Vehicle sensor
Devices and meters comprising: a housing configured to mount to a pole supporting an existing meter, the housing defining an interior; a sensor within the interior of the housing, the sensor configured to collect environmental information pertaining to the local external environment of the existing meter; a wireless radio within the interior of the housing, the wireless radio configured to transmit the environmental information to the existing meter or to a remote server in communication with the existing meter; a power unit within the interior of the housing, the power unit supplying power to the sensor and the wireless radio.
1. A device comprising:
a) a first sensor configured to collect first information pertaining to a parking space;
b) a second sensor configured to collect second information pertaining to the parking space;
c) a wireless radio configured to perform at least the following:
i) send, receive, or both send and receive data related to an identifier associated with a unique physical location;
ii) send, receive, or both send and receive data related to device configuration information; and
iii) send, receive, or both send and receive data related to the first information, the second information, or both the first information and the second information; and
d) a power system configured to controllably supply power to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the wireless radio;
wherein the device is configured to retrofit the parking space by physically mounting to a structure associated with the parking space to upgrade the parking space.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second information comprises one or more images of the parking space.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor comprises: a camera, a radar, a time of flight sensor, a ranging sensor, a magnetic sensor, a magnetic-flux sensor, a capacitance sensor, a proximity sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a microwave sensor, a RF sensor, or a combination thereof.
4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the first sensor comprises two or more cameras.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor comprises: a camera, a radar, a time of flight sensor, a ranging sensor, a magnetic sensor, a magnetic-flux sensor, a capacitance sensor, a proximity sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a microwave sensor, a RF sensor, or a combination thereof.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless radio utilizes ISM-band, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or ZigBee.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the identifier is associated with the parking space.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless radio is further configured to send, receive, or both send and receive data related to one or more of: a meter identification, a meter location, a vehicle identification, a license plate information, a vehicle registration information, and a citation history.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the wireless radio is configured to send and/or receive data to and/or from one or more of: a parking meter, a remote server, and a handheld parking enforcement device.
10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the power system powers up the second sensor in response to the collection of the first information.
11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the second sensor collects the second information in response to the collection of the first information.
12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is operationally self-sufficient, the first sensor, the second sensor, the wireless radio, and the power system not electrically connected to another device.
13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the power system comprises one or more non-rechargeable batteries.
14. The device of claim 1 , wherein the power system comprises one or more rechargeable batteries.
15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device is configured to mount to a pole or sign associated with the parking space.
16. A method comprising:
a) physically affixing a device to a physical structure associated with a parking space; and
b) positioning the device with respect to the parking space;
wherein the device comprises:
a) a first sensor configured to collect first information pertaining to the parking space;
b) a second sensor configured to collect second information pertaining to the parking space;
c) a wireless radio configured to perform at least the following:
i) send, receive, or both send and receive data related to an identifier associated with a unique physical location;
ii) send, receive, or both send and receive data related to device configuration information; and
iii) send, receive, or both send and receive data related to the first information, the second information, or both the first information and the second information; and
d) a power system configured to supply power to the first sensor, the second sensor, and the wireless radio;
wherein the device upgrades the parking space by retrofit.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second information comprises one or more images of the parking space.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first sensor comprises: a camera, a radar, a time of flight sensor, a ranging sensor, a magnetic sensor, a magnetic-flux sensor, a capacitance sensor, a proximity sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a microwave sensor, a RF sensor, or a combination thereof.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first sensor comprises two or more cameras.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second sensor comprises: a camera, a radar, a time of flight sensor, a ranging sensor, a magnetic sensor, a magnetic-flux sensor, a capacitance sensor, a proximity sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an infrared sensor, a microwave sensor, a RF sensor, or a combination thereof.
21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the wireless radio utilizes ISM-band, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or ZigBee.
22. The method of claim 16 , wherein the identifier is associated with the parking space.
23. The method of claim 16 , wherein the wireless radio is further configured to send, receive, or both send and receive data related to one or more of: a meter identification, a meter location, a vehicle identification, a license plate information, a vehicle registration information, and a citation history.
24. The method of claim 16 , wherein the wireless radio is configured to send and/or receive data to and/or from one or more of: a parking meter, a remote server, and a handheld parking enforcement device.
25. The method of claim 16 , wherein the power system powers up the second sensor in response to the collection of the first information.
26. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second sensor collects the second information in response to the collection of the first information.
27. The method of claim 16 , wherein the device is operationally self-sufficient, the first sensor, the second sensor, the wireless radio, and the power system not electrically connected to another device.
28. The method of claim 16 , wherein the power system comprises one or more non-rechargeable batteries.
29. The method of claim 16 , wherein the power system comprises one or more rechargeable batteries.
30. The method of claim 16 , comprising physically affixing the device to a pole or sign associated with the parking space.