MXPA99009431A - Parking meter with peripheral functions - Google Patents

Abstract

A parking meter construction having an upper and lower housing (12, 14) with payment means (18) for receiving coins or a payment card. A microprocessor (30) and other electronic components are included on a PC board mounted in the upper housing (12). A modular jack (32) is connected to terminals of the microprocessor (30) for communication therewith, and the jack (32) is supported in the meter (10) for connection with any of a large variety of peripheral devices (26, 34) which can then utilize the microprocessor (30) in their operation. A plurality of peripheral devices (26, 34) may be linked together and all kept in communication with the microprocessor (30).

Description

PARQUIMETER WITH PERIPHERAL FUNCTIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: This invention relates to an improved parking meter construction. In particular, the product of the invention involves the use of a local conduit interface associated with peripheral devices. These peripheral devices can have a wide variety of functions such as allowing traffic studies, detecting the presence or absence of parked vehicles, or turning off / on the lamps in the vicinity of the meter, or an external security application module for card authentication smart, or equip the meter with an alternate form of the payment device, such as a contactless smart card reader or a device for accepting bills, or equip the meter with a voucher printer or coin return mechanism. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Particularly since the emergence of electronic parking meters, the meters have been designed to perform functions beyond just the purchase of parking time. Vehicle presence detectors have been designed that will eliminate the excess time of a meter, after the vehicle has left the parking space. Means have also been used to record the amount of coins deposited and REF .: 31557 to record the frequency of use of the meter at different times of the day. In these prior art systems, a microprocessor may be employed as part of the meter mechanism. By programming the microprocessor to achieve the desired result and by providing a self-contained power source such as a battery, the meter will perform the desired functions.In these systems, the functions to be performed are built into the meter at the time of manufacture. , programs to operate a microprocessor and the components necessary for re-implementation, are typically included as part of the manufacturing operation.If any new function is desired, the meter mechanism will typically be replaced in the meter with a new mechanism. A microprocessor of a mechanism has been provided, for example, communication has been established by connecting an external device or by providing infrared transmission between the device and the microprocessor.The communication can be used to retrieve meter data, such as income feeding and time of operation. The external device can also be used to feed data to, for example, re-program the meter to change the parking rate. They have also been associated with parking meters to detect the presence of vehicles. These detectors are activated when the vehicle parked in a given space moves out of space and this will cause the meter to "erase" any remnant of the acquired time. This will increase income because the next driver who uses the space must compare time to avoid a violation. COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, the versatility of a parking meter is increased with the addition of a local duct interface. This interface is used to allow peripheral devices to perform functions independent of the operation of the meter, and to impact the operation of the meter. The peripheral port can act as a data communication interface for the purpose of accessing or retrieving data from the meter, or re-programming all or part of the meter's memory. In addition, the peripheral port also serves as a means to interconnect with and implement the meter unit with respect to peripheral devices that share both data and operational instructions.

The local conduit interface takes the form of a telephone plug with a four-wire interface. "Signals involved include" Talk "(Talk) that is used when data transmission is carried out." Listen "(Listen) when data transmission is allowed, "data" and "land". The use of this interface depends on the occurrence of some external event that leads to the system from the Listening to the Speaking state. The transmission that happens later will cause the execution of a program, to carry out a desired function. The function to be carried out for example involves lighting the lamps of a tennis court. In this case, the tennis player will make a predetermined payment to the meter and this will be recognized. A signal is then sent to a relay, which for example will close a switch that connects the lamps of the court to the power line. When the acquired time has ended, another signal will be sent to the relay to open the switch. Similarly, the interface of the local conduit can be used to facilitate the use of a vehicle detector associated with the meter. By connecting the detector to the socket, the Listen state will be used to determine if the detector has recognized a change from the point of view of absence or presence of the vehicle. When this is recognized, the Speaking state will activate a signal to the meter program and adjust the stopwatch accordingly. Modern parking meters are now equipped with smart card reader devices to allow the use of a memory card or microprocessor card as a means of payment. Some of these cards require the use of a "security application module" to authenticate the payment transaction to validate that the transaction is legitimate, both from the point of the meter and the card. In some applications, it is necessary to maintain the ability to update or replace the security application module, and / or store records of individual transactions, so that electronic funds transfer processing can be completed. The security application module can be designed to connect the peripheral interface of this invention, so that client modules can be employed with standard meters. The peripheral interface also allows the parking meter mechanism to be interconnected with other external devices such as a ticket receiver, voucher printers or coin return mechanisms, to improve the versatility of the meter.

Peripheral devices can be constructed such that the signals are "transferred in daisy chain" from one peripheral device to the next. This allows a meter mechanism to interconnect with multiple peripheral devices, for example, a security application module for smart card and coin return mechanism, an external bill receiving mechanism, and a ticket printer. It is also possible that the peripheral devices connected in this way, interconnect with each other to perform combinations of tasks independently of the parking meter. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a parking meter of the type suitable for implementing the invention, - Figure 2 is a rear elevation view of the meter of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the meter of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a mechanism that is mounted within the upper housing of the meter of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic illustration of a microprocessor adapted to be included in the mechanism of Figure 4 and the peripheral gate connections illustrated; Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of an example of the peripheral circuits; Figure 7 shows a more detailed schematic view of the peripheral circuits. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITY Figures 1 to 3 illustrate a parking meter 10 consisting of an upper housing 12 and a lower housing 14. The upper housing defines a display window 16 and payment means 18 that can receive or accept coins, tokens, Debit and similar cards, located on one side of the housing. The lower housing is designed to contain a cash box and a security door 20 is provided for access thereto. The upper part 22 of the upper housing 12 is removed to allow installation of a mechanism 24, of the type illustrated in Figure 4. This mechanism includes the payment means 18 and also includes a digital display 26 which is visible through the window 16 The openings 28 are formed in an upper face of the mechanism to allow infrared communication. The digital display and these communication functions as well as other standard meter functions are controlled by a microprocessor mounted on a PC board located inside the mechanism. The microprocessor 30 illustrated in Figure 5 includes a plurality of connection locations, for example to control the operation of an LCD display, chronometers, light emitting diodes (LEDs), etc. In accordance with this invention, connections J3-1 to J3-4 are provided to achieve a local conduit interface. These connections are preferably made to a modular plug 32 as illustrated in Figure 4. The modular plug also referred to as a local duct interface can be used by peripheral devices for various purposes, some not related to the control function of the parking meter and some related to this function. It comprises a 4-wire interface consisting of the following signals: - Speaking (means that data transmission is in process). - Listen (it means that data transmission is allowed). - Data - Ground There are two modes specified for the local conduit: - Meter mode (the meter talks to the peripherals of the meter). - Programming mode (the meter communicates with the data terminal). In meter mode, data transmission occurs, for example at 1,170 bits per second. The format is a start bit, 8 data bits, two stop bits. The start bit is 0 volt, the stop bit is 3 volts. In the meter mode, there are three duct states. This will be described in terms of an operational example, but of course variations in detail are contemplated. 1.- Passive state: The meter maintains Listen (J3-1) to the ground and data potential (J3-4) and Speak (J3-3) to ground through resistive terminations as illustrated in Figure 5. 2. - State of Listening (the meter polls to see ---- if some peripheral needs to be convered): The meter adjusts Listen to 3 volts. Any peripheral that I wanted to converse should respond by directing talk and data at three volts within 100 microseconds, otherwise the meter ends in sounding and tries sounding on return Listening to ground potential. Some external event such as the departure of a vehicle will cause a peripheral to converse.

If the peripherals address Speak to a high value in Listening, they should be delayed 2 milliseconds before starting the transmission to allow the session setup. If the peripheral fails to transmit within 50 milliseconds, the meter terminates the probe attempt upon return. Listen to potential to ground. ~ If the Talking signal reverts to a low value during a message transmission, the signal ends and the Listen signal is returned to the ground potential. Normally speaking, the earth potential will be regressed during tranemion of the last character of an eeeion. 3.- Eetado de Hablar (the meter wishes to converse with peripheral): The meter adjusts the value of Speak to 3 volts, delays a millisecond to allow session adjustment by the peripherals and then transmits the message. When finished, Talking and Data are returned to the potential ground. If a peripheral has a pending message and is estimated to speak, the message must be kept pending while the peripheral handles the incoming message. The invention contemplates a plurality of peripherals connected to the interface of the local conduit.

To prevent network collisions, the peripherals are connected in a daisy chain to the Listen signal as illustrated in Figure 7 with one or more additional modular plugs, as illustrated diagrammatically on the right-hand side of Figure 7, providing one or more plug-in modularee adicionalee, as shown diagrammatically on the right-hand side of Figure 7. Peripherals closer to the meter on the transmit cable will block the Listen signal from reaching peripherally and further on the cable, when a signal is made. attempt to transmit message and maintain this blocking for the entire duration of the communication session (until Listen returns to a low value). Also, transmissions attempts will be made in transitions from high to low of Listen signal, thus avoiding chain failure in simultaneous attempt. Block the Listening signal, in no way frees the peripheral to receive any transmitted message. No message sent, the start of which is detected because the Talking line goes to a high value, should be received. The Speech signal should not be set to a high value by some peripheral while the Listen to the peripheral signal is with ground potential. And, data can not be sent by any device not involved in a communication connection. In interrogation type communication, for example when the meter wants data from a peripheral or vice versa, the function that initiates the interrogation will maintain a signal to speak at 3 volts for the duration of the signal. Eeta communication may involve numerous situations, for example where a peripheral device verifies the activity of the meter and requires information of the mechanism regarding whether a card or coins are used to buy time. The data link return during the interrogations will be through communication protocol oriented by characters. Figure 7 illustrates the Y (AND) gate 50 that is included in the Eecuchar tranemission line. The output of this line (Eecuchar) will extend to the plug for the next peripheral. When listening to 3 volts, and if a peripheral such as a vehicle detector has a message, then Talk is carried three volts. Since DEADMAN (to be explained) ordinarily maintains three volts, and the gate Y (A D) 52 applies a signal to the inverter 54 avoiding tranemieion on the line of guarding the next peripheral. The signal through the gate 52 also applies to the gate Y (A? D) 56 since also the reception of Listen (LIST? I? G) is high, a signal is applied through the gate to the line to Speak J3-3. The peripheral with the message also directs to Talking input (TALK I?) To a high value, which results in a signal from gate Y (AND) 58 to data line J3-4 and to the microprocessor. When the peripheral is a vehicle detector, the message will be translated as the movement of the vehicle from the parking space and the related program will cause the meter to reinitialize to the maximum negative time. Each peripheral is preferably in communication with the DEADMAN lines of the AND gates (AND) 52 and 58, and this line is ordinarily kept at a high value allowing tranemieion through the gates. A peripheral program will detect a peripheral fault and may cause it to direct those lines to a low value, thus deactivating these gates and in effect "closing the peripheral function." The intention of the previous protocol is to allow the peripherals to use the signal to speak as an interrupt feed, so that if a determined movement is initially determined to be irrelevant, the peripheral can re-establish normal services until the next transition from low to high of speech, if the mechanism determines that an inter-message is irrelevant. -periféricoe, will leave Talking in a high value and will reregister their tasks until the talk returns to a low value at which time Listen will be returned to the potential ground and the sounding will resume. It is anticipated that the sounding will occur at an interval of .5 seconds. There are a number of predefined local conduit messages that can be used, for example as follows: Definition is output message for local conduit from the meter to all peripherals: rese: (Reset): = 0; Reinitialization in hard, paid: (paid) = 1, - parking time -0: 00 > > XX: XX expired: (expired) = 2; parking time 00.-01 > > -0: 00 grace: (Tolerance period) = 3; end of grace period excess: (excess) = 4; end of excess penalty period: (Penalty) = 5; end of penalty period (stop watch) amper: (Undue manipulation) = 6; coin in a thread mem: = 16; memory error coin: (currency) = 17; currency detector error batd: = 18; dead battery error wake: -of-wake) = 19; stuck coil wake up jam: (stuck) = 20; stuck coin bati: = 21; low battery dk: = 22, park data key error: (parking) - = 32; enter parking time paid nopark: (no parking) = 33; enter on time of no parking free: (free) = 34; enter free parking time pre: = 35; enter parking time with pre-payment iron: = 48; Infrared communications activated iroff: = 49; Infrared communications disabled.

Examples of local conductor feed message definitions (from peripherals to meter): settime: (set time) = 128.mm, hh; set meter time to hh: mm time .- (-time) = I30, tt, w; adds time and value to the meter In the programming mode: If during the polling of the meter mode the signal Speaking is at a high value of the meter before estimating the Listen signal, ^ the meter will enter the programming mode using a supply of 5 volts to I9.2kbs. Comandoe available in programming mode include: - Read meter memory - Write meter memory - Audit meter - Set clock in real time meter - Add time and value to the meter Figure 6 illustrates application of the invention to a peripheral device including a lamp bank 34. The lamps are connected to a power source through the switch 36 and the relay 38 with a relay controller 39 operates to control this switch. The relay is connected to the socket 40 which is received by a modular plug associated with the meter 42. The socket 40 is preferably enclosed within the housing of the meter and the traction lines of the socket can extend into the housing and even inside the support that holds the housing for maximum security. - When a coin is inserted in the meter, the message "paid" for output from the local conduit will be recognized during the polling. This will result in a signal directly through the data line to the relay controller 39 turning on the lamps. In addition, the program for this peripheral will adjust the synchronizer for the predetermined period. When the time is up, the sounding will recognize the output chirping of the "expired" local duct. Again, this will result in a signal to the relay controller to turn off the lamp. Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated, in part in Figures 1 to 3. Here, a "cookie" die 44 is inserted between the upper and lower housings. This structure comprises a vehicle presence detector using for example light emitting diodes placed adjacent to the window 46. A local conduit exit message such as "paid" will be used when a vehicle arrives and adequate payment is made. When the vehicle departs, the detector will initiate a "time adjustment" message in the local conduit, thereby resetting the meter to an expired condition. The seventh aspect of the invention allows for a congested expansion of devices that can be interconnected with the meter and added at a parking meter location. These devices and interfaces will allow an increase in the type of data that can be collected regarding events on the site and allow operational changes in the site. The communications capability of the system allows the connection of an interface that links a plurality of parking meters to a central data collection point. For example, they can establish wireless communications with the meter through the local conduit interface using an external R / F communications device or other wireless communications to access collected data or change programming at the meter location. The cable communications with the parking meter can be established alternatively through the local conduit interface, using physical wiring to access collected data or change programming at the meter location. A vehicle presence detector when it is installed, will allow the collection of a set of data for traffic studies at the location of the meter, that is, current occupation, paid occupation, return of location traffic, violations to the meter, etc. The detector can also be used to give the parking lot time to the public, to allow the person who is in charge to get change and / or Use to eliminate the recurring time of the meter when a vehicle leaves or leaves a parking space. A peripheral device may allow the automatic transfer of all data collected in the installation sites to a memory device that reads in the meter's container or coin collection container. The data will automatically be transferred to a central data collection point through a series of data collection events, as the coin container is emptied into the coin collection container and the container is emptied at the coin collection facility. Other possibilities _ include: 1. - A peripheral device that facilitates the exchange of data and contact with a debit card or other device that can be used for electronic payment. 2. - A peripheral device that allows expansion of the internal memory of the electronic meter outside the meter itself. 3. - A peripheral device that allows the meter to control the time without power, to activate the mechanisms such as car washes and electric car charging eetaciones. - It will be understood that various changes and additions may be made in the practice of this invention, without departing from the spirit of the invention particularly as defined in the following claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the one that is clear from the preeente decription of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS Having described the above-mentioned invention, the content of the following claims is claimed as property: 1. A parking meter construction that has a housing, a receiver of cards or coins to start the operation of the meter, a microprocessor to control the operation, a peripheral gate connected to the microprocessor, which can transmitiree menejeee through the peripheral gate a and the microprocessor, transmission lines connected to the peripheral gate and at least an external die connected to the transmission lines, the external device performs a designated function, the tranemission lines include a data line to transmit a signal that an event has occurred to initiate the function.
2. 2. - A parking meter construction according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a line of Listen to poll and determine if the event has occurred, and a Talking line that allows data transmission in the data line.
3. 3. - A parking meter construction according to claim 2, characterized in that a four-wire transmission line includes the Listening line, the Speaking line and the Data line, used where the fourth transmission line connects to Earth.
4. 4. - A parking meter construction according to claim 2, characterized in that the peripheral gate consists of a modular plug and a female plug at the end of the four wire transmission line to connect to the gate.
5. 5. - A parking meter construction according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes at least one additional external device connected in series with the aforementioned first external device, and includes means to block transmission to the microprocessor later on the Listen line, up to that the transmission relating to the aforementioned first external device is completed.
6. 6. - A parking meter construction according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes probing means controlled by the microprocessor to send a signal through the Listen line at periodic intervals to determine if the event has occurred.
7. 7. - A method to operate a parking meter construction, the connection includes a housing, a card receiver or coins to start the operation of the meter, a microprocessor to control the operation of the meter and, a peripheral gate connected to the microprocessor, lines of transmission connected to the peripheral gate and at an external device connected to the transmission lines, the external device performs a designated function, the method to operate includes the steps of sending a data signal on one of the transmission lines, in response to the occurrence of an event that requires initiation of the function. = ""
8. 8. - Method according to claim 7, characterized in that it includes the steps of providing a Listening line, sending a periodic signal on the Listen line to determine if an event has occurred, and providing a Speaking line for allow data traffic on the data line in response to event detection.
9. 9.- Method of compliance with the claim 7, characterized in that it includes the data line and connects with the external device, the microprocessor detects the occurrence of the event and sends a signal through the data line to operate the external device.
10. 10. Method of compliance with the claim 8, characterized in that an additional external device is connected in series with the device at least and includes the step of blocking the signal on the Listening line to the additional external device if an event has occurred which requires the operation of the device at least.