Kienzle Apparate Gmbh

Ulrich Warkentin

Manfred Saufferer

Hans-Peter Scholl

Alfons Heimburger

Siegfried Spauszus

A digital taximeter provides a visual read out of a first and a second multi-digit number. Instead of a plurality of discrete one-digit illuminated-digit display units arranged together to be capable of displaying multi-digit numbers, use is made of a single multi-digit illuminated-digit display unit having a row of equal-size digit zones. One or more of the middle ones of the digit zones are blocked from view to form a first and a second group of digit zones respectively adapted for the display of the first and the second multi-digit numbers and located to either side of the digit zones which are blocked from view. Although the digit zones are actually all of the same size, those of the first group are made to appear larger than those of the second group, in correspondence to the greater importance of the fare indication compared to the extra-charge indication.

Taximeter indicator arrangement

A testing switch is activated manually by the taxi driver or automatically at the end of a trip. When the testing switch is activated, a preselected plurality of pulses is applied to the computing means of the electronic taximeter. If the taximeter is in proper working order, the indicating means of the taximeter will successively and in unison display the numerals from 0 to 9 at the rate or about one per second. If the numerals do not appear in the proper sequence, or if the driver perceives that they appear at a rate markedly different from one per second, or if some or all do not appear whatsoever, he knows that the electronic taximeter is not in proper working order.

Method and apparatus for determining whether an electronic taximeter is

The taxi meter receives a sequence of pulses each representing a determined distance travelled by the taxi. The repetition rate of the input pulses is to be reduced by a ratio T so that each pulse having the reduced repetition rate signifies a determined fare increment. An adder or counter has a determined capacity and furnishes a carry signal whenever the sum signal created therein exceeds that capacity. An addend equal to K/T where K is the capacity of the adder is applied to the input of the adder for addition therein in response to each of the input pulses. The carry signals furnished by the adder constitute the desired signals each signifying the correct fare increment. The repetition rate of pulses each signifying a unit of waiting time can be similarly reduced and the resulting carry pulse sequences be applied to a selection circuit which selects the one having the highest repetition rate to constitute the tariff signal, namely the signals for advancing the taxi meter by one fare increment.

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Tannheim, Germany

Ulrich Warkentin