the memory stores programming instructions that, when used by the microprocessor, cause the detector assembly to function to:
- (1) activate the sensor to determine a baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor,
- (2) activate the sensor to determine a then-current ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor;
- (3) determine an adjusted baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor based on a difference in the then-current ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor as compared to a selection from the group consisting of the baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor and the adjusted baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor;
- (4) determine whether the difference exceeds a threshold that indicates the presence of the vehicle in the predefined location;
- and
- (5) repeat periodically steps (a)(i)(2), (a)(i)(3) and (a)(i)(4);
- and
- (ii) a payment collection device operatively coupled with each of the plurality of detector assemblies.
9 more elements
A vehicle parking management system comprising:
- (a) a plurality of detector assemblies;
- (i) each detector assembly associated with a predefined location for determining the presence of a vehicle disposed in the predefined location and including a passive, three-axis magnetic sensor, a transceiver operatively coupled to the sensor and adapted for bi-directional communication;
- a microprocessor operatively coupled to the sensor, the transceiver and a memory;
- wherein the memory stores programming instructions that, when used by the microprocessor, cause the detector assembly to function to:
- (1) activate the sensor to determine a baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor,
- (2) activate the sensor to determine a then-current ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor;
- (3) determine an adjusted baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor based on a difference in the then-current ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor as compared to a selection from the group consisting of the baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor and the adjusted baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor;
- (4) determine whether the difference exceeds a threshold that indicates the presence of the vehicle in the predefined location;
- and
- (5) repeat periodically steps (a)(i)(2), (a)(i)(3) and (a)(i)(4);
- and
- (ii) a payment collection device operatively coupled with the plurality of detector assemblies.
9 more elements
A vehicle parking management system comprising:
- (a) a plurality of detector assemblies;
- (i) each detector assembly associated with a predefined location for determining the presence of a vehicle disposed in the predefined location and including a passive, three-axis magnetic sensor, a transceiver operatively coupled to the sensor and adapted for bi-directional communication;
- a microprocessor operatively coupled to the sensor, the transceiver and a memory;
- wherein the memory stores programming instructions that, when used by the microprocessor, cause the detector assembly to function to:
- (1) activate the sensor to determine a baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor,
- (2) activate the sensor to determine a then-current ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor;
- (3) determine an adjusted baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor based on a difference in the then-current ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor as compared to a selection from the group consisting of the baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor and the adjusted baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor;
- (4) determine whether the difference exceeds a threshold that indicates the presence of the vehicle in the predefined location;
- and
- (5) repeat periodically steps (a)(i)(2), (a)(i)(3) and (a)(i)(4);
- (ii) a dynamic display operatively coupled to the plurality of detector assemblies;
- and
- (iii) a payment source operatively coupled to the dynamic display.
10 more elements
A vehicle parking management system comprising:
- (a) a plurality of detector assemblies;
- (i) each detector assembly associated with a predefined location for determining the presence of a vehicle disposed in the predefined location and including a passive, three-axis magnetic sensor, a transceiver operatively coupled to the sensor and adapted for bi-directional communication;
- a microprocessor operatively coupled to the sensor, the transceiver and a memory;
- wherein the memory stores programming instructions that, when used by the microprocessor, cause the detector assembly to function to:
- (1) activate the sensor to determine a baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor,
- (2) activate the sensor to determine a then-current ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor;
- (3) determine an adjusted baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor based on a difference in the then-current ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor as compared to a selection from the group consisting of the baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor and the adjusted baseline ambient three-dimensional magnetic field around the sensor;
- (4) determine whether the difference exceeds a threshold that indicates the presence of the vehicle in the predefined location;
- and
- (5) repeat periodically steps (a)(i)(2), (a)(i)(3) and (a)(i)(4);
- (ii) a mobile communication device operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of detector assemblies;
- and
- (iii) a payment source operatively coupled to the mobile communication device and the at least one of the plurality of detector assemblies.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.