# US 2023/0274643 A1 · Parking space management system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0274643 A1 - Document ID: US20230274643A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/113,669 - Filed: 2023-02-24 - Published: 2023-08-31 - Earliest claimed: 2022-02-28 - Assignees: E Ink Corporation - Applicants: E Ink Corporation - Inventors: Zhen BAO; George G. HARRIS; Brian D. BEAN - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230274643A1 ## CPC - G08G 1/142: {external to the vehicles} - G08G 1/146: {where the parking area is a limited parking space, e.g. parking garage, restricted space} - G09G 3/344: {based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices (electrophoretic devices per se G02F1/167)} - G09G 2330/028: Generation of voltages supplied to electrode drivers in a matrix display other than LCD - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract A parking space management system includes a bistable reflective display, such as an electrophoretic display, which is sunlight-readable and only requires power when the information on the display is updated. One or more detectors are configured to determine the presence of an object within a bounded space, such as a parking space, and communicate that status to the bistable reflective display, thereby causing the bistable reflective display to show the presence of an object within the bounded space to an observer. Such a system is easy to implement and will save drivers' time because they don't have to hunt for a parking spot. Such a system also reduces tailpipe emissions because it is not necessary to drive up and down multiple aisles of cars looking for an open parking spot. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A parking space management system comprising: a bistable reflective display; and a detector configured to determine the presence of an object within a bounded space, wherein the detector is configured to communicate with the bistable reflective display and cause the bistable reflective display to show the presence of an object within the bounded space to an observer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The parking space management system of claim 1, further comprising a photovoltaic panel operatively coupled to the bistable reflective display and the detector, the photovoltaic panel being configured to power the parking management system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The parking space management system of claim 1, wherein the bistable reflective display is an electrophoretic display. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The parking space management system of claim 3, wherein the bistable reflective display comprises an active matrix backplane. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The parking space management system of claim 3, wherein the bistable reflective display comprises a plurality of segmented electrodes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The parking space management system of claim 3, wherein the bistable reflective display is flexible. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The parking space management system of claim 1, wherein the detector is a camera, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, a piezoelectric sensor, or uses an inductive coil to determine the presence of a metallic object. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The parking space management system of claim 1, wherein the bounded space is a parking spot in a parking lot and the object is a vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The parking space management system of claim 1, further comprising a detector hub coupled to the detector, and in communication with the bistable reflective display. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The parking space management system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of detectors wherein the plurality of detectors are operatively connected to the detector hub. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The parking space management system of claim 9, wherein the detector hub communicates with the bistable reflective display wirelessly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A parking garage comprising a parking space management system of claim 1. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The parking garage of claim 12, wherein the bistable reflective display is coupled to a structural column of the parking garage.