EP0000444A1 - Elektronisches Taxameter - Google Patents

Elektronisches Taxameter Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0000444A1
EP0000444A1 EP78300133A EP78300133A EP0000444A1 EP 0000444 A1 EP0000444 A1 EP 0000444A1 EP 78300133 A EP78300133 A EP 78300133A EP 78300133 A EP78300133 A EP 78300133A EP 0000444 A1 EP0000444 A1 EP 0000444A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
data
memory
input
main memory
taximeter
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP78300133A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Jack Centrodyne Corporation Steiner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CENTRODYNE CORP
Original Assignee
CENTRODYNE CORP
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by CENTRODYNE CORP filed Critical CENTRODYNE CORP
Publication of EP0000444A1 publication Critical patent/EP0000444A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B13/00—Taximeters

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an electronic taximeter. More specifically, this invention relates to such a taximeter including a dedicated microprocessor adapted to carry out the functions required by a taximeter. The invention furthermore relates to the microprocessor of the taximeter.
  • taximeters available in taxis today are of the mechanical type. These are heavy and bulky and difficult to calibrate accurately on a time basis.
  • the process for calibrating mechanical taximeters to new fare rates is awkward and expensive as it usually requires changes in computing gears.
  • the mechanical versions also suffer from poor accuracy and a lack of adequate resolution as well as limitations on the number of optional rates.
  • they have limited range of features, e.g. amount of information that can be displayed and fail to take advantage of available technology.
  • the problem therefore with which the invention is in general concerned is the design of an electronic taximeter which is competitive in cost with, and superior in performance to, conventional mechanical taximeters, while avoiding the high cost incurred when employing a general purpose microprocessor.
  • the microprocessor proposed by the invention is of a simple and logical design, being designed specifically to provide the calculating functions desired in a taximeter. It may be assembled from discrete, off-the-shelf readily available microcircuit components and is thus cheap and easy to build; for the same reason it can also be easy to repair.
  • the microprocessor operates by cyclically selecting the storage locations of the data relating to distance travelled and fares charged and updating the selected data when appropriate, as indicated by an input signal relating for example to a distance unit travelled.
  • the taximeter of the invention is simpler to operate than mechanical taximeters and provides instant recall, preferably on a single display device, of the data stored in it.
  • a particular advantage is the flexibility of the microprocessor; thus, in order to change the face structure or the charging rate of the taximeter, or to convert from calculation by miles to calculation by kilometers, it is only necessary to alter a set of data in a single memory.
  • the taximeter embodying the invention comprises a transducer 1 for providing pulses representing predetermined units of distance travelled by the taxi in which the taximeter is installed.
  • a transducer 1 for providing pulses representing predetermined units of distance travelled by the taxi in which the taximeter is installed.
  • FIG 2 One suitable embodiment of such a transducer is shown in Figure 2; the transducer shaft 3 is connected in series with the speedometer cable 5 of the taxi.
  • Four radial blades 7 are equally spaced around the shaftand are disposed to cross the path of light between a light 9 emitting diode (LED)/and a phototransistor 11.
  • An output pulse is provided from the phototransistor 11 each time the path of light between the LED 9 and the phototransistor 11 is broken by the passage of a blade 7.
  • the phototransistor will provide approximately 4000 pulses per kilometer travelled.
  • the output of the transducer 1 is fed to one terminal of input latches 13 which, in a manner well known in the art, comprise a plurality of bistable devices.
  • a second input terminal of the latches 13 is fed from an EXTRAS pushbutton on the taximeter as will be described below.
  • Another terminal of the latches 13 is connected to a quartz time-base generator 15 which acts as the clock for the entire system.
  • the cycle frequency of the generator 15 is of the order of 2.5 MHZ.
  • the output of the latches 13 is fed to an input multiplexor 17 (MUX), whose output is fed to a data read-only memory (ROM) 19.
  • MUX input multiplexor 17
  • ROM data read-only memory
  • the generator or clock 15 also provides a timing sub- signal to actuate function circuits/system 21 which takes the form of an electronic counter. Each time a pulse is supplied from the clock 15 the count value in the counter 21 is increased by one until the maximum count of the counter 21 is reached. At the next clock pulse, the counter 21 returns to zero to begin a new cycle.
  • the counter 21 has one output cunnected to the address terminals of the random-access memory (RAM) 23.
  • the address on the RAM 23 which is selected corresponds at any time to the count on 21.
  • the addresses of the RAM 23 are sequentially accessed in each cycle of the subsystem 21, the maximum count of counter 21 corresponding to the number of addresses of RAM 23.
  • the RAM 23 has 64 storage locations, each location storing four bits so that a single binary coded digit (BCD) can be stored there.
  • the counter 21 also has a maximum count of 64.
  • the output of the RAM 23 at any time passes via four lines connected to a BCD adder 25, and the output of the adder 25 is fed to a latch 27.
  • new data supplied by the ROM 19 is added to the last data of the RAM 23 in the adder 25.
  • the new data is then fed to a latch 27, and in turn to the RAM 23 thereby to update the data in the RAM 23.
  • the RAM 23 is a 64 x 4 bit memory, and the connection between the counter 21 and the RAM 23 comprises six parallel address lines which pass via a program ROM 29.
  • the function of the program ROM 29 is to control the operation of the date ROM 19 and the remainder of the circuits as will be more fully described below.
  • the program ROM acts as a "look-up" table.
  • the function circuits or counter 21 also causes a selector circuits subsystem 31 to cycle through its sequence of states.
  • the subsystem 31 receives data input from the latch 27 preparatory to feeding the data to a display unit 33 where it is visually displayed.
  • a "BCD to seven segment" decocder 35 converts the BCD representation received via the subsystem 31 into a code usable by the display unit.
  • manual siect switches 37 are really a part of the display device. Parameters to be displayed on the display unit are selected by activating the appropriate rotary switch or pushbuttons of switches 37. This primes the appropriate addresses in the selector circuit 31 to permit passage of the data at those addresses through to the display unit.
  • the front face of the display unit is illustrated in Figure 3 and consists in this embodiment of a VACANT/ HIRED switch 39, an EXTRAS pushbutton 41, TIME ON/TIME OFF switch 43, and readout and rate selector rotary switch 37.
  • the display unit also includes a bank of LEDs 47 which provide a nine digit readout.
  • the same reference numerals in Figure 1 designate either lines from the appropriate switches in Figure 3 or schematic representations of the same elements.
  • VACANT/HIRED and TIME ON/TIME OFF switches are replaced with a single, 3 position pushbutton switch which operates in the following fixed sequence:-
  • the cross-over speed which yields the maximum allowable revenue is 12 km per hour.
  • the meter compares actual speed with cross-over speed continuously and switches from distance-based increements to time-based increments below the cross-over speed and from time-based increments to distance-based increments above the cross-over speed.
  • the time-based increments may be prevented at any point during the trip by depressing the switch 43 if fare is to be charged solely on the basis of distance travelled.
  • the data ROM 19 and the RAM 23 each comprise 64 memory locations with 4 bits each for the storage of a single BCD digit at each location.
  • Current information is stored in the RAM, and new data is computed by adding the contents of the ROM to those of the RAM.
  • a particular item of data in the RAM is updated, when the address of the location at which this data is contained in the RAM is selected by the function circuits 21, by applying the data from this location of the RAM as the "last data" to one input of the BCD adder.
  • the data to be added to the "last data” is applied from the ROM to the other input of the BCD adder 25, and the information at both inputs is then processed in the adder.
  • the processed data from the adder 25 is then applied to the latch 27 from which it is inserted, as updated data, into the appropriate memory locations of the RAM, which have previously been cleared upon the transmittal of the "last data" to the adder 25.
  • the updated data is available to be displayed on the display device 33 by virtue of the connection between the latch 27 and selector circuits 31.
  • the latch 27 clears to receive the next data item from the adder.
  • the treatment of the total EXTRAS data (item c) in the list above) by the dedicated microprocessor is initiated by depression of the button 41 of the display.
  • the appropriate address of the data ROM 19 is activated as described below.
  • This address will contain a predetermined BCD number (equivalent, for example, to 15 ⁇ ) and this predetermined amount will be added to the "last data" supplied from the appropriate storage locations in the RAM by the BCD adder and the total restored in the RAM as above described. For example, if it is required to insert 45 ⁇ worth of EXTRAS, then button 41 is depressed three times.
  • the digits 5,2 and 1 would be stored in 3 separate locations respectively in the RAM. These digits will be presented, in sequence, to the BCD adder when the locations at which they are stored in the RAM are selected by the function circuits 21.
  • Each depression of the EXTRAS switch 41 causes one of the input latches 13 to be "set” (to logical 1 from logical 0).
  • the output of the input multiplexor 17 is a logical 1 (due to the prior setting of the EXTRAS input latch 13).
  • the output of the input multiplexor causes the data ROM to provide an output of 5 as this was the predetermined amount pre-programmed into the data ROM at the corresponding location.
  • the 5 of the data RON and the 5 provided by the RAM from its corresponding location will be added together to produce a 0 with a carry 1.
  • the 0 is transmitted to the latch 27.
  • the carry 1 will be added to the 2 from the RAM and the second digit 1 from the ROM by the BCD adder to give a to sum 4 which is also transmitted/the latch 27.
  • the 1 from the RAM location for the most significant digit is processed through the adder, being unchanged since the corresponding address of the ROM contains a zero.
  • the numbers 0, 4 and 1 will thus be sequentially loaded into the RAM 23 after the addition has been performed so that the data at the total EXTRAS locations of the RAM will now be the updated amount of $1.40.
  • Total trips is the total number of paid trips taken by the taxi during any period (item (a) above). If this is cleared at the beginning of each day, then the amounts stored at the end of the day will be the total number of paid. trips taken in that day. If this is cleared at the beginning of the week, then the amount stored in the RAM at the end of the week will constitute the total number of paid trips taken during the week.
  • An input signal indicating a paid trip is inserted by depression of the HIRED button 39.
  • This data is inserted through the function circuits 21, and when the HIRED button is pressed, then the corresponding address in the data ROM is activated; the data ROM at the appropriate location contains a BCD 1 so that each time the HIRED button 39 is pressed the relevant data at the corresponding locations in the RAM 23 will be incremented by 1 through the adder 25.
  • the operation of the microprocessor for total kilometers travelled is very similar to the operation for total EXTRAS described above.
  • the basic difference is that the input data comprises distance pulses arriving from the transducer 1 at a rate for example of approximately 4000 per kilometer travelled.
  • Each pulse from the transducer sets a "distance" latch in the input latches, and the sequence of events for adding this new distance data to the data already in the RAM 23 must all take place before the next distance pulse arrives from the transducer 1.
  • a total of 8 digits are used for calculating and storing total kilometers in the RAM.
  • the maximum distance which can be stored is 99,999.999 kilometers.
  • the transducer 1 produces a distance pulse each time the taxi travels 1/4000 of a kilometer i.e. every 0.00025 kilometers, obviously the distance dta cannot be loaded directly into the third digit to the right of the decimal point, i.e. into the thousandth of a km position.
  • calibration may be such that a pulse is produced for a distance which is not exactly 0.00025 kilometers, e.g. it may produce a pulse every 0.000247 kilometers or every 0.000256 kilometers.
  • three additional locations in the RAM are used as well as the eight for the eight digits described above.
  • the numbers 2, 5 and 0, representing 0.000250 kilometers or appropriately different numbers as discussed below, are added to respective ones of these three additional locations.
  • Another location acts as an overflow location and has a 1 inserted into it each time there is an overflow of the sum of the 3 additional locations (i.e. the sum is greater than or equal to 1000); each unit in this last location represents 0.001 kilometers.
  • ROM 19 For a taxi which produces exactly 1 pulse for every 1/4000 km, three locations in ROM 19 corresponding to those of the RAM just described are pre-programmed (burned) with the numbers 2, 5 and 0. If the transducer produces pulses at a different rate, then different numbers will be pre-programmed into the ROM. For example, if the transducer produces a pulse every 1/3850 km then the appropriate ROM locations will be pre-programmed to contain the numbers 2, 6 and 0, representing 0.000260 or 1/3846 km, which is an error by only 0.1% or one part in a thousand.
  • Taxi calibration is achieved by entering the digits, which are to be added on each occasion to the- three additional locations in the RAM, in the appropriate locations of the ROM 19. At the appropriate moment of the RAM/ROM/adder functional sequence, these digits are then added to the data already in the additional locations of the RAM.
  • the output of the overflow location of the RAM is added to the RAM location containing the data for thousandths total kilometers travelled whenever there is a logical 1 at this overflow location.
  • the information concerning kilometers travelled is updated in the RAM location.
  • distance pulses will not be produced by the transducer 1.
  • distance information from the RAM 23 cycles around the computing circuit loop unchanged along with other data (which is not necessarily unchanged) as the RAM is stepped through its memory locations by the function circuits 21.
  • the content of the ROM will be applied only against the least significant digit (thousandths) of the RAM for total kilometers travelled. The only time any of the other locations will be incremented is by a carry from a lesser significant digit to a more significant digit.
  • this circuit is the same as for total kilometers, except that in the case of paid kilometers, the accumulation is only done when the taxi has been hired and the HIRED button on the taximeter has been depressed.
  • the accumulation of paid kilometers begins when the HIRED button is pressed and ends, for any trip, when the VACANT button is depressed afterwards.
  • dead zone is defined as a fixed distance or a fixed time after the beginning of a trip during which the customer is not actually charged at the prevailing time or distance fare.
  • the presence or absence of dead zone, or the actual amount thereof, is fixed by the applicable tarriff regulation authorities and the taximeter is therefore separately adjustable for different geographical areas in which these factors vary.
  • dead zone locations When there is a dead zone regulation in the area of operation, then dead zone locations will be activated in the RAM including an overflow dead zone location.
  • the overflow dead zone location will be filled (set to logical 1) only after the dead zone distance or time has been traversed by the vehicle. Further fare accumulation will not take place until the overflow dead zone location has been filled.
  • the amount by which the fare is incremented thereafter is preprogrammed into memory locations in the ROM corresponding to appropriate memory locations in the RAM.
  • the increment is 5t (e.g. for every tenth of a kilometer)
  • the number 5 will be pre-programmed into a memorylocation in the ROM corresponding to the least significant digit fares location in the RAM.
  • the number in the memory location in the ROM will be added to the data in the corresponding location in the RAM on the next cycle of the function circuits 21.
  • the increment is 10 ⁇ , then the memory location in the ROM corresponding to the second least significant digit location for fares in the RAM will be pre-programmed with a 1.
  • the contents of the total fares locations are continuously updated in parallel with the trip fares locations. This function also comes under the control of the program ROM.
  • each 4-bit 4-wire BCD digit in the RAM is presented by latch 27 to display selector circuits 31.
  • manual selector select switch 37 is rotated.
  • the switch 37 in conjunction with synchronizing signals from the function circuits 21, selects the parameter to be displayed.
  • Each BCD digit of that parameter is decoded by the BCD to 7 segment decoder, and the decoder is connected to the light emitting diodes (each of 7 segments) to display any decimal digit in a manner well known in the art.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
EP78300133A 1977-07-11 1978-07-10 Elektronisches Taxameter Withdrawn EP0000444A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA282441 1977-07-11
CA282,441A CA1078518A (en) 1977-07-11 1977-07-11 Electronic taximeter with computer loop

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0000444A1 true EP0000444A1 (de) 1979-01-24

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EP78300133A Withdrawn EP0000444A1 (de) 1977-07-11 1978-07-10 Elektronisches Taxameter

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EP (1) EP0000444A1 (de)
JP (1) JPS5441172A (de)
CA (1) CA1078518A (de)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0026778A1 (de) * 1979-04-11 1981-04-15 SCHMIDT, Gary Elektronisches taxameter
WO1981002483A1 (en) * 1980-02-21 1981-09-03 I Larsen An electronic measuring and recording apparatus for use in wheeled vehicles
EP0065662A2 (de) * 1981-05-19 1982-12-01 Mannesmann Kienzle GmbH Elektronischer Taxameter
DE3210182A1 (de) * 1981-03-19 1982-12-23 Microsystem Design Ltd., Dorset Elektronisches taxameter
EP0079401A1 (de) * 1981-11-19 1983-05-25 Mannesmann Kienzle GmbH Verfahren und Schaltungsanordnung zur Optimierung der Bedienungsabläufe beim Betrieb eines elektronischen Taxameters
US4482965A (en) * 1979-07-04 1984-11-13 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Taximeter with tariff display mode controlled by removable memory addressable by fare rate keys
DE3319881A1 (de) * 1983-06-01 1984-12-06 Lutz Frommherz Schaltungsanordnung zur erfassung der zurueckgelegten strecke eines kraftfahrzeuges in abhaengigkeit vorgegebener gruppierungskriterien
ES2070036A2 (es) * 1992-08-31 1995-05-16 Interfacom S A Dispositivo emisor de mensajes hablados para taximetros y taximetro con emisor de mensajes hablados.
US7622038B2 (en) 2004-09-01 2009-11-24 Japan System Planning Co., Ltd. Fluid activation apparatus

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5632270U (de) * 1979-08-15 1981-03-30
JPS56155490A (en) * 1980-05-01 1981-12-01 Osaka Meter Seizou Kk Fee computing constant setting system for taxi meter or taxi meter data recorder
JPS5717088A (en) * 1980-07-02 1982-01-28 Futaba Keiki Kk Taxi meter

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3860807A (en) * 1972-01-21 1975-01-14 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh Electronic taximeter having serially energized indicator means
US3931508A (en) * 1973-03-24 1976-01-06 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh Arrangement for furnishing an indication of total fare including surcharges in an electronic taximeter
US3937933A (en) * 1973-12-05 1976-02-10 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh System and method for reducing the pulse repetition rate in an electronic taxi meter
DE2656848A1 (de) * 1975-12-15 1977-06-23 Francis Raymond Heritier Gebuehrenanzeigevorrichtung

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3860807A (en) * 1972-01-21 1975-01-14 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh Electronic taximeter having serially energized indicator means
US3860806A (en) * 1972-01-21 1975-01-14 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh Electronic taximeter having programable constant furnishing means
US3931508A (en) * 1973-03-24 1976-01-06 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh Arrangement for furnishing an indication of total fare including surcharges in an electronic taximeter
US3937933A (en) * 1973-12-05 1976-02-10 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh System and method for reducing the pulse repetition rate in an electronic taxi meter
DE2656848A1 (de) * 1975-12-15 1977-06-23 Francis Raymond Heritier Gebuehrenanzeigevorrichtung

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
ELECTRICAL DESIGN NEWS, vol. 22, no. 6, march 1977, (USA) "Taximeter collects managerial date at the touch of a button", pages 73-77 *

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0026778A1 (de) * 1979-04-11 1981-04-15 SCHMIDT, Gary Elektronisches taxameter
EP0026778A4 (de) * 1979-04-11 1981-09-21 Gary Schmidt Elektronisches taxameter.
US4482965A (en) * 1979-07-04 1984-11-13 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Taximeter with tariff display mode controlled by removable memory addressable by fare rate keys
WO1981002483A1 (en) * 1980-02-21 1981-09-03 I Larsen An electronic measuring and recording apparatus for use in wheeled vehicles
US4590571A (en) * 1980-02-21 1986-05-20 Ib Larsen Electronic measuring and recording apparatus for use in wheeled vehicles
DE3210182A1 (de) * 1981-03-19 1982-12-23 Microsystem Design Ltd., Dorset Elektronisches taxameter
EP0065662A2 (de) * 1981-05-19 1982-12-01 Mannesmann Kienzle GmbH Elektronischer Taxameter
EP0065662A3 (en) * 1981-05-19 1983-09-14 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh Electronic taximeter
EP0079401A1 (de) * 1981-11-19 1983-05-25 Mannesmann Kienzle GmbH Verfahren und Schaltungsanordnung zur Optimierung der Bedienungsabläufe beim Betrieb eines elektronischen Taxameters
DE3319881A1 (de) * 1983-06-01 1984-12-06 Lutz Frommherz Schaltungsanordnung zur erfassung der zurueckgelegten strecke eines kraftfahrzeuges in abhaengigkeit vorgegebener gruppierungskriterien
ES2070036A2 (es) * 1992-08-31 1995-05-16 Interfacom S A Dispositivo emisor de mensajes hablados para taximetros y taximetro con emisor de mensajes hablados.
US7622038B2 (en) 2004-09-01 2009-11-24 Japan System Planning Co., Ltd. Fluid activation apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS5441172A (en) 1979-04-02
CA1078518A (en) 1980-05-27

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Inventor name: STEINER, JACK CENTRODYNE CORPORATION