Parking Stall Authorization Control With Camera and Audible Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unauthorized use of parking stalls by individuals other than the authorized user leads to misuse, resulting in improper use, financial loss, and underutilization of parking spaces, causing a shortage of availability and revenue loss for the authorized user.
Innovation Solution
A device mounted in the parking stall, equipped with a camera, sound broadcasting system, reader, control system, and communication system, which determines authorized use, prevents unauthorized access, and includes features for electric vehicle charging, line projection for unclear stall boundaries, and communication with autonomous vehicles to ensure proper parking alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If parking stalls are made accessible to authorized users only, then authorized user control is improved, but unauthorized use detection and prevention becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control system integrates multiple functions into a single device: camera for vehicle identification, reader for authorization verification, sound broadcasting for notifications, and control logic for decision-making. This multi-functional integration achieves reliable authorized user control while managing system complexity through consolidation rather than separate independent systems.
2Reliability
If parking stalls are monitored continuously, then unauthorized use prevention is improved, but energy consumption and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic monitoring through triggered events rather than continuous operation. The camera captures images when vehicles enter or leave, the reader checks authorization at these transition points, and the sound device broadcasts notifications periodically or event-driven. This periodic action maintains effective unauthorized use prevention while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
3Measurement precision
If parking stall boundaries are clearly marked, then parking space definition is improved, but visibility in poor lighting conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses illuminated boundary markers that emit light to define parking stall boundaries. These markers can change color or illuminate in different patterns to indicate various states (available, occupied, authorized, unauthorized). This provides clear boundary definition in all lighting conditions by actively emitting light rather than passively reflecting it, solving the visibility problem in poor lighting while maintaining precise boundary definition.
4Ease of operation
If electric vehicle charging infrastructure is added, then user convenience is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The electric vehicle charging infrastructure is merged with the existing parking stall control system. The charging station is integrated into the same physical location and control architecture, sharing the housing, power supply, and control electronics. This combination provides convenient EV charging functionality while managing complexity through integration rather than separate independent infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided for controlling parking in a parking stall including a camera to take images of a vehicle entering the parking stall, a proximity or ultrasonic sensor arranged to detect entry of the vehicle into the parking stall and a device for broadcasting an audible message to the driver. The device communicates with a web site associated with a plurality of stalls each having an associated control apparatus where the web site contains and provides data to a customer relating to any one or more of the associated stalls where authorized use can be purchased.