Device for the administration of a multitude of vehicles.

The invention relates to a device for managing a plurality of motor vehicles, which are managed by different users.

At the interface of private transport to public transport More people are moving forward on problems concerning the required parking spaces for motor vehicles of private transport. So central railway stations, airports and the like. A large number of parking spaces must have to ask the individual traffic arriving sufficient parking space available.

In addition to the travelers and the employees of local or long-distance transport need sufficient parking space to park its vehicles. It should be noted that for example at airports aircrew several days is often absent, the vehicles of the flying personnel therefore need several days parking.

In order to save parking space, it would be advantageous if the aircrew anfährt with hired vehicles, which can be used in the absence of air crew by others. These considerations are in practice difficult to implement, since the rental of motor vehicles, their maintenance and servicing requires an extremely high number of employees.

The invention has for its object to provide a device for the rental of vehicles, which requires minimum staffing levels and yet allows for quick rental with high security against unauthorized vehicle use.

This object is achieved according to the characterizing features of claim 1.

The waiting time of a vehicle in front of a barrier for checking the authorization of the user is sufficient to pass through a vehicle-mounted transmitter vehicle operating data to a receiving device, which transmits these vehicle-specific operating data to a control device. Preferably, in addition to vehicle-specific operating data also received an on-board identifier, the verification is possible, whether the user has designated a permissible access to the standing before the barrier vehicle.

According to the process at the exit of the parking area, the data at the entrance are also captured on the parking area in the controller, so that all the data are for the settlement of the rental transaction. Preferably, the billing of the rental transaction is carried out in a connected to the control unit master computer.

Suitably, the receiving device on which is arranged in the road surface of the parking space antenna loop which is insensitive to pollution. Such antenna loops have been proven in conjunction with traffic light systems for motor vehicles.

To quickly perform an entering vehicle to a designated parking space, Leitanzeigen are provided which are controlled by entry of the vehicle by the control unit.

Further features of the invention result from the additional claims, the description and the drawings, which in schematic representation an embodiment of the invention and is described in detail below. Show it:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd> a schematic representation of an apparatus for management of motor vehicles,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd> a schematic diagram of the control device used in the apparatus of FIG. 1 with connected peripheral devices,</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd> is a flow chart for operating the apparatus according to Fig. 1,</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd> a schematic representation of a detecting apparatus for vehicle operating data with an attached transmitter.</dd></dl>

In the schematic representation of the apparatus of FIG. 1, 1, the parking area designated, which may also be a parking garage or the like.. The parking area is fenced 1; a driveway can drive 9 and leave through an exit 2a the Parking Lot 1 vehicles to the designated parking spaces. Entry and exit are secured by a lock as a barrier 4 and 4a, in the direction of travel before the barrier 4 and 4a a card reader 3 or 3a positioned as data acquisition device. When locks are especially rolling doors, grilles or the like. Usable. The barrier 4, 4a and the card reader 3, 3a are arranged to one another such that the leader of a waiting vehicle outside the barrier the card reader 3, 3a from the driver's seat use through the window of the driver's door or can achieve.

Instead of a card reader 3 or 3a can be provided as a data acquisition device and a receiver. The receiver receives from a person-specific low-power transmitters, which can have card size, all person-specific data for identification of the claimant.

Between the barrier 4 and 4a and the card reader 3 or 3a in the direction of travel 15 before the barrier in the roadway 6 an antenna loop 5, 5a admitted that from a vehicle-mounted transmitter 50 (FIG. 2) emitted vehicle operating data such as mileage, fuel level, absorbs oil level or the like. and forwards them to a receiver 7, 7a. the transmitter 50 sends advantageous from a vehicle-specific identifier, with which the vehicle can be identified. In the receiver 7, 7a, the signal is processed and fed via a data line 20 to a control unit 10, which is a computer in the embodiment shown.

To the control unit 10, the actuators are also connected 14 to the barriers 4, 4a, as well as the card reader 3, 3a are connected via data lines 21 to the control unit 10th

In a closed car park, it may be advantageous to allow control access of the parking garage via a door 16 by the control unit 10, including one related to the control unit 10 card reader 3b disposed adjacent to the access door 16th

The park area 1 associated control unit 10 is connected via a data bus, preferably a serial data line 22, with a host computer 100 (FIG. 2), who operates or manages several park controllers or park computer 10.

As shown in FIG. 2, the host computer 100 is connected to dialog units 11, so-called Rent-O-Mates at which the user can request a lease for a desired vehicle in dialogue with the host computer 100. The host computer 100 may be connected to other computers 16, for example, for billing Mietvorgängen. In addition to terminal 17 for the control systems, the Superviser or the operator of the host computer 100 is not connected to a maintenance terminal 18, which - for example via a modem - is temporarily coupled to the host computer 100th To print data from the host computer is also connected to a printer 19th

For renting a vehicle, the user pushes the Rent-O-Mates 11 a his identity card, which may be a conventional credit card, a business card or a special Fahrzeugmietkarte. The host computer 100 checks the inserted ID card and determines whether the identity card is authorized to lease a vehicle. In dialogue with the host computer 100, the user selects the desired vehicle and receive the location information on the selected vehicle. After the end of the dialogue, the master computer 100 divides the characteristics of the controller 10 of the corresponding parking area 1 where the user desired vehicle is parked. Others connected to the master computer control units 10 other parking areas the data could also be communicated to allow a return of the rented vehicle at other locations. The user has now issued in accordance with the given him Location Information Parking Lot 1 and takes his identity card in the card reader 3b. The controller 10 checks the read identification data with the data transmitted from the host computer 100 and are - if positive - the access door 16 to the parking area 1 available.

To achieve a high security against unauthorized use of vehicles the motor vehicle key and the respective vehicle certificates are enclosed in a Safe System 25, which is controlled opening of the control device 10 to access the authorized user. The user can then remove the key and the vehicle registration document of its associated motor vehicle from the vault system, continuing this vehicle from a parking space 9 2a exit. Here the user has re-insert his identification card into the card reader 3 to detect its exit authorization. During the time of the vehicle 4a before the barrier of the vehicle-mounted transmitter 50 (FIG. 2) at least the mileage and fuel level, preferably also the oil level and / or other vehicle-specific operating data, communicated via the antenna loop 5a receiver 7a this data through the data line 20 to the Steuereinric Pla 10 passes. Preferably, the vehicle-mounted transmitter 50 also broadcast a vehicle's own identifier, so that the controller can check 10 whether the designated user has also taken the vehicle in operation, which was assigned by the host computer 100th If the detected characteristics with the information communicated by the host computer 100 characteristics match, the drive 14 of the barrier 4a is turned on and enabled the exit.

If the rented vehicle is returned to the user in turn expel at the entrance 2 by inserting his identification card into the card reader. 3 During this time, the vehicle-mounted transmitter 50 transmits both the vehicle identification and vehicle-specific data, namely, mileage and fuel the receiver 7 5. For positive verification of user access authorization and the vehicle is raised above the antenna loop via the drive 14, the barrier 4 and the access 2 released while the vehicle-specific data are stored and associated with the rental process. The control device 10 includes the vehicle to a specific parking space 9 to the finding it expedient arranged in the parking space 1 delineators controls. 8 The user runs the vehicle in consideration of the guide 8 to the corresponding Pitch 9. Preferably, the guide 8 is formed of illuminated signals, which can be arranged both in the soil and on the ceiling (in a parking garage).

After delivery of the vehicle, the controller divides the 10 host computer 100 via the serial data line 22, the detected vehicle-specific characteristic data from which the host computer creates the billing and possibly prints on the printer 19th Also a direct data exchange is for example with computers of bank corporate possible to perform a direct load of a user's account.

It may be advantageous, for disclosure of information to the user with the control device 10 is a display to drive 12, which for example could be placed in the entry and / or exit.

As shown in the flowchart in Fig. 3, it may be advantageous, after the entry of a motor vehicle for the rental period the vehicle to undergo a vehicle check. Had the vehicle as a mishap during the rental period, it is supplied in accordance with the decision diamond 35 of supervision, which will undertake the necessary steps to repair or the like.. An incoming without breakdown motor vehicle is subjected to a hub 36 of an optical control and the thus determined data via a mobile data collection 13 (Fig. 2), preferably wireless data, communicated to the host computer 100th According to the conducted vehicle checks on hub 36 is the vehicle, if necessary, fed a workshop 37 for repair, maintenance, washing, cleaning the inside or to supplement working capital. Not necessary maintenance, is still under consideration, whether the vehicle has to refuel, according to which the vehicle is then adjusted to the assigned parking space 9 for a next rental process.

In FIG. 4 is a vehicle-mounted detection means for the vehicle operating data is shown. For example, detected an analog meter 51 the liquid level in the tank 54 of the vehicle. To this end, lying on the liquid level, a float 56, 58 of the tap 60 of a grinding resistance 59 is moved over a pivotable about the pivot point 57 lever to which is applied a supply voltage. By shifting the tap 60 across resistor 59 which can be tapped off between the points 61, 62, measuring voltage is determined, which is fed as the tank content value proportional to an analog / digital converter 52nd This sets dan analog proportional value in an 8-bit information to that is parallel inform the transmitter 50 and transmitted by the latter as 8-bit value. Upon receipt in the receiving device 7,7a this 8-bit is communicated information to the control unit 10, which determines in accordance with a stored calibration curve the corresponding tank capacity in liters for subsequent billing.

Since the controller has detected the type of vehicle because of the vehicle identification, they can retrieve the respective required calibration curve to determine the tank contents of a memory.

For detecting the travel distance, a pulse counter 53 is provided, the memory content is radiated as an absolute value in 8-bit form from the transmitter 50th The pulse counter 52 has a sensor 63 per revolution of a wheel 65 a passing mark 64 detected and emits a pulse.