FR2594985A1 - Individual movable parking meter - Google Patents

Abstract

Individual movable parking meter fixed inside motor vehicles. The invention relates to an electronic time counter device using as its only means of paying parking charges a chip-carrying card type credit card. It is constituted by a housing having a double display by light-emitting diodes 1, multifunction keys 2, a slot 3 allowing insertion of the payment means, an infrared sensor, an acoustic system, the whole unit being managed by an 8-bit microprocessor with an integrated memory protected by masking during manufacture.

Description

INDIVIDUAL MOBILE PARCMETER
The present invention relates to an individual mobile parking meter intended to make it easier to use regulated paid parking on the public highway.

 Paid parking on the public highway is a parking tax collected by the municipality that established it on its territory. It has been decided and put in place by the latter in order to resolve the problem of excessive parking on public roads of motor vehicles and thus ensure a satisfactory rotation of available places.

Parking is granted for a maximum consecutive period of two hours (in general, unless specific conditions expressly defined) by paying a parking fee or tax proportional to the chosen parking time. This tax is paid in advance by means of coins accepted by the parking meter. These materials are of two kinds
- classic individual parking meters located on the sidewalks in the immediate vicinity of parking spaces;
- parking meters, parking terminals distributing parking tickets, located approximately every ten places.

The major drawbacks are, for the user
- absolute necessity to have or obtain coins on the spot for the planned parking time, accepted by the parking meter or parking meter and pay the planned parking tax in advance
- imperatively rejoin your vehicle within the limits of the set parking time, either leave your place or settle a new right (within legal limits);
- penalty for the user who leaves his place before the expiration of the paid time.

 The parking meters, in addition, require the user to go to it, to adjust and return to the vehicle in order to properly dispose of the parking ticket behind the windshield.

The major disadvantages for municipalities are
- in addition to the high cost of installing such equipment, the col excessive use of parking meters.

 Recent studies in Paris have encouraged the municipality to replace parking meters with parking meters, with more satisfactory reliability.

However, the problems remain: the currency and the inconveniences it generates, its collection, the important infrastructure necessary for the maintenance of equipment, looting and sabotage of it.

 The device which is the subject of this patent application claims to resolve all of the drawbacks, both for the user and for the municipalities managing the pay parking lot on the public highway.

The individual mobile parking meter is an electronic time counter fixed inside the vehicle, on the dashboard, which decrements by its own means a credit-duration physically represented in an EPROM memory card type CCC (Chip
Carrying Card). Unlike traditional means, the duration of parking is no longer predetermined, but depends on the return of the user (always within the legal parking limits) so he enjoys the maximum time allowed that he pays as and measure and can stop at any time upon return. He no longer risks being in violation by underestimating the scheduled time, and no longer loses money by overestimating his paid parking time, since he stops the countdown on his return. His prepaid parking card frees him drawbacks linked to the currency and finally, he no longer has to go from his vehicle to the parking meter, from the parking meter to his vehicle to deposit his parking ticket there, because the individual mobile parking meter is in the vehicle, fixed on the dashboard, clearly visible from the outside (for control).

The advantages of the individual mobile parking meter for municipalities accepting this paid parking mode are as follows:
- the parking tax revenue is no longer collected physically, but collected on the sale of prepaid parking cards .;
- the simplicity of use of the "individual mobile parking meter" device encourages paid parking
- the technical reliability and inviolability of both the device and the parking memory card guarantee absolute security against potential fraudsters
- the legibility of the parking displayed by the individual mobile parking meter significantly improves the comfort of the control staff and their efficiency.

EXTERNAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVICE
The body of the individual mobile parking meter is made of high-resistance plastic, in two parts which fit together by means of safety tabs making it impossible to open. If you force, the bindings give way and no longer ensure the holding of the assembly.

 The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

On these drawings
FIG. 1 is a view of the front face known as the driver face - 1/1 scale representing a display with light-emitting diodes, a control keyboard composed of push buttons corresponding to the different taxation indices and related functions, a slot allowing the introduction of parking memory card, photodiode
Figure 2 is a front side view showing a photodiode;
Figure 3 is a view of the so-called outer top face (for control) showing a display with light emitting diodes, a figuration of the memory card in its housing. This is of the CCC non-volatile memory type, with a capacity of 8 kits, of which 6000 elements, intact when purchased, are gradually destroyed by junction breakdown.
FIG. 4 represents the functional diagram of the device "individual mobile parking meter".

 As shown in FIG. 4, the present invention is constituted around an 8-bit microprocessor with integrated memory 6 and inviolable by a masking during manufacture, called a monochip microsystem which manages all of the information and the processing of it. ci., It is directly connected to the control keyboard (multifunction keys) 7 from which it takes information and processes it. A quartz time base 8 is connected at 6 ensuring maximum precision (error 5 PPM). Information originating from the vehicle contact 9 is transmitted to the microprocessor 6 via an interface. An infrared receiver 11 connected to the microprocessor 6 by the interface 10 provides control of the exterior of the vehicle by the surveillance officer. When this receiver 11 receives coded information carried by an infrared ray, it signals it to the microprocessor 6 which will generate a signal visible from outside the vehicle. The dialogue and contact device 12 of the memory card is connected to the microprocessor 6 by means of an interface 13.

 A system of light-emitting diode displays known as the driver 14 reflecting the information given by the microprocessor 6 is connected to the latter by an interface 17. The brightness of this display is a function of the brightness in the passenger compartment of the vehicle by the through the photodiode.

 A so-called external light-emitting diode display system 15 reflecting the information given by the microprocessor 6 is connected to the latter by an interface 17. A buzzer 16 reflecting each operated operation is connected to the microprocessor 6 by means of a interface 17.

 The power supply of the assembly is ensured by a connection to the vehicle's storage battery as well as to the battery contact with the ignition key. The protections (fuses) and noise suppressor of use are connected to the connection of the device as well as the regulations necessary for the proper functioning of the system.

 No mechanical parts other than those required for the control keyboard and connections to the C.C.C. card are used.

OPERATING PRINCIPLE
After purchasing their parking memory card 5, as shown in FIG. 3, provided with a registration number (to facilitate management and control by the regulatory authorities) in sealed packaging, the user will remove his card from his packaging and will insert it into the slot 3 of his individual mobile parking meter fixed to the dashboard of his vehicle. He will then have a duration credit of one hundred hours of parking at the basic rate. He will make sure that his individual mobile parking meter is up to date. As long as the user has not pressed one of the buttons A, B, C, D, the individual mobile parking meter is in the rest position, i.e. it does not decrease the card his credit.

 The user must park in a paid regulated place on the public highway.

 He then presses one of the keys corresponding to the tariff to be applied at this location.

The individual mobile parking meter starts the credit of the memory card 1 and displays alternately in 1
- the maximum authorized parking time, depending on the regulations and the amount of credit remaining on the card (generally the start time increased by two hours); and
- the tariff chosen, for three seconds.

 The user will have time to check the correct display of the tariff in force and will memorize his maximum return time to his vehicle.

Display 1 goes out. During this time, the external affict 4 takes up this same information in the same alternative mode, but as long as the parking period lasts. This is to allow control officers to verify data at a glance.

 The user returns to his vehicle on time: he presses the Z key on his command keyboard and the system stops decreasing the credit on the memory card. -If he does not do this, and he restarts his vehicle, the parking meter signals to him that the countdown is not stopped by means of an audible warning device 16 (shown in FIG. 2).

No risk therefore of wasting time credit.

 The user does not return to his vehicle within the legal deadlines: the individual mobile parking meter automatically stops the decrementation of the memory card, the external display 4 goes off at the indicated time and parking becomes illegal.

 The memory card of a known and marketed type has a capacity of 8 Kbits, type C.C.C., the elements of which are destroyed by junction breakdown. Each junction or memory cell represents a unit of parking time, one minute at the basic rate. At each time unit corresponding to the tariff chosen, a junction breakdown is carried out in the memory card, thus destroying a memory cell, ie 1 bit. These destroyed memory cells are therefore not reprogrammable.

 To avoid plugging in other C.C.C. memory cards of different uses, an access code makes it possible to identify the correct C.C.C. card. These identification codes will be centralized at the manufacturer of said cards.

 The inviolability of the card and therefore of the entire system is ensured. It is understood that the individual mobile parking meter cannot operate in paid parking mode without its C.C.C. card in its housing and correctly positioned.

 To provide additional control, as indicated in the internal description of the device, an infrared receiver is connected to the micro-system.

 By means of an infrared transmitter pencil actuated by the parking control attendant, a coded emission is emitted (code evolving as a function of real time) and received by the infrared receiver 11 (represented in FIG. 2), is transmitted to the microsystem. This reacts accordingly on the so-called external display. This reaction perceived by the attendant assures him that the device is original.

 This transmitter has two keys and the device will react in two different ways depending on whether one of the commands of said transmitter is activated (choice given to the controller).

 Due to its programming, the individual mobile parking meter is a real intelligent parking meter that can be adapted to all parking modes. Its flexibility, its simplicity of implementation, its foolproof reliability and its structural inviolability guarantee, as well the users as the municipalities approving this system, to have a modern and competitive tool able to render the best services.

USE OF THE INDIVIDUAL MOBILE PARCMETER (Figure 4)
When the device is powered up, the interior display indicates 00:00, the assembly flashing.

 The time will be set by pressing the "A" key (incrementing the hours) and the "B" key (incrementing the minutes). To validate the displayed time, press the "Z" key. The display will be the validated time with the colon separating hours and minutes flashing to the second.

Any action on one of the keys causes a
TOP sound.

 Pressing the "F" key will put the device in Blue Zone parking mode. The interior display will alternate the device rest time and the "BLUE" display for three seconds. Then the external display will take the previous information from the internal display and this until the indicated time of resting of the device or the action on the key "Z".

 The device's rest position consists of indicating the actual time on the interior display (driver) and not displaying anything outside (control).

In the case where the device is in the rest position without the vehicle contact (by means of the ignition key), the interior display will be off, but the microprocessor will still be powered (for minimum consumption), thus making it possible to memorize and d 'increment 1' hour.

 With the device at rest, removing the ignition key from the vehicle will have the effect of generating an audible signal, this to warn the driver to check whether or not he is in a restricted parking area.

 Pressing the "A" or "B" or "C" or "D" or "Z" keys, the device being in the rest position and without its credit card in its slot, will have the effect of indicating " CArt "on the interior display and this with a series of beeps for 2 seconds. Same effect if a credit card whose access code is not recognized is introduced.

 Pressing the "Z" key when a suitable credit card is in place in the accommodation and still having a credit will indicate on the interior display for 3 seconds the credit remaining on the card in hours and minutes at the basic rate ( Ex. 37:45). The two points separating hours and minutes remaining fixed.

USE IN PAID PARKING
The credit card positioned in its housing, if the credit has been used up; after pressing one of the keys "A", "B", "C", "D" or "Z", display of "CC: 00", signifies that the credit account has been exhausted.

Pressing the "F" key will cause the "Blue Zone" function, as indicated above,
If a "A", "B", "C" or "D" key has not been previously pressed with the credit card in its slot and not expired.

 Pressing one of the "A", "B", "C" or "D" keys with an expired credit card puts the device in Paid Parking mode.

 Depending on the tariff chosen, "A", "B", "C", "D", the device will decrease the credit card by one base unit respectively every 50 seconds, 1 minute, 90 seconds or 2 minutes. For a 100-hour parking card at basic rate B, the card has 6,000 units. The interior display will alternately indicate for three seconds the rate symbolized by the key pressed and the time when the device is idle, taking into account the maximum parking time allowed (generally 2 hours) and the amount of credit remaining in the credit card.

After these three seconds, the interior display will go out and will be relayed by the exterior display (control) which will take up the same information until the appliance is put to rest at the displayed time or by pressing the key. "Z". If, following an action on one of the keys "A", "B", "C", "D", there is an action on the key "F", then the device will not decrement the credit card between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. The indicated time to return the device to rest and the parking time will be increased by 2 hours if the paid parking period overlaps this non-paying period.

In this case, display in addition to the price of the letter
IIF ".

 By authority, the system, according to "Paid parking", will not deduct a unit between 7 p.m. and 9 a.m. He will take this into account if necessary when calculating the time of his return to rest.

 If the device is in "Blue Zone" or "Paid parking" mode, if the vehicle ignition key activates the vehicle contact, then 2 audible Tops will sound, thus warning the driver of the vehicle to put in the rest position his device by pressing the "z" key.

 In paid parking, in the event that the device is of an international nature, in addition to the price indicated, a code of 2 symbols will represent the country. In this case, the parking credit cards will be personalized to the said countries.

In the event of a malfunction of the credit card (for example programming impossible) display "CC: HS" as long as the user does not press the "Z" key. The device as soon as the detected fault will return to the rest position
In the event of the device malfunctioning and for certain faults recognized by it, the device will display "HS: 08", the code indicating the nature of the fault detected. In this case, the device immediately put to rest this is done.

 It is understood that it is possible, without damage to the credit card or to the device, to insert or withdraw said card at any time.

Claims (4)

 1. Electronic device, time counter fixed inside a motor vehicle, characterized in that it uses as an exclusive means of paying parking taxes  - a card type Chip CARRYING CARD (brand and registered model) which it decreases as its credit-time down when it operates in "Parking" mode Paying "that this device has a so-called conductor front panel with:  - a display by light-emitting diodes (1), the intensity of which varies automatically as a function of the brightness inside the vehicle by means of a photodiode (18) placed on this front face;  - a series of multifunction keys (2) allowing to choose according to local parking regulations the correct tax index to apply  - a slot (3) allowing the introduction of the Chip.Carrying Card payment card t that the device has a so-called external face above having an inclination at the rear and which is provided with a display by light-emitting diodes (4) ; that one side of the profile has an infrared receiver sensor (11) and that the other side has an ON / OFF button; that the device comprises a system for fixing to the dashboard of the motor vehicle.  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the processing unit of the device is managed by an 8-bit microprocessor (6) with integrated memory ported by masking during manufacture, a double information display system .and data, an acoustic device (16) punctuating each operation carried out on the device and signaling, when the vehicle is switched on with the battery using the ignition key, when the parking meter is operating and that it decrements the parking card this state to allow the driver to stop the Parking mode Paying that the device automatically stops the skimming of the parking credit card at the legal time limit for authorized parking, thereby invalidating the parking of the motor vehicle.  3. Device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the device is provided with a control system from the outside of the motor vehicle, operating by means of a transmitter generating an infrared electromagnetic wave carrying coded information evolving according to real time and an infrared receiver (11) disposed on the housing of the device receiving this information and transmitting it to the processing and management unit of the system which will visually signal on the 'display (4).  4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the card type Chip. Carrying Card has a registration number to facilitate its management by the competent authorities, and an access code integrated in its memory allowing its identification by the electronic management unit.