US 5,442,348 AGranted

Computerized parking meter

AssigneePark-A-Tron Limited Liability Company

InventorJoshua Mushell

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Abstract

A computerized parking meter uses an ultrasonic transducer to precisely measure the distance to a parked vehicle and to reset the parking meter to zero when the vehicle leaves. The computerized parking meter utilizes low power and may be recharged by solar power. The computerized parking meter can be programmed with differing rates, calendar days, advertising and alarms. Unlocking the coin box requires both the proper computer code and a key. When the computerized parking meter receives the proper computer code a solenoid is activated which retracts a plunger allowing the key to unlock the coin box. A coin discriminator allows only proper coins to be inserted into the meter. Audible messages and alarms can be sounded and written messages displayed. A portable terminal can communicate with a central computer to enhance collections security and identify repeat parking violators.

Claims34

Dependent claims

In a computerized parking meter system, the process of providing maximum revenues comprising the steps of:

(a) partially inserting a coin in a coin collector;
(b) rejecting the coin if parking restrictions are pre-programmed in a computer attached to said coin collector;
(c) rejecting the coin as improper by means of detecting magnetic variations created by said improper coin when it is partially inserted into said coin collector;
(d) accepting a coin as good if no magnetic variations are detected when it is partially inserted into said coin collector;
(e) adding to a coin total count;
(f) checking a real time clock;
(g) adding a time purchased to a time remaining;
(h) displaying the time remaining;
(i) sending a pulse of ultrasonic waves toward a parking space;
(j) receiving the reflections of the ultrasonic waves off an object;
(k) determining the distance to the object;
(l) ignoring any distance to the object which is outside a window of distances programmed into the computer attached to said coin collector;
(m) setting any distance to the object which is within the window as a vehicle baseline distance;
(n) periodically rechecking the distance to the object for which the vehicle baseline distance was set;
(o) resetting the time remaining on the parking meter to zero when a rechecked distance exceeds the baseline distance;
and
(p) setting an alarm means for indicating when the time remaining equals zero.

14 more elements

A computerized parking meter system, comprising:

means for providing power functioning to operate a microprocessor and an interface of the computerized parking meter;
said interface being connected to said microprocessor;
a coin acceptor with means for accepting a proper coin and means for rejecting an improper coin before total insertion of the coin whereby acceptance of a proper coin sets an allowable parking time;
a real time clock connected to said microprocessor functioning to compute calendar days and time based calculations including time out of the allowable parking time;
means connected to said microprocessor for computing time remaining in said allowable parking time;
means connected to said microprocessor for operating in real time functioning to allow interruptions;
means connected to said interface for displaying the time remaining in said allowable parking time;
an ultrasonic transducer functioning to send and receive signals from said interface;
means for computing a distance to a parked vehicle utilizing said ultrasonic transducer;
means for comparing said distance to the parked vehicle to a programmed window of distances;
means connected to said interface and utilizing said ultrasonic transducer for periodically rechecking said distance to the parked vehicle;
means for resetting the time remaining in the allowable parking time to zero when said parked vehicle leaves a parking space as determined by the programmed window of distances;
a portable computer terminal having means for communicating with said computerized parking meter;
a coin box having a key lock attached to said coin box;
means for preventing a key from unlocking the key lock;
and
said means for preventing a key from unlocking the key lock being programmably controlled.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.