GB2148035A - An automatic parking machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns an automatic parking machine. More specifically the invention concerns an automatic parking machine in which a vehicle is identified by its registration number 3, in addition to which outgoing time 6 for a specific vehicle is stored electronically. The automatic parking machine comprises a keyboard 8 having digits 0-9 as well as the alphabet with associated symbols, i.e. an alpha-numerical keyboard. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An automatic parking machine The instant invention refers to an automatic parking machine in which a vehicle is identified by its registration number, i.e. the number of its license plates, and outgoing time for a specific vehicle is stored electronically.

It is known to use automatic parking machines in which payment which has been made corresponds to a specific parking square. However, certain deficiencies exist in present day systems of this type, and the instant invention has the purpose of removing these deficiencies.

Thus, by means of the invention the advantages are achievedthatthe parking squares do not have to be marked by a number, which is the case in some presently existing systems, furthermore on one hand thatthe parking time is allotted to an individual automobile and not to a specific parking square and on the other handthatthetime cannot be inherited by the next customer utilizing the parking square, and finally that the customer does not have to remember the number of an associated place butonly his or her own automobile number.

As compared to automatic parking machines of the type in which aticket is intended to be placed in the front window ofthe automobile the present invention provides the advantages that the customer can make additional payment at anytime and have it placed to his credit, furthermore that the customer does not have to go back to the automobile with a ticket in order to place the latter in a position in which it may be clearly viewed from outside, that a receipt obtained at the automatic parking machine provides a guarantee against any improper opinion of a monitoring person, i.e. the human factor, because the license plate numberofthe automobile is indicated on the receipt in accordance with the invention, thereby also achieving that the ticket cannot be transferred to someone else without the automobile also being transferred, that the receipt may be made smaller and cheaperthan presently, and that the work of the parking attendant becomes simplified, particularly in the wintertime, not least because the automatic parking machine for example can write a list in alphabetical order of all registration numbers for which payment has been made.

The means by which the objective setforth is achieved are indicated in the accompanying claims.

The invention will be described in detail in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 shows a front view of an embodimentofan automatic parking machine in accordance with the invention and Figure 2 shows a bl/ockdiagram ofthe electronic units which are included in the relevant automatic parking machine.

The same reference numerals have been used in both ofthe figures wherever possible.

In Figure 1 the designation 1 refers to the cabinet or casing of the automatic parking machine, 2 is a panel unit including a display3forshowingthe registration number, for example HDK 808, and displays 4, 5, and 6, wherein display 4 shows the number of the week, display 5 shows the day and display 6 shows the present time of day or outgoing time, alternatively, 7 indicates means for paying with coins, bills and/or cards, 8 designates a keyset for keying the registration number ofthe relevant automobile, 9 is a pushbutton which erases a keyed registration number ifthe person has happened to keythe wrong number, 10 is a pushbutton forterminating the procedure of payment, 11 is a pushbutton for interrupting the procedure of payment, i.e. a so-called change-of-mind button, 12 is a doorfor repaid and improper coins, and 13 is a receipt outlet.

The same units as in Figure 1 may be found partly in Figure 2 which shows the electronic structure, wherein said units have the following functions.

The payment means 7 receives payment in the form of coins, bills or cards, therein providing a pulse to a connected coin register14consisting of a binary counterwhich is counted up by the payment means. A control unit 15 can read out or count down the coin register. The keyset8 consists of keys which are marked with digits, letters and specific symbols. When a key in the keyset is depressed a binary code is supplied to a keyset register 16. Such binary code is supplied to keyset register 16 also when erase key 9, start key 10, i.e. the pushbutton for terminating the procedure of payment, or change-of-mind key 11 are depressed. The keyset register may be read out by means of the control unit.As has been mentioned above the erase key connected to the keyset register is forerasing a registration numberwhich has been introduced, if the customer decides to do so, and in addition the start button has for its purpose to terminate the procedure of payment. In such case coins which have been introduced are collected and a receipt is printed and issued to the customer. Changeof-mind key 11 interrupts the procedure of payment and returns any coins or bills which may have been introduced.

In the automatic parking machine ofthe invention an address register 17 is included which by means of a binary digit 1 . . . N designates one of N accumulators Awhich are marked A1, A2, A3 . . . AN. Each accumulator is composed of two portions, namely a first portion 18 which serves as a storage place for a registration number and a second portion 19 which stores outgoing time for the corresponding registration number. If registration number portion 18 is set to zero the accumulator is unoccupied.

Designation 20 concerns a registration number registerwhich when in operation contains a registration number (license plate number) which has been introduced, said register being connected to an automobile number display3 which displays the registration numberwhich has been introduced.

Atime register22 contains information aboutthe time displayed by displays 4,5, and 6, respectively, wherein Figure 2 illustrates the week number display 4, display 5 indicates the day, and display 6 displays hours and minutesfor presenttime and outgoing time, respectively. A receipt printer 23 in Figure 2 prints a receipt 24 having information aboutthe present time, the registration number (license plate number) of the automobile, the outgoing time, and the amount paid.

The designation 25 refers to a mechanical intermediate money collector in which coins and bills which are introduced into the coin insert are collected.

On the command of control unit 15 the coins can be returned to the customer if change-of-mind key 11 is depressed or can be forwarded to a coin box (not shown) in the automatic parking machine ifstart key 10 is depressed. A clock register 25 contains information on presenttime and is updated continuously by pulses from an oscillator 27 which oscillates at a constantfrequency.

In addition to the tasks which control unit 15 performs according to the above it controls the data transmission on a data bus 28. Control unit 15 can also carry out arithmetic and logic operations, it contains a stationarily stored program and it contains registers fortemporarystorage of numerical values. Said data bus consists of a plurality of leads which may convey binary digits in parallel form. It is connected to all of the registers.

The automatic parking machine according to the invention operates in the following manner. In the initial position, display 3 for the registration number is erased. Displays 4,5 and 6, respectively, showthe present time. If an effortto pay is made by introducing a coin or a bill in the payment insert7 said coin or bill, respectively, is immediately returned.

Purchasing time begins by the customer introducing the registration number of his or her car into keyset 8. An arbitrary number of digits and letters can be introduced. Simultaneously with the customer keying the keyset Bfor introducing the registration number the registration number is displayed on display 3. If the customer happens to key the wrong registration number he orshe may erase it by depressing key 9.

When payment is initiated the automatic parking machines relies on the introduced registration number being correct, and thus this is considered to be valid.

When payment is being carried out displays 5, and 6, respectively, display the new outgoing time for the registration numberwhich is indicated in display 3. The coins and/orthe bills are temporarily collected in intermediate money collector 25.

The payment can be interrupted at anytime bythe customer depressing the change-of-mind key 11, thereby having the coins and/orthe bills ofthe intermediate money collector 25 returned, in addition to which the automatic parking machine returns to its initial position.

When the payment is completed the customer depresses key 10 forterminating the payment procedure. The outgoing time which then is displayed in displays 4,5 and 6 is stored at that time together with the registration number in the memory ofthe automatic parking machine. The coins and/or bills which are disposed in the intermediate money collector 25 are introduced into the coin box ofthe automatic parking machine, and a receipt is printed (written) including information on the time of purchase, the introduced registration number,the outgoing time and the amount paid.

When a parking attendant wishes to check which registration numbers have been introduced intothe apparatus this is carried out by such person depress ing the keys ofthe keyset 8 on the basis of a specific code. The printerwill then print a "receipt" with all of the registration numbers in alphabetical order.

Certain parts ofthe electronic units ofthe automatic parking machine will now be described more in detail.

As a timer or clock, oscillator27 continuously delivers signals to clock register 26 which continuously contains information on present time. The contents of clock register 26 are transferred to time register 22 once per minute. Thetime is thereby presented on displays 4,5, and 6, respectively.

Furthermore, accurnulatorsA1, A2,A3 . . . AN are checked by the control unit every minute. This is done inthefollowing manner: 1. The address ofthefirstaccumulatorA1 is introduced into address register 17 by the control unit.

2. The registration number portion 18 of accumulatorAl is checked by address register 17. If no number exists one proceeds to the next accumulator.

3. The time given by accumulator 19 is compared to the time of clock register 26 by the control unit. If the time of clock register 26 is less than or equal to the timeofaccumulator 19 nothing happens, butifthe time of clock register 26 becomes greaterthan the time of accumulator 19 erasing is carried out in the registration number portion 18, whereby the automatic parking machine is provided with information that valid paymentforthe relevant registration number no longer exists. The registration number can no longer be displayed by display 3.

Introducing the registration number is carried out in such mannerthatwhena keyofkeyset8isdepressed a code is set in keyset register 16. Control unit 15 reads this code. If itturns outthatthe code refers to a digit or a letterthe code is transferred to the registration number register 20 for being presented on display 3.

In connection with payment the following applies.

For each coin or bill which is introduced into the coin insert 7a or 7b the corresponding coin register 14a or 14b is increased by one unit.

When the contents of anyone ofthecoin registers becomes differentfrom 0 payment has begun. Keyset 8is no longer in function atthattime.

Control unit 15 initiates address register 77 so as to connect the latter two the first accumulatorA1. The registration numbers of accumulator portion 18 are compared to the contents of registration number register 20, and if the results are differentthe contents ofaddress register 17 are increased so that the latter is connected to the next accumulator portion. If the control unit find an accumulatorhaving a registration number portion which corresponds to the registration number which has been introduced this means that additional payment is to be made.

If no accumulator has a registration number portion which is in agreement with the introduced registration number address register 15 isstepped forward until an unoccupied accumulator is found whereafterthe contents of registration number register 20 are transferred to registration number portion 18 in the addressed accumulator and the time in clock register 26 is transferred to time portion 19 of the accumulator.

Taking as its starting point information of coin register 14a orl4b with regard to coins or bills which have been introduced into coin inserts 7a and 7b, respectively, control unit 15 carries out a calculation of purchased time. Information with respect to the purchased time is added to the time in the accumula tor and is transferred to time register 22, in addition to which outgoing time is displayed on displays 4,5, and 6, respectively.

As has been mentioned above payment is inter rupted by depressing change-of-mind key 11 whereby a code is set in keyset register 16. Control unit 15 reads out the contents of keyset register 16 and atthattime discovers the code ofthe change-of-mind key. The contents of registration number register 20 are then erased, and all ofthe coin registers 14 are set to zero.

The contents of coin register 26 are transferred to time register 22 whereby present time will be displayed on displays 4,5, and 6, respectively. A signal is transmitted to intermediate money collector 25 whereby the coins or bills are dispensed to return payment door 12.

When payment is terminated the customer starts the autornaflc parking machine by depressing starting key 10 whereby a code is set in keyset register 16.

Control unit 15 carries out readout from register 16 and discovers thatthe starting key has been depressed. The information aboutthetime which is provided in time register 22 is therebytransferred to one of accumulators Al-AN which is addressed by address register 17. A signal is transmitted to intermediate money collector 25 in orderthatthe coins or bills therein be cashed to the coin box ofthe automatic parking machine. Receipt printer 23 prints a receipt 24.

The automatic parking machine is thereafter returned to its initial position by the same operations being performed as in interrupting payment.

The invention is not restricted to the embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawings, and this merely comprises an example ofthe invention and its application. Thus, many modifications may be carried out. The electroniccircuits may be structured in arbitrary appropriate manner utilizing electronic technologywhich is available at the present time.

Although reference has been made to payment by coins or bills in the above the machine is equally well adapted for payment by credit card.

Claims (4)

1. An automatic parking machine for identifying a vehicle by its registration number (license plate number), characterised in that the automatic parking machine comprises an alpha-numerical keyboard (8) which includes both digits (0-9) and parts ofthe aiphabetorthe entire alphabet and possible punctuation marks, that a device (20) is adapted to register the registration numbers a vehicle when such number is being introduced on the keyboard, that a display (3) is adapted to display said numberatthattime, that a device (22) is adapted to register means of payment corresponding to paid parking time, that a display device (4,5,6) is adapted to showthen the termination of said paid parking time, that a device (23) is adapted to print, upon the actuation of a starting key (10), for example the registration number and the hour of the day up to which parking time has been paid for, on a receipt or a strip of paper, andthat the memory capacity of the automatic parking machine is adapted to store a greater number of registration numbers than the number permitted by the total parking place.

2. An automatic parking machine in accordance with Claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a number of accumulators (Al -AN) each corresponding to an individual address in an address register (17).

3. An automatic parking machine in accordance with Claim 2, characterised in that each accumulator (for example Al) comprises a registration number portion (18) for storing the registration numberofthe vehicle from the time when said number has been keyed on the keyboard (8) and a time portion (19) for comparison with the time in a clock register (26) having definite time intervals.

4. An automatic parking machine, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.