US3531627A

US3531627A - Transit ticket having fare coding means for automatic fare collection systems

Info

Publication number: US3531627A
Application number: US453714A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald M Ham
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1965-05-06
Filing date: 1965-05-06
Publication date: 1970-09-29
Anticipated expiration: 1987-09-29
Also published as: GB1082032A

Description

Sept. 29, 1970 D. M. HAM 3,531,627

G FARE CODING ANS FOR AUTOMATIC F COLLECTION SY MS Filed May a, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 TRANSIT TICKET H N Sept. 29, 1970 D. M. HAM 3,531,627

TRANSIT TICKET HAVING FARE CODING MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC FARE COLLECTION SYSTEMS Filed May 6, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet B 28' I 250000000ocaooooooooz4 a 285 28c 28d 0oo0o |oooo ooo o'oo l-r-zg OoOOOoooooooooooOOOO ooooo oooooooooo ooooo oooooooooooooooooooo 0000000000 0000000000 "ooooo oooooooooolooooo ooooooooooooo 000000 ooooo oooooooo olooooo' 0000000000 0000000000 ooooooooooocaoooooooo |o oooo oooooooooo ooooo oooooocoooooooaoooooo 00ooO Ooo0ooooooo0Oooi Joooo|o-t o0oooooo ooooo g0 k L ooooooooo'? ooooooooocQ '-,?2

(f 'Z/Zmr Fgk Sept. 29, 1970 D. M. HAM 531,627

TRANSIT TICKET HAVING FARE ING MEANS FOR A ATIC FARE COLLECT SYSTEMS Filed May 6, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent TRANSIT TICKET HAVING FARE CODING MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC FARE COLLEC- TION SYSTEMS Donald M. Ham, Rochester, N.H., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed May 6, 1965, Ser. No. 453,714 Int. Cl. G06k 19/06; H04q 3/02 US. Cl. 235-61.12 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to transit tickets and, more particularly, to a transit ticket having fare coding means for use in an automatic fare collection system.

Much interest has been expressed in recent years in rapid transit systems for moving a maximum amount of people in a minimum amount of time and space. The interest in these systems is increasing due to the growth of suburban communities surrounding large cities and the necessity of moving people from the suburbs into and out of the city, as Well as within the cities. Traffic congestion in and around such cities has become an increasing problem, making it necessary to provide for greater use of rapid transit systems.

Most transit systems use either a single fare structure or a zoned fare structure. In a single fare structure the customer may enter the system atany station on payment of the single fare and may travel to any other station within the system. In a zoned fare structure the customer normally must purchase a special ticket which is generally only useable from the station where purchased to another specific station of the system. It it understood that many times tickets may be purchased at some central location for use at various stations of the system. The zoned fare structure is more complicated and costly to administer than is the single fare structure because it usually requires a plurality of tickets, a plurality of ofiices for issuing such tickets and transit system personnel, such as conductors, to be sure that the customer has properly paid the fare for the trip taken.

It has become increasingly evident that there is a need for a zoned fare structure to require each customer to pay according to his use of the transit system. It is also necessary to provide a zoned fare structure such that it is easy to use for the customer and is as automatic as possible. Preferably, it should be similar to a single fare structure in order to reduce the cost of operation as much as possible and to make it as easy as possible on the customer to utilize such transit system.

It has been proposed to provide a transit system using tickets and special types of turnstiles and ticket validators 3,531,627 Patented Sept. 29, 1970 'ice' to provide for automatic fare collection of a zoned fare structure. To make the system as simple, reliable and economical as possible, it is proposed to provide a complete fare structure on the tickets, thus requiring a minimum amount of logic in the validators of the system. One system of this type is described and claimed in patent application Ser. No. 453,715 filed concurrently herewith in the names of Donald M. Ham and Robert H. Jenks for System for Unattended Collection of Variable Fares, and which is assigned to the same assignee as this application. This invention provides a unique ticket for use in the automatic fare collection system of that application and other such systems, and may provide a complete fare structure on the ticket. It is also desirable to provide some time limit on the use of tickets Within a rapid transit system wherein automatic fare collection is used. Thus, the ticket of this invention may also be provided with means on the ticket which may be coded for a time use in order to limit the time in which the ticket may be used within the transit system.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a novel transit ticket for use with an automatic fare collection system.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel transit ticket having a complete transit system fare structure coded on the ticket.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel transit ticket which is made of plastic or the like to provide a low cost, readily replaceable ticket which may be readily replaced, for example on the change of a fare structure.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel transit ticket wherein the ticket may be provided with provisions for time coding on the ticket.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel ticket having an encodable magnetic matrix of discrete magnetic bits which may be encoded with desired fare information.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel transit ticket having a complete transit system fare structure thereon, which ticket may be readily re-used.

In carrying out this invention in one form a transit ticket is provided which may be used with an automatic fare collection system of a transit system. The ticket is provided with a coded matrix according to the transit system zone fare structure. The matrix is designed such that portions of the matrix may be encoded according to the entry station while other portions may be encoded with the fare to each exit station. The matrix is designed such that it will be readily encoded and decoded by an automatic fare collection system to insure that customers will pay the correct fare for their use of the transit system. If desired, time coding means may be provided on the ticket so as to be encoded and decoded according to the time allowed for a given trip. The time coding may be used to further insure that the customers do not try to misuse the automatic fare collection system.

In another form of this invention a ticket is provided having a coded matrix formed of a plurality of discrete magnetic bits. The bits may be encoded with any desirable fare information, such as entrance station, pre-paid fare and similar information. Where used as a prepaid fare ticket, portions of the prepaid fare may be canceled by removal of a number of discrete bits, such as by punching them out of the ticket.

The invention which is sought tobe protected will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims appended hereto. However, it is believed that a better understanding of the invention and its objects and advantages, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, especially when considered in the light of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred form of transit ticket made according to one form of this invention;

FIG. 1A is a partial perspective view of a portion of a ticket showing one means of canceling prepaid fare;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one form of ticket coding which may be used according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a modified form of ticket according to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a further modification;

FIG. 5 is a partial top view of a modification of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a magnetic insert for use in the modification shown in FIG. 5.

This invention relates to a transit ticket which may be used for automatic fare collection on rapid transit systems. While the invention will be described with particular reference to one type of automatic fare collection, as disclosed in aforesaid application Ser. No. 453,715, it will be understood that this description is for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting this invention.

As discussed in application Ser. No. 453,715, an automatic fare collection system may include an entrance turnstile for dispensing a transit ticket, a validator at an exit station for computing the fare owed for a ride on the transit system, and after receiving such fare validating the transit ticket, and an exit turnstile which will recognize a validated ticket and unlock to allow a customer to leave the exit station. This invention discloses a transit ticket which may be used in the fare collection system of that application. Of course, as will be understood, the transit ticket of this invention may also be used in other fare collection systems.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention the transit ticket is provided with a magnetic matrix, such matrix including a plurality of magnetic inserts. The inserts are embedded in the ticket with their axes perpendicular to the face of the ticket. The preferred matrix is designed for binary coding. Each magnetic insert is encoded as a zero or a one by driving the magnetic inserts to saturation in one of the two possible polarities relative to the face of the ticket.

FIG. 1 shows one form of transit ticket according to the preferred embodiment of this invention. The ticket, generally indicated at 10, is comprised of a core member 12, preferably of a plastic material such as vinyl. The core 12 is of any desired thickness, such as, for example, 0.025 inch. A plurality of holes 14 are drilled or punched in core 12, as shown. Each hole 14 is filled with a magnetic insert 16. As will be understood, the holes 14 could be formed during molding of core 12, and then filled with a powdered magnetic material, such as alnico. The powdered magnetic material could be provided with any type of resinous binder, if desired. Thus, the term magnetic inserts includes both a rod type of insert or a magnetic powder insert. After the magnetic inserts 16 are placed or formed in the holes 14, a plastic film is placed over the top and bottom of core 12, such as top film 18 and bottom film 20. The ticket may then be subjected to heat and pressure to form a homogeneous structure. Preferably, one edge of the ticket, as at 22, is cut to provide means for orientation of the ticket 10 in the fare collection equipment. Of course, as will be understood,

various matter may be printed on the top and bottom of the ticket, as desired, or additional laminations having printed material may be added. Obviously, a plastic ticket as described will be very durable and reusable in the system. Also, such ticket will be relatively inexpensive and readily replaced, as necessary or desirable.

As will be understood the magnetic inserts 16 provide a plurality of discrete magnetic bits which may be encoded with any desired information. In one form of this invention it is proposed to use the ticket 10 as a prepaid commuter ticket. In such use, the ticket 10 would have a plurality of hits, such as indicated at 15, in the body of the ticket used to designate prepaid fare. For example, there could be bits in the group 15. If each bit were assigned a value of five cents, then the ticket 10 would have a prepaid value of five dollars. If each bit were assigned a value of ten cents then the prepaid value would be ten dollars. Obviously, as many bits as desired could be used, and they could be assigned any desirable value. It will also be apparent that different rows of bits could be assigned different values, if desired. The upper row 24 could be used to indicate the validation of the ticket for exit. The bottom row 32 may be used to encode the entrance station, and the exit station, if desired.

In the use of ticket 10 as a prepaid commuter ticket, the ticket would be purchased prior to entering the transit system, such as from a central oifice. On entering the transit system, ticket 10 would be encoded, such as in a portion of line 32, with the code of the entrance station. At the exit station a commuter ticket validator, would decode the entrance station information and then compute the fare due. The fare due would then be deleted from the prepaid fare of group 15, such as by punching out some of the bits as shown in FIG. 1A. The ticket would then be validated in row 24 and returned to the customer. After validation, ticket 10 would be used to exit through the exit turnstile in the usual manner.

As will be apparent, the coded matrix of ticket 10 could be used to encode any desirable information. In a preferred form of the invention, ticket 10 is used entirely Within the system and is provided with a coded matrix which contains the entire fare structure of the transit system.

One form of coded matrix which may be used with the ticket of this invention is shown in FIG. 2. Only the core 12 of a ticket 10 is shown. Core 12 is provided with a plurality of rows of magnetic bits or inserts 16. In the embodiment shown, each row except one, contains twenty bits. The top row 24, will only contain eighteen bits due to the cut edge 22, as shown. The bits in row 24 will be divided into two groups, the ten bits to the right of center line 26 being used for validation of the ticket, while the eight bits to the left of center line may be used to indicate a fare paid by a credit card.

The next rows on the ticket are used to indicate the fare to be collected. Each row of twenty bits may be divided into five bit groups, each group designated as a station on the transit system. For example, considering row 28, the first group of five bits, 28a may be designated as station A, group 28b may be designated as station B, group 280 may be designated as station C and group 28d may be designated as station D. Thus by using fifteen rows of twenty bits, as shown, a system having eighty different stations may be represented on the coded matrix. Thus the coded matrix shown in FIG. 2 may be used on any transit system having not more than eighty stations. Of course, it will be apparent that for transit systems having more than eighty stations, further rows would be added, each row being used to designate four different stations. It will also be apparent from FIG. 2 that each station of the transit system will have a unique group of five bits within the matrix of ticket core 12. Thus group 28a could represent the first station on the system while group 30Z in row 30 could represent the last station on the system.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a five bit group has been shown for each station. By use of a five bit binary code, fares from to $1.55 may be encoded as is shown in the following table:

TABLE Thus any fare may be encoded in each group of five bits within the limit of the code, which is equal to the fare for that station from any other station of the transit system.

For example, consider a customer entering the transit system at station A. The customer would receive a ticket from the entrance turnstile. This turnstile would be designed to encode each ticket 10 with the correct fare to every station in the system. Thus if the fare to station B were 5, then bit 28 would be encoded as one and the other bits of group 28b encoded as zeroes. If the fare to station Z were $1.55 then all bits in group 30Z would be encoded as one. Obviously, all other five bit groups would be encoded in a similar manner to indicate the fare from station A. Of course, the five bits in group 28a would all be encoded zero since there would be no fare from station A to station A. From this example it will be apparent that ticket 10 may be used to provide in binary coded form the fare from any one station of a transit system to all other stations in the transit system. Of course it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that the binary code selected will depend on the fare structure. Using the five bit code and a 10 increment, a fare structure may be provided from a minimum of 10 to a maximum of $3.10. Obviously, a code could be used, having more or less bits for each station, according to the fare structure of the particular transit system. Therefore, while a five bit code has been specifically described, it will be understood that such description is for illustrative purposes only. Also, as will be understood, it is not necessary that the bits representing a station be adjacent. To make the ticket more difiicult to copy, any five bits could be selected to represent a station.

Still referring to FIG. 2, a final line of magnetic inserts is provided as indicated at 32. In the preferred form of this invention, the group of ten bits 32a to the left of center line 26, is used to encode the code designation of the entrance station. With the entrance station encoded at this part of the ticket, a transit employee, such as a station agent, would be able to check a passengers ticket, and with a fare table readily ascertain the appropriate fare for any exit station. By this means, a station agent could readily determine the entrance station from which a ticket was obtained and assure a passenger that the required fare was correct and that the fare collection equipment was functioning properly.

The ten bit group 32b to the right of the center line 26, may be used as a time encoding means. As will be understood, it may be desirable to limit the time that a passenger has to complete a ride within the transit system. The use of time limits is considered desirable to prevent abuse of the system. Therefore, the ten bit group 32b may be encoded with the time of entrance of a passenger into the transit system. At the exit station, the ticket validator could check the entrance station code at 32a and calculate from system logic the allowed time to that particular exit station. This allowed time would be subtracted from the time at which the ticket was presented. This time would then be compared with the entrance time coded at group 32b, and if a comparison was obtained then the ticket would be time valid. Of course, if no time limit is desired, group 32b may be left off the ticket, or used for other information.

The ticket of this invention may also be used with a credit card in a transit system. In such instances any row of twenty bits which does not include the exit station fare for the exit station used may be used to encode the account number of the credit card. Where this is used it may also be desirable to use group 32b to encode the exit station code. In this way the ticket 10 could be used directly with billing machines to bill credit card customers for their use of the transit system.

Referring now to FIG. 3 of the drawing, a modified form of ticket is shown. In this form of ticket a horseshoe-shaped magnetic insert 40 is shown in core 12 of a ticket. In this type of ticket the cavities formed in core 12 would be horseshoe shaped and magnetic powder could be used to fill such cavities in the same manner as discussed with reference to FIG. 1. Of course, such cavities could be punched in the core 12, or formed therein during the molding of the core 12. As will be apparent the encoding would be accomplished by magnetizing the inserts 40 with the north pole either toward the top edge of the ticket or toward the bottom edge 12a of the ticket to indicate a zero or a one, as desired. For example, bit 40a is shown with the north pole N toward the top of the ticket and the south pole S, toward the bottom edge of the ticket. Obviously, this could be either zero or one, as desired.

FIG. 4 shows a modified form of horseshoe shape magnetic insert. In this modification the insert is formed so that both ends of the magnetic insert 42 lie in the upper surface of the core 12. As will be apparent, the same method of encoding may be used.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show another modified form of horseshoe-shaped magnetic bits or inserts. In this form, the insert 44 is shown as a cylindrical member with a slot 46 forming the north and south pole portions of the magnetic insert. As shown in FIG. 5, both the north and south pole portions of magnetic insert 44 will lie on the surface of the core 12. The manner of encoding bits 44 may be the same as described previously.

From the above description it will be apparent that by means of this invention there is provided a transit ticket which may be used in an automatic fare collection system of a rapid transit system. The ticket of this invention may include the complete fare structure of the transit system in the body of the ticket so that it may be readily encoded and decoded by elements of fare collection equipment to collect the correct fare for any possible ride on the transit system. With the ticket of this invention there is no requirement for the customer to determine the appropriate fare and buy a correct fare ticket before entering the system. The ticket is especially suited for a pay-on-exit system as described. Also, as described, the ticket of this invention readily lends itself for use as a prepaid commuter ticket. As will be understood, by use of magnetic inserts, the ticket may be used with static read and write equipment, thus providing for less complex fare collection equipment. Thus while there has been shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the ticket of this invention, together with modifications thereof, it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the construction of the ticket Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, particularly as it is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and which it is desired to seecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A transit ticket for use in an automatic fare collection system of a transit system comprising:

(A) a ticket member;

(B) said ticket member including a core portion;

(C) a coded matrix in said core portion, said coded matrix comprising a plurality of discrete magnetic inserts mounted in separate holes formed in said core portion;

(1) a portion of said coded matrix including a plurality of rows, each row containing an equal number of discrete magnetic inserts;

(D) said core portion being a plastic material selected to enable said discrete magnetic inserts to be punched out of said rows on use of said ticket.

2. A transit ticket for use in an automatic fare collection system of a transit system as claimed in claim 1 in which said plastic core portion is sandwiched between opaque plastic layers.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Bryce 23561.12 OGorman 340149 Pouget 340174 XR Crown et a1. 340174 OGorman 340149 Cooper 23561.12 X Russell.

Wolowitz.

Ranch.

Jimjian.

Demer.

Hanes et al.

Engelhardt et a1. 235-6112 X Lilly et a1. 235-61.12 Smitzer 23561.12

US. Cl. X.R.