ES2891448A1 - PARKING PLACES CONTROL SYSTEM AND PROCEDURE (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Parking space control system and procedure, in which the user can personalize their space so that the system takes into account personal characteristics or characteristics of their vehicle, in which the user is the carrier of an RFID tag (7) that acts in conjunction with antennas (8) installed in the car park building, guiding the user to their space by means of luminaires (5) whose color has been indicated at the car park entrance, turning on said luminaires (5) successively by sections until reaching the assigned space, where another intermittent luminaire (6) of the same color will light up. A subsequent user will be assigned a different guide light color, and so on. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

PARKING PLACES CONTROL SYSTEM AND PROCEDURE

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The invention belongs to the field of parking building management, through the implementation of a parking space control system and procedure related to the allocation of spaces and the guidance of vehicles to the assigned spaces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parking buildings, commonly called car parks, usually have places for specific types of vehicles, for example, vehicles for people with reduced mobility or electric vehicles (so they can use the associated charging station). Likewise, the optimization of space leads the managers of these businesses to arrange places in spaces that are difficult to maneuver for large cars. In any case, car parks are usually multi-storey buildings, with a large number of spaces. These circumstances make it difficult to find a suitable parking space, forcing you to drive too slowly, or to brake when there are free spaces only to realize that they are not suitable, with the consequent pollution, energy consumption and slowdown in access for other vehicles.

The state of the art shows various systems to try to solve the problems described, through the implementation of electronic systems that, once the vehicle has accessed the car park, in one way or another guide it to a certain space.

In the patent document CN107331202A (NANTONG XINTONG INTELLIGENT ENG CO LTD), November 07, 2017, "Method of guiding the parking space", once the vehicle has entered the building, the staff indicates a space number and manually connects a section of LED lights that continuously illuminate the route to the assigned square, luminously indicated with the corresponding number.

KR20190009629A (HUMAN DGM CO LTD), January 29, 2019, “Parking space indicator light control system”, describes a general control unit, connected to two sensors linked to the parking spaces and to the entrance and exit of the building, as well as located along the passageways, all of which in turn interact with a controller for guiding lights and locating the space. When a vehicle enters the car park, its presence is detected by a sensor, which in turn sequentially turns on the guide lights to a group of parking spaces, indicated by another light, and in turn to a specific space in the group, also indicated by another light.

These systems detect the vehicle when it crosses the thresholds of the building, which activates the means of guiding it to a space. The system computes the factors of the presence of a vehicle and the existence of a free space, but not certain characteristics of the vehicle (for example, large, electric, for a person with reduced mobility) that would advise guiding you not to any free space, but to one appropriate to its characteristics. In addition, these systems do not take into account that a vehicle may be followed by another very soon, so that either they wait until the first vehicle has moved considerably towards its space, with the consequent loss of time, or the risk of the driver of the second vehicle misguiding himself by the lights intended for the first.

The object of the present invention is to provide a parking space control system and procedure that assigns a space taking into account certain characteristics of the user; as well as guiding the vehicle by light means configured in such a way as to avoid confusion between the different vehicles circulating successively.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is a parking space control system and method. The system comprises control means (1), seat assignment means (2, 3, 4) and guide means to the assigned seat (5, 6, 7, 8, 9).

The control means comprise a central processing unit (1), which executes software configured to implement the method object of this patent.

The space allocation means (2, 3, 4) comprise first sensors (2) to detect the presence of a vehicle at the parking access point. Access point is understood as the place where the vehicle has to stop, or through which it has to pass, prior to the lifting of some element, such as a barrier, that prevents its physical access to the area where the parking spaces are arranged. Said first sensors (2) also measure the length of the vehicle.

The seat allocation means also comprise personalization means (3), understood as those that allow the user to choose between several computable options in the seat allocation, such as personal circumstances (reduced mobility) or their vehicle (electric, motorcycle ). Personalization is done in two different ways, depending on whether or not the car park user is registered. If you are an unregistered user, the personalization is done at the time of accessing the car park, and if you are registered, the personalization takes place at the time of registration and the characteristics of the space that can be assigned to the user are associated with a unique identification code recorded on a portable antenna unit (7) that is issued to said user at the time of registration.

Finally, the seat assignment means comprise information means for the user, which in one embodiment consist of an information screen (4), to indicate the corresponding seat and the color of the guide light that they must follow with their vehicle.

The guide means towards the assigned space (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) comprise lighting means (5, 6), antenna means (7, 8) and second electronic sensors (9).

The lighting means (5, 6) comprise a set of luminaires configured to emit light of different colors and that are located along the lanes intended for the circulation of vehicles within the car park. The set of luminaires is divided into sections, with the luminaires in each section capable of being switched on and off independently of the luminaires in the other sections. Likewise, the lighting means (5, 6) comprise at least one luminaire (6) located in each parking space, configured to emit light of different colors.

The performance of all the lighting means (5, 6) is controlled by antenna means (7, 8), which comprise portable antenna means (7) and fixed antenna means (8). It is understood by portable antenna (7) to which it is integrated into any portable support that the user can carry on himself (for example, a cardboard card) or in the vehicle itself (for example, attached to the windshield), said antenna being preferably a passive antenna known as radio frequency identification tags (RFID tag). Fixed antennas are those that are installed in the car park building.

The guide means towards the assigned space (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) finally comprise second sensors (9) associated with the parking spaces.

The parking space control procedure implemented by the described system begins with the arrival of the vehicle at the parking access point, at which time the space allocation means (2, 3, 4) come into operation, varying the procedure according to whether it is a registered user or not. In any case, the information screen (4) will indicate to the user at least one color of guide light that he must follow with his vehicle to the assigned space.

Once inside the car park, the means of guidance to the assigned space (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) come into operation. By interaction between the fixed antennas (8) and the portable antenna (7) in the possession of the user, the lights (5) will turn on in sections as the vehicle passes, in the color that has been indicated to the user by the information screen ( 4), and will turn off as the vehicle passes the corresponding section. When the vehicle reaches a sufficient distance from the assigned parking space so that the vehicle can begin to brake or manoeuvre, the light (6) located in the assigned parking space will come on, preferably intermittently.

The control means (1) will assign a different guide light color to the following vehicle. The sectional switching off and the color difference of the guide light of successive vehicles will prevent a user from being confused with the guide lights intended for the preceding vehicle. The second sensors (9) associated with that parking space will indicate to the control means (1) that the parking operation has ended.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description, a drawing is attached, which, by way of illustration and not limitation, represents the following:

FIG. 1: Side schematic view of the various system components.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the object of the invention is a parking space control system, the components of which are shown schematically in Figure 1. The system comprises control means (1), means for assigning a parking space (2, 3, 4) and guide means towards said square (5, 6, 7, 8, 9).

The control means (1) comprise a central processing unit (CPU) (1) housed in a server located in the car park building itself, which runs software housed in the same server. The central processing unit (1) comprises a microprocessor, which can be a single core or a multicore processor that combines two or more microprocessors, a choice that, when designing the system, will be made by the person skilled in the art depending on the foreseeable data traffic, which will be determined by factors such as the number of spaces in the car park where the system is going to be installed and the number of vehicles that are expected to circulate through it simultaneously.

The space allocation means (2, 3, 4) firstly comprise some first sensors, specifically two electronic presence sensors (2) located on a side wall of the parking access lane. These first sensors (2) detect the presence of a vehicle and measure its length.

The space allocation means (2, 3, 4) also include space personalization means, which in this embodiment are located in an electronic box (3) arranged on a pole located at the parking access point already which the user can access from his vehicle.

In the electronic box there is a touch panel, which offers the user, at the time of access to the car park, the possibility of marking certain options, for example: electric vehicle, motorcycle or vehicle whose user is a person with reduced mobility. By default, the "user without special needs" option will be checked.

The option of personalizing the space at the time of access to the car park, in the way that has just been mentioned, is especially suitable for those who use the facilities sporadically, called non-registered users for this purpose. For those who come to the car park regularly, there is the possibility of requesting their registration from the car park management company. At the time of registration, the space is personalized according to the dimensions of the vehicle and the same options available to non-registered users. As a result of the registration process, the user is issued a portable antenna unit, preferably a passive antenna known as RFID tags (7), which are characterized in that they have a unique identification code engraved on them.

The electronic box (3) also comprises an issuer of portable antenna units, specifically cards that incorporate an RFID tag with a unique identification code. These cards are intended for unregistered users, who will pick them up and carry them inside the vehicle.

The electronic box (3) finally comprises a radio frequency card reader, which will read the RFID tags carried by registered users, so that the electronic box (3) will not issue them a card with an RFID antenna.

Lastly, the seat assignment means comprise information means, specifically an information screen (4), arranged at the access point, in any location easily visible by the user.

The guide means towards the assigned space (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) comprise lighting means (5, 6), antenna means (7, 8) and second electronic sensors (9).

The lighting means, in this embodiment, comprise a set of LED luminaires (5), specifically RGB-type LED luminaires, known in the art, which are characterized in that they combine three basic luminaires in the same point of light, each one of a basic color (red, green and blue) and each one with its connection channel. An RGB LED luminaire should be understood as a grouping point of light for three basic luminaires. By means of a microcontroller it is possible to act in multiple conventional ways on an RGB LED luminaire. In this way, it is possible to control which basic luminaires are turned on: only one can be turned on, with which a light the basic color in question; or more than one, with which the color emitted by the RGB LED luminaire will depend on the colors that are combined, for example, if the red and green are turned on, a yellow light will be emitted; Or you can control the intensity of the light emitted by each basic luminaire, which allows you to achieve a wide range of light colors.

The RGB LED luminaires (5) by means of which this invention is preferably carried out are grouped into strips, known in the art as RGB LED strips. By means of the microcontrollers conventionally incorporated into the RGB LED strips, it is possible to control the switching on and off of the RGB LED luminaires (5) that are part of the strip in the desired way: all the luminaires can be turned on simultaneously, or successively, creating in this last case an impression of movement; Some can be turned off as others are turned on, or the strip can be divided into sections, being able to control which sections are turned on and which are turned off.

In this embodiment, the RGB LED strips are divided into sections. Specifically, on the floor of the car park, in a substantially central area of each of its lanes and linking one lane with another, to cover the entire route that a vehicle can travel through them, a channel is made in which a RGB LED strip. Obviously, given the limited length of rolls of RGB LED strips available on the market, it may be necessary to join several rolls, it being logically understood that said succession constitutes a single LED strip.

Functionally, the RGB LED strip is divided into sections, in the sense that the RGB LED lights (5) of each section can be turned on and off independently of the RGB LED lights (5) of the other sections. To this end, each section is assigned a unique electronic address. The length of each section can be chosen by the technician in charge of the installation, who logically can take into account factors such as the length of the lanes or the width of the spaces, so that the longer the lanes or the greater the width of the spaces, the more convenient a greater length of the sections. Conveniently, the length of the sections will be sufficient for the user to be able to see in front of him a sufficiently indicative light sign. By way of example, it is believed that a length of five meters will be adequate for most embodiments.

The lighting means (5, 6) for guiding the assigned space also comprise second lighting means, consisting of an RGB LED luminaire (6) located in each parking space, at a point preferably located on the ground and close to the outer edge of the square. Each of these luminaires is assigned a unique electronic address and is associated with a fixed antenna (8). Depending on the characteristics of the installation, a fixed antenna (8) can be associated with more than one RGB LED luminaire (6).

As mentioned, the guide means towards the assigned place (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) also comprise antenna means, specifically portable (7) and fixed (8) antennas.

In this embodiment, the portable antenna means comprise an RFID tag (7), which, in the case of an unregistered user, is attached to the card issued by the electronic box (3) at the time of access to the parking; while registered users will carry it with them (normally, attached to some point of the vehicle) at the time of access to the car park, as it has been issued at the time of registration. It is a conventional RFID tag, which incorporates an integrated circuit with a unique identification code. When crossing the field of a fixed RFID antenna, the integrated circuit of the RFID tags is activated and emits its identification code, which is captured by the fixed RFID antenna. Through the use of RFID tags, each vehicle will be located at all times, which will allow the RGB LED lights (5) of the sections corresponding to their location to be turned on or off, with the guide light color that has been assigned to that carrier user. of a unique identification code on your RFID tag.

The fixed antenna means (8) comprise a set of RFID fixed antennas (8) installed in the upper part of the columns or on the roof of the parking building, so that its range is sufficient for its signal to be captured by the portable antennas (7) that are on board the vehicles that circulate through the car park. In the embodiment that is being described, in which the RGB LED strips (5) are divided into sections, a fixed antenna (8) is associated with each section, so that the turning on and off of the RGB LED lights (5) of each section will be subject to the signals sent by the corresponding fixed antenna (8) to the central processing unit (1). This is without prejudice to the fact that in some cases the technician may associate more than one fixed antenna (8) to the same section, for example, when the section is curved, or at forks in the rail. Likewise, it can be arranged that the range of the fixed antennas (8) does not coincide with the beginning and the end of the section assigned to them, but that the range will extend from an approximate and exemplary distance of one meter before the beginning of the section, up to one meter before the end of the section, which will allow the RGB LED lights (5) of said section to come on before the vehicle has reached the beginning of the next section.

Finally, the guide means towards the assigned space comprise second electronic presence sensors (9) installed one in each parking space.

The system that has been described implies communication between its different components. Specifically, the central processing unit (1) has to acquire data from the first (2) and second (9) electronic sensors, from the touch panel of the electronic box (3) in which the unregistered user personalizes his place , the RFID tag reader (7) carried by registered users and the fixed antennas (8) installed at different points in the car park. And, consequently, the central processing unit (1) has to send instructions to the electronic box (3) for the generation of an identification code associated with an RFID tag and the issuance of said tag to the non-registered user; to the information screen (4), to the RGB LED luminaires (5) grouped in strips and to the RGB LED luminaires (6) associated with each parking space, in addition to the parking barrier.

Communication in both directions between the central processing unit (1) and the different components of the system (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) is carried out via wireless connection, which can be implemented by various means known in the state of the art, and that the expert will choose based on criteria such as the dimensions of the building where the system is going to be installed or the traffic forecast. These means can be, preferably, through the CAN communications protocol, using a CAN bus, preferably low speed (ISO 11519-2 standard). In other embodiments, LAN or Wi-Fi networks can be used.

In a second aspect, the invention relates to a parking space control procedure implemented by the described system. This procedure begins with the arrival of the vehicle at the parking access point. If it is a user registered, the radiofrequency antenna reader of the electronic box (3) will read the RFID tag (7) that the vehicle carries. If you are an unregistered user, the first electronic sensors (2) measure the length of the vehicle and the user will indicate the corresponding option on the touch panel of the electronic box (3).

The data thus obtained (the unique identification code contained in the RFID tag (7) of the registered user, or the option marked by the non-registered user) are transmitted to the central processing unit (1), which will assign to that vehicle a square number and a guide light color. This information will be transmitted to the information screen (4), where it will be displayed for viewing by the user. Simultaneously, the electronic box (3) will issue the non-registered user a card with an RFID tag (7). Then the vehicle will access the area where the parking spaces are located (after the conventional step of raising the barrier located at the access point).

When the vehicle accesses the enclosure, instantly the signal emitted by a first fixed antenna (8) associated with the first section of the RGB LED strip that is located in the path of the vehicle will cause the activation of the integrated circuit of the RFID tag (7) of the vehicle. Username. The fixed RFID antenna (8) reads the unique identification code associated with that RFID tag (7) and transmits it to the central processing unit (1), which activates the RGB LED lights (5) of said first section, which they will illuminate with the guide color that has been assigned to the vehicle. When there is one meter left to the end of that section, the vehicle enters the range of a second fixed antenna (8), which sends the unique identification code to the central processing unit (1), which will order the turn off of the RGB LED luminaires (5) of the section to be overcome (the vehicle will already be driving over that section, so the switch-off will not be perceived by the user) and the switching on of the second section associated with said second fixed antenna (8). This operation will take place successively, in relation to as many sections of RGB LED luminaires (5) as there are from the point where the vehicle is at a given moment and up to the space that has been assigned to it.

When the vehicle is at a distance that, by way of example, can be 10 meters from the assigned space, the fixed antenna (8) associated with the luminaire (6) located in the assigned space, and by interaction with the RFID tag ( 7) of the vehicle, it will capture said situation of the vehicle and transmit the data to the central processing unit (1), which will cause the luminaire (6) to light up intermittently with light of the same color as the guide light, thus warning the user in advance of the approach to their assigned space.

Once the vehicle is parked, the second sensor (9) associated with the occupied parking space will transmit the variable to the control unit (1) so that it stops the guidance function.

At the same time that the system is guiding a vehicle, another vehicle may have entered the premises. The guide light color that will have been assigned is different from the previous one. As this vehicle has associated (by means of the RFID tag (7) that it carries) a unique identification code, the network of fixed antennas (8) will successively capture and transmit that unique code to the central processing unit (1), which will turn on and turning off the successive sections of RGB LED lights (5), which will emit a light of a different color from that assigned to the preceding vehicle. This will be done with all the vehicles that successively access the premises.

Claims (10)

1. Parking space control system comprising control means (1), space allocation means (2, 3, 4) and guide means towards the assigned space (5, 6, 7, 8, 9), characterized in that the space assignment means (2, 3, 4) comprise personalization means (3) and in that the guide means towards the assigned space (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) comprise a plurality of luminaires (5 ) configured to emit light of different colors, the set of luminaires being divided into sections and the luminaires that make up each section being capable of being switched on and off independently of the luminaires of the other sections. 2. Parking space control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the space allocation means (2, 3, 4) also comprise first sensors (2) that measure the length of a vehicle at the point of access to a parking lot 3. Parking space control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the plurality of luminaires (5) are RGB LED luminaires that are grouped in an RGB LED strip. 4. Parking space control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide means towards the assigned space (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) comprise at least one portable antenna per vehicle (7) and a plurality of fixed antennas (8) arranged in the parking area. 5. Parking space control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide means towards the assigned space (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) comprise at least one luminaire (6) in each parking space, the which is configured to emit light of different colors and is associated with a fixed antenna (8). 6. Parking space control system according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide means towards the assigned space (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) comprise second sensors (9) for detecting the vehicle parked in the space assigned. 7. Parking space control procedure characterized in that it comprises the following phases: a) issue a support to a user that incorporates a portable antenna (7) with a unique identification code, b) assign the user a guide light color, c) activating the user's portable antenna (7) by means of the radio frequency signals emitted by a first fixed antenna (8), so that the first fixed antenna (8) reads the unique identification code and transmits the location of the vehicle to the control means (1), d) turn on lights (5) of a first section of lights corresponding to the location of the vehicle, in a light color corresponding to the guide light color assigned to the user. e) turn on successively the sections of luminaires that are between the location of the vehicle and the space assigned to that vehicle, f) turn on at least one luminaire (6) located in the assigned parking space, in a light color corresponding to the color of guide light assigned to the user. g) detecting in the central processing unit (1) the presence of the vehicle once it has parked in the assigned space. 8. Parking space control procedure according to claim 7, characterized in that the support that incorporates a portable antenna (7) is issued to the user at the parking access point, when it is an unregistered user, or at the time of registration, when it comes to a registered user. Parking space control method according to claim 7, characterized in that it further comprises turning off the lights corresponding to the section of lights (5) that has been passed by the user's vehicle. Parking space control method according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises assigning a guide light color to a subsequent user that is different from the color assigned to the preceding user.