IL108701A - Parking card for the charge-related actuation of a parking barrier - Google Patents

Description

PARKING CARD FOR THE CHARGE-RELATED ACTUATION OF A PARKING BARRIER The invention relates to a parking card which is intended for the charge-related actuation of a parking barrier and is in the form of a sheet-like plastic piece having a front side and a rear side and having a machine- readable data carrier for storing car-park information and user information and, if appropriate, the entrance time and departure time .

Parking cards of this type are issued to the user on passing entrance-control stations of a multi- storey car park or open-air car park, the data necessary for calculation of parking charges being stored on the parking card. The use of paying machines with a computer- controlled method of proceeding with the parking operations makes it necessary to store the various items of parking information or identification codings in a machine-readable manner. Use is thus made of, on the one hand, so-called magnetic-card tickets which consist of paper and have a magnetic strip for storing the individual items of parking data and, on the other hand, plastic tickets with an individualizing identification coding, e.g. a bar code, or an integrated, programmable chip.

Whereas the magnetic-card ticket which consists of paper can only be used once, the parking cards which consist of plastic and of a programmable chip or an identification coding can be used for successive parking operations, to be precise as a single parking card for different users, as a debit parking card or as an access card for long-stay parkers . Repeated collection and issuing of the plastic parking cards requires entrance-control and departure-control stations which store the parking cards to be issued, feed them to a read/write station and deliver them in issuing openings which are accessible to the car-park user. For the calculation of the parking times and parking charges to proceed in a problem- free manner, the parking cards consequently have to cover a plurality of transport paths, for which purpose conveying belts or conveying rollers are generally provided. Owing to the frequent buckling of the parking cards during their transport to the read/write stations, the likelihood of disruption is great, with the result that a smooth issuing operation and/or collection of the parking cards is not ensured. The likelihood of disruption is increased to an even greater extent by the fact that it is possible to read the machine-readable data carriers from only one direction.

The object of the invention is thus to provide a parking card, in accordance with the preamble of Claim 1, which is easily constructed and can be handled with ease and permits the installation of an inexpensive parking service system.

This object is achieved according to the characterizing part of Claim 1.

This results in a parking card, for a parking service system, which, owing to its rolling capacity, can move without complex transport devices and, due to its position- independent readability, if appropriate also its capacity for receiving recordings, can be moved in various positions to a read/write station or communication device. Owing to the combination, according to the invention, of parking-card configuration and the type of design of the machine-readable data carrier, the handling advantages of a round shape can be exploited to the full. In addition, said parking card can be re-used, is stable and can be inexpensively produced. The electronic component, which operates in a contactless manner and can be at least stored, but may also be programmable, permits use without wear due to repeated scanning.

The parking card can thus be used for a plurality of successive parking operations, as a result of which the operating costs are kept low. Each parking card obtains an individual identification coding or identification number, with the result that, by means of said parking card, the parking charges can be calculated, in dependence on entrance time and parking duration, by an associated computer unit of a parking system. life due to the integrated batteries.

For an optimum design of the position-independent data transmission, preferably omnidirectional waves are produced and emitted by the data- transmission devices.

Finally, said parking card makes it possible to construct a simple and inexpensive parking service system which runs in accordance with the method steps of Claim 1 in order to register parking times and parking charges.

Further configurations of the invention can be gathered from the following description and the subclaims .

The invention is illustrated in more detail hereinbelow with reference to the exemplary embodiments represented in the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 shows, schematically, a plan view of a first exemplary embodiment of the parking card, Figure 2 shows, schematically, a side view of the parking card according to Figure 1, Figure 3 shows, schematically, a plan view of a second exemplary embodiment of the parking card, Figure 4 shows, schematically, a side view of the parking card according to Figure 3, and Figure 5 shows, schematically, a plan view of a third exemplary embodiment of the parking card.

Figures 1 and 2 show a first exemplary embodiment of a parking card which is intended for the charge-related actuation of a parking barrier and is in the form of a sheet-like plastic piece 1 having a front side 2 and a rear side 3 which are arranged at a distance from, and parallel to, each other. The front side 2 and the rear side 3 delimit a plastic piece 1 which is designed such that it is round. The parking card is thus in the form of a round coin which can roll away via a border 4 forming the circumferential surface. The space between the front side 2 and the rear side 3 is filled entirely with plastic material, with the result that the plastic piece 1 is designed to be solid. The space between front side 2 and rear side 3 may also, however, be only partially filled, with the result that the plastic piece has a hollow inner structure in order, if appropriate, to be able to adjust the rolling properties in dependence on the weight of the parking card.

A machine-readable data carrier is, furthermore, inserted into the front side 2, said data carrier being an electronic identification and/or communication component 5 which responds or operates in a contactless and position-independent manner and is designed for storing and/or reading various items of parking information. For details, you are referred to the following description. Said data-carrier component 5 may terminate flush with the front side 2 or be located, beneath or behind the front side 2, in a cutout in the plastic piece 1, with the result that the data-carrier component 5 is enveloped by the plastic piece 1. The data-carrier component 5 may be arranged, on or in the parking card, in the centre or at the sides or off-centre.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the round coin may be designed in a number of pieces rather than in one piece. Here, the round coin comprises two discs 8, 9 which can be fixedly connected to each other, can be placed flush against each other and receive the data-carrier component 5 in the inner space enclosed by them. A configuration of this type simplifies the mounting of the data-carrier component 5 in the plastic piece 1 if it is intended for the integration of the data-carrier component 5 not to be visible, in particular from the outside. In addition, the plastic piece 1 has a through-passage 10 which, here, is in the form of a centrally located round hole. Said through-passage 10 may, of course, also be provided in the round parking coin according to Figures 1 and 2.

The thickness of the plastic piece 1 according to Figures 1 to 4 is 3 mm, but it may, however, vary between 0.5 and 6 mm, and preferably lies between 2 and 4 mm. The diameter of the plastic piece 1 is 40 mm, but it may vary between 20 and 70 mm, and preferably lies between 35 and 50 mm.

Figure 5 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the parking card which, in terms of the form of the plastic piece 1 and of the identif cation and/or communication component 5, is designed in the same way as the first and second exemplary embodiments, but it is further provided with a display section 7 for the visual display of the address of the car park and of the parking-card number in clear lettering and/or of the ongoing parking time. In the case of a display of the ongoing parking time, the front side 2 may have a digital time display which is provided with a clockwork which is set in operation when the parking card is issued.

The identification and/or communication component 5, which operates in a contactless and position-independent manner, comprises a chip and a data- transmission device which emits electromagnetic waves. Said component 5 stores at least one once-only and thus unique code number which can be read out in a contactless and position-independent manner. In addition to its storing capacity, the component 5 may also be capable of processing and, for this purpose, be loaded with individual menus in order to be used as a decentralized data carrier which can not only be read out but may also be capable of receiving recordings of items of parking information. Consequently, the chip can be re-programmed for each parking operation in order to permit additional processing of the items of parking information. The items of parking information are then contained in the round parking coin and are newly registered for each parking operation, it being possible to erase or overwrite the preceding items of parking information. Consequently, a repeated issuing of the parking card with fixed code or reprogrammable component 5 for short-stay parkers is possible. The same applies for the use of the parking card as a debit parking card or a long- stay parking card.

The identification and/or communication component 5 preferably operates passively and without batteries, to be precise with an inductive transmission of energy and data. The component 5 then comprises a chip and an aerial in the form of a coil, which is used for energy trans- having a vertical shaft, via a dispenser. Before issuing, the respective identification code is read in a contact- less and position-independent manner in a read/write station, which the parking card is to pass, and fed to a computer, which adds the entrance time, the date and the station number, and stores these collected items of information. If the parking card is designed as a decentralized data carrier, the entrance time can be stored directly in the parking card, with the result that external data transmission to the computer is dispensed with. By removing the parking card from an ejection slot, an entrance barrier is opened.

At the end of the parking duration, the user introduces the parking card into a paying machine. If the parking card passes into the signal range of a read/write station, the identification is read out again in a contactless and position-independent manner, the entrance time is compared to the actual time by computer and, as a result, the parking charge is established and displayed. After paying the parking charge due, the parking card is released. The computer adopts the new (paying) time and adds an allowance time in which the car-park user has to drive out of the car park. Alternatively, the new (paying) time may be written into the parking card in a contactless and position-independent manner.

Still with the same parking card, the user drives to the exit and introduces the card into a corresponding introduction slot, where it is read once again. If it is valid, the departure barrier is opened and the parking card falls into a collecting container for re-use. In the case of the programmable parking card, the read- in items of parking information are erased, apart from the fixed code .

The parking service system can be used not only by short- stay parkers, but also for long- stay parkers.

Although the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but rather, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims (21)

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1. A parking token which is intended for the charge-related actuation of a parking barrier and is in the form of a round plastic piece having an integrated electronic machine-readable identification and communication component comprising a chip for storing a token code for multiple use of said parking token, and said component further comprising a data transmission device which emits electronic waves in a substantially omnidirectional pattern to read out said card code in a contactless and position-independent manner.

2. The parking token according to Claim 1, wherein the chip can be programmed for storing and processing entrance times and departure times in addition to an individual identification number and, for this purpose, is readable and can receive recordings.

3. The parking token according to Claim 1, wherein the round plastic piece comprises two discs which can be fixedly connected to each other, envelope the identification and communication component and the overall thickness of which is from 2 to 4 mm.

4. The parking token according to Claim 1, wherein the plastic piece has a diameter of approximately 20 to 70 mm.

5. The parking token according to Claim 1, wherein, for the ongoing parking time, the front side has a digital time display with clockwork and power source.

6. The parking token according to Claim 1, wherein the round plastic piece has a central through-passage for sorting and stacking purposes.

7. The parking token according to Claim 1, wherein the identification and/or communication component operates passively and has an inductively - 10 - 108701/2 operable data transmission device with receiving and transmitting properties.

8. The parking token of Claim 1, wherein the identification and/or communication component operates actively and is designed with a transmitter as data-transmission device.

9. The parking token of Claim 1, wherein the data-transmission device produces and emits omnidirectional waves.

10. A method of registering parking times and/or parking charges by means of a round token including an electronic component characterized by the issue, on entrance into a car park, in each case of a parking token which is read in a position-independent and contactless manner and has an individual identification number for the car park user, transmission of the entrance time, under the identification number which has been read, to a computer and/or storage of the entrance time in the electronic component of the parking token, introduction of the parking token into a paying machine, transport of the parking token by rolling to a read/write station of said paying machine, reading of the identification number, if appropriate reading of the entrance time and writing of a departure time into the electronic component of the parking token after the parking charges due have been determined, introduction of the parking token into a departure station and transport of the parking token by rolling to a read/write station of said departure station for reading of the identification number to provide the computer with a release request or, if appropriate, additional reading of the departure time on the parking token and erasing of the parking data after a parking barrier has been opened.

11. The parking token as in Claim 1, wherein the plastic piece has a diameter of approximately 35 to 50 mm.

12. The parking token as in Claim 1, wherein said time information 108701/1 - 11 - comprises an entrance time to said car park.

13. The parking token as in claim 6, wherein said through-passage comprises a round hole.

14. A method for monitoring parking times and/or parking charges using parking tokens comprising round plastic pieces including an electronic component, comprising the steps of: assigning a token to a parking customer; upon entry of said customer to said car park: reading an identification number from said token; storing time information in a memory location associated with said identification number; and allowing said customer to enter said car park; upon said customer's desire to depart from said car park: placing said token in a payment station; moving said token, by rolling, to an interrogation station of said payment station; reading said identification number from said token; reading said time information associated with said identification number; and determining parking times or parking charges based upon said time information; and allowing said customer to exit said car park.

15. A method as in Claim 14, wherein said step of assigning comprises the step of rolling said token from a supply container to an ejection slot.

16. A method as in Claim 15, wherein an entrance barrier is opened when said token is moved to said ejection slot.

17. A method as in Claim 14, wherein said memory is contained within said electronic component. 108701/1 - 12 -

18. A method as in Claim 14, wherein said step of allowing said customer to exit said car park includes the step of first obtaining payment from said customer.

19. A method as in Claim 14, wherein said step of allowing said customer to exit said car park comprises the steps of: placing said token in a departure station; moving said token, by rolling, to an interrogation station of said departure station; reading said identification number from said token; and opening an exit barrier.

20. A parking token as in Claim 1, wherein said chip further stores time information.

21. A parking token as in Claim 20, wherein said time information comprises the entrance time to a parking area. ATTPWFYS FOR APPLICANTS