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 removable single space parking meter mechanism comprising: an internal structure to be at least partially and removably received within a lower housing of a single space parking meter; a display; and an antenna for a contactless payment reader arranged at the display for reading payment information from a contactless payment card or device used for payments, the antenna for the contactless payment reader arranged such that a user placing the contactless payment card or device in the vicinity of the display will reliably read the payment information from the contactless payment card or device. 
     
     
         3 . The removable single space parking meter mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the antenna for the contactless payment reader is arranged behind the display. 
     
     
         4 . The removable single space parking meter mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the antenna for the contactless payment reader is arranged adjacent to the display. 
     
     
         5 . The removable single space parking meter mechanism of  claim 2 , further comprising a front housing, to be exposed to an external environment, coupled to the internal structure. 
     
     
         6 . The removable single space parking meter mechanism of  claim 5 , wherein the front housing comprises a display opening through which the display is visible. 
     
     
         7 . The removable single space parking meter mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein the antenna for the contactless payment reader is arranged behind the display. 
     
     
         8 . The removable single space parking meter mechanism of  claim 6 , wherein the antenna for the, contactless payment reader is arranged within the display opening. 
     
     
         9 . The removable single space parking meter mechanism of  claim 6 , further comprising a transparent covering within the display opening, wherein the antenna for the contactless payment reader is arranged on the transparent covering. 
     
     
         10 . The removable single space parking meter mechanism of  claim 5 , further comprising additional payment components comprising: a card slot in the front housing for receiving a payment card and a coin slot for receiving coins; wherein the antenna for the contactless payment reader is adjacent to one or more of the card slot and the coin slot. 
     
     
         11 . The removable single space parking meter mechanism of  claim 5 , further comprising input controls located on the front housing; wherein the antenna for the contactless payment reader is adjacent to the input controls. 
     
     
         12 . The removable single space parking meter mechanism of  claim 2 , further comprising a solar panel coupled to the internal structure; wherein the antenna for the contactless payment reader is adjacent to the solar panel. 
     
     
         13 . The removable single space parking meter mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the antenna for a contactless payment reader is coupled to a contactless payment reader comprising at least one of: a Near-Field Communications (NEC) reader; a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader; and an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14443 reader. 
     
     
         14 . The removable single space parking meter mechanism of  claim 2 , wherein the display presents payment information when parking time is being purchased; and wherein the payment information comprises payment instructions for payment using the contactless payment reader antenna. 
     
     
         15 . The removable single space parking meter mechanism of  claim 4 , wherein the antenna is arranged around one or more of: a one or more input controls and a solar panel. 
     
     
         16 . A single space parking meter comprising: a lower housing; a removable single space parking meter mechanism comprising: an internal structure to be at least partially and removably received within the lower housing; and a display; an antenna for a contactless payment reader arranged at the display for reading payment information from a contactless payment card or device used for payments, the antenna for the contactless payment reader arranged such that a user placing the contactless payment card or device in the vicinity of the display will reliably read the payment information from the contactless payment card or device; and a meter housing secured to the lower housing and securing the removable single space parking meter mechanism at least partially within the lower housing. 
     
     
         17 . The single space parking meter of  claim 16 , wherein the antenna for the contactless payment reader is arranged behind the display. 
     
     
         18 . The single space parking meter of  claim 16 , wherein the antenna for the contactless payment reader is arranged adjacent to the display. 
     
     
         19 . The single space parking meter of  claim 16 , wherein the display presents payment information when parking time is purchased; and wherein the payment information comprises payment instructions for payment using the contactless payment reader antenna. 
     
     
         20 . The single space parking meter of  claim 16 , wherein the meter housing comprises a display opening through which the display is visible. 
     
     
         21 . The single space parking meter of  claim 20 , wherein the antenna for the contactless payment reader is arranged within the display opening. 
     
     
         22 . The single space parking meter of  claim 20 , further comprising a transparent covering within the display opening, wherein the antenna for the contactless payment reader is arranged on the transparent covering. 
     
     
         23 . The single space parking meter of  claim 16 , further comprising additional payment components comprising: a card slot in the meter housing for receiving a payment card and a coin slot for receiving coins; and wherein the antenna for the contactless payment reader is adjacent to one or more of the card slot and the coin slot. 
     
     
         24 . The single space parking meter of  claim 16 , further comprising a solar panel coupled to the removable single space parking meter mechanism; wherein the antenna for the contactless payment reader is adjacent to the solar panel. 
     
     
         25 . The single space parking meter of  claim 16 , further comprising input controls located at the meter housing; wherein the antenna for the contactless payment reader is adjacent to the input controls. 
     
     
         26 . The single space parking meter of  claim 16 , wherein the antenna for a contactless payment reader is coupled to a contactless payment reader comprising at least one of: a Near-Field Communications (NFC) reader; a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader; and an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14443 reader. 
     
     
         27 . The single space parking meter of  claim 16 , wherein the removable single space parking meter mechanism further comprises a front housing, to be exposed to an external environment, rigidly attached to the internal structure of the removable parking meter mechanism, and wherein the meter housing is pivotally attached to the lower housing. 
     
     
         28 . The single space parking meter of  claim 16 , wherein the antenna is arranged around one or more of: a one or more input controls and a solar panel. 
     
     
         29 . A method for accepting payment at a single space parking meter comprising: presenting parking information on a display of the single space parking meter; reading payment information from a user's contactless payment card or device placed in close proximity to a contactless payment reader antenna located at the display used for displaying the parking information, the antenna for the contactless payment reader arranged such that the user placing the contactless payment card or device in the vicinity of the display will reliably read the payment information from the contactless payment card or device; and processing the payment information to effect payment. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the parking information presented on the display comprises instructions for using the contactless payment reader antenna located at the display. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising receiving, through one or more input controls of the single space parking meter, information from a user comprising one or both of an amount of parking time purchased and an authorization of a transaction.