EP0035523A1 - Compteur de temps - Google Patents

Compteur de temps

Info

Publication number
EP0035523A1
EP0035523A1 EP80901705A EP80901705A EP0035523A1 EP 0035523 A1 EP0035523 A1 EP 0035523A1 EP 80901705 A EP80901705 A EP 80901705A EP 80901705 A EP80901705 A EP 80901705A EP 0035523 A1 EP0035523 A1 EP 0035523A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
display
user
measuring device
counter
coin
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Withdrawn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
EP80901705A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Francis Joseph Hart
Valerio Joseph Rech
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.)
COMPUTERMETERS (AUST) PTY Ltd
Original Assignee
COMPUTERMETERS (AUST) PTY Ltd
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 COMPUTERMETERS (AUST) PTY Ltd filed Critical COMPUTERMETERS (AUST) PTY Ltd
Publication of EP0035523A1 publication Critical patent/EP0035523A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/24—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for parking meters

Definitions

  • an electronic time measuring device comprising a display device, a timing device, and control means operable to set the timing device in operation for a pre- determined time period, the. display device being . arranged whereby to give a display corresponding to said predetermined time period, and for this display to be inhibited before the predetermined time period is expired.
  • the measuring device has a. first up- down counter, said timing device including a second up-down counter, the first up-down counter being associated with a coin detector whi.ch in us.e generates a signal pursuant to passing by the user of a coin to the. de,tector to upwardly increment the. first counter in accordance, with the denomination of said coin; coupling means being provided in use. coupling said first counter to said display device
  • OMPI /., IPO JL / whereby the said display is given by said display device in accordance with the count in the said firs counter; said control means being selectively operable after said coin has been passed by a user to the detector to transfer said count to said second counter and to then downwardly increment said second counter over said predetermined time period. Said inhibiting of the display of said pre-determine period thus occurs in this instance by virtue of the coupling of the display means to display only the count in the first counter, which count, as describe counts down to for example to zero, immediately on transfer of the count to the second counter.
  • a printer device may be provided connected, on operati of the control means to effect said transfer, to print a ticket indicating thereon said predetermined time period.
  • the display device is coupled for transfer of signal information thereto under control of a central processing unit incorporating a clock said central processing unit then comprising said control means.
  • This unit may have or may be associated with a transitory informati memory for storing transient information.
  • the central processing unit provides a coupling between the display device and to a coin detector for detecting the denomination of coins in use provided by a user to the metering device.
  • the central processing unit operates to cause the display device, on detection of a coin by the detector, to effect said display as an indication of time correspondingto the said predetermined time period and in accordance with the said denomination of said coin.
  • control means may further include a user operable selector means for enabling the user, pursuant to setting up said display in said display device to access a particular memory location in said transitory information memory, and to store therein at that location, under control of the central processing unit, a time value corresponding to the said predetermined time period as then displayed by the display device.
  • the central processing unit may be arranged to operate in conjunction with said clock to increment the stored time values in each said location downwardly to a zero count after respective times in accordance with the time values stored at each such location, so that the clock, together with the central processing unit and transitory information memory comprise the said timing device.
  • the central processing unit operates to inhibit display of the time periods stored in each location, at least after initial setting up of the said display following coin detection by said coin-de.tectpr.
  • This inhibition is effected by decoupling the transitory information memory from the display device.
  • the time metering device may also be arranged for further access to said transitory information memory by a user to enable storage by the user of a user identification at the storage location corresponding that which the user selects by use of said selector .
  • means may be provided
  • OMPI admitting key controlled access by an authorised person to the transitory information memory for interrogation of that memory to detect the particula time value stored in any particular location and to determine the identification information stored at that location.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of a parking lot having a time metering device constructed in accordance with the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a block diagram of the electrical circuit of the time metering device of Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a front view of an alternative form of time metering device constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • Figure 4 is a simplified block diagram of the electrical circuit of the time metering device of Figure 3; and Figure 5 is in two parts, 5A and 5B, which join on the line X-X to form a more detailed circuit diag of the time metering device of Figure 3.
  • a time metering device in the form of a parking meter 10 is shown adjacent a parking lot 40 having four parking bays indicated by the reference numerals "1", “2", “3” and "4".
  • the meter is connected to meter allowed vehicle parking times in each of the bays 1 to 4.
  • the arrangement is such that users wishing to park in one of the bays must insert coins into the meter whereupon they
  • OMPI TM are issued with, a ticket indicating the amount of time so bought. Means as described later is provided for identifying on the ticket the particular bay for which parking time has been so purchased and for counting off of this time in the meter so that parking infringements can be checked by interrogation of the meter by a parking inspector.
  • the meter 10 includes a coin receiving chute 11 connected to a coin receiving receptacle (not shown) inside the casing 10a of the meter.
  • switches 12 are positioned ' adjacent the chute so as to be actuated by passage of coins along the chute to the receptacle.
  • the switches 12 are so arranged that each is closed momentarily by passage therepast of coins of only one unique denomination.
  • a coin detector 14 generates pulses the number of which is proportional to the denomination to the particular coin which has passed and operated that switch 12.
  • Pulses from the coin detector are delivered to an up-down counter 16 in such a fashion as to increment the counter upwards on receipt of each pulse. Incrementation occurs upwardly from a zero count to which the detector has been previously reset by a coin reset circuit 18. Insertion of a coin or coins thus causes generation of a total pulse count by coin detector 14 which is proportional to the total denomination of all coins which pass
  • Up-down counter 16 is connected by a line 17 to a display device 20 having one part 20a for displaying the count in counter 16 and a second part 20b connected to a bay selector switch 22 positioned externally on the casing of the parking meter for access by a user.
  • the first part 20a of the display device 20 will display the total count in up-down counter 16 and this count is arranged to be a time indication in, say minutes, proportional to the total coin denomination. This proportionality is selected by presetting switches ⁇ not shown) in the coin detector which govern the number of pulses generated by the coin detector per unit coin value.
  • Bay selector switch 22 permits a user, after having inserted coins into the meter 10,to set up in the selector switch an electrical circuit combinatio uniquely corresponding to a parking bay which he desires to make use of.
  • the selector switch may thus have an external knob 22a which is calibrated to enable, in the present case, position ⁇ ing of the switch at any of the positions 1, 2, 3, 4, marked on the meter body and which correspond to the four parking bays 1, 2, 3 and 4.
  • the second part 20b of the display 20 will give a visual indication of the correspondingly selected parking bay.
  • a number of second up-down counters 24 are provided, the number of these corresponding to the number of parking bays.
  • control circuit 28 causes a printer controller 30 to be operated to actuate a ticket printer 32 which then operates to issue a ticket to the user of the meter.
  • ticket may for example include the following information: the responsible authority controlling the parking bays;
  • the bay number the meter number; the time of day; the date; the amount of time purchased.
  • the up-down counter 16 after being incremented initially to cause a corresponding display in display 20 is, as mentioned, counted down to zero immediately on pressing of the button 26 by a user to obtain his printed parking authorization ticket.
  • th ' e display 20 is not accessed at any further time to the contents of the counter 16 nor does it display the contents on any of the counters 24. That is to say, there is no direct means of resetting up again in the display device the amounts of time (as represented by the counts in the various counters 24) which are left by previous users of the different parking bays. By this means, a double useage by
  • the described meter is particularly adapted to control large numbers of parking bays, conveniently between ten and twenty. It may be operated from a suitable power supply circuit which might be charged from solar cells positioned on .the top of a long pole above the meter or the meter could be directly operated from an alternating current mains supply.
  • a key actuated interrogation circuit 38 may be provided so that the parking inspector may, by insertion of a key into a key slot 36 on the exterior of the meter, selectively set up in the display device 20 a number corres- ponding to any selected bay together with the count in the corresponding counter 24.
  • FIGS ⁇ 3 to 5 illustrate an alternative form of meter 50 constructed in accordance with the invention.
  • the exterior casing of this meter 50 has a key board 52 with a number of keys 54.
  • a display device 56 is positioned also on the ⁇ exterior, together with two coin slots 58, 60 for different denomination coins.
  • the interior circuit of the meter 50 includes a central processing unit 62 which controls the display 56.
  • the CPU 62 is coupled to key board 52 for inputting of information by a user to the CPU 62.
  • CPU 62 has an internal memory for processing instructions and is associated with a random access memory 64 for transitory information.
  • CPU 62 is in turn associated with a switch matrix 66 operable to set up fixed information for use by the meter.
  • the CPU has an associated crystal 67 so as to provide a high frequency clock signal for operation of the circuit.
  • Two switches 68, 70 are associated with respective coin chutes leading from the coin slots 58, 60 for momentary operation of these switches by coins as these pass the switches.
  • Two further switches 72, 74 are provided to enable interrogation of information held in the circuit. The whole circuit is operated from a battery !_ ⁇ via a regulator 81.
  • a person wishing to use the meter 50 first of all inserts coin or coins of number and nomination sufficient to buy an amount of parking time in accordance with displayed information in the vicinity of the meter. Either or both the switches 68, 70 are thus operated once or more than once in accordance with passage of the coins there- past.
  • the CPU 62 then operates to set up, in a first part 56aof the display 56, the amount of time which has thus been bought. The amount of time is determined by a proportional relationship between time and coin value, which proportional relationship is established by matrix 66.
  • the CPU 62 causes a second part 56b of display 56 to be conditioned ' to give a display indicating that action is required now by the user of the meter.
  • part 56b comprises three indicators 76, 78, 80 which can be selectively lit up under control of CPU 62. Adjacent to each of these indicators is printed information 83 ( Figure 3) indicating the significance of lighting up particular one ' s of these. Normally, indicator 80 is lit to indicate that "time” is being displayed by display device 56. However, on the setting up of the initial "bought time” display in part 56a, as described, CPU 62 causes indicator 78 to be flashed and adjacent this is written the instruction "Enter bay No ". Then, -the user presses the selected* ones of the keys 54 which correspond to a desired empty parking bay the user wishes to use, followed by an "enter” butter “E” of keyboard 52.
  • the entry of the bay number is effected by the CPU 62 in the following manner. Firstly, CPU 62 first controls a third part 56c of the display 56 to display an indication corresponding to the selected bay number. . Secondly, the random access memory 64 is accessed and, at a storage location corresponding to the selected bay number, the bought time previously set up in display 56a is entered.
  • the CPU 62 Upon completion of entry of a bay number, the CPU 62 causes indicator 78 to be flashed, this being adjacent a direction on the meter reading "Enter Car Number". Then, the user may enter into the memory 64, under control of the CPU 62, three digits corresponding to digits of the users* vehicle registration number. This entry is effected by pressing appropriate ones of the keys 54 of keyboard 52 followed by the enter key of the keyboard. After this entry, the user transactions are completed and the meter display reverts to the normal condition. This may be a blank state of display device 56 or may for example, be a state at which the time of day is displayed.
  • the meter 50 is, as will be appreciated from the above, organized so that once a user has purchased his time and entered the bay numbe and registration details, the display no longer displays the amount of time purchased. Indeed, the amounts ' of time purchased are stored only in the corresponding locations in memory 64 and are not henceforth normally displayed by the display device 56.
  • the clock incorporated into CPU 62 is operated in such a fashion as to downwardly increment the initially stored bough ⁇ time value in each storage location. This downward increment is effected to a zero condition at a constant rate such that the zero condition is reached in each storage location at the end of the bought time value stored therein.
  • a purchaser of time by use of the meter 50 can at any time access the meter in order to deter ⁇ mine how much time is left at the particular parking bay which he occupies. This is done by the following procedure:-
  • the display will show the bay number (in display part 56c) and the time remaining (in display part 56a) . _5 These displays are arranged to disappear after a pre-deter ined time, such as one minute.
  • Infringement detection by a parking inspector may be readily effected with the meter 50.
  • the meter 50 has on its exterior a key lock 59 into which a key may be inserted operable to effect closure of switches 72, 74 selectively in a fashion such as to ready the CPU for interrogation of the memory 64.
  • This interrogation is effected firstly by the parking inspector entering a preselected . number code via the keyboard 52 whereupon the meter operates to display in sequence, on display 56, the numbers of all parking bays for which the purchased time has expired.
  • This readout may be effected in the following format, such as sequentially:
  • the second position of the key permits the authorized person to open up the meter in the conventional fashion for money removal. Removal of the key cancel stored totals of coins of each denomination held in the meter and returns the meter to its normal mode of operation. The totals themselves are accumulated under control of CPU 62 in memory 64 as coins are inserted to operate switches 68, 70.
  • the circuit for the meter 50 is shown in more detail in Figure 5. Here, the CPU 62, with its crystal 67 and associated memory 64 (in this case in the form of two memory parts 64a, 64b) is shown. Also shown are two portions 66a, 66b of the switch matrix 66, the keyboard 52, display device 56 and switches 68, 70, 72, 74.
  • the keyboard 52 is inter ⁇ faced with the CPU 62 via a main data bus 84 and a port "A" of the CPU.
  • the display device 56 is driven by four segment drivers 86, 88, 90, 92 which inter ⁇ connect the display device with the data bus 84 and a CPU port "B".
  • the memory parts 64a, 64b are accessed from the data bus 84 with the aid of an address latch 95 which is connected directly to the memory parts 64a, 64b and indirectly to the switch sections 66a, 66b by gates 94, 96.
  • Each switch portion 66a comprises a matrix of three switches each of which has ten ' different positions and indicator means to indicate which of the positions at which each switch is set. These two switch, portions 66a, 66b provide for presetting the proportionality between time and coin denominations for the respective two coin denominations which can be accepted by the meter.
  • the CPU 62 operates to effect storage of the integrated total of coin denominations applied to the meter over a period
  • the meter includes a separate electro-mechanical counter arrangement which permits maintenance of long- term records of total coin collection.
  • one of the digit drivers namely digit driver 86
  • digit driver 86 is coupled via a monostable 98 and buffer 100 to operate two counters CC1, C2) , the coils 97, 99 of which are shown, whenever a switch 68 or 70 is operated to detect a coin.
  • the pulses provided by driver 86 are such that one pulse is delivered for every coin.
  • the buffer 100 is also coupled to receive information from one segment driver 90, which information includes information as to the coin denomination.
  • the buffer 100 is thus operated from the monostable 98 in such a fashion to cause application of a pulse to whichever of the coils 97, 99 corresponds to a particularly detected coin denomination.
  • the counters associated with coins 97, 99 thus accumulate long-term coin totals, and are not reset on each retrieval of money from the meter.
  • meter 50 is arranged so tha whenever a user inserts coins into the meter and subsequently correctly operates keyboard 52 to indicate a bay number and registration number for storage, the particular memory location selected for storage of this data together with the time value of purchased time has the time value previously stored therein replaced by the new value even if the previously bought time had not expired. In this way, dual usage by different persons of time purchased by one person is avoided.

Abstract

Parcometre electronique (10/50) comprenant un dispositif d'affichage (20/56), une horloge (24, 31/62, 67, 64) et des moyens de commande (28/62) servant a remonter l'horloge (24, 31/62, 67, 64) pour le temps de stationnement paye en fonction des pieces de monnaie introduites dans le parcometre. Le dispositif d'affichage (20/56) est concu de facon a donner un affichage initial du temps paye, mais pour que cet affichage soit inhibe peu de temps apres de sorte qu'un utilisateur d'une place de stationnement libre et commandee par le parcometre ne puisse pas determiner au moyen du parcometre s'il reste du temps de stationnement qui n'a pas ete entierement utilise par l'utilisateur precedent. Dans une realisation le parcometre est commande par une unite centrale de traitement (62) et est concu pour le stockage dans une memoire (64) des donnees fournies par l'utilisateur, telles que le numero mineralogique du vehicule, l'identification de la case de stationnement, ainsi que le temps paye. Pour la commande de plusieurs cases de stationnement par le parcometre, celui-ci est pourvu d'un selecteur (22/52) permet tant a l'utilisateur de selectionner la case de stationnement desiree.
EP80901705A 1979-09-10 1981-03-23 Compteur de temps Withdrawn EP0035523A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU429/79 1979-09-10
AUPE042979 1979-09-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0035523A1 true EP0035523A1 (fr) 1981-09-16

Family

ID=3768261

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP80901705A Withdrawn EP0035523A1 (fr) 1979-09-10 1981-03-23 Compteur de temps

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0035523A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU6395280A (fr)
GB (1) GB2071385B (fr)
WO (1) WO1981000778A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE437735B (sv) * 1983-10-13 1985-03-11 Andersson Carl Axel Parkeringsautomat
GB8504490D0 (en) * 1985-02-21 1985-03-27 Sedgwick A Electronic time metering device
FR2583186B1 (fr) * 1985-06-07 1987-10-02 Flonic Sa Systeme de gestion de stationnement payant
FR2584515B1 (fr) * 1985-07-02 1987-10-02 Flonic Sa Systeme d'interconnexion de bornes a memoire
FR2600448B1 (fr) * 1986-06-23 1989-06-02 Cga Hbs Systeme de controle et d'exploitation de stationnement payant
US4792032A (en) * 1986-06-27 1988-12-20 Systron Electronic Systems Inc. Mechanical timing device electronic upgrading mechanism
US5139128A (en) * 1990-03-27 1992-08-18 Ducan Industries Parking Control Corp. Chute for controlling the motion of a token moving by gravity through a token-receiving device
CA2113492A1 (fr) * 1994-01-14 1995-07-15 Donald W. Church Appareil et methode servant a identifier les jetons metalliques et les pieces de monnaie
JP2001505677A (ja) * 1996-08-09 2001-04-24 クリークラー・アゲノール パーキングメータ
US6243028B1 (en) 1996-12-13 2001-06-05 Agenor Krygler Parking meter
US20110316716A1 (en) 2008-12-23 2011-12-29 George Allan Mackay Low power wireless parking meter and parking meter network
CA2756489C (fr) 2011-03-03 2023-09-26 J.J. Mackay Canada Limited Parcometre avec methode de paiement sans contact
CA145137S (en) 2012-04-02 2013-07-22 Jj Mackay Canada Ltd Single space parking meter
CA2894350C (fr) 2015-06-16 2023-03-28 J.J. Mackay Canada Limited Goulotte de monnaie dotee d'un mecanisme anti repechage
USD813059S1 (en) 2016-02-24 2018-03-20 J.J. Mackay Canada Limited Parking meter
CA3031936A1 (en) 2019-01-30 2020-07-30 J.J. Mackay Canada Limited Spi keyboard module for a parking meter and a parking meter having an spi keyboard module
US11922756B2 (en) 2019-01-30 2024-03-05 J.J. Mackay Canada Limited Parking meter having touchscreen display

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1355941A (fr) * 1963-04-11 1964-03-20 Indicateur de stationnement
SE381354B (sv) * 1974-04-17 1975-12-01 Knorring A Von Parkeringsautomat
SE410999B (sv) * 1977-02-02 1979-11-19 Cale Ind Ab Helelektronisk anordning for kontroll av mot avgift svarande tidsmengd, speciellt vid parkeringsmetare
AU513506B2 (en) * 1977-02-10 1980-12-04 Tekniska Utvecklingar Ab Parking control system
NL7804675A (nl) * 1977-05-06 1978-11-08 Verhoeven M L R M Parkeermeter.
DE2812272A1 (de) * 1978-03-21 1979-10-04 Rudolf G Heetel Elektronische parkuhr mit digitalanzeige

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO8100778A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2071385A (en) 1981-09-16
GB2071385B (en) 1983-06-02
WO1981000778A1 (fr) 1981-03-19
AU6395280A (en) 1981-03-31

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Inventor name: HART, FRANCIS JOSEPH

Inventor name: RECH, VALERIO JOSEPH