U.S. patent number RE29,511 [Application Number 05/680,575] was granted by the patent office on 1978-01-10 for parking meter.
Invention is credited to Burrell R. Rubenstein.
United States Patent |
RE29,511 |
Rubenstein |
January 10, 1978 |
Parking meter
Abstract
A parking meter which electrically indicates "remaining time"
and which electrically operates only in the presence of a vehicle
and when there is "paid-for" time on the meter. Thus, for example,
unused time by one departing motorist is cancelled.
Inventors: |
Rubenstein; Burrell R. (Kansas
City, MO) |
Family
ID: |
23947117 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/680,575 |
Filed: |
April 26, 1976 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
490221 |
Jul 19, 1974 |
03930363 |
Jan 6, 1976 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
368/6; 340/932.2;
368/90; 968/802 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G04F
1/005 (20130101); G07F 17/246 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G04F
1/00 (20060101); G07F 17/00 (20060101); G07F
17/24 (20060101); G07C 001/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;58/39.5,141-143
;235/92PE,92T,92EA ;340/51 ;194/DIG.22,DIG.18 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Schaefer; Robert K.
Assistant Examiner: Miska; Vit W.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Phillips; C. A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A parking meter comprising:
counting means comprising:
an electrical down counter,
first input means responsive to a selected input for initially
setting said down counter to a selected count, and
second input means for providing clock input signals to said down
counter, whereby with each signal said down counter is counted down
a selected count;
coin-operated switching means including at least one coin switch
and means responsive to the receipt of a particular coin for
operating said switch and providing a selected count input to said
first input means of said down counter;
vehicle detection means responsive to the detection of the presence
of a vehicle for applying a circuit operating bias to at least said
counting means;
clock means for providing electrical pulses at a selected time rate
to said second input means; and
readout means responsive to the output of said down counter for
visually indicating an output state of said down counter.
2. A parking meter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said readout
means comprises means for indicating whether time remaining on said
meter is finite or zero.
3. A parking meter as set forth in claim 2 wherein said readout
means comprises means for indicating the remaining "paid for" time
on said meter.
4. A parking meter as set forth in claim 1 wherein said readout
means is a meter, indicating "remaining time" in minutes.
5. A parking meter as set forth in claim 4 wherein said vehicle
detection means comprises metal detection means for applying said
operating bias upon the detection of the presence of a metal body.
.Iadd.6. A parking meter comprising:
counting means comprising:
an electrical down counter,
first input means responsive to a selected input for initially
setting said down counter to a selected count, and
second input means for providing clock input signals to said down
counter, whereby with each signal said down counter is counted down
a selected count;
coin-operated switching means including at least one coin switch
and means responsive to the receipt of a particular coin for
operating said switch and providing a selected count input to said
first input means of said down counter;
clock means for providing electrical pulses at a selected time rate
to said second input means; and
readout means responsive to the output of said down counter for
visually indicating remaining paid-for time. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to parking meters, and particularly to an
improved digitally-controlled electronic parking meter.
2. General Description of the Prior Art
Conventional parking meters are essentially coin-operated
mechanical clocks. They are fairly expensive and require a good
deal of service to properly maintain them. Their efficiency insofar
as financial return is concerned is seriously impeded by virtue of
the fact that the unused time by one motorist may be used by a
second motorist without further payment. It is the object of the
present invention to overcome these deficiencies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, a parking meter is constructed
utilizing an electronic down counter. .[.A metal locator positioned
on the parking meter is directed toward the parking space to be
covered, and it operates a switch which readies the meter; and if
the meter is on and a vehicle departs, it turns the meter off..].
Appropriate denomination coin-operated switches set the down
counter to an appropriate timing count, e.g. a dime coin would set
the down counter to 30, representing 30 minutes. The operation of
the coin switch starts a one-pulse-per-minute clock, which counts
the down counter down. The output of the down counter is connected
to a readout (either of the digital or analog types) to display
remaining paid-for occupancy of a parking space.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The single drawing is an electrical schematic diagram of an
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Referring to the drawing, there is shown an electrical block
diagram of one embodiment of the invention. Basic timing .[.fur.].
.Iadd.of .Iaddend.the parking meter is accomplished by binary down
counter 10, which in this system is a six stage binary counter. The
set input of each stage of binary down counter 10 is selectively
coupled through an isolation diode 12 to the outputs of one shots
14 and 16. The set output of each stage of binary down counter is
in turn connected as an input to binary to analog converter 18,
which converts the binary output to a voltage which is
representative of the binary value stored in binary down counter
10. The outputs of one shots 14 and 16 are "OR" coupled together by
OR gate 20, the output of which serves as a strobe input STR to the
binary counter. The output of OR gate 20 is further connected as an
"inhibit" input 22 of AND gate 24. The inputs of one shots 14 and
16 are connected to the stationary contacts of coin-operated
switches 26 and 28, which are also "OR" coupled together by OR gate
30. The output of OR gate 30 is coupled as a trigger input to one
shot 32, the output of which is fed as a reset signal RS to reset
binary counter 10. The output of OR gate 30 is also connected as a
"turn on" signal 34 to power connect switch 36. The movable arms of
coin-operated switches 26 and 28 are tied together and to common
ground 38. One contact of vehicle presence detector switch 40 is
connected to common ground, and the movable arm is connected as an
enable input 42 of power connect switch 36. Power to operate the
system is applied from battery 44, the negative terminal of which
is tied to common ground, and the plus end of which is connected to
movable arm 46 .[.of.]. .Iadd.to .Iaddend.power connect switch 36,
having a stationary contact connected as a plus voltage output to
all logic elements of the system. A selected count stored in binary
down counter 10 is counted down in discrete increments by the
output of one PPM clock 48, the output of which is connected to the
clock input CL of binary down counter 10. Once the down counter
counts to zero, or if it has been reset to zero, a pulse is
produced on zero count line 50, which inhibits one PPM clock 48 and
applies a trigger pulse to one shot 52. The output of one shot 52
is connected as one input 54 of AND gate 24, which is connected as
a "turn off" signal 56 to power connect switch 36. The output of
binary down counter 10 is coupled to the input of binary to analog
converter .[.10.]. .Iadd.18.Iaddend., which converts the "time
remaining" binary count to an analog signal. This signal is coupled
to the inverting output of amplifier 58, which has a positive or
noninverting input connected to the wiper of potentiometer 60.
Calibration potentiometer 60 is connected between plus voltage and
common ground. The output of amplifier 58 is connected through
series meter resistor 62 and meter movement 64 to common ground 38.
The output of amplifier 58 is scaled with respect to the input by
feedback resistor 66, which varies the gain of amplifier 58.
Elongated pointer 68 is attached to meter 64 and serves to indicate
remaining parking time in minutes between 0 and 60 minutes, as
observed on calibrated scale 70.
For the purpose of illustrating operation of the system, it is
assumed that a 10-cent coin allows parking for a period of 30
minutes, while a 25-cent coin permits one hour of parking.
Accordingly, the output of one shot 14 is strapped to the 1, 2, 4,
and 8 inputs of binary counter 10 to thus set a count of 30 into
binary counter 10. The output of one shot 16 is connected as shown
to the 4, 8, 16, and 32 inputs of binary counter 10, and thus a
count of 60 would be gated by a quarter into binary counter 10. In
operation, once a vehicle has been parked in the space served by
the parking meter, presence detector switch 40 (a conventional
metal locator adapted to close a switch when metal is determined
and which would be pointed at the parking space involved) is
closed. This switch provides an enable input to input 42 of power
connect switch 36.
Assuming it is desired to park 30 minutes, a 10-cent coin would be
inserted, which would close coin switch 26. This switch is a
roll-over type switch, and hence the coin would simply roll over
the switch, close it, and then open it. Upon the closure of the
switch, a ground is applied to one input 72 of OR gate 30, which
produces a pulse to input 34 of power connect switch 36, which
closes contacts 46, applying plus voltage to all logic elements of
the parking meter. When the coin rolls over a switch 26, an output
of OR gate 30 triggers one shot 32 and an output of switch 26
triggers one shot 14. .[.An output of one shot 32 applies a reset
pulse to binary counter 10 and resets counter 10 to a zero
condition..]. An output of one shot 14, which is a longer delay
than one shot 32, applies a true signal through diodes 12 to inputs
1, 2, 4, and 8 of binary counter 10. An output of OR gate 20
applies a strobe pulse to counter 10 and inhibits input 22 of AND
gate 24. At the end of the reset pulse, and output appears on zero
count line 50, which inhibits one PPM clock 48 and applies a
trigger pulse to one shot 52. The output pulse of one shot 52
occurs at input 54 of AND gate 24, which does not produce an output
to the turn off input 56 of power connect switch 36, since input 22
is inhibited by an output of OR gate 20.
Accordingly, at the end of the output from one shot 14, a count of
30 is gated into binary down counter 10 by the strobe at the output
of OR gate 20. Once the count is gated into the counter, zero count
line 50 is no longer true, and one PPM clock 48 is enabled and
produces a train of pulses, which occur at one-minute intervals.
Each clock pulse at the countdown input CL subtracts one count from
binary down counter 10. A voltage which represents the 30-minute
count is fed to amplifier 58 and produces a current which causes
the meter to be deflected to the observed 30-minute marker of scale
70. This is calibrated as follows so as to read an accurate count.
With the binary counter set to zero, potentiometer 60 is adjusted
so that the indicator reads zero. With a count of 60 in the binary
counter, scale adjust resistor 66 has been set to read 60 minutes
on the indicator. Once the timer has been energized by the
insertion of a coin, 30 discrete counts from one PPM clock 48
subtract the count previously stored in binary counter 10, and the
count now is at zero count. An output of zero count line 50
inhibits clock 48 and triggers one shot 52. The output of one shot
52 is now coupled through AND gate 24 to the turn off input 56 of
power connect switch 36. This pulse opens power connect switch 36,
disconnecting power from the parking meter.
Thus, regardless of the time the vehicle is left in the
.[.paring.]. .Iadd.parking .Iaddend.space, no further energy is
drawn from the parking meter battery 44. A like series of events
occur when a 25-cent coin is deposited in the parking meter. The
coin rolls over switch 28, which closes and opens as before
described. Before opening of the switch, power connect switch 36 is
closed through input 34 and one shot 32 is triggered to reset
binary counter 10. The output of one shot 16 applies a strobe
signal to the counter and an inhibit to AND gate 24 through OR gate
20 and presents a true signal to the 4, 8, 16, and 32 inputs of
binary counter 10. In this manner, a count of 60 is now gated into
the binary counter. Zero count line 50 is no longer true, which
enables clock 48, and a count of 60 is indicated by indicator 68.
Thus, after 60 counts, the counter counts down to zero, and zero
count line 50 again inhibits clock 48 and produces a pulse at the
output of one shot 52, which disconnects power connect switch 36.
Assuming that at any time during the one-hour parking period a
vehicle is removed from the parking space, then vehicle presence
detector switch 40 would open. Since a ground is required at enable
input 42 of power switch 36 in order to maintain the switch at an
"on" position, once the vehicle drives off, switch 36 opens and
removes power from the meter, which then goes to zero time on the
indicator and the battery is disconnected from the logic so as not
to drain power from the battery. This also prevents the next
vehicle from receiving free parking time, since in order to legally
park, a coin must again be deposited in the meter.
* * * * *