Low-power multi-bay parking meter

Abstract

A low power parking meter to control two or four parking bays. A display, either by a flag-wheel or a digital display will normally indicate the status of each bay. When funds are deposited without indicating the bay to be credited, the meter will escrow the amount until a bay is chosen. The meter normally operates in an idle loop unless an individual bay is being checked or vended.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONI. Field of the InventionThis invention relates generally to parking meters. More particularly, the present invention relates to individual parking meters that control multiple parking spaces or bays.II. Description of the Prior ArtA variety of electronic and mechanical parking meters are. well-known in the prior art. Typical parking meters receive one or more coins to begin a timing interval during which a vehicle may remain parked in an appropriate space associated with and adjacent to the parking meter.The timing interval, or the amount of time vended by the meter to the user, is typically determined by the number and value of the coins which are inserted into the parking meter.Recently, electronic parking meters have evolved for digitally, electronically vending time. Although such electronic parking meters often have mechanical parts, the primary thrust of modern parking meter technology is directed to solid state circuitry and apparatus for parking m...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Another object is to provide a multi bay parking meter of the character described which avoids the use of external power, and minimizes the consumption of internal battery or capacitor stored charge.

Another important object is to provide a reliable, easy-to-use parking multi bay meter that is user friendly.

A related object is to provide a low power, multi bay parking meter of the character described that does not absolutely require user instructions to be inputted in a single sequence. It is an important feature of the meters described herein that the customer may first make a bay selection and then provide payment, or he may make payment first and then make a bay selection.

Another object is to provide an electronic multi bay parking meter of the character described which avoids computer menu scrolling. It is a feature of our multiple bay meter designs that separate switches are provided for each bay that may be selected to minimize scrolling and enhance a user's chances to intuitively operate the meter.

A similar object is to provide a multi-bay parking meter with a computer control program that enables operators to quickly and easily discern how to operate the device.

Problems solved by technology

However, known prior electronic and mechanical parking meters fail to maximize the potential storage capacity and vending capabilities of electronic meters while remaining user friendly.

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