US3703985A - Taximeter arrangements - Google Patents

Taximeter arrangements Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3703985A
US3703985A US168215A US3703985DA US3703985A US 3703985 A US3703985 A US 3703985A US 168215 A US168215 A US 168215A US 3703985D A US3703985D A US 3703985DA US 3703985 A US3703985 A US 3703985A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
distance
impulses
time
impulse
speed
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US168215A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kjell Willy Berg
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Haldex AB
Original Assignee
Haldex AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Haldex AB filed Critical Haldex AB
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3703985A publication Critical patent/US3703985A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B13/00—Taximeters
    • G07B13/005—Taximeters operating mechanically
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B13/00—Taximeters

Definitions

  • An electronic taxirneter comprises a time reference pulse source, a distance travelled pulse source, a time measuring circuit, a level detector, a gate circuit and a fare indicator.
  • a time reference pulse source When the vehicle is stopped or is running below a selected speed pulses are supplied by the time reference pulse source to actuate the fare indicator while any pulses from the distance travelled pulse source are blocked by the gate.
  • the gate When the vehicle is running at a speed higher than the selected speed, as determined by the time measuring circuit and level detector, the gate is opened so-that pulses from the distance travelled pulse source are admitted to the fare indicator and the time reference pulse source is disabled.
  • the invention relates to taximeter arrangements in which time and distance information in the form of electrical impulses is used, on the one hand, to calculate the fare and, on the other hand, for supervisory registration, such taxi'meter arrangements normally, on the one hand, comprising two impulse sources, one of which yields time reference impulses and the other one of which generates distance impulses and, on the other hand, comprising means for treating the impulse information for controlling a figure indicating unit showing the fare and the distance passed at predetermined conditions.
  • the fare calculation in connection with taximeter registration is based on ordinances issued by authorities, the rule being that the fare is based in part on hire time, in part on the driving distance and in part on theusuallyi. It is here to be noted that the calculation of the fare in practice is performed in such a way that at a speed below a certain predetermined speed in a vehicle with the fare indicator activated only time-depending forward stepping of the fare figures will take place, whereas above said speed a forward-stepping depending on distance occurs. Due to this, all taximeter constructions must comprise a device adapted to determine this speed which could be termed the critical speed. i v
  • Prior art arrangements working with time and distance information in the form of electric impulses comprise means enabling the impulse frequency of time reference impulses to be compared with the frequency of the distance impulses, the actually higher impulse frequency being determined in the comparison device and selected to feed the fare calculation means.
  • FIG. 1 is a basic circuit diagram of the mutual arrangement of the electronic digital circuits
  • FIG. 2 additionally shows the arrangement of the circuits in the form of schematic blocks and
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a binary distance impulse generator together with a pulse sequence diagram
  • FIG. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate circuits for total distance, time measuring and clock function also together with the corresponding puls sequence diagrams.
  • a distance impulse generator 1 is provided with relays yielding a contact closure for every half meter passed by the vehicle.
  • the contact closures control a pulse generator emitting a square wave having the frequency ratio of 1 period per meter.
  • a subsequent binary computer 2 counts the square pulses and a decoder 3 yields an impulse for every meters.
  • the output pulses actuate a rotary magnet 4 adapted to step forward a counter unit indicating the total distance passed.
  • the square wave from pulse generator 1 triggers a time measuring circuit 6 yielding a voltage which decreases with increasing frequency of the square wave.
  • a level detector 7 When the .voltage is below a predetermined boundary value a level detector 7 will react and open a gate circuit 8.
  • Gate circuit 8' passes the distance impulses to a distance debiting binary counter 9. Depending on the distance rate selected a number of distance impulses will be counted for every output impulse from the distance pulse generator 1.
  • a clock- 10 is halted.
  • the clock or time pulse generator 10 yields impulses having a frequency of 4 Hz.
  • the clock pulses are counted in a binary counter 11 which after a number of pulses, depending on the selected time rate, yields an output pulse.
  • the output pulses from the distance debitation and time debitation counter are fed to an output circuit 12 from which an output impulse is obtained for every second impulse.
  • the output impulses activate a third rotary magnet 13 adapted to step forward the counter for the fare.
  • the distance impulse generator 1 comprises, on the one hand, two relays of reed type adapted alternately to be actuated by a magnetic field in dependence on the motion of the vehicle and, on the other hand, a pulse generator comprising a bi-stable flip-flop.
  • the two outputs of the relays will during the alternations of the magnetic field alternately be connected to the ground of the apparatus.
  • the pulse generator in turn comprises a bi-stable flip-flop.
  • the outputs of the distance impulse generator are connected to the collectors of the transistors in the flipflop.
  • the counter 2 for the total distance comprises 8 binary counter stages, a 3-input NAND circuit and corresponding zero-setting means.
  • On the outputs of the binary counter stages pulses corresponding to l, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 and 128 meters, or yards respectively will be obtained. Switching over to 0.1 miles pulses is simply performed by connecting the inputs to the stages of the 16, 32 and 128 yards outputs.
  • the zero signals chokes a transistor whereby the voltages on the zero-setting inputs of the counters will increase to about 4 Volts. Thereby the counters will be set to zero, the signals on the outputs on the counters will disappear, the output of the NAND circuit will be set to l and the transistor of the zero-setting circuit will again become conductive.
  • the output circuits 3 for the total distance is arranged to lengthen the negative pulse on the output of the NAND circuit. This pulse is too short to enable the rotary magnet to react. For this reason the pulse is lengthened to about 0.3 seconds in a mono-stable flipflop comprising a NAND circuit and a transistor.
  • the emitter of the transistor is connected to the base of the end transistor.
  • the rotary magnet is connected between the collector of the end transistor and +12 Volts.
  • a diode is also connected across the magnet circuit and protects the transistor against transient voltages.
  • the circuit is dimensioned fora current of 0.5 Ampere at about 25 Ohms inductive charge.
  • the output circuit 5 comprising transistors in PNP-NPN connection is also dimensioned for 0.5 Amperes at 25 Ohms. The circuit is switched-in by opening contact 51A.
  • the time measuring circuit 6 comprises two transistors, four diodes and an RCC network.
  • Each time pulse generator 1 changes over, one of the condensers such as CL is discharged.
  • the voltage on the other condenser C2 isthen applied to a so-called super emitter follower 14.
  • the discharge condenser Cl immediately starts recharging. When the following distance impulse arrives C2 is discharged instead and the voltage across condenser Cl is connected to emitter follower 14. When no distance impulses arrive the vehicle is at standstill the output voltage from the emitter follower amounts to about +4 Volts. On the other hand, when the distance impulses arrive at an increasing rate the voltage goes down towards zero. For every distance-time rate combination R is chosen so that the transition takes place at the most suitable speed.
  • the output of the emitter follower 14 is connected to level detector 7 which is a slightly fed back PNP-NPN transistor switch.
  • the emitter of the PNP transistor is at approximately +2.5 Volts. When the output voltage from the time measuring circuits is below about 2 Volts both transistors start conducting. Thanks to the feedback the transition from choked to saturated transistors will take place instantaneously, whereby annoying intermediate positions of the gate circuit and the clock are avoided.
  • the gate circuit 8 can be supplied with distance signals in three different ways.
  • A means that the signals are taken from both collectors of the two transistors of the pulse generator. Hereby a distance rate range 1-128 meters in one-meter steps is obtained.
  • B means that the signals are taken only from the one collector of the transistors of the pulse generator which gives a distance rate range -256 meters in two-meters steps.
  • .C means that the signals are taken from the collectors of the first binary counter stage in the total distance counter 2. This gives the rate range 260-512 meters in four-meters steps.
  • the distance signals are initially differentiated and the negative pulsesobtained hereby yield positive pulses on the output of the NAND circuit. The signal is then applied to the one input of another NAND circuit forming the gate proper.
  • the signal from the level detector is applied after inversion in a transistor 15. At low speeds the signal is approximately 0 Volt and gate 8 is blocked. Above the selected boundery speed the signal is +5 Volts and the gate is open. The output signal is inverted in a further NAND circuit so that positive output pulses are obtained for feeding counter 9 for distance debitation.
  • Distance debitation counter 9 comprises eight binary counter stages, a NAND circuit having 8 inputs and zero-setting circuits, this counter operating in the same way as the total distance counter 2.
  • the correct distance rate is adjusted by connecting the inputs of the NAND circuit to certain of the outputs of the counter. Unused inputs are in thiscase connected to the plus pole of the voltage source.
  • the clock 10 comprises a transistor oscillator of unijunction type, a blocking transistor 16 and 2 buffer stages for the output signal.
  • the oscillating frequency is adjusted to a value as close to 4 Hz as possible with the aid of a trimming potentiometer P of 10 Kiloohm.
  • the blocking transistor 16 is choked due to the fact that no voltage appears on the output transistor 15 of the level detector.
  • the oscillator circuit is then supplied with voltage and the oscillator is oscillating.
  • the transistor 16 is conductive and the voltage supplied to the charging circuit falls below the level at which the unijunction transistor is able to discharge the condenser CL of the charging circuit.
  • the output signal is reinforced in a transistor and a NAND gate, the signal also being inverted.
  • an outer condenser not shown may be connected in parallel to CL in order to lower the frequency to 1.6 Hz.
  • Clock signals feed the counter l 1 for the time debitation. It has exactly the same construction as the counter 9 for distance debitation.
  • the time rate is adjusted by connecting the NAND'circuit in a predetermined way with the outputs of the various binary counter stages.
  • the output signals from, on the one hand, the distance debitation counter 9 and, on the other hand, the time debitation counter 11 are fed to an output circuit 12 for the rotary magnet 13 of the debitation counter.
  • the signals are here passed over a NAND circuit to a JK-flip-flop. There a frequency halving is obtained which means that one output pulse is obtained for two impulses. By this procedure two essential advantages are obtained. In the first place less than half a distance debitation unit and half a time debitation unit have a frequency which under all conditions is higher than the highest distance impulse for frequency.
  • the output pulses trigger a transistor switch which actuates rotary magnet 13 for the stepping forward of the debitation counter.
  • the counters Before the vehicle is hired again the counters have to a be set to zero which is performed by earthing the base of the transistors in the zero-setting circuits of the counters and by earthing the restoring input of the 1K- flip-flop in the output circuit 12.
  • a voltage stabilization is provided. This is arranged with a series resistance and a parallel-connected zener diode 17. The nominal voltage is 5.] Volts +5 percent.
  • the stepping magnet circuits 4, 5 and 13 are fed with uncontrolled voltage of 12 to 15 Volts.
  • the voltage feed goes via two paths, on the one hand, via the switch key and on the other hand, via the occupied marking.
  • a diode 18 is provided in order to prevent back current from flowing to the switch key.
  • the taximeter may be made independent of the absolute value of the impulse
  • the clock may operate on one and the same frequency all the timev and its frequency may be chosen in order to achieve optimum frequency stability or to comply with certain requirements, for example, for the purpose of adapting the device to miniature scale outfit.
  • a change of the time rate is performed simply by adjustment of the frequency divider which may be made without access to frequency measuring devices.
  • no systematic pulse losses will be produced which is an essential factor from the point of view of exactitude.
  • the mechanism of the fare price indicator can be adapted, as required, to various step lengths for respectively the time and distance impulses.
  • Taximeter arrangement in WhlCh time and distance information in the form of electric impulses is used for forward stepping of a fare indicator 13, said arrange'ment comprising, on the one hand, two impulse sources 1, 10, 11 one of which 10, 11 produces time reference impulses where the other one 1 produces distance impulses, and on the other hand, an impulse handling member 9 controlling said fare indicator 13,
  • said taximeter arrangement being adapted to a time-depending rate below a certain predetermined speed and to a distance-depending rate above said speed, characterized by a speed meter 6, 7 which dependent on the speed of the vehicle during transition through the predetermined speed from a lower to a higher speed, on the one hand, opens a gate 8 for the distance impulses to supply these impulses to the impulse handling member 9 and, on the other hand, stops the impulse source 10, 11 also connected to the fare indicator 13 and producing time reference impulses which then cease to feed the fare indicator 13, and vice versa, in order to bring about independently of the mutual frequency relation of the time and distance impulses the change between the time rate and the distance rate.
  • the impulse source 10, 1 1 comprises a frequency divider l 1 which is adjustable for various time rates.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
US168215A 1970-08-07 1971-08-02 Taximeter arrangements Expired - Lifetime US3703985A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE10874/70A SE347594B (en]) 1970-08-07 1970-08-07

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3703985A true US3703985A (en) 1972-11-28

Family

ID=20292975

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US168215A Expired - Lifetime US3703985A (en) 1970-08-07 1971-08-02 Taximeter arrangements

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US3703985A (en])
DE (1) DE2138863A1 (en])
FR (1) FR2104061A5 (en])
SE (1) SE347594B (en])

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3792445A (en) * 1972-12-01 1974-02-12 Mark & Son Ltd Vehicle data recording system
US3818186A (en) * 1972-11-03 1974-06-18 Machining Methods Ind Electronic taximeter
US3858030A (en) * 1972-05-10 1974-12-31 Martin Taximeters Pty Ltd Taximeters
US3860806A (en) * 1972-01-21 1975-01-14 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh Electronic taximeter having programable constant furnishing means
US3867617A (en) * 1972-04-05 1975-02-18 Haldex Ab Conversion unit for electrical signal sequences
US3873811A (en) * 1972-12-01 1975-03-25 Yazaki Corp Taximeter having device for electronically setting increased base fare rate
US3880350A (en) * 1971-11-24 1975-04-29 Omron Tateisi Electronics Co Taximeter
US3937933A (en) * 1973-12-05 1976-02-10 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh System and method for reducing the pulse repetition rate in an electronic taxi meter
US3946213A (en) * 1973-08-10 1976-03-23 Haca Pty. Ltd. Taximeter
US3970827A (en) * 1973-12-04 1976-07-20 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Electronic taxi fare meter
US4067061A (en) * 1975-03-18 1978-01-03 Rockwell International Corporation Monitoring and recording system for vehicles
US4350880A (en) * 1980-10-08 1982-09-21 Quintilian Bartholomew F Automatic fuel-cost monitoring system
ES2168217A1 (es) * 2000-07-28 2002-06-01 Interfacom S A Sistema para la tarifacion de los taximetros.

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2475765A1 (fr) * 1980-02-07 1981-08-14 Ricard Claude Procedes et taximetres pour calculer le prix d'une course en taxi
DK151416C (da) * 1980-02-21 1988-06-13 Ib Larsen Elektronisk koerselsregistreringsapparat

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3157352A (en) * 1961-07-24 1964-11-17 Rockwell Mfg Co All-electric taximeter
US3388859A (en) * 1966-03-19 1968-06-18 Kelch Heinz Taxi meter
US3512706A (en) * 1967-07-14 1970-05-19 James Frederick Bruce Sanders Electronic taximeter

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3157352A (en) * 1961-07-24 1964-11-17 Rockwell Mfg Co All-electric taximeter
US3388859A (en) * 1966-03-19 1968-06-18 Kelch Heinz Taxi meter
US3512706A (en) * 1967-07-14 1970-05-19 James Frederick Bruce Sanders Electronic taximeter

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3880350A (en) * 1971-11-24 1975-04-29 Omron Tateisi Electronics Co Taximeter
US3860806A (en) * 1972-01-21 1975-01-14 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh Electronic taximeter having programable constant furnishing means
US3860807A (en) * 1972-01-21 1975-01-14 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh Electronic taximeter having serially energized indicator means
US3867617A (en) * 1972-04-05 1975-02-18 Haldex Ab Conversion unit for electrical signal sequences
US3858030A (en) * 1972-05-10 1974-12-31 Martin Taximeters Pty Ltd Taximeters
US3818186A (en) * 1972-11-03 1974-06-18 Machining Methods Ind Electronic taximeter
US3873811A (en) * 1972-12-01 1975-03-25 Yazaki Corp Taximeter having device for electronically setting increased base fare rate
US3792445A (en) * 1972-12-01 1974-02-12 Mark & Son Ltd Vehicle data recording system
US3946213A (en) * 1973-08-10 1976-03-23 Haca Pty. Ltd. Taximeter
US3970827A (en) * 1973-12-04 1976-07-20 Nippondenso Co., Ltd. Electronic taxi fare meter
US3937933A (en) * 1973-12-05 1976-02-10 Kienzle Apparate Gmbh System and method for reducing the pulse repetition rate in an electronic taxi meter
US4067061A (en) * 1975-03-18 1978-01-03 Rockwell International Corporation Monitoring and recording system for vehicles
US4350880A (en) * 1980-10-08 1982-09-21 Quintilian Bartholomew F Automatic fuel-cost monitoring system
ES2168217A1 (es) * 2000-07-28 2002-06-01 Interfacom S A Sistema para la tarifacion de los taximetros.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2138863A1 (de) 1972-02-10
SE347594B (en]) 1972-08-07
FR2104061A5 (en]) 1972-04-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3703985A (en) Taximeter arrangements
US3388859A (en) Taxi meter
US3428948A (en) Postage metering system
GB1240325A (en) Electronic taximeter
US3035648A (en) Remote setting digital weight cutoff system
US4045656A (en) Taximeters
US3169185A (en) Totalizer
EP0068704B1 (en) Speed meter systems
US3970827A (en) Electronic taxi fare meter
US3323527A (en) Electronic coin counter
US3543008A (en) Pulse generating device
US3818186A (en) Electronic taximeter
US3267372A (en) Electrical arrangement for forming digital representation of measured values on the basis of time intervals
US4089159A (en) Electronic timepiece
US4922447A (en) Device for measuring the distance travelled and the speed of a rail vehicle
US3604905A (en) Electronic device for the automatic control of a railway train
US3157352A (en) All-electric taximeter
US3644718A (en) Pulse-counting arrangements
EP0021370B1 (de) Verrechnungsgerät für elektrische Energie
US2605694A (en) Weighing system
US3843870A (en) Taximeters
US3315159A (en) Method and system for measuring the length of running textile filaments
US4250557A (en) Integrator having drop-out circuit
US3302005A (en) Impulse totalizer using solid state components
US3489924A (en) Pulse counter driving circuit