CN1389832A - Electronic-parking timer system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to parking meters and more particularly to the use of electronically operated parking meters coupled with a sensor for positively sensing unobtrusively the presence or absence of a vehicle in a specified parking space controlled by the sensor and electronically operated parking meter. In the invention, an induction coil mounted below the surface of the parking area is used to provide positive signals to the electronically operated parking meter and a CPU upon both the entrance of a vehicle into the parking space and the movement of the vehicle from the parking space.

Description

Electronic-parking timer system

Background of invention

1. invention field

The field of the invention is a parking meter, in more detail, relate to and use the electronic operation parking meter combine with sensor to measure exactly to be subjected in the specific parking stall that sensor and electronic operation timer control the unnoticed existence of vehicle or do not exist.In the present invention, be installed in the underground inductance loop in parking stall,, promptly provide signal to electronic operation parking meter and central processing unit (CPU) in case vehicle enters the parking stall and vehicle moves from the parking stall.

Yet detection system is by battery-operated, and the life-span of battery is to operate by the load cycle of detection system to prolong.Thereby only there is sub-fraction to detect the actual situation that is used for detecting the parking stall of circulation.

2. prior art

Traditional parking meter is used to increase income always.This device comprises the scrolling mechanism of timer and needs throwing coin, and recently, electronic timer has developed into and comprised the time marker that adopts LCD.

Along with electronic timer occurs, electronic timer repaid on probation come with relevant parking stall in the vehicle use that cooperatively interacts of coming and going.A kind of mode that obtains the information of the vehicle dealing in the relevant parking stall is that parking meter is connected to vehicle sensors.When vehicle entered and leave the parking stall, vehicle sensors can detect this situation.This device uses infrared beam to detect the automobile storage on parking stall in situation.

Independent parking meter device uses different separately vehicle sensors, whether is used for surveying automobile storage in the relevant parking stall.For example infrared beam device ultrasonic unit and the induction type sensor.

Adopt a problem of light beam detection device to be, light beam can not distinguish vehicle and other solid objects.In addition, this device makes its inefficacy by covering the beam emissions window with a strap or cardboard.In addition, because open door or appear at the moving of other objects of electronic timer sensor front, false effect may take place, even the variation of temperature or humidity also problem may take place.

In development Electronic Control parking timer system, important thing must be to overcome aforementioned problem, makes it can detect vehicle contact situation in the parking stall.

Some known parking meter wagon detector systems have now been arranged, and they are

(1) U.S. Patent number 3,873, and 964: vehicle detection: Potter

During the normal running of wagon detector system, its loop oscillator vibrates continuously with resonance frequency, and this intrasystem digital circuit is by the frequency of cycle count commercial measurement loop oscillator.The self-clocking circuit produces and to be used for the benchmark frame time that frequency counting is measured, and the benchmark frame time is with the desired procedure sensitivity of system and the reference frequency of loop, and the loop oscillator frequency that imports is determined circuit and changed.

To next benchmark frame time, whenever the increase of loop oscillator frequency counting, this moment, frequency increased above a predetermined critical value from a benchmark frame time, and vehicle is promptly detected.

(2) U.S. Patent number 3,875, and 555; Vehicle detecting system: baud (Potter) indicator control association.

The magnetic strength vehicle detecting system comprise the automobile storage of detection on road embedding wire loop.Because automobile storage exists, when loop inductance changes, be connected to the frequency shift of first oscillator of loop, second oscillator with the frequency that does not depend on loop inductance is with for referencial use, whenever the oscillator loop frequency surpasses preset frequency more than a preset frequency difference, logical circuit sends signal.

(3) U.S. issues the patent No. 29,511 again: parking meter; Ruben-stein

The parking meter electronics shows " excess time ", and only automobile storage and worked when " payings ".Drive the person of speeding deletion by the automobile that leaves when not using.

(4) U.S. Patent number 3,943, and 339: detector system in the inductive loop: people such as Koerner; Canogo Heat ﹠ Control Pty Ltd..

On one of exercisable a plurality of inductance loops that are connected to the definite zone that is arranged on highway of pierce circuit, frequency loop is by the counter monitoring of Measuring Time time limit or loop oscillator cycle period.Whether oscillator cycle of being monitored and benchmark time limit relatively increase or reduce with definite loop oscillator frequency.

(5) U.S. Patent number 3,989, and 932: inductive loop road vehicles detecting device: Koerner; Canogo Heat ﹠ Control Pty Ltd.

Pierce circuit is connected to and is used for detecting the inductance loop that vehicle exists, and the inductance frequency loop is by the counter of the loop monitoring that is used for calculating the loop oscillator cycle.The time limit counter is measured loop oscillator time limit cycling time of fixed number, and compares with the benchmark time limit that is fit to the time bar of measuring, and with the increase and the minimizing of definite loop inductance, thereby determines that whether the automobile in the inductance loop exists.

(6) U.S. Patent number 4,358, and 749: object detection: Clark; RedlandAutomation company limited

The inductance detection loop is connected with oscillator, and in the phased lock loop that reference frequency (VCO) is provided, oscillator is provided with voltage-controlled capacitor.Automobile storage exists, and condenser voltage changes, and it is on the auxiliary base frequency that changes that the voltage of this change is applied to its frequency actual, analyzes then, for the usefulness of detection.Microprocessor comprises the clock source, and the clock source also is a reference frequency source.

(7) U.S. Patent number 4,472, and 706: automobile storage is at loop detector: people such as Hodge, patent is not transferred the possession of

Automobile storage the time, have the signal that inductance loop tuned circuit that magnetic field produces changes.First signal amplifier amplifies the signal that comes self loop, and the secondary signal amplifier response is in from the positive of first signal amplifier or negative polarity output signal, and provides output signal according to vertiginous input signal.Vertiginous input signal enable logic door, logic gate is used for detecting the polarity of secondary signal amplifier output signal, and produces the door output signal of automobile storage whether in the expression loop.

(8) U.S. Patent number 4,491, and 841: there is detecting device in self-adjusting inductance object: Clark; Sarasota Automation company limited

Oscillator comprises the inductance detection loop, first counter selective examination oscillator frequency or cycle, to second counter, second counter is falling to calculate a selective examination cycle to resulting data as the preset reference application, and this moment, a new data was calculated by first counter.At the end in a selective examination cycle, according to the remainder of second counter judge automobile storage or do not exist.By using additional counter, device can also detect vehicle and leave the parking stall.

(9) U.S. Patent number 4,680, and 717: microprocessor control loop detector system: Martin; Idicator Controls Corporation (display Heat ﹠ Control Pty Ltd.)

Microprocessor control loop detection system is connected on the inductance loop of some, and on the loop of traffic route crossing control vehicle, each inductance loop is used for detecting the situation that exists of vehicle.Share on the basis in the time, ordinary oscillator is connected to each loop, and microprocessor calculates the period of oscillator output signal, to determine oscillator frequency.

(10) U.S. Patent number 5,153, and 525: the wagon detector that adopts a series of resonant oscillators to drive: Hoeckman etc.

A series of resonant oscillators drive inductive load, and inductive load comprises: the detection system of inductance sensor and a series of resonant oscillator circuit of use and inductance sensor.Inductive load is connected in a series of circuits with condensance.Oscillator signal provides electric energy to a series of circuits, and is controlled according to the variation of the electric current that detects in a series of circuits.The frequency of oscillator signal changes with the variation inductance in the inductance sensor.

(11) U.S. Patent number 5,570, and 771: electronic-parking timer and system: Jacobs

Electronic-parking timer system uses low power consumption electronic-parking timer and car radio transceiver, and the sensor magnetrol detects the existence of the vehicle in the contiguous parking stall, infrared radio electricity transceiver and the intercommunication of car radio transceiver.Microprocessor is in response to the electronic signal from various detecting devices, being provided at displayable information on the display, and is sent to the car radio transceiver by infrared radio electricity transceiver.Parking meter is fully by battery-operated, and can prolong the running time, for example 6 months to 1 year, need not change battery.

(12) U.S. Patent number 5,903, and 520: the electronic module that is used for the ordinary electronic parking meter: Dee etc.

Electronic module comprises: can be connected to shell and a metering situation sensors on the common parking meter, the metering situation sensors is used for from the situation violating the regulations of some distant points detection time and parking meter (indicator that adopts a certain indicating mode is housed), and the supersonic vehicle sensor is fixed to the shell that is used for detecting parked vehicle.Electronic module further comprises the electronic circuit that has power supply that is used for operating electronic module; The secondary signal that first signal that electronic module reception metering situation sensors is sent and supersonic vehicle sensor send, electronic module is handled first and second signals, and coded message is passed to receiver of remote-control sytem.

(13) U.S. Patent number 5,936, and 551: have the wagon detector that improved benchmark is followed the tracks of: Ailen ﹠amp; Potter

Wagon detector does not have in the improved benchmark trace routine call out pointing to and call out to point to, call direction is followed the tracks of and is comprised sensitive tracking frequencies, and the benchmark tracking only changes in response to less fluctuation and one or more fixing tracking cycle that successively decreases of the frequency loop that causes owing to drift.During this period, for the predetermined period of time of a maximum, benchmark is followed the tracks of and is successively decreased with fixed ratio, call out to point to follow the tracks of and also comprise indefinite tracking, during this period, before the representative ring road feel was answered the end value of coefficient, benchmark was followed the tracks of and is decremented to the end value that the representative ring road feel is answered before producing call signal.

Summary of the invention

The present invention is meant the Electronic Control parking timer system, and this system uses the electronic operation parking meter that combines with the inductive loop map that is used for detecting vehicle.In 40 years, the inductance loop has been used in the system of the many types that need the detection vehicle in the past.This system comprises traffic control signal device, automatically-controlled door, the gearing by restaurant etc. etc.Assembling suitable inductance loop is very reliable for detecting vehicle.

First aspect present invention, electronic operation parking meter can be connected to and be arranged on or be embedded in the underground telefault vehicle detecting sensor that stops, and are used for control response delicately in the electronic operation parking meter of inductance loop sensor.Vehicle enters or leaves the inductance significant change that the parking stall causes the inductance loop, and the signal of autobiography sensor output can be used for controlling Electronic Control parking meter and relevant control circuit.When inductance loop sensor indication vehicle enters or leave relevant parking stall, the electronic operation parking timer system can be used for starting or resetting the electronic operation parking meter.The electronic operation parking timer system also can be used for accumulating relevant information material in the working range of specific parking stall.For example, in one period of past, all vehicles or each car use the number of times and the time on parking stall.

A second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of electronic operation parking meters can be connected on the single power supply.According to the electronic operation parking meter of first aspect of the present invention, each electronic operation parking meter can be connected on the independent inductive loop road vehicles sensor, so that control response is in the electronic operation parking meter of its sensor selectively.

The 3rd aspect of the present invention, the electronic operation parking meter of second aspect of the present invention can comprise teleprocessing system (DPU).Teleprocessing system can be connected to each electronic operation parking meter.In order to obtain relevant vehicle dealing form and out of Memory, teleprocessing system can use the information material of accumulation, and the information material that is accumulated can be used for more effective use parking stall.This teleprocessing system can be used for monitoring and/or controlling a plurality of parking stalls, for example, and garage, or long street etc.

The 4th aspect of the present invention be, the electronic operation parking meter is an electronic operation, and it is different fully with the mechanically actuated mode of known parking meter.

The 5th aspect of the present invention relates to and uses sun power to operate the electronic operation parking timer system as electric energy, and specific single (or a plurality of) electronic operation parking meter and relevant circuit.This relates to should consider to use solar panels at least under Ambient sunlight and direct sunlight.The electronic operation parking timer system can be used in the place that does not exist or have direct sunlight intermittently.

The 6th aspect of the present invention relates to the improvement of existing parking meter, particularly mechanically operated parking meter, to realize the function of electronic operation parking timer system of the present invention.

The 7th aspect of the present invention is the economic optimization about the electronic operation parking timer system.When the vehicle relevant with the electronic operation parking meter withdrawed from the parking stall of being controlled by the inductance loop, make it be adjusted to " zero " by control electronic operation parking meter, to realize its optimization economically.

In fact, the electronic operation parking meter that the purpose of this invention is to provide the vehicle contact that can detect specific parking stall.

In more detail, the objective of the invention is, actual and detect in the given parking scope exactly, whether automobile storage is in the specific parking stall.

A feature of the present invention is, by the sensor that electronic operation parking timer system of the present invention uses, is to imbed the underground inductance loop sensor in parking stall.

Advantage of the present invention is, inductance loop sensor is not to be exposed on the ground, parking stall, and object does not constitute impairment on the ground that the parking stall is existed in the neighbourhood.

Another object of the present invention is, a plurality of electronic operation parking meters are connected on the single power supply, and power supply source comprises: battery, powerline power supply and/or sun-generated electric power.

Another feature of the present invention is, in main energy sources just in case when power supply trouble occurring and the storage battery that connects together of sun-generated electric power can be used for providing urgent electric energy to the Electronic Control parking timer system.

Another advantage of Electronic Control parking timer system of the present invention is that the power supply of device, inductance loop sensor and data information disposal system (DPU) can recharge automatically when the operation electronic operation stopped.

Another object of the present invention is, existing parking meter is transformed into the electricity operation.

Another feature of the present invention is, provide circuit and web member to the parking meter of existing mechanical operation, makes it become the electricity operation.

Another advantage of the present invention is, by improving the parking meter of existing mechanical type, makes it become the electricity operation, can reduce the expense of parking timer system.

Another goal of the invention of the present invention is the operation economy of operation parking timer system that increase is electric.

Another advantage of electronic operation parking meter of the present invention is, with respect to only being used by this vehicle the down time that particular vehicle is appended.When any vehicle withdraws from the parking stall, the remaining time lost efficacy, and the next vehicle that arrives must append the new time and can use the parking stall.

Another advantage of electronic operation parking timer system of the present invention is, the vehicle for arriving can provide the limited down time of not spending, and in addition, this vehicle can not append the additional time for the place.This mode of operation of electronic operation parking timer system is with the service time of each vehicle permission of control.Providing time limit is near local usual practice such as post office, bank down time.

Vehicle detecting system/parking timer system can provide multiple valuable ability to parking meter.The wagon detector system is applied to ultralow energy " loop wire detection " technology and programmable micromessage processor at the interface of the parking meter with numeral or electronic operation.Wagon detector can detect automobile or the motorcycle that arrives and leave definite parking stall reliably, and will arrive/leave signal accurately and be sent to digital parking meter.The sort signal parking meter can be realized many functions or preprogrammed function.

The value of the function that increases comprises:

(1) vacate when the parking stall, digital parking meter revert to " zero " position, under the big situation of requirement, thereby significantly increases the income of parking meter.Studies show that fully and use this technology, on the big parking stall of requirement, average income approximately increases by 27%.

(2) with in the paying of transfiniting, by not showing additional period, stop " parking meter supplys ", until withdrawing from the parking stall, thereby force the parking stall to accelerate to operate, effectively improve whole parking stall efficient.

During situation about (3) being occupied according to the parking stall, automatically distribute the time kept in reserve.This will make the parking stall of building business site such as drycleaner's and the convenience store time bar of lacking very much in front of the door in more effectively be managed.

(4) follow the tracks of the incidents on all relevant parking stalls, and can analyze these information, how to determine the most effective configuration parking resource.

For many years, the mechanically actuated parking meter of common existence imperturbably in occupation of the block, for the right that obtains to stop, must be taken 10 to 30 fens clock times always for not knowing the name fag.The timer of the mechanical kitchen formula of this " armouring " is the sample of parking controller always, at each city decades-long that spreads all over country.

Old-fashioned mechanical parking timer begins to be replaced by parking meter newer more modern electronics or numeral before several years, and it uses LCD (LCD) to read and few moving-member.This is in recent years, the true improvement of being made on parking meter.This parking meter contains decomposing or replacing the movable part of minute quantity except providing, also because use this parking meter to bring some additional benefits as municipality.

Yet, adopt parking timer system of the present invention to redefine a kind of authority's monitor and circuit for parking management person.And they the city and municipality in adopt this parking meter.This system makes digital parking meter become the data aggregation apparatus, and it can be controlled and monitor in given stop scope of activities.

Because according to the gerentocratic understanding of municipality, improving parking rate is unpractical method.The present invention can increase income, and need not improve parking rate.In addition, the present invention has and collects and analyze the parking lot and take ability with swap date, by providing the authoritative information of stopping of closing, by using all parking resources in parking lot, the expense of having saved the parking lot.

The present invention uses the preprogramming microprocessor, and by using loop detection technique, this processor makes digital parking meter directly be attached to the parking lot.For many years, traffic engineer uses traditional high-pressure-loop detection technique signal that regulates the traffic always.The circuit that is embedded in the street intersection is sent a signal and conversion light, and this moment, vehicle stopped to travel.Vehicular system of the present invention adopts the ultra-low calorie detection system to work in basic identical mode, and circuit self-stopping n timer enters timer pillar inside downwards, and is embedded in the road to be coiled type, and coil is contained in the parking lot that is connected with parking meter.When vehicle enters the parking lot, parking meter is by the vehicle detecting system active signal, and the situation that vehicle enters the parking lot is timing, by sequencing function be activated.When vehicle leaves the parking lot, relevant digit manipulation timer takes place in wagon detector notifications incident therewith, and this program repeats.

A principal character of the present invention is " time cleaning " function.When a client left the parking area but also have remaining time on the parking instrument, motor vehicle-detecting system was with the timer reset-to-zero.Under the situation of big demand, this feature will make parking management person produce sizable income.The benefit that independently studies have shown that this feature is that income raising 10% to 40% is on average improved 27% at high desired region.Use the present invention, be limited to former every day one fixedly the parking meter of number take in and can change based on use now.Because many municipalities rely on parking meter and take in the operating budget of doing them very much,, on income, produce a sizable increase and this potentiality that do not improve Parking Fee are attractions of a key of the present invention so discover always.

An independent parking area, this single electronic-parking timer has a kind of dirigibility, and this dirigibility can not be provided for parking management person in the past always.Electronic-parking timer it is now know that it at which, whom it is, be in one day when, which in which day and 1 year in the week in week.

All these features combine more benefit concerning the parking timer system operator.Utilize internal processes flexibly, electronic-parking timer can:

Changed a few subrate structures in (1) one day;

(2) in special period it is controlled oneself and place " sleep " state;

(3) recognize that it is out of order and display message;

(4) distinguish effective and invalid payment coin (coin etc.) more accurately;

(5) replace cash to receive electronic cash.

The present invention expands these features by the information that the real time that provides about the parking stall takies, and this parking stall is controlled by its relevant electronic instrument.When motor vehicle-detecting system of the present invention is connected to electronic-parking timer recited above, when a vehicle arrives the parking stall, electronic-parking timer can be programmed " freedom " time of adding to the parking clock, then removes excess time when this car leaves.After All Time was bought by current occupant (also being called as Meter-feeding), electronic-parking timer also can be programmed and ignore any coin that is stored, and this parking meter oneself recovers normal function after current occupant leaves the parking area.

Up-to-date electronic-parking timer can be stored a large amount of logouts so that given for change and analyze later in NOVRAM (non-volatile random memory) except the feature with top listed older model timer.The accurate date and time of these logouts program control transaction before having shown.As, when Payment Card is inserted into instrument, can store a transaction record at every turn.If card is considered to effectively, show on the parking clock that so numerical value and this transaction are stored.If it is invalid that coin is considered to, transaction record shows true and not free being added in the parking clock so.If electronic timer breaks down, a record can be stored, and shows precise time and date.When electronic timer was restored to duty, a record of pointing out that incident was stored.

Motor vehicle-detecting system of the present invention is increased in the as above simple new electronic-parking instrument of describing, and a transaction record can be shown accurate date and time that vehicle arrives and the accurate date and time that leaves by storage.These data when combining with other data of being stored, can provide a large amount of real-time management information to parking management.In out of Memory, when motor vehicle-detecting system of the present invention was used, analysis can show:

(1) occupant of every day;

(2) the parking area use amount of every day;

(3) overtime stop and the time quantum that exceeds;

(4) each occupant's dwell length;

(5) duration of room time; And

(6) time range of high use amount.

When above-mentioned data and electronics were quoted the collected data of delivery system and combined, parking management person can know that the subregion of the shutdown system of which implementation strategy on highway does preferably.Repair and operational staff's layout can be managed based on the legal data of the discrete areas of being fetched from system, thereby save many working hours that do not have the time of income.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electronically controlled parking instrument system, but this system uses the parking instrument of an electronic operation, and the parking instrument of this electronic operation and motor vehicle-detecting system use inductive coil lower powered, battery operated with combines.

Therefore, in first feature of the present invention, the parking instrument of an electronic operation and a detector are coupled to survey and are positioned at and embed the situation of an inductive coil vehicle detection sensor on surface, relevant parking area so that optionally control the parking instrument of this electronic operation.The vehicle that enters or leave the parking area causes that the induction coefficient of inductive coil changes and consequential signal output is used to control electronically controlled parking instrument and relevant control circuit.When inductive coil sensor indicate during from the entering and leave of the vehicle of corresponding parking area, the detector parking instrument system of this electronic operation of the present invention is used to reset the electronic-parking instrument.

Each electronic-parking instrument comprises a preformed inductive coil and the specific circumference be made up of a few circle electric wires.The electric wire of drawing from the coil to the detector electronics is wound in pair of conductors.This preformed loop construction has superiority because it has been simplified installation and has guaranteed that probe coil is correct when mounted.In most preferred embodiment of the present invention, each all is made up of coil four circle electric wires and one about ten feet circumference.

Second purpose of the present invention provides a parking instrument detection system, wherein, each detector and electronic operation parking instrument by separate, independently the supply of working battery power supply moves.

The optimum frequency that detector of the present invention uses working cycle ON/OFF technology to preserve battery supply and wherein detector work is 80KHz and is ON and be OFF during at 2.5s-12.5ms when about 12.5ms.Like this, detector is ON in about 0.5% of its working cycle only.This has preserved the battery supply amount of detector, and like this, it can continue the longer time than other battery in the electronic-parking instrument veritably.

The 3rd purpose of the present invention is to comprise the micromessage processor in detector, so that provide a series of controls and information to the electronic operation parking meter.

The 4th purpose of the present invention is that detecting device is the electricity operation with relevant parking meter.

The 5th purpose of the present invention is, by control electronic operation timer, when telefault sensor and coupled electronic-parking timer detect vehicle and have left the parking lot that is subjected to telefault control, make the electronic operation timer return " zero ", thus the economic optimization of electron gain parking timer system.

Other and further advantage show in this paper back.

Accompanying drawing describes in detail

Fig. 1 is the skeleton view according to inductance annular control antithesis electronic operation parking meter of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is that the timer among the figure keeps upright state, for clarity sake, ground is analysed and observe according to the front view with Driven by Solar Energy inductance loop control antithesis electronic operation parking meter of the present invention;

Fig. 3 A is the synoptic diagram according to the electronic operation parking meter of inductance loop of the present invention control, wherein, use be sun power; Fig. 3 B illustrates embodiments of the invention, and wherein, solar panels are fixed on the shell of electronic controller, and shell itself is fixed on the narrow parking meter support that stands between the antithesis electronic operation parking meter; Fig. 3 C illustrates and is fixed on the solar panels that a big parking meter with shell of electronic controller props up top of the trellis;

Fig. 4 illustrates the cut-open view of electronic operation parking meter, display circuit and the improvement that need be connected timer with the circuit of timer support combination;

Fig. 5 is according to discharge diagram of the present invention, and the contact between electronic operation parking meter and the CPU (central processing unit) is shown;

Fig. 6 is the synthesizing map that is connected to a plurality of antithesis electronic operation parking meters on the existing traffic signals power supply by power circuit;

Fig. 7 is wagon detector system of the present invention and electronic-parking timer block scheme;

Fig. 8 is the circuit connection diagram of detector system of the present invention;

The explain through diagrams detector circuit on/off operation circulation of Fig. 7 of Fig. 9;

Figure 10 is illustrated in the loop detector circuit, and detecting device loop cycle of oscillation is with respect to the relation between the quartz oscillation circulation of microprocessor controller.

Most preferred embodiment is described in detail

Be described with reference to the accompanying drawings as follows, Fig. 1 inductance loop of the present invention control electronic operation parking timer system that explains through diagrams.Inboard parking meter support two electronicoperation parking meters 4 of 2 supportings of curb and 6.Article two,inductance loop 8 and 10 is imbedded in response to the parking stall of parking meter underground.The right and leftside inductance loop 8 and 10 are connected respectively to the right and left sideelectronic operation timer 4 and 6.

Everyinductance loop 8 and 10 comprises a few insulated wires, and every loop is wound on the visual field device of specific dimensions.The inductance loop can be made circle, square, octagon etc.The inductance loop is made in advance prior to equipment, and they can adopt solid conductor to twine, and uses saw to cut the road surface and makes.Thelead 11 and 12 that self-inductance loop 8 and 10 is drawn is twisted to that to form single lead together right.Be connected to the circuit ofparking meter 4 from the twisted wire 11 ofinductance loop 8, from the twisted wire ofinductance loop 10 circuit to parking meter 4.Parking meter 4 and 6 is separately toinductance loop 8 and 10 power supplies.In two adjacent inductive loop distances, produce independently electric field.Whenever vehicle enters, produce the electric field of a disturbance byloop 8, the circuit ofparking meter 4 can confirm that automobile storage is in the zone ofparking meter 4 administrations of appointment.Produce the electric field of disturbance whenever vehicle enters byloop 10, can confirm that automobile storage is to specify in the zone ofparking meter 6 administrations by the circuit ofparking meter 6.

Described system can use solar powered, uses solar electric power supply system that the solar panels that are arranged on the electronic operationparking meter support 2 can be arranged, and also solar panels can be set openly.Fig. 1 illustrates the electronic operation parking timer system that uses solar panels, and the solar panels and the parking meter support of this system's assembling were arranged in 2 minutes.

Fig. 2 illustrates the cut-open view of the electronic operation parking timer system of inductance loop control.Hollowparking meter support 2 comprises 14,12 volts ofDC voltage batteries 16 of controller, sunpower voltage stabilizer 18,duct portion 20 and steel lid 22.Several carriage (not shown) supporting 14,12 volts ofvoltage battery 16 of electronic controller and sunpower voltage stabilizer 18, and be connected on the steel lid 22.Electronic controller 14 preferably includes printed circuit board (PCB) and electronic package.

Solar panels 12 are electrically connected on the solar cell voltage stabilizer 18.Solarcell voltage stabilizer 18 is connected to 12 volts of DC voltage batteries 16.12 volts ofDC voltage batteries 16 can be electrically connected toelectronic controller 14equally.Duct portion 20 self-stopping n timer supports 2 extend, and enter the ground of the substrate of contiguousparking meter support 2 byconcrete block base 24.

Solar panels 12 are arranged on thepillar 26 that separates withparking meter support 2, andsolar panels 12 are electrically connected to connectingbox 28, and connectingbox 28 is arranged in the substrate of pillar 26.Connectingbox 28 can be arranged on underground, andinsulated line 29 is connected to the sunpower voltage stabilizer 18 that is positioned atparking meter support 2 by duct portion 20.Connect lead 31 and be communicated to theelectronic controller 14 that is positioned atparking meter support 2 byduct portion 20 from connectingbox 28.

Forming as mentioned above, the lead ofloop 8,10 extends the electronic controller of getting back inparking meter 4 and 6 14 byduct portion 20.

Inductance loop 8 and 10 comprises the standard copper lead that the trade mark is 16AWG, and this copper conductor adopts the insulating material coating that is fit to directly imbed the road surface.Install to inductanceloop 8 and 10 and spiral helicine being screwed into together of lead ofinductance loop 8 and 10, reduce to greatest extent and control the electric field of penetrating from this a pair of electric wire width of cloth.

The parking meter that is connected toparking meter support 2 can be many of one or manypersons.Metal tube 30 self-stopping n timer supports 2 one sides are flatly extended, and crooked vertically upward.Electronicoperation parking meter 4 or 6 can be fixed on the end face of the vertical arcuate section of metal tube 30.Fig. 2 illustrates with aforementioned manner and is connected to twoparking meters 4 oftimer support 2 and 6 optimum shape.

Obviously, as preceding description, different fully with operating direction, being used for parking meter of the present invention is electronics, both can drive, also can speed by the electric energy of the combination of aforementioned three types of electric energy by sun power, battery power or by the AC energy that supply line supplies with.The electronic operation of parking meter of the present invention means the parking meter of the mechanically actuated mode that has significantly deviated from previous use.The characteristics of electronic operation parking meter and advantage will become particularly evident by the electronic operation parking timer system of the present invention that describes below.

Fig. 3 A is the synoptic diagram of the wiring system of inductance loop control electronic operation parking timersystem.Inductance loop 8 is connected to theelectronic controller 14 that is positioned atparking meter support 2, and long and narrow 32 terminal 100B ofelectronic controller 14 and terminal is communicatedwith.Inductance loop 10 separately is connected to theelectronic controller 14 in theparking meter support 2, and the terminal 102B thatelectronic controller 14 and terminal are long and narrow 32 is communicated with.As mentioned above,inductance loop 8 and 10 forms the inductance sensor loop that separates that is used in two Electronic Control parking meters.This is the example of antithesis Electronic Control parking timer system.

After the loop that forms separately,inductance loop 8 and 10 lead are got back to terminal long and narrow 32, and at this, they are communicated to electronic controller 14.Fig. 3 B illustrates two kinds of structures that exist under the antithesis Electronic Control parking meter situation.

Be below on parking meter the demonstration time, and in the controlled stop position under the various situations of automobile storage whether, the operation instructions of electronic controller 14.(1) when having no time to show on the electronic operation parking meter, by disconnecting inductor loop sensor channel, it is minimum that energy consumption reduces to.(2) in electronic operation parking timing, do not show the time, enter or leave the vehicle of inductance sensor loop, neither influence sensor electronics circuit, do not produce any reset pulse ripple yet and occur.(3) shown the time on the electronic operation parking meter, for any vehicle that leaves the inductor loop, corresponding circuit is activated and excites, thereby produces the reset pulse ripple; At this moment, the playback of electronic operation timer shows " zero ".(4) when not free the demonstration, at this moment, the indication vehicle is in the control area, and scintillater output is activated.(5) when vehicle at the scene the time, and free the demonstration, electronic controller does not produce signal output.

The electronic operation parking timer system can use the sun power energize.In optimum decision system, externalsolar panels 12 are electrically connected to solar cell voltage stabilizer 18.In a similar fashion, solarcell voltage stabilizer 18 can be electrically connected to 12 volts of DC voltage batteries 16.12 volts ofDC voltage batteries 16 are electrically connected to long narrow 32 at terminal, and long narrow 32 at terminal is electrically connected toelectronic controller 14.

Solar panels 12 can install and fix with electronicoperation parking meter 4 and 6 segment distance of being separated by, and as Figure 1A and shown in Figure 2, perhaps,solar panels 12 can being installed between electronicoperation parking meter 4 and 6 shown in synoptic diagram 3A like that.Fig. 3 B and 3C illustrate 12 inches solar panels 12 ' and the 12 " arrays that are fixed between electronicoperation parking meter 4 and 6 respectively.At this,electronic controller 14 is installed on the 2 feet highparking meter support 2, and the suchsolar panels 12 that support shown in Fig. 3 B " array; perhaps such shown in Fig. 3 C; that " array directly is fixed toparking meter support 2 tops tosolar panels 12,parking meter support 2 ", have fixingelectronic controller 14 within it.

As Figure 1A and shown in Figure 2, the position ofsolar array 12 preferably has not too strong direct sunlight to drive solar array, and for example parking timer system is arranged on the drive that high-lager building blocks.The electronic operation parking meter can be arranged on the place of sufficient direct sunlight, and for example on open parking stall, at this moment, solar array preferably is fixed on the parking meter support shown in Fig. 3 B and 3C.

Every electronic operationparking parking meter 4 and 6 is electrically connected to theelectronic controller 14 that is positioned at parking meter support 2.Fig. 4 illustrates the line configuring that need be connected to the printed circuit board (PCB) 34 that is positioned at existing parking meter electronic controller 14.Article 3, lead is connected to printed circuit board (PCB) 34 toelectronic controller 14 by long narrow 32 at terminal.Article one, lead 36 is as ground wire, and alead 38 is controlled the reset switch (not shown), and anotherlead 40 is relevant with vehicle detection.These 3 leads 36,38 and 40openings 42 byinstrument battery case 43 enterelectronic operation timer 4 or 6.

The device system of electronic operation parking meter can comprise printed circuit board (PCB) and the central processing unit (CPU) that is positioned atcontroller 14, andcontroller 14 is arranged in the parking meter support 2.Central processing unit can be used for monitoring and/or controlling the running of electronic operation parking meter of the present invention.Fig. 5 is a schematic flow sheet, with block scheme formal specification electronicoperation parking meter 4 or 6 and central processing unit between annexation.

When vehicle entered the parking stall, electronicoperation parking meter 4 and 6 detected its appearance, and at this moment, the electronic operation parking meter picks up counting, and notice central processing unit automobile storage exists.If required coin at the fixed time in the section (perhaps 30-60 second) do not put into parking meter, the electronic operation timer is at its LCD (LCD) flicker " zero " so, and sends signal with regard to the existence of vehicle and time of having entered the parking stall to central processing unit.When required some coins are put into the electronic operation parking meter, this parking meter is carried out 3 kinds of functions: (1) will calculate the coin of having thrown in; (2) will close " zero " that glimmers on the LCD; (3) will on parking meter, continue to measure and show the remaining time.If throw in coin overtime (more than 30-60 second), parking meter will coin is overtime to send signal to central processing unit because of throwing in.

When vehicle was departed the parking stall, at this moment, the time still must stay on the instrument, can eliminate the excess time of staying on the parking meter, and parking meter will send the parking stall null signals to central processing unit.After expiration, vehicle still rests in the parking stall, flicker " zero " on the LCD of parking meter, and end and vehicle still rests on the signal on parking stall to the central processing unit time of sending.

The electricity operation parking meter of a plurality of inductance loop controls can use single power supply.As previously mentioned, power supply can be a sun power, and at this, single solar panels can be used for to a plurality of parking meter supply of electrical energy.Solar panels preferably can append on the existing structure, for example street lamp, electric pole or traffic signals pillar.In addition, a plurality of parking meters can receive near traffic signals power supply.

Fig. 6 illustrates thepower circuit 46 from present trafficsignals power supply 48 to a plurality of antithesis electricity operation parking timer systems.

A plurality of electricity operation parking meters can be connected to single central processing unit, this processor receives the information from the relevant levying by tax situation of each electronic operation parking meter, and the vehicular traffic situation on each parking stall.Central processing unit can will be delivered to information gathering and/or processing enter again about vehicular traffic and levying by tax information.Contact between central processing unit and the information processing centre can comprise that circuit, optical fiber and radar etc. are achieved by the equipment of some.

Theinductance loop 10 that comprises 4 to 5 wire loops among Fig. 7 is connected toloop oscillator 16 by stranded lead to 12 and 14, and in most preferred embodiment of the present invention,loop oscillator 16 is with the hunting of frequency of 80 KHz.Whether the effect ofloop oscillator 16 is to change by the inductance that detects in theinductance loop 10, can detect vehicle with this and be present in the relevant parking stall, and whereininductance loop 10 is buried under the ground.Vehicle causes then that on the parking stall inductance ofinductance loop 10 effectively reduces, and vehicle then causes the inductance ofinductance loop 10 effectively to increase not on the parking stall.The inductance ofinductance loop 10 effectively changes, and causes the proportional change of oscillation frequency ofloop oscillator 16, along with inductance reduces, causes that oscillation frequency increases, and along with inductance increases, causes that the loop oscillation frequency reduces.

Change the frequency change that causes by detecting effectively by aforementioned inductance, whether can be illustrated in automobile storage in the relevant parking stall conversely again,loop oscillator 16 can conclude that vehicle is whether in the parkingstall.Loop oscillator 16 provides signal tomicroprocessor controller 18, thereby makescontroller 18 can judge accurately that vehicle is whether in relevant parkingstall.Microprocessor controller 18 produces a series of data informations that are input to electronic-parking timer 22 byoutput interface 20, makes electronic-parking timer can operate (below explain detailedly) in desired mode.Electronic-parking timer 22 can receive coin, with according to the number of coins (according to " inserting coins " identifier among Fig. 7) and the corresponding receivable program that drop in the parking meter, can buy corresponding down time.At last, the corresponding down time by the coin that drops into electronic-parking timer obtains, show bytime display 24.

As shown in Figure 8,inductance loop 10 is connected to piercecircuit 26 by insulatingtransformer 28, and it comprises and is used to the tuningcapacitor 32 and thepierce circuit 26 that suppress thecapacitor 30 of transient process, be connected with inferior classB insulation forwarder 28 abreast.

Pierce circuit 26 is designed to can be with the vibration of the natural frequency of 80 KHz, but whether is present in situation in the relevant parking stall according to vehicle, and its oscillation frequency is changeable with respect to the ratio of natural frequency.The oscillation output signal ofpierce circuit 26 is by squaring circuit square amplification in addition, so that oscillator signal can be received by microprocessor controller 18.Microprocessor controller 18 comprises to it provides 4 megahertzes (MHZ) quartz (controlled)oscillator 36 of proper operation frequency as shown in figure 10.

Notable feature of the present invention is that electronicoperation parking meter 22 and piercecircuit 26 are to provide power operated by a plurality of dry cells.

Microprocessor controller 18 provides the on/off cycling ofdetector system 16 as shown in Figure 9, adopt this mode of operation, the start-up detector system approximately needs 12.5 milliseconds (MS), suspends (" dormancy time ") and is about 2.5 seconds, deducts the running time of 12.5 milliseconds detection system.This is a key character of the present invention, because it reduces operation detector system of the present invention needed battery power significantly, is enough to guarantee that the time that battery can be manipulated reaches 9 to 12 months, also reduces the maintenance time of detector system simultaneously significantly.

Light emitting diode (LED)indicator 38 provides the operation ofmicroprocessor controller 18 to show, and resetswitch 40 can guarantee that controller resets as requested.

The relevant situation of automobile storage whether that detects in the relevant parking stall is as described below.Automobile storage in relevant parking stall or do not exist, can make the inductance ofrelevant loop 10 correspondingly reduce or increase, the minimizing of inductance or increase cause again that conversely the operating frequency ofpierce circuit 26 correspondingly increases or reduces.Frequency from 4 megahertzes (MHz) frequency signal ofmicroprocessor controller 18 and piercecircuit 26 is superimposed, as shown in Figure 9.Becausepierce circuit 26 frequencies reduce, cause oscillation period long, compared with the operating frequency of normal 80 KHz of pierce circuit, the signal that will produce greater than 4 megahertzes (MHz) in given cycle atpierce circuit 26 also reduces pro rata.

Microprocessor circuit 18 also provides a series of data output signals to electronicoperation parking meter 22, so that electronicoperation parking meter 22 is brought into play its effect (following detailed description) by the desired procedure mode.

Therefore, wish the specific embodiments that the present invention is not limited only to describe, the present invention comprises that also for those skilled in the art are conspicuous all any improvement and changes.Any and all various equivalent configurations and term in claims that protection scope of the present invention will be added below being set forth in are determined.

Claims (17)

1. an electronic-parking timer system comprises:

A plurality of electronic-parking timers, each electronic-parking timer wherein are used for determining the time that the parking stall interrelate with it is occupied by vehicle respectively, and accept expression coin and the described time of demonstration of needed down time; A plurality of inductive loop road vehicles detecting sensors, each of setting be inductive loop road vehicles detecting sensor independently, both has been used for detecting vehicle and whether has actually existed in relevant parking stall, can launch the signal whether the expression vehicle actually exists in relevant parking stall again;

A plurality of microprocessor controllers, each controller are connected to corresponding sensor and corresponding electronic-parking timer, so that control each electronic-parking timer selectively, each controller is in response to the signal of related sensor; Occupy under the situation of described parking stall at vehicle, when payment, each electronic-parking timer promptly provides instruction time, obtains fixing amount down time according to payment amount, and each electronic-parking timer can reduce the demonstration time;

When corresponding sensor sends the signal that vehicle no longer occupies the corresponding parking stall that is connected with parking meter to corresponding controller, controller makes described electronic-parking timer return to zero-bit.

2. according to the electronic-parking timer system of claim 1, a corresponding parking meter comprises in wherein said a plurality of parking meters:

Its coin is put in calculating, and according to putting into the device that number of coins sets interval;

Be used for notifying the device of putting into number of coins to corresponding microprocessor controller;

In order to the continuous described time interval of measuring and calculating excess time number device; With

On corresponding electronic-parking timer, show excess time and flicker " zero " device with expression " zero " time.

3. according to the electronic-parking timer system of claim 1, a corresponding timer further comprises in wherein said a plurality of electronic-parking timers: sending signal to corresponding controller has vehicle parking on this parking stall and there is not coin to be dropped into the device of electronic-parking timer to show.

4. according to the electronic-parking timer system of claim 3, corresponding timer in wherein said many electronic-parking timers, further comprise from the relevant detection sensor when having vehicle to appear at corresponding parking stall, postpone the device of the relevant notice of in the respective electronic parking meter, inserting coins of corresponding controllers.

5. one kind is detected the whether actual inductive loop road vehicles detecting sensor that comes across a certain parking stall of vehicle, comprising:

A loop is wrapped in the coil of another several loops above loop;

Be used for fixing the axial property of several loops, and keep device from the signal output of coil with holding coil;

Be embedded in the coil in the parking stall;

A plurality of terminations of coil are screwed onto together each other relatively, to reduce the field effect of coil.

6. according to the inductance loop of claim 5, wherein, the diameter of coil is between 1 foot to 8 feet, and coil is set at parking stall central authorities.

7. the assembly of an electronic-parking timer system comprises:

Whether setting is used for detecting in the relevant parking stall vehicle physical presence, and launches the inductive loop road vehicles detecting sensor of corresponding indicator signal by it; The inductance loop comprises: a loop is wound into the coil at another loop top; Be used for fixing several loops with the holding coil axial direction, and keep the device of the signal output of coil; Be embedded in the coil in the relevant parking stall; Each termination of coil is wound into mutually together, to reduce the field effect of coil;

Be used for determining the time that the parking stall interrelate with it is occupied by vehicle and receive the coin of representing needed down time, and show the electronic-parking timer of described time; With

The microprocessor controller that is used for controlling selectively electronic-parking timer system is connected on sensor and the electronic-parking timer, and receives the corresponding signal from described inductance loop, shows whether vehicle appears in the relevant parking stall.

8. the assembly of an electronic-parking timer system comprises:

Whether setting is used for detecting vehicle and is present in the described parking stall and the inductance vehicle detecting sensor of emission corresponding indicating signals;

Electronic-parking timer, this timer are used for determining the time that the parking stall interrelate with it is occupied by vehicle, and receive expression coin and the described time of demonstration of required down time;

The microprocessor controller of controlling electronic-parking timer selectively is connected on sensor and the electronic-parking timer, and receives the corresponding signal whether the indication vehicle exists; With

When sensor when controller sends vehicle and no longer occupies the signal on parking stall, described controller makes electronic-parking timer return to zero-bit.

9. according to the assembly of the electronic-parking timer system of claim 8, wherein according to the not free situation that shows on the electronic-parking timer, by disconnecting sensor, described controller can reduce power consumption to greatest extent.

10. according to the assembly of the electronic-parking timer system of claim 8, wherein according to the not free situation that shows on the electronic-parking timer, described controller discharges sensor, produces false output signal to avoid sensor to enter or leave the parking stall owing to vehicle.

11. according to the assembly of the electronic-parking timer system of claim 8, wherein said controller makes electronic-parking timer send flash signal, and no matter vehicle whether in the parking stall.

12. according to the assembly of the electronic-parking timer system of claim 8, wherein said controller in response to from described sensor indication automobile storage signal and the automobile storage that produces from the electronic-parking timer that shows the time signal.

13. assembly according to the electronic-parking timer system of claim 9, when wherein said microprocessor has no time to show on electronic-parking timer, promptly disconnect sensor, to prevent that sensor from entering or leaving the parking stall and producing false output signal owing to vehicle.

14. according to the assembly of the electronic-parking timer system of claim 13, wherein said microprocessor controller makes electronic-parking timer send flash signal, and no matter vehicle whether in the parking stall.

15. according to the assembly of the electronic-parking timer system of claim 14, wherein said controller corresponding to the expression automobile storage of sending by described sensor signal and the expression automobile storage that produces by the electronic-parking timer of described demonstration time signal.

16. according to the assembly of the electronic-parking timer system of claim 9, wherein when sensor when it sends vehicle and no longer occupies the signal on parking stall, described controller makes electronic-parking timer return to zero-bit.

17. according to claim 1,7 and 8 electronic-parking timer system, wherein said detecting sensor comprises: with the natural frequency vibration and in response to the inductance of inductance loop, to show whether the changed pierce circuit in the parking stall of vehicle;

Described microprocessor controller comprises quartz (controlled) oscillator, and it is with the operation of the natural frequency of about 50 times variable oscillator circuit, and the signal that comprises the quartz (controlled) oscillator that is used to control the variable oscillator circuit is provided;

Vehicle is not with in the parking stall, with corresponding minimizing of the inductance that makes the inductance loop or increase, and cause corresponding proportional increase of operating frequency or minimizing, and the cycle of variable oscillator circuit reduces accordingly or increases, thereby in the cycle of each variable oscillator circuit, cause that the quartz (controlled) oscillator pulse number reduces, or increase;

Described oscillator provides and comprises that described quartz (controlled) oscillator is with the output signal of pulse transmission to the microprocessor controller;

In the given operation cycle of variable oscillator circuit, described microprocessor controller calculates pulse number to determine that vehicle is whether in the parking stall.

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