U.S. patent number RE37,193 [Application Number 09/289,369] was granted by the patent office on 2001-05-29 for low-power multi-bay parking meter.
This patent grant is currently assigned to POM Incorporated. Invention is credited to R. Todd Brown, Gary W. Speas, Seth Ward, II.
United States Patent |
RE37,193 |
Ward, II , et al. |
May 29, 2001 |
Low-power multi-bay parking meter
Abstract
A low power parking meter to control two or four parking bays. A
display, either by a flag-wheel or a digital display will normally
indicate the status of each bay. When funds are deposited without
indicating the bay to be credited, the meter will escrow the amount
until a bay is chosen. The meter normally operates in an idle loop
unless an individual bay is being checked or vended.
Inventors: |
Ward, II; Seth (Little Rock,
AR), Speas; Gary W. (Little Rock, AR), Brown; R. Todd
(Russellville, AR) |
Assignee: |
POM Incorporated (Russellville,
AR)
|
Family
ID: |
27403250 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/289,369 |
Filed: |
April 8, 1999 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
281700 |
Jul 28, 1994 |
5475373 |
Dec 12, 1995 |
|
|
864479 |
Apr 7, 1992 |
5360095 |
Nov 1, 1994 |
|
Reissue of: |
428771 |
Apr 24, 1995 |
05617942 |
Apr 8, 1997 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
194/217; 194/902;
368/90 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
17/24 (20130101); G07F 17/248 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
17/00 (20060101); G07F 17/24 (20060101); G07F
017/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;194/216,217,218,219,240,241,242,900,902 ;368/7,90 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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3311993 |
|
Oct 1994 |
|
DE |
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2077475 |
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Dec 1981 |
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GB |
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Other References
Telkor, "Parking Meter Revenue into the Electronic Age",
Advertisement Brochure, date unknown.* .
Harding Electronic Systems, Ltd., "Multipark Parking Meter",
Advertisement Brochure, date unknown.* .
McKay Meters, Ltd., "The Bay Machine", Advertisement Brochure, date
unknown.* .
Washington Post, "High-Tech Parking Meters . . . " pp. A1 and A5,
Jul. 1988.* .
International Parking Systems, Inc. "Bay-Net meter", advertisement
brochure, date unknown..
|
Primary Examiner: Olszewski; Robert P.
Assistant Examiner: Jaketic; Bryan
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Groover & Associates PC
Groover; Robert Formby; Betty
Parent Case Text
.Iadd.CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATION
This application is a continuation-in-part of application
08/281,700, filed Jul. 28, 1994, which issued on Dec. 12, 1995 as
U.S. Pat. No. 5,475,373 and which itself is a divisional of
application Ser. No. 07/864,479, filed Apr. 7, 1992, which issued
as U.S. Pat. No. 5,360,095 on Nov. 1, 1994..Iaddend.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A multi-bay parking meter comprising:
a rigid casing adapted to be disposed adjacent at least one parking
space for which time is to be vended for housing components of said
meter;
at least one payment slot in said casing for accepting payment for
said time;
a plurality of space selection buttons for enabling a customer to
choose a particular parking space, at least one button for each
space;
a digital display for prompting a customer and indicating the
status of parking spaces;
circuitry connected to place said meter in a low-power consumption
mode when not vending time;
a circuit for crediting customers with payments and associating
particular payments with particular parking spaces, said circuit
activating said display for alerting a customer of his
selection.
2. The multi-bay parking meter as defined in claim 1 wherein said
circuit comprises an encoder for monitoring selected parking
spaces, said encoder comprising circuitry to present an interrupt
signal indicating that one of a plurality of parking spaces has
received attention; and, to identify which one of a plurality of
parking spaces has been selected by a customer.
3. A multi-bay parking meter, comprising:
a rigid casing adapted to be disposed adjacent at least one parking
space for which time is to be vended for housing components of said
meter;
at least one payment slot in said casing for accepting payment for
said time;
a plurality of space selection buttons for enabling a customer to
choose a particular parking space, at least one button for each
space;
a digital display for prompting a customer indicating the status of
parking spaces:
circuitry connected to place said meter in a low-power consumption
mode when not vending time;
a circuit for crediting customers with payments and associating
particular payments with particular parking spaces, said circuit
activating said display for alerting a customer of his
selection;
wherein said meter accommodates two parking spaces and comprises a
flag wheel for separately indicating the sold-out status of both
parking spaces independently of and concurrently with said digital
display
wherein said flag wheel comprises a rotary wheel comprising
multiple colored segments that provide a sold-out indication at
both the front and the rear of said meter.
4. A method of operating a multi-bay parking meter comprising the
steps of:
providing a rigid casing adapted to disposed adjacent at least one
parking space for which time is to be vended for housing components
of said meter;
providing at least one payment slot means in said casing for
accepting payment for said time;
providing a plurality of space selection buttons for enabling a
customer to choose a particular parking space, at least one button
for each space;
digitally displaying and indicating the status of parking
spaces;
digitally prompting a customer; and
crediting customers with payments and associating particular
payments with particular parking spaces:
placing said meter in a low-power consumption mode when not vending
time.
5. The method as defined in claim 4 including the step of
separately indicating the sold-out status of parking spaces
independently of and concurrently with said digital display
step.
6. The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said step of separately
indicating includes the step of rotating a rotary wheel comprising
a front and back, said front and back comprising multiple colored
segments that provide a sold-out indication at both the front and
the rear of said meter.
7. The method as defined in claim 6 including the step of
monitoring selected parking spaces, said monitoring step including
the steps of:
presenting an interrupt signal indicating that one of a plurality
of parking spaces has received attention; and,
identifying which one of a plurality of parking spaces has been
selected by a customer.
8. The method as defined in claim 7 wherein said monitoring step
comprises the steps of:
establishing an idle loop for waiting for a coin, a debit card, or
a parking switch input;
if a coin or payment card is inserted, displaying a "Select Space"
prompt to urge the customer to choose a space by pressing an
appropriate selection parking space selection button;
concurrently escrowing the dollar amount of payment inserted into
said meter until a parking space is selected; and,
crediting the customer with his purchase after a parking space is
selected.
9. The method as defined in claim 8 including the step of
establishing a switch handler routine, said switch handler routine
comprising the steps of:
determining the selection of a particular parking space;
deciding whether coins or a payment card is inserted into said
meter within a preselected time, and if no coins or payment card is
inputted within said time, returning that space to inactive
status.
10. The method as defined in claim 9 wherein said switch handler
routine further comprises the steps of:
making the selected space active if any of the following events is
determined within said time limit:
an escrow amount is present,
coins are inserted, or
a debit card is inserted;
vending the time to the appropriate selected parking space;
updating the display to indicate the selected parking space and the
purchased time remaining.
11. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein said display step
comprises the steps of providing information according to the
following table, where A and B are the parking spaces for which the
meter is vending time, "timing" and "expired" refer respectively to
whether vended time remains for the cited parking spot or not,
"red" and "green" are respective ones of said multiple colored
segments, and the condition shown in the left-hand column causes
the displays shown in the other three columns to be displayed on
said front of said rotary wheel, said rear of said rotary wheel,
and a digital display respectively:
12. The method as defined in claim 10 wherein said display step
comprises the steps of providing information according to the
following table, where A, B, C, and D refer to the parking spaces
for which the meter is vending time, "timing" and "expired" refer
respectively to whether vended time remains for the cited parking
spot or not, and the condition shown in the left-hand column causes
the displays shown in the other column to be digitally
displayed:
13. A multibay parking meter, comprising:
a rigid housing adapted to be mounted adjacent two or more parking
spaces, said rigid housing comprising:
at least one opening in said housing through which payment may be
inserted; and
a plurality of buttons which indicate which of said two or more
parking spaces is selected;
first detection circuitry to send an interrupt signal when one of
said plurality of buttons is pushed;
second detection circuitry to send an interrupt signal when payment
is received through said at least one opening;
payment circuitry, connected to said first and second detection
circuitry, to accept payment through said at least one opening, to
mark a selected parking space as active, and to credit said
selected parking space with the payment;
idle circuitry, connected to said first and second detection
circuitry and to said payment circuitry, to place at least said
payment circuitry in an idle loop, which consumes less power,
whenever an interrupt signal has not been received in a specified
time period.
14. The multibay parking meter of claim 13, wherein said at least
one opening comprises a slot to receive coins.
15. The multibay parking meter of claim 13, wherein said at least
one opening comprises a slot to receive a payment card.
16. The multibay parking meter of claim 13, further comprising a
display to continuously indicate the status of each space for which
time may be vended.
17. The multibay parking meter of claim 13, further comprising a
digital display to indicate, when a space has been selected, the
time remaining for the selected space, and to indicate, at other
times, the status (active or expired) of each of the spaces for
which time may be vended.
18. A method of operating a multibay parking meter, comprising:
providing selection circuitry to receive a selection input
specifying a parking space to which time is to be vended;
providing payment circuitry to receive a payment input for time to
be vended;
maintaining said multibay parking meter in a normal mode when said
selection circuitry or said payment circuitry has received a
respective input within a predetermined time; and
maintaining said multibay parking meter in a low-power mode at all
other times.
19. The method of operating a multibay parking meter of claim 18,
wherein said payment input is coins.
20. The method of operating a multibay parking meter of claim 18,
wherein said payment input is a debit card..Iadd.
21. A multi-bay parking meter comprising:
a casing adapted to be disposed adjacent to at least one parking
space for which time is to be vended;
a plurality of space selection switches, wherein a separate space
selection switch corresponds to each parking space; and
circuitry enclosed in said casing and connected to receive
information from said space selection switches and from a payment
detection apparatus, and to drive a display accordingly;
wherein said circuitry has both an active mode and a low-power
mode..Iaddend..Iadd.
22. The parking meter of claim 21, wherein said casing is of
metal..Iaddend..Iadd.
23. The parking meter of claim 21, wherein said space selection
switches are buttons..Iaddend..Iadd.
24. The parking meter of claim 21, wherein said payment detection
apparatus detects the insertion of coins..Iaddend..Iadd.
25. A method of operating a multibay parking meter, comprising the
steps of:
(a.) recognizing the selection of a parking space from a plurality
of switches which each correspond to a respective parking
space;
(b.) recognizing the receipt of payment for time to be vended;
(c.) operating said multibay parking meter in a normal mode or a
low power mode in at least partial dependence on the occurrence of
steps (a.) and (b.)..Iaddend..Iadd.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein said step (a.) comprises
recognizing that a button corresponding to a parking space has been
pushed..Iaddend..Iadd.
27. The method of claim 25, wherein said step (b.) comprises
recognizing that a debit card has been inserted into a slot in said
multibay parking meter and accepting payment from said debit
card..Iaddend..Iadd.
28. The method of claim 25, wherein said step (b.) comprises
recognizing that a coin has been inserted into a slot in said
multibay parking meter..Iaddend..Iadd.
29. The method of claim 25, wherein said step (c.) comprises
maintaining said multibay parking meter in a low-power mode unless
an interrupt signal, which indicates that step (a.) or step (b.)
has occurred, has been received within a predetermined time
period..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to parking meters. More
particularly, the present invention relates to individual parking
meters that control multiple parking spaces or bays.
II. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of electronic and mechanical parking meters are.
well-known in the prior art. Typical parking meters receive one or
more coins to begin a timing interval during which a vehicle may
remain parked in an appropriate space associated with and adjacent
to the parking meter.
The timing interval, or the amount of time vended by the meter to
the user, is typically determined by the number and value of the
coins which are inserted into the parking meter.
Recently, electronic parking meters have evolved for digitally,
electronically vending time. Although such electronic parking
meters often have mechanical parts, the primary thrust of modern
parking meter technology is directed to solid state circuitry and
apparatus for parking meters which minimizes downtime, reduces
mechanical unreliability, and provides an electronic means of
accounting.
An advantage of modern electronic computerized parking meters is
that they may be triggered externally without the use of coins.
Accordingly, payment slots may be included for the use of debit
cards which are incremented by the circuitry. Prepaid parking
"time" represented by magnetic information on the cards may be used
to vend time.
As an example, attention is directed to U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,097,
owned by the same assignee as in this case. When such a "debit"
card (i.e. normally the size of a plastic credit card) is used to
purchase time, it need be simply inserted into the parking slot or
the coin slot. Alternatively, the parking card and coins may be
inserted into separate slots. A purchaser may vary the amount of
time purchased on the meter, either by using his debit card or by
inserting required coins.
A further advantage of the electronic meters is that fewer coins
need be collected and handled, since much of the meter time is
purchased by the park card. The meter then electronically stores in
its memory the meter activity thereby reducing the number of coins
in the meter.
Advanced electronic meters of the type described in the '097 patent
further simplify accounting procedures. An auditor is typically
used to program the parking meter and/or to extract data from the
parking meter, such as the activity of the meter, etc. Also, the
auditor can be used to program and gather data from the parking
meter by connecting the auditor directly.
Older mechanical parking meters require the meter reader to
manually empty the coins from each meter and tally them to
determine meter activity. With electronic parking meters, this may
be substantially avoided. For example, accumulated parking time and
accumulated sales may be stored within electronic memory. Moreover,
"busy" times of the day may be computed. Electronic programming
responsible for such meters allows the user to easily vary parking
rates or change them when desired.
Outdoor vending devices such as meters must be capable of
withstanding the elements. To lessen the likelihood of failures,
the meters must be relatively well-protected from weather
conditions.
However, known prior electronic and mechanical parking meters fail
to maximize the potential storage capacity and vending capabilities
of electronic meters while remaining user friendly. A desirous
parking meter would be able to store multiple parking space
activity while concurrently vending the multiple parking
spaces.
Preferably, the meter would remain relatively simple to operate and
would not require an operator to learn or acquire any new skills or
programming expertise. Such a new parking meter would greatly
increase the efficiency of the individual parking meter while
reducing maintenance requirements, costs, accounting and
verification procedures.
Ideally, this meter could record and store the activities for up to
four parking spaces, thus requiring data to be retrieved from only
one meter instead of several individual meters. Also, coins would
only need to be collected from one meter.
Of course, a single multiple bay parking meter would consume less
power than several single bay parking meters. Another requirement
of any multiple bay parking meter would be that any operator would
be able to accurately select the particular parking bay to be paid
for. Such a multiple bay meter would preferably use a digital
screen that would permit the operator to quickly identify the
desired bay. Of course, the meter should require no special skills
on the part of the operator to manipulate the meter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
My multiple bay parking meter permits a single meter to vend time
to several parking bays concurrently. Three embodiments are
illustrated. The two bay version may comprise either a digital
display alone, or the display may be combined with a colored
indicator using a rotary display flag-wheel. A four bay version
omits the flag wheel.
The meter comprises a generally .[.cubicle.].
.Iadd.cubical.Iaddend., exterior metallic casing that protectively
houses the internal mechanism. The exterior casing also supports a
removeable top. The top has a base and an integral arched portion
that circumscribes a front view port and a back view port.
The casing interior houses the meter mechanism, that comprises a
support frame, a front and a rear shell. A main circuit board is
housed between the front shell and the rear shell. The generally
cubicle frame portion includes a raised face portion that registers
within a rectangular notch defined in the front of the casing. The
face portion thus forms a portion of the meter exterior.
Portions of the payment system project outwardly from the exterior
frame face. The payment buttons associated with the selection
system also project outwardly from the frame face, and register
with casing orifices that are adjacent to the notch.
The payment system and selection system permit an operator to
selectively vend time for a chosen parking space or bay. Typically,
payment system comprises a debit card slot and/or a coin slot for
acceptance of payment. The debit card slot may receive a "debit"
card that is mechanically guided and electronically interrogated
through a variety of known techniques.
An internal card reader communicates with the card slot to accept
and interrogate the card. A plug on the back of the reader extends
through the front shell to connect to the main circuit board.
Coins inputted through the coin slot in the face drop into a chute
system that may ultimately trigger the meter circuitry to initiate
a vend. A plug on the back of the chute system extends through an
orifice in the front shell to an appropriate connector on the main
circuit board.
The selection system permits an operator to selectively choose
which of the parking spaces or bays vended by the meter the
operator desires to utilize. The selection system comprises an
external switch plate, a plurality of external switches and an
internal switch board. The switch plate rigidly mounts on the
frame.
The switch board comprises a front connector that mounts directly
to switch plate inside the frame. A plug projects on the opposite
side of board. The plug extends through the front shell to the main
circuit board.
A digital display is provided by an LCD display on the main circuit
board. The meter displays the status of each bay via the LCD
display. In the two bay embodiment, the meter uses digital
indicators that may be combined with colored displays. All are
visible through the top view ports. With the alternative two bay
embodiment and the preferred four bay embodiment, only digital
indicators are used. On all three embodiments, the front digital
indicator may display the time remaining for a selected bay or the
status of each bay.
On the preferred two bay embodiment, a colored flag wheel indicates
the immediate status of each bay. Pie-shaped segments of the flag
wheel are visible at the meter front through two side windows
located adjacent each end of the digital indicator. The side
windows reveal an immediate indication of the status of each bay
indicated by the position of the colored segments. The back of the
meter on the preferred two bay embodiment shows a selected portion
of the multi-colored flag wheel in adjacent portions of a viewing
window. The back of the flag wheel is also divided into several
radially spaced apart, colored segments. Some segments are colored
green to indicate that time is available; other segments are
colored red to indicate that time has expired. Yellow segments
critically located between other color segments identify when a jam
has occurred. The flag wheel rotates to present an appropriate
combination of segments through the meter windows for viewing from
the meter exterior. In this manner service and enforcement duties
are greatly simplified.
The alternative two bay embodiment and the four bay embodiment both
omit the rotary flag wheel. Instead, these meters comprises a rear
LCD display that functions in cooperation with the front LCD
display. The four bay meter accommodates four separate parking
spaces.
The preferred circuitry of all embodiments is substantially the
same. The circuit uses a CPU that is interfaced with the multi bay
plug. The CPU controls a stepper motor that rotates the flag wheel.
The LCD display is also controlled by the CPU.
The circuit accommodates the switch inputs from the external
buttons discussed earlier. When a button is pushed, a switch is
selected by the multi bay card. The multi bay card applies voltage
across an appropriate load resistor. This voltage is transmitted to
a controller chip.
During vending, an operator selects the desired parking bay
represented by appropriate external buttons, deposits funds and
time is vended accordingly. Alternatively, the operator may deposit
coins or insert a card prior to choosing a bay. If funds are
predeposited, the meter escrows the deposited funds until a bay is
chosen.
On power-up of a two bay meter, both spaces or bays will be expired
with the LCD display showing "EE" and the flag wheel, if included,
will display Red--Red to indicate "Expired" on the back while
showing Red in the side display windows. On power-up of the
alternative two bay meter, all bays or parking spaces will be
expired, with the LCD showing "EE" on the front and rear numeric
LCD's. On power-up on a four bay device, all bays or spaces will be
expired with the LCD showing "EEEE" on the front and rear numeric
LCD's. At this time the meter is in the idle loop waiting for a
coin, card, or switch to be pressed.
If no switch is pressed and money is inserted, then the meter will
alternately display "SEL" and "SPC" until the user selects a bay or
space. This time will continue to "escrow" until a space is
selected. If the user never selects a space and leaves, then the
time escrowed will zero out after a specified timeout period
programmed in the software. When a switch is pressed, the program
will proceed to the multi bay switch handler.
If no switch is pressed and a card is inserted, then the meter will
alternate displaying "SEL" and "SPC" until a space is selected. No
deductions from a parking card will be taken until a switch is
pressed thereby selecting a bay or space.
If a switch is pressed, the meter processes the information in a
multi bay switch handler. The bay or space is determined from the
CPU and the appropriate bay is set active. If there is time
escrowed, the meter will credit the time to an appropriate bay or
space. The LCD display is updated to the correct amount of time
purchased and the optional two-bay flag wheel is moved to the
correct position. The meter sets the space as active for a
specified time interval after the last coin is inserted showing the
time purchased in that bay. After a short time interval, the meter
returns to the idle loop. The updated idle loop display for vended
time is an "--" for each vended bay.
Thus a primary object of the present invention is to provide a low
power parking meter for use in multi bay installation.
Another object is to provide a multi bay parking meter of the
character described which avoids the use of external power, and
minimizes the consumption of internal battery or capacitor stored
charge.
A fundamental object is to monitor and control several parking
spaces at once with a single meter.
Another important object is to provide a reliable, easy-to-use
parking multi bay meter that is user friendly.
A related object is to provide a low power, multi bay parking meter
of the character described that does not absolutely require user
instructions to be inputted in a single sequence. It is an
important feature of the meters described herein that the customer
may first make a bay selection and then provide payment, or he may
make payment first and then make a bay selection.
Another object of the invention is to provide a unique display
technique wherein a plurality of parking spaces or bays can be
monitored from a single meter.
A basic object is to provide a multi-bay parking meter for vending
time for a plurality of parking spaces that accepts payment in the
form of coins or cards.
A related object is to provide a display of the status of multiple
parking bays without touching the parking meter.
Another object is to provide an electronic multi bay parking meter
of the character described which avoids computer menu scrolling. It
is a feature of our multiple bay meter designs that separate
switches are provided for each bay that may be selected to minimize
scrolling and enhance a user's chances to intuitively operate the
meter.
A similar object is to provide a multi-bay parking meter with a
computer control program that enables operators to quickly and
easily discern how to operate the device.
Another object is to escrow money that is put in properly, so that
once a financial input is made, the purchaser has a chance to
select the proper bay to which the money should be applied.
Another important object of the invention is to provide a low power
multi bay parking meter of the character described that allows the
selection of space without programming skills.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention,
along with features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear or
become apparent in the course of the following descriptive
sections.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following drawings, which form a part of the specification
and which are to be construed in conjunction therewith, and in
which like reference numerals have been employed throughout
wherever possible to indicate like parts in the various views:
FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of a two bay embodiment of our
multiple bay parking meter that includes a rotary flag wheel;
FIG. 2 is a rear isometric view of the parking meter of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front isometric view of an alternative embodiment of a
two bay parking meter that omits the flag wheel;
FIG. 4 is a rear isometric view of the parking meter of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a front isometric view of a four bay parking meter;
FIG. 6 is a rear isometric view of the parking meter of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is an exploded isometric view of the meter shown in FIGS. 1
and 2, with portions omitted for clarity;
FIG. 8 is an exploded isometric view of the meter shown in FIGS. 3
and 4, with portions omitted for clarity;
FIG. 9 is an exploded isometric view of the four-bay meter shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6, with portions omitted for clarity;
FIG. 10 is a front elevational view showing the two bay parking
meter of FIGS. 1, 2 and 7 with the front display showing time
available in bay "A" and time expired in bay "B;"
FIG. 11 is a rear elevational views of the meter shown in FIG.
10;
FIG. 12 is a greatly enlarged, front elevational view of the
display shown in FIG. 10, showing the front digital indicator and
the side color indicators that display the status of both bays;
FIG. 13 is a greatly enlarged, rear elevational view of the display
shown in FIG. 11, showing the rear color indicators that display
the status of both bays concurrently with the front display of FIG.
12;
FIG. 14 is a greatly enlarged, front elevational view of the
display similar to FIG. 12, showing the front digital indicator and
the side color indicators that display the status of both bays,
immediately after a bay-select switch has been depressed;
FIG. 15 is a greatly enlarged, rear elevational view of the display
similar to FIG. 13, showing the rear color indicators that display
the status of both bays concurrently with the front display of FIG.
14;
FIG. 16 is a greatly enlarged, front elevational view of the
display similar to FIG. 12 indicating the time remaining for
selected bay "A";
FIG. 17 is a greatly enlarged, rear elevational view of the display
showing the rear color indicators that display the status of both
bays concurrently with the front display of FIG. 16;
FIG. 18 is a greatly enlarged, front elevational view of the
display similar to FIG. 12, showing the front digital indicator and
the side color indicators that display the status of both bays,
indicating that the vended time has expired for both bays "A" and
"B;"
FIG. 19 is a greatly enlarged, rear elevational view showing the
rear color indicators that display the status of both bays
concurrently with the front display of FIG. 18 and indicating that
the vended time has expired for both bays;
FIG. 20 is an elevational view of the front of the rotary flag
wheel indicator with the display segments lined for color;
FIG. 21 is an elevational view of the rear of the flag wheel
indicator with the display segments lined for color;
FIG. 22 is an electronic schematic diagram of the preferred main
circuit board assembly circuitry;
FIG. 23 is an electronic schematic diagram of the preferred bay
switch board circuitry;
FIG. 24 is a flow diagram of the software routine for the parking
meter; and,
FIG. 25 is a flow diagram of the software routine for the switch
handler.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The apparatus to be hereinafter described in most advantageously
employed in conjunction with parking meters. However, the teachings
of the present invention relate to vending machines in general, and
particularly to those vending machines which include electronic
circuitry for monitoring vends, sales, time increments, accumulated
sales, and the like.
The present invention is ideally adapted for modern electronic
parking meters, such as the meter of U.S. Pat. No. 4,823,928 owned
by the same assignee as in this case. For disclosure purposes the
latter reference is incorporated by reference herein.
In the various Figures three embodiments are illustrated. The two
bay version may comprise either a digital display alone, or the
display may be combined with a colored indicator using a rotary
display flag-wheel to be hereinafter described. A four bay version
omits the flag wheel. Most of the interior components, such as
those seen in FIGS. 1-2, are common to all embodiments.
Two Bay Meter with Combined Color and Digital Display
An initial embodiment of our improved multiple bay parking meter
has been generally designated by the reference numeral 40. Meter 40
is especially adapted for two bay operation (i.e., it handles two
parking spaces). Preferably meter 40 comprises a generally cubicle,
exterior metallic casing 45 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 7) that protectively
houses the internal mechanism 57 to be discussed hereinafter.
Casing 45 supports a removable top 50 having a base portion 51. The
removable rate plate 55 fits over base 51. An integral arched
portion 53 circumscribes a front view port 52 and a back view port
54. Preferably, both ports use see-through, shatterproof glass so
that an operator can view the displays housed therein. As is well
recognized in the art, the casing is normally fastened to a
suitable stanchion in use, disposed adjacent the parking space or
spaces to be rented.
The casing interior houses the meter mechanism 57, that comprises a
support frame portion 62, a front shell 64 and a rear shell 66. A
main circuit board 65 is housed between the front shell 64 and the
rear shell 66. Front shell 64 includes a number of clearance
orifices as illustrated. The CPU PROM socket 61 on the circuit
board 65 may be accessed through access orifice 67 in front shell
64. A removable PROM access plug 73 is normally fitted to orifice
67.
The generally cubicle support frame portion 62 includes a raised
face portion 63 (FIG. 7) that registers within a rectangular notch
47 defined in the front of casing 45. The face portion thus forms a
portion of the meter exterior. Portions of the payment system 70
project outwardly from face 63. The payment buttons associated with
selection system 80 project outwardly from face 63, and register
with orifices 81A, 82A in casing 45 adjacent notch 47.
Payment system 70 and selection system 80 penetrate frame 62 to
permit an operator to selectively vend time for a chosen parking
space or bay. Typically, payment system 70 comprises a debit card
slot 72 and/or a coin slot 74 for acceptance of payment. Slot 72
may receive a "debit" card that is mechanically guided and
electronically interrogated through a variety of known techniques.
An internal card reader 76 communicates with slot 72 to accept and
interrogate the card. A plug 69 on the back of card reader 76
extends through an orifice 69B in front shell 64 to connector 69A
on circuit board 65. Typical card receptor mechanisms for receiving
debit cards and communicating with their integrated circuit and
logic is seen in one or more of the following U.S. patents, issued
to Alcatel CIT, Paris, France: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,900,272, 4,900,273,
5,012,078, and 5,051,566.
Electronic parking meters that accept payment cards to vend parking
time are thus well-known in the art. Specifically, prior U.S. Pat.
Nos. 4,823,928 and 5,360,095, owned by the same assignee as in this
case relate to parking meters that accept payment cards. For
disclosure purposes, the latter references are hereby incorporated
by reference herein.
Coin acceptance is discussed in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,823,928
and 4,895,238 owned by the same assignee as in this case, and which
are incorporated by reference herein. Payment coins inputted
through coin slot 74 in face 63 drop into a chute system 78 that
may ultimately trigger the meter circuitry to initiate a vend.
Chute system 78 is assembled proximate the interior of support
frame 62. Coin input region 75 is positioned adjacent slot coin
input slot 74 in assembly. The top of region 75 is positioned
beneath coin-drop access slot 77 in frame 62. A coin chute access
plate 83 removably covers slot 77. An electrical plug 71 on the
back of coin chute system 78 extends through clearance orifice 79
in front shell 63 to connection plug 79A projecting from circuit
board 65. Digital readings are provided by LCD display 91 on board
65.
Selection system 80 permits an operator to selectively choose which
of the parking spaces or bays vended by the meter the operator
desires to utilize. The selection system 80 comprises an external
switch plate 82, a plurality of external switches and an internal
switch board 90. The switch plate 82 rigidly mounts on frame 62
(FIGS. 1-6), and it has either two or four clearance orifices
(i.e., orifices 81A and 82A) to accommodate the push-button bay
select switches (i.e., 84A and 84B) to be hereinafter described.
Switch board 90 comprises a front connector 92 that mounts directly
to switch plate 82 inside frame 62. A plug 94 projects on the
opposite side of board 90. Plug 94 extends through orifice 93 in
front shell 63 to board 65 via plug 95.
Meter 40 displays the status of each bay using either colored
indicators or digital indicators that are visible through top 50.
With the preferred two bay embodiment, colored indicators and
digital indicators are both used (see FIGS. 10-19). With the
alternative two bay embodiment and the preferred four bay
embodiment, only digital indicators are used. On all three
embodiments, the front digital indicator 100 may display the time
remaining for a selected bay or the status of each bay.
On the preferred two bay embodiment, a colored rotary wheel 101
indicates the immediate status of each bay. A selected pie-shaped
portion of wheel 101 is visible through two side windows 102, 104,
located adjacent each end of digital indicator 100, provide an
immediate indication of the status of each bay. The back of meter
40 on the preferred two bay embodiment uses a rear window 105. On
the preferred two bay embodiment, the rear window 105 has right and
left sides 106, 108 (FIG. 2) to show a selected portion of
multi-colored flag wheel 101.
As best seen in FIG. 20, the front of the flag wheel is preferably
divided into eight radially spaced apart, pie-shaped segments,
110-117. Pie-shaped segments 110, 112 and 114 are colored green to
indicate that paid-for time is unexpired for a particular parking
bay. Segments 111, 113 and 115 are colored red to indicate that
time is expired. Segments 116 and 117 are colored yellow to
indicate that the meter is jammed or otherwise requires service.
The flag wheel 101 is rotated to present an appropriate combination
of segments 110-117 through front windows 102 or 104 for viewing
from the meter exterior.
The rear of the flag wheel is divided into radially spaced apart,
pie shaped segments 119, 121, 123 and 125 that are concurrently
displayed through the rear window 105. Segments 119 and 121 on the
rear face of the flag wheel 101 are colored red to indicate time
expiration. Segment 125 is green. Segment 123 is yellow, and
represents that the meter needs service. The colored sold-out
display on the front of the meter is seen in FIGS. 12, 14, 16 and
18. The smaller colored wheel segments 113, 114 are necessary since
the windows 102 and 104 in the meter front are spaced apart. The
rear viewing windows are adjacent one another (FIG. 11) so less
colored segments on the flag wheel rear face are necessary.
The latter colored segments are presented to the viewing windows by
appropriate rotation of the flag wheel 101 to the position seen in
FIG. 19. FIGS. 13, 15 and 17 indicate other rear display
possibilities. FIG. 18 indicates the display achieved when time has
expired with both parking spaces; colored flag wheel segments are
behind windows 102 and 104. When time has been purchased for space
A, as in FIGS. 16-17, but not for space B, the wheel rotates to
show green in window 102, while window 104 may still be red. When
time for space B is vended, wheel 110 rotates to color window 104
red. When time is purchased for both slots, then red segments are
placed behind windows 102 and 104. The rear window sides 106 and
108 are colored concurrently by matching color segments that rotate
with wheel 110 at the meter rear. The yellow segments of the wheel
101 are displayed when the computer senses a jammed condition, or
the unit otherwise requires service.
Two Bay Meter with Digital Display
Meter 40B (FIGS. 3, 4, and 8) is largely the same as meter 40
discussed above. However, it omits the flag wheel 101, and the
front and rear viewing windows discussed earlier. However, as seen
in FIG. 4, meter 40B comprises a rear digital display 109 that
functions in cooperation with display 100 on the front. The color
display window indicators 102, 104, 106 and 108 discussed
previously are not used. A rear digital indicator 109 that is
identical to the front digital indicator 100 is used instead.
Modified rear shell 66C (FIG. 8) includes a display viewing orifice
98 for mounting window glass 99.
Four Bay Meter with Digital Display
Meter 40C (FIGS. 5, 6, and 9) is largely, insofar as digital
display techniques, the same as two-bay meter 40B discussed above.
However, four-bay meter 40C accommodates four separate parking
spaces. Like meter 40B, it omits the flag wheel 101 and the front
and rear viewing windows 102, 104, and 105 discussed earlier.
However, four space selection buttons 84A-84D are employed on
payment system 60 (FIG. 9). These buttons register rearwardly
through orifices 83E in frame 62B and engage with support plate
90A. The push button faces project exteriorly outwardly of the
meter through the orifices 82E in the modified plate 82C (FIG. 9).
Modified rear shell 66B includes a display viewing orifice 98 for
mounting window glass 99. Meter 40C comprises a rear digital
display 109 that functions in cooperation with display 100 on its
front.
Preferred Circuitry
The preferred circuitry of all embodiments of the present invention
comprises a modification of that seen in prior U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,823,928 and 5,360,095, owned by the same assignee as in this
case. Both relate to parking meters that employ the low power solid
state circuitry. For disclosure purposes, the latter references are
incorporated by reference herein.
With reference to FIG. 22, circuit 400 is largely borrowed from the
above referenced patents. CPU 402 is interfaced with the multi bay
plug 79A though lines 404. The flag wheel 101 is driven by a
stepper motor controlled by lines 403. Lines 403 interconnect with
the CPU 402 via lines 404. The display driver 409 is driven through
lines 410 leading to the CPU. The front LCD display, used with all
models, is designated by the reference numeral 413. The rear LCD
display, that is used on all units that omit the flag wheel 101 has
been designated with the reference numeral 414.
Circuit 450 (FIG. 23) accommodates the switch inputs such as
switches 84A-84D discussed earlier. Lines 452 generally correspond
to the plug connection 79A referenced earlier that plugs into the
multi-bay plug detail seen in the left portion of FIG. 22. Switch
401 is provided to enable the circuit 400 to be quickly switched
between conventional single bay units and the herein described
multi-bay systems. The mechanical switches 84A-84D correspond
generally to the push button switches 460-463 shown schematically.
When a switch 460-463 is selected, it applies voltage across its
load resistor 466-469 respectively. This voltage is transmitted to
eight-bit encoder chip 470 via one of the lines 472.
Encoder chip 470 outputs via resistors 474-476 to driver
transistors 478-480 respectively. The collector output of driver
transistor 478 appearing on line 482 delivers an interrupt request
to the CPU to warn that a meter selection is following. The
interrupt signal indicates that, in a multi bay environment, one of
a plurality of bays has received attention. For example, this may
occur when a customer inserts coins or payment and activates the
switches to select a bay. Once line 482 drops when transistor 478
is turned on, the logic state of lines 483 and 484 are queried to
determine what parking bay is effected. If both lines 483 and 484
remain high, (i.e., logical 00) bay "A" has been selected. If line
483 drops in voltage (i.e., corresponding to a logical 01), then
bay "B" is involved. Bay "C" receives attention if line 484 drops.
If both lines 483 and 484 drop, corresponding to a logical 11, then
bay "D" (i.e., the fourth parking space) is involved. In each
instance the CPU will be directed to account for transactions and
to associate them with a particular bay, and the displays and the
financial accounting will be tied to a given parking space.
Preferred Software
The main routine 500 is seen in FIG. 24. An idle loop 502 executes
during periods of inactivity. At this time the apparatus is waiting
for a coin, a debit card, or a bay switch input. Activity occurs
when either a coin is inserted (step 504), a payment card is
inserted (step 506), or a bay selection button is first pushed,
indicated by step 508. When a bay selection switch is pressed,
switch handler routine 510 to be described later is executed.
Afterwards a return to idle loop 502 occurs as indicated by line
509.
If a coin was first inserted, as indicated by step 504, the LCD
display will alternately flash "Sel" and then "Spc" to prompt the
customer to choose a space by pressing the appropriate selection
button. Concurrently, the dollar amount of coinage inserted will be
"remembered" or escrowed as in step 511 until a parking spot is
selected through the switch handler routine 510 is indicated by
lines 512 and 513. If a switch is pressed, the switch handler
routine 510 is executed, and afterwards a return to the idle loop
502 occurs as indicated by line 509.
If a payment card was first inserted, as indicated by step 506, the
display will flash "Sel" and then "Spc" to prompt the customer to
choose a space. Concurrently, the card transaction amount is
escrowed in step 514. Then as indicated by lines 516 and 513, the
routine waits for the switch handler step 510. If a switch is
activated, the switch handler routine 510 is executed, and
afterwards a return to the idle loop 502 occurs.
The switch pressed step 508 occurs in response to customer
activation of one of the push button switches 84A-84D. The switch
handler step 510 follows.
The switch handling routine 510 looks for the selection of a
particular bay in step 550. Decision step 552 waits for the input
of money or a card for a preselected time, and if no value is
inputted, it executes step 554 to return that space to inactive
status, and returns to the idle loop with step 556, so that the
apparatus may again go idle.
If credit in escrow is found in step 552 within the time limits,
the correct space is made active in step 558. Time is vended to the
appropriate space in step 560, and the amount of time remaining is
updated on the display in step 562. Flag wheel instructions are
generated in step 564, and a return to idle mode is made in step
566.
Operation
Normally, the meter functions in the "idle loop" mode to conserve
power. During the "idle loop", the digital front indicator on all
embodiments shows either a "-" for each bay for which time remains
and an "E" for each bay for which no time remains. Additionally, on
the preferred two bay embodiment, the side indicators 102, 104 show
green if time remains or red if time has expired. The rear window
sides 106, 108 on the two bay embodiment correspondingly show green
or red.
The preferred four bay embodiment uses front and rear indicators
100, 109. Since the meter displays the status of each bay during
the "idle loop", a patrol person can easily identify which bays
have time remaining and act appropriately. Upon selection switch
depression, the meter displays the time remaining for the selected
bay. After a predetermined display period, the meter automatically
returns to an "idle loop" to conserve power.
During vending, an operator selects the desired parking bay
represented by switches 84A-84D, deposits funds and time is vended
accordingly. Alternatively, the operator may deposit coins or
insert a card prior to choosing a bay. If funds are predeposited,
the meter escrows the deposited funds until a bay is chosen.
On power-up of a two bay meter, both spaces or bays will be expired
with the LCD display showing "EE" (FIG. 18) and the flag wheel, if
included, will display Red to indicate "Expired" on the back while
showing Red--Red in the frontal display windows (FIGS. 18, 19). On
power-up, all bays or parking spaces will be expired, with the LCD
showing "EE" on the front and rear numeric LCD's (FIG. 18). On
power-up on a four bay device, all bays or spaces will be expired
with the LCD showing "EEEE" on the front and rear numeric LCD's. At
this time the meter is in the idle loop (i.e., step 502 in FIG. 24)
waiting for a coin, card, or switch to be pressed.
If no switch is pressed and money is inserted then the meter will
alternately display "SEL" and "SPC" until the user selects a bay or
space. This time will continue to "escrow" until a space is
selected. If the user never selects a space and leaves, then the
time escrowed will zero out after a specified time out period
programmed in the software. When a switch is pressed then the meter
will proceed to the switch handler.
If no switch is pressed and a card is inserted then the meter will
alternate displaying "SEL" and "SPC" until a space is selected. No
deductions from a parking card will be taken until a switch is
pressed thereby selecting a bay or space.
If a switch is pressed, the meter processes the information in the
multi bay switch handler. The bay or space is determined from the
CPU and the appropriate bay is set active. If there is time
escrowed, the meter will credit the time to an appropriate bay or
space thereby updating the LCD display to the correct amount of
time purchased and moving the optional two-bay flag wheel to the
correct position indicated by the tables below. The meter sets the
space as active for a specified time interval after the last coin
is inserted showing the time purchased in that bay. After the time
interval, the meter updates the display.
TABLE 1 TWO BAY FLAG WHEEL DISPLAY METER CON- FLAG WHEEL FLAG WHEEL
LCD DITION FRONT REAR DISPLAY Expired Red-Red Red E E A timing,
Green-Red Red-Green -- E B expired A expired, Red-Green Green-Red E
-- B timing A timing, Green-Green Green-Green -- -- B timing A
active Not updated Not updated Shows time on Space A B active Not
updated Not updated Shows time on Space B
TABLE 2 FOUR-BAY DIGITAL DISPLAY METER CONDITION LCD DISPLAY
Expired E E E E A timing, B expired, C expired, D expired -- E E E
A expired, B timing, C expired, D expired E -- E E A timing, B
timing, C expired, D expired -- -- E E A expired, B expired, C
timing, D expired E E -- E A timing, B expired, C timing, D expired
-- E -- E A expired, B timing, C timing, D expired E -- -- E A
timing, B timing, C timing, D expired -- -- -- E A expired, B
expired, C expired, D timing E E E -- A timing, B timing, C
expired, D timing -- -- E -- A expired, B expired, C timing, D
timing E E -- -- A timing, B expired, C timing, D timing -- E -- --
A expired, B timing, C timing, D timing E -- -- -- A timing, B
timing, C timing, D timing -- -- -- -- A active Shows time an Space
A B active Shows time on Space B C active Shows time on Space C D
active Shows time on Space D
From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well
adapted to obtain all the ends and objects herein set forth,
together with other advantages which are inherent to the
structure.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are
of utility and may be employed without reference to other features
and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the
scope of the claims.
As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without
departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all
matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to
be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *