Automated parking system

Abstract

An automated parking system for a parking structure includes a controller which receives a vehicle loading request from a vehicle customer. A loading bay accepts the vehicle and transfers to the parking system. Equipment is provided for transferring the vehicle horizontally and vertically through the parking system. The vehicle parking system includes a rack structure that is integrated as part of the parking structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automated parking system for a parking structure, comprising:
 a controller that receives a vehicle loading request from a vehicle customer;   a loading bay for accepting of the vehicle and transfer to the parking system;   equipment for transferring the vehicle horizontally and vertically through the parking system;   wherein the automated parking system includes a rack structure that is integrated as part of the parking structure.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein elements of the automated parking system are integrated with the rack structure. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the parking structure includes parking cell structures that are part of the automated parking system. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a powered chain driven roller system that transfers vehicles through the automated parking system and the parking structure.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the automated parking system further includes an empty pallet associated with an open parking cell. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the automated parking system further includes one or more shuttles and lifts. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 garage doors.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 sensors coupled to the garage doors to detect motion in the loading bay.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an alarm.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a user interface.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the lift is integrated with the loading bay. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the lift is separate from the loading bay 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the shuttle moves the vehicle horizontally from the lift to the parking cell for storage, and from that parking cell back to the lift for departure. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the shuttle transfers the vehicle from the loading bay to a lift or parking cell for storage. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the powered chain driven roller system includes powered rollers that traverse a shuttle carriage. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the powered chain driven roller system moves the vehicle off the shuttle and into a parking cell or onto the lift. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein powered chain driven roller system transfers the vehicle to a parking cell or lift. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein powered chain driven roller includes a parasitic drive motor that engages a parasitic cell and drives a conveyor to transfer the vehicle off the shuttle and into the parasitic cell. 
     
     
         19 . A vehicle parking control system for a parking structure, comprising:
 a controller that receives a vehicle loading request from a vehicle customer;   a loading bay at the parking structure for receiving a customer vehicle;   sensors positioned to determine one or more dimensions of the customer vehicle; and   an electronic verification device that verifies a customer ID.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the parking control system is integrated with the parking structure. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a shuttle that is rotatable to rotate the vehicle before the vehicle is parked in a parking cell.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a lift to remove the shuttle to a selected floor of the parking structure.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 an RFID tag to verify that the parking cell is empty.   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the RFID tag includes a code to represent at least one of, an empty parking cell, pallet loaded, vehicle loaded and vehicle ID. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a buffer cell used prior to positioning the customer vehicle in the parking cell.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the parking cells are arranged in stackable configurations.