Device for detecting parking space occupancy

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for detecting parking space occupancy comprising an outer protective capsule, a communications module that in turn comprises a geomagnetic sensor, a communications card, a SIM card, a PCB antenna that sends the signal to the manager of a specific mobile application installed for that purpose in a mobile device and linked to the device, a battery and a closure casing, such that two possible statuses of the device, available or occupied, can be displayed when accessing the mobile application.

Description

[0001] Parking Space Occupancy Detection Device

[0002] DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY

[0003] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The invention, as expressed in the title of this specification, relates to a parking space occupancy detection device that provides, for its intended function, advantages and characteristics, which are described in detail below.

[0005] The object of the present invention lies in a device that detects whether or not a parking space or specific area in which it is installed is occupied by a vehicle, transmitting said information to a specific application for telephones or mobile devices so that it can be viewed by the user. More specifically, the device is capable of detecting whether or not a vehicle is occupying said parking space and of sending a signal via Bluetooth IoT technology to the user's mobile phone. To this end, the device, housed in a protective capsule that is fixed to the floor of the parking space, comprises a wireless communications module equipped with a geomagnetic sensor, a set of integrated chips and a SIM card sending the signal through an antenna, so that information on the status of the space can be viewed through a mobile application, with two possible states: occupied or free.

[0006] FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The field of application of the present invention falls within the sector of the industry dedicated to the manufacture of electronic devices and apparatus, focusing particularly on the field of motion sensors and detectors, while also covering the field of parking space occupancy detection systems.

[0008] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Although there are precedents of similar sensors on the market, at least on the part of the applicant, the existence of any that presents technical, structural and constitutive characteristics equal to those claimed here is unknown and that, among other advantages, provides greater resistance and ease of installation by avoiding the existence of physical connections.

[0010] EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The parking space occupancy detection device proposed by the invention is therefore configured as an alternative solution that represents an improvement on the current state of the art, especially in terms of resistance and robustness as well as ease of installation and autonomy, with the characterising details that distinguish it being conveniently included in the final claims that accompany this description.

[0012] Specifically, what the invention proposes, as previously mentioned, is a device designed to detect whether a vehicle is occupying a parking space or not, sending a signal via Bluetooth IoT technology. To do so, it uses a wireless communications module attached to a metal casing incorporated within a protective capsule. This module, in addition to a geomagnetic sensor and a battery, is equipped with a SIM card and a flexible PCB antenna through which it sends the signal to a mobile device on which a specific application has been installed.

[0013] The goal is for the user to be able to remotely view, via the mobile app, the status of the parking space in which the device is installed before driving to it. There are two possible states: occupied or free.

[0014] The features of the device allow for multiple advantages such as:

[0015] • Know whether a parking space, for example, a space for people with reduced mobility, is occupied or not and know how long a parking space has been occupied.

[0016] • Know which vehicles have parked in a parking space and whether those vehicles have used the electric battery charging system.

[0017] • Receive information about the parked vehicle, for example, by synchronizing the vehicle's computer system with the device, and send such information about the vehicle's battery charge level to its owner.

[0018] These advantages are useful, for example, for companies or institutions with fleets of vehicles that must monitor the location of their vehicles, the charge level of their batteries, and the available parking spaces in their facilities, with the goal of optimizing their logistics processes.

[0019] These advantages are also useful for vehicle owners, who can use an app to check the availability of parking spaces in shopping centers or supermarkets where the devices covered by this utility model are installed.

[0020] The device's main advantages over other similar devices on the market are its robustness, as the protective capsule is configured to withstand adverse weather conditions, vehicle weight and traction, and its autonomy, as it does not require wired connections to transmit information.

[0021] The invention, although mainly focused on the logistics and public services sector (parking spaces managed by public or private administrations), is suitable for a wide variety of practical applications, such as car parking, both general and for the disabled, and for motorhomes, private use of cars in homes and garages, car dams in factories, gas stations, shopping centers, supermarkets, logistics and time control for buses, etc., allowing for a reduction in travel, car traffic and pollution (less fuel consumed).

[0022] For all this, and more specifically, the device object of the invention comprises the following elements:

[0023] - An external protective capsule, made up of a solid piece of resistant plastic material in a circular plantar shape and convex curved section, which has a lower hollow space suitable for housing the rest of the functional components of the device and with a series of through holes, preferably four, to allow its fixing to the surface of the parking space for which it is intended through anchoring screws, although other additional means of anchoring, such as glues or silicone, are not ruled out, offering the whole an IP67 protection level.

[0024] - A communications module which, sized to be housed in the aforementioned lower hollow space of the protection capsule, preferably comprises:

[0025] - a vehicle detection sensor, specifically a geomagnetic sensor, which responds to changes in the Earth's magnetic field when a vehicle is positioned over it,

[0026] - a communications card, specifically a BLE 5.0 communications card, preferably equipped with a Quectel BC-95 G chipset, incorporating Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology, which is known to be a wireless communication technology designed to provide an energy-efficient connection and is commonly used in Internet of Things (IoT) devices, wearables, sensors, and other low-power applications, which transmits sensor information,

[0027] - a SIM card, to connect to the application manager,

[0028] - and a communications antenna, preferably a Laird PCB antenna, which operates at frequency ranges of 698-875 MHz and 1710-2500 MHz with high efficiency, to send the signal to the mobile application manager.

[0029] - A battery, preferably a 3.6 V lithium battery, which supplies electrical power to the communication module.

[0030] - And a closing casing, made up of a metal plate, internally closes the gap in the space below the capsule where the device's functional components are housed, that is, the communication module and the battery, being fixed to the bottom of the capsule by means of retaining screws.

[0031] In addition, a washer is preferably incorporated between the metal casing and the bottom of the capsule to ensure the tightness of the lower cavity where the device's functional elements are housed.

[0032] To operate, the device is installed on the ground, anchored by four anchor bolts, and the geomagnetic sensor attached to the metal casing in the communications module located inside the capsule will detect whether a vehicle is parked in the parking space or not: the space may be occupied or free.

[0033] This signal with the status of the space will be sent, through the communications module card connected to the battery, the SIM card and the attached PCB antenna, to the server of a mobile application in real time that will reflect said status.

[0034] For installation in the parking space, the communications module is first inserted into the hollow space below the capsule, secured with a metal enclosure.

[0035] Once this assembly is complete, and after properly preparing the floor of the parking space where the device will be installed (which is recommended to be placed in the center of the space to ensure maximum accuracy in detecting the parked vehicle), four holes will be drilled into the surface to insert the four anchor bolts of the protective capsule into their corresponding holes. It can also be fixed to the ground by applying silicone with a gun inside the capsule. Once the device is installed in the parking space and the app is installed on the mobile phone, the parking space user will be able to view in real time and remotely via the mobile app whether the space they want is available or not, and which of the nearest spaces are available, as the mobile app can be linked to multiple detection devices in different parking spaces.The benefit is saving travel time, fuel, and also reducing environmental pollution.

[0036] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] To complement the description being made and in order to help better understand the characteristics of the invention, some drawings are attached to this specification, as an integral part thereof, in which the following has been represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes:

[0038] Figure 1.- Shows a schematic perspective view of the protection capsule comprising the parking space occupancy detection device object of the invention.

[0039] Figures 2 and 3 show respective views, in side elevation and top plan, of the protection capsule of the device of the invention, according to the example shown in Figure 1.

[0040] Figure number 4.- Shows a sectional view of the protection capsule, according to the AA section indicated in figure 3.

[0041] Figure 5 shows a bottom plan view of the protective capsule of the device shown in the preceding figures. Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the set of elements comprising the parking space occupancy detection device of the invention.

[0042] PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0043] In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, one can observe in them a non-limiting embodiment of the parking space occupancy detection device of the invention, which comprises what is described in detail below.

[0044] Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the detector device (1) of the invention essentially comprises:

[0045] - an external protective capsule (2), made up of a piece of resistant material, preferably with a circular plantar shape, flat on the inside and convexly curved on the top, which has a hollow lower space (2a) to house functional elements and several through holes (3) for fixing it to the floor of the parking space or area for which it is intended by means of anchoring screws (4);

[0046] - a communications module (5), housed in the lower hollow space (2a) of the protection capsule (2) and which, in turn, comprises:

[0047] - a geomagnetic sensor (6), which responds to changes in the Earth's magnetic field when a vehicle is located over it,

[0048] - a communications card (7), with wireless communication technology using IoT Bluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology for IoT connection, which transmits information from the sensor (6) incorporated therein,

[0049] - a SIM card (8) also incorporated in the card (7), and

[0050] - a PCB antenna (9), also incorporated in the card (7), to send the signal to the manager of a specific mobile application installed for this purpose on a mobile device and linked to the device (1);

[0051] - a battery (10), connected so as to electrically supply the communication module (5); and

[0052] - a closing casing (11) which, formed by a metal plate, internally closes the lower hollow space (2a) of the capsule (2) where the communication module (5) with the sensor (6), the card (7), the SIM card (8) and the antenna (9), and the battery (10) are housed, being fixed to the lower part of the capsule by means of fastening screws (12); said elements being installed in such a way that, when accessing the mobile application, the user can view two possible states of the device: free or occupied, depending on whether the parking space is occupied or not by a vehicle.

[0053] Furthermore, preferably, between the metal closing casing (11) and the lower part of the capsule (2) a washer (13) is incorporated which ensures the tightness of the lower hollow space (2a) where the functional elements of the device (1) are housed, providing IP67 protection level.

[0054] Preferably, the protective capsule (2) is a solid piece of resistant plastic with a lower recess that defines the lower hollow space (2a) to house the functional elements of the device (1). Preferably, the recess that defines the lower hollow space (2a) of the piece that constitutes the protective capsule (2) has a series of reinforcing ribs (2b) that prevent deformation of the piece in case a vehicle steps on the device, avoiding damage to the electronic functional elements.

[0055] Preferably, at the base of the piece that forms the capsule (2) there is a recess (2c) around the perimeter of the lower hollow space (2a) with several threaded housings (2d) to insert, respectively, the plate that forms the closing casing (11) and the fastening screws (12) thereof.

[0056] Preferably, the through holes (3) of the protection capsule (2) are provided in recesses (2e) made in the upper part of the part that makes up said capsule (2) to house the head of the anchoring screws (4) and prevent it from protruding from the surface of the same.

[0057] Preferably, the communications card (7) is a BLE 5.0 communications card, equipped with Quectel BC-95 G chipset.

[0058] Preferably, the communications antenna (9) is a Laird PCB antenna, which works at frequency ranges of 698-875 MHz and 1710-2500 MHz.

[0059] Preferably the battery (10) is a 3.6 V Lithium battery.

[0060] With all this, the geomagnetic sensor will detect whether or not a vehicle is present in the parking space or controlled area. Once this information is processed, it is sent via the SIM card and antenna to the application server, which then informs the user whether the space is occupied or free. The technology used is Bluetooth IoT. The sensor's practical applications are widely varied, such as car and RV parking, private car use in homes and garages, car bays in factories, gas stations, supermarkets, logistics and time control for buses, etc.

[0061] To replace the battery (10), the communications module (5) or the antenna (9), if any of these components are damaged, simply remove the anchoring screws (4) and manually remove the protective capsule (2) by applying upward pressure. The fastening screws (12) of the metal closing casing (11) will then be removed to access these electronic elements, ensuring their tightness with the washer (13).

[0062] Once these elements are accessible, it is recommended to carry out this type of operation using an antistatic bracelet, that is, connected to a ground connection, to avoid any type of static electricity discharge in the communications module (5).

[0063] Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any expert in the field understands its scope and the advantages derived from it.

Claims

1.- Parking space occupancy detection device, characterized by comprising: - an external protective capsule (2), made up of a piece of resistant material that has a hollow lower space (2a) to house functional elements and several through holes (3) for fixing it to the floor of the parking space or area for which it is intended by means of anchoring screws (4); - a communications module (5), housed in the lower hollow space (2a) of the protection capsule (2) and which, in turn, comprises: - a geomagnetic sensor (6), which responds to changes in the Earth's magnetic field when a vehicle is located over it, - a communications card (7), with wireless communication technology using Bluetooth IoT technology, which transmits information from the sensor (6), - a SIM card (8), and - a PCB antenna (9) that sends the signal to the manager of a specific mobile application installed for this purpose on a mobile device and linked to the device (1); - a battery (10); and - a closing casing (11) formed by a metal plate that It internally closes the lower hollow space (2a) of the capsule (2) where the communication module (5) with the sensor (6), the card (7), the SIM card (8) and the antenna (9), and the battery (10) are housed, being fixed to the lower part of the capsule by means of fastening screws (12); such that, when accessing the mobile application, two possible states of the device (1) can be displayed: free or occupied, depending on whether the parking space is occupied or not by a vehicle. 2.- Parking space occupancy detector device, according to claim 1, characterized in that, between the closing casing (11) and the lower part of the capsule (2) a washer (13) is incorporated that ensures the tightness of the lower hollow space (2a) where the functional elements of the device (1) are housed, providing IP67 protection level. 3.- Parking space occupancy detector device, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the protection capsule (2) is a solid piece of resistant plastic with a lower recess that defines the lower hollow space (2a) to house the functional elements of the device (1). 4.- Parking space occupancy detector device, according to claim 3, characterized in that the recess that defines the lower hollow space (2a) has a series of reinforcing ribs (2b). 5.- Parking space occupation detector device, according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that at the base of the piece that forms the capsule (2) there is a recess (2c) perimeter to the lower hollow space (2a) with threaded housings (2d) to insert, respectively, the plate that forms the closing casing (11) and the fastening screws (12) thereof. 6.- Parking space occupancy detector device, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the through holes (3) of the protection capsule (2) are provided in recesses (2e) made in the upper part of the part that forms said capsule (2) to house the head of the anchoring screws (4) preventing them from protruding from the surface of the same. 7.- Parking space occupancy detection device, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communications card (7) is a BLE 5.0 communications card, equipped with Quectel BC-95 G chipset. 8.- Parking space occupancy detector device, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communications antenna (9) is a Laird PCB antenna, which works at frequency ranges of 698-875 MHz and 1710-2500 MHz. 9.- Parking space occupancy detection device, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the battery (10) is a 3.6 V Lithium battery.

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