US3818186A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic taximeter
Assignee: Machining Methods Industries Inc
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Filing: 1972-11-03
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Granted: 1974-06-18
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Expires: 1992-11-03
Abstract
Abstract An electronic taximeter with a simplified integrated circuitry having a sensor for computing distance travel charge, a constant frequency oscillator for computing waiting time charge, a counting means, control means in which the higher revenue charge takes precedence in being transmitted to the counting means, and an illuminated digital display for indicating the integrated time-distance charge in terms of monetary units.
Inventors
- 👤 M Harwood
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 08:56
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B13/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
206 words
An electronic taximeter in a vehicle for determining a passenger fare and displaying the same on an illuminated digital display panel comprising, in combination, a time scaler, including an electric clock for generating pulses in response to time travelled and or time standing, a distance scaler including a speedometer for generating pulses in response to distance travelled, a pulse shaper responsive to pulses from said time and distance scalers for emitting pulses of predetermined shape, a discriminator for receiving said time and distance pulses from said pulse shaper including a counter for each of said time and distance pulses, means in said discriminator for accepting one of said pulses and rejecting the other of said pulses, the pulses of the highest repetitive rate being accepted, a display calculator responsive to output of said discriminator in which a proper count is obtained by setting a final count and presetting a number into the display calculator, whereby the difference between the final count and presetting number is the desired count, a fare totalizer for integrating each output pulse from said display calculator after a final count has been reached, and an illuminated digital display responsive to said fare totalizer counter for indicating in monetary units the passenger fare.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
206 words
An electronic taximeter in a vehicle for determining a passenger fare and displaying the same on an illuminated digital display panel comprising, in combination, a time scaler, including an electric clock for generating pulses in response to time travelled and or time standing, a distance scaler including a speedometer for generating pulses in response to distance travelled, a pulse shaper responsive to pulses from said time and distance scalers for emitting pulses of predetermined shape, a discriminator for receiving said time and distance pulses from said pulse shaper including a counter for each of said time and distance pulses, means in said discriminator for accepting one of said pulses and rejecting the other of said pulses, the pulses of the highest repetitive rate being accepted, a display calculator responsive to output of said discriminator in which a proper count is obtained by setting a final count and presetting a number into the display calculator, whereby the difference between the final count and presetting number is the desired count, a fare totalizer for integrating each output pulse from said display calculator after a final count has been reached, and an illuminated digital display responsive to said fare totalizer counter for indicating in monetary units the passenger fare.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
An electronic taximeter in accordance with claim 1, wherein said speedometer includes a housing, a shaft in said housing coaxial with and rotatable by a taxi speedometer cable, a light emitting diode, and a photo sensitive transistor responsive to said diode, wherein said housing has an opening and said shaft also has an opening for intermittent registration with said housing opening, whereby light pulses emitted by said diode and passing through said openings actuate said transistor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An electronic taximeter in accordance with claim 1, wherein said discriminator means includes two counters, one counter for distance pulses and the other counter for time pulses, a flip-flop and gate for passing through only the highest repetitive rate pulses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic taximeter in accordance with claim 2, wherein said diode and said transistor are carried by said housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electronic taximeter in accordance with claim 3, wherein said counters are BCD counters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic taximeter in accordance with claim 5, wherein said BCD counter for said time pulses assumes control when said vehicle travels at less than a predetermined critical speed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electronic taximeter in accordance with claim 6, wherein said BCD counter for said distance pulses assumes control when said vehicle travels at more than a predetermined critical speed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electronic taximeter in accordance with claim 7, including a plurality of electronic switches for programming fares in the taximeter, whereby changes in the fares are made simply by grounding or ungrounding data input connections in said display calculator and fare totalizer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An electronic taximeter in accordance with claim 9, wherein each of said switches is a circuit chip containing a plurality of flip-flops or gates.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-17 | 1977-12-17 | 1978-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-17 | 1981-12-17 | 1982-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-12-17 | 1986-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |