Parking meter and a device therefor

Abstract

A single bay parking meter device is provided which accepts payment by means of a credit or debit card, an electronic purse, or coins. The device has a power supply unit, a solar power charging arrangement and power management, such that it does not need power supply cables to be installed for each meter. The parking meter device also transmits financial data to a financial institution in a wireless manner, also to avoid the need for cabling. The parking meter device is receivable in the base of a conventional single bay parking meter, such that the new parking meter device may be retrofitted to existing coin operated installed single bay parking meters, using a new cover that is also engageable with the conventional housing base.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A parking meter comprising: components for providing parking meter functionality; a display for displaying parking meter information; a metal housing for protecting the parking meter components from an environment, the housing comprising a display aperture through which the display is visible; and an antenna for a Near Field Communication (NFC) contactless payment reader arranged in or on the parking meter at least partially surrounding or covering at least a portion of the display. 
     
     
         3 . The parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the antenna comprises a small diameter of conductive wire. 
     
     
         4 . The parking meter of  claim 3 , wherein at least some of the portion of the antenna comprising the small diameter of conductive wire is arranged in front of the display. 
     
     
         5 . The parking meter of  claim 3 , wherein the antenna at least partially surrounds one or more input components that interact with the parking meter. 
     
     
         6 . The parking meter of  claim 3 , wherein the antenna is arranged about a perimeter of the display of the parking meter. 
     
     
         7 . The parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the antenna is arranged about a perimeter of the display of the parking meter. 
     
     
         8 . The parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the antenna is arranged on a front side of the display. 
     
     
         9 . The parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the antenna is arranged behind the display. 
     
     
         10 . The parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the antenna is connected to a contactless reader module via wires. 
     
     
         11 . The parking meter of  claim 9 , wherein the antenna is arranged on a printed circuit board of a contactless reader module arranged behind the display. 
     
     
         12 . The parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the antenna at least partially surrounds one or more input components that interact with the parking meter. 
     
     
         13 . The parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises an additional aperture at least partially surrounding at least a portion of the display and wherein the antenna is located within or about the additional aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The parking meter of  claim 13 , wherein the additional aperture comprises a solar panel aperture housing a solar panel. 
     
     
         15 . The parking meter of  claim 14 , further comprising a solar panel assembly located within the solar panel aperture comprising a stacked assembly of: the solar panel; a first transparent covering; the antenna; and a second transparent covering. 
     
     
         16 . The parking meter of  claim 15 , further comprising a radio frequency (RF) shielding material located between the bottom of the solar panel aperture and the solar panel assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The parking meter of  claim 2 , further comprising material sealing the aperture in the housing and providing a low attenuation of radio frequency (RF) signals and wherein the antenna is arranged on an interior surface of the material sealing the aperture. 
     
     
         18 . The parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the parking meter is a multi-space type parking meter. 
     
     
         19 . The parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the parking meter is a single space parking meter and the components providing parking meter functionality and the display are provided by a removable parking meter mechanism received within at least a portion of the metal housing. 
     
     
         20 . The parking meter of  claim 2 , further comprising material sealing the aperture in the housing and providing a low attenuation of radio frequency (RF) signals. 
     
     
         21 . The parking meter of  claim 20 , wherein the parking meter is a single space parking meter and the components providing parking meter functionality and the display are provided by a removable parking meter mechanism received within at least a portion of the metal housing, and wherein the antenna is connected to a contactless reader module of the removable parking meter mechanism through a detachable connection to allow separation of at least a portion of the housing supporting the antenna and the removable parking meter mechanism. 
     
     
         22 . The parking meter of  claim 21 , wherein the antenna is arranged on an interior surface of the material sealing the aperture, and wherein the removable parking meter mechanism comprises at least a portion of the housing having the aperture. 
     
     
         23 . The parking meter of  claim 2 , wherein the NFC reader reads payment information from one or more of: a credit card; a card conforming to ISO 14443 standard; an NFC enabled mobile phone; an NFC enabled smartphone; an NFC enabled wrist watch; an NFC tag; and an NFC token. 
     
     
         24 . A removable parking meter mechanism comprising: components for providing parking meter functionality; a display for displaying parking information; and an antenna for a Near Field Communication (NFC) contactless payment reader at least partially surrounding or covering at least a portion of the display. 
     
     
         25 . The removable parking meter mechanism of  claim 24 , wherein at least a portion of the antenna comprises a small diameter of conductive wire. 
     
     
         26 . The removable parking meter mechanism of  claim 24 , wherein the antenna is arranged about a perimeter of the display. 
     
     
         27 . The removable parking meter mechanism of  claim 25 , wherein at least some of the portion of the antenna comprising the small diameter of conductive wire is arranged in front of the display. 
     
     
         28 . The removable parking meter mechanism of  claim 24 , wherein the antenna is arranged behind the display. 
     
     
         29 . The removable parking meter mechanism of  claim 28 , wherein the antenna is arranged on a printed circuit board of a contactless reader module arranged behind the display. 
     
     
         30 . The removable parking meter mechanism of  claim 24 , wherein the antenna is arranged on a front side of the display. 
     
     
         31 . The removable parking meter mechanism of  claim 24 , wherein the NFC reader reads payment information from one or more of: a credit card; a card conforming to ISO 14443 standard; an NFC enabled mobile phone; an NFC enabled smartphone; an NFC enabled wrist watch; an NFC tag; and an NFC token.