The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 29, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 23, 1999
Kenneth Scott Hiltz, Halifax, CA;
John Daniel Doucette, Halifax, CA;
Gregory Andrew Fill, Kempville, CA;
Neil Stuart Erskine, Halifax, CA;
J. J. Mackay Canada Limited, , CA;
Abstract
A dual processor electronic parking meter (EPM) accepts a plurality of ISO compliant smart cards and authorizes payment of purchased time. The EPM of the invention is equipped with a card reader module (CRM) which accepts/validates transactions effected on smart cards, and also accepts a interface card for connection to a data terminal for revenue collection, meter configuration and meter firmware maintenance. The EPM includes a multi-lingual, intelligent, mixed-mode graphics and icon based display with greater visibility. When the EPM is idle, various sections of the meter are in a sleep mode for prolonging the life of the batteries. The EPM wakes up whenever a card is in the CRM, a coin is inserted, or a key for selecting the parking time and the type of operation is actuated. The EPM is easy to use by both the parking time purchaser and the money collector. The EPM contains a large memory and can be reprogrammed in the field to support new cards, different user languages, and system parameters such as rate, off time, or minimum purchased time. It is off-the-shelf solution provided with protection circuitry and designed to be used in unattended locations.