EP0576775A1

EP0576775A1 - A multiple taximeter with magnetic cards for public vehicles

Info

Publication number: EP0576775A1
Application number: EP92830356A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rodolfo Santovetti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-07-03
Filing date: 1992-07-03
Publication date: 1994-01-05

Abstract

The taximeter according to the present invention consists of a device that measures the kilometers covered and the time of the public vehicle onto which it is installed and transforms the same into magnetic impulses of unitary value but of variable frequency demultiplied according to the number of clients transported in the same run. Said impulses will demagnetize one ore more magnetic cards inserted in the taximeter by the client(s) of the vehicle.

Description

The present invention concerns a multiple taximeter with magnetic cards, for multiple taxis, i.e. public vehicles for the transport of a plurality of clients for the same run. The present invention has its origin in the need to overcome, in the jerky traffic of our metropolis', the inadequacy of the public bus lines and the high cost of the conventional taxi service, creating a new taxi service.
The new "multiple-taxi or multitaxi" service consists of a net of public vehicles provided with radio and equipped for transporting a plurality of clients during the same run. The route of the single runs is determined by a computer installed in the central seat of the service, that chooses between all the telephone calls requesting a taxi those having more or less the same route.
The route, that has to collect a plurality of clients, will be transmitted by radio to the free vehicle in that area, listing the addresses of the clients to be taken. The cost of the run will be devided between all transported clients according to the time and the kilometers covered by each of them and paid by each single client by the demagnetization of the magnetic cards that each client, getting in the car, will insert into the taximeter that is the object of the present invention.
It is the aim of the present invention to realize a taximeter of a new kind that may be applied onto above mentioned public vehicles that will allow to charge each client the amout of his part of the run onto a magnetic card that may be bought at a tobaconist or at the driver of the taxi and that the client will have to insert into an apposite eyelet of the taximeter. A particular display or monitor allows to read the flowing of the charge performed by the taximeter according to the time passing and to the distance covered, the sharing of the cost performed between the various clients as well as the remaining amounts on the single cards.
The aim set forth is reached by means of a taximeter according to the present invention consisting of a series of elecronic devices that will be described hereinbelow that will measure the time and the distance covered by the public vehicle onto which said taximeter is installed, and transforms said data into magnetic impulses of a unitary value but of variable frequency according to the number of clients on the vehicle; said impulses will demagnetize, in a reasonable, fix entity one or more magnetic cards inserted into said taximeter by the client(s) of the vehicle.
The advantages of the taximeter according to the present invention are many and considerable:

it prevents to handle money and therefore represents a safety against robbery;
it realizes a great time saving in the payment operations;
it allows the continuous visualization of the charging for each client;
it allows the realization of a service - the multiple taxi - that is able to overcome the disavantages of the public transport means (like autobuses) and that performs a transport service "from door to door" with a considerably lower cost than the conventional taxi, thus inviting people not to use their private car.

The present invention will be explained more in detail hereinbelow relating to the enclosed drawings in which some preferred embodiments are shown.
Figure 1 shows a scheme of a possible variant of the taximeter.
Figure 2 shows an external perspective view.
Figure 3 shows a scheme of a variant in which the magnetic impulse may be varied and the demultiplication whereof takes place inside the impulse generator.
Relating now to the details of figures 1 and 2 the taximeter according to the present invention consist of:

a magnetic impulse generator GIM: each impulse represents a precise constant value unity (e.g.: 1/100 of the value of the total card);
a timer T/V that periodically opens a relay R that allows, for the time in which it is open, the passage of one single impulse that will demagnetize the magnetic card(s) inserted in the taximeter; the timer is variable, i.e. it may increase the time period passing between the openings of the relay (e.g. unitary value, double value, triple value, ... etc.) according to the number of the inserted cards (1, 2, 3, ... etc.).
an electronic speedometer CK/V that for each determined number of meters sends a signal to the relay R that allows the passage of a demagnetizing impulse. It is provided with a circuit for the demultiplication of the impulses, i.e. it may increase the time period passing between the openings of the relay (e.g. unitary value, double value, triple value, ...), according to the number of the inserted magnetic cards;
a plurality of magnetic heads tm1, tm2, ... for as many as are the insertion eyelets for the magnetic cards;
a plurality of magnetic pick-ups 11, 12, ... for as many as are above mentioned eyelets;
a plurality of displays d1, d2, ... for as many as are above mentioned eyelets, or one single monitor;
a progressive impulse counter CIP for the recording onto a magnetic tape;
a plurality of eyelets with a slide for the cards for the insertion of the magnetic cards A1, A2, ... .

For what concerns the functioning of the taximeter according to the present invention, the impulse generator GIM produces, for each time period "p", a magnetic "demagnetizing" impulse of a unitary value equal to a hundredth part of the total value of the card (e.g. 100 Lire).
This impulse may reach the magnetic heads tm only if the relay R is open, otherways it doesn't work.
The relay opens upon an order of the timer T/V (or of the speedometer CK/V) that opens a circuit for a time period "p" and therfore allows the passage of one single impulse, e.g., every "n" seconds (or every "m" meters). This frequency is variable according to the presence signals of the cards reaching said relay from the pick-ups 11, 12, ... .
For example:

no signal coming from the pick-ups: impulse every inf. ˝
1 signal coming from the pick-ups: impulse every 10˝
2 signals coming from the pick-ups: impulse every 20˝
3 signals coming from the pick-ups: impulse every 30˝
4 signals coming from the pick-ups: impulse every 40˝

It is provided that the relay may be opened also by the impulses coming from the speedometer CK/V, which by means of an internal counter sends the relay an opening signal every "n" meters. The internal counter of the speedometer is provided, like the timer T/V, for taking care also of the present cards so as to demultiply the frequency of the impulses for the opening of the relay according to the cards inserted.
The pick-ups 11, 12, ... beyond sending signals about the presence of the cards to the timer and to he speedometer, also send signals to the relative dislays d1, d2, ... (or to the single monitor) so as to make appear on each of them the residual value of the single cards.
At last, the device according to the present invention is provided with the progressive counter CIP for recording the daily work of the taxi, the number of the runs performed, etc. Said counter starts as soon as each pick-up 11, 12, ... to which it is connected gives signal of the presence of one or more cards and records onto a tape the number of the unitary impulses, the number of the cards inserted etc., until one single card is present, and starts again as soon as a new signal arrives about the presence of a new card.
The same signal will be shown, at the same time, on display DT, so as to allow the client to read the total value of the run and compare it with the value of the clicks that are charged on his card. He will see, e.g., that if three cards are inserted, the general counter shows three clicks on the display DT, while on the display relating to his card only one click on three is charged.
Relating to the details of figue 3, the variant of above mentioned taximeter is obtained by means of an impulse generator GIM that is internally provided with a circuit for the demultiplication of the intensity of the produced impulse according to the signals relating to the presence of the cards inserted in the taximeter, signals received through pick-ups "l" (intensity = base value ,= 1/2 the base value ,= 1/3 of the base value ... according to the presence of 1, 2, 3 cards in the taximeter). In this case, the speedometer CK/V and the timer T/V, no longer connected to pick-ups "l", control the openings of the relay R only according to the kilometers and to the time.

Claims

A multiple taximeter with magnetic cards for public use vehicles for the transport of one or more clients in the same run, of the kind described and characterized in:
- a magnetic impulse generator (GIM); each impulse represents a precise constant value unity (e.g. 1/100 of the value of the total card);

- a timer (T/V) that periodically opens a relay (R) that allows, for the time it is open, the passage of an impulse that will demagnetize the card(s) present in the taximeter: the timer is variable, i.e. it may increase the time passing between the openings of the relay (e.g. unitary value, double value, triple value, ...) according to the presence signals of the cards (1, 2, 3, ...) sent by pick-ups (11, 12, ...);

- an electronic speedometer (CK/V) provided with a circuit for the demultiplication of the base impulses (to be sent to relay (R)) for increasing the intermediate time periods between the impulses (double, triple, etc.) according to the presence of a plurality of cards (2, 3, etc.) in the taximeter, shown by pick-ups (l);

- a plurality of magnetic heads (tm1, tm2, ...) for as many as are the eyelets for the insertion of the magnetic cards;

- a plurality of magnetic pick-ups (11, 12, ...) for as many as are above mentioned eyelets;

- a plurality of displays (d1, d2, ...) for as many as are above mentioned eyelets or one single display realized with one monitor;

- a progressive impulse counter (CIP) consisting of a device for the magnetic tape recording;

- a plurality of eyelets with a slide for the cards for the insertion of the magnetic cards for each client (A1, A2, ... An).
A multiple taximeter according to claim 1, characterized in that said impulse generator (GIM) produces for each time period (p) a demagnetizing magnetic impulse of a unitary value equal to a hundredth part of the total value of the card, and in that said impulse may reach the magnetic heads (tm) only if the relay (R) is open so that said relay - that opens upon an order of timer (T/V) or of speedometer (CK/V) - opens the circuit for a time period equal to (p) and thus allows the passage of one single impulse with a frequency variable according to the signals of presence of the cards coming from pick-ups (11, 12, ...).
A multiple taximeter according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening of said relay (R) may be controlled also by the impulses coming from the speedometer (CK/V) which, through an internal counter, sends a signal to relay (R) according to the kilometers covered the frequency whereof is demultiplied according to the magnetic cards inserted, read by pick-ups (11, 12, ...).
A multiple taximeter according to claim 1, characterized in that the timer (T/V) as well as the speedometer (CK/V), that control the opening of the relay (R) according to the time and the covered kilometers, de-multiply the frequency of the opening impulses of the relay according to the presence signals of the magnetic cards inserted sent by pick-ups (11, 12, ...) deviding it by 2, 3, 4, ..., according to the presence of 2, 3, 4, ..., magnetic cards.
A multiple taximeter according to claim 1, characterized in that the demagnetizing signals passing through the relay (R) reach heads (tm) and hit the inserted cards demagnetizing them of one unit.
A multiple taximeter according to claim 1, characterized in that said pick-ups (11, 12, ...) beyond sending the signals for the presence of the inserted cards to the timer (T/V) and to the speedometer (CK/V), send the signals to the relative display (d1, d2, ...) (or to the monitor) so as to make appear on each of them the residual value of the single cards.
A multiple taximeter according to claim 1, characterized in the presence of the progressive counter (CIP) for recording onto a magnetic tape the daily work of the taxi, the number of the runs, the number of the clients, whereby said counter starts as soon as any head (l) gives the signal of presence of one single card and records on a tape, adding them, the number of the unitary impulses until even one single card is inerted in the taximeter.
A multiple taximeter according to claims 1 and 6, characterized in that said signal will be shown, run by run, on display (DT) so as to allow the client to read the total value of the run and to compare it with the clicks charged onto his card.
A multiple taximeter according to claim 1, characterized in that the display (d1, d2, ...) and (DT) are replaced by one single display obtained by a monitor.
A multiple taximeter with magnetic cards characterized in that the magnetic impulse generator (GIM/V) is provided with a circuit for the variation of the intensisity of the produced impulse, and the intesity of the impulse (I) is determined by the signals of the presence of the cards in the taximeter at that moment, whereby said presence is signalled by pick-ups (l) to which it is connected (I = 1, I = 1/2, I = 1/3, ...) according to the presence of 1, 2, 3, ... cards, so that the speedometer (CK/V) and the timer (T), no longer connected to pick-ups (l), send the opening signals to the relay (R) only according to the kilometers covered or to the time, in a way similar to the actual charging one (clicks) of the taxis.