WO1998053432A1

WO1998053432A1 - Digital device for controlling parking lots and others

Info

Publication number: WO1998053432A1
Application number: PCT/BR1997/000056
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nestor Malard Filho
Original assignee: Nestor Malard Filho
Priority date: 1997-05-20
Filing date: 1997-10-17
Publication date: 1998-11-26
Also published as: EP0993660A1; BR9703568A

Abstract

The present patent refers to a new device basically to control time in a cumulative way in parking systems, which time is controlled. Being the said device attached to one of the windows of the car, preferably the windshield, in a way that the lecture is specially facilitated in dark sites and eliminating the reflexes due to proximity utilizing for such, a magnetic adhesive set, made of a plastic molded box, having an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display (1), with key (2) for automatic or manual starting, key (4) for verifying time left, LED (6) indicator of working condition, magnetic element (8) for attachment, an area designated to receive imprinted information, said display (1) constituted of LCD - Liquid Crystal with capacity for 3½ or 4 digits, working in a wide range of temperature and humidity, having a block (2) with a key or micro-switch for starting the internal procedures which is electrically connected to microprocessor (3) block, and physically to the case, block (4) auxiliary key, also connected to microprocessor (3) block, and physically to the case. May be employed in any activity in which time control is necessary, in a cumulative way or not. Can have visual and sound alarm when determined amount of time is transposed.

Description

"DIGITAL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING PARKING LOTS AND OTHERS"

Present document refers to a new device meant basically to control time in a cumulative way in parking systems , witch time is controlled . Being the said device attached to one of the windows of the car, preferably the windshield , in a way that the lecture is specially facilitated in dark sites and eliminating the reflexes due to proximity utilizing for such , a magnetic ad hesive set. Mig ht be employed in other activities in which time control is necessary, either in an add itive form or not. It may have an aud ible or visual alarm to advice that the specific time is transposed . The device is made of a plastic box preferably in molded plastic with the dimensions of approximately 4 x 2 x Vi inches and it shall provide thermal and shock protection as well as support for attachment, with a

LC D (liquid crystal display) , power LED indicator and automatic key for operation start, a key switch for verifying time left, digital preprog rammed microprocessor circu it, attach ing element and battery.

The device has a su rface for printing of, for instance, brand , model, factory, serial number, ads or other information , staying in a visible local and easily identifiable, marked in a undeletable form , having the information necessary for the use of the system , as, a priori , the identification of the vehicle or vehicles, city of origin and or others.

I n accordance with researches made the state of the tech nique known illustrates several documents, but no one was found which would represent a device that meets the req uirements established in the present project, or low cost, easy operation by the user and controlling offices and organs , tamper proof, recyclable material , international standards and in special meet ISO 14000. The device that most approximated the present project premises was described in the Brazilian patent document P I 9304545-0 which says in it's abstracts:

"Consists in a portable device disposable, meant to adjust to time of permanency of vehicles in the vacant lots offered by the systems ruled parking lots in a manner to offer the users/drivers and entities and people responsible for its operation, a better economy of the system. "

When we analyze the referred document we verify that in the description of such a device was surrounded a very ample universe, having not sufficient specifications that possibilities its reproduction , once technical data , basic characteristics of the equipment and its specifications were not described as well.

We observe that, even theoretically incorporating d igital tech nology, the said document describes a complex device of hig h manufacturing cost for the main purpose, where the user almost needs an instruction man ual to operate it, as it shall be programmed with the veh icle plate number, digit by d igit, rolling up and down the letters of the alphabet in a sequential form , and in the end he must confirm everything . Having various keys for turning off and on and activate or deactivate the device, misleading the user and bring ing the possibility of leaving the device without counting the time su bjecting the vehicles to fines.

For it to be comprehended , one of the main problems of this device resides when it was not used alphan umeric characters in its d isplay, it is not possible to use a seven segments , cheaper and more simple to be prod uced , but forced ly, the one of dot matrix requires processors and drivers of a more complex nature and for more expensive.

Having many counters and various d rivers for the d isplay, the referred device becomes more vulnerable and h ig h priced , even though it is mentioned in its text that the said device is economically viable, "thanks to its low production cost and due to its simple construction" (?).

It is said yet that any try to tampering with the device will destroy it but there is no description of how this proced ure will be accomplished .

Considering this information what if a battery presents a malfunction or intermittent bad contact? How it will deal with the already stored information or that already processed? They will be lost, or the device will be nullified , or it will go back to the begging of the program reestablishing the number of hours to the original? All this eventual problems were foreseen in the present documents device offering trustiness and confidence.

Other item of high importance for the user is the fact that it is necessary to buy the set of 100 hours each time, a restrictive factor for, if we need to use 12 hours and leave the city, it will be left with 88 hours wasted . Practical? Economical? Functional?

It is not described as well , in which local the device must work. Over the seat? U nder the cockpit? Would it not be hard to read such a device in a bright day? How to know if the device is working or not? It lacks better description so far.

Having in mind problems not resolved up to the actual state of the art, the present device was projected in a man ner to create a new concept in controlling time in parking lots and similar using the last generation technology.

To illustrate the present patent, it is attached three d rawings and a detailed description of its construction elements and its working factors that provide an adequate u nderstand ing of its principle of working in a manner that possibilities its reproduction .

The drawing number 1 presents a perspective view of the preferred conception of the present device, ready to use.

The drawing number 2 represents a d iag ram view in of the present device.

The drawing number 3 represents a view of the diagram in time. The d igital device for controlling parking lots illustrated in d rawing number 1 consists of a molded box in plastic, with a LC D ( 1 ) , automatic key (2) for starting of operation , key (4) for verifying time left, LED (6) ind icator of working cond ition , magnetic element (8) for fixing and an area (9) designated to receive inscriptions.

I n the diagram view, illustrated in drawing number 2 , it is shown the d isplay ( 1 ) having an LCD panel with capacity of 3 and A or 4 digits and compatible dimensions and adequate to the specific use, working in a large range of temperature and humidity, with the function of showing the information generated by the microprocessor (3) and ind icating the correct working of the device, a block (2) with a key for beginning , electrically con nected to the block (3) of the microprocessor and physically connected to the box, in a man ner to provide the beginning of the working of the program stored when the device is attached to the windshield , for instance.

The block (4) for the auxiliary key is also composed of a m icro-switch electrically connected to the block (3) of the microprocessor and physically to the case in a man ner to provide the execution of the auxiliary part of the prog ram stored . This key has independent working and complements that of the key (2) for starting .

The microprocessor block (3) or CPU is composed basically of integ rated circuits, programmed only once by means of electrical recording or printing while it is being manufactured , said block of low power consumption and low current drain , having a controller, memory and elements for i nterface to keys, LED's and display. I n its memory is stored the main program , the secondary one and the total time to be used by the device. The processor executes the program stored in itself and it is responsible for the generation of the time base and wave forms for the driver block (5) or directly to the display (1) and LED (6).

The driver block (5) is composed of IC's

(Integrated Circuits) with capacity to adequate tension, frequency and current of data stored in the microprocessor (3) to be shown by the display (1), LED (6) and or any other in/out device.

The power source block (7) is composed by a battery with sufficient power to feed the circuit during all the time of use and storing the device, with some reserve, being connected to the system without interruption.

The working sequence of the present device is performed as follows:

Turning on the key (2) for starting either manually or automatically when attaching the device to one of the windows of the car, indicating in the display (1) hours and minutes in a additive form with the LED (6) blinking, and the time being deducted from the total amount, recorded internally, running this process until it is removed from where it was attached.

Once removed, the key (2) for starting is turned off either manually or automatically, stopping the counter and

LED (6), indicating the counting of hours left on the display

(1) for a few seconds and the amount of hours left for use in the device.

The second key (4) has the purpose of, when pressed, to show the amount of time left in the system for a few seconds and other functions, separately or altogether with that of the first one, as testing the LED and display, for instance.

At the end of the prerecorded time, the memory will be destroyed by the microprocessor avoiding any unauthorized reprogramming or reusing of the device.

The drawing number 3 illustrates the time diagram and has a legend:

• Cl - Key for starting

• MC - Micro processor

• BT - Time base

• MH - Time display . AL - Lighting of LED

• MT - Time memory . MS - Time left

. T - Unit of relative time.

To complete the information described above, based on the project and experiments done, we had the time base controlled by quartz and a three volt lithium battery, LCD using a contrast of 20:1; the time of guaranteed storage is

2,000 hours, average consumption of working condition is 1.5 mA and 1 0 μA when id le, precision of about 0.0001 % in the time base, temperature of storage ranging from -20°C to 70°C and maximum relative humidity of 85% non-condensed , with a shock resistance of 6 feet, dropped in any position .

Even though the device for controlling parking lots and others , just described , altogether with the d rawings seems to be the preferred concept, it shall be understood that many mod ifications may be introd uced without missing the mai n description presented here and some of its elements may be changed by others with same technical role.

Claims

1 - DIGITAL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING PARKING LOTS AND OTHERS, with the basic purpose of controlling time in a additive form when it is attached to a window, preferably the wind-shield, using for such an adhesive magnetic set, characterized by being constituted of a box in molded plastic material which has a LCD (1) with a key (2) for starting the operation, key (4) for verifying time left, LED (6) indicator of working condition, magnetic element (8) for attachment and an area (9) dedicated to receive inscriptions, said display '(1) composed of LCD - Liquid Crystal with capacity for 3 1 or 4 digits, working in a wide range of temperature and humidity, a block (3) for the microprocessor, driver block (5) and power source (7). 2 - DIGITAL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING

PARKING LOTS AND OTHERS, in accordance to claim number 1, characterized by the block (2) of the key for starting being composed of a micro-switch electrically connected to the said microprocessor (3) block and physically to the case.

3 - DIGITAL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING PARKING LOTS AND OTHERS, in accordance to claim number 1, characterized by having the microprocessor (3) block or CPU composed of IC's (Integrated Circuits) programmable only once by electrical means or imprinted when it is produced, low power consumption in working and idle time, processing controller, memory and elements for interface to keys, LED's and display, storing the information, main program, and the total time for using the device, said controller / microprocessor (3) executing the programs stored and processing the wave forms and time generations, from the time base to the driver block (5) or directly to the LED (6) and display (1).

4 - DIGITAL DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING PARKING LOTS AND OTHERS, in accordance to claim number 1, characterized by having the driver block (5) being constituted of IC's (Integrated Circuits) with the capacity of adequate tension, frequency and current of the data from the microprocessor (3) to be shown on the display (1), LED (6) and or any other input / output device.