Importance

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Abstract

The invention is directed to a method and device for resetting a parking meter associated with a parking space. The reset device comprises a magnetic vehicle movement detector, a radiated beam vehicle detector and a controller. The controller receives a wake-up signal from the parking meter and activates the magnetic vehicle movement detector for detecting vehicle movement. After vehicle movement has been detected, the controller activates the radiated beam vehicle detector to determine the presence/absence of a vehicle in the parking space providing a presence/absence signal such that the absence signal can be used to reset the parking meter. The radiated beam vehicle detector may also verify whether the beam propagation path between the parking meter and a parked car is intentionally blocked. The vehicle detectors may also be tested when a car is first parked to verify their operation. The magnetic vehicle movement detector is preferably a search-coil magnetometer for detecting changes in adjacent magnetic fields and the radiated beam detector may include an infrared detector or an ultrasonic detector, or both made to operate sequentially or simultaneously.

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First Claim