GB2027965A - Improvements in or relating to metering devices - Google Patents
Improvements in or relating to metering devices Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2027965A GB2027965A GB7833033A GB7833033A GB2027965A GB 2027965 A GB2027965 A GB 2027965A GB 7833033 A GB7833033 A GB 7833033A GB 7833033 A GB7833033 A GB 7833033A GB 2027965 A GB2027965 A GB 2027965A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- token
- metering device
- magnetically encoded
- parking
- encoded data
- 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.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F7/00—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus
- G07F7/02—Mechanisms actuated by objects other than coins to free or to actuate vending, hiring, coin or paper currency dispensing or refunding apparatus by keys or other credit registering devices
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K7/00—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns
- G06K7/08—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes
- G06K7/082—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes using inductive or magnetic sensors
- G06K7/083—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes using inductive or magnetic sensors inductive
- G06K7/084—Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns by means detecting the change of an electrostatic or magnetic field, e.g. by detecting change of capacitance between electrodes using inductive or magnetic sensors inductive sensing magnetic material by relative movement detecting flux changes without altering its magnetised state
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
- G06Q20/08—Payment architectures
- G06Q20/12—Payment architectures specially adapted for electronic shopping systems
- G06Q20/127—Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q20/00—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols
- G06Q20/30—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks
- G06Q20/34—Payment architectures, schemes or protocols characterised by the use of specific devices or networks using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
- G06Q20/343—Cards including a counter
- G06Q20/3437—Cards including a counter the counter having non-monetary units, e.g. trips
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/0014—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00
-
- 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
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- General Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
- Strategic Management (AREA)
- Finance (AREA)
- Artificial Intelligence (AREA)
- Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
- Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
Abstract
The invention is concerned with a metering device which is particularly suitable for a parking meter which is operated by means of magnetically encoded tokens. The tokens are in the form of a small sheet of plastics material, which also carries an optical pattern by means of which a clock signal can be generated to extract the magnetically encoded data. The parking meter at each transaction re-encodes data in magnetic form and enters it on to the token in accordance with the value of the transaction. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Improvements in or relating to metering devices
This invention relates to metering devices and is intended for use in applications where many such devices are required which are inherently cheap to provide and inexpensive and reliable to operate. An important example of a metering device having these requirements is a parking meter, and the present invention seeks to provide an improved metering device suitable for this purpose.
According to this invention a metering device includes means for receiving a token bearing magnetically encoded data and bearing optical data by means of which the position of the magnetically encoded data can be determined, means for optically scanning the optical data and for deriving therefrom a clocking signal, means utilising the clocking signal for reading the magnetically encoded data and means for entering on to the token modified magnetically encoded data, which is modified in dependence on the transaction performed by the metering device.
Preferably the means for receiving the token includes a guide into which the token may be inserted manually, the optical and magnetic data being read, whilst the token is passed through the guide.
Preferably again the means for receiving the token is designed to receive an elongate token having parallel major edges.
Preferably means are provided for feeding the token passed optical and magnetic read heads at a predetermined speed, following the manual insertion of the token into the guide means.
The invention is primarily intended for use in a parking meter where the token is used in place of coins to purchase parking time, but the metering device may be used for other applications.
Preferably a display device is provided for indicating the parking time purchased.
Preferably again a predetermined number (including one) of units of parking time is purchased on each occasion on which the token is fed into the parking meter in a predetermined manner. On each occasion that parking time is purchased the magnetic data originally present on the token is modified to decrement the units of parking time remaining on the token.
Preferably again the parking meter is arranged to decrement only when the token is inserted into the guide in a predetermined direction. When the token is inserted in the other direction, the display is conveniently arranged to indicate the number of
unused parking units remaining on the token and/or the period of parking time remaining from a pre vious transaction.
In addition to the basic functions required of a
parking meter, additional functions may be provided
as required. A meter attendant may determine the
duration of parking time remaining at a given
parking meter or if the parking time purchased has
expired the length of overstay, by inserting a
valueless or special token into the meter. For audit purposes the total number of parking time units purchased may be accessed by inserting a different special token into the parking meter on to which the required information is entered in magnetically encoded form.
The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,
Figure 1 illustrates in simplified form a token suitable for use with a metering device in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 2 illustrates waveforms relating to the extraction of optical data and magnetically encoded data from the token,
Figure 3 illustrates a block circuit diagram of waveform of a parking meter in accordance with the present invention,
Figure 4 illustrates the detail of the optical reading head incorporated in the metering device and
Figure 5 illustrates the optical mask forming part of the optical reading head.
Referring to Figure 1, a token suitable for use with a parking meter consists of a plastic elongate magnetically encoded card having parallel major edges. It is envisaged that the cards will be sold by parking authorities and encoded with a particular number of parking units. The number of parking units is encoded on a magnetic stripe 1 and at each parking transaction the number of parking units remaining is decremented by that number appropriate to the current tarrif. In principle all that is necessary is that the number of units is decremented by one for each transaction but the use of multiple units which are spent at each transaction provides greater flexibility for adjusting the current tarrif.The card also includes optical information in the form of a series of parallel black and white stripes 2, which enable the magnetically encoded information to be read in a particularly simple, reliable and inexpensive manner. It is envisaged that when a card is inserted into a meter in the direction of the arrow marked "park", a display associated with the parking meter will indicate the parking period purchased by that insertion and when the card is inserted in the direction of the arrow "read", the same display will indicate both the amount of parking time remaining which has already been purchased for that meter and also the number of parking units remaining on that card. These two items of information may be displayed simuitaneously on a composite display or sequentially for a few seconds at a time.
The stripe 1 may conveniently consist of a barium ferrite coating under a very thin layer of plastics material and the barium ferrite may be encoded in a manner which makes it difficult to modify the magnetically encoded data in an unauthorised manner as it has a high coercivity. The card is manualiy inserted by a purchaser into a guide associated with the parking meter and it is drawn passed optical and magnetic read heads at a controlled rate by a small electrical motor drive. The use of optical stripes makes the speed at which the card is drawn into the meter a matter of secondary importance since the positioning of the magnetically encoded data can be determined from a clock signal derived from the positioning of the optical stripes.
Referring to Figure 2, line a represents the output from an optical clock. The nature of the optical read head is shown in greater detail in Figure 4 and it is assumed for the present purpose that a square wave is derived from the card as it is fed passed the optical read head. Line b of Figure 2 represents the original waveform used to magnetically encode the card and line c indicates the corresponding signal which is produced by the magnetic reading head within the parking meter. Priorto utilisation, this signal is rectified to produce the form shown in line d. A bistable forming part of a signal decoder is arranged to receive this waveform and to provide an output of the form shown in line e.It will thus be seen that the basis of the operation is that the current in the recording head is reversed each time the magnetic bit to be recorded as a logic 1, but is unchanged if the bit is a logic 0. In the read mode, a signal is detected only when the magnetic head traverses a portion where the recording head current was reversed, i.e.
when a logic level 1 was entered. Thus if there is no change in the signal level shown in line e of Figure 2 at clock signal transitions, then a logic 0 is assumed.
A parking meter utilising this form of optical and magnetically encoded data is shown in Figure 3 in which a magnetic read head 3 detects the magnetically encoded data present on a card. The information derived from the head 3 is passed via a read amplifier 4to a signal decoder 5, which converts the code signal into a form which is useable by the parking meter as outlined above. The decoded signal is entered into an input register 6, which is clocked by a clock signal derived from the optical stripes 2 on the card. An optical reader 7 senses the transitions in reflected light as a card is moved passed a light sensitive device to produce an electrical signal which varies accordingly. An optical clock 8 derives from this a square wave signal of the form shown in line a of Figure 2.
Once data has been correctly assembled in input register 6, it is entered into a store-control unit 9. The magnetically encoded data which is read by the magnetic head 3 includes not only the value of the parking time remaining on the card, but also contains operational instructions. Thus if the card has been inserted in the direction of the arrow "park", the store-control unit 9 displays on a display unit 10 the period of time purchased and sends to an output register 11 the number of parking units which is to be re-entered onto the card, which is a predetermined amount less than that received. When the card is moved so as to eject it from the meter, usually under control of an electric motor drive and timing circuit, the information is fed out of output register 11 in synchronism with the optical clock signals derived from the optical reader 7.A write amplifier 12 energises a magnetic recorder head so that the modified data is entered onto the magnetic stripe 1 of the card in an appropriately encoded form. When the card is entered into the meter in the direction of the arrow marked "read" in Figure 1, a similar sequence of events takes place except that the store-control unit detects the function required and causes to be displayed by the display unit 10 the number of parking units remaining on the card and the period of time already purchased and remaining.
In this case an unmodified magnetically encoded information is re-entered by the magnetic head on to the card.
In order to improve the reliability of the optical clock signal an optical read head of the form shown in Figure 4 may be advantageously used. A card 3 is moved over a read position 15 and the optically encoded stripes are illuminated by an infra-red source 16. Reflectionsfrom the stripes are then detected by a photo sensitive detector 17 and the appropriate clock signal is generated. The optically encoded stripes are illuminated and the reflections are sensed through a multiple grid positioned at the optical reading position 15. The nature of the multiple slits is illustrated in Figure 5 and the effects of dirt and marks on the card which degrade the optical nature of the optically encoded stripes are very much reduced by integrating over several stripes using the matching grid shown in Figure 5, which has the same pitch as the stripes 2.
Claims (13)
1. A metering device including means for receiving a token bearing magnetically encoded data and bearing optical data by means of which the position of the magnetically encoded data can be determined, means for optically scanning the optical data and for deriving therefrom a clocking signal, means utilising the clocking signal for reading the magnetically encoded data and means for entering on to the token modified magnetically encoded data, which is modified in dependence on the transaction performed by the metering device.
2. A metering device as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the means for receiving the token includes a guide into which the token may be inserted manually, the optical and magnetic data being read whilst the token is passed through the guide.
3. A metering device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 and wherein the means for receiving the token is designed to receive an elongate token having parallel major edges.
4. A metering device as claimed in claim 2 and wherein means are provided for feeding the token passed optical and magnetic read heads at a predetermined speed, following the manual insertion of the token into the guide means.
5. A metering device as claimed in any of the preceding claims and wherein it operates as a parking meter.
6. A metering device as claimed in claim 5 and wherein a display device is provided for indicating the parking time purchased.
7. A metering device as claimed in claim 5 or 6 and wherein a predetermined number (including one) of units of parking time is purchased on each occasion on which the token is fed into the parking meter in a predetermined manner.
8. A metering device as claimed in claim 7 and wherein on each occasion that parking time is purchased the magnetic data originally present on the token is modified to decrement the units of parking time remaining on the token.
9. A metering device as claimed in claim 8 and wherein the parking meter is arranged to decrement only when the token is inserted into the guide in a predetermined direction.
10. A metering device as claimed in claim 9 and wherein, when the token is inserted in the opposite direction, the display is arranged to indicate the number of unused parking units remaining on the token and/or the period of parking time remaining from a previous transaction.
11. A token for use with a metering device in accordance with any of the preceding claims and wherein it bears magnetically encoded data, and optical data by means of which the position of the magnetically encoded data can be determined.
12. A token as claimed in claim 11 and wherein the optical data consists of a pattern from which a clock signal can be generated to enable the magnetically encoded data to be decoded.
13. A metering device substantially as illustrated in and described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7833033A GB2027965B (en) | 1978-08-11 | 1978-08-11 | Metering devices |
| DE19782843786 DE2843786A1 (en) | 1978-08-11 | 1978-10-06 | DATA ACQUISITION AND PROCESSING DEVICE |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7833033A GB2027965B (en) | 1978-08-11 | 1978-08-11 | Metering devices |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2027965A true GB2027965A (en) | 1980-02-27 |
| GB2027965B GB2027965B (en) | 1982-09-29 |
Family
ID=10498991
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB7833033A Expired GB2027965B (en) | 1978-08-11 | 1978-08-11 | Metering devices |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| DE (1) | DE2843786A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2027965B (en) |
Cited By (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0051403A2 (en) * | 1980-10-29 | 1982-05-12 | Service Distributors, Inc. | Card punch |
| FR2499268A1 (en) * | 1981-02-02 | 1982-08-06 | Hamon Nicolas | Magnetically encoded badge reader for personnel control - has separate magnetic tracks for each bit sensed and operation initiation provided on phototransistor and LED arrangement on edge of badge |
| WO1984001073A1 (en) * | 1982-09-07 | 1984-03-15 | Kurt Katzeff | Arrangement for a payment system utilising a payment card within the telecommunication network |
| FR2547083A1 (en) * | 1983-06-01 | 1984-12-07 | Laborier Dominique | Parking meter for paying parking operating without money and monitoring device for such a parking meter |
| EP0157042A2 (en) * | 1984-04-04 | 1985-10-09 | Rigby Electronics Group Plc. | Electronic data reader/writer |
| GB2158628A (en) * | 1984-01-27 | 1985-11-13 | Sze Choon Chong | Micro computer parking meter |
| US4587410A (en) * | 1984-04-09 | 1986-05-06 | Milnes Arthur G | Capacitive card and reader parking system |
| GB2202068A (en) * | 1987-03-10 | 1988-09-14 | Chong Sze Choon | Microcomputer parking meter |
| WO1993000661A1 (en) * | 1991-06-29 | 1993-01-07 | Gec Avery Limited | Magnetic token and token transaction system |
-
1978
- 1978-08-11 GB GB7833033A patent/GB2027965B/en not_active Expired
- 1978-10-06 DE DE19782843786 patent/DE2843786A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (12)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0051403A2 (en) * | 1980-10-29 | 1982-05-12 | Service Distributors, Inc. | Card punch |
| EP0051403A3 (en) * | 1980-10-29 | 1982-10-13 | Service Distributors, Inc. | Card punch |
| FR2499268A1 (en) * | 1981-02-02 | 1982-08-06 | Hamon Nicolas | Magnetically encoded badge reader for personnel control - has separate magnetic tracks for each bit sensed and operation initiation provided on phototransistor and LED arrangement on edge of badge |
| WO1984001073A1 (en) * | 1982-09-07 | 1984-03-15 | Kurt Katzeff | Arrangement for a payment system utilising a payment card within the telecommunication network |
| US4577061A (en) * | 1982-09-07 | 1986-03-18 | Kurt Katzeff | Arrangement for a pay telephone payment system utilizing a payment card within the telecommunication system |
| FR2547083A1 (en) * | 1983-06-01 | 1984-12-07 | Laborier Dominique | Parking meter for paying parking operating without money and monitoring device for such a parking meter |
| GB2158628A (en) * | 1984-01-27 | 1985-11-13 | Sze Choon Chong | Micro computer parking meter |
| EP0157042A2 (en) * | 1984-04-04 | 1985-10-09 | Rigby Electronics Group Plc. | Electronic data reader/writer |
| EP0157042A3 (en) * | 1984-04-04 | 1986-09-17 | Rigby Electronics Group Plc. | Electronic data reader/writer |
| US4587410A (en) * | 1984-04-09 | 1986-05-06 | Milnes Arthur G | Capacitive card and reader parking system |
| GB2202068A (en) * | 1987-03-10 | 1988-09-14 | Chong Sze Choon | Microcomputer parking meter |
| WO1993000661A1 (en) * | 1991-06-29 | 1993-01-07 | Gec Avery Limited | Magnetic token and token transaction system |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2027965B (en) | 1982-09-29 |
| DE2843786A1 (en) | 1980-03-27 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US5374816A (en) | Optical method and apparatus for authenticating degaussed magnetic identification means | |
| US4507550A (en) | High security credit card, system and method | |
| US3700862A (en) | Indicia system for credit cards and the like | |
| US4863196A (en) | Certification identifying medium | |
| GB1117088A (en) | Apparatus for certifying the validity of a credit card for use with a vending machine | |
| GB2027965A (en) | Improvements in or relating to metering devices | |
| US4237376A (en) | Event monitor for court games | |
| GB2041611A (en) | Improvements in or relating to metering devices | |
| EP0737965A4 (en) | Optical information recording medium and its manufacturing method | |
| US5298726A (en) | Fare card read-writer which overwrites oldest or invalid data | |
| US4880963A (en) | Encoding magnetic cards | |
| US4346290A (en) | Device for the recognition and progressive cancellation of information recorded on a magnetic support | |
| ES2097288T3 (en) | PRE-PAYMENT SYSTEM. | |
| US5191195A (en) | Fare card read-writer which overwrites oldest or invalid data | |
| WO1981003562A1 (en) | Debit card system | |
| FR2542473A1 (en) | INFORMATION CARRIER, METHOD OF DIGITALLY ENCODING SUCH MEDIUM AND DEVICE FOR AUTHORIZING THE OPERATION OF AN APPARATUS USING SUCH A MEDIUM | |
| JPS5617465A (en) | Identification system | |
| JP2761693B2 (en) | Method of preventing unauthorized use of magnetic card | |
| GB2236422A (en) | Pre-payment token for supply of a commodity | |
| JPS58111130A (en) | Magnetic recording medium | |
| EP0157042A3 (en) | Electronic data reader/writer | |
| JPS55135311A (en) | Magnetic recording medium reader | |
| JPH0689376A (en) | Unalterable magnetic card | |
| JPS5844429Y2 (en) | Magnetic card fraud prevention device | |
| JPS642196A (en) | Ticket processing terminal equipment |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19920811 |