Parking disc with integrated acceleration sensor for vehicle condition detection and radio module for wireless data transmission

Abstract

(Core requirement - parking disc with automatic time setting and transmission function) Device for displaying parking time with integrated acceleration sensor for vehicle condition detection and radio module for wireless data transmission, characterized by: • a case; • at least one accelerometer located inside the housing is integrated and forms a rigid motion coupling with it; • a signal processing circuit connected to the accelerometer electrically connected, with the signal processing circuit configured to detect a change in the vehicle's movement state based on the signals output by the acceleration sensor and to automatically set a parking start time based on the detected change; • a radio module for wireless data transmission, which is connected to the The signal processing circuit is electrically connected, with the radio module configured to send a wireless signal in response to the detected change in the vehicle's movement state; • a power supply.

Description

[001] Field of invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a parking disc with an integrated acceleration sensor for vehicle state detection and a radio module for wireless data transmission. The invention relates exclusively to the parking disc as a device. The parking disc is configured to detect changes in the vehicle's state of motion, in particular the transition of the vehicle from a moving state to a standstill (starting to park) and from a standstill to a moving state (starting to drive), and to transmit wireless signals with information about the detected changes in state. In advantageous embodiments, the parking disc is also configured to receive external information, in particular from an external device (e.g., a car's infotainment system).to receive information sent via smartphone about parking zones, payment services or control commands and to control the function of the parking disc based on this information, in particular to optimize electricity consumption by avoiding false activations during short stops (e.g. at red lights).

[002] State of the art

[0002] Parking discs have been around for decades and are used in many countries to indicate parking time. Traditional mechanical parking discs have a scale and an adjustable pointer, which the driver uses to manually set the parking start time. Electronic parking discs display the set parking time on a digital screen and sometimes offer additional functions.

[0003] Various electronic parking discs are known from the state of the art: DE-3829031 discloses an electronic parking disc that is activated or deactivated by detecting the rotation of the engine, transmission, or wheels. This solution is prone to false activations, for example, when the vehicle is being towed or during strong vibrations.

[0004] WO00 / 75878 discloses an electronic parking disc that displays the parking time when the ignition is off and the current time when the ignition is on. This solution presents a significant opportunity for manipulation, as the driver can switch on the ignition without moving the vehicle and thereby reset the parking time.

[0005] The Neubauer patent family (EP-2313869-A1, US-20110109474-A1) discloses an electronic parking disc with an accelerometer and a gyroscope. The display switches upon detection of a minimum acceleration and a turn of at least 60 degrees. While this solution prevents manipulation by simply turning on the ignition, it has the following fundamental disadvantages: • The collected information is displayed exclusively locally on a screen. Wireless transmission of the information is not possible. • The combination of accelerometer and gyroscope is complex, expensive, and increases power consumption. • The parking disc is configured exclusively for sending information; receiving external information is not possible. • Over-the-air (OTA) updates are not possible; the functionality of the parking disc is fixed after manufacturing and cannot be easily extended or updated. • The focus is on preventing manipulation, not on precisely detecting the start and end of parking as such.

[0006] None of the known solutions reveal a parking disc with an integrated accelerometer for vehicle condition detection and a radio module for wireless data transmission, configured for both sending and receiving, and specifically enabling OTA updates.

[003] Object of the invention

[0007] The invention is based on the objective of providing a parking disc that offers significant improvements compared to known solutions of the prior art.

[0008] The well-known parking discs, in particular the Neubauer patent family (EP-2313869-A1), do detect vehicle movements using acceleration sensors, but have a number of fundamental disadvantages: Firstly, these existing solutions lack the capability to wirelessly transmit the collected information. The detected vehicle status changes are displayed exclusively locally on a screen and are not available for further use, for example, by external devices or higher-level systems.

[0009] Secondly, these parking discs are unable to receive external information. They operate as closed systems, relying solely on their internal sensors and not allowing any adaptation of their behavior to external conditions.

[0010] Thirdly, none of these known solutions offer the possibility of over-the-air (OTA) updates. The functionality of the parking disc is fixed after manufacturing and cannot be adapted to new requirements or expanded through improved algorithms.

[0011] Fourth, this lack of bidirectional communication capability leads to significant efficiency problems. Particularly during brief vehicle stops, such as those frequently occurring at red lights in urban traffic, the parking disc is activated incorrectly because it cannot distinguish between traffic-related stops and actual parking maneuvers. These incorrect activations cause unnecessary energy consumption and significantly reduce battery life. Optimizing power consumption through dynamic adjustment of operating behavior based on external information is not feasible with the current, non-communication-capable parking discs.

[0012] The invention is therefore based on the specific technical motivation to create a parking disc that solves the following problems: • Providing a wireless transmission function to make detected vehicle status changes available to external devices; • Enabling the receipt of external information to adapt the behavior of the parking disc to external conditions; • Enabling OTA updates to expand and update the functionality of the parking disc even after delivery; • Implementation of an intelligent activation control system that differentiates between short-term stops and actual parking operations based on received external information in order to avoid false activations and thus unnecessary power consumption; • Significant reduction in power consumption, especially in urban traffic with frequent stops at traffic lights, to extend battery life; • Overcoming the closed system architecture of the state of the art towards a communicative, adaptive and updatable parking disc.

[0013] This problem is solved by a parking disc with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments, in particular with a receiving function, intelligent control and OTA capability, are specified in the dependent claims.

[004] Solution of the problem

[0014] According to the invention, the parking disc with integrated acceleration sensor for vehicle condition detection and radio module for wireless data transmission comprises: • a case; • at least one accelerometer integrated inside the housing, forming a rigid motion coupling with it; • a signal processing circuit electrically connected to the accelerometer, wherein the signal processing circuit is configured to detect a change in the vehicle motion state based on the signals output by the accelerometer; • a radio module for wireless data transmission which is electrically connected to the signal processing circuit, wherein the radio module is configured to send a wireless signal in response to the detected change in the vehicle's movement state; • a power supply.

[005] Advantageous Effects 1. Wireless Signal Transmission

[0015] In contrast to known solutions, particularly the Neubauer patent family (EP-2313869-A1), which display vehicle movement data exclusively locally on a screen, the parking disc according to the invention is, for the first time, capable of wirelessly transmitting the detected changes in vehicle status (start and end of parking). The transmitted signals can be received by any external device, such as smartphones. This frees the valuable information about the actual parking process from the isolation of the closed system and makes it available for further uses. 2. Receiving external information

[0016] In advantageous embodiments, the parking disc according to the invention is configured not only to send but also to receive external information. It can thus receive data from its digital environment, for example, parking zone information, fee data, or control commands from a cloud server. This capability for bidirectional communication transforms the parking disc from a passive display device into an active, networked component of an intelligent ecosystem. 3. OTA (Over-the-Air) Updates

[0017] In advantageous embodiments, the parking disc according to the invention is configured to receive and install software updates wirelessly. This enables: • Improvement of the recognition algorithms after delivery; • Expanded functionality through new features; • Fixing software errors without a visit to the workshop.

[0018] While conventional parking discs become technologically “freezed” after production, the parking disc according to the invention remains constantly up-to-date through OTA updates and can be adapted to new requirements. 4. Intelligent activation control and reduced power consumption

[0019] By receiving external information, especially traffic signals or traffic light status data, the parking disc can intelligently distinguish between brief vehicle stops (e.g., at red lights) and actual parking maneuvers. This distinction is not possible with conventional parking discs that rely solely on their internal sensors.

[0020] When a brief stop at a red light is detected, the radio modules are not activated, thus preventing energy consumption. Full functionality is only activated upon confirmation of a genuine parking maneuver. This intelligent activation control significantly reduces power consumption, especially in urban traffic with frequent stops at traffic lights. This can extend battery life. 5. Flexible designs for different requirements

[0021] The invention can be implemented in various embodiments to meet different requirements: • Integrated solution: In new devices, all components are permanently installed in the housing. • Add-on module: As an independent module with a coupling structure (e.g. adhesive layer), the technology according to the invention can be retrofitted onto existing parking discs.

[0022] The following designs result for the different types of parking discs: • Version for mechanical parking discs: In this version, the focus is on the transmission function and intelligent activation control for power saving. The mechanical display (scale disc) remains unchanged; received information is not displayed but is used for internal control (e.g., activation logic, power-saving modes). • Version for electronic parking discs: This version features a digital display and can actively display received information, such as parking zone instructions, fee information, or warning messages. The electronic display allows for more dynamic interaction with the driver. 6. Future security through communication skills

[0023] The wireless communication capability, and in particular the over-the-air (OTA) update capability, makes the parking disc according to the invention future-proof. It can be easily integrated into future intelligent traffic systems, smart city infrastructures, or car-sharing platforms without requiring any hardware replacement. Software updates, which can be received via the radio module, allow the functionality of the parking disc to be expanded and adapted to new requirements even after delivery.

[0024] This combination of advantages - wireless communication (sending and receiving), OTA update capability, intelligent power saving control, flexible designs and future-proofing - represents a fundamental advance over the state of the art and overcomes the limitations of the known, isolated and non-updatable parking discs. Examples of implementation

[0025] The exemplary embodiments described below serve to further explain the invention without limiting it to these examples.

[0026] Example 1: Mechanical parking disc with integrated acceleration detection and transmission function

[0027] In a first embodiment, the housing is designed as a mechanical parking disc, comprising a scale for displaying the set parking time and an adjustable time-setting mechanism. This mechanical parking disc corresponds in its external form to parking discs that have been known and legally approved for decades.

[0028] Inside the housing is an integrated electronic unit comprising the following components: • a three-axis MEMS acceleration sensor (e.g., Bosch BM1160 or similar) that continuously records the accelerations acting on the parking disc in three spatial axes; • a signal processing circuit, preferably implemented as an energy-saving microcontroller (e.g. ARM Cortex-M0), which processes and analyzes the raw data from the accelerometer; • a radio module for wireless data transmission, preferably designed as a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) module; • a power supply in the form of a long-life button cell battery (e.g. CR2032).

[0029] The signal processing circuit is programmed to detect changes in the vehicle's motion state from the continuously recorded acceleration data: • Detection of the start of parking (transition from movement to standstill): The vehicle is moving with typical acceleration values. When braking to park, the acceleration sensor shows a characteristic deceleration profile, followed by a transition to a state with very low acceleration values ​​(below 0.05g), which indicates standstill. The signal processing circuit recognizes this pattern and classifies it as the start of parking. • Detection of the end of parking (transition from standstill to movement): From a standstill (acceleration values ​​below 0.05g), a characteristic positive acceleration profile (starting up) occurs. The signal processing circuit detects this starting profile and classifies it as the end of parking.

[0030] When a parking session begins or ends, the signal processing circuit generates a corresponding event signal. The radio module then transmits a wireless signal that encodes the detected change in state. This signal can be received by external devices, such as a smartphone. Example 2: Parking disc with reception function and OTA updates

[0031] In an advantageous embodiment, the radio module is also configured to receive information from an external device. In particular, the radio module is configured to receive software updates (OTA updates).

[0032] The parking disc continuously or event-driven transmits the recorded acceleration data to a smartphone. An app installed on the smartphone analyzes this data along with other information (e.g., GPS position, digital maps, traffic data). This allows the app to distinguish whether a detected vehicle standstill is an actual parking maneuver or merely a brief stop (e.g., at a red light, in a traffic jam).

[0033] The app sends the result of this analysis back to the parking disc. The parking disc's signal processing circuit receives this information and controls the parking disc's function based on it. • When a "brief stop" message is displayed: The parking disc will not activate its full functionality (e.g., sending a "parking start" signal). It will remain in an energy-saving standby state. • When the message "Parking process" is displayed: The parking disc activates its full functionality and sends a corresponding signal.

[0034] OTA update function: Additionally, the parking disc can receive software updates from an external device at regular intervals or on request. These updates may include: • Improved recognition algorithms for more precise differentiation of parking maneuvers; • New features that were not available at the time of manufacture; • Adjustments to new parking zone regulations; • Bug fixes and security updates.

[0035] The signal processing circuit installs the received updates and applies them after a restart. This ensures the parking disc is always up-to-date without requiring any hardware replacement.

[0036] This intelligent control and OTA capability prevent incorrect activations, reduce power consumption, and ensure the future viability of the parking disc. Example 3: Add-on module for existing parking discs

[0037] In another embodiment, the accelerometer, the signal processing circuit, the radio module and the power supply are implemented in a separate housing as an independent add-on module.

[0038] The add-on module has a coupling structure on its underside, preferably a high-strength adhesive layer, which allows it to be attached to the surface of an existing mechanical or electronic parking disc. This attachment creates a rigid connection between the add-on module and the parking disc, so that the module and the parking disc form a single moving unit. Consequently, the accelerations detected by the accelerometer in the module correspond to the movements of the parking disc and thus of the vehicle.

[0039] This embodiment allows existing parking discs, both mechanical and electronic, to be retrofitted without needing to be replaced. The add-on module can perform all the functions described in the previous embodiments (transmitting, receiving, intelligent activation control).

[0040] The add-on module can also have a visual indicator (e.g. an LED) that signals the current operating status (e.g. readiness, detection of a parking process, battery status). Example 4: Electronic parking disc with additional functions

[0041] The housing is designed as an electronic parking disc with a digital display. 3.1 Integration of parking payment services

[0042] When a parking process is detected, the parking disc sends a notification to the smartphone. A payment app (e.g., EasyPark, PayByPhone) can then automatically start the parking process. The app transmits the payment status back to the parking disc.

[0043] The parking disc displays a message indicating that the parking process is being handled via a payment service, for example: • “Parking active - EasyPark” • “Paid with PayByPhone”

[0044] This notice is primarily intended to inform parking enforcement personnel ("parking inspectors"). An inspector can see at a glance that a valid parking payment is in effect for the vehicle, even if a traditional parking disc is not visible. This reduces misunderstandings and incorrect warnings. 3.2 Displaying a contact QR code

[0045] The parking disc can display a QR code containing the vehicle owner's contact information. Another person can scan the code and contact the driver without the phone number being publicly visible. 3.3 OTA Update Display

[0046] When an OTA update is received, the parking disc can display the update progress on the screen, for example: • “Update is being downloaded…” • “Update successfully installed” • “New features available” Commercial applicability

[0047] The parking disc according to the invention is commercially applicable in the field of parking space monitoring and parking management, particularly in Germany and other European countries where parking discs are legally required. It can be sold as original equipment for new vehicles as well as a retrofit solution for the aftermarket. Its over-the-air (OTA) update capability makes it particularly future-proof and low-maintenance, which represents a significant commercial advantage over conventional, non-updatable parking discs. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE-3829031

[0003] WO 00 / 75878

[0004] EP-2313869-A1 [0005, 0008, 0015] US-20110109474-A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] (Core claim - Parking disc with automatic time setting and transmission function) Device for displaying parking time with integrated acceleration sensor for vehicle condition detection and radio module for wireless data transmission, characterized by : • a case; • at least one accelerometer located inside the housing is integrated and forms a rigid motion coupling with it; • a signal processing circuit connected to the accelerometer electrically connected, with the signal processing circuit configured to detect a change in the vehicle's movement state based on the signals output by the acceleration sensor and to automatically set a parking start time based on the detected change; • a radio module for wireless data transmission, which is connected to the The signal processing circuit is electrically connected, with the radio module configured to send a wireless signal in response to the detected change in the vehicle's movement state; • a power supply. [2] (Parking disc with receiver function) Device according to claim 1, characterized by that the radio module remains configured to receive external information, and that the signal processing circuit is configured to control a function of the device based on the received external information. [3] (Parking disc with OTA update function) Device according to claim 2, characterized by that the radio module is configured to receive software updates (OTA updates), and that the signal processing circuit is configured to install the received software updates. [4] (Mechanical design) Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the device is designed as a mechanical parking disc comprising a scale disc for displaying the set parking time and an adjustable time setting mechanism, wherein the automatically set parking start time is indicated by the time setting mechanism. [5] (Electronic version) Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the device is designed as an electronic parking disc, which includes an electronic display for the digital display of the set parking time, wherein the automatically set parking start time is displayed on the electronic display. [6] (Electronic parking disc with display of received information) Device according to claim 5, characterized by , that the signal processing circuit is configured to display received external information on the electronic display. [7] (Add-on module) Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the accelerometer, the signal processing circuit, the radio module and the power supply are designed as an independent add-on module, wherein the add-on module has a coupling structure configured to connect the add-on module to an existing parking disc, in particular by gluing, magnetic fastening or clamping device.